• 대한약침학회지
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.45-47
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• 2012

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between the constitution of Sasang and the bee venom hypersensitive reaction, as well as the hypersensitive reaction occurrence ratio between males and females, for patients treated with sweet bee venom (SBV) and who had undergone an examination of the constitution of the Sasang. Methods: All 81 patients enrolled in the study were treated with SBV and underwent an examination of the constitution of Sasang from January 2010 to July 2012. We divided them into two groups for the hypersensitive reaction and no response and compared the distributions of the Sasang-constitution types for the two groups as well as the hypersensitive reaction occurrence ratio between males and females. Results: No significant differences were found between the hypersensitive-reaction group and the no-response group (p = 0.390), but the hypersensitive-reaction occurrence ratio was statistically higher in females than in males (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Hypersensitive reactions do not seem to be related to the Sasang-constitution types, but the possibility of hypersensitive reactions among females seems to be higher than it is among males.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.5-24
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• 2011

Objective: This study was performed to analyse four weeks repeated -dose toxicity of Sweet Bee Venom (SBV-pure melittin, the major component of honey bee venom) in rats. 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 rats of 5 weeks old were chosen for the pilot study of four weeks repeated-dose toxicity and was injected at the level of 0.56 mg/kg body weight (eighty times higher than the clinical application dosage as the high dosage), followed by 0.28 and 0.14 mg/kg as midium and low dosage, respectively. Equal amount of normal saline was injected 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 appealed pain sense in the treating time compared to the control group, and side effects such as hyperemia and movement disorder were observed around the area of injection in all experiment groups, and the higher dosage in treatment, the higher occurrence in side effects. 3. Concerning weight measurement, neither male nor female groups showed significant changes compared to the control group. 4. Concerning to the CBC and biochemistry, all experiment groups didn't show any significant changes compared to the control group. 5. Concerning weight measurement of organs, experiment groups didn't show any significant changes compared to the control group. 6. To verify abnormalities of organs and tissues, those such as cerebellum, cerebrum, liver, lung, kidney, and spinal cords were removed and we conducted histologocal observation with H-E staining. Concerning the histologocal observation of liver tissues, some fatty changes were observed around portal vein in 0.56 mg/kg experiment group. But another organs were not detected in any abnormalities. 7. The proper high dosage of SBV for the thirteen weeks repeated test in rats may be 0.28 mg/kg in one time. Conclusion: Above findings suggest that SBV is relatively safe treatment medium. Further studies on the subject should be conducted to yield more concrete evidences.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제13권4호
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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.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.247-259
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• 2020

Objectives: This review aims to investigate clinical studies related to bee venom pharmacopuncture for cancer patients and to analyze the research trend for further study. Methods: We searched for clinical studies using bee venom pharmacopuncture therapy on patients with cancer through the electronic databases including Pubmed, Cochrane library, OASIS, KISS, NDSL, and KMBASE. There was no restriction on language and publication date, and after selection/exclusion process, the study design, target disease, intervention details including acupoints, treatment frequency and period, outcomes, study results and adverse events were extracted. Results: Thirteen clinical studies were finally selected. There were a randomized controlled trial RCT about the effect of sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture on cancer-related pain, and three case series about chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. In case reports, there were nine studies about oligodendroglioma, plexiform neurofibroma, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, urachal adenocarcinoma, malignant melanoma, and atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance. The bee venom therapy affected the improvement of outcomes such as symptoms, quality of life, tumor response, and lab findings. Conclusions: The present study found that bee venom therapy is applicable to the treatment of cancer patients, and showed some effect on various symptoms. However, due to insufficient number and quality of studies, well designed and high-quality clinical trials are necessary to confirm the effectiveness and safety of bee venom pharmacopuncture therapy in patients with cancer.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.85-92
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was designed to compare the effect between method of regulating ascending kidney water and descending heart fire and sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture on peripheral facial paralysis. Methods : We investigated 30 cases of patient with peripheral facial paralysis who visited at Dept. of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, of Oriental Medicine Dong-eui University from November 29, 2010 to May 15, 2011. Subjects were divided randomly into two groups, group A and group B. We applied method of regulating ascending kidney water and descending heart fire twice or three times a week for group A and sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture with same cycle for group B. We measured the effect of treatment to each group five times by using Yanagihara's unweighed grading system. at first examination, after 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, and 4 weeks. Results : Both groups showed significant improvement in Yanagihara's scores. And group A was improved better than group B for two weeks from the first examination significantly. But after one week from then, the Yanagihara's scores of group B were higher than those of group A significantly. There were no significant differences during other period. Conclusions : Method of regulating ascending kidney water and descending heart fire is more effective than sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture on peripheral facial paralysis during acute period. And after acute period, sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture is more effective than method of regulating ascending kidney water and descending heart fire.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.35-44
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was designed to compare the effect between needle-embedding therapy and sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture therapy on early stage of peripheral facial paralysis. Methods : We investigated 60 patients with peripheral facial paralysis. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups and dropped out 20 patients. : needle-embedding therapy group(group A, n=20, dropped out 9 cases among 29 cases) and sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture therapy group(group B, n=20, dropped out 11 cases among 31 cases). needle-embedding therapy was performed for group A three times a week dividing face into three areas during 4 weeks and Sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture therapy was performed for group B two or three times a week during 4 weeks. To evaluate the effect of treatment applied for two groups, we used Yanagihara's unweighed grading system and House-Brachmann grading system at before treatment, after one week from visit, two weeks from visit, three weeks from visit, and four weeks from visit. Results : After treatment, Yanagihara's score and House-Brachmann grading system were improved in each group except during first week. But there was no significant difference in improvement between group A and group B. Conclusions : Needle-embedding therapy would be as effective to improve symptoms of early stage of peripheral facial paralysis as sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture therapy.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.15-46
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• 2010

Objectives: This study was performed to analyse the effects of Sweet Bee Venom(Sweet BV) on cardiovascular system in the conscious telemetered Beagle Dogs. Methods: All experiments were conducted at Biotoxtech Company, a non-clinical studies authorized institution, under the regulations of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). Male Beagle dogs of 13-19 months old were chosen for the pilot study and surgical implantation was performed for conscious telemetered Beagle dogs. And after confirming condition of Beagle dogs was stable, Sweet BV was administered 4 times(first: 0.0 mg/kg, 2nd: 0.01 mg/kg, 3rd: 0.1 mg/kg, and forth: 0.5 mg/kg, one time/week) in thigh muscle of Beagle dogs. And blood pressure, heart rate, electrocardiography and clinical responses were measured. Equal amount of normal saline to the Sweet BV experiment groups was administered to the control group. Results: 1. In the analysis of body weight and taking amount, Beagle dogs did not show significant changes. 2. In the clinical observation, responses of pain and edema were showed depend on dosage of Sweet BV. 3. In the analysis of blood pressure, treatment with Sweet BV did not show significant changes in the dosage of 0.01 mg/kg, but in the dosage of 0.1 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg, treatment with Sweet BV increased blood pressure significantly. 4. In the analysis of heart rate, treatment of Sweet BV did not show significant changes in all dosage and period. 5. In the analysis of electrocardiography, treatment of Sweet BV was not showed significant changes in all dosage and period. Conclusion: Above findings suggest that Sweet BV is relatively safe treatment in the cardiovascular system. But in the using of over dosage, Sweet BV may the cause of increasing blood pressure. Further studies on the subject should be conducted to yield more concrete evidences.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.254-263
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• 2010

Objectives : The neuroprotective effects of bee venom (BV) have been demonstrated in many studies, but bee venom has many side effects. So we used sweet bee venom (SBV), which has high molecular elements removed to reduce the side effects. I examined the neuroprotective effect of sweet bee venom in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine ($MPP^+$)-induced human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Methods : To observe the possible toxicity of SBV itself, SH-SY5Y cells were treated with SBV in various concentrations for 3 h and $MPP^+$ in concentrations (1 and 5mM) for 24h. To investigate the protective effect of SBV against $MPP^+$ toxicity, SH-SY5Y cells were pretreated with vehicle or nontoxic concentrations of SBV for 3h and the cells were not washed, followed by incubation with respective concentrations of SBV and 1 mM $MPP^+$ for 24h. To investigate the protective effect of SBV against $MPP^+$ toxicity, SH-SY5Y cells were pretreated with vehicle or nontoxic concentrations of SBV for 3h and the cells were not washed, followed by incubation with respective of SBV(0.5%), 1 mM $MPP^+$, 5uM AKT inhibitor(LY984002) and 10uM ERK inhibitor(PD98059) for 24 h. The protective effect was measured by cell viability assay. To investigate the degree of apoptosis, caspase-3 enzyme activity was measured in control, $MPP^+$, SBV+$MPP^+$. Results : SBV (0.5%) pretreatment protected the SH-SY5Y cells against $MPP^+$-induced apoptotic cell death. The cell viability was higher in the SH-SY5Y cells that were pretreated with vehicle or nontoxic concentrations of SBV than those not pretreated. The caspase-3 activity was lower in the pretreated groups than these not pretreated. ERK and AKT enzymes have a role in the neuroprotective effects of the sweet bee venom. Conclusions : The results demonstrate that SBV has a protective effect on dopaminergic neurons against $MPP^+$ toxicity. This data suggest that SBV could be a potential therapeutic tool for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease(PD).

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.59-62
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• 2015

Objectives: A previous study showed that bee venom (BV) could cause anaphylaxis or other hypersensitivity reactions. Although hypersensitivity reactions due to sweet bee venom (SBV) have been reported, SBV has been reported to be associated with significantly reduced sensitization compared to BV. Although no systemic immediate hypersensitive response accompanied by abnormal vital signs has been reported with respect to SBV, we report a systemic immediate hypersensitive response that we experienced while trying to use SBV clinically. Methods: The patient had undergone BV treatment several times at other Oriental medicine clinics and had experienced no adverse reactions. She came to acupuncture & moxibustion department at Semyung university hospital of Oriental medicine (Je-cheon, Korea) complaining of facial hypoesthesia and was treated using SBV injections, her first SBV treatment. SBV, 0.05 cc, was injected at each of 8 acupoints, for a total of 0.40 cc: Jichang (ST4), Daeyeong (ST5), Hyeopgeo (ST6), Hagwan (ST7), Yepung (TE17), Imun (TE21), Cheonghoe (GB2), and Gwallyeo (SI18). Results: The patient showed systemic immediate hypersensitive reactions. The main symptoms were abdominal pain, nausea and perspiration, but common symptoms associated with hypersensitivity, such as edema, were mild. Abdominal pain was the most long-lasting symptom and was accompanied by nausea. Her body temperature decreased due to sweating. Her diastolic blood pressure could not be measured on three occasions. She remained alert, though the symptoms persisted. The following treatments were conducted in sequence; intramuscular epinephrine, 1 mg/mL, injection, intramuscular dexamethasone, 5 mg/mL, injection, intramuscular buscopan, 20 mg/mL, injection, oxygen ($O_2$) inhalation therapy, 1 L/minutes, via a nasal prong, and intravascular injection of normal saline, 1 L. After 12 hours of treatment, the symptoms had completely disappeared. Conclusion: This case shows that the use of SBV does not completely eliminate the possibility of hypersensitivity and that patients who received BV treatment before may also be sensitized to SBV. Thus, a skin test should be given prior to using SBV.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제31권3호
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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.