Objectives : A dermal needle is one of the therapeutic method by stimulating or tapping on the certain points of skin. Recently, roller or stamp-needle have been applied to various diseases in combination with microneedle technology. In this study, we analyzed the trend of roller and stamp-needle in Korean patent. Methods : Electronic search for Korean patent of roller or stamp needle was performed in Korea Intellectual Property Right Information Service database to April, 2019. Results : Sixty seven patents (51, roller-needle; 15, stamp-needle; 1, both types of needle) met the inclusion criteria. According to patent details, 34 of 67 patents were skin stimulation, 14 patents were intended to increase the efficiency of drug delivery through skin stimulation, 16 patents combined skin stimulation with technologies such as electrode or high frequency, and three patents applied both electrode or high frequency stimulation, and drug application as well as physical skin stimulation. Each of these patents aims to increase the efficiency of the needle manufacturing process (n=24), to facilitate the use of tools or to increase the efficiency of the technology (n=61), or to increase the technical skill of the needle itself (n=23). Conclusions : This study confirms that technological advances were being made by combining various types of stimuli to dermal needle and there have been attempts to expand the scope of drug delivery in terms of application of dermal needle. In the future, more research and development is needed in order to apply the dermal needle to modern technology.

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.

Objectives : Increasing evidence suggests that parasympathetic vagus nerve activity plays a role in modulating acupuncture-induced anti-inflammatory reaction, but the function of sympathetic nerve is not known. Here, we investigated whether splanchnic sympathetic nerve activity was involved in the regulation of splenic expression of TNF-α mRNA by electroacupuncture (EA) in LPS-injected animals. Methods : DiI was injected into the stomach or celiac ganglion (CG) for retrograde labeling of the target tissues. EA was given at ST36 and the electrical stimulation on the sciatic nerve in LPS-injected mice. c-Fos signals in the tissues were analyzed by immunofluorescence staining, and TNF-α mRNA was analyzed by real-time PCR. Results : Application of EA at ST36 or electrical stimulation on the sciatic nerve induced c-Fos expression in neurons of the spinal cord and celiac ganglion (CG). Then, the vagotomy reduced c-Fos levels in CG neurons but not in the spinal cord in animals given EA. Expression of TNF-α mRNA which was induced in the spleen after LPS was significantly inhibited by EA, then the vagotomy elevated TNF-α mRNA level similar to that in LPS-injected animals. Splanchnectomy in animals given LPS and EA also increased TNF-α mRNA though it was less effective than vagotomy. Conclusions : Our data suggest that EA delivered to the spleen via the splanchnic sympathetic nerve may be involved in attenuating splenic inflammatory responses in LPS-injected animals.

Objectives : Although the tonification and sedation method such as mountain-burning fire method and heaven-penetrating cooling method, is one of the important techniques that have been claimed to increase the effect of acupuncture, research on this has been sparse. The aim of this study is to provide an understanding of tonification and sedation methods in the 『Yeongsochimgugyeong』. Methods : We analyzed the similarities and differences by comparing the contents of the tonification and sedation method described in books 『Yeongsochimgugyeong』 and 『Complete Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion』. Results : A total of 28 out of the 33 tonification and sedation methods described in 『Yeongsochimgugyeong』 were compared with those in 『Complete Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion』. As a result, we found that many of the tonification and sedation methods recorded in 『Yeongsochimgugyeong』 were based on more detailed and specific clinical cases. Conclusions : The tonification and sedation methods in 『Yeongsochimgugyeong』 were not only descriptive and consistent in describing that methods, but also contains valuable information for clinical use. In the future, based on this research, we will be able to clinically implement these tonification and sedation methods and quantitatively evaluate them.

This case report details induction and maintenance of remission in a 34-year-old female patient with ulcerative colitis (UC) after Korean herbal medicine treatment. The patient diagnosed as UC after a series of examinations including endoscopy in a western medical hospital mainly presented bloody diarrhea and dyspepsia and symptoms were persistent even with medications. She was given individualized Korean herbal medicine prescriptions for 7 months and the symptoms were monitored during treatment and no adverse events were reported. After clinical remission, endoscopic remission was also confirmed by colonoscopy. Clinical remission was maintained for 30 months after treatment without Western medication for UC. This case report shows that Korean herbal medicine treatment may have the potential for complete remission of UC and further research is warranted.