• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.209-220
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• 2000

Spasticity, an abnormal increase in resting muscle tone, is one of the most common symptoms of stroke, and its management is becoming a major issue in rehabilitation. The aims of this study are to determine the effects of electroacupuncture(EA), TENS and neuromuscular electric stimulation(NMES) on spasticity, as well as the possibility of tissue comliance method as a spasticity scale. 45 stroke patients participated in a study of the effects on hemiplegic spasticity of EA, TENS and NMES. Spasticity was measured by modified Ashworth scale on the upper extremity and tissue compliance measurement, penetration mm/kg, on Susamni(LI10) area at just before and after stimulation, and 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours and 24 hours after stimulation. The acupuncture points were applied to Kokchi(LI11), Susamni(LI10), Hapkok(LI4) and Oegwan(TE5) of the affected limb. The electrodes were placed unilaterally on LI11 to LI10 and TE5 to LI4. EA with biphasic wave, 60Hz, 0.4 msec pulse duration and low intensity was applied continuously for 20 minutes. TENS with high frequency, low intensity was applied. NMES was applied with spasticity program for 20 minutes. Each electric stimulation was done on extensor muscles group of forearm for 20 minutes. EA and NMES groups were found to produce a statistically significant decrease(p〈0.05) of spasticity and these effects lasted up to 30 minutes after stimulation. There was no definite correlation between the modified Ashworth scale and tissue compliance measurement. But tissure compliance method was found to be possible as a quantitative measurement on spasticity. There was no significant correlation between the effects of EA and NMES and the characteristics of patient, but significant correlation between the effects of EA and NMES and the modified Ashworth scale.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.27-36
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• 2010

Objectives : We investigated the role of intracellular calcium chelator, bis-(2-aminophenoxy)-ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid(BAPTA), on the modulation of phosphorylation of the spinal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor(NMDAR) NR1 and NR2B subunits following electroacupuncture(EA). Methods : Bilateral 2 Hz EA stimulation with 1.0 mA was delivered at those acupoints corresponding to Zusanli(ST36) and Sanyinjiao(SP6) in man via needles for 30min. Results : EA analgesia was reduced by intra-peritoneal injection at a higher dose of BAPTA from termination of EA stimulation. At 60 min after EA treatment, the total number of c-fos-immunostained neurons in each regions of the dorsal horn in the $L_{4-5}$ segments was decreased by BAPTA injection, especially in nucleus proprius. The mean integrated optical density (IOD) of NR1 and NR2B subunits were increased only in superficial laminae of EA-treated rats when compared with normal rats. However, the mean IOD of pNR1 was significantly decreased by BAPTA injection in both the superficial laminae and neck region and pNR2B in the superficial laminae. Western blot analyses confirmed the decreased expression of pNR1 and pNR2B. Conclusions : We concluded that intracellular calcium may well play an important role in EA analgesia by modulating the phosphorylation state of spinal NMDAR subunits.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1041-1054
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• 2004

Electroacupuncture (EA) has been reported to increase pain threshold, and to enhance the NK cell activity by up-regulation of IFN-γ and endogenous β-endolphin. For the purpose of understanding the molecular mechanism of EA stimulation, we analyzed the gene expression profile of rat hypothalamus, treated on Zusanli (ST36) with EA, in comparison with control group by oligonucleotide chip microarray (Affymetrix GeneChip Rat Neurobiology U34 Array) and real-time RT-PCR. Sprague-Dawley (S-D) male rats were stimulated at the Zusanli (ST36) acupoint in restriction holder. Simultaneously the control group was given only holder stress without EA stimulation. In order to prove the appropriateness of EA treatment, we measured spleen NK cell activity with standard 51Cr release assay. NK cell activity of EA group was significantly increased comparing to control group. The microarray and PCR results show that EA treatment up-regulates expression of genes associated with 1) nerve growth such as NGF induced factor A and VGF, 2) signal transduction such as 5HT3 receptor subunit, AMPA receptor binding protein and Na-dependent neurotransmitter transporter, and 3) anti-oxidation such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase. In addition, the activity of the anti-oxidative enzyme, SOD of hypothalamus, liver and RBC was enhanced compared to that of control. The list of differentially expressed genes may implicate further insight on the mechanism of acupuncture effects.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.8-18
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• 2015

Objectives: There have been several studies evaluated effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on spasticity but most studies could not assess spasticity quantitatively because they used clinical rating scales for assessment spasticity. The objective of this study is to evaluate effect of EA on poststroke spasticity quantitatively using tendon reflex (T-reflex). Methods: 29 stroke patients with upper extremity spasticity were randomized to EA group and control group. The EA group received combined EA and rehabilitation therapy 5 times a week for 3 weeks. Acupuncture treatment was given at Jian Yu (LI 15), Qu Chi (LI 11), Shao Hai (HT 3), Wai Guan (TE 5), He Gu (LI 4), Lie Que (LU 7), Hou Xi (SI 3) of the affected side, 30 minutes of electrical stimulation with a frequency of 40/13 Hz was applied at Qu Chi (LI 11), He Gu (LI 4). The control group received only rehabilitation therapy. The efficacy of treatment was assessed using T-reflex latency and amplitude, modified Ashworth scale (MAS) of biceps brachii, brachioradialis and triceps brachii. Fugl-Meyer motor function assessment (FMA) and functional independence measure (FIM) were also measured to assess motor function and functional independence. All outcomes were measured before treatment, immediately after 3 weeks of treatment and 1 week after 3 weeks of treatment. Results: No statistically significant differences were found in outcomes including T-reflex between the study groups except for FIM values immediately after 3 weeks of treatment (p=0.037). Conclusions: These results suggest that 3 weeks of EA does not reduce poststroke upper extremity spasticity electrophysiologically and clinically. However, small sample sizes and contradictory tendency between results from T-reflex and those from MAS require cautious judgement on interpretation of the results. A larger, well-designed clinical trials for quantitative evaluation of effect of EA on poststroke spasticity will be needed.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.433-444
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• 2023

Objectives: This case study aimed to provide evidence of the combined use of Korean Medicine treatments, including electroacupuncture (EA) on scalp acupoints, as a useful intervention for post-stroke delirium. Methods: The patient in this study was diagnosed with Cerebral Infarction in Right Corpus Callosum and post-stroke delirium. The patient received eight sessions of EA on scalp acupoints, rehabilitation medicine treatment, and other Korean Medicine treatments such as acupuncture and herbal medicine. Evaluation of treatment effectiveness was done mainly through the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale Korean (MDAS-K) and Mini-Mental State Examination Korean (MMSE-K). Results: MDAS-K score dropped from 20 to 9 and MMSE-K score increased from 15 to 21 during hospitalization, showing improvement in symptoms. Conclusions: Combined use of Korean medicine treatments including EA on scalp acupoints may be an effective treatment for post-stroke delirium.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.199-210
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• 2008

Backgrounds : Electroacupuncture(EA) is commonly used in treatment of various disease. Despite an extensive evidence-base guiding the selection of stimulation parameters, little methodologically robust research regarding the level of intensity and frequency in need to provide effective doses. Objectives : This study is evaluated effects of various intensities and frequencies of EA's stimulation at $ST_{36}$, Zusanli, with sex and age in rats. Methods : In this study, we measured the effects of EA treatment on transfer capability of small intestine in rats. Under anesthesia, two intensities, 1, 5mA with three different frequencies, 2, 50, 100Hz were applied to the groups divided with sex and age for 30minutes. Results : 1mA-2Hz, 5mA-2, 100Hz in male and 1mA-2, 50, 100Hz in female without distinction of age elicited an increasing trend in transfer capability of small intestine. In case of 2Hz in male, it showed the effects of EA without strength or weakness of stimulation and it need 100Hz stimulation additionally with age. In the groups of 1mA-2Hz, 5mA-2Hz in male and 1mA-2Hz, 1mA-100Hz, we elicited the decreasing trend with growing of weeks-old in male. Conclusions : With this result, it was suggested that we should consider a correlation of sex, age and EA's intensities, frequencies for the efficient EA.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.105-111
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• 2007

Objectives : The electroacupuncture(EA) was often used in Oriental medicine clinic and basic researches. However, there have been neither any national standard of acupuncture needles in Korea nor many studies about the property of acupuncture needles for applying electrical stimulations. Therefore we investigated the electrical corrosion property of acupuncture needles used for EA stimulation in clinic. Methods : We observed the occurrence of electrical corrosion like changes in the surface of acupuncture needles after EA stimulation with various parameters(electrical stimulation intensity, treatment duration, diameter of needle) under a light microscope. We performed EA stimulation on Baekhoe($GV_{20}$) or Joksamli($ST_{36}$) of rats with intensity of 0.025, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, 0.25 or 0.5mA at a 10Hz frequency. Results : The electrical corrosion-like changes were found on the surface of needles when the EA stimulation was given over 0.05mA of intensity. When electrical stimulation was treated for 10min, the electrical corrosion-like changes were low, but the electrical corrosion-like changes gradually increased by the treatment duration(20, 30min). We also found that acupuncture needles of 0.2mm diameter were produced more extensive electrical corrosion-like changes than acupuncture needles of 0.3 or 0.4mm diameter by electrical stimulation. Conclusions: These results suggested that EA stimulation could produce electrical corrosion-like changes of acupuncture needles through intensity of current, duration of electric stimulation and/or diameter of needle.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.265-270
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• 2017

Objectives : The present study aimed to examine the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture(EA) applied to the brook point of the Liver meridian in the rat model of inflammatory pain and to investigate involvement of endogenouse opioid in the EA-induced analgesia. Methods : Knee arthritis was induced by injection of $125{\mu}l$ of complete Freund's adjuvant into the knee joint cavity unilaterally. To examine the level of pain, weight bearing forces(WBFs) of affected limb was measured. EA treatment was given at the LR2, LI4 or non-acupoint on the contralateral limb with frequency of 2 Hz and intensity of 2 mA under gaseous anesthesia. Results : After induction of arthritis, rats subsequently showed a reduced stepping force of the affected hindlimb due to a painful knee. EA applied to the LR2 point on the contralateral hind limb produced a significant improvement of stepping force of the hind limb lasting for at least 2 h, and this effect was equivalent to that obtained by 5 mg/kg of oral indomethacin. The effect of EA was specific to the acupoint since it could not be mimicked by EA applied to the LI4 point or the arbitrary non-acupoint. The analgesic effect was blocked by pretreatment with naltrexone(10 mg/kg, i.p.). Conclusions : These results suggest that acupuncture applied to LR2, brook point of Liver meridian suppresses inflammatory pain in a rat model of knee arthritis and this effect seems to be mediated by endogenous opioid systems.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.53-66
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to observe the antioxidant effect of electroaupuncture at TE5 on the rats that were given AAPH(50mg/kg) everyday. Methodes : The Rats were given AAPH(50mg/kg) in abdominal cavity everyday for one week. $TE_5-NR$ group were treated by acupucture on left $TE_5$ for 15min. $TE_5-EA$ group were treated by electroacupucture on left $TE_5$ for 15min. The author observe several changes of rats. First, it is change of rat weight. Second, it is change of Liver index. Third, it is changes of albumin, total bilirubin, LDL-cholesterol, LDH, Glucose, GOT, GPT. Fourth, it is changes of SOD & Catalase activity, Glutathione & NO & MDA concentration. Fifth, it is change of tissue. Results: 1. In the $TE_5-EA$ group, the live index was decreased significant compared with control & holder group. 2. In the $TE_5-EA$ group, the albumin level were increased significant compared with control & holder group, LDL-cholesterol, GOT level were decreased significant compared with control & holder group. 3. In the $TE_5-EA$ group, the SOD activity, Catalase activity were increased significant compared with control group, Glutathione level was increased significant compared with control & holder, sham-EA, $TE_5-NR$ group, NO and MDA concentration were decreased significant compared with control group.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.1014-1020
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• 2006

This study was intended to examine the effects of electroacupuncture(EA) and therapeutic exercise on the improvement of exercise function, BNDF, and HSP70 protein expression in an ischemic stroke model induced by MCA occlusion. Experiments were conducted for 1, 3 days, 1, 8 weeks respectively. Group I was a group of EA and therapeutic exercise; Group II was a group of therapeutic exercise; Group III was a group of EA; Group IV was a sham group of EA; Group V was a control group; and Group VI was a sham group without ischemic stroke. In each group, neurologic motor behavior test, histologic observations, BDNF, and HSP70 expression were observed and analyzed. The following results were obtained. The results of behavior test suggest that 8 weeks after ischemic stroke was induced, Group I improved in degeneration and inflammation of muscle fiber and decreased in destruction of nerve cells and cerebral infarction, indicating a similar state of muscle fiber and brain to Group VI. In immunohistochemical observations, Group I showed increase in BDNF and decrease in HSP70. Based on these results, EA and therapeutic exercise may improve muscle atrophy and change in BDNF and HSP70 expression of ischemic stroke rats and contribute to the improvement of exercise function.