• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.131-135
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• 2005

Background and purpose: The measurement of direct current (DC) potential on skin area of meridian has recently been adopted to explore the electrophysiological characteristics of meridian system, But there exists two problems to be explained; the entity of the DC potential to be measured and the characteristics of electrode gel interface of measurement system, It is not clear whether the DC potential reflect, at least hypothetically, the entity of meridian, and if there exist any unstable factor in the DC potential measurement system. Methods: In this study, we designed an electronic circuit model of skin and applied known DC potential sources $({\pm}10.75mV,\;0mV)$ to the electrode interface of the skin model. Results: The result showed that the measured DC potential changed according to the time, and the same phenomenon was observed when the electrode gel was replaced with an electric condenser. It is suggested that the measurement of DC potential on electrode gel interface is very difficult and produces unstable values due to the capacity effect of electrode gel. Conclusion: Further studies on the DC potential evaluation in the context of meridian study should consider and bypass this problem.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.315-323
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• 1999

The 63 patients(20 males, 43 females) were treated for their trigeminal neuralgia at the Department. of Oral Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital from 1993 to 1998. All the patients were treated for their trigeminal neuralgia by conservative methods such as medication, and Electric Acupuncture Stimulation Therapy The obtained results were as follows: 1. Trigeminal neuralgia was mainly involved in the patients of past forties, women and acute group. 2. 50.8% of patients were related to maxillary branches of trigeminal nerves. The trigger points were on gingivae, cheeks, teeth, lips in order. 3. 55.6% of patients with trigeminal neuralgia had systemic diseases and 39.7% were related to dental practices. 4. Success rate of the treatments was 71.4% and the recurrence rate was 26.3%. 5. The refractory factors in improving symptoms were chronic history, involvement of complex branches, and experience of prosthodontic treatments.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.157-160
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• 2001

Facial nerve paralysis(or Bell's palsy) which commonly occurs unilaterally, gives rise to paralysis of facial expression muscle. This condition is classified into symptomatic facial nerve paralysis due to intracranial tumor, post operative trauma, etc. and idiopathic facial nerve paralysis. To explain the etiology of idiopathic facial nerve paralysis, many hypothesis including ischemic theory, viral infection, exposure to cold, immune theory etc. were suggested, but there is no agreement at this point. The method to evaluate the facial nerve paralysis, when it occurs, consists of three stage scale method, image thechnics like CT and MRI, laboratory test to examine the antibody titers of viral infection, neurophysiologic test to evaluate the degree and prognosis of paralysis. Treatment includes medication, stellate ganglion block(SGB), surgery, physical therapy and other home care therapy. In medication, systemic steroids, vitamins, vasodilating-drug and ATP drugs were used. SGB was also used repeatedly to attempt the improvement of circulation and to stimulate the recovery of nerve function. Physical therapy including electric acupuncture stimulation therapy(EAST) and hot pack was used to prevent the muscle atrophy. When No response was showed to this conservative therapies, surgery was considered. After treating two patients complaining of Bell's palsy with medication(systemic steroids) and EAST, favorable result was obtained. so author report the case of facial nerve paralysis.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 2002

To study clinical characteristics of patients complained of the tremor, I analyzed a database of twenty four patients managed at the Sasang Constitutional Department in Wonkwang University Oriental Medical Hospiyal from June 1999 to October 2000. 54% of patients who had adequate follow-up were improved with herb medication, electric acupuncture, physical therapy, aromatherapy. 46% of them were not improved in spite of above mentioned treatment. None of patients was aggravated. 71 % of them have male sex and 42% in 7th decade. The distribution ratio was 46% Soyang Constitution, 42% Taeumin Constitution, 13% Soum Constitution. I diagnosed 75% of them as essential tremor or physiological tremor or neurosis. Most of them had the tremor in upper extremities. The period of history were various distribution. Herb medicines were used in the Sasang Constitutional Theory. The Sasang Constitutional Medicine has the significant effects of treating patients complained of the tremor..

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 1995

The clinical study was carried out on 1737 cases of inpatient and outpatient which have been diagnosed as C.V.A at hospital attached to 8 colleges of oriental medicine in Korea or National Medical Center from January 1st 1994 to December 31st 1994. The results were as follows; 1. In this study, the case of Occlusive C.V.D was 70.1%, Cerebral hemorrhage was 20.5%, Transient ischemic attack (T.I.A) was 5.3%, Subdural hemorrhage was 3.0%, Subarachnoid hemorrhage was 0.8% 2. It was confirmed by C.T (20%), E.K.G. (19%), X-ray (19%), Urinalysis (19%), Hematoscopy (20%). 3. The mean days of hospital treatment was 27.88 days, mean days of ambulation was 70.34 days. The mean days of hospital treatment of Occlusive C.V.D, Cerebral hemorrhage, T.I.A., Subdural hemorrhage, Subarachnoid hemorrhage were 25.79, 39.32, 12.49, 16.23, 23.40 days, respectively. The mean days of ambulation of Occlusive C.V.D, Cerbral hemorrhage, T.I.A., Subdural hemorrhage, Subarachnoid hemorrhage were 74.40, 93.68, 69.10, 29.75, 32.57 days, respectavely. 4. Oriental medical treatment of C.V.A was mainly Acupuncture (25%), Paper of Chinese herbs (22%), Chinese physiotherapy (14%), Extract of Chinese herbs (11%). 5. Oriental medical physiotherapy for C.V.A was mostly E.S.T., Kinesiatrics, electric negative therapy, others Aerohydrotherapy, interferential current therapy (I.C.T.), Carbon, Samhogi, T.E.N.S., Ultra-sound, Infra-red, Microwave, T.D.P., Ultraviolet, S.S.P., Chinese herbs beth, Prarffin bath, Magnetic treatment and tractions.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2010

Ischemia that causes stroke induces inflammation of brain cells and apoptosis and as a result, it influences much on the functional part of a man. The needle electrode electrical stimulation (NEES) that combines acupuncture of oriental medicine with electric therapy of western medicine relieves inflammation of cells and has effect on regrowth of nerve tissues. This study was conducted to verify the influence of NEES on the occurrence of c-Fos of cerebrum after applying NEES to the meridian point, Zusanli (ST 36) of a rats with induced ischemia. Global ischemia was induced by using ligation method on common carotid artery of male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. The ligation was maintained for 5 minutes and then suture was removed for blood reperfusion. After inducing global ischemia, NEES was done to the left and right meridian points of Joksamri of a rat for 30 minutes after 12 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours. The findings were as follows. 1. In the result of immunohistochemical method, the number of c-Fos immune response cells significantly decreased (P<.05) in NEES group than the control group (GI) that did not get NEES. 2. In the result of western blotting, the occurrence of c-Fos after 24 hours from the inducement of ischemia significantly decreased (P<.05) in NEES group than the control group (GI) that did not get NEES. Therefore, as the effect of NEES was shown highest after 24 hours from the ischemia, it is suspected that NEES would take important role in early treatment after cerebral stroke.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.479-490
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• 2017

Objectives: This study provides evidence for clinical practices by analyzing present clinical Korean medicine articles about benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Methods: Articles published up to July, 2017 were found by searching "BPPV", "Benign positions", and "Vertigo" as keywords in three domestic electric databases (i.e., OASIS, NDSL, RISS). Results: The initial search resulted in 228 articles; however, only 20 articles satisfied the selection criteria and were analyzed. Of these, 40% were published in the Journal of Korean Oriental Internal Medicine, and 35% were published in 2003. When diagnosing BPPV patients, VAS scores are primarily used for clinical assessments rather than objective diagnostic tools. Banhabaekchulcheonmatang was the most frequent herbal medicine used to treat BPPV, and the most commonly used therapeutic acupuncture point was Jok-samni (ST36). The most common diagnosis of BPPV was dam-eum according to nine studies. Conclusions: Systematic and large-scale research for the standardization of BPPV treatment is needed.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.53-59
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was designed to compare the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and silver spike point (SSP) therapy on current perception threshold (CPT) and mechanical pain threshold (MPT). Methods: Forty-five healthy adult male and female subjects were studied. Fourteen of them were males and twenty-one were females. Subject were randomly assigned to receive; (1) TENS (80/120 Hz alternating frequency), (2) SSP (3 Hz), or (3) no treatment (control group). Electric stimulation was applied over LI4 and LI11 on acupuncture points of the left forearm for 30 minutes. CPT and MPT were recorded before and after electrical stimulation. The data were analyzed using linear mixed models, with group treated as a between subject factor and time a within-subject factor. Results: At 30 minutes after cessation of electrical stimulation the CPT of C fibers and A${\delta}$fibers was reduced in the TENS group that of C fibers was reduced in the SSP group (p<0.05). After cessation of electrical stimulation, the MPT of C fibers and A${\delta}$fibers increased in the TENS group, and that of A${\delta}$fibers increased in the SSP group (p<0.05). Conclusion: After TENS and SSP stimulation, MPT of C fibers and A${\delta}$fibers were selectively increased. In particular, the TENS group showed increases in both C and A${\delta}$fibers, while the SSP group showed increases only in A${\delta}$fibers.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.65-81
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• 2024

Objectives This study aimed to understand the general research trends, applicated disease, and methodology of transcutaneous/percutaneous vagus nerve stimulation, contemplating its clinical use in traditional Korean medicine and future research directions. Methods A scoping review was conducted following Arksey and O'Malley Framework Stage and adhering to the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews: checklist and explanation. Papers published until October 30, 2023, were investigated across 10 databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Korean Studies Information Service System, KMbase, Science ON, Research Information Sharing Service. The search terms used were 'Transcutaneous/Percutaneous vagus nerve stimulation'. Results Since 2021, the application of transcutaneous/percutaneous vagus nerve stimulation for musculoskeletal symptoms has been actively researched, predominantly in Asia (37%), Europe (37%), and North America (21%). All 19 papers were part of clinical studies. Chronic pain was noted that most applied disease, it also was found to potentially aid in acute post-surgical pain relief. Major assessment tools include not only simple pain metrics but also pain perception, vagal nerve tension, quality of life, and inflammatory markers. Most procedures were carried out through the ear, which offers a favorable site for therapeutic stimulation without notable side effects. And parameter analysis, frequencies typically ranged around 25 Hz to 30 Hz, while pulse widths were commonly set at 250 ㎲ or 300 ㎲. Conclusions Transcutaneous/percutaneous vagus nerve stimulation is easily accessible through acupuncture in Korean medicine. Therefore, if future studies establish parameters and clinical significance, it could be utilized as a therapeutic modality.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.27-41
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• 2000

The meridian system is the most essential and basic connecting structure that maintains the vital activities of viscera and bowels by connecting them with each part of body's surface. Doctors can understand the healthy condition, and the region and deficiency-excessiveness of disease by observing the condition of Qi flowing. Deficiency and excessiveness could be differentiated by various symptoms expressed in meridian system. Especially there could be several clues like pain, heat-cold, protuberance-depression, change of color and shine in the line of channel leads to the judgment of deficiency-excessiveness The diagnosis of deficiency and excessiveness can be generalized by quantification of elastic status in skin surface along the meridian system. By comparing data from measurement of elastic condition with those from traditional deficiency and excessiveness, it could be utilized for the development of oriental medicine. All biological activities in the human body are based on meridian system according to the oriental medicine. Also the meridian system is viewed as basic and essential structure connecting internal viscera and each part of body. The areas of expressed channel phenomena are muscle to bone, muscle to muscle and bone to bone. These areas are called depression where meridian system is present and any changing state on those points can be measured. It could be difficult in diagnosing the reaction of meridian system because doctor can depend on his own judgment. Therefore, it is necessary to quantify and indexate channel reactions. To quantify the channel reactions, specially manufactured instrument was used to quantify the protuberance and depression to differentiate the deficiency and excessiveness. The results follow as below; 1. The elastic index measurement by the equipment proved a pattern of agreement showing the values that ranged within standard deviation 0.05kgf/cm throughout the experiment except few cases' measurement in CV-17. 2. To evaluate the state of deficiency & excessiveness of elastic index measurements in frontal point, elastic index measurements in the front paint were compared to the elastic index measured surrounding the point within 2.5 cm. Such result of indexing procedure was closely matched to the concept of palpitation. 3. If the elastic index values in the surrounding front point closely located to the elastic index values in the front point, the judgement on the state of deficiency and excessiveness was delayed. Otherwise, it was judged as deficiency or excessiveness. 4. Out of total 12 cases of comparing the elastic index values to the elastic index values in the surrounding front point, Three to nine front points were judged as either in the state of deficiency or excessiveness. 5. Among the nine front points judged as either in the state of deficiency or excessiveness, Four cases were matched to the electric index measured by EAV that evaluating the internal organs by five different phases. If more clinical cases are accumulated, it is expected to systematically theorize and improve the concept of deficiency and excessiveness in the internal organs using the front point.