• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.98-103
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• 2001

Neuropathic pain originating from multiple condition of nerve cell injury is common, but is difficult to treat. Even though many drugs such as anti-convulsants, anti-depressants, NSAIDs, opioids have been used, their clinical analgesic action were not satisfactory due to occur severe side effects. Gabapentin was introduced in 1994 as a novel antiepileptic drug and has been used to treat partial seizure. After 1995 gabapentin treatment for reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) started, 45% of the reports about the analgesic efficacy of gabapentin were restricted to the treatments of non-epileptic pain syndrome. This drug is preferred to treat neuropathic pain because of a lower incidence of its side effects than those of other anti-convulsants and anti-depressants. For evaluating it's analgesic efficacy, the changes in the patients' subjective pain intensity was measured by the score on the visual analogue scale (VAS) and patient's objective pain intensity by measuring the skin temperature via infrared thermography were investigated respectively. Side effects of gabapentin were look into. We observed successful relief of neuropathic pain in the three patients which included post-herpetic neuraligia, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and diabetic neuropathic pain, and the side effects of gabapentin were at acceptable levels.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.143-149
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• 1997

We studied the effects of ginseng protopanaxadiol (PD) and protopanaxatriol (PT) saponins on the analgesia using several pain tests such as writhing, formalin, and tail-flick test. Using mouse, pretreatment of PD or PT saponins (i.p.) induced inhibition of abdominal constrictions caused by 0.9% acetic acid administration(i.p.). The $AD_{50}$ was around 27 (17-43) mg/kg for PD and 13.5 (3-61) mg/kg for PT saponins in writhing test. Both PD and PT saponins also showed the inhibition of bitings and lickings of hindpaw after administration of 1% formalin. In particular, both PD and PT saponins showed analgesic effects on second phase of pain. The $AD_{50}$ was 44.5 (26-76) mg/kg for PD and 105 (55-200) mg/kg for PT saponins in second phase of formalin test. For first phase pain inhibition by PD or PT saponins, they were required higher concentrations. However, PD saponins showed weak analgesic effects in tail-flick test with high concentration. In conclusion, we found that both PD and PT saponins have the analgesic effects in writhing test and second phase of pain in formalin test. These results suggest that both PD and PT saponins inhibit neurogenic or tonic pain rather than acute pain.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 1994

The studies were conducted to investigate the inflammation, gastric ulcer, analgesic and homothrmic of experimental animals by KYUNG OK-KO water extract and drink, which is a traditional preparation in Korea. 1. It was exhibited significantly anti-inflammatory effects to acute inflammation on carragennan edema, and preventive and therapeutic effects to chronic inflammation on Freund's complete adjuvant in rats(100, 200, 400 mg/kg). Especially, preventive effect of KYUNG OK-KO water extracts at doses of 100, 200, 400 mg/kg in rats were showed dose-dependantly. 2. Aspirin-induced gastric ulcer were remarkably repaired by all experimental groups of KYUNG OK-KO water extracts. 3. The number of writing syndromes by acetic acid induced also were decreased which MPI's test was increased by tail flick apparatus in mice remarkably, all doses of water extracts(100, 200, 400 mg/kg) and dose-dependantly. 4. Aminopyrine-induced homothermic effects of KYUNG OK-KO water extract(100, 200, 400mg/kg) and drink (0.7, 1.4, 2.1 ml/kg) were significantly evaluated dose-dependantly in 400 mg/kg, 2.1 ml/kg groups.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.177-190
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• 2003

Objective : This study was intended to investigate the analgesic effects of electroacupuncture(EA) on mechanical allodynia according to the frequency and intensity of EA. Also to know if mechanical allodynia and the analgesic effects of EA is related to the sympathetci nervous system and/or the purinergic system. Methods : mechanical allodynia-induced rats were produced by resecting S1-S2 nerve. The zusanli(ST36) was used for acupoint and the rats were divided into 4 groups. Each group was given different stimuli[low frequency low intensity-EA(LFLI-EA), low frequency high intensity-EA(LFHI-EA), high frequency low intensity-EA(LFHI-EA), high frequency high intensity-EA(HFHI-EA)]. Futhermore, to make sympathectomy6-OHDA and phentolamine were administered intraperitonially and the concentration of norepinephrine(NE) were measured. As a ATP blocker, suramin was applied for this study. Results : Comparing to control group, each of the 4 groups(LFLI-EA, LFHI-EA, HFLI-EA, HFHI-EA) showed a significant reduction of response frequency of mechanical allodynia. LFHI-EA was more effective than that of LFLI-EA. The LFHI-EA group also had longer lasting effects from the stimulation than the other groups. Sympathectomy didn't show any reduction of response frequency of mechanical allodynia.(Each n=6, n=4). Nor did both sympathectomy and ATP block. The response frequency wasn't reduced by sympathectomy or by sympathectomy and ATP block, but was significantly reduced with LFHI-EA Conclusions : These results suggest that EA has a significant analgesic effect on mechanical allodynia which has no connection with NE and/or ATP.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.264-273
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• 2019

Objectives : Microglia play a crucial role in electroacupuncture (EA) analgesia on neuropathic pain. The role of chemokines in producing analgesic effects of EA, however, is largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the role of chemokines in producing analgesic effects of EA in the neuropathic pain model. Methods : Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into three groups (anesthetized group (ANE), non-acupoint EA group (NAP), and ST36 - GB34 EA group (ACU)). Neuropathic pain was induced by tight ligation of L5 spinal nerve. Mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity of hind paw was tested. Western blot tests and immunofluorescence assay for C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) levels and microglia activation were performed on spinal cord L5/6. EA was treated once daily from the 3rd day after surgery for 5 days. Results : EA treatments applied to ST36 and GB34 significantly reduced both mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity after two and three times of treatment, respectively. While CCL2 expression significantly increased in neuropathic rats, it was significantly reduced in the ACU. In addition, co-localization of CCL2 and activated microglia significantly decreased in the ACU compared to those of ANE and NAP in the spinal cord L5/L6 dorsal horn. Conclusions : The present results suggest that EA applied to ST36 and GB34 modulates the reduction of CCL2 release from the injured neurons and consequently decreases microglia activation in the spinal cord. Regulation of chemokine induced spinal activation of microglia plays a key role in analgesic effects of EA in the rat model of neuropathic pain.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.251-256
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• 1995

Opioids produce strong analgesic effect result with some side effects such as nausea, vomiting, urinary retention, somnolence, and respiratory depression. Nalbuphine, an agonist-antagonist has, at low doses, an analgesic potency comparable to morphine with little side effects. Analgesic effect after continuous infusion of fentanyl-ketorolac-droperidol, or $Nubain^{(R)}$-ketorolac-dropertiodl combination in Cesarean section patients were assessed by numerical rating scale (NRS) and Prince Hednry scale (PHS). The patients were divided into two groups. Each group consists of 30 patients. Group 1 received 20 ${\mu}g$ of fentanyl the end of surgery. And then continuously infused with additional 380${\mu}g$ of fentanyl plus 120 mg of ketorolac and 2.5 mg of droperidol. Group 2 initially received 2 mg of $Nubain^{(R)}$ at the end of surgery and the remaining dose of $Nubain^{(R)}$ 38 mg plus ketorolac 120 mg and droperidol 2.5 mg was continuously infused. With all patients, initial dose of drug was administered by bolus of i.v. injection and the remaining dose was administered via i.v. using a Baxter Two $Infusor^{(R)}$. Pain scores and side effects were recorded at the time of recovery room arrival, and at interval of 30 min, 1 hr, 6 hr, 14 hr, 24 hr, 48 hr after start of continuous infusion. No significant difference was found between the pain scores and side effects of both groups although pain control effect was excellent in both groups. We concluded that $Nubain^{(R)}$ could be an alternative to fentanyl for postoperative pain control.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.198-203
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• 2005

Background: This study was designed to demonstrate the peripheral effect of ketamine on the synovia of the knee joint and evaluate the analgesic effect of an intraarticular ketamine injection following knee arthroscopy. Methods: In a double blind randomized study, 80 ASA class 1 or 2 patients were selected for elective arthroscopic knee surgery. The patients received either 20 ml of normal saline (Group C, n = 19), 20 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine (Group R, n = 21), 1 mg/kg of ketamine mixed with 20 ml of normal saline (Group K, n = 20) or 1 mg/kg of ketamine mixed with 20 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine (Group RK, n = 20), intraarticularly, just prior to wound closure. Postoperative pain was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS 0 to 100) score at 1, 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after the intraarticular injection, with the side effects found in the four groups also evaluated. The patients' requests for rescue analgesic were recorded, total doses of tarasyn calculated and the overall patient satisfaction also evaluated. Results: The difference in the VAS scores for all time periods was not significant. The number of patients receiving rescue analgesics and the total doses received in Group C were greater than those for the other groups, but this was not significant. No side effects were observed in any of the patients. Conclusions: Ketamine and local anesthetics have been reported to have peripheral analgesic effects, with variable duration in the measurements of pain and hyperalgesia. However, we failed to demonstrate a peripheral analgesic effect on postoperative arthroscopic pain.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.79-86
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• 1982

In order to investigate pharmacological actions of combined preparations of crude drugs, 'Jakyakgamcho-Tang' were studied. The 'Jakyakgamcho-Tang' using abdominal pain and convulsion of pediatric diseases are composed of Glycyrrhizae Radix and Paeoniae Radix alba. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of 'Jakyakgamcho-Tang'(S-I) and parched 'Jakyakgamcho-Tang'(S-II) on anticonvulsive, analgesic, antipyretic and sedative actions. The results of this study were summarized as follows; Both 'Jakyakgamcho-Tang' and parched 'Jakyakgamcho-Tang' showed anticonvulsive effects against convulsions induced by strychnine, picrotoxine and caffeine. 'Jakyakgamcho-Tang' and parched 'Jakyakgamcho-Tang' also showed analgesic and antipyretic effects. Parched 'Jakyakgamcho-Tang' only prolonged the duration of hypnosis induced by sodium pentobarbital.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.74-81
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• 1997

DA-5018(N-(3-(3, 4-dimethylphenyl)propyl)-4-(2-aminoethoxy)-3-methoxyphenylacetamide) is a new capsaicin derivative under development as topical analgesic agent. The general pharmacological properties of DA-5018 on central nervous, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and other organ systems were studied in experimental animals. DA-5018 cream (0.3%) had no effects on behavior, hexobarbital-induced sleeping time, body temperature, spontaneous activity, blood pressure, heart rate, intestinal charcoal propulsion, urine volume and electrolyte excretion even at a high dose of 2000 mg/kg in rats. In addition, DA-5Ol8 cream had little skin irritation compared to Zostrix-HP (capsaicin, 0.075%) cream in rabbits. In isolated guinea pig tissue studies, DA-5018 increased the contractility of trachea and ileum and also increased sinus rate of atrium in a range of 10^{-8}-10^{-5}$$ M, but its efficacy as a agonist was weak. These results suggest that DA-5018 cream might be used topically without serious side effects.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 1994

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities and skin irritation of piroxicam patch were investigated. Piroxicam patch increased the pain threshold in rat hind paw inflamed by carrageenan and inhibited writhing induced by acetic acid in mice. Piroxicam patch also inhibited the carrageenan-induced edema in rat hind paw as well as the increased vascular permeability induced by histamine in rats. In adjuvant arthritis of rats, piroxicam patch showed anti-inflammatory effects. Skin irritation of piroxicam patch was tested in Newzealand White rabbits and evaluated by Primary Irritation Index of Draize. The results from skin irritation test showed that piroxicam patch seemed practically non-irritating. The result from the present study indicates that piroxicam may be useful without serious side effects as anti-inflammatory analgesics in this patch form.