• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.172-179
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• 2017

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of traditional Korean medicine treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis as assessed by radiological criteria. Methods: This was an observational study of 122 patients who were diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis and admitted to Jaseng Hospital between January 2016 and June 2017. They were analyzed according to sex, age, cause of disease, disease stage, length of admission, type of stenosis, morphological grade, and dural sac cross-sectional area. All patients were treated with traditional Korean medicine. Patients were assessed with the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and EQ-5D before and after treatment. Results: Regarding the distribution of the factors analyzed, these were of note: more females than males (1:3.52); and highest proportions were age more than 70 years (37.70%), cause of lumbar spinal stenosis unknown (67.21%), and subacute stage (42.62%). Comparing before and after treatment, the NRS score for low back and pelvic pain decreased from $6.14{\pm}1.71$ to $4.28{\pm}1.91$ (p < 0.001), and the NRS score for radiating pain and numbness decreased from $6.27{\pm}1.61$ to $2.02{\pm}1.54$ (p < 0.001). ODI decreased from $46.86{\pm}19.40$ to $33.63{\pm}18.66$ (p < 0.001), and gait-related ODI decreased from $3.34{\pm}1.23$ to $2.80{\pm}1.11$ (p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in improvement of the NRS, ODI, gait-related ODI, and EQ-5D for morphological grade and dural sac cross-sectional area. Conclusion: Traditional Korean medicine is effective treatment for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. Even in patients with severe radiological findings, it is possible to reduce pain and improve quality of life.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.153-158
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• 2017

Background: Hominis placenta (HP) is used in Korean medicine to tonify qi and blood, and enrich yin and tonify yang. HP has been reported to have therapeutic effects. Methods: A survey of international and Korean electronic databases was conducted using the search terms "hominis placenta pharmacopuncture" and "hominis placenta extract". The search was limited to material published up to May 31, 2017. Results: A total of 83 studies were included in this systematic review: 50 were clinical studies, 25 were basic studies, and 8 were other types of study. Among clinical studies, the most frequently treated disease groups were musculoskeletal diseases and nervous system diseases. In vitro studies were conducted mainly on anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-cell necrosis models. Most of the in vivo studies were performed in rheumatoid arthritis or diabetic complications models. Conclusion: HP pharmacopuncture has effects in the treatment of various diseases. Further large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to improve the level of evidence for HP pharmacopuncture. It would be helpful if future in vitro and in vivo studies could identify the mechanism of action of HP pharmacopuncture.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.88-94
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• 2018

Background: Length of hospitalization for patients with lower back pain sustained in road traffic accidents was assessed clinically. Methods: In total, 170 patients with lower back pain injury sustained in road traffic accidents, were included in the study. They were divided into 2 groups: Group A with a shorter hospitalization period (1-7 days) and Group B with a longer hospitalization period (8-14 days). Each group was treated daily with traditional Korean medicine including: acupuncture, herbal acupuncture, herbal decoction medicine, and chuna treatment. To compare the treatment effects between the 2 groups, health-related quality of life, Oswestry disability index, and numeric rating scale were used. Statistical analysis between the 2 groups was assessed using Chi-square test, independent t test, and paired t test. Results: After hospitalization, Group A and Group B both showed a significant increase in their health-related quality of life scores and significant decreases in Oswestry disability index and numeric rating scale scores. In addition, Group B, with a longer hospitalization period than Group A, showed a significant improvement over Group A in its health-related quality of life and numeric rating scale scores. Conclusion: This study suggests that control of pain caused by lower back injury sustained in a road traffic accident, may be more effectively achieved in patients receiving 8-14 days of hospitalization and traditional Korean medicine treatment, compared to those receiving < 7 days of hospitalization treatment. In the future, more systematic and large-scale studies are needed to ascertain the effects of other variables.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.129-137
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Postural Yinyang correction of the temporomandibular joint (functional cerebrospinal therapy) on temporomandibular disorder. Methods: Medical records of 21 outpatients were reviewed who were diagnosed with temporomandibular joint disorder, unspecified (K0769) and treated at the Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Dong-Eui University Korean Medicine Hospital from May $1^{st}$, 2017 to April $30^{th}$, 2018. Patients received more than 10 treatments of upper cervical manipulation and performed self-exercise therapy more than 3 times a day and wore an accurate balancing appliance in the oral cavity for more than 8 hours per day. To estimate the efficacy, visual analogue scale (VAS), numerical rating scale (NRS), maximum mouth opening (MMO), symptom intensity scale (SIS), max SIS (MSIS), symptom frequency scale (SFS), mandibular function impairment questionnaire (MFIQ) and 5-point Likert scale were used. Results: NRS and MSIS were significantly improved during each period. VAS, MMO, SIS, and SFS were significantly improved during each period, except the period from the $8^{th}$ to $10^{th}$ visit. MFIQ score was significantly improved during the period from the $1^{st}$ to $10^{th}$ visit. In the 5-point Likert scale, the results showed a high patient satisfaction with the treatment. Conclusion: These results showed that functional cerebrospinal therapy using an accurate balancing appliance, may be useful for reducing the symptoms of temporomandibular disorder.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.203-208
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• 2020

This literature review was designed to investigate the effects of the microneedle therapy system (MTS) on alopecia in experimental, and clinical studies. The MTS is acupuncture needling therapy delivered by a roller. A literature review of studies published before May 2020 was conducted using 9 online databases, and a total of 13 studies (4 in vivo studies and 9 clinical trials) were included. Most studies showed that the MTS was effective when used in combination with other treatments. In vivo studies reported an increased level of hair growth factors following treatment. Typically, 1.5 mm needles were used in the MTS treatment and photographic evaluation (by either camera or microscope) was reported in most studies. Oriental medicine research included 2 in vivo studies, which reported positive effects when combined with the MTS. There were no reported severe side effects. the MTS might be safe and has a drug delivery effect. Further studies need to be conducted regarding the frequency and needle length depending on the type of alopecia using Oriental and Western medicine.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.1035-1043
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• 1999

Bacteriocins are natural antimicrobial compounds produced by many microorganisms associated with foods, so that there is currently much interest in their use as food biopreservatives. Goal of this study was to partially evaluate lacticin NK24 as a food biopreservative by showing antimicrobial activity of L. lactis NK24 and lacticin NK24 against food-borne spoilage and pathogenic bacteria, respectively. Lactic acid bacteria NK24 isolated from jeot-gal, Korean fermented fish foods, was tentatively identified as Lactococcus lactis and showed broad spectrum of activity against all of spoilage and pathogenic bacteria tested by deferred method. Bacteriocin production in jar fermenter was detected at the mid-log growth phase, and reached the maximum at the early stationary phase, but decreased after the stationary phase. Lacticin NK24 was partially purified by 75% ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by subsequent dialysis. This partially purified lacticin NK24 showed antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Clostridium perfringens, some bacilli, Listeria monocytogenes, Listeria ivanovii, Sphin-gomonas pausimobilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Thus, lacticin NK24 examined in this study show promise as a biopreservative be-cause of their broad spectrum of activity.

• KOMUNHWA
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• no.60
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• pp.27-64
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• 2002

It has been known that pit-wooden chamber tomb with stone piling, pit-wooden chamber tomb, jar coffin tomb and fosse-girded tomb were the chief burial systems of the 'Jumtodae' pottery cultural age in Honam province. But in this thesis, I lay emphasis on

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.128-135
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• 2020

Background: Classical acupuncture is being used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To explore the biological response to acupuncture, a network-based analysis was performed on gene expression data collected from an animal model of RA treated with acupuncture. Methods: Gene expression data were obtained from published microarray studies on blood samples from rats with collagen induced arthritis (CIA) and non-CIA rats, both treated with manual acupuncture. The weighted gene co-expression network analysis was performed to identify gene clusters expressed in association with acupuncture treatment time and RA status. Gene ontology and pathway analyses were applied for functional annotation and network visualization. Results: A cluster of 347 genes were identified that differentially downregulated expression in association with acupuncture treatment over time; specifically in rats with CIA with module-RA correlation at 1 hour after acupuncture (-0.27; p < 0.001) and at 34 days after acupuncture (-0.33; p < 0.001). Functional annotation showed highly significant enrichment of porphyrin-containing compound biosynthetic processes (p < 0.001). The network-based analysis also identified a module of 140 genes differentially expressed between CIA and non-CIA in rats (p < 0.001). This cluster of genes was enriched for antigen processing and presentation of exogenous peptide antigen (p < 0.001). Other functional gene clusters previously reported in earlier studies were also observed. Conclusion: The identified gene expression networks and their hub-genes could help with the understanding of mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of RA, as well understanding the effects of acupuncture treatment of RA.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.102-109
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• 2020

Background: Due to the aging population in Korea, knee osteoarthritis (KOA) has become an increasingly common condition. Many patients with KOA prefer analgesics, herbal medicines, acupuncture, or exercise, rather than arthroscopic surgery or a knee replacement. Gyebutang (GB) granules are a herbal extract widely used to treat KOA in traditional Korean medicine, but there is insufficient evidence of its efficacy and safety. Methods: A multicenter, randomized, assessor-blinded, 2-armed parallel, controlled clinical trial has been designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of GB combined with acupuncture for the treatment of KOA. There will be 100 patients with KOA enrolled in the study from 3 traditional Korean medicine hospitals. The participants will be randomly allocated to an experimental group (GB and acupuncture) or a control group (celecoxib and acupuncture) in a 1:1 ratio. Both groups will receive acupuncture treatment once a week for 6 weeks; one group will receive GB and the other will receive celecoxib for the same duration. Results: The primary outcome will be the change of knee osteoarthritic pain, based on scores on a 100 mm visual analog scale. The secondary outcomes will be scores on a numeric rating scale, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index, patient global assessment, European quality of life 5-dimension 5-level scale, and adverse events. Conclusion: The results of this study will provide evidence of efficacy and safety of GB as a treatment for patients with KOA.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2004.03b
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• pp.453-460
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• 2004

To prevent penetration of rainwater into the landfill site is the main purpose of the final cover in landfill sites. Conventional designs of landfill covers uses geotextiles such as geomembrane and GCL, and clay liners to lower the permeability of final covers of landfill sites. However, differential settlement and the variation of temperature in landfill sites cause the development of cracks or structural damage inside the final cover and it is also difficult to obtain clay - the main material of the compacted clay liner in Korea. Thus the former final cover system that suggests geomembrane and GCL or compacted clay liner has several limitations. Therefore, an alternative method is necessary and one of them is the application of SRSL(self-Recovering Sustainable Liner) material. SRSL is two different layers consist of individual materials that react with each other and form precipitates, and with this process lowers the permeability of the landfill final cover. SRSL generally is made up of two layers, so that when a internal crack occurs the reactants of the two layers migrate towards the crack and heal it by forming another liner. In this study the applicability of SRSL material for landfill final cover was examined by performing; (1) jar test to verify the formation of precipitate in the mixture of each reactants, (2) falling head test considering the field stress in order to confirm the decrease of permeability or prove that the hydraulic condctivity is lower than the regulations, (3) compression tests to judge weather if the strength satisfies the restricts for landfills, (4) freeze/thaw test to check the applicability of SRSL for domestic climate. In addition, the application of waste materials in the environmental and economical aspect was inspected, and finally the possibility of secondary contamination due to the waste materials was examined by performing elution tests.