• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.112-118
• /
• 2008

Background: This study was conducted to quantitatively analyze proteins associated with the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that was obtained from a rat model of chronic neuropathic pain following administration of intrathecal $CGRP_{8-37}$. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (100-150 g, 5-6 wks) were divided into two groups, sham controls and neuropathic pain models. At the time of operation for neuropathic pain model, an intrathecal catheter was threaded through the intrathecal space. At 1 or 2 wks after the operation (maximum pain state), a test dose of 1, 5, 10, or 50 nM of $CGRP_{8-37}$ was injected into the intrathecal catheter and the CSF was then aspirated. Conventional proteomics to evaluate the CSF were then performed using high resolution 2-D, gel electrophoresis followed by computational image analysis and protein identification by mass spectrometry. Results: Treatment with $CGRP_{8-37}$ effectively alleviated mechanical allodynia in a dose dependent manner. The most effective response was obtained when a dose of 50 nM was administered, but significant differences were obtained following administration of only 5 nM $CGRP_{8-37}$. Furthermore, the results of the proteomic analysis were consistent with the experimental results. Specially we detected 30 differentially expressed spots in 7 images when 2-D gel electrophoresis was conducted. The intensity of 6 of these spots (spot number: 20 and 26-30) was found decrease the $CGRP_{8-37}$ dose increased; therefore, these spots were evaluated by mass spectrometry. This analysis identified 2 different proteins, CGRP (spot numbers: 26-30) and neurotensin-related peptide (spot number: 20). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that CGRP plays a role in chronic central neuropathic pain and is a major target of chronic neuropathic pain management.

• Archives of Hand and Microsurgery
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.301-305
• /
• 2018

Hemangiomas are benign neoplasms of endothelial cells origin, rarely found in hand region. Authors report a 62-year-old female with capillary hemangioma of right index finger causing a neuropathic symptom via nerve compression. A space-occupying vascular lesion surrounding the radial digital nerve was revealed in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which was removed under microscopic assist. The digital nerve was decompressed consequently. The mass was firmly attached to both the digital nerve and digital artery, requiring a meticulous microscopic dissection to preserve the nerve and artery. Compression neuropathy caused by space-occupying lesions is rare and its diagnosis is often difficult. A microscopic surgical approach can be used to successfully relieve neuropathic pain after proper diagnosis established by diagnostic tools such as MRI as in this case.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.397-407
• /
• 2009

The aim of the study was to evaluate psychosocial impact of non-dental chronic orofacial pain (OFP) on daily living using the graded chronic pain (GCP) scale. It is also investigated the clinical profile such as demographics, event related to initiation of OFP and prior treatments for patients. During previous 6 months since September 2008, 572 patients (M:F=1:1.5, mean age=34.7 years) with non-dental OFP attended university-based specialist orofacial pain clinic (Dankook University Dental Hospital, Cheonan) to seek care although 63% of them already experienced related treatment for their OFP problem. They visited the most frequently general dental practitioner and orthopedic doctors due to their pain problem and medication was the most commonly employed modality. Most of the patients (89.2%) had TMD and the most common related event to initiation of their pain was trauma, followed by dental treatment. Almost half of the patients (46%) suffered from chronic pain(${\geq}6\;M$) and 40% of them exhibited relatively high disability due to chronic OFP. GCP pain intensity and disability days were significantly different for age and diagnosis (p<0.05) but not for gender and duration. GCP grades were affected by all the factors including gender, age, pain duration and diagnosis.(p=0.000) Female gender, elders, and long lasting pain were closely related to high disability. The patients with neuropathic Pain and mixed OFP rather than TMD were graded as being highly disabled. Conclusively, a considerable percentage of chronic OFP patients reports high pain-related disability in their daily, social and work activity, which suggest a need for psychosocial support and importance of earlier referral for appropriate diagnosis and tailored management.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.217-225
• /
• 2009

As Pain is a comprehensive, biopsy chosocial phenomenon, improved understanding and successful management of pain need assessment of health-related quality of life and psychological states. The purpose of this study was to evaluate pain severity and pain-related interference to daily lives for patients with non-dental, orofacial pain(OFP) and a possible relation of OFP with psychological morbidity. Relation with such factors as gender, age, pain duration and diagnosis was also assessed. Inclusion criteria was all new patients with non-dental OFP attending the oral medicine.orofacial pain clinic of Dankook University Dental Hospital over 3 months' period, who completed the questionnaires of the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Prior to the first consultation, the patients were asked to fill out the questionnaire in the waiting room and were diagnosed through consultation and clinical examination. Total subjects were 163 with M:F ratio of 1:1.5 and mean age of 34.6${\pm}$17.7 years. Mean duration of pain was 13.3${\pm}$26.2 months and all patients were divided into; Trigeminal Neuralgia group (TN, N=8), Neuropathic Pain group (NeP, N=9), Persistent Idiopathic Facial Pain group (PIFP, N=8), and Temporomandibular Disorders group (TMD, N=138), subdivided into muscle problem (TMD-m, N=73), joint problem (TMD-j, N=24) and muscle-joint combined problem (TMD-c, N=41). OFP patients showed moderate pain severity and moderate pain-related interference. There was no gender difference in overall pain severity and interference and levels of anxiety and depression. Elderly patients aged ${\geq}$ 60 years showed higher pain severity (p<0.05). Patients with chronic pain ${\geq}$ 3 months reported more increased level of anxiety and depression than those with acute pain (p<0.05). Compared to TMD patients, patients with TN, NeP and PIFP suffered from higher level of pain and pain-related interference and reported higher level of anxiety and depression (p<0.05). Pain interference was closely correlated with their pain severity and with psychometric properties such as anxiety and depression. Pain severity was weakly correlated with levels of anxiety and depression. The results suggest a need for psychosocial assessment and support for successful management of OFP in addition to control of pain itself.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.327-336
• /
• 2011

Reported causes of mandibular nerve injury in relation to neuropathic pain in dentistry include extraction, dental implant surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, periodontal treatment, and root-canal therapy. This study analyzed the characteristics of pharmacologic management of neuropathy after root-canal therapy. 32 patients who complain of abnormal sensation or pain after root-canal therapy and were referred to Department of Oral Medicine and the Temporomandibular Joint and Orofacial Pain Clinic at the Dental Hospital of Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea from 2004 to 2011 enrolled in this analysis and improvement of symptom was evaluated after pharmacologic management. Thirty-two patients who had hypoesthesia or dysesthesia at the initial visit were analyzed(9 men, 23 women; mean age: 44 years). The causes of neuropathy were local anesthesia(46.9%), chemical trauma from the sealant in root-canal(25%), endodontic surgery(15.6%), and unknown causes(12.5%). Medications such as steroids, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and analgesics were took for improvement of symptoms and titrated for a variety of period from 1 week to 11 months. It was found that neuropathy of the inferior alveolar nerve and the lingual nerve was in 25 and 7 patients. The improvement of neurosensory disturbance and no improvement after pharmacotherapy was in 21(66%) and 11(34%) patients respectively. The hypoesthesia and dysesthesia was improved 67% and 65% respectively. These results suggest that symptomatic improvement by pharmacologic management can be possible in patients with neuropathy after root-canal therapy. But improvement of symptoms was influenced by the causes and degree of nerve injury, the periods of pharmacotherapy, and the choice of treatment methods. So, further investigation is needed by quantitative measurement of more variables in more individuals.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2023

Objectives: To demonstrate an improvement of neuropathic pain after surgical site infection in a patient with anorectal cancer by administration of Soshihotang (SSHT). Methods: A 65-year-old female patient diagnosed with anorectal cancer was administered SSHT to relieve her neuropathic pain induced by surgical site infection. SSHT was administered from 4/22 to 5/2. Clinical outcomes were assessed using a numeric rating scale (NRS), and opioids administered to relieve her pain was calculated. Results: During 10 days of treatment, the NRS scale of neuropathic pain was improved and the dosage of opioids administered reduced to less than half. Conclusions: This case suggests that SSHT could be effective for the management of neuropathic pain induced by surgical site infection.

• Clinical Pain
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2019

Objective: To investigate the cortical disinhibition in diabetic patients with neuropathic pain and without pain. In addition, we assessed the cortical disinhibition and pain relief after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Method: We recruited diabetic patients with neuropathic pain (n = 15) and without pain (n = 15). We compared the TMS parameters such as motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude, cortical silent period (CSP), intracortical inhibition (ICI %) and intracortical facilitation (ICF %) between two groups. Moreover, we evaluated the changes of pain and TMS parameters after five consecutive high frequency (10 Hz) rTMS sessions in diabetic patients with neuropathic pain. The neuropathic pain intensity (visual analog scale) and TMS parameters were assessed on pre-rTMS, post-rTMS 1day, and post-rTMS 5 day. Results: The comparison of the CSP, ICI % revealed significant differences between two groups (p<0.01). After rTMS sessions, the decrease in pain intensity across the three time points revealed a pattern of significant differences (p<0.01). The change of CSP and ICI % across the three test points revealed a pattern of significant differences (p<0.01). The ICI % revealed immediate increase after first rTMS application and significant increase after five rTMS application (p<0.01) in diabetic patients with neuropathic pain. The MEP amplitude and ICF % did not reveal any significant changes. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that cortical inhibition was decreased in diabetic patients with neuropathic pain compared with patients without pain. Furthermore, we also identified that five daily rTMS sessions restored the defective intracortical inhibition which related to improvement of neuropathic pain in diabetic patients.