• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.40-48
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• 2022

Background: This study was performed to determine the effects of liposome-encapsulated bee venom (BV) treatment of inflammatory factors in atopic dermatitis (AD) compared with BV treatment. Methods: AD was induced by phthalic anhydride in mice and the effects of BV liposomes were measured. Using Leica Application Suite, thickened epidermis and dermis were measured after BV liposome treatment (0.05 and 0.1 ㎍/mL). The number of stained mast cells and the concentration of immunoglobulin (Ig)E were measured. Serum IgE concentration was analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-4, and IL-6 inflammatory cytokines were measured. The levels of messenger ribonucleic acid expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines were measured using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase activation, was analyzed on western blot. To measure the transcriptional activity (NF-κB inhibition by BV liposomes), western blots (p65, p-IκB, p50, and IκB) were also performed. Results: The weight of lymph nodes, serum IgE concentrations, morphological changes in the skins from the backs of the mice, and mast cell numbers in inflamed tissues were noticeably lower in the BV liposome treatment group compared with the BV treatment group. The concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-4, IL-6) and chemokines (TSLP, CCL22) were also reduced. Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-ERK and p-p38), and transcriptional activity (p65, p-IκB, p50, and IκB) was strongly suppressed in the BV liposome group. Conclusion: BV liposomes may have a better therapeutic effect than BV for the treatment of AD.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.245-250
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• 2019

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the clinical safety of Bee Venom (BV) pharmacopuncture at craniofacial acupuncture points. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 108 patients diagnosed with peripheral facial paralysis, trigeminal neuralgia, or facial spasm who were admitted to Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital at Gangdong, from April 1st, 2017 to August 30th, 2017. Patients were allocated into either, Group 1 (the non-allergy group of patients who did not have an allergic reaction to BV) or Group 2, the group who had allergic reactions to BV. To evaluate the clinical safety of BV pharmacopuncture after each treatment, several criteria were used to measure any side effects: outcome, Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events scale, Mueller HL scale, treatment decision after adverse reaction, causality, measures performed for patients with adverse reactions, and efficacy assessment. Results: BV pharmacopuncture delivered in 0.1-0.2 mL at a concentration of 1:30,000 at the craniofacial acupuncture points, showed no statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics between non-allergy Group 1 and allergy Group 2. Amongst the 108 patients, 11 reported side effects after BV pharmacopuncture treatment. These adverse events included rash (n = 7), pruritus (n = 5), swelling (n = 1), vesicles (n = 1), erythema (n = 1), and hives (n = 1). All side effects resolved without sequelae. Conclusion: In this study, BV pharmacopuncture delivered at low doses at the craniofacial acupuncture points, resulted in 10% of patients experiencing non serious side effects suggesting that BV pharmacopuncture was clinically well tolerated.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.6-8
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• 2006

One male Arabian horse, 13-year-old reared in Galway, Ireland, was diagnosed as laminitis. Hemo-acupuncture at TH01, SI01 and ST45 was used. Injection acupuncture with dexamethasone was also applied at the same acupoints after homo-acupuncture twice a week. Bee-venom was injected into GV01 at session 2. After session 3, the patient showed almost normal walking.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.80-88
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• 2003

Objective : This study was performed in order to evaluate the effect of bee venom therapy on rheumatoid arthritis by randomized controlled double blind method. Methods : RA patients were recruited and divided into an experiment group and a control group by random selection. As a double blind test, the experiment group was treated with bee venom injection on acupoints, and the control group was treated with normal saline injection on acupoints twice a week for 8 weeks. Tender joint count, swollen joint count, morning stiffness, pain, health assessment questionnaire, ESR, and CRP were estimated and analyzed at baseline, and at 1 month and 2 months after bee venom therapy. Results : Compared to the control group, the experiment group showed significant decrease in tender joint count, swollen joint count, morning stiffness, and health assessment questionnaire after 2 months. Pain, ESR and CRP showed significant decrease in the experiment group after 1 & 2 months. Conclusions : These results suggests that bee venom therapy could be an effective method in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.5-41
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• 2010

Objectives: This study was performed to analyse four week repeated dose toxicity of Sweet Bee Venom(Sweet BV) extracted from the bee venom in Beagle dogs. Methods: All experiments were conducted under the regulations of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) at Biotoxtech Company, a non-clinical study authorized institution. Male and female Beagle dogs of 5-6 months old were chosen for the pilot study of four week repeated dose toxicity of Sweet BV which was administered at the level of 0.56mg/kg body weight which is eighty times higher than the clinical application dosage as the high dosage, followed by 0.28 and 0.14mg/kg as midium and low dosage, respectively. Equal amount of excipient(normal saline) to the Sweet BV experiment groups was administered as the control group every day for four weeks. Results: 1. No mortality was witnessed in all of the experiment groups. 2. All experiment groups were appealed pain sense in the treating time compared to the control group, and hyperemia and movement disorder were observed around the area of administration in all experiment groups, and higher occurrence in the higher dosage treatment. 3. For weight measurement, Neither male nor female groups showed significant changes. 4. In the urine analysis, CBC and biochemistry didn't show any significant changes in the experiment groups compared with control group. 5. For weight measurement of organs, experiment groups didn't show any significant changes compared with control group. 6. To verify abnormalities of organs and tissues, thigh muscle which treated with Sweet BV, cerebrum, liver, lung, kidney, and spinal cords were removed and conducted histologocal observation with H-E staining. In the histologocal observation of thigh muscle, cell infiltration, inflammatory, degeneration, necrosis of muscle fiber, and fibrosis were found in both thigh tissue. And the changes were depend on the dose of Sweet BV. But another organs were not detected in any abnormalities. 7. The proper high dosage of Sweet BV for the thirteen week repeated test in Beagle dogs may be 0.28mg/kg in one time. Conclusion: Above findings suggest that Sweet BV is relatively safe treatment medium. Further studies on the subject should be conducted to yield more concrete evidences.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1 s.29
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• pp.379-402
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• 1995

This study was performed to investigate the comparative effects of Apitoxin(0.1% bee venom 0.1cc) & Acupuncture therapy on the knee joint arthritis induced by 0.1% carrageenin solution at Rt. knee joint in rats. After carrageenin injection, the apitoxin was injected for two times (Experimental group I : 1 & 24hours later, Experimental group II : 48 & 72hours later) into the corresponding loci to Rt. $ST_{35}$(Group 3) & $EX-LE_4$(group 4) of the human body in rats. Acupuncture therapy was done same as above. And then the comparative effects of apitoxin and acupuncture therapy on the knee joint arthritis were estimated by the WBC count, RBC count, hemoglobin level, hematocrit level and ASO titer in serum. The results were summerized as follows : 1. The effects of apitoxin & acupuncture on WBC count showed remarkable decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group in both experimental group I & experimental group II. There were not any statistical difference from apitoxin and acupuncture therapy by Duncan's multiple range test. 2. The effect of apitoxin on RBC count showed noticeable decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group in both experimental group I & experimental group II. The acupuncture was not showed decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group in both experimental group I & experimental group II. There were not any statistical difference from apitoxin and acupuncture therapy by Duncan's multiple range test. 3. The effects of apitoxin & acupuncture on hemoglobin level showed noticeable decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group in both experimental group I & experimental group II. There were not any statistical difference from apitoxin and acupuncture therapy by Duncan's multiple range test. 4. The effect of apitoxin on hematocrit level showed noticeable decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group in both experimental group I & experimental group II. The acupuncture was not showed decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group in both experimental group I & experimental group II. There were not any statistical difference from apitoxin and acupuncture therapy by Duncan's multiple range test. 5. The effect of apitoxin on ASO titer showed noticeable decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group only in experimental group I. The apitoxin & acupuncture showed decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group in experimental group II. There were significantly statistical difference from apitoxin and acupuncture therapy by Duncan's multiple range test. The effect of apitoxin showed slightly decrease as compared with the acupuncture therapy by Duncan's multiple range test.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.502-507
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• 2009

In modern oriental medicine, bee venom therapy is being used for aqua-acupuncture to relieve pain and to cure inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout. Bee venom therapy has been processed and reported in many experimental studies, with regard to its effects on pain alleviation, anti-inflammation, removal of fever, anti-convulsion, suppression of tumor and immunity strengthening, etc., however, its mechanism of action, molecular targeting on prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production and telomere length regulation in human cancer remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of bee venom on the levels of cyclooxygenases (COXs) and telomere regulatory components of A549 human lung cancer cells. Bee venom-induced anti-proliferative effects of A549 cells were associated with the inhibition of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) as well as human telomerase RNA (hTR), transcription factor c-myc and the activity of telomerase. In addition, bee venom treatment markedly decreased the levels of COX-2 mRNA and protein expression without significant changes in the expression of COX-1, which was correlated with a decrease in $PGE_2$ synthesis. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of bee venom.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.19-28
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• 2004

봉독은 관절염 치료를 비롯한 여러 질환에 그 응용범위가 넓어지고 있으며 기전규명과 새로운 치료효과 개발을 위한 연구가 필요하다. 연골의 파괴는 진행된 각종 관절병증의 공통 병리기전이며 연골세포의 기능이상은 이 기전에 중요한 의미를 지닌다. 사람 연골세포의 특성을 유지하고 있는 HTB-94 연골육종세포를 배양하고 봉독을 처치했을 때의 유전자 발현양상을 microarray를 이용하여 관찰하였다. 대조군에 비해 4배 이상 발현의 차이가 있는 경우를 유의한 것으로 보았을 때 microarray의 344개 유전자중 봉독처치시 발현이 증강되는 유전자는 없었으며 발현이 억제되는 유전자는 interleukin 6 receptor, interleukin 1 alpha, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1, matrix metalloproteinase 1, tumor necrosis factor (ligand) superfamily, members 4, 8 and 12, and caspases 2, 6, and 10등 35개가 관찰되었다. Microarray를 통한 유전자발현 분석을 통해 관절염에 대한 봉독치료의 기전을 시사하는 유용한 자료를 얻을 수 있었으며 앞으로 보다 넓은 범위에 대한 연구가 필요할 것이다.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.127-139
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• 2018

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the effect of Traditional Korean Medical treatment on Postherpetic Neuralgia. Methods : Five patients suffering from postherpetic neuralgia were treated with Warm Needling, Bee venom Acupuncture, Cupping Therapy, Sipjeondaebo-tang. To evaluate the results of this treatment, we used Visual Analogue Scale(VAS), Pain Rating Scale(PRS), Quality of Sleep(QSP). Results : After treatment, VAS, PRS, QSP and clinical symptoms of 5 patients were improved remarkably. Conclusions : According to the results, These findings suggest that Traditional Korean Medical treatment can be effective for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.119-138
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• 2000

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of the bee venom(BV) aqua-acupuncture on the neuronal activities of serotonergic(5-HT) system in the brainstem. After the BV aqua-acupuncture was applied on Chok-Samni(ST36) and the gluteal part(Blank locus) in rats, the number of Fos immunoreactive neurons was counted by using computerized image analyzing system. Also, the number of colocalization between 5-HT containing neurons Fos immunoreactive neurons were analyzed by using the double immunohistochemical technique. The results of the experiments were summarized as follows : 1. In almost every neucli, the Chok-Samni group and Blank locus group showed more increase in the number of Fos immunoreactive neurons than the control group. Especially, in Arc, DR, LC, RMg, Gi, PAG Rost and PAG LV, the Chok-Samni group showed more significant increase than the control group. Also, in PAG LV Mid and Arc, Chok-Samni group showed more significant increase than the Blank locus group. 2. In DR and PAG LV Mid, Chok-Samni group and the Blank locus group showed more significant increase in the number of colocalization between 5-HT containing neurons and Fos immunoreactive neurons than the control group after the BV aqua- acupuncture. Also, the Chok-Samni group showed more significant increase than the Blank locus group. Consequently, the BV aqua-acupuncture increased more potent the number of Fos immunoreactive neurons and the activity of serotonergic neurons. Furthermore, the BV aqua-acupuncture was more effective on Chok-Samni than Blank locus group. These results indicate that the BV aqua-acupuncture is very effective therapy to control pain. The therapeutic effect of BV aqua-acupunture may associated with the endogenous modulatory system such as serotonin Those data from the study can be applied to establish the effective treatment of the BV for pain control in the clinical field.