Incidence Rate of Bee Venom Acupuncture Related Anaphylaxis: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Bee venom acupuncture (BVA) is an effective treatment method for various diseases. Bee venom, however, can cause adverse effects, even rarely including life-threatening anaphylaxis, so safety-related evidence is required. In this study, we systematically estimated the incidence rate of anaphylaxis in response to BVA. METHODS: We searched eight databases (MEDLINE (Pubmed), EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled, KISS, KMBASE, Koreamed, OASIS, and NDSL) and systematically reviewed the articles that met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. RESULTS: Among 225 potentially relevant articles, 49 were selected for this study. The overall incidence rate of anaphylaxis in response to BVA was 0.045% (95% CI 0.028-0.062). Women (0.083%, 95% CI 0.010-0.157) showed a higher incidence rate than men (0.019%, 95% CI -0.018 to 0.055), while the incidence for patients who had a skin test conducted (0.041%, 95% CI 0.011-0.072) was not significantly different compared to that obtained for patients for which there was no information about a skin test (0.047%, 95% CI 0.026-0.067). The publication year affected the incidence rate: it was highest before 1999 (1.099%, 95% CI -1.043 to 3.241), lower between 2000 and 2009 (0.049%, 95% CI 0.025-0.073), and lowest between 2010 and 2021 (0.037% 95% CI 0.014-0.060). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we provide reference data about risk size and factors of BVA-related anaphylaxis, which is essentially required for BVA application in clinics.

Taurine Ameliorates Tunicamycin-Induced Liver Injury by Disrupting the Vicious Cycle between Oxidative Stress and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver dysfunction characterized by excess lipid accumulation; non-alcoholic steatohepatitis can transform into more severe conditions, such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although several pharmacologic approaches have been evaluated in clinical trials, there are no approved therapies for NAFLD. Previous studies have suggested that taurine supplementation alleviates fatty liver; however, the underlying mechanism remains obscure. In this study, we investigated the beneficial effects of taurine on fatty liver injury in vivo induced by tunicamycin, a chemical endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stressor. The mice were administered 2% taurine for 2 weeks prior to intraperitoneal tunicamycin injection; after 72 h of treatment, the mice were euthanized. Tunicamycin treatment significantly increased the levels of serum ALT and AST and hepatic triglycerides. Notably, these changes were alleviated by taurine supplementation. Taurine normalized the protein and/or mRNA levels involved in ER stress signaling (IRE1a, p-IRE1a, ATF6, XBP1, BiP, and CHOP) and lipid metabolism (CD36, MTTP, and ApoB), which were dysregulated by tunicamycin treatment. The stimulation of hepatic lipid export by taurine was evidenced by the recovery of blood VLDL levels. Furthermore, taurine supplementation prevented tunicamycin-induced lipid peroxidation and decreased glutathione (GSH) levels by correcting abnormal cysteine catabolism involved in the production of both taurine and GSH. Therefore, taurine supplementation can prevent tunicamycin-induced liver injury by counteracting oxidative and ER stress.

Anti-Obesity Effects of Soybean Embryo Extract and Enzymatically-Modified Isoquercitrin.

Soy isoflavones are bioactive phytoestrogens with known health benefits. Soybean embryo extract (SEE) has been consumed as a source of isoflavones, mainly daidzein, glycitein, and genistein. While previous studies have reported the anti-obesity effects of SEE, this study investigates their molecular mechanisms and the synergistic effects of co-treatment with SEE and enzymatically modified isoquercitrin (EMIQ). SEE upregulated genes involved in lipolysis and brown adipocyte markers and increased mitochondrial content in differentiated C3H10T1/2 adipocytes in vitro. Next, we use a high-fat diet-induced obesity mouse model to determine the anti-obesity effect of SEE. Two weeks of single or combined treatment with SEE and EMIQ significantly reduced body weight gain and improved glucose tolerance. Mechanistically, SEE treatment increased mitochondrial content and upregulated genes involved in lipolysis in adipose tissue through the cAMP/PKA-dependent signaling pathway. These effects required a cytosolic lipase adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) expression, confirmed by an adipocyte-specific ATGL knockout mouse study. Collectively, this study demonstrates that SEE exerts anti-obesity effects through the activation of adipose tissue metabolism and exhibits a synergistic effect of co-treatment with EMIQ. These results improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the anti-obesity effects of SEE related to adipose tissue metabolism.

Sensory electrical stimulation for suppression of postural tremor in patients with essential tremor.

Essential tremor is an involuntary trembling of body limbs in people without tremor-related disease. In previous study, suppression of tremor by sensory electrical stimulation was confirmed on the index finger. This study investigates the effect of sensory stimulation on multiple segments and joints of the upper limb. It denotes the observation regarding the effect's continuity after halting the stimulation. 18 patients with essential tremor (8 men and 10 women) participated in this study. The task, "arms stretched forward", was performed and sensory electrical stimulation was applied on four muscles of the upper limb (Flexor Carpi Radialis, Extensor Carpi Radialis, Biceps Brachii, and Triceps Brachii) for 15 seconds. Three 3-D gyro sensors were used to measure the angular velocities of segments (finger, hand, and forearm) and joints (metacarpophalangeal and wrist joints) for three phases of pre-stimulation (Pre), during-stimulation (On), and 5 minute post-stimulation (P5). Three characteristic variables of root-mean-squared angular velocity, peak power, and peak power frequency were derived from the vector sum of the sensor signals. At On phase, RMS velocity was reduced from Pre in all segments and joints while peak power was reduced from Pre in all segments and joints except for forearm segment. Sensory stimulation showed no effect on peak power frequency. All variables at P5 were similar to those at On at all segments and joints. The decrease of peak power of the index finger was noted by 90% during stimulation from that of On phase, which was maintained even after 5 min. The results indicate that sensory stimulation may be an effective clinical method to treat the essential tremor.

Skin discolouration with acute onset parkinsonism secondary to systemic zirconium intoxication.

A 72-year-old woman presented with suspected parkinsonism and discolouration of the skin especially on sun-exposed areas. Thorough investigation revealed systemic zirconium intoxication due to intake of metallic colloids as a home remedy as a cause of the skin colour change. There may be an association between skin discolouration and her parkinsonism. This is unique in that various clinical manifestations developed following systemic ingestion of zirconium and this should serve as a warning on the risk of taking illicit dietary supplements.

Perverted head-shaking and positional downbeat nystagmus in pregabalin intoxication.

Dizziness and ataxia are known adverse effects of pregabalin, but characteristic oculomotor signs in pregabalin intoxication have not been reported. Here we describe a patient who displayed perverted head-shaking and positional downbeat nystagmus after prescription of a high dosage of pregabalin. Since pregabalin reduces excitatory neurotransmitter secretion in the central nervous system, decreased excitatory inputs from the brainstem may lead to cerebellar dysfunction, causing perverted head-shaking and positional downbeat nystagmus.

"Visual sensory trick" in patient with cervical dystonia.

Sensory tricks are clinical maneuvers that may partially relieve dystonic contractions. Any clinical maneuver that modulates afferent sensory and efferent motor pathways could be used as a sensory trick in patients with cervical dystonia. Although various sensory tricks have been described to reduce cervical dystonia, little is known about the exact mechanisms by which they operate. We report a case of cervical dystonia that was alleviated through the use of a visual-sensory trick. Our findings suggest that visual stimulation might be an effective sensory trick in cervical dystonia by compensating for a defective sensory system, or because visual pathways might be also affected by sensory interactions in cervical dystonia.