• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.482-487
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• 2006

The identification of the exterior-interior pattern and the cold-heat pattern is one of the most frequently used diagnostic methods in Oriental medicine. No systematic studies, however, have yet been conducted to determine the emotional and autonomic factors involved in the exterior-interior and cold-heat. In this study, the relationships between depression, anxiety, and the exterior-interior and cold-heat patterns in 100 healthy female volunteers with a mean age of 42.77 were also investigated. The autonomic nervous system's control of human temperature is a well known fact. Thus, this paper also aimed to investigate the correlationof the autonomic nervous system and patterns of the exterior-interior and cold-heat. The analysis of heart rate variability (HRV), which has become a popular non-invasive tool for assessing the activities of the autonomic nervous system, was conducted in this study. No relationship was found between the exterior-interior and cold-heat pattern scores and the degree-of-depression scores. But there was a significant difference between the exterior-interior and cold-heat pattern scores of the different anxiety types, and between those of the different anxiety levels. The depression and anxiety levels also had an effect on the HRV indices.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.161-170
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• 2019

Purpose : This study aimed to investigate the effects of a thoracic flexibility exercise program on pain, heart rate variability (HRV), and depression in patients with chronic low back pain. Methods : Fifty patients with chronic low back pain participated in this study. Each participant performed a pre-test and post-test. The outcome measures evaluated were a visual analog scale, HRV test results (automatic activity, standard deviation normal to normal [SDNN], low frequency [LF], high frequency [HF], and LF/HF ratio), and the Beck Depression Inventory. Patients underwent conventional physiotherapy for 35 minutes per session. In addition, a thoracic flexibility exercise program (trunk rotation exercise, McKenzie exercise, and supine thoracic extension exercise) were performed 3 times per week for 4 weeks. Results : After the training period, the visual analog scale results showed a significant decrease in the post-test compared to the pre-test. Automatic activity, SDNN, LF, HF, and LF/HF ratio significantly increased in the post-test compared to the pre-test. The Beck depression inventory results significantly decreased in the post-test compared to the pre-test. Conclusion : This study demonstrated that a thoracic flexibility exercise program improves a visual analog scale, HRV (automatic activity, SDNN, LF, HF, and LF/HF ratio), and the Beck Depression Inventory in patients with chronic low back pain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.89-99
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• 2012

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the effect of simple acupuncture and electroacupuncture at Bai Hui($GV_{20}$) on heart rate variability in healthy adults with stress task. Methods : 40 healthy volunteers participated in this study. HRV was recorded before and after stress. And then simple acupuncture(SA group) was applied at $GV_{20}$ or electroacupuncture(EA group) was applied at the same spot in each treatment group for 20 minutes. No treatment was performed in control group for 20 minutes. Then HRV was recorded. Results : 1. In all groups, LF norm, LF/HF, HF norm showed significant changes after mental stress. 2. Control group showed no significant change. In SA group, HF norm LF, LF norm and LF/HF showed a significant change after treatment. In EA group, Mean HR, HF, LF norm, HF norm and LF/HF showed a significant change after treatment. In both treatment groups, there were significant differences after treatment compared to control group. 3. In EA group, HF and HF norm decreased significantly after treatment compared to SA group. Conclusions : These results suggest that simple acupuncture and electroacupuncture at $GV_{20}$ affect the balance of the autonomic nervous system and that electroacupuncture at $GV_{20}$ enhances parasympathetic activation more than simple acupuncture.

• Mood & Emotion
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.117-122
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• 2017

Objectives : Early life stress (ELS) may have impact on functions of the autonomic nervous system. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a reliable psychophysiological marker for functions of the autonomic nervous system. The purpose of this study was to investigate characteristics of HRV associated with ELS in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods : We compared HRV measures of MDD patients with ELS and without ELS in a 5-minute resting-state electrocardiogram recoding. Forty subjects participated in the study (25 with ELS, 15 without ELS). The Mann-Whitney test was conducted to identify group differences. Results : We found significant group differences in standard deviation of the NN interval (SDNN) and total power (TP). SDNN was lower in the ELS group (M=38.80 ms, SD=13.05 ms) than in the Non-ELS group (M=53.53 ms, SD=19.47 ms). TP was lower in the ELS group ($M=7.07ms^2$, $SD=0.69ms^2$) than in the Non-ELS group ($M=7.72ms^2$, $SD=0.77ms^2$). Conclusion : ELS may have a negative impact on the autonomic nervous system function in patients with MDD. ELS and dysfunction of autonomic nervous system should be considered in treatment for patients with MDD.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.19-28
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• 2009

Objectives : We tried to investigate the effects of Panax Ginseng Radix pharmacopuncture and Zizyphi Spinosi Semen pharmacopuncture on human body with the Heart Rate Variability (HRV) in adult man. As well as we tried to investigate how safe Panax Ginseng Radix and Zizyphi Spinosi Semen pharmacopuncture on the the human being. Methods : We investigated on 44 healthy volunteers consisted of 16 subjects in Panax Ginseng Radix pharmacopuncture group, 13 subjects in Zizyphi Spinosi Semen pharmacopuncture group and 15 subjects in Normal Saline. We ruled out subjects who wasn't stable by rest, with in the limit of normal heart beat(60-120cycle/min). Study form was a randomized, clinical trial. Each group was injected Panax Ginseng Radix pharmacopuncture, Zizyphi Spinosi Semen pharmacopuncture and Normal Saline $0.2m{\ell}$ at $GB_{21}$(Kyonjong). We measured HRV on 7 times : before and after injection per 5 minutes during 30 minutes. The SPSS 13.0 for windows was used to analyze the data by the paired t-test(in the group) and Anova test(among the groups) were used to verify the result. Results : 1. After Panax Ginseng Radix pharmacopuncture injection, SDNN was significantly high, pNN50 was significantly low, Ln(TP) was significantly high, Ln(VLF) was significantly high, Ln(LF) was significantly high at 30 minutes. 2. After Zizyphi Spinosi Semen pharmacopuncture injection, Complexity was significantly low, Ln(VLF) was significantly high at 30 minutes. 3. HRV-index made a significant difference between the Zizyphi Spinosi Semen pharmacopuncture and normal saline at 5 minutes(p=0.02). 4. There wasn's any pain the injected region and whole body, rubefaction, uredo, nausea, vomiting, colic, headache, dizziness within 24 hours. Measured data and mean value of Mean-HRV was within normal range. Conclusions : The results suggested that and Panax Ginseng Radix pharmacopuncture in healthy adult man tended to activate the vagus nervous system within normal range.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2 s.62
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• pp.176-181
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• 2005

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of moxibustion on UPDRS and heart rate variability of patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods: Subjects were voluntarily recruited through newspapers and internet. All subjects were confirmed as showing idiopathic Parkinson's disease by a neurologist. Moxibustion therapy was performed 5 times a week by the patient's family at home and once a week by an oriental medical doctor in hospital. Moxibustion points were GV20, CV12, ST36, BL18, and BL20. Intensity was up to pain threshold to prevent patients getting burned. The patient's symptoms were assessed before and after 8 weeks of treatment by unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS). Heart rate variability was measured for 5 minutes before and after the treatments. Results: Total UPDRS scores were significantly improved after 8 weeks compared to pre-treatment (p<0.05). There were significant decrease of mean heart rates (p<0.05) and increase of SDNN and TP (p<0.05) after 8 weeks' moxibustion treatments. There were no significant changes in other components of heart rate variability. Conclusions: This study suggests that moxibustion treatments can be applicable to improve not only symptoms but also heart rate variability in the patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.305-318
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• 2013

Objectives : The aim of this study was to examine the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) at an acupoint, HT8(Sobu), on normal humans by using power spectral analysis. We examined the effect on the Heart Rate Variability(HRV), and the balance of the autonomic nervous system. Methods : Thirty-two healthy volunteers participated in this study. EEG(Electroencephalogram) power spectrum exhibits site-specific and state-related differences in specific frequency bands. A thirty-two channel EEG study was carried out on thirty-two subjects(14 males; mean age=23.5 years old, 18 females; mean age=21.5 years old). HRV and EEG were simultaneously recorded before and after acupuncture. Results : In the ${\alpha}$(alpha) band, during the HT8-acupoint treatment, the power values in the ${\alpha}$(alpha) band significantly decreased(p<0.05) at 28 channels. In the ${\beta}$(beta) band significantly decreased(p<0.05) at 26 channels. In ${\delta}$(delta) band significantly decreased(p<0.05) at 18 channels. In ${\theta}$(theta) band significantly decreased(p<0.05) at 20 channels. ${\alpha}/{\beta}$ values were increased at 6 channels and decreased at 10 channels.${\beta}/{\theta}$ values were increased at 10 channels and decreased at 19 channels. Mean-RR(RR-interval), Complexity, RMSSD(Root mean square of successive differences), SDSD(Standard deviations differences between adjacent normal R-R intervals), norm HF showed a significantly increased and mean-HRV, norm LF, LHR(LF/HF Ratio) showed a significantly decreased after HT8-acupoint treatment(p<0.05). Conclusions : These results suggest that EA at the HT8 mostly causes significant changes on alpha(28 channels), beta(26 channels), delta(18 channels), theta(20 channels) bands and mean-HRV, mean-RR, complexity, RMSSD, SDSD, norm LF, norm HF and LHR. If practicing EA at the HT8, it will regulate the function of the cerebral cortex, decrease activity of the sympathetic and increase parasympathetic nervous activity.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.140-146
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• 2013

Objective : There have been few comprehensive studies on the analysis of 24-hour HRV of major depressive disorder (MDD). The purpose of this study was to compare the autonomic nerve system of patients with a MDD with healthy patients and to examine the physiologic and clinical effects of 24-hour HRV by analyzing whether the HRV demonstrates the level of depressive symptoms after improving the symptoms in patients with a MDD. Methods : The 24-hour HRV was measured in patient groups with a MDD (n=16) and control groups (n=16). The patients with a MDD received the follow up test for two months after the treatment. Results : There were significant differences among the indexes (SDNN, rMSSD, SDNN index, and pNN50) of time-domain analysis and the indexes (TP, VLF, LF, HF, and ULF) of frequency-domain analysis of HRV between patient and control groups. The means of RR, SDNN, SDANN, and TP increased after two month of the treatment, comparing them with before the treatment, but there were no statistical significance. Conclusion : The results of 24-hour HRV analysis indicated significant decrease of HRV indexes among MDD patients which may suggest decrease of parasympathetic nervous functions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.499-505
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• 2021

In this study, HRV signals are analyzed to compare the autonomic nervous system activity of non-pregnant women and pregnant women. 99 disease-free pregnant women and 27 non-pregnant women from W Hospital participated in the study. The acquired HRV signals were used by the program to perform time domain analysis and frequency domain analysis. The measured values were statistically analyzed for differences between pregnancy periods through a one-way ANOVA. In the results, SDNN and RMSSD in time domain analysis had significantly higher results in early pregnancy and non-pregnant women compared to mid- and late pregnancy. In frequency domain analysis, LF and HF had significantly higher values for pregnancy and non-pregnancy compared to midand late-term, but there was no significant difference between VLF and LF/HF. his means that as pregnancy progresses, the ability to control autonomous nerves decreases in the middle and late stages of pregnancy and increases physical fatigue and mental fatigue. Therefore, the longer the pregnancy period, the more special care is needed to maintain mental and physical stability of pregnant women.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.22-30
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• 2021

Purpose: This descriptive study aimed to investigate heart rate variability (HRV) according to sex and to elucidate the influence of negative emotion such as levels of stress, anxiety and depression on HRV among Korean college students based on a neurovisceral integration model. Methods: A descriptive study design was used. Eighty-six healthy college students participated in the study. Resting HRV and standing HRV on orthostatic stimulation were measured for 5 minutes during 4-6 p.m. in the afternoon. Levels of stress, anxiety and depression were assessed using the Global assessment of recent stress, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Index, respectively. Results: Out of the 86 students, 47 (54.7%) were men and 39 (45.3%) were women. Root mean square of the differences between adjacent RR intervals (RMSSD) and normalized high frequency (nHF) on standing HRV were significantly lower in men than in women (p= .005, p= .019, respectively). Male gender (β= 0.30, p= .013), higher level of stress (β= -0.36, p= .009) and lower level of depression (β = 0.30, p= .044) exerted a significant influence on decreased nHF in the multiple regression analysis. Conclusion: We suggest that men are more vulnerable to having reduced vagal activity on HRV than women. Since male gender, higher level of stress and lower level of depression level influenced decreased vagal activity, strategies are needed to improve stress and depression rather than anxiety especially for men, which contribute to promoting HRV to prevent cardiac health diseases.