• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.181-200
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• 2007

Objevtives & Methods : Effects of cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at BL18 and LI11 on lipid composition, cytokine level, liver function, anti-oxidative capacity and histological characters were investigated in diet-induced obese rats. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 400g were divided into 4 groups of control, BL18, LI11 and BL18 plus LI11 pharmacopuncture groups and raised for 4 weeks. Results : 1. Plasma ${\beta}$-lipoprotein, free fatty acids level and TNF-${\alpha}$ levels significantly decreased in the pharmacopuncture groups compared to those of no treatment group. Plasma and liver total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels were also significantly lower than those of no treatment group. There was, however, no difference in TBARS level among pharmacopuncture groups. Liver total cholesterol level of BL18 pharmacopuncture group was lower than those of the other two pharmacopuncture groups. In LDL-cholesterol level, BL18 pharmacopuncture and BL18 plus LI11 pharmacopuncture groups only had significantly lower levels than that of no treatment group. 2. There was no significant difference between cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture groups and no treatment group in IL-6, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartic acid transaminase (AST) levels. 3. Compared with \ those of no treatment group, pharmacopuncture groups had significantly higher levels of HDL-cholesterol, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase activities. There was, however, no significant difference among pharmacopuncture groups. 4. Histological characters of heart, kidney and liver of BL18 pharmacopuncture group were similar to those of normal rats. Conclusions : These results indicate that cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at BL18 and LI11 may suppress adipose tissue mass and lipid peroxidation and activate antioxidant system.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.760-764
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• 2007

We investigated that the immunomodulating activity of BL18 (Ganshu) acupuncture on the experimental liver metastasis model of mice. NA (non-acupoint)- and BL18-treatment enhanced the mitogenic activity of BALB/c whole splenocytes induced by various mitogenic stimuli. Acupuncture treatment tended to increase splenocytes differentiation even though did not show significance. Acupuncture treatment caused a marked increase of production of Th1 cytokine (IFN-${\gamma}$) and Th2 cytokine (IL-4) by splenocytes and IL-12 and IFN-Y by macrophages. The increase of cytokine production on BL18-treated group was more pronounced compared to NA-treated group. The liver weight of NA- and BL18-treated group decreased compared to tumor group, but did not showed significant differences.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.76-91
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• 2002

The lipid lowering and antioxidant effects of Gansoo(BL18), Pungji(GB20) and Eumnungcheun(SP9) acupuncture in rats fed high fat diet were analyzed in biochemical and molecular biological aspects. The results obtained from this study are as follows : 1. In the body weight reduction, all acupuncture groups showed a high reduction compared to those of control group and in acupuncture groups, Gansoo(BL18) and Pungji(GB20) acupuncture groups showed a high reduction. 2. The concentration of plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol with acupuncture groups showed a little decrease and in acupuncture groups, Gansoo(BL18) and Pungji(GB20) groups showed a low values compared to those of other acupuncture groups. However, the tendency of HDL-cholesterol concentration showed no significant different. 3. The concentration of plasma ${\beta}-lipoprotein$ and free fatty acids showed a lowest values in the Gansoo(BL18) and Pungji(GB20) acupuncture groups and the glucose concentration showed to decrease in all treated acupuncture groups. 4. The concentration of liver total cholesterol and triglyceride in Gansoo(BL18) and Pungji(GB20) acupuncture groups showed a lower values than those of control group. 5. In all the acupuncture groups, the plasma glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase(GOT) activity showed a little decrease. In the glutamic pyruvate activity(GPT), Gansoo(BL18) and Pungji(GB20) acupuncture groups showed a lower values than those of control groups. However the values of eumneungcheun acupuncture only group showed no significant difference to those of control group. 6. The plasma and liver Thiobabituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) concentration in Gansoo(BL18) and Pungji(GB20) acupuncture groups were a lower than those of control group. However the values of eumneungcheun acupuncture group showed no significant difference to control group. 7. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in Gansoo(BL18) acupuncture group and Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in Gansoo(BL18) and Pungji(GB20) acupuncture groups showed a high values. The catalase (CAT) activity in all the acupuncture groups showed a higher values than those of control group. 8. In acupuncture groups, DNA expression of Apo-B and Apo-E showed a tendency to decrease, however DNA expression of leptin showed no significant difference in all treatment groups. DNA expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ showed a increase in acupuncture groups. These results indicate that Gansoo(BL18) and Pungji(GB20) (especially Gansoo(BL18)) acupuncture affect the lipid metabolism and showed possibility of lowering adipose tissue mass and lipid peroxidation.

• 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 Animal Reproduction
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 2003

The present study was performed to investigate the first polar body(PB) extrusion during in-vitro maturation(IVM) and to examine the effect of different maturation time on the embryo development of Korean Native Cows(KNC) with regard to blastocyst(BL) cell numbers and pregnancy rates. PB extrusion did not take place for the first 12 hours(hr) of IVM, and most of KNC oocytes extruded PB from 14 to 20 hr after the onset of maturation. There was no significant difference in cleavage and 8-cell stage rates among the treatment groups, but BL and BL/8-cell rates were significantly higher(P<0.05) in 18 hr maturation group(31.0$\pm$5.7 and 82.0$\pm$5.1%) than 22 and 24 hr maturation group. The proportion of BL formed on day 7 and 8 was significantly higher(P<0.05) in 18 hr maturation group(85%) than in 24 hr maturation group(55%). There was a significant difference(P<0.05) in inner cell mass, trophectoderm and total cell number between day 7 BL produced by in-vivo and IVM 18 hr and day 8 BL produced by IVM 18 hr and 24 hr. Pregnancy rates are also significantly higher(P<0.05) in in-vivo(56.3%) and IVM 18 hr day 7(50.0%) group than day 8 treatment groups(18 hr: 16.7%, 24 hr: 10.5%). These results suggest that KNC oocytes achieve developmental competency within 20 hr of IVM, and "short" IVM (18 hr) is more effective than "long" IVM(24 hr) in embryo development rates, BL cell numbers and pregnancy rates.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.399-403
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• 2005

This study was performed to elucidate the effect of acupuncture and aqua-acupuncture in dogs. Each group was divided into control (18 dogs), PC-6 (6 dogs) and BL-21 (6 dogs) group for the antiemetic effect of acupuncture, respectively. And, the animals were divided into control (18 dogs), PC-6 (18 dogs) and BL-21 (18 dogs) group for the antiemetic effect of aqua-acupuncture with metoclopramide, respectively. 2% xylazine was injected to the all dogs to induce the emesis, and acupuncture and aqua-acupuncture treatment (0.5% metoclopramide) were applied to animals for 20 min. before xylazine injection, respectively. Emetic rates in PC-6 (33.3%) and BL-21 (16.7%) were lower than that of control group (44.4%) in acupuncture groups, respectively. Emetic rates in PC-6 (16.7%) and BL-21 (0.0%) were lower than that of control group (38.9%) in aqua-acupuncture groups, respectively. Based on these findings, it was considered that the antiemetic effects of acupuncture and aqua-puncture at BL-21 were more effective than those of PC-6 groups, and aqua-acupuncture with metoclopramide at BL-21 was the most effective among them.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.399-404
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• 2000

The adjuvant effect of a muramyl dipeptide (MDP) derivative, MDP-Lys(L18), on enhancing of antitumor immunity induced by X-irradiated tumor cells against highly metastatic B16-BL6 melanoma cells was examined in mice. Mice immunized intradermally (i.d.) with a mixture of X-irradiated B16-BL6 cells and MDP-Lys (L18) [Vac+MDP-Lys (L18)] followed by an intravenous (i.v.)inoculation of $10^4$ viable tumor cells 7 days after immunization, showed a significant inhibition of experimental lung metastasis of B16-BL6 melanoma cells. The most effective immunization for the prophylactic inhibition of tumor metastasis was obtained from the mixture of $100{\;}\mu\textrm{g}$ of MDP-Lys (L18) and $10^4$ X-irradiatied tumor vaccine. Furthermore, immunization of mice with Vac+MDP-Lys(L18), 3 days after tumor challenge, resulted in a significant inhibition of lung metastasis of B16-BL6 melanoma cells in an experimental lung metastasis model. Similarly, the administration of Vac+MDP-Lys(L18), 1 or 7 days after tumor removal, markedly inhibited tumor metastasis of B16-BL6 in a spontaneous lung metastasis model. When Vac+MDP-Lys (L18) was i.d. administered 3 days after subcutaneous (s.c.) inoculation of tumor cells ($5{\times}10^5/site$) on the back, mice treated with Vac+MDP-Lys(L18) showed inhibition of significantly tumor growth on day 20. These results suggest that MDP-Lys (L18) is able to enhance antitumor activity induced by X-irradiated tumor vaccine to reduce lung metastasis of tumor cells, and is a potent immunomodulating agent which may be applied prophylactically as well as therapeutically to treatment of cancer metastasis.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.75-88
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• 2007

Objective : This study was designed to test the anti-craving effect of Gigaltang(extracts of Oriental medicinal herbs ; Hovenia dulcis and Puerariae flos) in C57BL/6 mice. Anti-craving effect was substituted by alcohol intake amount of C57BL/6 mice. Method : 60 C57BL/6 mice was randomized into vehicle(water) group and Gigaltang group. Only 39(vehicle group(21) and Gigaltang group(18)) was eligible for this study, and 21 C57BL/6 mice was dropped out. The procedure was composed of 5 days of adjustment period and 32 days of alcohol exposure and withdrawal period with limited access paradigm and 10 days of treatment period. Alcohol was offered only for 2 hours a day from 2 to 4PM and water was offered for 22 hours left. Food was offered for 24 hours a day. 1140mg/Kg/day of Gigaltang was administrated to 18 mice of Gigaltang group for 10 days whereas water to 21 mice of vehicle group. The amount of alcohol intake, water intake, food intake, body weight were measured every other day. Result : There weren't significant differences in 2 hours of alcohol intake, 22 hours of water intake, 24 hours of food intake and body weight for ten days between Gigaltang and vehicle group. Conclusion : Anti-craving effect of Gigaltang on C57BL/6 mice wasn't verified. To verify the anti-craving effect, further study with advanced animal model, various dose of Gigaltang and diverse period of drug administration should be taken.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.150-161
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• 2019

Objectives : The authors aimed at contributing to the safety of acupuncture in the clinic by analyzing the information of contraindicated acupoints described in Uihakipmun. Methods : We investigated the contents related acupuncture contraindications in Uihakipmun, categorized the contraindicated acupoints by site and identified whether they can cause adverse events from the anatomical point of view. Results : In Uihakipmun, 49 acupoints - BL6, BL8, BL9, ST1, SI18, BL1, BL2, TE18, TE19, TE20, GB1, GB3, GV22, GV24, ST12, ST9, TE16, GV6, BL15, BL30, CV17, LU2, GB22, SP16, CV8, CV9, CV15, KI11, ST30, SP11, BL56, GB32, GB33, GB42, LI13, HT2, TE8, GV17, GB18, EX-HN11, GB21, GV11, GV10, ST17, CV5, CV1, ST42, SP6, LI4 - were described as contraindicated acupoints. Among them, the contraindications induced by acupuncture treatment were described for just 5 acupoints. Anatomically, acupuncture stimulation at the contraindicated acupoints can cause organ, nerve or vessel damage near the acupoints. And the number of contraindicated acupoints in Uihakipmun was increased compared to those in Hwangjenaegyeong, Chimgugabeulgyeong, Bigeupcheongeumyobang, Donginsuhyeolchimgudogyeong and Chimgujasaenggyeong. Conclusions : In Ming dynasty, the knowledge associated with adverse events on acupuncture was increased by the accumulation of medical knowledge. Acupuncture stimulation at the contraindicated acupoints described in Uihakipmun can cause tissue damage, therefore we should perform acupuncture procedure carefully to avoid adverse events when stimulating the contraindicated acupoints.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.94-99
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• 2023

Blueberry red ringspot virus (BRRSV) and blueberry scorch virus (BlScV) are included in the quarantine virus list managed by the Korean Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with an internal control was developed for the simultaneous detection of both viruses. The specific primers used here were designed based on the highly conserved regions of the genomic sequences of each virus, obtained from the National Center for Biotechnology Information nucleotide databases. The primers were designed to amplify a partial sequence within coat protein (CP) for detecting BRRSV and a partial sequence within the CP-16 kDa for detecting BlScV. 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) was used as internal control, and the primer set used in a previous study was modified in this study for detecting 18S rRNA. Each conventional PCR using the BRRSV, BlScV, and 18S rRNA primers exhibited a sensitivity of approximately 1 fg plasmid DNA. The multiplex PCR assay using the BRRSV, BlScV, and 18S rRNA primers was effective in simultaneously detecting the two viruses and 18S rRNA with a sensitivity of 1 fg plasmid DNA, similar to that of conventional PCR assays. The multiplex PCR assay developed in this study was performed using 14 blueberry cultivars grown in South Korea. BRRSV and BlScV were not detected, but 18S rRNA was all detected in all the plants tested. Therefore, our optimized multiplex PCR assay could simultaneously detect the two viruses and 18S rRNA in field samples collected from South Korea in a time-efficient manner. This approach could be valuable in crop protection and plant quarantine management.