• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2014

Purpose: We aim to determine sciatic nerve bifurcation location and depth at the level of the popliteal fossa in Korean female. Materials and Methods: Thirty three subjects were enrolled in Korean female. M-turbo ultrasound system (SonoSite, bothell, WA, USA)with 38 mm high frequency linear array transducer, 13-6 MHz probe was used for ultrasound measurements. With subject lying prone, the location of the sciatic nerve in relation to the popliteal crease and skin to nerve distance were assessed via ultrasound. Analyses were performed with SAS version 9.3 using multiple linear regression. Results: Thirty three subjects were enrolled. Distance from the popliteal crease to the sciatic nerve was 4.5-7.5 (mean 5.7 cm), and the depth of the sciatic nerve from the skin was 1.8-3.2 (mean 2.4 cm). Multiple linear regression for the usefulness of the model has a p value of 0.036, shows between weight and depth. Conclusion: We show that variability exists for sciatic nerve bifurcation location in Korean female, The success rate is creased if consider the relations between weight and depth when performs sciatic nerve block in Korean female. In our study, a sciatic nerve block is recommend that performed 7.5 cm proximal to the crease in the popliteal fossa.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.74-78
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• 2010

Since the extent of use of musculoskeletal ultrasound in orthopaedic surgery is expanding, popliteal block(sciatic nerve block) and femoral nerve block(saphenous nerve block) are easily and safely performed without complications such as nerve injury or incomplete block. Also, due to the expanding use of ultrasound, orthopaedic surgery of not only foot but also ankle and lower leg could be done without general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia. We describe a detailed technique for ultrasound-guided femorosciatic nerve block based on the experience over 120 cases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.3 s.76
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• pp.464-471
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• 2006

Peripheral nerve injuries are a commonly encountered clinical problem and often result in severe functional deficits. In the present study, the effects of treadmill exercise on neurotrophin expressions and functional recovery following sciatic crushed nerve injury were investigated. Animals were randomly assigned into four groups: the sciatic nerve injury group, the sciatic nerve injury and 3-day-exercise, the sciatic nerve injury and 7-days-exercise, and the sciatic nerve injury and 14-days-exercise groups. Sciatic nerve injury was caused by crushing the right sciatic nerve for 30 s using a surgical clip. A the light-exercise was applied to each of the exercise group over the respective number of days. In the present results, we identified enhanced axonal re-growth in the distal stump of the sciatic nerve 3-14 days after crush injury with treadmill training. Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuron when cultured from animals with nerve injury and treadmill training showed more enhanced neurite outgrowth than that of sedentary animals. Nerve growth factor (NGF) protein levels in low-intensity treadmill training group were highly induced in the injured sciatic nerves 3, 7 and 14 days after injury compared with sedentary group, and brain-derived neurotrophin factor (BDNF) protein levels in treadmill exercise group were highly induced in the injured sciatic nerve 3 days after injury compared with sedentary group. Then, treadmill exercise increased neurotrophic factors induced in the regenerating nerves. We further demonstrate that motor functional recovery after sciatic nerve injury was promoted by treadmill exercise. Thus, the present data provide a new evidence that treadmill exercise enhanced neurotrophins expression and axonal regeneration after sciatic nerve injury in rats.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.213-220
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• 1992

The sciatic nerves of anesthetized rabbits were exposed and stimulated by a nerve stimulator in order to observe the myoneural response. These rabbits were divided into three groups and respectively injected with morphine (Group 1), meperidine(Group 2) and pentazocine (Group 3). The sciatic nerves were stimulated periodically and gait changes were observed to see the myoneural activity after the injections. When the distal part of the sciatic nerves were stimulated by the nerve stimulator after the respective drug injections, the normal muscle twitch responses were observed in all the progressional stages of Group 1. However, in Group 2 and 3, the muscle twitch responses decreased gradually, finally disappearing after approximately 10 minutes in these two groups. Complete motor paralysis continued for about 60 minutes. The muscle reactions returned to normal approximately 90 minutes after injection. Specimens drug-injected tissues were severed 4 hours, 24 hours and 1 week after injection respectively. These tissue were investigated under light as well as electron microscopy. The tissue revealed rare to moderate vacuolizations scattered in the axons of the myelinated and unmyelinated nerves of some of the specimens; however, there were no significant pathologic lesions. These results provide evidence that neurophysiologically, meperidine and pentazocine have a local anesthetic-like effect such as motor paralysis, but morphine does not. In addition, the results indicated that neurohistologically, the three narcotics have no significant toxic effects on the nerve tissue.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 1989

Buprenorphine, one of the mixed agonist-antagonist opioid drugs was used to inverstigate the opioid receptor on frog sciatic nerve A fibers. Action potentials were recorded for 4 hrs by a sucrose gap apparatus which were separated by four rubber membranes. To examine the one of the mechanism of action of buprenorphine, meperidine or naloxone was added after or before the treatment of buprenorphine. The results of this experiment were as follows: 1. Buprenorphine suppressed significantly the compound action potentials of frog sciatic nerve, and the maximal effects were shown both at $10^{-4}\;M$ and at $10^{-8}\;M$. 2. The dose-response relationship of buprenorphine on the depressant effect in frog sciatic nerve was biphasic and inverted U-shaped. 3. Buprenorphine blocked the effect of Meperidine $(10^{-3}\;M)$ on this preparation. 4. The depressant effcct of Buprenorphine on frog sciatic nerve was blocked by $10^{-8}\;M$ naloxone. From the above results, buprenorphine acts as one of agoinist-antagonistic effect on frog sciatic nerve, and the opioid receptor on this preparation is located on or near the intracellular opening of the sodium channels, which are sensitive to naloxone.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.67-80
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of deer antler extract on the regeneration of peripheral nerves. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing about 300 gm were fed deer antler extract for 1, 2, and 3 weeks per oral (1.5 ml/100 gm B.W.), respectively, once a day and transected both sides of sciatic nerve of each leg. After keeping for 6 hours, sciatic nerves taken from proximal part of transected region were treated with conventional transmission electron microscopical method and then observed with electron microscope. The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1. Sciatic nerves of normal control group were not showing any sprouts and electron dense axolemmal projections were frequently observed. 2. Sciatic nerves of saline treated groups were showing axonal sprouts at the nodes of Ranvier. The length of them was usually short, and numerous vesicles, vacuoles and organelles including neurofilament were contained. The number of nodes of Ranvier containing sprouts from 100 longitudinal sectioned nerve fibers was 29 (29%) in 1 week treated group, 32 (32%) in 2 weeks treated group, and 30 (30%) in 3 weeks treated group, respectively. 3. Sciatic nerves of deer antler treated groups were showing axonal sprouts at the node of Ranvier as well. Although most of the sprouts were short, some sprouts of 2 weeks and 3 weeks treated groups were quite long. Sprouts usually contained numerous vesicles, vacuoles and cell organelles such as neurofilaments and mitochondria. The number of nodes of Ranvier containing sprouts from 100 longitudinal sectioned nerve fibers was 38 (38%) in 1 week treated group, 46 (46%) in 2 weeks treated group, and 48 (48%) in 3 weeks treated group respectively. The results described above explain pretreatment of deer antler extract improves the sprout formation of transected sciatic nerves, and then it suggests deer antler may be effective for the regeneration of peripheral nerves.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2002

To confirm the effect of electroacupuncture on the regeneration of injured peripheral nerve, the change of evoked potential in the sciatic nerve, the change of enzyme activity in the spinal cord, and morphological change of injured sciatic nerve were examined comparatively in acupuncture group (AG) and control group (CG) after sciatic nerve of guinea pig was injured by purpose. The value of evoked potential after injury of the sciatic nerve was increased in both AG and CG, but the increase rate of that was higher in AG than CG. Acid phosphatase activity of the spinal cord was increased in 1CG and 2AG, but shown are tendency to return to the normal state as time went by. Ultrastructural recovering rate of the injured sciatic nerve was higher in AG than CG. Also, there was developed only adipose tissue in sciatic nerve of AG. As mentioned above, the effect of electroacupuncture on the regeneration of injured peripheral nerve was confirmed experimentally by change of evoked potential, acid phosphatase and ultrastructure. Especially, the effect of electroacupuncture was appeared clearly in an early stage than other treatment stages.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.3 s.70
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• pp.486-491
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• 2005

Physical activity can improve sensorimotor recovery after peripheral nerve injury. Growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) is highly correlated with neuronal development and axonal regeneration and present in large quantities in the axonal growth cone. Using immunofluorescene staining and anterograde and retorgrade techniques, we identified enhanced axonal regrowth in distal stump of the sciatic nerve 3-14 days after crush injury in rats with treadmill training. We also carried out western blot to investigate GAP-43 protein expression in injured sciatic nerve. GAP-43 protein levels were highly induced in the injured sciatic nerve 3, 7 and 14 days compared with sedentary group. Thus, the present data provide a new evidence that treadmill training promoted axonal re-growth after injury and increased GAP-43 protein levels in the regenerating nerve.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.114-119
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to determine effects of the Ga-As (Gallium-Arsenide) Dens-Bio laser on mechanically injured sciatic nerves of rats. The improvement of the injured rat sciatic nerve was evaluated by measuring of nerve conduction velocity and amplitude of compound muscle action potential. The sciatic nerves of forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were compressed with hemostatic forceps for 30 seconds. The experimental group was divided into 4 subgroups according to the duration of treatment. Lower power infrared laser irradiation was done transcutaneously to the injured sciatic nerve area, 3 minutes daily to each of four treatment groups for 1, 3, 5, and 7 weeks, respectively. Compound muscle action potential and nerve conduction velocity of sciatic nerve were obtained before nerve injury and at 1, 3, 5, and 7 weeks after injury. There were significant difference of the nerve conduction velocity and amplitudes of compound muscle action potential between the treatment group and non-treatment group at 1, 3, and 5 weeks after laser treatment. However, there were no differences found between the electrophysiologic parameters that were measured after 7 weeks in two groups. There was significant correlation between the increment of compound muscle action potential and nerve conduction velocity after time course according to laser treatment. In conclusion, the low power laser treatment had improved the sciatic nerve function, and therefore these results may provide the basic data to clarify the neurological recovery and treatment after incomplete peripheral nerve injury.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.39-61
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• 2008

Objectives : The present study was performed to investigate whether acupuncture stimulation in the rats affected regeneration properties of the injured sciatic nerve. A differential effect of acupuncture stimulation on the one point near the spinal nerve root controlling sciatic nerve activity and the other point in the peripheral area subordinated by injured nerve was compared. Materials and Methods: Rat sciatic nerves were injured by crush, and the effects on axonal regeneration on injured sciatic nerves were evaluated by acupuncture stimulation at two different regions. In proximal acupuncture stimulation group, acupuncture stimulation was performed on Huatuo Jiaji(EX B2) points located from L5 to S1 vertebral levels to stimulate the nearest spinal nerve root that innervates sciatic nerves. In distal acupuncture stimulation group, acupuncture stimulation was performed on Zusanli(ST 36) and Weizhong(BL 40) points to stimulate at peripheral area dominated by injured sciatic nerves. Acupuncture stimulation was given every other days for 1 or 2 weeks. Sciatic nerve tissues collected from acupuncture stimulation experimental groups, injury control group, and intact animal group were used for protein analysis by Western blotting or Hoechst nuclear staining. To determine axonal regeneration, Dil fluorescence dye was injected into the sciatic nerve 0.5 cm distal to the injury site in individual animal groups and Dil-labeled cells by retrograde tracing were measured in the DRG at lumbar 5 or in the spinal cord. DRG sensory neurons prepared from individual animal groups were used to measure the extent of neurite outgrowth and for immunofluorescence staining with anti-GAP-43 antibody. Results : Animal groups given proximal or distal acupuncture stimulation showed upregulation of GAP-43 and Cdc2 protein levels in the sciatic nerve at 7 days after injury. Cdk2 protein levels were strongly induced by nerve injury, but did not show changes by acupuncture stimulation. Phospho-Erk1/2 protein levels were elevated by acupuncture stimulation above those present in the injury control animals. These increase in regeneration-associated protein levels appeared to be related with increase cell proliferation in the injured sciatic nerves. Hoechst 33258 staining of sciatic nerve tissue to visualize nuclei of individual cells showed increased Schwann cell number in the distal portion of the injured nerve 7 and 14 days after injury and further increases by acupuncture stimulation particularly at the proximal position. Measurement of axonal regeneration by retrograde tracing showed significantly increased Dil-labeled cells in proximal acupuncture stimulation group compared to distal acupuncture stimulation group and injury control group. Finally, an evaluation of axonal regeneration by retrograde tracing showed increased number of Dil labeled cells in the DRG at lumbar 5 or in the ventral horn of the spinal cord at lower thoracic level at 7 days after nerve injury. Conclusions : The present data show that the proximal acupuncture stimulation at Huatuo Jiaji(EX B2) points governing injured sciatic nerves was more effective for axonal regeneration than the distal acupuncture stimulation. Further studies on functional recovery or associated molecular mechanisms should be critical for developing animal models and clinical applications.