• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.1-13
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• 2015

Purpose : This research was conducted to investigate the effect of sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture and low level laser acupuncture on paw edema, pain index, anti-inflammatory factor, AST, ALT and complete blood cell count of a rat model with Complete Freund's Adjuvant-induced arthritis. Methods : Five experimental groups were formed with each consisting of six rats: normal group, control group, sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture group, lower level laser acupuncture group, and sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture, lower level laser acupuncture group. The experimental model of arthritis was induced by two injections of Freund's adjuvant into the left knee joint of Sprague Dawley(SD) rats. The second injection of Freund's adjuvant was given ten days after the first one. Ten days later, sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture and low level laser acupuncture were administered separately or together by assigned groups at $GB_{34}$ and $GB_{39}$ of rats twice a week for a total of six times. Thereafter, edema rate, pain index, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin-6, aspartate aminortansferase, alanine aminotransferase and complete blood cell count were measured. Results : We noticed synergic effects of sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture and low level laser acupuncture according to the results of the paw edema and Von Frey pain index. The sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture(BVA) and sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture+ low level laser acupuncture(BVA+LLA) groups experienced a more significant effect when compared with the control group. Conclusions : These results suggest that Sweet Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture and low level laser acupuncture at GB34 and GB39 have a significant anti-inflammatory effect on Freund's adjuvant arthritis in rats.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.715-723
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• 1999

Bee venom (BV) has been traditionally applied to relieve pain and to cure inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and neuritis. While several investigators have evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of BV treatment, the anti-nociceptive effect of BV treatment on inflammatory pain is not reported. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the analgesic effect of BV treatment using Freund's adjuvant induced chronic arthritis model. Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis has been used as an experimental animal model for RA in humans to assess the efficacy of the anti-inflammatory/analgesic drugs. In this study, subcutaneous BV treatment (1mg/kg/day) produced significantly reductions of symptoms related to arthritic pain (i.e. mechanical hyperalgesia and thermal hyperalgesia). The anti-nociceptive effect of BV was observed from at least 12 days after BV treatment. Furthermore, BV treatment significantly suppressed adjuvant induced Fos expression in lumbar spinal cord. We also found that local injection of BV into near the inflammatory site (especially Zusanli-acupoint) showed more potent analgesic effect on arthritic pain rather than distant injection of BV from inflammatory site (arbitrary side of back). The present study demonstrates that BV treatment has anti-nociceptive effect on arthritis induced inflammatory pain. The analgesic effect of BV on RA is probably mediated by the effect of BV itself or possible other mechanism such as counter-irritation. Furthermore, it is possible that BV acupuncture is one of the promising candidates for long-term therapy of RA.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.538-544
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• 1999

To elucidate the involvement of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ converting enzyme (ICE) in the course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), we induced EAE by immunizing rats with an emulsion of rat spinal cord homogenate with complete Freund's adjuvant supplemented with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (H37Ra, 5mg/ml) and then examined the expression of ICE in the spinal cord of rats with EAE. In normal rat spinal cords, ICE is constitutively, but weakly, expressed in ependymal cells, neurons, and some neuroglial cells. In EAE, many inflammatory cells are positive for ICE, and the majority of ICE+ cells were identified as ED1+ macrophages. During this stage of EAE, the number of ICE+ cells in brain cells, including neurons and astrocytes, increased and these cells also had increased ICE immunoreactivity. These findings suggest that the upregulation of ICE in both brain cells and invading hematogenous cells is stimulated by a secretory product from inflammatory cells, and that this enzyme is involved in the pathogenesis of EAE via the production of IL-1 beta.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.2 no.1 s.2
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• pp.135-152
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• 1999

To investigate effects of Taraxaci herbal-acupuncture on Adjuvant Arthritis in rats, the edema rate, the number of WBC, the quantity of total protein, albumin and globulin in the blood serum and histological test of the muscular tissue were measured in the arthritis part. 1. After elicitating arthritis of Sprague Dawely(SD) rats by injection of Freund's complets adjuvant for 2 weeks, saline was injected for the Exp. I group and Taraxaci herbal-acupuncture was injected for the Exp. II group during 30days. Selected point was $ST_{35}$ in both the groups. And then the volume of the paw were checked. The volume of paw was $0.84{\pm}0.14mm$ in the Exp. I group and $0.38{\pm}0.17mm$ in the Exp. II group, the swelling of the paw was restricted significantly in the Exp. II group(p<0.05) 2. The number of WBC was $10.34{\pm}0.14(10^3/ml)$ in the normal group and $37.47{\pm}5.46(10^3/ml)$ in the Exp. I group. It was $20.39{\pm}4.23(10^3/ml)$ in the Exp. II group. This fact showed that the group Exp. II was more effective than the Exp. I group in the treatment of arthritis(p<0.05) 3. The content of the total protein in the blood serum was $6.14{\pm}0.43g/dl$ in the normal group, $7.95{\pm}0.94g/dl$ in the Exp. I group, and $6.38{\pm}1.75g/dl$ in the Exp. II group. This fact showed that the group Exp. II was more effective than the Exp. I group in the treatment of arthritis(p<0.05) 4. The contents of albumin in the blood serum was $2.94{\pm}0.13g/dl$ in the normal group, $2.01{\pm}0.48g/dl$ in the Exp. I group. and $2.71{\pm}0.34g/dl$ in the Exp. II group. This fact showed that the group Exp. II was more effective than the Exp. I group in the treatment of arthritis(p<0.05) 5. The contents of globulin in the blood serum was $3.19{\pm}0.48g/dl$ in the normal group, $4.70{\pm}1.26g/dl$ in the Exp. I group. and $3.67{\pm}0.56g/dl$ in the Exp. II group. There was no significance in the serum globulin between Exp. II group and Exp. I group from the stastical analysis 6. In histological finding, because of severe inflammatory reaction, remarkably irregular tissue and large amount of inflammatory cells were found in the Exp. I group. But the Exp. II group showed small amount of inflammatory cells, the refrained inflammatory state and even recovering state. From these results, it is showed Taraxaci herbal-acupuncture refrain inflammatory reaction and muscular tissue necrosis in SD rats paw were induced by Freund's complete adjuvant

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2002

Background: The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis still depend on conserve therapy in major. Recent studies report that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA) could modulate the incidence and progress of arthritis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of n-3 PUFA on the development of collagen-induced arthritis in rats. Materials and Methods: Female Louvain rats were used for this experiment. Rats were randomly assigned into either normal (n=8) or collagen-immunized groups, and collagen immunized groups were divided into control(n=8, normal diet) and n-3 PUFA(n=8, 5% n-3 PUFA in diet) groups. One week after feeding n-3 PUFA to rats, they were immunized with type II collagen emulsified in incomplete Freund's adjuvant into tail and back. Development of arthritis was confirmed by x-ray and microscopic examination. Results: Incidence of arthritis at the 5th week after immunization was 38% in control and 0% in n-3 PUFA. Rats with arthritis showed edema in hind paws and inflammation in synovial membrane of the knee joint. Plasma glucose and insulin were not changed by both of immunization and diet. Plasma triglycerides and cholesterol concentrations were decreased by n-3 PUFA. Conclusion: n-3 PUFA may prevent or treat collagen-induced arthritis m rats. Further studies are needed for action mechanism of it.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2008

Inflammation is the complex biological response of injured tissues to harmful stimuli. A cascade of biochemical events propagates and matures the inflammatory response, involving the local vascular system, the immune system, and various cells within the injured tissue. The immune system is often involved with inflammatory disorders, demonstrated in both allergic reactions and some myopathies, with many immune system disorders resulting in abnormal inflammation. An Arbitrary Waveform Generator (AWG) is a piece of electronic test equipment used to generate electrical waveforms for the treatment of patients. The patients with gastritis and arthritis have been known to have a relatively favorable prognosis with AWG treatment. Accordingly, we examined the effects of AWG treatment in gastritis and arthritis animal model. The compound 48/80 was used to induce animal gastritis model. The tissue malone dialdehyde (MDA) and serum histamine levels, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in stomach tissue were measured. The tissue MDA and serum histamine levels in AWG treated groups exhibited the decreased tendency compared with control group, whereas the tissue SOD activity was slightly increased. The Freund's complete adjuvant was used to induce animal arthritis model as well. The paw edema volume and the width of ankle joint were determined. The AWG treatment significantly decreased the paw edema volume after 5th day of treatment. Although further studies should be performed to confirm the effects of AWG treatment, present study suggest that AWG treatment might be used as a complementary treatment for the gastritis or arthritis treatment.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.132-141
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• 2022

Objectives : Some acupoints are commonly utilized to treat a variety of diseases. The acupoints appear to have a wide range of effects caused by several mechanisms. The purpose of this study is to investigate into the potential role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the multipotent effects of individual acupoint stimulation. Methods : We examined the miRNA expressions in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of neuropathic or inflammatory pain rats following ST36 and GB34 electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation. Neuropathic pain was induced by L5 spinal nerve ligation. Inflammatory pain was induced by knee joint injection of Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). EA was given under gaseous anesthesia with the same parameters (1mA, 2Hz, 30 min) in 5 consecutive days. Pain behaviors and miRNA expressions were analyzed. Results : In rats with neuropathic and inflammatory pain, EA treatments significantly enhanced the paw withdrawal threshold and weight-bearing force. After nerve injury, 36 miRNAs were upregulated in the DRG of neuropathic rats, while EA downregulated 10 of them. Furthermore, 14 miRNAs were downregulated following nerve damage, while one was increased by EA. 15 miRNAs were increased in the DRG of inflammatory rats following CFA injection, while 5 were downregulated by EA. Furthermore, 17 miRNAs were downregulated following CFA injection, while 7 were increased by EA. The miRNAs rno-miR-335, rno-miR-381-5p, rno-miR-1306-3p, and rno-miR-1839-3p were regulated by EA in both models. Conclusions : In two pain models, EA applied to ST36 and GB34 regulated miRNA expression differently. There appeared to be both acupoint-specific and non-specific miRNAs, and miRNA regulation of differential protein expression may modulate a variety of EA mechanisms.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2014

We investigated the role of central P2X receptors in inflammatory pain transmission in the orofacial area in rats. Experiments were carried out using male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 230-280g. Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA, $40{\mu}L$) was applied subcutaneously to the vibrissa pad to produce inflammatory pain. The intracisternal administration of iso-PPADS tetrasodium salt, a non-selective P2X receptor antagonist, A317491 sodium salt hydrate, a $P2X_{2/3}$ receptor antagonist, 5-BDBD, a $P2X_4$ receptor antagonist, or A438079 hydrochloride, a $P2X_7$ receptor antagonist, was performed 5 days after CFA injection. Subcutaneous injections of CFA produced increases in thermal hypersensitivity. Intracisternal injections of iso-PPADS ($25{\mu}g$) or A438079 (25 or $50{\mu}g$) produced significant anti-hyperalgesic effects against thermal stimuli compared to the vehicle group. A317491 or 5-BDBD did not affect the head withdrawal latency times in rats showing an inflammatory response. Subcutaneous injections of CFA resulted in the up-regulation of OX-42, a microglia marker, and GFAP, an astrocyte marker, in the medullary dorsal horn. The intracisternal administration of A438079 reduced the numbers of activated microglia and astrocytes in the medullary dorsal horn. These results suggest that a blockade of the central $P2X_7$ receptor produces antinociceptive effects, mediated by inhibition of glial cell function in the medullary dorsal horn. These data also indicate that central $P2X_7$ receptors are potential targets for future therapeutic approaches to inflammatory pain in the orofacial area.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.8
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• pp.1213-1219
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• 2010

We evaluated the anti-aging potential and safety of black garlic extract for cosmeceutical ingredient. Black garlic was made by spontaneous fermentation for 40 days at $60{\sim}70^{\circ}C$, 85~95% RH without any additives. The 10% black garlic extract had sweet odor, antioxidant activities and inhibitory activities of skin againg enzymes such as tyrosinase and elastase. The skin safety was performed to evaluate of potential toxicity using the primary irritation test and skin sensitization test. The black garlic extract did not show any adverse reactions such as erythema and edema on intact skin sites at primary irritation test, but on abraded sites, some experimental animals showed very slight erythema. So, the black garlic extract was classified as a practically non-irritating material based on the score 0.23 of primary irritation index. The skin sensitization study was tested by the guinea pig maximization test (GPMT) and Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) with intradermal injection of 10% black garlic extract. The skin sensitization test showed no skin sensitization. The allergic sensitization depends on tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The concentration of IL-6 on challenged tissue of treated with black garlic extract was not significantly different with negative control group (saline treated group). Based on this study, the potential for black garlic as a cosmeceutical ingredient was proven.