• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.176-184
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to understand current situation of acupuncture and moxibustion for male infertility. Methods: We searched all relevant studies of male infertility patients treated with acupuncture and moxibustion. Electronic searches were conducted in Pubmed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE and 4 Korean databases until October 2013. Results: A total of 10 reports were included in the review. Two case reports, one case series, three before and after studies, one cohort study, one non-randomized controlled study and two randomized controlled studies were reviewed. Although the majority of studies suggested a positive effect of acupuncture on male infertility, the quality of studies was low. Data on adverse effects were lacking. Conclusions: We found a benefit from acupuncture for poor semen quality in male infertility. These findings should be treated with caution as the evidence was low or very low quality. To further evaluate the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion in male infertility, well-designed randomized controlled studies are needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.81-97
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study is analyzing the current research methodology of pharmacopucture for the treatment of animal cancer models. Methods : Four electronic databases were searched for animal studies published from January 2000 to September 2014 onward using these search terms "cancer, anticancer, pharmacopuncture, beevenom". Selected articles were described about animal cancer models. The methods used to induce cancer and the outcome measures used to assess the effects of pharmacopuncture on animal cancer models were analyzed. Results : 37 articles were included. For producing animal cancer models BALB/C mice(n=22) and C57BL/6 mice(n=17) were selected. And intravenous injection of B16-F10 melanoma cells into tail vein(n=14) or intraperitoneal injection of sarcoma-180 cells(n=14) were frequently used to induce cancer. Various pharmacopunctures were injected into acupoints $CV_{12}(n=19)$, $ST_{36}(n=8)$, $BL_{18}(n=8)$ or peritoneal cavity(n=6), tumor site(n=2), tail vein(n=2). Outcome measures were categorized into anti-cancer, anti-metastasis, general condition, cytotoxicity, immune response, toxicity. Median Survival Time(MST) and increase of life span(ILS)(n=26) was frequently used for evaluating anti-cancer effects. And pulmonary colonization assay(n=13) was frequently used for evaluating anti-metastasis effects Conclusions : Based on these data, further research would be needed to ascertain the effectiveness of pharmacopuncture for treating cancer and broaden the range of clinical applications.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.211-221
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• 2005

Objective : The aim of this study is to review clinical trials on the effectiveness of acupuncture in stroke rehabilitation. Methods : Computerized literature searches was carried out on three electronic databases, and hand-searching on some chinese medical journals in library of Kyung Hee Medical Center. Results : 1) Sixteen articles of clinical trials were collected and reviewed. Among these articles, randomized controlled trials were achieved in nine articles. 2) In three articles, statically significant results in improvement of mobile abilities, activities of daily life and Quality of life were reported after acupuncture treatment applied as a part of stroke rehabilitation. In three articles no statically significant changes were reported. 3) Among two articles about spasticity, One about the upper limbs and the results showed statically significant improvement of the spasticity after acupuncture treatment as stroke rehabilitation, and the other was about the lower limbs and the results showed no statically significant changes. 4) One article about acupuncture and postural control showed statically significant results suggesting that acupuncture promotes normalization of postural control after stroke.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.111-118
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• 2004

Background and purpose: Opposing-needling technique involves selecting acupoints at unaffected limb. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of LI4-LI11 electrical acupuncture at unaffected limb on the cerebral blood flow in ischemic stroke patients using SPECT Methods: We selected 9 ischemic stroke patients. Baseline brain SPECT was done with triple head gamma camera(MultiSPECT3, Siemens, USA) after intravenous administration of 925 MBq of Tc-99m ECD). Fifteen-minute electro-acupuncture at Hapgok(LI 4) and Gokji(LI 11) were applied on unaffected upper limb of subjects. The same dose of Tc-99m ECD was injected during the electro-acupuncture, and the second SPECT images were obtained. Using the computer software(ICON 7.1, Siemens, USA), 3 SPECT slices(upper, middle, lower) surrounding the brain lesion were selected and each slice was divided by 10-16 brain regions. Asymmetry indexes were analyzed in each brain region. We regarded$\geq$10% changes of asymmetry index between before and after electro-acupuncture as significance. Results: Seven Patients(77.8%) had significantly increased perfusion and 2(22.2%) didn't show increased perfusion in post-acupuncture scans compared to pre-acupuncture scans(baseline). The regions of CBF improvement were mostly frontal lobes and anterior temporal lobes. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that LI4-LI11 electro-acupuncture at unaffected limb increased regional cerebral blood perfusion to the corresponding brain areas in ischemic stroke patients.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.1-23
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• 2010

Objectives and methods : The Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) were published in five journals in 2001 and 2002. These guidelines, in the form of a checklist and explanations for use by authors and journal editors, were designed to improve reporting of acupuncture trials, particularly the interventions, thereby facilitating their interpretation and replication. Subsequent reviews of the application and impact of STRICTA have highlighted the value of STRICTA as well as scope for improvements and revision. To manage the revision process a collaboration between the STRICTA Group, the CONSORT Group, and the Chinese Cochrane Centre was developed in 2008. An expert panel with 47 participants was convened that provided electronic feedback on a revised draft of the checklist. At a subsequent face-to-face meeting in Freiburg, a group of 21 participants further revised the STRICTA checklist and planned dissemination. Results : The new STRICTA checklist, which is an official extension of CONSORT, includes six items and 17 sub-items. These set out reporting guidelines for the acupuncture rationale, the details of needling, the treatment regimen, other components of treatment, the practitioner background, and the control or comparator interventions. In addition, and as part of this revision process, the explanations for each item have been elaborated, and examples of good reporting for each item are provided. In addition, the word "controlled" in STRICTA is replaced by "clinical", to indicate that STRICTA is applicable to a broad range of clinical evaluation designs, including uncontrolled outcome studies and case reports. Conclusions : It is intended that the revised STRICTA, in conjunction with both the main CONSORT Statement and extension for nonpharmacologic treatment, will raise the quality of reporting of clinical trials of acupuncture.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.1-10
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• 2012

Objectives : The aim of this review was to summarize and assess researches reporting thermal properties of moxibustion. Methods and Materials : We searched one electronic database(PubMed) and two journals(The Journal of Korean Medicine and The Journal of Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion Society) and for the articles published until Nov. 2012. The articles reporting thermal characteristic of moxibustion were selected and reviewed. 31 articles were included and assessed in this review. The type of moxibustion, the material beneath moxbustion, main outcome and the amount of information were reviewed. The amount of information was defined as 1 for one main outcome reported in each article. Results : Direct moxibustion were used in 15 articles and indirect moxibustion were used in 19 articles. 11 researches used anti-heating plate for the material beneath moxibustion, one article used steel ring, agar with anti-heating plate, six articles used skin and another six articles used heater. Two articles used animals and another two articles used metals. The mean value of the amount of information was $4.41{\pm}2.94$(SD). Conclusions : Research articles assessing properties of moxibustion have been consistently published since 1993, and employed various methodologies. The amount of information has been associated with four section analysis and is currently decreasing. Research assessing properties of moxibustion with clinical effectiveness is needed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.76-87
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• 2017

Objectives : This study aimed to analyze the recent acupuncture clinical trial on atopic dermatitis and to suggest the plan about how to improve its quality. Methods : Data were collected through electronic database including MEDLINE. We set up the search terms for "atopic dermatitis AND acupuncture" and limited period of data within 6 years and type for RCT(Randomized Clinical Trial), SR(Systemic Review). Results : Total 5 studies were selected. Two were RCTs, and the rest were SRs. RCTs were insufficient about acupoint selection criteria and foundation. SRs both pointed out that systematic clinical trial is required. Conclusions : Based on these, we suggested the plan as follows. 1. Selection criteria - We should reevalute the participants by using diagnostic criteria and scales. 2. Selection acupoints - We should present the foundation that why we choose these acupoints. 3. Establishing acupuncture and control group - We should make control group clearly after calculating the number of participants statistically. 4. Blinding - We should propse the method, type, procedure and evaluation about randomization. 5. Evaluation scale - We should select the suitable scales for research objectives.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2016

Objective : The purpose of this study is to analyze research trends on the cost-effectiveness in acupuncture for patients with allergic rhinitis. Methods : The literature and research in allergic rhinitis was searched in electronic databases, such as National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database(NHS EED) and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews(CDSR). The general characteristics and the results of each economic analysis such as incremental cost-effectiveness ratios(ICERs) were extracted. Results : In total, thirty seven studies were searched, and two studies were analyzed. They were cost-utility analysis(CUA)s that measured quality-adjusted life years(QALYs). One study showed that the ICER was €22,798 per QALY and was robust in sensitivity analysis. Another showed that the ICER was between €31,241 and €118,889 from society's perspective and between €20,807 and €74,585 from a third-party payer's perspective. Conclusions : Any generalization of these results needs to be made with caution given the specific effects of acupuncture and the difference of cost data in the various countries. Further studies are needed on this topic in order to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness clearly.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.56-68
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• 2019

Objectives The purpose of this study to analyze the effect of Korean medicine therapy of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders. Methods Electronic research articles were selected by using NDSL, OASIS, KISS, KMBASE, K-portal, Pubmed, Cochrane, and Ebscohost. Results We analyzed fifteen studies about Korean medicine treatment of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders. There are eleven studies on the acupuncture treatment, and the most commonly used acupoints were GV20 and EX-HN1. There are eight studies on the herb medicine treatment. The most commonly used herbal materials are Root of Rehmanniae Radix et Rhizoma Preparata, Root of Rehmanniae Radix et Rhizoma Preparata, Sclerotium of Poria cocos Wolf, and Rhizome of Acori Gramineri Rhizoma. Syncope and hematomas were common side effects of the acupuncture treatment. Also, the acupuncture needle can be stuck or bent during the treatment. In most studies, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders was improved when treated with Korean medicine. Conclusions More studies are needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of Korean medicine in Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders. This study can be used for various studies of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.1399-1410
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• 2009

It is a method to treat pain using medication, neurotomy, and surgery. And acupuncture, ultrasound, electric treatment, and magnetic treatment are applied as a alternative physiotherapy. Electronic therapy is useful but it can be affected by impedance of skin or subcutaneous tissue. So, percutaneous stimulation is leading therapy, that is very randomly. We developed the system which can stimulate parts of acupuncture point noninvasively using the focused magnetic field. And we designed the magnetic stimulation electrode which is considered efficiency of the magnetic stimulation. It can make similar stimulation with manual acupuncture. To confirm the availability and reliability we compared Meridian Electronic Potential(MEP) change between manual acupuncture and magnetic stimulation. From this result, we found out the MEP changes of manual acupuncture and magnetic stimulation were similar. And there were various response properties as changes of stimulation method, intensity, and frequency. Also, the MEP change can be induced by electromagnetic stimulation. We confirmed that it is possible to use electromagnetic stimulation as a acupoint stimulation or pain treatment instrument.