Researcher's Ethics
Journal of Pharmacopuncture Ethical Approval
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Article 1. Research Ethics Rules for Authors
Section.1.1. No Copying, Forging and Falsification
(1) Authors should not falsely claim that they have conducted research when they have not. Other researchers' academic achievements can be used for reference, including the original sources. Presenting other researchers' research as your own constitutes plagiarism. (2) Faking research data, manipulating research procedures, changing and deleting arbitrarily are banned as there could affect the research outcomes. Section.1.2. Publication Contribution
(1) Authors are recognized for their own research and assume responsibility for the contents of their papers. (2) Authors and papers should be listed based on their contributions to the research. Being in certain positions cannot be counted as co-authors, first authors, or corresponding authors. Not recognizing any contributions in any forms is not justified. When the levels of contributions are not big, gratitude comes in the form of a footnote or a preface. Section.1.3. Previous Publication or Duplicate Submission
- The Editor assumes that all authors listed in a manuscript have agreed with the following policy of Journal of Pharmacopuncture and are responsible for the whole content on submission of manuscripts. Authors should not submit articles previously published or in press or under review. Submitting the same papers to other similar journals is not allowed. Using parts of previously published papers for publication requires consents from the publishers.
- If a new author is added or an author is deleted after the submission, the corresponding author is responsible to ensure that the authors concerned are aware of and agree with the changes. Journal of Pharmacopuncture has no responsibility for such changes.
Section.1.4. Citation and Reference
(1) Use of academic data should be clearly stated, and its sources should be disclosed in the paper unless it is shared knowledge. Information obtained through personal discussion can be used with consent from the provider of the information. (2) When using other people's papers for reference or opinion, the details can be written in a footnote, indicating which part of the research is cited from other people's papers and showing the authors' own ideas, arguments and interpretations. Section.1.5. Authorship
- Authorship credit should be based on 1) substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, and/or analysis and interpretation of data; 2) drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; 3) final approval of the version to be published; and 4) agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. Every author should meet all of these four conditions. After the initial submission of a manuscript, any changes whatsoever in authorship (adding author(s), deleting author(s), or re-arranging the order of authors) must be explained by a letter to the editor from the authors concerned. This letter must be signed by all authors of the paper. Copyright assignment must also be completed by every author.
(1) Corresponding author and first author: Journal of Pharmacopuncture does not allow multiple corresponding authors for one article. Only one author should correspond with the editorial office and readers for one article. Journal of Pharmacopuncture does accept notice of equal contribution for the first author when the study was clearly performed by co-first authors. (2) Correction of authorship after publication: Journal of Pharmacopuncture does not correct authorship after publication unless a mistake has been made by the editorial staff. Authorship may be changed before publication but after submission when an authorship correction is requested by all of the authors involved with the manuscript. Section.1.6. Human Rights in Experiments
- For research on humans, the study protocol must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate Institutional Review Board (IRB). The IRB approval number should be provided (e.g. Approval No. 2019013). In addition, informed consent must be obtained from all subjects at the time they are enrolled. Editorial Board and Reviewer is able to reject manuscripts for concerning of ethical or human welfare.
Section.1.7. Animal Rights in Experiments
- For animal experimentation, the procedures used and the care of animals should be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of one of the authors' institution(s), and the approval number should be provided (e.g. Approval No. 2019011). Additionaly, pathogens involving research requiring a high degree of biosafety should pass the review of a relevant committee (e.g., an Institutional Biosafety Committee). Editorial Board and Reviewer is able to reject manuscripts for concerning of ethical or human welfare.
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Article.2. Research Ethics Rules for Editorial Board Members
Section.2.1. Roles
- The Editorial Board members assume the responsibility for deciding whether to publish submitted papers. They need to respect the authors' individualities.
Section.2.2. No Bias
- All submissions should be treated equally and evaluated fairly based on the quality of the manuscripts and by the rules. No special treatment is given for authors' gender, age, affiliation, or personal connection.
Section.2.3. Review
- The Editorial Board members should commission reviewers who are well knowledgeable in their areas with good judgment. Persons with personal ties to the authors should not be recommended as reviewers. Reviewers who are hostile towards authors should not be considered as reviewers. When review results are significantly different from reviewer to reviewer, the Editorial Board can seek advice from outside experts with deep knowledge of the field for a final decision.
Section.2.4. Confidentiality Disclosure
- Until the final decision of acceptance is made, no information about the authors or the manuscript can be released.
Section.2.5. Duty for Report
- If any complaints are made about the review of a manuscript to the Editorial Board, it should be reported to the Ethics Board immediately.
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Article.3. Research Ethics Rules for Reviewers
Section.3.1. Review Period and Decline of Review
- Reviewers are required to evaluate papers commissioned by the Editorial Board within a certain period of time set for review. They need to inform the Editorial Board of the review results. If the reviewer thinks he or she will not be able to serve as a reviewer for some reasons, he or she should notify the Editorial Board of his or her inability to do the review.
Section.3.2. No bias
- Reviewers are required to review manuscripts fairly and objectively. They also should not allow any personal beliefs or personal ties to disrupt the review process. Rejecting manuscripts because they are against personal beliefs or interpretations without properly presenting sensible reasons is not acceptable. Reviewing without thoroughly reading the manuscripts is also not acceptable.
Section.3.3. Notification
- Reviewers should notify the Editorial Board when they find that papers they are reviewing have been published in other journals or are under review. Also, any problems concerning the papers should be addressed to the Editorial Board.
Section.3.4. Making Reviewers' Comments
- Reviewers should respect the authors' individualities. While expressing opinions on manuscripts in an evaluation form, the reviewers need to explain why the paper needs corrections. Reviewers' comments should be expressed positively. Belittling or insulting authors is not allowed.
Section.3.5. Confidentiality Disclosure
- Information on assigned papers should be kept confidential by reviewers. Showing the papers to or consulting with someone else is not desirable unless the reviewers are seeking advice for review. Citing any passages in whole or part from the manuscript before publication is not allowed.
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Article.4. Standards of Ethics and Guidelines
- It is committed to adhering to the standards and guidelines set out by the COPE. The following are useful links for authors, reviewers and editors (COPE, COPE Flow Charts, International Standards for Editors and Authors).
- COPE https://publicationethics.org/
- COPE Flow Charts https://publicationethics.org/guidance/
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Flowcharts International Standards for Editors and Authors
https://publicationethics.org/resources/resources-andfurtherreading/international-standards-editors-and-authors
Journal Info

Editorial Office
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Case Report2023-03-31
Suggested Integrative Approach for Hand Abscess with Cupping Therapy: a case study
Emad Ahmed Fathy Hussein1*, Shahira Hassan Ibrahim Negm1, Tabish Ishaq Shaikh2, Ahmed Helmy Saleh3J Pharmacopuncture 2023; 26(1): 94-98 https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2023.26.1.94Abstract : A forty-three-year-old male patient was diagnosed with an acute abscess in the dorsum of the right hand. On the 5th day of conventional pharmacological therapy the patient was still suffering, and was referred to the Outpatient department (OPD) to evacuate and drain the abscess and treat the edema around the area with Hijama (wet cupping therapy, WCT). The hand abscess was successfully cured within a week using an integrative approach of wet cupping therapy together with conventional drug therapy.
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Review Article2022-03-31
The Role of Bloodletting and Cupping in Severe Acute Urticaria and Angioedema as Skin Emergencies in Persian Medicine
Maryam Taghavi Shirazi1,2, Hoorieh Mohammadi Kenari1,3, Fatemeh Eghbalian1,3*J Pharmacopuncture 2022; 25(1): 7-14 https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2022.25.1.7Abstract : Objectives: Some dermatological diseases can be life-threatening. Urticaria and angioedema are common reasons for patients to seek treatment at an emergency department. Severe, generalized urticaria and angioedema can endanger patients’ lives by involving the airways and causing anaphylactic shock. The humor-based Persian Medicine (PM) concepts of Shara andMaShara, referring to two kinds of skin lesions, have similarities to urticaria and angioedema, respectively. This article aims to provide scientific evidence regarding the application of PM as an early intervention strategy in the emergency management of urticaria and angioedema. Methods: This was a narrative review of PM studies identified by searching medical databases using search terms related to these diseases, as well as risk-associated keywords such as “fatal”, “death”, “life-threatening”, “emergency”, “cupping”, and “bloodletting”. Data were then compared, interpreted, and analyzed. Results: PM scholars consider the human body as a unified whole and believe in an inner power (Nature) which stems from the body. When the presence of excessive hot substances cause an imbalance of bodily humors, Nature directs their heated vapors sharply toward the skin, thus causing Shara andMaShara. If there is a high risk of inflammation spreading to vital organs under severe conditions, urgent manual interventions are crucial. Conclusion: In serious conditions of urticaria and angioedema, Fasd or bloodletting and Hijama can be effective in speeding up the control of lesions and reducing morbidity and mortality. Consequently, the development of integrated Persian and conventional medicines may provide new therapeutic pathways for skin emergencies.
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Systematic Review2021-12-31
Effect of Manual Acupuncture for Mild-to-Moderate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Systematic Review
Jeong Ho Huh1†, Hye In Jeong2†, Kyeong Han Kim3,4*J Pharmacopuncture 2021; 24(4): 153-164 https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2021.24.4.153Abstract : Objectives: Despite the low cost and high accessibility of manual acupuncture (MA) treatments for the carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), this intervention has not been uniformly evaluated in systematic reviews (SR), and no SR has evaluated MA monotherapy for CTS. This review was conducted to summarize the findings and undertake a quality assessment of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture treatment methods for mild-tomoderate CTS to identify clinical evidence for the use of MA in CTS.Methods: We searched five databases for articles on relevant RCTs that were published until June 2021 without imposing specific restrictions, such as age or sex, on CTS patients. RCTs that evaluated MA were included without any restriction on comparator interventions. Measurement tools for evaluating pain reduction and functional improvement or for evaluating efficacy using electrophysiological indicators were included as outcome measures.Results: We included seven RCTs, of which three studies reported both post-treatment improvement effects and statistical significance using p-values for all outcomes. Five studies reported statistically significant intergroup differences (p-values for all outcomes) in posttreatment improvement. None of the studies reported severe adverse effects of MA. In all of the RCTs, the reporting rates of the 2c, 2a, and 6a items of STRICTA 2010 were 14%, 29%, and 29%, respectively. PC7 (Daereung) was used to treat CTS in all of the included studies.Conclusion: MA can be used for CTS treatment without serious adverse effects. PC7 was the most commonly used acupoint. In order to ensure objective and reliable reporting, accurate standardization of acupuncture treatment methods acupoint terms should be undertaken in future RCTs.
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Systematic Review2021-12-31
Effect of Manual Acupuncture for Mild-to-Moderate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Systematic Review
Jeong Ho Huh1†, Hye In Jeong2†, Kyeong Han Kim3,4*J Pharmacopuncture 2021; 24(4): 153-164 https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2021.24.4.153Abstract : Objectives: Despite the low cost and high accessibility of manual acupuncture (MA) treatments for the carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), this intervention has not been uniformly evaluated in systematic reviews (SR), and no SR has evaluated MA monotherapy for CTS. This review was conducted to summarize the findings and undertake a quality assessment of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture treatment methods for mild-tomoderate CTS to identify clinical evidence for the use of MA in CTS.Methods: We searched five databases for articles on relevant RCTs that were published until June 2021 without imposing specific restrictions, such as age or sex, on CTS patients. RCTs that evaluated MA were included without any restriction on comparator interventions. Measurement tools for evaluating pain reduction and functional improvement or for evaluating efficacy using electrophysiological indicators were included as outcome measures.Results: We included seven RCTs, of which three studies reported both post-treatment improvement effects and statistical significance using p-values for all outcomes. Five studies reported statistically significant intergroup differences (p-values for all outcomes) in posttreatment improvement. None of the studies reported severe adverse effects of MA. In all of the RCTs, the reporting rates of the 2c, 2a, and 6a items of STRICTA 2010 were 14%, 29%, and 29%, respectively. PC7 (Daereung) was used to treat CTS in all of the included studies.Conclusion: MA can be used for CTS treatment without serious adverse effects. PC7 was the most commonly used acupoint. In order to ensure objective and reliable reporting, accurate standardization of acupuncture treatment methods acupoint terms should be undertaken in future RCTs.
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Review Article2021-12-31
Analysis of Trend of Studies on Microneedle Treatment System (MTS)
Hea-Sun Chun, Ho-Seub Song*J Pharmacopuncture 2021; 24(4): 182-190 https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2021.24.4.182Abstract : Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the microneedle therapy system (MTS) and its research methods for the past 10 years in Korea.Methods: Data on microneedle therapy system were collected using NDSL, KISS, RISS, and OASIS electronic databases from January 2010 to August 2021. “microneedle,” “derma stamp,” “microneedle therapy system” were used as the keywords. The present study, however, excluded data that were 1) unrelated to the microneedle therapy system, 2) from review/meta/protocol studies, and 3) from overseas studies. Data selected through the primary screening process, animal studies, case reports, and clinical data were included in the analysis. However, information data not related to the microneedle therapy system were excluded from the study.Results: Among the MTS-related papers published from January 2010 to August 2021, 7 animal research, 2 clinical trials, and 10 case studies were published. Based on the research topics, there were 8 papers on skin improvement and skin diseases, 7 papers on hair growth and hair loss, 3 papers on stability, and 1 paper on peripheral facial paralysis.Conclusion: Most of the studies related to MTS focused on skin, hair, and stability. The effect of MTS on hair growth and skin improvement has been confirmed, and it has been proven to have significant effects on the treatment of acne, acne scars, and hair loss in clinical practice. No serious side effects were observed during the MTS treatment, and the safety assessment confirmed that it was safe for use.
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Review Article2021-12-31
Study of Latest Trend on Acupuncture for Obesity Treatment
Hea-Sun Chun1, Dong-Hwan Kim2, Ho-Seub Song1*J Pharmacopuncture 2021; 24(4): 173-181 https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2021.24.4.173Abstract : Objectives: The aim of this review was to appraise Korean studies published between 2010 and 2021 which examined the role of acupuncture in the treatment of obesity.Methods: We performed a search of the NDSL, KISS, RISS, OASIS, PubMed, EMBASE electronic databases for relevant animal researches, case reports, and clinical trials, using the following search terms: ‘obesity’, ‘acupuncture’, ‘electroacupuncture’, and ‘pharmacopuncture’. We excluded previous reviews and meta-analyses, studies not related to obesity or acupuncture treatment, as well as studies conducted in countries other than Korea. We also excluded studies where relevant information on acupuncture treatment in obesity could not be obtained.Results: Most studies were conducted in animals, followed by case reports and clinical trials. In animal researches and case reports, pharmacopuncture was the most used intervention. In case studies, electroacupuncture, thread-embedding therapy, manual acupuncture, acupotomy, and auricular acupuncture were also used. In animal researches, pharmacopuncture treatment was associated with improvement in obesity indices. In the case of local obesity, specific acupuncture techniques such as thread-embedding therapy and pharmacopuncture were associated with significant improvements in local obesity, even when diet and exercise were not controlled for.Conclusion: Acupuncture treatment showed significant benefit in the treatment of obesity, with a local effect evident for certain approaches, such thread-embedding therapy and acupotomy.
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