• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.79-89
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• 2023

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate various application methods of focused ultrasound and apply them to clinical use in Korean medicine. Methods : Search was performed using the search engines of electronic databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), ScienceON, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, Japan Science Technology Information Aggregator, Electronic (J-STAGE) and Citation Information by NII (CiNii), from inception to July 2023 without language limitation. Inclusion criteria were clinical studies including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and animal experimental studies related with focused ultrasound treatments for acupoints or meridian sinews. Results : Total 17 papers, 7 for RCT, 6 for in vivo animal studies, and other experimental studies, were finally selected. Indications used in studies were shoulder pain, back pain, chronic back pain, and degenerative knee arthritis. In experimental studies, studies on animal models of hypoxic ischemic brain damage and hyperlipidemia were also conducted. As for the acupoints, LR3, LI4, and ST36 were used in clinical studies and, in animal experimental studies, GV20, KI1, and ST36 were used. As for the dose, 4 studies below 3 W/cm² and 3 studies in the range of 0.625 to 5 W/cm² in clinical studies, and all studies did not exceed 5 W/cm². In animal experimental studies, 0.5 W/cm², 2 W/cm², 7.5 WW/cm², 15 W/cm², 10~20 W/cm² were used. In all three studies describing the penetration depth during irradiation, it was less than 1 cm. Conclusions : We suggest that focused ultrasound is an appropriate treatment tool for stimulating the acupoints to transfer heat energy. Future studies with rigorous and well-designed RCTs for various diseases will be required to ascertain the focused ultrasound stimulate acupoints or meridian sinews.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.31-39
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• 2009

Objectives : To characterize the thermal properties of several Korean electric moxibustion apparatus and to suggest methods for improving their quality for related industry as well as the welfare of Korean. Methods : We reviewed previous literatures on traditional moxibustion to find necessary factors for electric moxibustion apparatus. We measured the thermal characteristics of electric moxibustion apparatus commercially available by using an automatic temperature acquisition system in a controlled environment. Uniformity and heat loss of the apparatus were also analysed. We followed the user's manuals of apparatus provided by manufacturers. Results : Temperature control of all apparatus could not be achieved by automatic manners. Most of them were dependent on user's discretion. Maximum temperatures obtained were barely in the therapeutic temperature of $40-45^{\circ}C$. Unnecessary heating of moxibustion parts was detected. Chemicals from moxa were not properly delivered to the human skin. Conclusions : Temperature control of all apparatus needs to be improved in terms of temperature setting, retention time and maximum temperature. Design should be altered to utilize pharmacological effects from moxa to obtain its maximum efficacy. User's manuals should be revised for its clarity.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.77-90
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study is to discuss the role and ways to improve the position and rights of Korean Medicine Doctors (KMDs) working at long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) through survey analysis. Method : (1) The legal and institutional position of KMDs is studied using current law and related papers. (2) The online survey was conducted through KMD community websites, targeted at KMDs working at LTCHs. Results : (1) Whereas there is perceived added benefit for the eight specializations for a specialist of Western medicine at LTCHs, in the case of a specialist of Korean Medicine, their value is not institutionally recognized at all. (2) A Western inpatient's medical fee is more than a Korean inpatient's medical fee, and the individual fee for the same medical treatment is also higher in Western hospitalization. So, Korean medical hospitalization actually cannot be made. Because of that, Korean Medicine Doctors find it difficult to be primary care physicians. (3) Musculoskeletal diseases and the aftereffects of cerebrovascular diseases were the most common chief complaints addressed in Korean medical consultations. Conclusion : This study shows that KMDs working at LTCHs have suffered many kinds of inequality. That is because of the limited medical scope of the current medical system and real constraints from the gap in Korean-Western medical fees by the National Health Insurance Corporation. Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate these variations along with revising the statute with continuous research.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.102-113
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• 2016

Objectives : This study is aimed at developing and discussing the prediction model of blood stasis pattern of traditional Korean medicine(TKM) using machine learning algorithms: multiple logistic regression and decision tree model. Methods : First, we reviewed the blood stasis(BS) questionnaires of Korean, Chinese, and Japanese version to make a integrated BS questionnaire of patient-reported outcomes. Through a human subject research, patients-reported BS symptoms data were acquired. Next, experts decisions of 5 Korean medicine doctor were also acquired, and supervised learning models were developed using multiple logistic regression and decision tree. Results : Integrated BS questionnaire with 24 items was developed. Multiple logistic regression models with accuracy of 0.92(male) and 0.95(female) validated by 10-folds cross-validation were constructed. By decision tree modeling methods, male model with 8 decision node and female model with 6 decision node were made. In the both models, symptoms of 'recent physical trauma', 'chest pain', 'numbness', and 'menstrual disorder(female only)' were considered as important factors. Conclusions : Because machine learning, especially supervised learning, can reveal and suggest important or essential factors among the very various symptoms making up a pattern identification, it can be a very useful tool in researching diagnostics of TKM. With a proper patient-reported outcomes or well-structured database, it can also be applied to a pre-screening solutions of healthcare system in Mibyoung stage.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.101-109
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• 2005

Objectives : Pal Hyue Hyul has been mentioned in $Nanky{\hat{o}}ng$ firstly and is a representitive acupoint of 8 parts of biological function of human body. The aim of this study is to finding out the process of formation of Pal Hyue Hyul. Methods : In this study we investigated and summarized all literetures from $Hwangjaenaeky{\hat{o}}ng$ to the today's papers which refer to Pal Hyue Hyul, and then basing on it, suggested our opinion about the correlation. Results & Conclusion : The results and conclusions obtained are as follow: 1. Pal Hyue Hyul is based on the Sahae theory of $Y{\hat{o}}ngchu$ and was formed in 45nan of $Nanky{\hat{o}}ng$. 2. Although Pal Hyue Hyul has been mentioned in $Nanky{\hat{o}}ng$ firstly, but because even $Nanky{\hat{o}}ng$ shows the quickening of Pal Hyue Hyul theory, the birth of Pal Hyue Hyul was necessary from the viewpoint of studing ambience. 3. About the reason for formation to 8 types, we think that all the biological functions of human body were represented as 8. 4. Pal Hyue theory had been suplemented and completed by annotations of successive medical men, for example the arguement about Golhyue, Suhyue. And the reason for the extent from the heat disease of the first phase to the associated disease is that it has been useful in the clinical treatment. 5. Because about whether Suhyue is Ch'imgol or $J{\hat{o}}lgol$, whether $J{\hat{o}}lgol$ is Yangbo(GB38) or $Hy{\hat{o}}njong(GB39)$, whether Golhyue is Teacu'u(GV14) or $Taej{{\hat{o}}}(BL11)$ there in no agreement of opinion among the successive medical men, much more study is necessary.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.11-20
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• 2008

Objectives: Warm-needling is a method combining the effects of acupuncture with the effects of moxibustion. We need to standardize the characteristics of warm-needling in order to achieve consistency in its operational mechanisms and effects, which will improve clinical ability in the field of Eastern medicine. Methods: In this study, using the LabVIEW system on the warm-needling technique, we measured and compared partial temperature changes which varied according to the density of the moxa cone and the moxa cone's core peak temperature. Results& Conclusions: Examination of the warm-needle's partial temperature in relation to the cone density of the 0.8g moxa specimen suggests that a lower density of the moxa cone corresponds to a higher peak temperature and but with a shorter duration. During the effective stimulus time, the lower the density of the moxa cone, the shorter the duration of the effective stimulus time and the higher the mean temperature. Conversely, the higher the density of the moxa cone, the longer the effective stimulus time and lower the mean temperature.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.265-272
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• 2012

The applicability of Diabetes Mellitus(DM) in Oriental Medicine might be placed under the category in Wasting-thirst(消渴, WT). However, because of WT having so various concepts, classification, and names in Oriental Medicine, this resulted in confusion in applying WT treatment to DM. WT occurs mainly due to dryness-heat(燥熱) which by depleting 'Fluid and Humor'(津液) makes symptoms of thirst(口渴) swift digestion with rapid hungering(消穀善饑) frequent urination(小便頻數) according to the "Internal Classic"(內經). WT was also called Sodan(消癉), Bidan(脾癉), or Sojoong(消中) in the "Internal Classic", which was caused by not only the disorder of 'five viscera' (五臟), but also the failure of 'three yin and three yang'(三陰三陽). However, the doctors of those days had a tendency to manage WT (including DM) with herbal drugs of dryness-heat or with drugs that recover the pancreas and the kidney, that have a tendency to appreciate that WT is the disease of 'five viscera'(五臟). Accoding to the "Internal Classic"(內經) and "Jinguiyaolue"(金匱要略), WT was appreciated that WT is also due to the disorder of Meridian including 'three yin and three yang'(三陰三陽) theory. Disorder of 'yang brightness'(陽明) or 'reverting yin'(厥陰) would cause Wasting-thirst(消渴), so the 'three yin and three yang'(三陰三陽) theory should be considered in WT treatments. Furthermore, 'yang brightness'(陽明) and 'reverting yin'(厥陰) all belong to 'the door'(闔) in the bolt-door-pivot(關闔樞) theory, and the mean of 'the door'(闔) is the function of storage, so we could understood WT is the wasting disease due to the disorder of 'the door'(闔) system in Meridian. WT should also be understood by the point of the bolt-door-pivot(關闔樞) theory in addition to the 'three yin and three yang'(三陰三陽) theory.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.1157-1166
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• 2009

The effect of acupuncture that occurs at Meridians, can not be defined by western science. But we can find out the electrical effects when acupuncturing by measuring the charges meridians electric potential. So instead of using a needle to acupuncture, we used a electromagnet to give the same effect. We stimulated the meridians, with a electromagnet. Then we observed the pattern of the meridians potential, that occurred at ST-39 and ST-37. After doing clinical experiments with the acupuncture stimulation and the electromagnet stimulation. We found out the acupuncture stimulation and the electromagnet stimulations electric waves were similar. From this result, we knew it was possible to give similar effects to acupuncture stimulation by using electromagnets.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.785-791
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• 2005

Corydalis Tuber has traditionally been used for the treatment of water retention in the body. Administration of the aqueous extract of Corydalis Tuber has been known to be effective for the control of pain and treatment of arthritis. It was reported that Corydalis Tuber possesses anti-inflammatory activity and modulates the intestinal immune system. The effect of Corydalis Tuber against LPS-stimulated expressions of COX-2, iNOS, and $IL-1{\beta}$ in cells of the murine RAW 264.7 macrophages was investigated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), $PGE_2$ immunoassay, and NO detection. The aqueous extract of Corydalis Tuber was shown to suppress $PGE_2$ production by inhibition on the LPS-stimulated enhancement of COX-2 enzyme activity, $IL-1{\beta}$, and iNOS expression in the RAW 264.7 macrophages. Present results suggest that Corydalis Tuber exerts anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects probably by suppressing of COX-2, iNOS, and $IL-1{\beta}$ expressions, resulting in inhibition of $PGE_2$ synthesis. Corydalis Tuber has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects probably by suppressing of COX-2, iNOS, and $IL-1{\beta}$ mRNA expressions, resulting in inhibition of $PGE_2$ and NO synthesis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.271-295
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• 1998

This study was performed from October 1997 to March 1998 on 42 healthy students to observe the effects of acupuncture at Hap-kok (LI4) according to the meridian and qi-xue(氣血) phenomenon of oriental medicine's theory. Skin temperature on the Kok-Chi(LI11) and Yong-Hyang(LI20) were measured by D. I. T. I. (Digital Infrared Thermograph Imaging) before acupuncture stimulation, 1min after and after acupuncture stimulation during 10 min. 1. In healthful man, average skin temperature about Kok-Chi area was in low than Yong-Hyang, and temperature change for 10 min was decreased significantly. 2. In Kok-Chi, the temperature decrease index of execution was shown in low than control. 3. When the temperature of Yong-Hyang(left) was higher, the index was shown in high than control. 4. When the temperature of Kok-Chi (left) was higher, execution temperature change was decreased significantly than control. The above results indicates that D. I. T. I. was a useful method to observe follow-up the effects and changes by acupuncture stimulation on objective evaluation of phenomenon for the meridian system. Thus, acupuncture on LI4 affects to thermal changes of ST25 and LI4, but exact examination of thermal changes on ST25 will have to be.