• 대한약침학회지
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.22-26
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was performed to estimate the effectiveness of burning acupuncture therapy (Hwachim) and sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture (S-BV pharmacopuncture) in treating lateral epicondylitis of elbow. Methods: We selected 33 patients at first, but 13 patients were excluded due to unclear medical records. Finally, a total of 20 patients who had received treatment from January 2012 to December 2013 were included in this study; all 20 patients had undergone Hwachim for the treatment of lateral epicondylitis of elbow, and 19 of the 20 had been treated with S-BV pharmacopuncture (Korea Pharmacopuncture Institute, KPI) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) as an ancillary treatment method. The degrees of pain of the 20 patients were evaluated by using the visual analogue scale (VAS) score at their first and final visits. The Wilcoxon signed rank test and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used to compare the VAS scores statistically. Results: The VAS score had decreased significantly from $10.00{\pm}0.00$ to $4.00{\pm}2.47$ (P = 0.000) by the end of the treatment. No significant changes were observed based on the number of treatments (P = 0.246), the age of the patients (P = 0.810), the duration of the illness (P = 0.705), and the location of the lesion (P = 0.076). Conclusion: This study suggests Hwachim and S-BV pharmacopuncture are very effective for treating lateral epicondylitis of the elbow.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.390-395
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• 2022

Objectives: Sweet bee venom (sBV) is purified from Apis mellifera, containing a high level of melittin-its main component. It has been used as a therapeutic agent for pain relief and anti-inflammation, as well as for treating neuronal abnormalities. Recently, there have been studies on the therapeutic application of sBV for anticancer treatment. In the present study, we investigated the pharmacological effect of sBV treatment in A549 human lung cancer cells. Methods: We used microscopic analysis to observe the morphological changes in A549 cells after sBV treatment. The MTT assay was used to examine the cytotoxic effect after dose-dependent sBV treatment. Molecular changes in sBV were evaluated by the expression of apoptosis marker proteins using western blot analysis. Results: Microscopic analysis suggested that the growth inhibitory effect occurred in a dose-dependent manner; however, cell lysis occurred at a concentration over 20 ㎍/mL of sBV. The MTT assay indicated that sBV treatment exhibited a growth inhibitory effect at a concentration over 5 ㎍/mL. On fluorescence activated cell sorting analysis, G0 dead cells were observed after G1 arrest at treatment concentrations up to 10 ㎍/mL. However, rapid cell rupture was observed at a concentration of 20 ㎍/mL. Western blot analysis demonstrated that sBV treatment modulated the expression of multiple cell death-related proteins, including cleaved-PARP, cleaved-caspase 9, p53, Bcl2, and Bax. Conclusion: sBV induced cell death in A549 human lung cancer cells at a pharmacological concentration, albeit causing hemolytic cell death at a high concentration.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.74-77
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to report a case of a plexiform neurofibroma (PNF) in the pelvic region treated with sweet bee venom (SBV) and mountain ginseng pharmacopuncture (MGP). Methods: A 16-year-old girl was diagnosed as having PNFs, neurofibromatosis type 1, 10 years ago and she had surgery three times to remove the benign tumors, but the growth of the PNFs continued. She has been treated in our clinic with SBV and MGP two times per month from March 2010 to April 2014. SBV was injected intra-subcutaneously at the borders of the PNFs in the pelvic region, and MGP was administrated intravenously each treatment time. Results: The growths of the PNFs occurred rapidly and continued steadily before treatment. Since March 2010, she has been treated in our clinic, and the growths of the PNFs have almost stopped; further-more, the discomfort of hip joint pain has been reduced, and her general condition has improved. Conclusion: We cautiously conclude that SBV and MGP treatment has some effects that suppress the growth and the spread of the PNFs in this patient.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.15-21
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the current trends in research on pharmacopuncture in Korea since 2007. Methods: A literature review was performed by using the search engines 'Science and Technology Society Village', 'Korean Studies Information Service System', 'National Discovery for Science Leaders', and 'Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System' in Korea from January 2007 to December 2013. Searched key words were 'pharmacopuncture', 'herbal acupuncture', 'aqua-acupuncture', and 'bee venom'. Finally, we selected 457 papers, including Korean experimental studies and clinical studies. Selected papers were classified according to year of publication, type of pharmacopuncture, disease & topic, research type and the publishing journal. Results: One hundred fifty pharmacopunctures were studied in 457 papers. Single compound pharmacopuncture was the most studied pharmacopuncture in experimental studies while animal-based pharmacopuncture was the most studied pharmacopuncture in clinical studies. Bee venom placed first among the various pharmacopunctures, followed by placenta, sweet bee venom, mountain-ginseng, and anti-inflammatory pharmacopunctures. Experimental research on pharmacopuncture has fallen since 2007 when 55 papers were published. However, clinical research has been increasing steadily. In clinical studies, case reports were numerous than randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Musculoskeletal diseases were the most frequently-treated diseases in studies on pharmacopuncture; among the musculoskeletal diseases, rheumatoid arthritis was the most frequently-treated disease in experimental studies and low back pain was the most frequently-treated condition in clinical studies. Since 2007, 45 different journals have published studies on pharmacopuncture, with the Journal of the Korean Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine Society having the largest number of papers on pharmacopuncture and the Journal of Pharmacopuncture the second largest number. Conclusion: The trends in research on pharmacopuncture published in studies from 2007 to 2013 were similar to those in studies published before 2006. Many studies on pharmacopuncture focused on bee venom and musculoskeletal diseases. Additional studies on diverse types of and indications for pharmacopuncture are needed.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.496-502
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• 2011

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of bee venom acupuncture therapy on the hair follicle growth by macroscopic, microscopic and immunohistochemical observation of skin 10 and 17 days after treatment. The results were as follows : Macroscopic hair follicle growth of 0.2 ml S.B.V. acupuncture treated group was more prominent than those of 0.1 ml S.B.V. acupuncture treated group and control group. Microscopic observation indicated that the hair follicle growth of control group reached anagen phase IV of hair growing cycle, and that of 0.1 ml and 0.2 ml S.B.V. acupuncture treated groups reached anagen phase VI and catagen, respectively. Immunohistochemical observations of the expression of various cytokines, enzymes and receptors in association with hair follicle cycle after local treatment of S.B.V. acupuncture therapy are as follows: Expression of fibroblast growth factor was more intense in epidermis and outer root sheath in 0.2 ml S.B.V. acupuncture treated group than that of 0.1 ml S.B.V. acupuncture treated group and control group. Expression of epidermal growth factor was more intense in bulge and outer root sheath in 0.2 ml S.B.V. acupuncture treated group than that of 0.1 ml S.B.V. acupuncture treated group and control group. Expression of c-kit receptor was more intense in epidermis, bulge and outer root sheath in 0.2 ml S.B.V. acupuncture treated group than that of control group. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor was more intense in epidermis, bulge and outer root sheath in 0.2 ml S.B.V. acupuncture treated group than that of control group. Expression of protein kinase C-${\alpha}$ was more intense in epidermis, bulge and outer root sheath in 0.2 ml S.B.V. acupuncture treated group than control group. It is concluded that bee venom acupuncture therapy promoted the expression of various cytokines, enzymes and receptors related to the hair growth cycle for hair growth. This findings indicates that bee venom acupuncture therapy is applicable to the treatment of hair loss.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.54-62
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• 2020

2019년 10월 16일부터 2019년 12월 16일까지 동국대학교 일산한방병원에서 요통을 호소하시며 X-ray 상 급성기 이상 소견이 없는 환자 3명을 대상으로 하였다. 한방응급실을 통해 입원한 급성 요통 증후군 환자에 대한 봉독약침요법을 포함한 한의학적 치료를 시행한 증례에 있어서 다양한 치료 효과를 확인하였다. NRS, ODI, EQ-5D, EQ-VAS의 모든 지표에서 임상적 호전의 결과를 관찰할 수 있었으며 환자의 주관적인 호전도에 있어서도 큰 변화를 얻을 수 있었고, 봉독약침에 대한 이상반응은 없었다. 봉독약침요법을 포함한 한의학적 치료를 통해 급성 요통이 완화되었으며 요추 ROM 증진 및 운동기능이 개선되고, 치료 기간을 단축시켜 환자의 삶의 질적인 측면에서 큰 호전을 보였다. 향후 급성 요통 증후군에 대한 봉독약침요법의 치료효과를 확인하기 위해 대규모 전향적 연구뿐만 아니라 대조군 연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.140-151
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• 2021

The aim of this study is to report the effectiveness of a traditional Korean medicine treatment for oculomotor nerve palsy induced by traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage. A 54-year-old male patient with oculomotor nerve palsy induced by traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage after a traffic accident was treated with Korean medicine, including acupuncture, electroacupuncture, sweet bee venom pharmacoacupuction, moxibustion, and herbal medicine. The effect of treatment on symptoms - ptosis, and eye movement - was evaluated using a ratio of eye opening and eye movement between the paralyzed eye and the normal eye. After 41 days of treatment, the clinical symptoms had improved. The ptosis and eye movement started to show improvement from day 20; at the time of discharge, ptosis had improved by more than 50%, and eye movement showed some improvement as well. This study suggests that Korean medicine may be an effective treatment for oculomotor nerve palsy induced by traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.103-108
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• 2009

Objectives : This study is to report the effect of Pharmacopuncture therapy on a patient suffering from the pain and cold intolerance of hand caused by Carpal tunnel syndrome with Raynaud's phenomenon. Methods : We had treated the patient diagnosed as Carpal tunnel syndrome with Raynaud's phenomenon by Sweet BV and CF pharmacopuncture. We injected Sweet BV and CF into acupuncture points on both hands - Sweet BV into Baxie (EX-UE9), CF into Naegwan ($PC_6$) and Daereung ($PC_7$). And then we evaluated her symptoms by VAS (Visual Analog Scale). Results : Clinical symptoms about Carpal tunnel syndrome with Raynaud's phenomenon were remarkably improved by Sweet BV and CF Pharmacopuncture. Conclusion : Therefore, we concluded that pharmacopuncture therapy - Sweet BV, CF etc. - may be useful to treat Carpal tunnel syndrome with Raynaud's phenomenon.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.149-155
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• 2007

Objectives The purpose of this study is aimed at diagnosing and suggesting treatment plans for commonly seen clinical manifestation of heat symptom in the upper body and coldness in the lower body, also known as hot above, cold below syndrome. Methods Various reasons attribute to the presence of hot above, cold below syndrome, but mainly contributed by blockage of normal Qi flow by abnormality of heart-kidney root, spleen-stomach axis, and liver-lung axis. Diagnosing these abnormalities and timely alleviation to the healthy state is presented in the study. Results 1For heat in the upper body, Huang Lian Jie Du Tang(黃連解毒湯), CF, or JsD pharmacopuctures are injected on GB21, GB20. Qi stagnation in the thoracic area is treated with BUM injection on CV17. For impairment of transportation and transformation in the middle energizer, BUM pharmacopuncture is injected on CV12. Coldness in the lower energizer was relieved by bee venom or Sweet BV(Bee Venom free from enzymes) on CV6. Conclusion Above proposed methods of regulating water-fire were effective in treating hot above, cold below syndrome in clinical manifestations. But once the symptom subsides, treatment focused on eliminating innate cause should be rendered to achieve more successful results.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.173-182
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• 2014

Objectives : There are few reports on treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome in the field of traditional Korean medicine. The aim of this study is to report a case of a 29-year-old male patient diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome, whose symptoms were relieved after 3-week integrated Korean medical treatment. Methods : A patient diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome was admitted into the Korean medicine hospital. The patient had left shoulder pain and left arm numbness. The pain was worse if it had become cold. The patient was treated using Sa-am acupuncture(Daejangseunggyeok), sweet bee venom acupuncture, herbal medicine and other treatment including physical therapy from September 7th to 27th of 2012. Improvement of the patient's symptoms was evaluated by verbal numerical rating scale(VNRS), skin surface temperature difference between the left and right symmetric part of digital infrared thermographic image(DITI). Results : After 3-weeks of treatment, VNRS decreased and skin surface temperature difference between the left and right symmetric part of DITI showed moderate improvement. Conclusions : The results suggest that integrated Korean medical treatment may affect to reduce the symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome. Further study is needed to evaluate the importance of this report.