• 대한약침학회지
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.49-56
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• 2015

Objectives: Anaphylactic shock can be fatal to people who become hypersensitive when bee venom pharmacopuncture (BVP) is used. Thus, sweet bee venom (SBV) was developed to reduce these allergic responses. SBV is almost pure melittin, and SBV has been reported to have fewer allergic responses than BVP. BVP has been administered only into acupoints or intramuscularly, but we thought that intravenous injection might be possible if SBV were shown to be a safe medium. The aim of this study is to evaluate the intravenous injection toxicity of SBV through a single-dose test in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Methods: Male and female 6-week-old SD rats were injected intravenously with SBV (high dosage: 1.0 mL/animal; medium dosage: 0.5 mL/animal; low dosage: 0.1 mL/animal). Normal saline was injected into the control group in a similar method. We conducted clinical observations, body weight measurements, and hematology, biochemistry, and histological observations. Results: No death was observed in any of the experimental groups. Hyperemia was observed in the high and the medium dosage groups on the injection day, but from next day, no general symptoms were observed in any of the experimental groups. No significant changes due to intravenous SBV injection were observed in the weights, in the hematology, biochemistry, and histological observations, and in the local tolerance tests. Conclusion: The results of this study confirm that the lethal dose of SBV is over 1.0 mL/animal in SD rats and that the intravenous injection of SBV is safe in SD rats.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.205-214
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was designed to evaluate objectively the efficacy of bee-venom acupuncture on Central post-stroke patients. Methods : After screening, 25 patients recruited with eligible criteria. Among them 1 dropped out in treatment group, 4 in control group. We applied bee-venom acupuncture 6 points of body($LI_{15}$, $GB_{21}$, $LI_{11}$, $GB_{31}$, $ST_{36}$, $GB_{39}$) 2 times a week for 3 weeks for treatment group, and normal saline for control group in the same way. After 3 weeks treatment and 2 weeks follow up we measured VAS, categorial rating scale as a pain assessment also MBI, Modified Rankin Scale as a stroke recovery. Results : 1. Treatment group showed significant difference in VAS, categorial rating scale after treatment and 2 weeks follow up, compared with baseline. The control group showed significant difference between baseline and after treatment But the 2 weeks follow up, there is no significant difference compared with baseline. Also there's no significant difference in categorial rating scale. 2. MBI showed significant difference in treatment group between baseline and after treatment, but the control group did not have any difference. There's no significant difference in Modified Rankin Scale for treatment group and control group. 3. There's no significant difference between control group and treatment group. This is because of the small sample size in the study, Thus it seems to reflect individual difference strongly. Conclusions : There are positive effect on CPSP patients in pain and stroke recovery treating with bee-venom acupuncture than control group.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.21-31
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• 2008

Objective This study was performed to investigate whether Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture(BVP) could be a more effective modality than Warm Needling(WN) in relieving pain and symptoms of knee osteoarthritis(OA). Design Prospective, randomized and controlled clinical trial. Setting Single center trial in Korea Patients 49 volunteers with knee OA participated in the study. All the participants were screened through an inclusion and exclusion criteria. 33 participants were completed the clinical trial. Intervention The subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group received BVP(n=18), while the other group received WN(n=15). Sixteen sessions of BVP or WN were given at the pain region of the problematic knee for 8 weeks. Primary outcome measure is the Korean translation of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores(Korean WOMAC, KWOMAC). Secondary outcome measure is the physical health scores based on the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey(SF-36) and Patient Global Assessment(PGA). KWOMAC and SF-36 were measured third (baseline, 4 and 8 weeks). PGA was measured twice(4 and 8 weeks). Results BVP group showed significant decrease compared to WN group in pain, function and total scores of KWOMAC according to the Mann-Whitney U-test. In the PGA, BVP group, compared to WN group, showed a significant increase. Conclusions BVP was more effective in relieving pain of knee OA than WN. These findings suggest that BVP is a promising alternative for treating knee OA.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.123-132
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• 2005

Melittin,cationic 26-amino acid, is the principal component of the bee venom (BV) which has been used for treatment of inflammatory disease such as arthritis rheumatism NF-kB is activated by subsequent release of inhibitory IkB via activation of a multisubunit IkB kinase (IKK). We previously found that melittin bind to the sulfhydryl group of p50, a subunit of NF-kB. Since sulfhydryl group is present in kinase domain of IKKa and IKKb, melittin could modify IKK activity by protein-protein interaction. We therefore examined effect of melittin on IKK activities in sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-stimulated synoviocyte obtained from RA patients. Melittin suppressed the SNP-induced release of IkB resulted in inhibition of DNA binding activity of NF-kB and NF-kB-dependent luciferase activity. Consistent with the inhibitory effect on NF-kB activation, IKKa and IKKb activities were also suppressed by melittin. Surface plasmon resonance analysis realized that melitin binds to IKKa $(Kd\;=\;1.34{\times}10-9M)$ and IKKb$(Kd\;=\;1.0{\times}10-9M)$. Inhibition of IKKa and IKKb resulted in reduction of the SNP-induced production of inflammatory mediators NO and PGE2 generation. The inhibitory effect of melittin on the IKKs activities, binding affinity of melittin to IKKs, and NO and PGE2 generation were blocked by addition of reducing agents dithiothreitol and glutathione. In addition, melittin did not show inhibitory effect in the transfected Synoviocytes with plasmid carrying dominant negative mutant IKKa (C178A) and IKKb (C179A). These results demonstrate that melittin directly binds to sulfhydryl group of IKKs resulting in IkBrelease, thereby inhibits activation of NF-kB and expression of genes involving in the inflammatory responses.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.211-225
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• 2004

목적 : 류마티스 관절염 환자의 골 파괴에 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려진 Matrix Metalloproteinase-1(MMP-1) 유전자의 단일 염기 다형성을 분석하고, 나아가 봉독약침 치료에 대한 반응과의 연관성을 조사하기 위하여 본 연구를 시행하였다. 방법 : 미국류마티스학회의 류마티스 관절염 기준에 해당하는 122명의 한국인 류마티스 관절염 환자와 건강한 92명의 대조군을 대상으로 pyrosequencing 방법을 이용하여 MMP-1 유전자의 -519 위치의 다형성을 비교 분석하였으며, 류마티스 관절염 환자군을 다시 유전자 유형에 따라 동통 관절수, 종창 관절수, 조기 강직, 통증 강도, 삶의 질 평가도구인 HAQ, 환자 및 의사의 전반적 질병상태 평가, ESR, CRP 등의 항목을 치료 전후 평가하여 비교 분석하였다. 결과 : 1. 류마티스 환자군과 건강한 대조군간에 MMP-1 유전자의 단일 염기 다형성의 유전자형의 분포와 대립유전자 발현 빈도에 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 나타났으며, 이는 MMP-1 유전자 다형성이 한국인 류마티스 관절염 환자의 질병 감수성과 관련이 있음을 추정할 수 있다. 2. 각 유전자형 그룹간 치료전 질병의 중증도 평가에서 임상 평가와 혈액의 급성 염증 반응물질 평가에서 통계적으로 유의한 차이는 없었다. 3. 급성 염증 반응의 지표인 ESR과 CRP level의 봉독약침 치료 전후 변화는 MMP-1의 유전자 다형성과 유의한 연관이 없었다. 4. 각 유전자형 그룹간의 치료 전후 질병 호전도 비교에서, AA 유전자형이 종창 관절수 평가에서 더나은 호전을 보였으며, 다른 모든 평가에서는 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 없었으며, 향후 관련 유전자와의 연관성 연구가 필요하다고 사료된다.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.11-16
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• 2005

Objective : The aim of the study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of BVA in the treatment of patients with acute ankle sprain. Design : A prospective randomized double-blind study of BVA was conducted. Setting : The study was done in the Kyungwon University Seoul Hospital from August 1st, 2004 to June 15th, 2005. Patients : 30 patients diagnosed with acute ankle sprain, especially 2nd degree on the Ankle grade pain chart(AGPC) participated in the study, who were divided into two groups (A and B) randomly by a coordinator flipping a coin. Group A and B were relevant to control and BVA group respectively, of which a coordinator never informed any other participant involved. Eventually 13 of 17 in group A and 11 of 13 in Group B finished all the process of the clinical trial. Intervention : In both group A and B, The Procedure of acupuncture treatment was made similar by appearance that four acupoints such as 坵墟(GB40), 中封(LR4), 商丘(SP5), 解谿(ST41) of the injured side were selected and Normal saline aqua-acupuncture(control, as a placebo) or BVA was done and then acupuncture at 坵墟(GB40), 中封(LR4), 商丘(SP5), 解谿(ST41), 足三里(ST36), 陽陵泉(G34) of the affected side was given again. the needles were retained for 20 minutes under the infrared rays. The treatment was given daily for a week. Outcome Measures : Ankle-Hindfoot Scale (AHS) and Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) were followed by three treatments. Statistical Analysis : Analysis regarding variations in AHS and VAS is carried out by applying Mann-Whitney test and Wilcoxon signed rank test sign test with level of significance at 5%. Results : At the end of the treatment, there was significant statistical differences between the two groups in VAS and AHS as well, while at the 3rd day only a VAS showed statistical significance. In each group, both VAS and AHS showed statistical significance along with duration of treatment. Conclusions : BVA was thought to be effective alternatives for relieving symptoms of acute ankle sprain, although further study was needed on the large scale.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.33-46
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• 2006

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of neurodegenerative disease associated with aging in the human population. This disease is characterized by the extracellular deposition of beta-amyloid peptide $(A{\beta})$ in cerebral plaques. $A{\beta}$ is derived from the ${\beta}-amyloid$ precursor protein (APP) by the enzymes, ${\beta}-$ and ${\eta}o-secretase$. Compounds that ${\beta}-$ or ${\eta}o-secretase$ inhibit activity, can reduce the production of $A{\beta}$ peptides, and thus have therapeutic potential in the treatment of AD. Increasing body of evidence has been demonstrated that Bee Venom(BV) Acupuncture could compete with complex protein involving in multiple step of $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation and exert the anti-inflammatory potential of combined inhibition of the prostanoid and nitric oxide synthesis systems by inhibition of IKK and $NF-{\kappa}B$. In this study, I investigated possible effects of BV on memory dysfunction caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and $A{\beta}$ through inhibition of secretases activities and $A{\beta}$ aggregation. I examined the improving effect of BV on the LPS (2.5 mg/Kg, i.p.)-induced memory dysfunction using passive avoidance response and water maze tests in the mice. BV (0.84, $1.67\;{\mu}g/ml$) reversed the LPS-induced memorial dysfunction in dose dependent manner. BV also dose-dependently attenuated LPS-induced ${\beta}$ and ${\eta}o-secretase$ activities in cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the mice brain. This study therefore suggests that BV acupuncture method may be useful for prevention of development or progression of AD.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.80-83
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• 2014

Objectives: This case report is to present a complete recovery from Kaposi's varicelliform eruption (KVE) that occurred in a patient with atopic dermatitis by applying Korean Medicine therapies. Methods: Hwangyeonhaedoktang pharmacopuncture (HP), 0.3 mL, and 25% bee venom pharmacopuncture (BVP), 0.1 mL, were injected, 0.2 mL each, at both BL13 acupoints once a day in the morning. Acupuncture was applied at Sama Upper, Middle and Lower of the Master Tung acupuncture points and at ST44 on the left lateral for 30 minutes twice a day. The affected face was gauze dressed with mixture of 2.0 mL HP and 1.0 mL 25% BVP with 20 mL of normal saline twice a day. Herbal Medicine, Seungmagalgeuntang, was administered three times a day after each meal. Results: Rashes and papules on the face were completely cleared after 10 days of treatments. Conclusion: KVE, an acute and urgent dermatitis, can be effectively treated with Korean medicine.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제19권5호
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• pp.136-148
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• 2002

본 연구는 osteoblastic cells에서 estogen 의 생합성을 유도하는 aromatase의 activity에 대한 봉독(蜂毒)작용을 측정하여, 봉독치료시 Arthritis의 진행 억제 및 estogen의 의한 bone formation의 효과여부를 검증하기 위해 실행하였다. 사용된 세포주로는 Osteoblastic phenotype으로 분화가 유도되는 Human leukaemic cell line FLG 29.1 및 the primary first-passage osteoblastic cells (hOB cells)이며, 이들을 각각 배양하고 각각의 RNA를 isolation한 뒤 PCR 증폭을 하였다. Aromatase에 대한 활성인자인 TPA와 TGF-${\beta}1$ 및 봉독을 이용하여 aromatase의 expression 및 activity에 대해 미치는 영향을 측정한 바, aromatase expression은 FLG 29.1 cell와 hoB cells에서, 50nM TPA 24시간 처리, 봉독 2 ~ 4시간 처리와 TGF-${\beta}1$ 3시간 처리로 유도한 결과 TPA와 TGF-${\beta}1$의 경우는 서로 유사하였고, 봉독에서 상대적으로 높게 나타났다. Aromatase activity는 FLG 29.1 cell, hoB cells에서 24시간 incubation한 결과, 모든 실험에서 일정하게 선상증가를 보였다. $5{\mu}{\ell}/m{\ell}$ BV에서 TPA와 TGF-${\beta}1$보다 뚜렷하게 증가하였으며, 0.5mM Bt2-cAMP, 50nM dexametasone처리에서는 유의성이 없었다. Estrogen 생합성을 촉매하는 aromatase activity BV가 처리에서 현저하게 증가하였기에, Rheumatis arthritis의 bone destruction에 대해 BV가 효과적인 역할을 할 것으로 보여진다.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.63-74
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• 2003

목적 : 한의학에서 관절염이나 진통치료에 사용되어 왔던 봉독약침액이 인간 골육종 세포주인 MG-63 세포에서 항종양효과가 있는지 연구하고자 한다. 특히 본 실험에서는 이러한 봉독의 종양발생 억제작용이 세포사멸과 관련이 있는지, 그리고 프로스타글란딘 합성 효소인 cyclooxygenase(COX)-2의 억제와 관련이 있는지를 연구하고자 한다. 방법 : 인간 골육종 세포주에서 세포사멸의 변화를 관찰하기 위해서 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium brimide(MTT) assay, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), DNA fragmentation assay 및 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) 방법을 이용하였다. 결과 : 세포독성 검사에서 봉독은 MG-63 세포에서 농도-의존적으로 세포독성을 나타내었다. 이러한 봉독의 세포독성이 세포사멸로 인한 것인지를 여러 가지 형태로 검사한 결과 봉독에 의한 세포독성은 TUNEL 검사와 DAPI 염색시 세포사멸의 특징적인 소견들을 나타내었고, flow cytometric 분석에서도 세포사멸을 의미하는 세포주기의 변화들을 나타내었다. 봉독이 COX-2의 발현에 미치는 영향을 RT-PCR로 실험한 결과 봉독은 COX-2 mRNA의 발현을 선택적으로 억제하였다. 결론 : 본 실험의 결과 봉독은 COX-2 mRNA의 발현을 억제함으로써 골육종 세포에서 세포사멸을 유발하고 그 결과 항종양효과를 나타내는 것으로 보여진다.