In this issue of the journal, recommended articles were selected from the Journal of Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute (ISSN: 1226-4849) and the Journal of Meridian and Acupoint (ISSN: 1229-7933), originally published in the Korean language.
Journal of Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute, Volume 12, No. 2, 31-40
Protective Effects of Pharmacopuncture Solutions on Carthmi Flos, Cnidii Rhizoma and Astragali Radix on C6 Glioma Cells
Hyung-Woo Kim, Su-In Cho, Il-Hwan Kim
Abstract Objectives: To investigate the protective effects of pharmacopuncture solutions (PSs) produced from Carthmi Flos (CF), Cnidii Rhizoma (CR), and Astragali Radix (AR) on C6 glioma cells.
Methods: The effects of PSs were investigated in terms of cell proliferation rates, types of C6 cells, and LDH release. In addition, PS protective effects were investigated regarding oxidative stress, induced by hydrogen peroxide, and SOD-like activities.
Results: PSs made from CF, CR, and AR did not show cytotoxicity to C6 cells over a range of concentrations. CF-PS and AR-PS elevated the proliferation rates significantly and CF-PS treatment lowered LDH release in these cells. CF-PS and CR-PS showed protective effects from cell death induced by hydrogen peroxide, while the CF-PS group showed high SOD-like activity, compared with the CR-PS group.
Conclusion: These results suggest that CF-PS can accelerate proliferation of neuroglial cells and under these conditions provides protection against oxidative stress, which involves anti-oxidative effects such as SOD-like activities. In addition, CR protects against oxidative stress, and AR can accelerate proliferation of neuroglial cells.
Journal of Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute, Volume 12, No. 2, 41-50
Analysis of the Change of the Pressure Pain Threshold in Chronic Tension-Type Headache and Control
Min-Jung Kim, Wee-Chang Kang, Kwon-Eui Hong
Abstract Objectives: Although chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) is one of the most common symptoms of primary headaches, there are no known definite mechanisms for this malady. According to many studies, muscular and psychological factors are thought to be related to CTTH and the pressure pain threshold (PPT) is used to measure muscular factors.
Methods: This study involved 63 patients fulfilling the International Headache Society criteria for CTTH and 20 healthy patients as a control group and measured the subjects' PPT of the temporal and trapezius muscles. The correlation between clinical characteristics and PPT were investigated with the CTTH and control groups each divided into four groups according to their cervical spine X-rays: cervical herniation of the nucleus pulposus, spondylosis, sprain, and normal.
Results: The PPT of the temporal and trapezius muscles in the CTTH group was significantly lower than the control group and PPT in the CTTH group had a significant positive correlation to headache duration. The PPT also had a significant inverse correlation with headache frequency and intensity. In the CTTH group, the spondylosis subgroup exhibited the highest PPT, with the normal group second. Significant differences existed between the spondylosis subgroup and the others.
Conclusion: It was found that measurements of the muscular factor the PPT significantly correlated with the CTTH group.
Journal of Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute, Volume 12, No. 2, 67-75
Literary Investigation on the Origin of Poppy and Other Narcotics
Chung-San Lim, Young-Ju Han, Kye-Sung Kang, Kwang-Ho Lee, Doo-Young Kim, Ki-Rok Kwon
Abstract Objectives: To develop orally-administered analgesics and locally-injected pharmacopuncture analgesics, such as opioids.
Methods: A literary investigation of the origin of the poppy (Papaver somniferum L) and other narcotics was conducted to examine the potential of developing useful oral analgesics and injectable pharmacopuncture analgesics. Opium, a gum-like mass derived from the air-dried white fluid of the immature poppy fruit, contains ca. 20 types of alkaloids, including morphine, codeine, thebaine, and papaverine. Natural opioids and synthetic alkaloid derivatives are the constituents of opioid analgesics, and their effects and side effects depend on the peculiarities of specific receptors. Extreme caution is required in selecting proper dosage, the appropriate analgesic type, and the indications for successful pain management.
Results and Conclusion: With the enactment of the “Narcotic control protocol”, herbs such as cannabis and poppy are no longer available for use by Korean medical doctors, who are thus faced with difficulties in managing severe pain in a clinical environment. A systematic method for pain management consideration is required to overcome the limitations on these analgesics.
Journal of Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute, Volume 12, No. 2, 77-87
Clinical Study on the Sensation of Patients with Spinal Cord Injury that is Improved by Using Sweet Bee-Venom
In-Sun Park, Il-Ji Yoon
Abstract Objectives: In spite of increased numbers of patients with spinal cord injuries, there is no reliable and related treatment guide in either conventional or complementary medicine and, in oriental medicine, not many clinical cases of patients with spinal cord injury. The effect of sweet bee-venom (BV) was investigated regarding subacute-stage patients with spinal cord injuries.
Methods: A 31-year-old female patient with a spinal cord injury was treated with a herb medicine (TID), electro-acupuncture (BID), a sweet BV injection (QOD), physical treatment (QD), and conventional medicine.
Results: A satisfactory result was achieved by using sweet BV injection, with the patient's American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade improving from 34 to 52 and the patient's Frankle classification shifting from A to B.
Conclusion: It was concluded that sweet BV injections improved the sensation of patients with spinal cord injuries and that further study of this disease and this treatment is required.
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