• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.84-98
• /
• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility of recruiting women into a clinical trial designed to examine the effects of acupuncture and electroacupuncture in treating overactive bladder (OAB) in menopause women. We tried to determine if there was preliminary evidence to suggest that acupuncture may be effective in reducing OAB symptoms and improving disease-specific quality of life. We also tried to determine the appropriate treatment duration of OAB, with safety of performing acupuncture and electroacupuncture treatment. Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial. 7 menopause women were randomly assigned to a electroacupuncture group (EA group) (n=4) or acupuncture group (AC group) (n=3) and received electroacupuncture or acupuncture treatment twice a week (16 sessions) in 8 weeks, and follow up assessment was performed after the end of treatment. Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS), 3-day bladder diary, and King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) were performed 4 times (at baseline (visit 0), the middle of treatment (visit 8), after the end of treatment (visit 16), and at 4 weeks of follow-up (visit 17)) and analyzed. 2 subjects were dropped out, and finally 5 subjects completed the study. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 18.0 for window program. Results: There was an significant improvement in night-time frequency after the treatment (visit 17) in PP (Per-protocol) group analysis (p=0.042). In additional ITT (Inter-to-treat) group analysis, the OABSS (p=0.042) and night-time frequency (p=p=0.017) were improved significantly after the treatment (visit 17). But there was no significant difference of KHQ before and after the treatment. Also there was no significant difference between EA and AC group after the treatment (visit 16, 17). Conclusions: The results of this pilot study suggested that it was feasible to recruit subjects and perform the study procedures, after reconstructing several details of study protocol in performing further clinical trial.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.169-186
• /
• 2009

Obejectives : The electroacupuncture(EA) on regional fat is often used by oriental medicine doctors in Korea. However, there have been few studies about safety and biocompatibility of its application. Therefore we investigated the safety and change of mechanical character of electroacupuncture after its application on localized fat deposit. Methods : Online surveys were completed from Aug 21 2008 to Aug 28 2008, by email, the online survey data were obtained from nearly 10,002 Korean medical doctors who listed their email address on the website of association of korean oriental medicine. This study includes an experiment on the physical strength and biological property of long needles. We represent each method which were collected in advance survey, then sealed the needles off and did laboratory experiment, which includes surface observation, analysis, vickers hardness test, and also biocompatibility and toxicity test. Results : There was no considerable difference about the physical property after applying electric current, the cell survival rate did not change in comparison with controlled group either. Conclusions : Although it seems there are no considerable acupuncture-related problem, we still need additional studies about clinical effectiveness difference related operation condition. Besides, it will need research on the actual condition, standardization, and criteria about the comsumed needle in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.211-224
• /
• 2008

Objectives : To investigate the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) at GB34 on hepatotoxicity in $CCl_4$-intoxicated rats. Methods : Rats were injected with $CCl_4$ and treated with acupuncture or 2 Hz electro-acupuncture (EA) at left GB34 three times a week for 10 weeks. A non-acupoint in left gluteal area was selected as a sham point. To estimate the effects of EA on hepatotoxicity in rats, body weight, liver weight and liver index were measured, and biochemical assays for serum ALT, AST, ALP and total cholesterol, and hematological analysis for RBC, WBC, PLT, hemoglobin, lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes, and histology analysis of liver tissue were performed. Results : 1. Lymphocyte level in blood was significantly decreased by $CCl_4$-intoxication and significantly increased by acupuncture and 2 Hz EA at left GB34. 2. Neutrophill and monocyte level in blood was increased by $CCl_4$-intoxication and significantly reduced by acupuncture and 2 Hz EA at left GB34. 3. Acupuncture and 2 Hz EA at left GB34 significantly reduced serum ALT and AST which were increased by $CCl_4$-intoxication. 4. EA at GB34 significantly reduced serum ALT and AST as compared with EA at sham point in $CCl_4$-intoxicated rat. 5. No significant difference was found between the effects of acupuncture and that of 2 Hz EA on $CCl_4$-induced liver damage in rats. Conclusions : 2 Hz EA at GB34 has hepatoprotective effects on $CCl_4$-induced liver damage in rats and the point-specificity of GB34 may be involved in these effects.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.425-431
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of Achyranthes Radix(AR) and electroacupuncture(EA) in rats with rheumatoid arthritis induced by type II collagen for 28 days. Control group was daily administered 0.9% NaCl 0.5 $m{\ell}$, Group I was daily administered 0.9% NaCl 0.5 $m{\ell}$ to arthritic rats, Group II was orally administered with Achyranthes Radix 500 mg/kg 0.5 $m{\ell}$ to arthritic rats. Group III was given 2 Hz EA of chok samni acupoint(ST36) in the test group for 30 min/days to arthritic rats. Group IV was daily orally administered with Achyranthes Radix 500 mg/kg 0.5 $m{\ell}$ and 2 Hz EA of chok samni acupoint(ST36) in the test group for 30 min/days to arthritic rats. This studies have been designed to evaluate the hind paw edema, assessment of arthritis indices, analgetic effects by analysis of blood chemistry(WBC, CRP, ALP, AST). In each group, histologic observations, Safranin O-fast green stain were observed and analyzed. The following results were obtained. Group II, III, IV were significantly decreased arthritis indices and the rate of paw edema compared with Group I . Especially group IV was the most significantly decreased. The WBC, CRP, AST, ALT was that Group II, III, IV were significantly decreased compared with Group I . In conclusion, Achyranthes Radix and Ea contribute to the improvement of blood chemistry and change in safranin O-fast green by knee joint of arthritic rats.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.56-63
• /
• 2013

Objectives : Effects of repetitive electroacupuncture(EA) on the pain behavior and activation of spinal glial cells were examined in the rat model of neuropathic pain. Methods : Twenty one adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups(control group, SP6 group, ST36+GB34 group). Neuropathic pain was induced by tight ligation of L5 spinal nerve. Mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity of hind paw were tested. Immunohistochemistry was performed in spinal cord L5/6 of all groups. EA was treated once in a day from the $5^{th}$ day after surgery. Results : EA treatments applied to ST36 and GB34 reduced significantly both of mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity after 3 times of treatment throughout the experiments. In the SP6 group, the analgesic effect was also shown after 7 times of treatment. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated inhibition of microglia and astrocyte activation in the spinal cord L5/6 dorsal horn in the ST36+GB34 group. Conclusions : The present results suggest that repetitive EA exert strong analgesic effect on neuropathic pain. These analgesic effects in neuropathic pain are associated with suppressing the activation of microglia and astrocyte.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.20-29
• /
• 2015

Objectives : The objectives of this study is to compare the effects of electroacupuncture(EA), warm needling(WN) and Radio Frequency warm needling(RFWN) stimulations on the acupoints at the artificially damaged ankles of Sprague-Dawley rats, which could be classified as the Grade 3. Methods : The foot weight bearing force ratio(FWBFR) of ankle sprain was measured first at 24 hours after without any other stimulations. Pain Recovery Index(PRI) represents the analgesic level, and modified Pain Recovery Index(mPRI) shows the accumulated recovery level. PRI was measured at 2 hours after each stimulus on GB34, GB39 and GB42, and mPRI was during 7 days. Results : EA stimulation of GB34 and GB39 acupoint in grade 3 ankle sprain showed a marked analgesic and recovery effect. RFWN of GB42 exhibited significant analgesic and pain recovery effect. RFWN of GB34 resulted in pain recovery effect but not analgesic effects, and RFWN of GB39 resulted in analgesic effect 2 hours after but not pain recovery. However, WN did not affect the pain recovery among three acupoints at all. Conclusions : In the Grade 3 ankle sprain model, the difference of analgesic effects were explained by the acupoints and the stimulation methods according to the accumulated recovery effects during 7 days. It is insufficient to determine that a certain acupoint has a specific analgesic effect depending on the stimulation method by the results of this study. Therefore, the effects of each stimulation on the acupoints in any other meridians at the sprained ankle should be compared and analyzed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.79-92
• /
• 2006

Acupuncture has acupoints to treat, prevent, and reduce disease and to recover health by meridian guidance and reflexion. In the oriental medicine, meridian and acupoints are the foundations of treatment. Therefore, in the clinical treatment, we have to decide the therapeutic methods, meridian, acupoints, acupoint place, and acupoint match according to the disease. This study was designed to investigate the combined effects of ST36, ST37, and ST39 using electroacupuncture in rats. The present study was conducted to see the effects produced by combined electro-acupuncture(EA) at ST36, ST37, and ST39 on small intestine transportation in rats. EA(2 Hz, 5mA, pulse duration 1 ms) was applied for 30 minutes at acupoints of ST36, ST37, and ST39. The results are as follows. Compared to other acupoint place matches, ST36(left)+ ST37(right), ST36(left)+ST39(right), and ST37(left)+ST39 (right) were more effective than ST36(right)+ST37(left), ST36 (right)+ST39(left), and ST37(right)+ST39(left) for small intestine transporation(+ means acupoint place match). In terms of acupoint placement, ST36(left), ST37(right), and ST39(right) were more effective than the other sides for small intestine transporation. The data suggests that we have to consider acupoint place and acupoint match for acupucture therapy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.13-18
• /
• 2005

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of electroacupuncture(EA) on Choksamni(ST36), a well-known acupuncture site, on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase(NADPH-d), neuropeptide Y(NPY) and vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP) in the cerebral cortex of spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR). EA on Choksamni was applied using 2Hz electrical biphasic pulses of 10min, 3 times a week for a total of 10 sessions. Thereafter we evaluated changes in NADPH-d-positive neurons histochemically and changes in NPY and VIP-positive neurons immunohistochemically. The optical density of NADPH-d-positive neurons in the Choksamni group was significantly lower in all areas of the cerebral cortex than in the control group. However, the optical density of NPY-positive neurons in the Choksamni group was similar to that of the controls in most areas of the cerebral cortex, with the exception of the primary motor and visual cortices. The optical density of VIP-positive neurons in the Choksamni group was significantly decreased as compared to the control group in most areas of the cerebral cortex, with the exception of the cingulate cortex. The present results demonstrated that EA on Choksamni changes the activity of the NO system, and that stimulation at the same level, causes selective changes within the peptidergic system in the cerebral cortex of SHR.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.3 s.18
• /
• pp.59-67
• /
• 2006

Aims: Acupuncture has been used for the treatment of essential hypertension, but the efficacy and the mechanism of acupuncture in prevention of hypertension are still unclear. We tested the hypothesis that electroacupuncture (EA) applied to Baekhoe (GV20) changes NO/NOS system during development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), and thereby causes the delay of development of hypertension in SHR. Methods: The male SHR rats in the developmental stages of hypertension (7-8 weeks) were randomly divided into three groups (control group, GV20 acupuncture group, and tail acupuncture group). And the age matched Wistar Koyto Rats (WKY) were randomly divided into two groups (nagative control, GV20 acupuncture group). EA treatments (10Hz, 1mA, 0.1ms) were carried out for 25 min/day for five consecutive days. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) was determined in conscious rats by the tail-cuff method using automatic BP mornitoring system. We investigated the activations of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in nuclei of solitary tract (NTS) and rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) of SHR by the western blotting method. Results: The SBP after the termination of EA stimulation applied to the GV20 was stabilized at $169.14{\pm}3.67$ mmHg which is lower value than that of the control group. The SBP of control group was elevated to $178.14{\pm}3.49$ mmHg. In addition, we evaluated NOS activity as well as iNOS protein expression of NTS and RVLM in both of SHR and WKY. The iNOS activity in NTS was significantly higher in SHR than in WKY. Furthermore, the iNOS activity of NTS showed significant decreases in EA groups compare to that of non treated SHR group. Although iNOS expression of RVLM showed non significant changes between SHR and WKY, EA significantly enhanced the iNOS expression in SHR. Our data support the hypothesis that delayed development of hypertension and altered iNOS expression of NTS and RVLM by EA stimulations in SHR rats. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that acupuncture can change NO/NOS system in NTS and RVLM, and exert beneficial role on development of hypertension.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.65-73
• /
• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) and transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation(TENS) after sciatic nerve crush injury in rats. Methods: The EA for experimental group I (Exp I, n=15) and TENS for experimental group II (Exp II, n=15) was applied from post-injury day(PD) 1 to PD 14 after sciatic nerve injury using low frequency stimulator that gave electrical stimulation(15min/60Hz). In order observe the effect of EA and TENS, this study examined GAP-43 expression in rat lumbar spinal cord at the PD 1, PD 7 and PD 14. In addition, the stride length(SL) and toe out angle(TOA) were measured at the PD 7 and PD 4. Results; Exp I and Exp II had higher GAP-43 immunoreactivity than control group(PD 1, 7, 14). The SL of Exp I and Exp II were significantly higher than control group(PD 7, 14). The TOA of Exp I and Exp II were significantly lower than control group(PD 7, 14). Conclusion: EA and TENS application increased motor nerve recovery and expression of GAP-43 immunoreactivity after sciatic nerve crush injury. Therefore effect of TENS and EA had similar effect on nerve regeneration and functional recovery.