• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of further acupuncture research as an effective alternative and safe treatment for abdominal pain control in patients with pancreatitis. Methods and Results : This study is an open-label, assessment-blind, parallel designed pilot clinical trial. Thirty participants will be assigned to the acupuncture group(n=15) and usual care group(n=15). All patients will receive the conventional standard-of-care(SOC) therapy, but only the experimental group will receive acupuncture therapy six times a week, and the duration of acupuncture therapy will be held up to 12 weeks or until the pains are to be resolved. For the conventional SOC therapy, painkiller will be given. In treatment group, the subjects will receive the identical SOC therapy in combination with electroacupuncture therapy on twelve acupuncture points(LI4, PC6, SP6, GB39, ST36, ST37), and auricular acupuncture therapy on five auricular acupuncture points(Sympathetic, Shen Men, Abdomen, Pancreas gall, and Spleen). The primary outcome will be measured using the visual analogue scale(VAS), and the secondary outcome will be measured using the painkiller demand, quality of life index and severity of pancreatitis by abdominal computed tomography(CT). Assessments will be made at baseline and at week 1, 4, 8 and 12. Results of abdominal CT will be evaluated at baseline and at week 12. Conclusions : The result of this trial will provide a basis for the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture treatment for abdominal pain in patients with pancreatitis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2015

Objectives: This study is aimed to develop a Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) on acupuncture treatment for the patients with post-stroke spasticity. Methods: Experts committee, consisting of stroke or methodology specialists, searched Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and 19 Korean medicine journals. The search terms were selected to screen the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or systematic reviews for the effectiveness of acupuncture on post-stroke spasticity, compared with placebo or conventional group. Levels of evidence and grades of recommendations were appraised based on Recommendations for Development of Clinical Practice Guideline in Korean Medicine. Results & Conclusions: One systematic review and 7 RCT were included to build the CPG. There was a strong evidence to support the effectiveness of electroacupuncture treatment for post-stroke spasticity. However, it did not show any sufficient evidence to treat the patients with post-stroke spasticity with the sole acupuncture. The moderate evidence was presented that over 3 times of the electroacupuncture treatments with 1-100 Hz frequency should be performed every week on the acupoints, such as LI11, LI10, TE5, LI4, ST36, GB34, ST40, or LR3, for 20-30 minutes. It was also suggested that the procedure should begin at the acute stage just after the vital signs of the patients are stabilized. Finally, there was a moderate evidence to support safety of acupuncture treatment for post-stroke spasticity.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.219-228
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• 2006

Objectives : To observe the effect of acupuncture treatment on Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging(DITI) in frozen shoulder patients. Methods : 17 voluntary patients received acupuncture treatment on LI15, TE14, GB21 and Master Dong's acupuncture points, Shin-gwan and Gyun-joong, twice a week for 4 weeks. The patients were instructed to practice self exercise during their daily lives. Evaluations were made before treatment, after 1 week of treatment, after 2 weeks, 3 weeks and after 4 weeks of treatment. Constant Shoulder Assessment(CSA), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index(SPADI), Range of Motion(ROM) and the patient's satisfaction concerning the treatment was measured by Visual Analogue Scale(VAS). DITI was measured before treatment and after 4weeks of treatment. The obtained data was analyzed. Results : CSA, SPADI, VAS, adduction and extension showed significant(p<0.05) improvement. Abduction and flexion both improved after 4 weeks of treatment, but the improvement was statistically insignificant(p>0.05). DITI showed improvement but the improvement was insignificant(p>0.05). Conclusion : 4 weeks of acupuncture treatment significantly improved CSA, SPADI, VAS, adduction and extension in frozen shoulder patients(p<0.05). The improvement of abduction and flexion after 4 weeks of acupuncture treatment was insignificant(p>0.05). DITI results improved after 4 weeks of acupuncture treatment. But the change of thermal difference was insignificant(p>0.05).

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.177-185
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• 2006

Objectives : To observe the effect of acupuncture treatment and western medical treatment on frozen shoulder patients. Methods : 39 voluntary patients were randomly assigned to the Eastern treatment group(E group, n=22) and the Western treatment group(W group, n=17). The E group received acupuncture treatment on LI15, TE14, GB21 and Master Dong's acupuncture points, Shin-gwan and Gyun-joong, twice a week for 4 weeks. The W group received suprascapular nerve block, subacromial injection and trigger point injection, twice a week for 4 weeks. Both groups were instructed to practice self exercise during their daily lives. Evaluations were made before treatment and after treatment using Constant Shoulder Assessment(CSA), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index(SPADI) and the patient's satisfaction concerning the treatment was measured by Visual Analogue Scale(VAS). The obtained data were analyzed and compared. Results : The E group showed significant improvement(p<0.05) according to the CSA and SPADI. The patient's satisfaction scored 5.67 on a scale of 10. The W group showed significant improvement(p<0.05) according to the CSA and SPADI. The patient's satisfaction scored 7.73. But the difference between the two groups were insignificant according to CSA and SPADI. Conclusion : Both acupuncture and nerve block treatment significantly improved frozen shoulder. But the difference of the two treatments was insignificant.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.223-234
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• 2005

Objective : The objective of this study was to research depression with acupuncture & moxibustion treatment. Methods : We searched Chinese Medical Literature(published from 1985~2002) related to depression and acupuncture. Results : 1) PC6(內關), HT7(神門), ST36(足三里), GV20(百會), LR3(太衝), SP6(三陰交) are much used for the treatment depression. 2. LR3(太衝), CV17(전중), GB34(陽陵泉), ST40(豊隆), PC6(內關) are much used for the excess type of depression and PC6(內關), SP6(三陰交), HT7(神門), BL15(心兪) are much used for deficiency type of depression. 3. ST36(足三里), SP6(三稜交), HT7(神門), PC6(內關), HT5(通里), KI1(通泉) are used for the treatment depression in electroacupuncture therapy. BL15(心兪), BL20(脾兪),ST36(足三里) are used for the treatment depression in acupoint injection therapy. 4. In dermal needle therapy, it is used to tap slightly until the skin becomes congested in the region of Bladder meridian and nape, back of Governor Vessel. 5. It seems that psychotherapy, music therapy and light therapy will be applied for the treatment of depression. Conclusion : We expect that acupuncture treatment of depression will be applied practically in clinical medicine due to further study on depression with acupuncture.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.177-186
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• 2014

Objectives : The aim of this study is to report a case of a 51-year-old patient with Herpes zoster, whose symptoms were relieved within five weeks after the East-west medical combined treatment. Methods : A Herpes zoster patient with extreme pain around the right lower ribs and lower back was admitted into the Korean medicine hospital. Bee venom acupuncture was applied directly onto the site of pain and electroacupuncture was applied on $GV_6-BL_{20}$, inferior site of spinous process of the 12th thoracic vertebra-$BL_{21}$, $GV_5-BL_{22}$, $GV_4-BL_{23}$ six times a week. Moxibustion was applied on $BL_{49}$, $BL_{50}$, $BL_{51}$, $BL_{52}$, $GB_{25}$, $LR_{13}$ six times a week, and the patient took daily doses of herbal medicine and western medicines such as anticonvulsants, analgesics, antiepileptics. The patient's symptoms were evaluated with numeric rating scale(NRS) and neuropathic pain scale(NPS). Results : The results were as follows: 1. After the East-west medical combined treatment, the NRS grade decreased from 8 to 1. 2. On the neuropathic pain scale, the patient's symptoms changed from deep sharp pain and burning sensation to superficial dull pain and coldness. Sensitivity to touch, discomfort, and itchiness also decreased. Sudden attacks of pain appeared 14 to 21 days after onset, but disappeared after final treatment. Conclusions : The results of the above patient suggests that the East-west medical combined treatment may be effective for total remission of herpes zoster. Further research is needed to confirm such effects.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2020

This paper presents experimental and numerical studies on effects of local damages on the in-plane elastic-plastic buckling and strength of a fixed parabolic steel tubular arch under a vertical load distributed uniformly over its span, which have not been reported in the literature hitherto. The in-plane structural behaviour and strength of ten specimens with different local damages are investigated experimentally. A finite element (FE) model for damaged steel tubular arches is established and is validated by the test results. The FE model is then used to conduct parametric studies on effects of the damage location, depth and length on the strength of steel arches. The experimental results and FE parametric studies show that effects of damages at the arch end on the strength of the arch are more significant than those of damages at other locations of the arch, and that effects of the damage depth on the strength of arches are most significant among those of the damage length. It is also found that the failure modes of a damaged steel tubular arch are much related to its initial geometric imperfections. The experimental results and extensive FE results show that when the effective cross-section considering local damages is used in calculating the modified slenderness of arches, the column bucking curve b in GB50017 or Eurocode3 can be used for assessing the remaining in-plane strength of locally damaged parabolic steel tubular arches under uniform compression. Furthermore, a useful interaction equation for assessing the remaining in-plane strength of damaged steel tubular arches that are subjected to the combined bending and axial compression is also proposed based on the validated FE models. It is shown that the proposed interaction equation can provide lower bound assessments for the remaining strength of damaged arches under in-plane general loading.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was to investigate the effects of Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu Pharmacopuncture and Bovis calculus Fel Ursi Pharmacopuncture on autonomic nervous system with Heart Rate Variability(HRV). Purpose of the trial was to observe what influence Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu Pharmacopuncture and Bovis calculus Fel Ursi pharmacopuncture have on the autonomic nervous system. Methods : 40 healthy male volunteers were divided into two experimental groups, such as Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu Pharmacopuncture group and Bovis calculus Fel Ursi Pharmacopuncture group. Study design was a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. 20 subjects in one experimental group were injected Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu Pharmacopuncture, 20 subjects in other experimental group were injected hydrolyzed Bovis calculus Fel Ursi Pharmacopuncture at GB21(Kyonjong). We measured HRV 7 times : baseline measurement and every 5 minutes for 30 minutes after injection. The SPSS 15.0 for Windows was used to analyze the data by the paired t-test(in group) and independent sample t-test(between the groups). Results A. Time Domain Analysis 1. Analysis of Mean HRV, SDNN and Complexity After injection of Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu Pharmacopuncture, Mean HRV was significantly decreased all the times after injection. SDNN was significantly increased at immediate and 25 minute after injection. Complexity was significantly decreased only at 15 minute after injection. After injection of Bovis calculus Fel Ursi Pharmacopuncture, Mean HRV was significantly decreased all the times after injection. Complexity was significantly decreased at 15 minutes after injection. 2. Analysis of HRV index, pNN50 After injection of Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu Pharmacopuncture, HRV index was significantly increased immediately after injection. pNN50 was significantly decreased at immediately, 20 and 25 minutes after injection. After injection of Bovis calculus Fel Ursi Pharmacopuncture, HRV index was significantly increased immediately after injection. pNN50 was significantly decreased at immediate and 25 minutes after injection. B. Frequency Domain Analysis 1. Analysis of Ln(TP), Ln(HF), Ln(LF), Ln(VLF) After injection of Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu Pharmacopuncture, Ln(TP) was significantly increased at immediate and 25 after injection. Ln(HF) was significantly increased all the times after injection. Ln(LF) was significantly increased at 15, 20 and 25 minutes after injection. Ln(VLF) was significantly increased at immediate and 25 minutes after injection. After injection of Bovis calculus Fel Ursi Pharmacopuncture, Ln(TP) was significantly increased at immediately and 25 after injection. Ln(LF) was significantly increased at 20 and 25 minutes after injection. Ln(VLF) was significantly increased at immediate and 25 minutes after injection. Conclusions : We results suggest that Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu Pharmacopuncture and Bovis calculus Fel Ursi Pharmacopuncture in healthy adult men tend to activate the autonomic nervous system and sympathetic nervous system within normal range.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2015

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: A randomized, controlled pilot trial was conducted. Twenty-two participants were randomized into one of the two groups: an acupuncture group (n=11) and wait-list group (n=11). The treatment group received 8 sessions of electroacupuncture over 8 weeks. Twenty points (CV4, CV12, both LR14, GB26, ST25, ST34, ST40, ST36, SP4, SP6, LR3) were selected for needling. The control group did not receive acupuncture treatment during study period and followup were done in the 4th and 8th weeks after randomization in both groups. The primary outcome was body fat computed tomography and the secondary outcomes included blood test (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transferase, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high density lipoproteincholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, blood sugar test, ${\gamma}$-guanosine triphosphate) and body composition test (body mass index, weight, body fat mass, body fat rate, waist hip ratio). Safety was assessed at every visit. Results: There was no significant differences in between the experimental group and control group. There were no adverse events. Conclusions: The results suggest that In patients with NAFLD, electroacupuncture treatment did not induce worsening of liver disease and liver function, but it was no improvement symptoms of fatty liver. Study of herb medicine treatments and other acupuncture therapy of NAFLD are required later.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.101-108
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• 2011

Climate change could have a pronounced impact on natural and agricultural ecosystems. To assess the impact of climate change, projected climate data have been used as inputs to models. Because such studies are conducted occasionally, it would be useful to employ Cloud computing, which provides multiple instances of operating systems in a virtual environment to do processing on demand without building or maintaining physical computing resources. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to use open source geospatial applications in order to avoid the limitations of proprietary software when Cloud computing is used. As a pilot study, Amazon Web Service ? Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) was used to calculate the number of days with rain in a given month. Daily sets of climate projection data, which were about 70 gigabytes in total, were processed using virtual machines with a customized database transaction application. The application was linked against open source libraries for the climate data and database access. In this approach, it took about 32 hours to process 17 billion rows of record in order to calculate the rain day on a global scale over the next 100 years using ten clients and one server instances. Here I demonstrate that Cloud computing could provide the high level of performance for impact assessment studies of climate change that require considerable amount of data.