• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.143-158
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• 2011

Objectives : Peripheral nerve injuries are commonly encountered clinical problem and often result in severe functional deficits. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of aqueous extract of Achyranthes japonica(AJ) on functional recovery in sciatic nerve after crushed sciatic nerve injury. Methods : In the present study, the animals in the AJ-treated groups received the aqueous extract of AJ at the respective doses orally for 13 consecutive days. In order to assess the effects of the aqueous extract of AJ on function recovery in crushed sciatic nerve injury, sciatic functional index(SFI) was performed. c-Fos expression in the paraventricular nucleus(PVN) and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray(vIPAG), and neurofilament, and the expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF), nerve growth factor(NGF) following crushed sciatic nerve injury in rats were investigated. For this, immunohistochemistry and western blot were performed. Results : In the present study, crushed sciatic nerve injury showed characteristic gait changes showing decrease of SFI value and treatment with the aqueous extract of AJ significantly enhanced the SFI value. Neurofilament expression in the sciatic nerve was decreased by crushed sciatic nerve injury and treatment with the AJ increased neurofilament expression. The expressions of BDNF and NGF in the sciatic nerve were increased following crushed sciatic nerve injury and treatment with the AJ significantly controlled the sciatic nerve injury-induced increment of BDNF and NGF expressions. c-Fos expressions in the PVN and vIPAG were increased following crushed sciatic nerve injury and treatment with the AJ significantly suppressed the sciatic nerve injury-induced increment of c-Fos expressions. Conclusions : These results suggest that AJ treatment after crushed sciatic nerve injury is effective in the functional recovery by enhancing axonal regeneration and suppressing of pain.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.632-636
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• 2009

Three dogs presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of the University of Konkuk and Hangang Animal Hospital with a history of perineal swelling. No tenesmus, stranguria, or any clinical signs other than the swelling was observed by the owners in three dogs. On physical examination, the swelling was observed unilaterally in two dogs and bilaterally in a dog. Digital palpation to the swelling confirmed reducible perineal herniation in two dogs and irreducible perineal herniation in a dog. Plain radiographs revealed that no pelvic or abdominal contents other than the fat were displaced into subcutaneous perineal region in three dogs. Internal obturator transposition herniorrhaphy was performed for correction of perineal herniation in three dogs. Contralateral herniation involving fat was noted after surgery in a dog. The follow-up information was based on physical examination by veterinarians or telephone interview with owners. The owners reported that there was no evidence of complications related to surgery such as sciatic nerve injury, rectal prolapse, wound dehiscence, or perineal hernia recurrence in all dogs.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.79-87
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• 1998

The total-bodies of 10 week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were irradiated with single doses 4.5 and 7.5 Gy, respectively. The effects on plasma and sciatic nerve platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF) concentrations and sciatic nerve PDGF ${\alpha}$ -and ${\beta}$ -receptors densities were examined up to 10 days post-treatment. There was no consistent significant variation in the plasma and sciatic nerve PDGF concentrations in time over the period of study between 4.5 and 7.5 Gy groups. Plasma PDGF concentrations were significantly reduced to 58% of control values between 5 and 10 days with 4.5 Gy and to 51% of control values as percentage of control values between 5 and 10 days with 7.5 Gy after irradiation, respectively(p<0.05). Sciatic nerve PDGF concentrations were increased to 118% of control values at 1 day with 4.5 Gy and to 130% of control values at 1 day with 7.5 Gy after irradiation, respectively(p>0.05). After irradiation, the levels of PDGF ${\alpha}$ -receptor protein density were reduced to 33% of control values at 2 days with 4.5 Gy and to 50% at 2 days with 7.5 Gy, while the levels of PDGF ${\beta}$-receptor protein density were reduced to maximally 26% of control values at 2 days with 4.5 Gy and to 27% at 2 days with 7.5 Gy, respectively, but both initial decreased levels of those were increased subsequently after 2 days following irradiation. These results suggest that the radiation-induced alteration of plasma and sciatic nerve PDGF concentrations, and sciatic nerve PDGF ${\alpha}$ -and ${\beta}$ -receptors densities may be involved in the pathogenesis of bone marrow stem cell and peripheral neuron damages.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.177-182
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• 1999

Background: Clonidine, an ${\alpha}_2$ adrenergic agonist blocks nerve conduction. However, in our previous experiment we found that adrenaline neither blocks nerve conduction by itself nor augment nerve conduction blockade by lidocaine near clinical concentrations. Possible explanations are: 1) there may be antagonism between some of adrenergic receptors, 2) clonidine may block nerve conduction via non-adrenergic mechanism. The purpose of this study is to obtain dose-response curves of several different forms of adrenergic receptor agonist to see the relative potencies of each adrenergic receptors to block nerve conduction. Methods: Recordings of compound action potentials of A-fiber components (A-CAPs) were obtained from isolated sciatic nerves of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Nerve sheath of the sciatic nerve was removed and desheathed nerve bundle was mounted on a recording chamber. Single pulse stimuli (0.5 msec, supramaximal stimuli) were repeatedly applied (2Hz) to one end of the nerve and recordings of A-CAPs were made on the other end of the nerve. Dose-response curves of epinephrine, phenylephrine, isoproterenol, clonidine were obtained. Results: $ED_{50}$ of each adrenergic agonist was: $4.51\times10^{-2}$ M for epinephrine; phenylephrine, $7.74\times10^{-2}$ M; isoproterenol, $9.61\times10^{-2}$ M; clonidine, $1.57\times10^{-3}$ M. Conclusion: This study showed that only clonidine, ${\alpha}_2$ adrenergic agonist, showed some nerve blocking action while other adrenergic agonists showed similar poor degree of nerve blockade. This data suggest that non-effectiveness of epinephrine in blocking nerve conduction is not from the antagonism between adrenergic receptors.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2000

Background: Pulsed radiofrequency (RF) lesioning is a painless procedure and causes no neurodestruction and neuritis-like reaction are common following conventional RF lesioning. There is little data about the effect of pulsed RF especially with regard to its suitability for the treatment of acute pain. The possibility of a placebo effect cannot be ruled out because a double-blind study was not performed in previous studies. There is also no neuropathologic study about pulsed RF. Methods: The rats were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (40 mg/kg, i.p.; supplemented as necessary). The common sciatic nerve was exposed by blunt dissection through biceps femoris. Pulsed RF was administered to the common sciatic nerve using a 30 ms/s pulse with for 120 seconds. The temperature reached was no more than $42^{\circ}C$. Analgesia was determined using hot-plate assay shortly and, 3 days and 1 week before, and 2 weeks after operation. Lesions were examined with LM (light microscope) and EM (electron microscope) 2 weeks later. Results: There were no differences in response latencies between the control and experimental group. There were many vacuoles with hyaline bodies in the Schwann cell cytoplasm rather than axon in LM and larger electron dense bodies. No changes were found in the axon or unmyelinated fibers. Only small changes were found in the sheaths of myelinated fibers and Schwann cells. Conclusions: We therefore do think that any analgesic effect of pulsed RF is not a result of block of neural conduction. But rather than it can be attributed to others factors. It was also ineffective as a treatment for acute pain such as that caused by the hot-plate test.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 1997

A peripheral nerve when approximation of the ends imparts tension at the anastomosis and with a relatively long segment defect after excision of neuroma and neurofibroma cannnot be repaired by early primary suture. The one of the optimistic reconstruction method of severed peripheral nerves is to restore tension-free continuity at the repair site putting an autogenous nerve graft into the neural gap despite of ancipating motor or sensory deficit of the donor nerve area. To overcome the deficit of the autogenous nerve graft, several other conduits supplying a metabolically active environment which is able to support axon regeneration and progression, providing protection against scar invasion, and guiding the regrowing axons to the distal stump of the nerve have been studied. An author have used ipsilateral femoral vein, ipsilateral femoral vein filled with fresh thigh muscle, and autogenous sciatic nerve for the sciatic nerve defect of around 10 mm in length to observe the regeneration pattern in rat by light and electron microscopy. The results were as follows. 1. Light microscopically regeneration pattern of nerve fibers in the autogenous graft group was more abundant than vein graft and vein filled with muscle group. 2. On ultrastructural findings, the proxial end of the graft in various groups showed similar regenerating features of the axons, myelin sheaths, and Schwann cells. The fascicular arrangement of the myelinated and unmyelinated fibers was same regardless of the type of conduits. There were more or less increasing tendency in the number and the diameter of myelinated fibers correlated with the regeneration time. 3. In the middle of the graft, myelinated nerve fibers of vein filled with muscle group were more in number and myelin sheath was thinner than in the venous graft, but the number of regenerating axons in autogenous nerve graft was superior to that in both groups of the graft. The amount of collagen fibrils and amorphous materials in the endoneurial space was increased to elapsed time. 4. There was no difference in regenerating patterns of the nerve fibers of distal end of the graft. The size and shape of the myelinated nerve fbers were more different than that of proximal and middle portion of the graft. From the above results, the degree of myelination and regenerating activity in autogenous nerve is more effective and active in other types of the graft and there were no morphological differences in either ends of the graft regardless of regeneration time.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.14-19
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• 2013

Purpose: We analyzed the oncologic characteristics and outcome of patients with inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of extremities. Materials and Methods: Among the soft tissue tumor patients who were treated between 1999 and 2012, 5 patients who were pathologically confirmed as the inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of extremities were analyzed retrospectively. Results: There were 1 man and 4 women with mean age of 44 years (37-55 years). The average follow up was 34.6 months (8-87 months). All patients underwent surgical treatment. Only 1 patient had wide resection margin and remaining 4 had marginal (3) or intralesional (1) resection margin. All of 4 patients without wide resection margin developed local recurrence at 10.3 months (8-19 months). Malignant transformation to fibrosarcoma was occurred in 2 patients who developed local recurrence, and 1 patient developed multiple metastases to lung, liver and lymph nodes and expired at 37 months. Three of 5 patients had tumor location abutted to or invasion to major arteries and 1 patient had tumor invading sciatic nerve. Conclusion: It is observed that inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of extremities is usually located near the major neurovascular structure. Wide resection should be considered as the initial surgical treatment because this tumor showed a high local recurrence rate and possibility of malignant transformation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.133-146
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• 2012

Background: Most antitumor agents have the side effect of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Cancer patients who take antitumor agents suffer from CIPN, but there is no known treatment for it. Unlike the central nerve system, the peripheral nerve can self-repair, and the Schwann cell takes this mechanism. Objectives: In this study, we researched the effect of YideungJetong-Tang (YJT) extract on taxol-induced sciatic nerve damage, through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Also, we studied the effect of YJT extract on neurite recovery and anti-inflammatory effect after compression injury of sciatic nerve in vivo. Methods: Vehicle, taxol and taxol+YJT were respectively applied on sciatic nerve cells of rat in vitro, then the cells were cultured. The sciatic nerve cells and Schwann cells were then observed using Neurofilament 200, Hoechst, ${\beta}$ -tubulin, S-$100{\beta}$, caspase-3 and phospho-Erk1/2. CIPN was induced by taxol into the sciatic nerve of rat in vivo, then YJT extract was taken orally. The axons, Schwann cells and neurites of the DRG sensory nerve were then observed using Neurofilament 200, ${\beta}$-tubulin, Hoechst, S-$100{\beta}$, phospho-Erk1/2 and caspase-3. YJT was taken orally after sciatic nerve compression injury, and the changes in axon of the sciatic nerve, Schwann cells and TNF-${\alpha}$ concentration were observed. Results: The taxol and YJT treated group showed significant effects on Schwann cell recovery, neurite growth and recovery. In vivo, YJT compared with control group showed Schwann cell structural improvement and axons recovering effect after taxol-induced Schwann cell damage. After sciatic nerve compression injury, recovery of distal axon, changes of Schwann cell distribution, and anti-inflammatory response were observed in the YJT. Conclusions: Through this study, we found that after taxol-induced neurite damage of sciatic nerve in vivo and in vitro, YJT had significant effects on sciatic nerve growth and Schwann cell structural improvement. In vivo, YJT improved recovery of distal axons and Schwann cells and had an anti-inflammatory effect.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2013

Purpose: Many surgical procedures in oral and maxillofacial area can induce trauma to the peripheral nerve. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of short-term steroid therapy on nerve recovery after crush injury. Methods: Sixteen rats were randomly divided into two groups. The right sciatic nerves were exposed, crushed, and sutured. The control group was not given steroids. The test group was injected with dexamethasone disodium phosphate (2 mg/kg body weight/day) for 7 days. In all animals, compound muscle action potential (CMAP) was recorded before and at 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after injury. Results: The amplitude of the CMAP before and at 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after injury were $53.20{\pm}4.80$ mV, $20.12{\pm}5.38$ mV, $30.01{\pm}14.15$ mV, $31.14{\pm}13.56$ mV, $31.73{\pm}16.33$ mV, and $37.23{\pm}16.98$ mV in the control group, and $55.25{\pm}6.72$ mV, $18.62{\pm}6.26$ mV, $29.50{\pm}13.06$ mV, $32.90{\pm}13.226$ mV, $30.17{\pm}11.80$ mV, and $38.41{\pm}12.27$ mV in the test group, respectively. The nerve conduction velocity was $18.82{\pm}3.94$ m/s, $16.73{\pm}3.48$ m/s, $19.60{\pm}2.45$ m/s, $18.68{\pm}3.94$ m/s, $18.02{\pm}3.51$ m/s, and $19.25{\pm}3.88$ m/s in the control group, and $18.94{\pm}3.48$ m/s, $17.28{\pm}2.53$ m/s, $7.57{\pm}2.54$ m/s, $18.77{\pm}2.12$ m/s, $19.48{\pm}1.55$ m/s, and $19.22{\pm}2.97$ m/s in the test group, respectively. There was no significant difference between both groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: This study did not show any therapeutic effect of short-term administration of steroids on injured rat sciatic nerve. Further studies are needed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.324-329
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• 2000

Objective : Psychological factors may have a major influence on the outcome of treatment for back pain. We investigated the relationship between the outcome and some psychological factors, such as self-reported pain intensity, disability, sleep disturbance and fatigue. Method : The study was conducted as a survey using a questionnaire and telephone interviews. The survey included consecutive 294 patients who visited the neurosurgical out-patient department complaining of low back pain and contacted by telephone on average seven months after the first visit. Pain intensity was measured by visual analog scale, and disability was assessed by Waddell's chronic disability index. Results : The outcome of treatment for back pain was recovered in 36.7%, improved in 30.6%, almost same in 28.6%, and aggravated in 4.1%. Overall rate of improvement was 67.3%. The rate of improvement was related to the duration, patterns and intensity of the symptom, and Waddell index. It was not influenced by the doctors, special studies, and methods of treatment. When the duration was more than 6 months, there were the symptoms of both back and legs, and the self-reported Waddell index was 1-3, the rate of improvement was relatively low. Although the intensity of the pain and disability was closely related to the degree of sleep disturbance, fatigue, appetite, or indigestion, the outcome of treatment for back pain was not always bad in patients with high psychological stress. Actually the outcome of the patients who complained severe pain and disability was better than the outcome of the others. Conclusion : The outcome of the back pain can be predicted by the duration, patterns and intensity of the symptom, and Waddell index. The multidisciplinary treatment will be necessary for the patients whose expected outcome is not good to reduce not only the physical symptoms but also the psychological stress.