• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.205-222
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• 2004

Objective: To investigate the effects of acupointed Choksamni(ST36), Kokchi(LI11) and Arbitrary acupoint on NADPH-diaphorase, neuronal nitric oxide synthase(nNOS), neuropeptide Y(NPY) and vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP) in the cerebral cortex of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Methods: The experimental groups were divided into four groups: Normal, Choksamni(ST36), Kokchi(LI11), arbitrary group. Needles were inserted into acupoints at the depth of 0.5 cm with basic insertion method. Such stimulation was applied continuously for 10 minutes, every other day, for 10 sessions of treatments. Thereafter we evaluated changes in NADPH-d-positive neurons histochemically and changes in nNOS, NPY and VIP-positive neurons immunohistochemically. Results : The optical densities of NADPH-d-positive neurons of all the Choksamni & Kokchi groups were significantly different in all areas of cerebral cortex as compared to arbitrary group. In motor1, sensory2, cingulate2, insular, peripheral, visual cortex there was a significant difference between Choksamni & Kokchi group. The optical densities of nNOS-positive neurons of Choksamni group were significantly different in all areas except for auditory, visual and pisiform cortex and Kokchi group in all areas except for auditory and pisiform cortex as compared to arbitrary group. And there was a significant difference in cingulate1, cingulate2, ectohinal, visual cortex between Choksamni & Kokchi group. The optical densities of NPY neurons of Choksamni group were significantly different in cingulate2, insular, pisiform cortex and Kokchi group in motor1, motor2, sensory1, cingulate2, ectorhinal cortex as compared to arbitrary group. And there was no significant difference between Choksamni & Kokchi group. The optical densities of VIP neurons of Choksamni group were significantly different in all areas except for motor1, auditory cortex and Kokchi group in sensory1, insular, ectorhinal, perirhinal, visual, pisiform cortex as compared to arbitrary group. And there was a significant difference in cingulate1, cingulate2, retrosplenial, auditory corterx between Choksamni & Kokchi group. Conclusion : Our results demonstrated that acupuncture on Choksamni(ST36) & Kokchi(LI11) changes the control activities of the NO system in the cerebral cortex of SHR and according to areas there were significant difference between two groups. In all cerebral cortex areas there were distributed NPY & VIP and there were no significant difference among Choksamni(ST36), Kokchi(LI11) and arbitrary group.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1-12
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• 2004

Objective : This study was to investigate the effect of acupuncture on NADPH-diaphorase and nNOS in the brain stem and cerebellum of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Methods : The experimental groups were divided into four groups : Normal, Choksamni(ST36), Kokchi(LI11), arbitrary group. Thereafter we evaluated changes in NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons histochemically and changes in nNOS neurons immunohistochemically. Results : 1. The optical densities of NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons of all the Choksamni & Kokchi groups were significantly different in SuG, DLPAG, IP, Pr, Gi areas of brain stem and cerebellum as compared to normal & arbitrary groups. In PPTg only Choksamni group was significantly different as compared to normal and arbitrary groups. 2. The optical densities of nNOS-positive neurons of Choksamni & Kokchi groups were significantly different in SuG, DLPAG areas of brain stem as compared to normal group. In IP, Pr only Kokchi group was significantly different as compared to normal group. The optical densities of nNOS-positive neurons of Choksamni & Kokchi groups were significantly different in SuG, DLPAG, PPTg, Pr, Gi areas of brain stem as compared to arbitrary group. In IP, Pr only Kokchi group was significantly different as compared to arbitrary group. 3. The optical densities of nNOS-positive neurons of all the Choksamni & Kokchi groups were not significantly different in cerebellum as compared to normal & arbitrary groups. Conclusions : We found out that acupuncture have effects on NADPH-diaphorase and nNOS in the brain stem and cerebellum of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.13-18
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• 2005

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of electroacupuncture(EA) on Choksamni(ST36), a well-known acupuncture site, on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase(NADPH-d), neuropeptide Y(NPY) and vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP) in the cerebral cortex of spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR). EA on Choksamni was applied using 2Hz electrical biphasic pulses of 10min, 3 times a week for a total of 10 sessions. Thereafter we evaluated changes in NADPH-d-positive neurons histochemically and changes in NPY and VIP-positive neurons immunohistochemically. The optical density of NADPH-d-positive neurons in the Choksamni group was significantly lower in all areas of the cerebral cortex than in the control group. However, the optical density of NPY-positive neurons in the Choksamni group was similar to that of the controls in most areas of the cerebral cortex, with the exception of the primary motor and visual cortices. The optical density of VIP-positive neurons in the Choksamni group was significantly decreased as compared to the control group in most areas of the cerebral cortex, with the exception of the cingulate cortex. The present results demonstrated that EA on Choksamni changes the activity of the NO system, and that stimulation at the same level, causes selective changes within the peptidergic system in the cerebral cortex of SHR.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.200-213
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• 2001

Objectives : This study was purposed to investigate the Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Effects of Gold injection Aqua-acupuncture on the experimental model of rheumatoid arthritis. Methods : The experimental groups were divided into 4 groups : Control group (group injected with normal saline), J-NS (group injected with normal saline into bilateral Choksamni(ST36)), J-GS (group injected with Gold Injection into bilateral Choksamni(ST36)), and N-GS (injected with Gold Injection into the blank locus of the root of mouse tail). In addition, Diclofenac-Na as a comparative medicine is injected into bilateral Choksamni(ST36) and the blank locus of the root of mouse tail. So we measured the mice paw edema induced by Carrageenin and Dextran, the chronic rat paw edema induced by adjuvant, vascular permeability induced by Acetic acid in mice, the writhing syndrome induced by Acetic acid in mice, the heat-induced pain threshold in mice. Results : The following result have been obtained. 1. The mice paw edema induced by Carrageenin was significantly decreased in J-GS as compared with the control group. 2. The mice paw edema induced by Dextran was significantly decreased in J-GS and N-GS as compared with the control group. 3. The chronic rat paw edema induced by Adjuvant was significantly decreased in J-GS and N-GS as compared with the control group. Serum Iron content was significantly decreased in J-GS and N-GS as compared with the control group. But the effect on the Serum Copper contents has no significance statistically. 4. Vascular permeability induced by Acetic acid in mice was significantly decreased in J-GS and N-GS as compared with the control group. 5. The level of Acetic acid-induced Writhing syndrome and Heat-induced Pain Threshold in mice were all significantly decreased in J-GS and N-GS as compared with the control group. Conclusion : According to the result, gold injection aqua-acupuncture has significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects on the experimental model of rheumatiod arthiritis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.148-159
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• 2003

Objective: This study examines the effects of acupoint combination on NADPH-diaphorase and neuronal nitric oxide synthase(nNOS) in the brainstem of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Methods: The changes of NADPH-d-positive neurons using a histochemical method and the changes of nNOS-positive neurons using an immunohistochemical method were evaluated. The optical densities of NADPH-d-positive neurons and nNOS-positive neurons of the Choksamni(ST36) Umnungchon(SP9) groups were significantly increased in all brainstem areas as compared to the Choksamni and Choksamni Kokchi(LI11) groups and decreased, with the exeption of the nNOS-positive neurons in the superficial gray of superior colliculus, as compared to the normal group. Results: Our results demonstrated that electroacupuncture changes the activity in the NO system in the brainstem of SHR and the acupoint combination is one of the important parameters for this effect.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.19-32
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• 2005

Objectives : to evaluate the analgesic effect of bee venom acupuncture on Choksamni (ST36) in the collagen-induced arthritis rats and investigate the role played by serotonergic receptor subtypes (5-HT1a, 5-HT2a) in the antinociceptive effect of bee venom acupuncture in a thermal hyperalgesia test Methods : Experiments were performed on 5 week-aged 60 male Sprague-Dawley rats according to National Institute of Health guidelines and the ethical guidelines of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). Arthritis was induced with arthrogenic collagen emulsion (Bovine type II collagen ${\mu}g$ with incomplete Freund's adjuvant $100\;{\mu}g$). The onset of arthritis was considered to be present when erythema and swelling were detected in at least one joint. The thermal hyperalgesia was evaluated weekly with tail flick test in the rats of severity grade 3 without any injury at tail and foot (including inflammation, ulceration, snap). In the fourth week after first immunization, the analgesic effect of bee venom acupuncture (Choksamni, ST36) was measured with consecutive tail flick latency after intraperitoneal injection of spiroxatrine (1mg/kg) and spiperone (1mg/kg). Results : Chronic inflammatory pain was induced as time elapsed after the immunization of arthrogenic collagen and the maximum value was reached from third to fifth week. Chronic inflammatory pain induced by CIA was inhibited by bee venom acupuncture on the left ST36. The analgesic effect of bee venom acupuncture was inhibited by intraperitoneal injection of 5-HT1a antagonist spiroxatrine and 5-HT2a antagonist spiperone. Conclusions : Therefore, a conclusion. that the analgesic effect of bee venom acupuncture in the chronic inflammatory pain is partially mediated by 5-HT1a and 5-HT2a receptors can be made.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3 s.63
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• pp.66-73
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• 2005

Objectives : The purpose uf this study was to evaluate the effect of Choksmni$(ST_{36})$ moxibustion in hypertensive patients who showed sudden elevation of blood pressure. Methods : Among patients admitted to Woosuk University Hospital from June to September 2004, sixty-one patients who had shown sudden elevation in systolic blood pressure over 100mmHg were chosen by random sampling and divided into a treatment group (Choksamni moxibustion group) and a control group. In the Choksamni $(ST_{36})$ moxibustion group, moxibustion was done at the point between tibial tuberosity and head of fibula where the $ST_{36}$ is known to be located. Direct moxibustion was practiced on the patients 5 times with an increase of size from a grain of rice to a bigger cluster. Male patients were chosen to practice on the left meridian and female patients were chosen to practice on the right meridian point. Changes in blood pressure after He moxibustion were checked 4 times at tine intervals of 30 minutes. In the control group, the patients took bed rest without my medical treatment. The two groups were compared in order to demonstrate whether then were any remarkable changes in depression of blood pressure. Results : There were significant decreases in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure before and after moxibustion. We found significant decreases in systolic blood pressure at 60 minutes, 90 minutes, and 120 minutes ana diastolic blood pressure at 120 minutes in the patient group compared with the control group. Conclusions : There was a statistically significant depressing effect on blood pressure elevation observed in the group with moxibustion at $ST_{36}$ versus the control group without any medical treatment.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.14-25
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• 2002

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Aurothiomalate acupuncture containing Sodium Aurothiomalate on Type II collagen-induced arthritic DBA/1 mice. Methods : The mice were divided into three groups, one control group and two test groups. The control group was injected with saline on Choksamni(ST36) and the two test groups were injected either with Aurothiomalate acupuncture into Choksamni(AT1 group), or with Aurothiomalate acupuncture into Hwando(G30, AT2 group). We measured the incidence of arthritis, the mean index of arthritis, the number of arthritic limbs for the clinical examination and evaluation. We also examined the changes in the level of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-$1{\beta}$. Results : 1. The incidence of arthritis in mice of the AT1 and AT2 groups were significantly lower than that of the control group. 2. The mean indices of arthritis in mice of the AT1 and AT2 groups were significantly lower than that of the control group. 3. The mean number of arthritic limbs in mice of the AT1 and AT2 groups were significantly lower than that of the control group. 4. The levels of TNF-$\alpha$ of the mice in the AT1 and AT2 groups were significantly different from that of the control group. 5. The levels of IL-$1{\beta}$ of the mice in the AT1 and AT2 groups were not significantly different from that of the control group. Conclusion : These results indicate that the treatment with Aurothiomalate acupuncture could improve the clinical status of Arthritis by suppressing immune responses in the mice of Type II collagen-induced arthritic.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.77-90
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• 2006

Objectives : To evaluate the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture on Choksamni (ST36) in the collagen-induced arthritis rats and investigate the role played by serotonergic receptor subtypes $(5-HT_{1A},\;5-HT_{1B},\;5-HT_4)$ in the antinociceptive effect of electroacupuncture in the thermal hyperalgesia test. Methods : Immunization of male Sprague-Dawley rats with bovine type II collagen emulsified in incomplete Freund's adjuvant, followed by booster injection 14 days later induced collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). The thermal hyperalgesia was evaluated weekly with tail flick latency (TFL). In the fourth week after first immunization. EA stimulation (2Hz, 0.07mA, 0.3ms) was delivered into Choksamni for 20 minutes. We measured the analgesic effect of EA with TFL afer intraperitoneal injection of normal saline, WAYl00635, SB216641 and GR125487. Results : TFLs were gradually decreased in CIA as time elapsed after the immunization of arthrogenic collagen and the maximum value was reached from third to fifth week. EA stimulation on ST36 inhibited chronic inflammatory pain induced by CIA. The analgesic effect of EA was inhibited by pretreatment of $5-HT_{1A}$. antagonist (WAYl00635), $5-HT_{1B}$ antagonist (SB216641) and $5-HT_4$ antagonist (GR125487). Conclusion : Electroacupuncture has the analgesic effect on chronic inflammatory pain and its mechanism was mediated by $5-HT_{1A}$, $5-HT_{1B}$ and $5-HT_4$.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.73-85
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• 2005

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to confirm the suppression effect of Asthma and Immune response improvement of Fasciculus Vascularis Luffae Herbal-acupuncture into Chok-samni(St36) on ovalbumin-induced asthma in mice. Methods : C57BL/6 mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA(ovalbumin) for 12 weeks Two experimental groups were treated with different concentrations(1%, 0.1%) of FVL-HA at Chok-samni(St36) for the later 8 weeks(3times/week). Results : 1. Lung weigh of the mice group treated with FVL-HA decreased significantly compared with that of control group. 2. Total cells of lung, total Leukocytes and Eosinophils in BALF of the mice group treated with FVL-HA decreased significantly compared with those of control group. 3. Eosinophils in BALF of the mice group treated with FVL-HA in Photomicrographs decreased significantly compared with those of control group. 4. The concentration of IL-l3, IgE, IL-4 In serum and IL-4 in BALF of the mice group treated with FVL-HA decreased significantly compared with that of control group. 5. The number of Gr-1+/CB11b+, CD3-/CCR3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD3e+/CD69+, IgE+/B220+ cells in the lungs of the mice group treated with FVL-HA decreased significantly compared with those of control group. 6. The cytokine's manifestation of mRNA of the mice group treated with FVL-HA with RT-PCR decreased significantly compared with that of control group. Conclusion : These result suggests that Fasciculus Vascularis Luffae Herbal-acupuncture Choksamni(St36) in C57BL/6mice may be an effective part to OVA-induced asthma in C57BL/6 mice.