• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.39-49
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• 2007

목적 : 봉독으로 유발된 통각수용의 강도와 봉독으로 나타나는 항통각수용(통각억제성)의 강도를 쥐의 포르말린 테스트를 통해 상호관련됨을 확인하고 capsaicin과 bradykinin으로 통증 유발된 쥐의 자발적인 통증행동(핥기횟수측정; LN), 꼬리경타시험(TFL)과 열판시험(HPL)을 통해 봉독의 항통각수용(통각억제)작용을 재확인 하고자 하였다. 방법 : 쥐의 뒷다리에 통증유도 물질인 Capsaicin 또는 Bradykinin을 20${\mu}l$를 주사하여 동통을 유발하고 자발적 통증행동인 핥기횟수측정(LN), 꼬리경타기간(TFL)과 열판 위에서의 온도자극에 쥐가 반응하는 시간을 측정(HPL)하는 실험을 봉독을 주입하거나, 몰핀을 주입하거나, 아무것도 주입하지 않고 통증유발만 시킨 이후에 각각 시행하였다. 결과: 1. Capsaicin 또는 Bradykinin으로 동통유발 후 LN은 두드러증가를 보임, HPL은 감소를 TFL은 두드러진 감소를 나타내었다. 2. 봉독이나 몰핀 주입 30분 후에 Capsaicin으로 동통유발 이후 LN은 봉독과 몰핀에서 모두 현격한 감소를, HPL은 봉침은 현격한 증가를, 몰핀에서는 감소를, TFL은 봉침과 몰핀에서 모두 현격한 증가를 나타내었다. 3 봉독과 몰핀주입 30분후에 Bradykinin으로 동통유발 이후 LN은 봉독은 증가 몰핀은 현격한 감소를, HPL은 봉침은 증가 몰핀에서는 현격한 증가를, TFL은 봉침과 볼핀에서 모두 증가를 나타내었다. 결론 : 봉독은 Capsaicin 또는 Bradykinin으로 동통유발된 통각수용행동을 감소시키는 결과를 나타내었는데 이것은 기존의 연구결과들에서의 봉독의 항통각수용(통각억제성)의 효과를 입증하였고 봉약침은 염증의 개선이나 암과 관련된 동통에 유효한 방법임을 시사하는 것이다.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.123-127
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• 2020

Background: This study was designed using a mouse model of atopic dermatitis [phthalic anhydride (PA)-treated mice], to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of bee venom pharmacopuncture (BVP) in keratinocytes. Methods: Western blot analysis was performed to investigate inflammation related protein expression of iNOS, COX-2, phospho-ERK (p-ERK), and ERK, in LPS (1 ㎍/mL)-activated keratinocytes, following BVP treatment, and in PA-treated mice, after BVP treatment. Griess reaction was performed to investigate NO concentration. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to determine the concentrations of interleukin (IL)-4+, IL-17A+, IL-13 and IL-4 in PA-treated mice after BVP treatment. In addition, monocyte, macrophage, neutrophil, and eosinophil counts were measured to observe the changes in white blood cell infiltration. Results: The keratinocytes of the BVP-treated group showed a decreased expression of iNOS, COX-2, ERK at 5 OX-2, ERK E, and p-ERK at 1, 2 and 5 RKRK ERK ERK, and a dose-dependent decrease in NO concentration at 2 and 5 ntrationof s. In the BVP-treated groups (0.1 μ.1-trea μ.1-treated gr), PA-treated mice showed recovery after 4 weeks which was dose-dependent, showing a significant decrease in clinical scores for AD, and a decreased concentration of IL-13 and IL-4 with BV treatment. There was a dose-dependent decrease in the infiltration of eosinophils, neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, and a decreased thickness of the epidermis due to inflammation, and decreased expressions of iNOS, COX-2, p-ERK, ERK, especially in the 0.1 μ0/mL BVP-treated group, Conclusion: These results suggest that BVP may be an effective alternative treatment for atopic dermatitis.

• 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.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.365-371
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• 2006

Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture (BVA) simultaneously exerts pharmacological effects of biologically active compounds, existed in the whole bee venom, and medicinal effect of the stimulation of acupuncture points. BVA has been considered as a promising therapeutic method for treating various chronic diseases, mainly accompanying severe pain and inflammation. As a painless injection device, jet injectors have been commercially marketed for various clinical applications including insulin injection and vaccination. Among them, a pressure-driven jet injector system could be used for intradermal delivery of a variety of drugs. The aim of this study was to investigate the analgesic effects of the BVA using a needle-free injector (Biojector $2000^{\circledR}$, Bioject Inc., OR, USA), compared to the conventional BV aqua-acupuncture using a typical syringe. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with bee venom $(0.08mg/kg,\;50{\mu}l)$ using Biojector $2000^{\circledR}$ (BVA-B) or a syringe (BVA-5) into the Zusanli (ST36) acupoint, 30 minutes before plantar injection of 2% formalin. It was found that BVA-B-, or BVA-5-treated rats, compared to controls, exhibited significantly less licking behavior during the late phase in the rat formalin test, when compared to controls. During early phase, however, those effects were not significant but substantial. The analgesic effect of BVA-B was also compatible with that of the conventional BVA-5. In the immunohistochemical studies, BVA-B significantly suppressed the expression of formalin-evoked c-fos, a biomarker of neuronal activity, in the lumbar dorsal horn of the spinal cord. These results indicated that BVA-B waseffective in the modulation of pain in the rat formalin test, compared to BVA-5. Taken together, the needle-free jet injector system could be substituted for the conventional aqua- acupuncture with the advantage of little pain.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.101-108
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• 2016

Objectives: This study introduces the history and types of Korean pharmacopuncture and reports trends of research on Korean pharmacopuncture. Methods: Pharmacopuncture studies were searched from the first year of each search engine to 2014 by using seven domestic and foreign search databases. Selected studies were divided into the history of pharmacopuncture, kinds and features of pharmacopuncture, research types, and experimental and clinic studies and were then classified by year of publication, type of pharmacopuncture, disease, and topic. Results: Pharmacopuncture can be classified into four large groups: meridian field pharmacopuncture (MFP), eight-principles pharmacopuncture (EPP), animal-based pharmacopuncture (ABP) and mountain-ginseng pharmacopuncture, which is a single-compound pharmacopuncture (SCP). The largest numbers of studies were reported from 1997 to 2006, after which the numbers decreased until 2014. Of experimental studies, 51.9%, 18.7%. 14.3%, 9% and 3.4% were on SCP, ABP, MFP, formula pharmacopuncture (FP), and EPP, respectively. Of clinical studies, 54.7%, 15.3%. 14.9% 10.0% and 1.5% were on ABP, MFP, EPP, SCP, and FP (1.5%), respectively. Among clinical studies, case reports and case series accounted for 76.5%, followed by randomized controlled trials (RCTs, 16.4%) and non-RCT (13.9%). Musculoskeletal diseases, toxicity and safety tests, anti-cancer effects, and nervous system diseases were mainly treated in experimental studies while musculoskeletal diseases, nervous system diseases, toxicity and safety tests, and autonomic nerve function tests were addressed in clinical studies. Bee venom (BV) was the most frequently-used pharmacopuncture in mechanism studies. Pharmacopuncture was mainly used to treat musculoskeletal diseases. Conclusion: Pharmacopuncture and studies of it have made great progress in Korea. Studies on BV pharmacopuncture and musculoskeletal diseases accounted for most of the studies reported during the review period. Research on the types of pharmacopuncture and diseases has to be expanded. Especially, studies on the use of MFP and EPP for treating patients with various diseases are needed.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.155-162
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• 2016

Objectives: Bufonis venonum (BV) is toad venom and is the dried, white secretions of the auricular and the skin glands of toads. This study was performed to evaluate the toxicity of intravenous injection of Bufonis venonum pharmacopuncture (BVP) through a single-dose test with sprague-dawley (SD) rats. Methods: Twenty male and 20 female 6-week-old SD rats were injected intravenously in the caudal vein with BVP or normal saline. The animals were divided into four groups with five female and five male rats per group: the control group injected with normal saline, the low-dosage group injected with 0.1 mL/animal of BVP, the medium-dosage group injected with 0.5 mL/animal of BVP and the high-dosage group injected with 1.0 mL/animal of BVP. We performed clinical observations every day and body weight measurements on days 3, 7 and 14 after the injection. We also conducted hematology, serum biochemistry, and histological observations immediately after the observation period. Results: No mortalities were observed in any experimental group. Paleness occurred in the medium- and the high-dosage groups, and congestion on tails was observed in females in the medium- and the high-dosage groups. No significant changes in weight, hematology, serum biochemistry, and histological observations that could be attributed to the intravenous injection of BVP were observed in any experimental group. Conclusion: The lethal dose of intravenously-administered BVP in SD rats is over 1.0 mL/animal.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.52-60
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• 2018

Background: This was a retrospective review of published articles reporting acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of peroneal nerve palsy. Methods: On-line database searches were carried out using; Cochrane Library, Pubmed, CNKI, NDSL and OASIS to find articles reporting acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for peroneal nerve palsy. Duplicate articles and studies that were not relevant to the topic were excluded, along with review articles and commentaries. Results: 20 studies were selected, 18 clinical case studies (47 patients) and 2 randomized controlled trials (154 patients). Intervention treatments included acupuncture, moxibustion, bee-venom (BV), pharmacopuncture, electroacupuncture and acupotomy. Surprisingly, although peroneal nerve palsy is not a very rare disease, only 2 studies out of 20 carried out a randomized controlled trial. Conclusion: Although studies to date report the efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment in peroneal nerve palsy patients, the absence of objective evaluation and the absence in the reporting of side-effects remains an issue.

• 척추신경추나의학회지
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.55-65
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• 2019

Objectives : The aim of this study was to report the improvements in pain that a woman experienced after receiving Korean medicine treatments for the pain associated with core decompression surgery due to avascular necrosis (AVN) of both femur heads. Methods : The patient was diagnosed as having AVN in both femur heads and underwent core decompression surgery. After operation, she had pain on her right inguinal region and her range of motion (ROM) was restricted. She was treated with Korean medicine including, herbal medicine, acupuncture, Chuna Manual Therapy and bee venom acupuncture (BV). This study was measured by using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the ROM scale. Results : After conservative treatment, the patient's pain was reduced and ROM was increased. Daily living quality had improved. Conclusions : In this case, Korean conservative medicine therapy with Chuna Manual Therapy had a positive effect on the symptoms after core decompression surgery due to avascular necrosis of the femur head.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.93-106
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• 2021

This study aimed to analyze the use of Korean medicine treatments for alopecia in among clinical studies. We identified and analyzed 22 studies from Korean databases; Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), Science ON, Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS), and Research Information Sharing Service (RISS) and international database; PubMed. We analyzed the Korean medical treatment in each case and determined the tendency to use each intervention. We analyzed 1,464 patients from 22 selected studies. Herbal medicine, acupuncture, external medicine or products, pharmacopuncture, and phototherapy were used for alopecia treatment. The herbal medicines mainly used to treat alopecia were Gagam Cheongyoung-tang, Gagam Hwajung-hwan, and Yukmijihwang-tang·hwan. The acupoints primarily used were GV20, EX-HN1, GB5, KI3, PC6, ST36, GV22, and A-shi. The most commonly used pharmacopuncture therapies were Hwangryunhaedoktang (HH), Carthami Fructus (CF), Bee Venom (BV), and Hominis placenta (HP). The Korean medical treatment for alopecia improved the condition of patients. However, seven studies reported the occurrence of side effects such as pruritus, dazed, drowsiness, headache, pain, and diarrhea. This study shows the potential of Korean medicine for the treatment of alopecia. Further studies with a large sample size and long-term follow-up are warranted to establish the primary treatment guidelines and objective outcome measures for alopecia.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.149-163
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to review RCTs on pharmacopuncture treatment for musculoskeletal diseases and to establish standards of pharmacopuncture treatment model. Methods : We searched articles up to date of March 2009 via computerized databases of Pubmed, The Journal of Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Journal of Korean institute of Herbal Acupuncture, Journal of Oriental Rehabilitation and Journal of Korean Oriental Medicine. Only Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) concerning the effects of pharmacopuncture on musculoskeletal diseases. The pharmacopuncture treatment methods were assessed based on STRICTA and items considering the feature of pharmacopuncture. And the methodological quality of the trials was assessed by FEAS and modified Jadad score. Results : Eighteen trials of pharmacopuncture on musculoskeletal diseases were analyzed. Except for 4 trials comparing the effect of SBV and BV, positive outcome was reported in ten trials. Among eighteen trials; most of the trials were about Bee Venom acupuncture, and most of the trials used about five acupuncture points, mainly local acupuncture points. But, the amount of injection to each point and total injection were various. And most of trials were lack in the information about method of stimulation. The adjusted FEAS score ranged from 0 to 12, and modified Jadad scoreranged from 1 to 5. Conclusions: To standardize pharmacopuncture treatment, we need more well-designed, high quality clinical trials. And methodological assessment tools designed for pharmacopuncture treatment are also needed.