• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was conducted to carry out Purification of Melittin and other peptide components from Bee Venom using gel filtration chromatography and propionic acid/urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis Methods : Melittin and other peptide components were separated from bee venom by using gel filtration chromatography on Sephadex G-50 column in 0.05M ammonium acetate buffer. Results : Melittin and other peptide components were separated from bee venom by using gel filtration chromatography on Sephadex G-50 column in 0.05M ammonium acetate buffer. The fractions obtained from gel filtration chromatography was analyzed by using SDS-PAGE and propionic acid/urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The melittin obtained from the gel filtration contained residual amount of phospholipase $A_2$ and a protein with molecular weight of 6,000. The contaminating proteins were removed by the second gel filtration chromatography. Conclusion : Gel filtration chromatography and propionic acid/urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis are useful to separate peptide components including melittin from bee venom.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.173-180
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• 2016

Objectives : To treat the progression of fibroproliferative disease that affects the flexion contracture of the fingers for patients with Dupuytren's contracture, the purpose of this study is to report a case of a patient with Dupuytren's contracture after complex Korean medical treatment. Methods : A patient was treated with acupuncture, moxibustion and bee venom pharmacopuncture on their left palmar aponeurosis. Six rounds of acupuncture and moxibustion were administered from November 30, 2015 through to January 2, 2016. Three rounds of bee venom pharmacopuncture was administered from December 14, 2015 through to January 2, 2016. The degree of flexion contracture and the Tubiana's stage were measured to evaluate the clinical improvement. Results : After 30 treatment sessions the flexion contracture degrees of the 4th finger's metacarpophalangeal joint and proximal interphalangeal joint improved as much as $25^{\circ}$, $15^{\circ}$, respectively. And the flexion contracture degrees of the 5th finger's metacarpophalangeal joint, proximal interphalangeal joint and distal interphalangeal joint improved as much as $15^{\circ}$, $10^{\circ}$, $5^{\circ}$, respectively. The Tubiana's stage of each finger decreased from 4 to 3. Conclusion : This study suggests that acupuncture, moxibustion and bee venom pharmacopuncture could be effective for patients with Dupuytren's contracture.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.91-102
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• 2014

Objectives : This study was done to determine the effect of Korean medical treatment to patient diagnosed as cauda equina syndrome(CES) suffering from both lower limb dysesthesia, saddle dysesthesia, buttock dysesthesia, dysuria, dyschezia and gait disturbance. Methods : A patient with CES was treated with acupuncture, sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine from February 2 to April 9 at Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Daejeon Korean Hospital of Daejeon University. Patient received acupuncture treatment($CV_1$, $CV_3$, $CV_4$, $CV_6$, $ST_{36}$, $BL_{31}$, $BL_{32}$, $BL_{33}$, $BL_{34}$) 12 times a week, bee-venom pharmacopuncture($BL_{23}$, $BL_{28}$) was conducted twice a week, herbal medicine(Samilsingihwan decoction) was applied to patient thrice a day for nine weeks. The following symptoms were observed saddle, and lower limb dysesthesia, dysuria, dyschezia and gait disturbance. Results : After treatment, dysesthesia, dysuria, dyschezia and gaiting developed good outcome. But anal reflex remained still. Conclusions : Acupuncture, bee-venom pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine combined treatment might be effective to patients with CES.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.52-62
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• 2002

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Bee Venom on NO, $H_2O_2$ expression induced by LPS in Raw 264.7 cells as a murine marcrophage cell line and on IL-1 expression induced by LPS in D10S cells. Methods : The expression of NO was measured by MTT Assay and IL-1 by MTS Assay. The expression of $H_2O_2$ was measured as ROS level within the cell using by FACS analysis. The non-toxic concentration(from $0.1\;{\mu}g/ml\;to\;5\;{\mu}g/ml$) of Bee Venom was determined by MTT Assay. Results : 1. Bee Venom inhibited the NO expression. The effective concentration of Bee Venom was $5\;{\mu}g/ml$ after 3 hours, 1 and $5\;{\mu}g/ml$ after 1 day and 2 days. The all concentration of Bee Venom inhibited the NO expression after 6, 12 hours and 3 days. 2. Bee Venom inhibited the $H_2O_2$ expression in a dose-dependent manner compared to the control. 3. Bee Venom could not significantly inhibit the IL-1 expression.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.70-73
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• 2014

Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a health problem which occurs during any phase of the sexual response cycle that keeps the individual or couple from experiencing satisfaction from the sexual activity. SD covers a wide variety of symptoms like in men, erectile dysfunction and premature or delayed ejaculation, in women, spasms of the vagina and pain with sexual intercourse, in both sexes, sexual desire and response. And pharmacopuncture, i.e. injection of subclinical doses of drugs, mostly herb medicine, in acupoints, has been adopted with successful results. This case report showed the effect of bee venom on SD. A 51-year-old male patient with SD, who had a past history of taking Western medication to treat his SD and who had previously undergone surgery on his lower back due to a herniated disc, received treatments using pharmacopuncture of sweet bee venom (SBV) at Gwanwon (CV4), Hoeeum (CV1), Sinsu (BL23), and Gihaesu (BL24) for 20 days. Objectively, the patient showed improvement on most items on the International Index for Erectile Dysfunction (IIEF) like 28 to 29 out of perfect score 30 for erectile function, 10 to 10 out of perfect score 10 for orgasmic function, 6 to 8 out of perfect score 10 for sexual desire, 10 to 13 out of perfect score 15 for satisfaction with intercourse, and 6 to 8 out of perfect score 10 for overall satisfaction; subjectively, his words, the tone of his voice and the look of confidence in his eyes all indicated improvement. Among the variety of effects of SBV pharmacopuncture, urogenital problems such as SD may be health problems that pharmacopuncture can treat effectively.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.115-123
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was to investigate the effectiveness of bee venom phamacopuncture complex therapy on the sequelae of peripheral facial palsy. Methods : We observed the effectiveness of bee venom pharmacopuncture complex therapy on three patients who have residual symptoms of Bell's palsy although early stage(0 to 3months) elapsed. H-B grade and Yanagiha's total score was used for evaluating the patient. Results : 1. Deviation of the bee venom therapy on the sequelae of peripheral facial palsy, One patient was improved from 19 to 39, another patient was improved from 25 to 40, the third patient was improved from 15 to 26 on Yanagiha's total score. 2. In the bee venom therapy on the sequelae of peripheral facial palsy, compared with baseline, at final, H-B grade and Yanagiha's total score was increased. Conclusions : Bee venom phamacopuncture can be available for relieving residual symptom of bell's palsy after the early stage.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.75-89
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of Sweet Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture and Scolopendrid Pharmacopuncture on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Methods : From February to September 2010, the number of patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome who volunteered for this clinical study was 16 and 7 out of 16 patients complained both hands. Total 23 cases of hands were randomly divided by 2 groups. We injected Sweet Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture on PC7(Daereung) twice a week for 4weeks for experimental group(n=11), and Scolopendrid Pharmacopuncture with the same methods for control group(n=12). One case was dropped out due to itchiness of allergic response in the experimental group. Improvement of the symptoms was evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale, Pain Rating Scale, Tinel's sign, Phalen's sign and Nerve Conduction Velocity. Nerve Conduction Velocity was checked at baseline and the end of the trial and others were checked at baseline, after 2 and 4 weeks. Results : Both groups showed significant improvement in Visual Analogue Scale, Pain Rating Scale, but no significant difference between two groups. Only the control group showed significant reduction of the 'poitive response' in the Tinel's sign and Phalen's sign. However, no groups improved in Nerve Conduction Velocity. Conclusions : These results showed that Sweet Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture and Scolopendrid Pharmacopuncture could decrease the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Further studies will be required to examine more cases for the long period and use more various concentration and amount pharmacopuncture for the effect on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.197-204
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• 2008

Objectives : This is a clinical report about the 47-year-old female patient with Trigeminal Neuralgia(TN) treated by oriental medicine treatment including Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture therapy(BVP), without any western medical treatment. Methods : The patient was treated by acupuncture, herb medication, and BVP. The improvement of the patient was judged by Visual Analog Scale(VAS). Results : The pain was gradually reduced and VAS became 0 after 8 days of treatment. Since then the pain didn't reappeared for 6 months. Conclusions : Oriental medicine treatment including BVP was very effective to improve the TN patient's symptoms. It is necessary to have more observation and many cases of patients with TN.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.39-54
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• 2006

Objectives : Herniation of Nucleus Pulpous (HNP) of Lumbar is one of the most common causes of low back pain. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture, bee venom acupuncture (BVA), and bee venom Pharmacopuncture (BVP) therapy for HNP. Methods : We separated 35 patients with HNP of L-spine into three groups; Acupuncture treated group, BVA treated group, and BVP treated group, and monitored for 30 days. 4 grades of recovery degree, score of Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were examined for comparison. Results : 1. Visual Analogue Scale of low back pain and radiating pain showed significant decrease in BVA and BVP groups compared to the Acupuncture group at VAS0_2, VAS0_3 evaluations. 2. ODI of disability of daily activities showed significant decrease in BVA and BVP groups compared to the Acupuncture group at VAS0_1, VAS0_2, and VAS0_3 evaluations. 3. Compared to the Acupuncture group, BVA and BVP groups were improved in S.L.R.T and R.O.M of L-spine as confirmed by the physical examination. 4. Treatment efficacy was more apparent in acute cases as ODI was significantly lower than chronic cases. Conclusion : BVA and BVP therapies can be used in addition to the acupuncture therapy for highly effective treatment of HNP. Further clinical studies are required to verify these findings.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.40-51
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• 2002

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Bee Venom on the lipopolysaccharide-induced expression phospholipase $A_2$, cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitrogen oxide synthase, and the generation of arachidonic acid, prostaglandin D2 and E2 in RAW 264.7 cells, a murine macrophage cell line. Methods : The expression of phospholipase $A_2$, cyclooxygenase and inducible nitrogen oxide synthase was determined by western blotting with corresponding antibodies, and the generation of arachidonic acid, prostaglandin $D_2$ and $E_2$ was assayed by ELISA method in RAW 264.7 cells. The non-toxic concentrations (0.1 to $5\;{\mu}g/ml$) of bee venom determined by MTT assay, were used in this study. Results : 1. Bee venom inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of phospholipase $A_2$ in a dose dependent manner after 48 hours treatment. 2. Bee venom inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in a dose dependent manner after 24 and 48 hours treatment. 3. Bee venom inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of inducible nitrogen oxidesynthase in a dose dependent manner after 48 hours treatment. 4. The generation of arachidonic acid, prostaglandin $D_2$ and $E_2$ was not much affected by the treatment of bee venom on the lipopolysaccharide-induced generation of arachidonic acid, prostaglandin $D_2$ and $E_2$ in RAW 264.7 cells.