• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.289-297
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• 2013

Objectives : Diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN), generally considered to be the most symptomatically distressing complication of diabetes, affects more than 50% of people with diabetes. However, no consistently effective treatment for DPN is available and patients are forced to struggle with medications that provide only partial relief. In this pilot study, we evaluated the clinical effects of Saam acupuncture for the treatment of painful DPN. Methods : A total of 10 patients with painful DPN were included in the study; 6 subjects with Saam acupuncture treatment and 4 subjects without it. Subjects were defined as having painful DPN if they had at least 2 points using total symptom score(TSS). Treatments were delivered three times a week for 4 weeks. Vitamin $B_{12}$ was orally administrated in the all subjects. At initial(0 week) and follow-up after 4 weeks and 8 weeks, all subjects underwent TSS, Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument(MNSI), and nerve conduction test. Results : After initial(0 week) and follow-up(8 weeks), TSS and MNSI were not significantly different between the two groups(p=0.400 and p=0.830, respectively). However, in both two groups, according to time, there was a significant difference in TSS as well as MNSI(p=0.001 and p=0.004, respectively). Conclusions : Saam acupuncture may be considered as the effective treatment for the patients of DPN although the changes of the symptoms were of limited significance in this study. Further investigations are required to elucidate the role of Saam acupuncture for the pain control of DPN.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.162-168
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• 2000

Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS) is the most common disease in the western male, and it is founded in $70{\sim}80%$ patient who has Gastrointestinal trouble. It is characterized by the formation of disorders of Gastrointestinal tract, for example, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain& discomfort, stool urgency, and so on. The etiology of IBS is uncertain, but the majority of patients has emotional problems. The aims of this study are to investigate and summarize the current trends of treatment for IBS so as to suggest the effective and available way to treat this disease. In Oriental Medicine, the IBS is recognized as Stagnation of the Iiver-qi(肝氣鬱結), Incoordination between the liver and the stomach(肝胃不和). So the point of treatment of IBS is Invigorating the spleen and relieving the depression of Iiver-qi(疏肝健脾), Regulating the function of the liver and the flow of qi(調肝理氣), Regulating the stomach and lowering the adverse flow(和胃降逆), and the treatment can be approached in several ways through herb drugs, acupuncture. Some of the herb drugs have substances which promote gastric and small intestinal emptying. Acupuncture and moxibustion therapies stimulate the meridian points of LR(足厥陰肝經), ST(足陽明胃經), LI(手陽明腸經), SI(手太陽小腸經) and is reported to be effective for releafing syndromes. Anal therapy, attachment of herb drug to umbilicus are annunced as the effective treatments. So, this study of the approach and application of these treatments on IBS would be necessary.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.621-628
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• 2008

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate changes of gastric vagal nerve activity and pyloric valve function after execution of combination treatments of both electroacupuncture at Zusanli(ST36) and manual acupuncture at other acupoints in patient with functional dyspepsia. Methods : Bowel sounds of 49 patients (18 male, 31 female) were recorded and their % of bowel sound (%BS) and ratio of dominant frequency (DF) were analyzed. Postprandial %BS was used to indicate the gastric vagal activity after eating. Ratio of postprandial/fasting dominant frequency was used to present the degree of pyloric valve function. According to values of %BS and DF ratio, each patient was classified into normal or abnormal (<6 %BS, hypoactivity: <1 DF ratio, dysfunction) group. For 2 weeks, patients received a treatment consisting of both electroacupuncture stimulation at Zusanli (ST36) and acupuncture at other meridian points. Variation of parameters shifting normal to abnormal or abnormal to normal was observed, and total cure rate was calculated. Results : Total cure rate of %BS was 16%, and that of DF was 37%. Patients who improved to normal value from abnormal or aggravated to abnormal level showed both significant difference in both vagal nerve hypoactivity and pyloric valve dysfunction, respectively. Conclusions : Analysis of bowel sound might be useful to evaluate both gastric vagal nerve activity and pyloric valve function. Combination effects of Zusanli (ST36) electroacupuncture and manual acupuncture of other acupoints showed a bidirectional effect in which their activity and function were in general improved. sometimes from aggravated to abnormal level.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.279-285
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to perform a muscle function path analysis of muscle function on myofascial meridians. Method: Seven male students (mean age: $22{\pm}3.46years$; mean mass: $72.71{\pm}8.19kg$; mean height: $174{\pm}4.39cm$) without a history of musculoskeletal system symptoms or injuries were recruited for this study. The measurement muscle of the myofascial line was selected along with the muscle presented in "anatomy trains (Thomas W. Myers. 2014)", and the attachment of the surface EMG (Telemyo 2400T G2, USA) pad was determined according to "EMG analysis (Kim Tae Wan et al., 2013)". The subjects underwent maximum volumetric contraction of their fascia line end muscles three times in lying and standing postures and were subjected to the maximum number of contractions of the myofascial line muscle three times in the lying and standing postures. The sampling rate of the EMG signal was set to 1,000 Hz, and the bandwidth was 20 to 350 Hz. The activity of each muscle was quantitated using the Pearson correlation coefficient, and SPSS 22.0 was used for data analysis. Results: In myofascial meridians, a positive correlation in the myofascial connection and a negative correlation in the mechanical connection were observed. Conclusion: Muscles that show significant contract correlations with one another may be expected to be used as an effective clinical marker in muscle strengthening or relaxation therapy, and rehabilitative training. In this study, the correlation of total myofascial meridians may differ without consideration of functional posture. Future studies need to consider these points.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2009

Purpose: $17\beta$-estradiol is the most active endogenous estrogen, which is related to favorable changes in the plasma lipid profile, to relaxation of the coronary vessels, and to a decrease in platelet aggregation and vascular smooth muscle cell migration. However, although the beneficial effect of estrogens on plasma lipoproteins (ie, lowering low-density lipoprotein and increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) contributes to cardiovascular protection, it does not fully account for the protective effect, particularly in the application of physical therapy, including low frequency electrical stimulation. Methods: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the inhibition of stressors, such as endothelin-1 (ET-1), serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), prostaglandin $F2\alpha$ ($PGF2\alpha$), and a protein kinase C (PKC) activator 12-deoxyphorbol 13-isobutyrate (DPB), induced isometric tension by $17\beta$-estradiol in vascular smooth muscle strips, respectively. In addition, the effects of low frequency electrical stimulation at the meridian points (CV-3, -4, Ki-12, SP-6, LR-3, BL-25, -28, -32, -52) on the indirect antihypertensive effect were examined by monitoring the changes in the serum $17\beta$-estradiol concentration in healthy volunteers. Results: Isometric tension analysis showed that the responses of inhibited tension by $17\beta$-estradiol were similar to the same stressors in rat aortic smooth muscle strips. Furthermore, although the continued amplitude modulation (AM) type of electrical stimulation was not increased significantly by electrical stimulation, the current of the frequency modulation (FM) type of low frequency electrical stimulation increased the serum $17\beta$-estradiol concentration in normal volunteers. Conclusion: These results, in part, suggest that $17\beta$-estradiol has the capacity to supress stressor-induced muscle tension, and electrical stimulation, particularly current of the FM type, has a modulatory effect on the sex steroid hormones, particularly $17\beta$-estradiol, in healthy volunteers.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.1238-1242
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• 2005

Shangwan(CV13), Zhongwan(CV12), Xiawan(CV10), Hefu(L14) and Taichong(LR3) which belong to Conception Vessel and stomach meridian are acupuncture points frequently used for healing gastrointestinal desease in oriental medicine. The present study was conducted to see the effects produced by combined acupuncture(A), electro-acupuncture(EA) and moxibustion using five acupoints which belongs to different meridians on serum gastrin level in rats. Electro-acupuncture (2 Hz, intensity; 10 times muscle twitch threshold) was applied for 30 minutes to Hefu(LI4), Taichong(LR3) under halothane anesthesia. Moxibustion ($1.6{\pm}0.3\;mg$, 5 times of a day) was applied during 3 days to CV10, CV12, CV13 under halothane anesthesia. Combined stimuli of acupuncture at Hefu(LI4), Taichong(LR3) and moxibustion at CV13, CV12 increased serum gastrin level significantly eventough combined simulus of moxibustion on CV 10 was not shown any change. And combined stimul of EA and moxibustion at experimental all groups were not shown any effects. These data suggest that effects of acupuncture and moxibustion are depentent with used acupoints and combination stimuli method.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.158-169
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• 2003

The present study examined that in vivo test is investigated in sham-operated(control group) and aldosterone-analogue deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertensive animals(experimental group) and that the antihypertensive effect was induced by silver spike point(SSP) low frequency electrical stimulation at meridian points(CV-3, -4, Ki-12, SP-6, LR-3, BL-25, -28, -32, -52), specifically, such as diuretic action in 24 hour urine analysis from normal volunteer. The $Na^+$ and $Ca^{2+}$ ions were significantly increased in aldosterone-analogue DOCA-salt hypertensive rats than that in sham-operated rats. However, the $K^+$ ions were significantly decreased in aldosterone-analogue DOCA-salt hypertensive rats than that in sham-operated rats. The current of 1 Hz continue type of SSP low frequency electrical stimulation significantly increased in excretion of urine $Na^+$ and $K^+$ ions from normal volunteer. However, the excretion of $Ca^{2+}$ ion were significantly decreased by SSP electrical stimulation in volunteer. These results suggest that the development of aldosterone analogue-DOCA-salt hypertension is associated with changed $Na^+$, $K^+$ and $Ca^{2+}$ ions of urine. which directly affects blood pressure. Therefore, the hypertension is a risk factor on cardiovascular disease. Moreover, These results demonstrate that the SSP low frequency electrical stimulation, especially current of 1 Hz continue type, significantly regulates $Na^+$, $Ca^{2+}$ and $K^+$ ions from volunteer. Therefore, the SSP low frequency electrical stimulation is a good regulator through a diuretic action of aldosterone-induced hypertension.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.555-561
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• 1995

In this paper, the O-Ring Measurement System (O-R MS) has been designed to supplement such subectivity and apply to the diagnosis by constitution. A single chip microprocessor of Intel MCS-51 family has been used to control the O-R MS and process data with real time, and the O-R MS could measure the minute muscular strength, expanded width between fingers, and time of the measurement. Therefore the objective constitutional diagnosis is possible by the O-R MS. As a clinical testing for estimating credibility of O-R MS, the acupuncture points representing the constitution has been stimulated using a semiconductor laser stimulator and measure the muscular strength by the O-R MS. The result of clinical testing has been shown that the constitutional diagnosis with the O-R MS is proved highly precision of 96% and it is expected that the O-R MS can be used practically for the objective constitutional diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.125-135
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• 2011

Objectives : This study is aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of Ryodoraku for traditional Korean medicine practice reported in the Korean literature. Methods : A search of seven Korean databases was performed up to May 2011 using the search term 'Ryodoraku(in Korean)'. All clinical studies on diagnostic Ryodoraku characteristics were included. Results : The search yielded 59 studies, of which 5 were considered suitable for this analysis. Four were observational studies. Only one was a controlled trial. Average Ryodoraku score(RS), mean values for each measure point, physiologic limit, number of Pyesaek and Gyeokcha, and pattern classification were used as references for the analysis. Correlations were observed between average RS and idiopathic Parkinson's disease, some sub-groups of respiratory disease, chronic low back pain, and menopause. Some mean values for measure points showed particularly high or low tendencies in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, chronic low back pain, and menopause. Positive correlations were observed between the number of Pyesaek and H-Y stage in idiopathic Parkinson's disease and F2(肝) and the modified Kupperman's index with menopausal women. The four classes, organized based on Ryodoraku pattern, showed differences in various characteristics. Conclusions : Since only five studies met the experimental conditions, this evaluation of the diagnostic value of Ryodoraku in various situations is limited. Future studies should be conducted using various physiologic and pathologic situations.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.1-18
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• 2006

Objectives: The subject of this research is the catechism on medicine between the doctors of Joseon and Japan in the 18th century through Choson Delegation(朝鮮通信使 ). Methods: The author intended to review and analyze the contents of catechism related to Acupuncture and Moxibustion and determined the characteristics of Joseon and Japan ?s Acupuncture and Moxibustion. Results: At the time, Japanese doctors had a grasp on most theories of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and were very specialized clinically. They usually used filiform needles with various techniques, and already they had many different schools in practice. However, they wanted to know if their Acupuncture and Moxibustion skills were up to the international standard, especially to Joseon, whom they regarded as a country advanced in Acupuncture and Moxibustion. They wanted to com- pare and contrast their Acupuncture and Moxibustion with Joseon's. 18th century Joseon was high time for Acupuncture and Moxibustion. Various tools were used in surgery, and varieties of needles were used to stimulate acupuncture points. The development of tools evinces the precision of Joseon's Acupuncture and Moxibustion at the time. Also, comprehensive works such as DongUiBoGam(東醫寶鑑) and UiHaklpMun( 醫學入門) greatly influenced Acupuncture and Moxibustion. Because of this impact, it can be deduced that Acupuncture and Moxibustion emphasizing Jang(臟) and Bu(腑) organs and Internal Injury developed greatly. In addition, acupuncturist Holm(許任)'s fame continued from the 17th century into the 18th century, and his medical practice left a huge mark on not only Joseon but other eastern Asian countries as well. Conclusions: We found out the evidences that there were a lot of exchanges of acupuncture and moxibustion between Korea and Japan based of the Joseon TongShinSa (Emissary)'s record of catechism on medicine in the 18th century.