• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.200-209
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• 2019

Objectives : The liver is rich in mitochondria and it plays a key role in whole-body energy homeostasis. Mitochondria is double membrane-bound organelle that supplies energy for intracellular metabolism including Krebs cycle and beta-oxidation. Acupuncture is known to stimulate and regulate the flow of energy. To explore the effect of acupuncture on the mitochondrial respiratory chain activity in the rats' livers, the activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I to IV was observed. Methods : The rats were divided into 4 groups; Normal 1 (no acupuncture treatment and anesthesia for 5 min), Normal 2 (no acupuncture treatment and anesthesia for 10 min), MA1 (acupuncture treatment at bilateral LR3 under anesthesia for 5 min), and MA2 (acupuncture treatment at bilateral LR3 under anesthesia for 10 min). All rats were sacrificed and the livers were examined for respiratory chain change. Results : There was no difference in ubiquinon oxidoreductase, succinate dehydrogenase, and ubiquinol cytochrome C oxidoreductase after acupuncture at LR3. Acupuncture at LR3 for 10 min increased the activity of cytochrome C oxidase compared with no acupuncture groups. Conclusions : Acupuncture at LR3 mediated mitochondrial respiratory chain activity via the cytochrome C oxidase signaling pathway in the livers of rats.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.169-178
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• 2004

Objective : This study was designed to investigate the effects of acupuncture, moxibustion and electro-acupuncture at LI4 and LR3, BL18 and BL25 on serum gastin level in rats. Methods : LI4 and LR3 which belong to Large Intestine Meridian and liver Meridian are acupuncture points frequently used for healing gastrointestinal disease in oriental medicine. BL18 and BL25 which belong to Bladder Meridian are acupuncture points used for healing hepatic disease and intestinal disease in oriental medicine. Serum gastrin level by radioimmnunoassay was measured at 3 days after acupuncture, moxibustion and electro-acupuncture of those acupoints. Results & Conclusion : Moxibustion applied to the BL18 acupoint, BL25 acupoint decreased gastrin level of serum, but moxibustion applied to the BL18+BL25 acupoints did not produced significant effect. Acupuncture applied to the LI4 acupoint, LR4 acupoint did not produced significant effect, but acupuncture applied to the LI4+LR4 acupoints increased gastrin level of serum, Electro-acupuncture applied to the LI4 acupoint, LR4 acupoint increased gastrin level of serum, and electro-acupuncture applied to the LI4+LR4 acupoints also increased gastrin level of serum.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.1-15
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• 2005

Objectives: This research was performed to investigate the effect of invasive low level laser acupuncture therapy(LLLAT) at Yolgyol(LU7), Yogu(LR5) and Yolgyol+Yogu(LU7+LR5) on weight gain, food intake, food efficiency, lipid metabolism, atherogenic index, HTR(HDL-cholesterol to total cholesterol ratio) and liver function in hyperlipidemia rats. Methods : Experimental groups were divided into high fat diet group(Control group), high fat diet and LLLAT at LU7(LU7 group), high fat diet and LLLAT at LR5(LR5 group), LLLAT at LU7 and LR5(LU7+LR5 group). Animals was treated by the LLLAT at 30mW-5min once a 2day during 5 weeks. Results: Body weight was decreased significantly in LU7+LR5 group when compared with control group. Food intake was increased significantly in LU7, LR5, LU7+LR5 group when compared with control group. Food efficiency was decreased significantly in LU7, LR5, LU7+LR5 group when compared with control group. In the lipid metabolism, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol was decreased significantly in LU7+LR5 group, LDL-cholesterol and phospholipids were decreased significantly in LR5, LU7+LR5 group, triglyceride and fee fatty acid were decreased significantly in LU7 group when compared with control group. Atherogenic index was decreased significantly in LU7, LR5, LU7+LR5 group when compared with control group. HTR was increased significantly in LU7 group when compared with conool group. In the liver function, the significance was not showed in AST and ALT, ALP was decreased significantly in LU7+LR5 group when compared with control group. Conclusions: LLLAT at LU7 and LR5 maybe can manage hyperlipidemia by controlling body weight, food intake, food efficiency ratio and lipid metabolism.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.41-51
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• 2015

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the effects of $LR_3$ and $SP_6$ acupuncture on renal damage in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic mice. Methods : ICR male mice were stabilized for a week and divided into four groups: a normal mice group(N), no-acupuncture diabetic mice group(Control), $LR_3$ acupuncture diabetic mice group($LR_3$), and $SP_6$ acupuncture diabetic mice group($SP_6$). Diabetes was experimentally induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ(150 mg/kg) in citrate buffer(pH 4.5). For two weeks, $LR_3$ and $SP_6$ acupunctures were administered bilaterally at each point once a day. After two weeks, the animals' weight was measured and they underwent a laparotomy. Serum glucose and blood urea nitrogen(BUN) were measured from the blood taken from the heart. We measured glucose, reactive oxygen species(ROS), peroxynitrite($ONOO^-$) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS) in the kidney and compared expression levels of superoxide dismutases(SOD), glutathione peroxidase(GPx), nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-${\kappa}B$), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) and Interleukin-1 beta(IL-$1{\beta}$). Results : BUN significantly decreased in $LR_3$, $SP_6$ compared to the control group. $LR_3$ showed significantly decreased glucose compared to the control group. $LR_3$, $SP_6$ significantly decreased in ROS and $ONOO^-$ compared to the control group. $LR_3$ significantly decreased in TBARS compared to the control group. $SP_6$ significantly increased in expressions of SOD-1, catalase, and GPx compared to the control group. $LR_3$, $SP_6$ significantly decreased in COX-2 compared to the control group. $SP_6$ significantly decreased in IL-$1{\beta}$ compared to the control group. Conclusions : This study suggests that $LR_3$ acupuncture may be effective in controlling glucose and lipid peroxidation and that $SP_6$ acupuncture may have anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects on renal damage in STZ-induced diabetic mice.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.65-69
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• 2015

Low level laser therapy (LLLT) has facilitated an improvement in acupuncture treatment. In this study, we stimulated Shaochong (HT9), Dadun (LR1), Shaohai (HT3), and Yingu (KI10) acupoints with pulsed laser diodes 532 nm [green laser] and 658 nm [red laser] in rats with induced middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO). The animals were divided into 6 groups: intact control; MCAO control without LLLT; LLLT with red laser at HT9·LR1 and HT3·KI10 (RR); LLLT with green laser at HT9·LR1 and HT3·KI10 (GG); LLLT with green laser at HT9·LR1 and red laser at HT3·KI10 (GR); and LLLT with red laser at HT9·LR1 and green laser at HT3·KI10 (RG). We evaluated the immunohistochemical changes in the hippocampal CA1 region, and complete blood count changes. Compared to the MCAO control group, the RG group showed a significant decrease in Bax and cytochrome c levels in the hippocampus, and a significant increase in hemoglobin level, hematocrit, total white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and erythrocyte counts.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.63-81
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• 2005

Herbal acupuncture has been used to prevent and treat the cerebrovascular accident, such as a stroke, and many studies of acupuncture and moxibustion concerning to the stroke have been undertaken in the human and various animals. The main characteristics of herbal acupuncture are a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine. It was not well known the therapeutic effect and the mechanism of herbal acupuncture on transient forebrain ischemic injury, although it has been used frequently in clinics. In this study, neuroprotective effects of folium artemisiae argyi (艾葉)' herbal acupuncture on the $LR_3$ (Taechung) on the transient forebrain ischemia were investigated in Sprague-Dawely rats. Expressions of cFos, FosB and BDNF protein in the hippocampus and cortex were observed at 2 hrs and 48 hrs after transient forebrain ischemia by immunohistochemistry and ELISA technique. Expression of cFos protein was increased slightly in the hippocampus and cortex at 2 hrs after transient forebrain ischemia, but FosB protein was increased highly comparing to cFos protein. However, pretreatment with folium artemisiae argyi' herbal acupuncture on $LR_3$ significantly increased expression of cFos protein and significantly decreased expression of FosB protein compared to control group. These features were observed in the motor cortex and retrosplenial granular cortex as well as the hippocampus. Also, pretreatment with folium artemisiae argyi' herbal acupuncture on $LR_3$ significantly increased the expression of BDNF protein in the hippocampus ($263.26{\pm}44.56pg/ml$ extracted by water, $275.35{\pm}51.47pg/ml$ extracted by moxa tar)and the cortex ($102.33{\pm}13.65pg/ml$ extracted by water, $109.54{\pm}9.37pg/ml$ extracted by moxa tar) compared to the hippocampus $(134.07{\pm}2.96pg/ml)$ and the cortex $(61.16{\pm}4.11pg/ml)$ in control group at 48 hrs after transient forebrain ischemia. These results suggest that pretreatment with folium artemisiae argyi'herbal acupuncture on $LR_3$ has neuroprotective effect on transient forebrain ischemia and the herbal acupunture on $LR_3$ may be related to antioxidative function of folium artemisiae argyi.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.229-246
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• 2008

Objectives : Acupoints of LR1(Dadun)${\cdot}$HT9(Shaochong), KI10(Yingu)${\cdot}$HT3(Shaohai) are used as controlling the diseases from heart problems. Especially, when they are used, tonification or sedation techniques method is taken as a controlling the medication for an early stroke in the Korean medicine. So the aim of this study is to investigate the anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective effects of Acupuncture techniques of tonification or sedation at LR1${\cdot}$HT9, KI10${\cdot}$HT3 on the focal ischemia induced by intraluminal filament insertion in rats. Materials and Methods : The focal ischemia was induced by intraluminal filament insertion into middle cerebral artery. The animals were divided into five groups (n=7 in each group) : Control group, no therapy group after ischemia induced; AT-1; acupuncture therapy group at LR1${\cdot}$HT9, KI10${\cdot}$HT3 after ischemia-induced. AT-2; acupuncture therapy at right LR1, HT9(forward direction), KI10${\cdot}$HT3(opposite direction) inserting to the direction of route of the each meridian. AT3; acupuncture therapy at right LR1, HT9(twirling forward with the thumb of right hand 9 times), KI10${\cdot}$HT3(twirling forward with the forefinger of right hand 6 times) AT-4; acupuncture therapy at right LR1, HT9(forward direction, twirling forward with the thumb of right hand 9 times), KI10${\cdot}$HT3(opposite direction, twirling forward with the forefinger of right hand 6 times) inserting to the direction of route of the each meridian. The anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective effects of Acupuncture techniques of tonification or sedation at LR1, HT9, KI10${\cdot}$HT3 were observed by Bax, Bcl-2, mGluR5, Cytochrome c, Cresyl violet and ChAT-stain. Results : The intensity of Bax and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were increased in ACU-2 and ACU-4 group but decreased in ACU-3 group. The intensity of mGluR5 was increased in ACU-1, ACU-2, ACU-3 and ACU-4 group. The intensity of cytochrome c was decreased in ACU-3 and ACU-4 group. The density of neurons stained by Cresyl violet and ChAT were increased in ACU-1, ACU-3 and ACU-4 group. Conclusions : Our study suggests that acupuncture therapy of tonification at LR1, HT9 by twirling forward with the thumb of right hand 9times, sedation at KI10${\cdot}$HT3 by twirling forward with the forefinger of right hand 6 times after perpendicularly inserting needle shows anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective effects on cholinergic neuron in focal cerebral ischemia of the stroke in rats.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.113-129
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• 2007

Objectives : This research was performed to investigate the effect of acupuncture using invasive low level laser therapy (LLLT) at Yolgyol (LU7) + Yogu (LR5) on weight gain, food intake, food efficiency, lipid metabolism, atherogenic index, HTR (HDL-cholesterol to total cholesterol ratio) and morphological change of hepatic tissue in hyperlipdemia rats. Methods : Experimental groups were divided into high fat diet group (Control group), high fat diet and acupuncture therapy group at LU7 + LR5 (AT group), high fat diet and acupuncture group using 10 mW LLLT at LU7 +LR5 (LA10 group), high fat diet and acupuncture group using 20 mW LLLT at LU7+LR5(LA20 group), high fat diet and acupuncture group using 60 mW LLLT at LU7 + LR5 (LA60 group), once per 3 days during 9 weeks. Results : Body weight was decreased significantly in AT and LA20 groups compared with Control group. Food intake was increased significantly in LA60 group compared with Control group. Food efficiency was decreased significantly in LA10, LA20 and LA60 groups compared with control group. In the lipid metabolism, total cholesterol was decreased significantly in AT, LA10, LA20 and LA60 groups, triglyceride was decreased significantly in LA10, LA20 and LA60 groups, TG/HDL-cholesterol ratio was decreased significantly in LA 60 group compared with control group. In the morphological change, hepatic tissue were not showed balloning degeneration and irregular arrangement of hepatic cell in LA10 and LA20 groups with control group. Conclusions : Acupuncture using LLLT at LU7+LR5 can manage hyperlipemia by controlling body weight, food intake, food efficiency ratio and lipid metabolism.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.130-135
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• 2015

Objectives : This study is to investigate stimulation effects of acupoints at differential meridian along arm and leg on the physiological phenomenon of heartbeats. Methods : 8 subjects were participated in this study. The experiments were performed in Resting session(Rs), Insertion session(Is), Stimulation session1(Ss1), Stimulation session2(Ss2), Stimulation session3(Ss3) sequence. Time of each session and the interval between each session was 30 seconds all. Acupuncture was performed manually on PC3 or LR8 at random with a two-day interval. stand deviation of N-N interval(SDNN) was measured for each session. Results : At PC3, SDNN increased in Ss1, Ss2, and Ss3 compared to Rs but at LR8, there was little change between Ss1, Ss2, Ss3 and Rs. Post-hoc analysis revealed that mean value of SDNN significantly increased in Ss1 compared with Baseline at PC3, while there was little change at LR8. When LR8 and PC3 were compared at each time point, there was a significant difference only in Ss1. Conclusions : Our results indicate that there is a correlation between specific physiological functions and acupoints.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.75-84
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• 2005

Objectives : Acupuncture has been used as treatment of disease in the korean medicine. In this study, it was investigated that effects of reduction of acupuncture techniques of five evolutive phase for appling excess in the heart, kidney on cardiovascular system as blood pressure and renin and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in plasma, cardiac hypertrophy. Materials and methods : The experiments were performed on Sprague Dawley rats, 2K1C hypertension model was prepared by constricting the left renal artery with a sliver clip. Animals were then divided into seven groups, 2K1C induced and no treated group (Control), acupuncture on SP3 HT7(AC-1), LR1 KI1 (AC-2), SP3 HT7 LR1 KI1 (AC-3). The treatments were performed once a day for 10 days in rats. Results : The results are that the blood pressure was significantly decreased at 15days in AC-1 group. The cardiac hypertrophy was significantly decrease in AC-3 group. The activity of plasma ANP was increased in all groups without AC-1 group and the that of plasma Rein was decrease in AC-1, AC-2 groups than control group. Conclusions : These results suggest that acupuncture at SP3 HT7 and SP3 HT7 LR1 KI1 can be used as a therapy for controlling renal hypertension induced by 2K1C in the rats.