• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.291-297
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• 2018

The purpose of pilot clinical trial is to evaluate the efiicacy and safety of Needle-Embedding acupuncture therapy on TEWL(Transepidermal Water Loss) and Skin hydration. A total of 24 human who visited Dongshin Oriental Medical Center from December 1st, 2016 to July 31st, 2017 were included in the pilot clinical trial. Needle-Embedding acupuncture therapy performed at Gokji(LI11). We observed change of TEWL(Transepidermal Water Loss), Skin hydration before and after Needle-Embedding acupuncture therapy. In the primary endpoint, index of TEWL showed a statistically insignificant decline ($8.5{\pm}2.12{\rightarrow}7.8{\pm}1.53g/h/m^2$). Index of skin hydration showed a statistically significant result ($38.2{\pm}6.77{\rightarrow}36.8{\pm}6.64$). To evaluate the safety, Adverse events and Vital sign check were conducted and there were no problem. And when the physical response, self-awareness, skin system, musculoskeletal pain, and other abnormal responses were assessed 60 minutes and 24 hours and 7 days after Needle-Embedding acupuncture therapy at Gokji(LI11) for stability assessment, Adverse events disappeared during a pilot clinical trial. According to the above pilot clinical trial, it is suggested Needle-Embedding acupuncture therapy were effective for Skin moisturizing and safe.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.118-132
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• 2003

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Joksamni(ST36) combination on NAD PH-diaphorase, neuronal nitric oxide synthase(nNOS), neuropeptide Y(NPY) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the cerebral cortex of spontaneously hypertensive rat. Methods: The experimental groups were divided into four groups: Normal, Joksamni(ST36), Joksamni(ST36)+Eumneungcheon(SP9), and Joksamni(ST36)+Gokji(LI11). Needles were inserted into acupoints at the depth of 0.5cm with basic insertion method. Electroacupuncture was done under the condition of 2Hz electrical biphasic pulses with continuous rectangular wave lasting for 0.2ms until the muscles produced visible contractions. Such stimulation was applied continuously for 10 minutes, 1 time every 2 days 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 the Joksamni(ST36)+Eumneungcheon(SP9) group in all areas of cerebral cortex and Joksamni(ST36)+Gokji(LI11) group in primary somatosensory cortex, visual cortex, auditory cortex, perirhinal cortex were significantly increased as compared to the Joksamni(ST36) group. The optical densities of NADPH-d positive neurons of the Joksamni(ST36)+Gokji(LI11) group were significantly decreased as compared to the Joksamni(ST36)+Eumneungcheon(SP9) group with the exception of primary somatosensory cortex. The optical densities of nNOS positive neurons of the Joksamni(ST36)+Eumneungcheon(SP9) group in all areas of cerebral cortex and Joksamni(ST36)+Gokji(LI11) group in auditory cortex, perirhinal cortex, insular cortex were significantly increased as compared to the Joksamni(ST36) group. The optical densities of nNOS positive neurons of the Joksamni(ST36)+Gokji(LI11) group were significantly decreased in all areas of cerebral cortex as compared to the Joksamni(ST36)+Eumneungcheon(SP9) group. The optical densities of NPY positive neurons of the Joksamni(ST36)+Gokji(LI11) group were significantly decreased in primary motor cortex, primary somatosensory cortex, cingulate cortex as compared to the Joksamni (ST36) and Joksamni(ST36)+Eumneungcheon(SP9) groups. The optical densities of VIP positive neurons of the Joksamni(ST36)+Eumneungcheon(SP9) group were significantly increased in all areas of cerebral cortex except for cingulate cortex as compared to the Joksamni(ST36) group. The optical densities of VIP positive neurons of the Joksamni(ST36)+Gokji(LI11) group were significantly decreased in auditory cortex, cingulate cortex, perirhinal cortex as compared to the Joksamni(ST36) group. The optical densities of VIP positive neurons of the Joksamni(ST36)+Gokji(LI11) group were significantly decreased in all areas of cerebral cortex as compared to the Joksamni(ST36)+Eumneungcheon(SP9) group. Conclusions: The result demonstrated that electroacupuncture on Joksamni(ST36) and its combination change the activities of the NO system and peptidergic system in the cerebral cortex of SHR and that acupoint combination is one of the important parameters for the effects.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.201-219
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• 2007

Objectives : We studied Effects of Hagocho(prunella vulgaris L.), Gamgook(chrysanthemum indicum L.) and Galgeun(pueraria Radix) aqua-acupuncture on the hyperlipidemic rat. methods : We investigated lowering lipid effect, oxidative capacity, concentration of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, Leptin and histological consideration in hyperlipidemic rat. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 400g were divided into 5 groups of control, Ⅰ: Hagocho (prunella vulgaris L.)+Gamgook (chrysanthemum indicum L.) and Gokji aqua-acupuncture, Ⅱ: Hagocho(prunella vulgaris L.)+Gamgook (chrysanthemum indicum L.) and Joksamri aqua-acupuncture, Ⅲ: Hagocho(prunella vulgaris L.)+Galgeun(pueraria Radix)and Gokji aqua-acupuncture and Ⅳ: Hagocho (prunella vulgaris L.)+Galgeun(pueraria Radix) and Joksamri aqua-acupuncture. Results : Contents of plasma ${\beta}$-lipoprotein, contents of IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$ and leptin, Plasma triglyceride and glucose, plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, liver total cholesterol, liver triglyceride, plasma and liver TBARS, free fatty acids showed a tendency to decrease in the aqua-acupuncture groups compared to those of control group. The activities of GOT and GPT showed no significantly different in all treatment groups. Values of super oxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activity showed a tendency to increase in the aqua-acupuncture groups. Histological consideration of heart, kidney and liver in the aqua-acupuncture groups showed slight vasodilation and fat accumulation compared to those of normal rat. Conclusions : These results indicated that prunella vulgaris L., chrysanthemum indicum L. and pueraria Radix aqua-acupuncture at gokji(LI11) and Joksamri(ST36) suppressed adipose tissue mass and lipid peroxidation and increased antioxidant system in hyperlipidemic rat.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.181-200
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• 2007

Objevtives & Methods : Effects of cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at BL18 and LI11 on lipid composition, cytokine level, liver function, anti-oxidative capacity and histological characters were investigated in diet-induced obese rats. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 400g were divided into 4 groups of control, BL18, LI11 and BL18 plus LI11 pharmacopuncture groups and raised for 4 weeks. Results : 1. Plasma ${\beta}$-lipoprotein, free fatty acids level and TNF-${\alpha}$ levels significantly decreased in the pharmacopuncture groups compared to those of no treatment group. Plasma and liver total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels were also significantly lower than those of no treatment group. There was, however, no difference in TBARS level among pharmacopuncture groups. Liver total cholesterol level of BL18 pharmacopuncture group was lower than those of the other two pharmacopuncture groups. In LDL-cholesterol level, BL18 pharmacopuncture and BL18 plus LI11 pharmacopuncture groups only had significantly lower levels than that of no treatment group. 2. There was no significant difference between cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture groups and no treatment group in IL-6, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartic acid transaminase (AST) levels. 3. Compared with \ those of no treatment group, pharmacopuncture groups had significantly higher levels of HDL-cholesterol, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase activities. There was, however, no significant difference among pharmacopuncture groups. 4. Histological characters of heart, kidney and liver of BL18 pharmacopuncture group were similar to those of normal rats. Conclusions : These results indicate that cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at BL18 and LI11 may suppress adipose tissue mass and lipid peroxidation and activate antioxidant system.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.193-198
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• 2010

Objectives : The directional supplementation and draining and twirling supplementation and draining have been used widely in oriental medical clinic. The aim of this study is to compare the effects between directional supplementation and draining method and twirling supplementation and draining. Methods : Clinical experiment was performed with 21 students of oriental medical college of Daegu Haany university. Acupuncture was applied at left Hapgok (LI4) with directional supplementation and twirling supplementation respectively, and the thermographic change was checked using DITI (Digital Infrared Thermographic Image). Results and Conclusion : A significant thermographic change was observed at bilateral Igan (LI2), Yanggye (LI5), Gokji (LI11), and Yeonghyang (LI20) in directional supplementation. A significant thermographic change was observed at bilateral Igan (LI2), Yanggye (LI5), and Yeonghyang (LI20) in twirling supplementation. Based on the thermographic change, it could be demonstrated that directional supplementation is more effective that twirling supplementation.

• 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.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.271-276
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• 2018

The purpose of pilot clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy on TEWL(Transepidermal Water Loss) and skin hydration. A total of 36 human who visited Dongshin University Oriental Medical Center from October 2nd, 2015 to July 31st, 2016 were included in the pilot clinical trial. Acupuncture therapy was performed at Gokji(LI11) and Daechu(GV14). We observed change of TEWL(Transepidermal Water Loss), skin hydration before and after acupuncture therapy. In the primary endpoint, index of TEWL showed a statistically significant decline($8.01{\pm}2.55{\rightarrow}6.58{\pm}1.97g/h/m2$, $7.40{\pm}2.65{\rightarrow}4.99{\pm}1.89g/h/m2$). Index of skin hydration showed statistical significance($52.83{\pm}6.53{\rightarrow}56.82{\pm}7.24$, $63.50{\pm}8.57{\rightarrow}64.96{\pm}8.48$). To evaluate the safety, vital sign check were conducted and showed no statistically significant result. And there were no severe adverse events during this study. According to the above pilot clinical trial, it is suggested acupuncture therapy were effective for skin moisturizing.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was done to investigate the effects of acupressure on pruritus and sleep among patients undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: The study design was a nonequivalent control group repeat measures quasiexperimental study. Data were collected from June to September 2015 in the kidney center at a hospital located in B city. Participants were 42 patients; 20 in the experimental group and 22 in the control group. For the experimental group, acupressure on the spots of Sameumgyo (SP6), Zoksamli (ST36), Hyolhae (SP10), and Gokji (LI11) was provided at the time of hemodialysis three times a week for 12 weeks. The numeric rating scale (NRS) was used to measure pruritus, and sleep was measured with the sleep scale developed by Jinju Oh et al. Results: There was a significant decrease in pruritus (F=7.80, p=.008) and increase in sleep (F=80.90, p<.001) in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: The findings confirmed in the study show that acupressure is an effective nursing intervention to decrease pruritus felt by patients on hemodialysis and to increase the quality of their sleep.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.385-393
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• 2016

Objectives : This study describes the clinical study of one drug eruption patient caused by unknown drugs treated with Korean medicine and acupuncture. Methods : We studied the case of 48-year-old woman. For treatment, herbal-medicine and acupuncture were applied. The patient was treated with Yongdamsagantang and Danggwieumja, acupuncture at Hapgok(L14), Taechung(LR03), Gokji(LI11). Hyeolhae(SP10), Joksamni(ST36), Sameumgyo(SP6), moxa at Gwanwon(CV4). Results : After treatment, the symptoms of urticaria, rash, itching, dryness, scale, burning sensation and the feeling a chill were disappeared. Conclusions : This study suggests that Korean medicine and acupuncture treatments show effective on drug eruption caused by unknown drugs.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.47-60
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• 2011

Objectives The objective of this study was to contribute to the development of pharmacupuncture for obesity treatment by reviewing the studies of pharmacupuncture experimentations and clinical trials. Methods We searched the papers with keywords of 'obesity' and 'pharmacupuncture' in the search site, RISS, Oriental medicine advanced searching integrated system(OASIS), Korean traditional knowledge portal, the society of Korean medicine for obesity research, Korean pharmacupuncture institute, the Korean academy of oriental rehabitation medicine and Korean acupuncture & moxibustion society. Results 1. We reviewed 37 articles searched. 27 articles(73.0%) were animal experimentations, 5 articles(13.5%) were cell experimentations, 4 articles(10.8%) were clinical trials and 1 article(2.7%) was study analysis. 2. The herbs, using for animal experimentations, were atratylodes japonica, coix lachrymajobi, ephedra sinica, crataegus pinnatifida, wild ginseng and etc. Acupucture points were joksamni(ST36), zhongwan(CV12), gansoo(BL18), pungnyung(ST40), umnungchon(SP9), bisu(BL20), gokji (LI11), cheun-chu(ST25) and etc. 3. For cell experimentations, preadipocytes and adipocytes performed on cell cultures with using rats, 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and porcine skin including fat tissue were treated with fel ursi, bovis calculus, ephedrae herba, spirodelae herba, wild ginseng. 4. For clinical trials, Sangsik no.1, Bigiheo, ephedra, green tea and sweet bee venom were injected at the region where a lot of fat like zhongwan(CV12), xiawan(CV10), kwanwon(CV4), cheun-chu(ST25) and thigh. Conclusion Through animal and cell experimentations and clinical trials, the treatment of obesity using local acupuncture therapy was effective. For clinical use, however, it is considered that animal and cell experimentation and clinical trial's connection using one kind of herb and studies about more clinical trials and associated side effects are needed.