Yun-Kyoung Yim

Electro-acupuncture at acupoint ST36 reduces inflammation and regulates immune activity in Collagen-Induced Arthritic Mice

This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and immuno-regulatory effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) at ST36 on Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice. Male DBA/1J mice were divided into five groups: Normal, Control, NR (needle retention), EAI and EAII. All mice except those in the normal group were immunized with Collagen II for arthritis induction. Acupuncture needles were inserted into mice ST36 and electrical currents at a frequency of 2 Hz in a continuous rectangular wave form were conducted through the needles for 15 min, 3 times a week. EA treatments were administered for 5 weeks in the EAI group and for 9 weeks in the EAII group. The mice in the NR group were acupunctured in the same manner as the EA groups and the needles were retained for 15 min without electrical stimulation. CIA incidence analysis, ELISA, histological analysis and FACS analysis were performed to evaluate the effect of EA on CIA. EA at ST36 significantly reduced CIA incidence, IL-6, TNF-a, INF-γ, collagen II antibody, IgG and IgM levels in CIA mice serum and prevented knee joint destruction. EA at ST36 also reduced CD69+/CD3e+ cells and CD11a+/CD19+ cells in CIA mice lymph nodes, and CD11b+/Gr1+ cells in CIA mice knee joints. The ratios of CD3e+ cells to CD19+ cells, and CD8+ cells to CD4+ cells were maintained closer to the normal range in the EA groups as compared with the control group or the NR group. EAII was more effective than EAI throughout all the measurements. The NR was effective as well, though less effective than EA. EA at ST36 may have an anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and immuno-regulatory effects on CIA in mice. The effectiveness is stronger when EA starts earlier and is applied longer. Needle retention without electrical stimulation may be effective on CIA as well, however less effective than EA. Electrical stimulation and acupoint ST36 may have synergistic effects on CIA.

Anti-inflammatory and Immune-regulatory Effects of Subcutaneous Perillae Fructus Extract Injections on OVA-induced Asthma in Mice

Perillae fructus (perilla seed) is a traditional medicinal herb used to treat bronchial asthma in Oriental medical clinics. ST36 is one of the most widely used acupuncture points, particularly for immune system regulation. Injection of an herbal extract into an acupuncture point (herbal acupuncture) is a therapeutic technique combining both acupuncture and herbal treatment. Perillae fructus extract was injected subcutaneously (Perillae fructus herbal acupuncture; PF-HA) at acupoint ST36 of OVA-induced asthmatic mice. The lung weight, bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF) cell count, the number of CCR3+, CD11b+, CD4+ and CD3e+/CD69+ cells in the lung, and the level of IgE, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 in BALF and serum were then measured. RT-PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and TNF-α in the lung. Lung sections were analyzed histologically. PF-HA significantly reduced lung weight, the number of inflammatory cells in the lung and BALF, the levels of IgE and Th2 cytokines in BALF and serum, mRNA expression of Th2 cytokines in the lung, and pathological changes in lung tissue. Our results suggest that PF-HA may have an anti-inflammatory and immune-regulatory effect on bronchial allergic asthma by restoring the Th1/Th2 imbalance in the immune system and suppressing eosinophilic inflammation in airways.

Crossover Clinical Trial to Determine the Effect of Manual Acupuncture at Siguan Points (Bilateral LI4 and LR3) on Intestinal Motility in Healthy Subjects

This study examined whether manual acupuncture at the Siguan points (bilateral points LI4 and LR3) affects intestinal motility in healthy human subjects. Twenty healthy male subjects were randomly assigned either to real acupuncture (RA) at Siguan points or sham acupuncture (SA) groups in a crossover manner. All subjects underwent two experimental sessions; the RA group in the first session was treated with SA in the second session after a 2-week washout period, and vice versa. Each subject took 20 radio-markers and was treated with acupuncture 0, 12, 24, and 36 hours after radio-marker intake. Radiographs were taken at 6, 12.5, 24.5, and 48 hours, and the effect of acupuncture on intestinal motility was evaluated based on the distribution of the radio-markers in the ileum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid/ rectum, and outside the body. Defecating habit was monitored during the trial, and complete blood counts were checked before and after the two acupuncture sessions. The RA and SA results showed extremely similar distributions of the radio-markers in these five regions of the alimentary canal and outside the body in radiographs taken at four different times, verifying that there was no effect of manual acupuncture at the Siguan points on intestinal motility, at least in healthy human subjects.

Gender and Measuring-position Differences in the Radial Pulse of Healthy Individuals

In this research, radial pulse differences according to gender and measuring positions in healthy individuals were investigated in an objective manner. A total of 372 healthy volunteers (189 males and 183 females) participated in this study. The radial pulse was measured at six different measuring positions using a multistep tonometry system. The pulse data were compared between males and females and between different measuring positions. Compared to the pulses in females, those in males were deeper and slower, with a longer diastolic proportion and a shorter systolic proportion. Amplitude of the radial pulse increased as it went distal. The pulse was deepest at the Cheock position and shallowest at the Gwan position. Compared to the right pulse, the radial augmentation index was higher and the main peak angle was larger in case of the left pulse. The results of this research show that the radial pulses in healthy individuals differ significantly according to gender and measuring positions.

The effect of short-term bed-rest on radial pulse in healthy subjects.

The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of short-term bed rest on the radial pulse in healthy subjects. Twenty-one healthy volunteers participated in this study. Their radial pulse was measured at different measuring positions using a multi-step tonometry system. The participants took 30 minutes of bed rest and their radial pulse was measured before and after the bed rest. The effects of bed rest on the radial pulse were analyzed. The pulse area, the amplitudes of h4 and h5, the pulse period, and the diastolic pulse proportion increased with short-term bed rest, whereas the proportions of systolic and hightension pulse and the fundamental frequency of the pulse wave decreased with short-term bed rest. All the changes were in the same direction in both male and female participants at all measuring positions; however, some parameters changed more in women than in men, and some changed more at the distal position than at the proximal position. In shortly, Short-term bed rest induces significant changes in the radial pulse of healthy subjects. The results of this study could be used as a control reference for clinical acupuncture studies with participants lying on a bed for acupuncture treatment.

Single and triple moxibustion with large, indirect moxa induced differential effects on skin temperature and blood perfusion in healthy human subjects: Counterevidence to a previous report

OBJECTIVES This study aims to investigate the possible differences in skin temperature and blood perfusion changes between single and triple moxibustion. DESIGN AND SETTING Thirty healthy volunteers were randomly divided into two groups: a triple moxibustion group (n=15) received indirect moxibustion on CV12 for 30min and a single moxibustion group (n=15) for 10min. After 10min of bed rest, skin temperature and blood perfusion were measured by digital infrared thermal imaging and laser Doppler perfusion imaging eight times in total, pre-moxibustion and 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30min post moxibustion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT The changes in the skin temperature and blood perfusion in an area 5cm in diameter around CV12 at 0min post treatment compared to baseline was the main outcome measurement. RESULTS The difference of changes in skin temperature and blood perfusion on CV12 between the two groups remained statistically significant for 30min in an area 5cm in diameter around CV12 and for 25min in a 15-cm-diameter area. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION Triple moxibustion with large, indirect moxa appeared to induce greater increases in skin temperature and blood perfusion than single moxibustion.