• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.187-202
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• 2018

Objectives : Non-invasive transcranial electrical stimulation is one of therapeutic interventions to change in neural excitability of the cortex. Transcranial electro-acupuncture (TEA) can modulate brain functions through changes in cortical excitability as a model of non-invasive transcranial electrical stimulation. Some composites of fermented Scutellaria baicalenis (FSB) can activate intercellular signaling pathways for activation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor that is critical for formation of neural plasticity in stroke patients. This study was aimed at evaluation of combinatory treatment of TEA and FSB on behavior recovery and cortical neural excitability in rodent focal stroke model. Methods : Focal ischemic stroke was induced by photothrombotic injury to the motor cortex of adult rats. Application of TEA with 20 Hz and $200{\mu}A$ in combination with daily oral treatment of FBS was given to stroke animals for 3 weeks. Motor recovery was evaluated by rotating bean test and ladder working test. Electrical activity of cortical pyramidal neurons of stroke model was evaluated by using multi-channel extracellular recording technique and thallium autometallography. Results : Compared with control stroke group who did not receive any treatment, Combination of TEA and FSB treatment resulted in more rapid recovery of forelimb movement following focal stroke. This combination treatment also elicited increase in spontaneous firing rate of putative pyramidal neurons. Furthermore expression of metabolic marker for neural excitability was upregulated in peri-infract area under thallium autometallography. Conclusions : These results suggest that combination treatment of TEA and FSB can be a possible remedy for motor recovery in focal stroke.

• 셀메드
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.10.1-10.6
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• 2012

Acupuncture works by stimulating peripheral sensory nerves and their endings causing an increase in cutaneous blood flow and microcirculation, as well as release of neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, and hormones. SP6 Patch is a nanoscale nontransdermal device that mildly stimulates Stomach 36 (zusanli) and other acupuncture points. As stimulation of these points has been indicated to have an effect on hypothalamic function, it is of great research interest to investigate the effect of SP6 Patch on the physiology of organs that are affected by hypothalamic regulation. Bioelectrical tissue impedance data indicative of cellular physiologic organ function, using an Electro Interstitial Scan (EIS) system, were acquired from hypothalamus, pancreas, liver, intestines, kidneys, thyroid and adrenal glands in 10 (1 male, 9 females) volunteers while wearing the SP6 Patch daily for 1 week. EIS testing was performed at baseline with no patch, 30 min after wearing the patch, and after wearing the patch 12 h/day for 1 week. Subjects were instructed to keep well hydrated during the study period. All subjects served as their own control. The hypothesis was: The SP6 Patch worn 12 h/day on the Stomach 36 acupuncture point for 1 week, may significantly improve cellular physiologic functional status of different organs measured by EIS. All tested organs achieved significant improvement in their functional physiologic status after wearing the SP6 Pach 12 h/day for 1 week compared to baseline with an overall average statistical power > 89%. Based upon these results the hypothesis was accepted as true.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.14-25
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• 2012

Objectives : To observe physiological changes during clinical acupuncture treatment. Methods : We recruited 40 healthy volunteers who had experienced an acupuncture treatment at least once within the past three years. The experimental group was divided into four groups according to the needling site and frequency of electrical stimulation. Sites consisted of abdomen and legs. Frequencies consisted of 100 Hz and 2 Hz. The procedures of experimental treatment consisted of seven phases, Resting I phase (Resting I), Needle insertion phase (Insertion), Maintenance of needle insertion I phase (Maintain I), Electrical stimulation phase (ES), Maintenance of needle insertion II phase (Maintain II), Needle removal phase (Removal) and Resting II phase (Resting II). We measured the surface electromygraphy (SEMG) through an electrode on the frontalis muscle during all phases consecutively. Results : When SEMGs of all seven phases were analyzed, they significantly increased or decreased according to phases. SEMGs of Insertion, Maintain I, ES and Maintain II phase significantly increased more than RestingI in abdomen and legs groups. SEMGs of the abdomen group were measured as being $4.78{\pm}0.74{\mu}V$ on Resting I, $16.48{\pm}3.97{\mu}V$ on Insertion, $46.31{\pm}10.56{\mu}V$ on Maintain I, $45.88{\pm}9.72{\mu}V$ on ES, $45.56{\pm}9.69{\mu}V$ on Maintain II, $18.76{\pm}3.05{\mu}V$ on Removal, and $3.75{\pm}0.65{\mu}V$ on Resting II. SEMGs of the legs group were measured as being $3.34{\pm}0.35{\mu}V$ on Resting I, $12.11{\pm}1.76{\mu}V$ on Insertion, $36.74{\pm}6.99{\mu}V$ on Maintain I, $33.57{\pm}6.30{\mu}V$ on ES, $32.66{\pm}6.03{\mu}V$ on Maintain II, $14.08{\pm}2.15{\mu}V$ on Removal, and $2.88{\pm}0.32{\mu}V$ on Resting II. Conclusions : SEMG changed differently according to processes of acupuncture. Electrical stimulation showed different change of SEMG. Thus, acupuncture treatment may change the status of the autonomic nervous system.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.95-103
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was to investigate the regulatory effect of electro-acupuncture on Jogsamni ($ST_{36}$) in bradygastric condition or gastroparesis which is a neuropathic complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM), assessed using 4-channel electrogastrography (EGG). Methods : It was a case series study. Each patient was given electro-acupuncture(EA) one point, Jogsamni($ST_{36}$) or Gyeonu($LI_{15}$) bilaterally for thirty minutes with 2Hz bipolar square wave frequency and moderate intensity of stimulation. With attaching electrodes around stomach region throughout pre-acupuncture, acupuncture, and post-acupuncture session, these parameters were produced; percent rate of bradygastria power compared to sum of power in all kind of gastric rhythm(% bradygastria), dominant frequency(DF) and dominant power(DP). Parameter was analysed per each channel's variable change from pre-acupuncture session by paired t-test. Results : There was statistically significant decrease in % bradygastria parameters on one of the $ST_{36}$ treated patients from pre-acupuncture session and to post-acupuncture session(P=0.015, P=0.008 respectively). A marginal significant decrease of DP was shown in the other $ST_{36}$ treated patient from pre-acupuncture session through post-acupuncture session(P=0.049). Combined data of two $ST_{36}$ Treated patients showed that there was significant decrease of %bradygastria from pre-acupuncture session to acupuncture session(P=0.020), and was decrease of DP from pre-acupuncture session to post- acupuncture session(P=0.020). Conclusions : EA at $ST_{36}$ resulted in statistically significant decrease in %bradygastria and DP for dysrhythmic condition in T2DM gastroparesis patients. Considering this limited results, further study will be needed to elucidate the effect of multiple-acupuncture on gastric myoelectrical activities.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.312-319
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to know the difference of the effect between the E- A and the S-A. The 19 patients complaining the pain on the neck, shoulder and upper limb were chosen, divided and controled by two groups; One was the E-A group treated at upper limb meridian point, the other was the therapy group treated by S-A at the scalp and E-A at upper limb meridian point together. In 20 minutes after treatment, the change of plasma cortisol concentration was observed. The results were as follows: 1. In E-A group, there was no significant change of plasma cortisol concentration. 2. In S-A and E-A group, there was significant increase to plasma cortisol concentration. In conclusion, it seems that the increased stimulation by the treatment of S-A and E-A together has close relation with the plasma cortisol concentration. And the further study about the intensity of acupuncture stimulation and S-A is expected.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.145-156
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• 2003

Objective : This study is to investigate the effect of electro-acupuncture ST36 on altered transmission of afferent somatosensory information caused by amyloid-${\beta}$(A-${\beta}$) that caused Alzheimer's disease. Methods : The effects of topical application of A-${\beta}$, A-${\beta}$ with ST36, aggregated A-${\beta}$(aA-${\beta}$), aA-${\beta}$ with ST36 and ST36 on the afferent sensory transmission to the neurons in the primary somatosensory(SI) cortex was observed in anesthetized rats. Quantitative determination of the effects of A-${\beta}$, A-${\beta}$ with ST36, aA-${\beta}$, aA-${\beta}$ with ST36 and ST36 was made by generating poststimulus time histogram of evoked response of individual cortical neuron by electrical stimulation of the receptive located in peripheral area(forepaw) Results : The results obtained in present study were summerized as follow : 1. Application of physiological concentrative 0.5 nM A-${\beta}$ caused afferent sensory transmission of SI cortex facilitated. 0.5 nM A-${\beta}$ with ST36 exerted much stronger effects than 0.5 nM A-${\beta}$ alone. 2. Application of $10{\mu}M$ A-${\beta}$ caused afferent sensory transmission of SI cortex unchangeable. But $10{\mu}M$ A-${\beta}$ with ST36 is facilitated at 30 min of post-drug period 3. Application of $10{\mu}M$ aA-${\beta}$ caused afferent sensory transmission of SI cortex diminished. $10{\mu}M$ aA-${\beta}$ with ST36 is diminished after 15min of post-drug period but is facilitated after 75min.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.455-465
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• 2023

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is defined as a chronic inflammatory-mediated disease that causes ulceration and inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Among most patients, the course of chronic inflammation repeatedly shows intermittent exacerbations and alternating remissions. However, despite the various therapeutic options to relieve symptoms, such as corticosteroids, TNF-α inhibitors, and antibiotic drugs, there is no known cure for IBD. Nonetheless, previous research has revealed that the autonomic nervous system is involved in the pathophysiology of IBD. In this study, we reviewed clinical trials confirming the therapeutic effect of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on IBD in vivo. We searched in vivo and human studies on Pubmed using keywords combined with "vagus nerve stimulation", "VNS", and "inflammatory bowel disease". All studies included in this review reported that direct VNS is effective in relieving symptoms of IBD and has no severe adverse effects. The most frequently stimulated site was the unilateral cervical vagus nerve area, and parameters for stimulation were set as 5-20 Hz. Based on the results, we aim to summarize the evidence for the efficacy of VNS on IBD and suggest the possibility of auricular electroacupuncture treatment as a therapeutic option for IBD.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.178-183
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• 2008

To investigate the effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) treatment on regions remote from the application, we measured cellular, enzymatic, and transcriptional activities in various internal tissues of healthy rats. The EA was applied to the well-identified acupoint ST36 of the leg. After application, we measured the activity of natural killer cells in the spleen, gene expression in the hypothalamus, and the activities of antioxidative enzymes in the hypothalamus, liver and red blood cells. The EA treatment increased natural killer cell activity in the spleen by approximately 44%. It also induced genes related to pain, including 5-Hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptor 3a (Htr3a) and Endothelin receptor type B (Ednrb) in the hypothalamus, and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase in the hypothalamus, liver, and red blood cells. These findings indicate that EA mediates its effects through changes in cellular activity, gene expression, and enzymatic activity in multiple remote tissues. The sum of these alterations may explain the beneficial effects of EA.

• 식품보건융합연구
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.13-16
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• 2018

Acupuncture has been clinically used to treat patients suffering from eye disease. It has been used in efforts to help preserve vision for those with a wide range of eye conditions including glaucoma and intraocular hypertension. High intraocular pressure (IOP) is usually associated with glaucoma and conventional treatment is focused on lowering IOP. Controlling this risk factor should help hasten the onset of glaucoma for those patents that are suspect or borderline candidates for glaucoma. In review of the limited scientific research there are not many studies that support conclusive evidence for the use of acupuncture on eye diseases and particularly glaucoma and ocular hypertension. For the information that does exist, diverse results from various interventions make it difficult to draw clear conclusions. The existing studies use different acupoints, techniques, frequencies, and durations. Individual treatment strategies according to the practitioner's subjective experience, patient condition, and the use of other complimentary and natural strategies is ideal for taking a more dynamic and wholistic approach to getting results. Until more pragmatic research models are funded and implemented, case reports can offer good examples of experiential and objective outcomes. This case report presents a 61 year old healthy female patient diagnosed with open-angle borderline glaucoma with elevated IOP. The patients IOP was successfully reduced with 12 treatments over three months using scalp electro-acupuncture and distal Master Tung points.

• 대한물리치료과학회지
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.123-131
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to compare Ultra Sound(U-S), Silver Spike Point(SSP) and Electro-Acupuncture(E-A) with each other and to objectively analyze their concrete validities and their effects on the deactivation of trigger points in patients with myofascial pain syndrome, and to provide basic necessary principles for clinical therapists. Sixty patients were randomly distributed into three groups of twenty persons each and the U-S, the SSP and the E-A were applied to each group respectively. Tree pain evaluation methods of VAS(Visual Analogue Scale), Electrical Stimulation Scale and Pressure Algometer were adopted to measure the effectiveness of each therapy. The results were as follows: The U-S and E-A groups demonstrated statistically significant decrease on the VAS. The pain thresholds by Electrical Stimulation Scale method was increased for all the groups of U-S, SSP and E-A with no statistical significance. however, Pressure Algometer method was found to increase the pain thresholds for both SSP and E-A groups with statistically significance. Statistically significant improvement was found for all the groups together after the administration of the U-S, the SSP and the E-A. From the above results, three methods of U-S, SSP and E-A are found to be effective tools for the deactivation of trigger points in patients with upper trapezius muscle of Myofascial Pain Syndrome. The E-A method was found to be the most effective among three methods.