• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.1285-1290
• /
• 2007

The present study aims to identify and characterize genes that cause differen genes between non-responders and responders to electroacupuncture (EA) on mechanical allodynia following peripheral nerve injury. Under sodium pentobarbital anesthesia, animals were subjected to unilateral transection of the superior caudal trunk at the level between S1 and S2 spinal nerves. EA stimulation (2Hz, 0.3 ms, 0.2-0.3 mA) was delivered to Zusanli (ST36) for 30 min 2 weeks after the surgery. The degree of mechanical allodynia was assessed quantitatively by touching the tail with von Frey hair (2.0 g) at 10 min intervals. The rats, which showed an EA-induced decrease of response frequencies under 10 %, were classified as non-responders and those displaying an EA-induced decrease of response frequencies 20 % or more were classified as responders. Results from oligonucleotide microarray, to which cDNAs from the spinal dorsal horn (DH) were applied, showed that hemoglobin beta chain complex and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan-5 decreased and limbic system-associated membrane protein increased in the non-responder group, whereas calcium-independent alpha-Iatrotoxin receptor homolog-3 increased in the responder group. These results suggest that The functional abnormality of molecules regulating cell adhesion, intracellular signal transduction and cell differentiation in the spinal DH may be involved in the anti-allodynic effect of EA.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.168-174
• /
• 2006

Background: Several biochemical mediators, such as substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and prostaglandin $E_2$, have been demonstrated to be involved in herniated or degenerated disc-induced radiculopathy. The authors tested the hypothesis that these mediators would existed in the epidural space of humans. Methods: Thirty nine patients were divided into two groups; 27 patients, who were diagnosed with spinal stenosis (stenosis group), and 12 scheduled for epidural anesthesia, without a history of back pain (control group). Under fluoroscopic guidance, an epidural catheter was introduced through the caudal space and placed into the anterior and posterior spaces, up to and around the epidural adhesive area, in the stenosis group. In the control group, the catheter was placed into the posterior epidural space through the L3⁣-4 or L4⁣-5 intervertebral space. Epidural irrigation was performed with 10 ml of saline, via an epidural catheter. Aspirated lavage fluid was collected, and the concentrations of biochemical mediators (substance P, CGRP and prostaglandin $E_2$) measured using an enzyme immunoassay kit. Results: Substance P, CGRP and prostaglandin $E_2$ were detected in all the epidural lavage fluids from both groups. The concentrations of substance P and prostaglandin $E_2$ in the stenosis group were higher than those of the control (P < 0.05). However, there was no difference in the CGRP levels between the two groups. In the stenosis group, the concentrations of these three mediators in the anterior epidural space were no different to those in the posterior space. Conclusions: These results suggest that biochemical mediators, such as substance P and prostaglandin $E_2$, in the epidural space might be partly involved in pain mechanism associated with spinal stenosis.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.21-25
• /
• 1989

For the simple operations of the perineal region, caudal, epidural and saddle blocks of analgesia are preferable anesthesia techniques in men. But, if the operations shoud be delayed or the physicians are willing to observe and manipulate the patients for a couple of days, as in the ureteral stone manipulation, continuous epidural analgesia will be a reliable method. The authors have observed 36 male patients of ureteral calculi with continuous lumbar epidural analgesia for the purpose of elimination of an undesirable pain sensation which was associated with the transurethral cystoscopic manipulation. The results were as follows: 1) In most cases, the anesthetics used were 1% lidocaine 20 ml through the $L_{3-4}$ and $L_{4-5}$ interspace with 4~6cm of catheter tip advancement mainly to cephalad. 2) There was no motor weakness or paralysis in the lower extremities except some numbness and paresthesia on the perineal area. 3) Besides the various minor complications, there were no problems in respiration with small doses of morphine extradurally. 4) Among them, four cases of ureteral calculi dropped into the bladder spontaneously due to the epidural technique during transportation of the patients from the pain clinic to the urology out-clinic. One case of calculi was dropped by the aid of instrumentation at the ward, and twelve cases of calculi were removed directly by Dormia stone basket in the scopic room. For the remaining patients, we deduced that their calculi was be evacuated out because there were no complaints were notified after discharge.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.215-224
• /
• 2001

Objcetive : Neuropathic pain sometimes arises from a partial peripheral nerve injury. This kind of pain is usually accompanied by spontaneous burning pain, allodynia and hyperalgesia. It has been well known that acupuncture is effective to the pain control from ancient time in Asia. However, it is not clear whether acupuncture can control neuropathic pain. The aim of the present study is to examine if acupuncture stimulation may be effective to the mechanical allodynia in a rat model of neuropathic pain. Methods : To produce neuropathic pain, under sodium pentobarbital anesthesia, the right superior caudal trunk was resected between the S3 and S4 spinal nerves. After the neuropathic surgery, we examined if the animals exhibited the behavioral signs of mechanical allodynia. The mechanical allodynia was assessed by stimulating the tail with von Frey hair (bending force : 2.0g). three or 6 weeks after the neuropathic surgery, acupuncture stimulation was delivered to Houxi (SI 3) as the following parameters (2HZ frequency, 0.07mA intensity and 3msec duration) for 30 minutes. Results : The stimulation of Houxi (SI 3) acupoint relieved the behavioral signs of mechanical allodynia. Conclusion : Our results suggest that acupuncture can control the mechanical allodynia of neuropathic pain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.56-68
• /
• 2001

Objective : Functional brain mapping study on acupuncture stimulation using the [14C]2-deoxyglucose([14C]2-DG) autoradiography provides quantitative data and visualized pathway in central nervous system(CNS). We aimed to investigate the neural pathway and spatial distribution of metabolic activity elicited in CNS on electroacupuncture stimulation using [14C]2-DG autoradiography. Methods : The study were divided into three groups by stimulation times. 45-mins stimulation group according to Sokoloffs method, 5-mins stimulation group according to Duncun's method, and 15-mins stimulation group. ;A venous catheter was equipped into right jugular vein. The rats (Sprague-Dawley rats, 230-260g) were kept fastened loosely on a holding platform without anesthesia. Electroacupuncture stimulation (5 ms, 2 Hz, 1~3 mA) were applied on the left Zusanli (ST36) acupoint and [14C]2-DG ($25{\mu}Ci/rat$) injection was performed through the catheter. After sacrifice, the brain and the spinal cord were made to sections for film image. The film images were digitalized as the isotope concentration based upon comparison of optical densities with that of the standards and normalized by the optical density of corpus callosum. Results : 1. 15-mins stimulation group was most effective among 3 experiments. 2. On 15-mins stimulation group, medial geniculate nucleus, intetpeduncular nucleus intermedius, ventral periolivary nucleus, caudal periolivary nucleus, medial superior olive, lateral paragigantocellular nucleus, including hypothalamic arcuate nucleus were increased by more than 25% (at least, p<0.05) by electroacupuncture stimulation. 3. Especially, the metabolism in hypothalamic arcuate nucleus was increased by 90% (p<0.05). 4. The fact that arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus might play a role of interconnection area between ascending and descending pathway of acupuncture stimulation was demonstrated visually. Conclusions : Advanced study on electroacupuncture stimulation elicited significant increase of metabolic activity in various nuclei of hypothalamus will provide the important experimental basis in research of the relationship between electroacupuncture stimulation and internal visceral functions.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.16-24
• /
• 2017

For the development of feasible retinal prosthesis, one of the important elements is acquiring proper judging tool if electrical stimulus leads to patient's visual perception. If evoked potential to electrical stimulus is recorded in primary visual (V1) cortex, it means that the stimulus effectively evokes visual perception. Therefore, in this study, we established VEP recording system on V1 cortex using BioPAC modules as the judging tool. And the measuring system was evaluated by recording VEP of mice. After anesthesia, normal mice (C57BL/6J strain; n = 6) were secured to stereotaxic apparatus (Harvard Apparatus, USA). For the recording of VEP, the stainless steel needle electrode (impedance: $2-5k{\Omega}$) was positioned on the surface of the cortex through the burr hole at 2.5 mm lateral and 4.6 mm caudal to bregma. DA 100C and EEG 100C BioPAC modules were used for the trigger signal and VEP recording, respectively. When left eye was blocked by black cover and right eye was stimulated by flash light using HMsERG (RetVet Corp, USA), VEP response at left V1 cortex was detected, but there was no response at right V1 cortex. Amplitudes and latencies of P2, N3 peaks of VEP recording varied according to the depths of the electrodes on V1 cortex. From the surface upto $600{\mu}m$ depth, amplitudes of P2 and N3 increased, while deeper than $600{\mu}m$, those amplitudes decreased. The deeper the insertion depth of the electrode, the latency of N1 peaks tends to be delayed. However, there was no statistically significant difference among the latencies of P2 and N3 peaks (P > 0.05, ANOVA). Our VEP recording data such as the insertion depth and the latency and amplitudes of peaks might be used as guidelines for electrically-evoked potential (EEP) recording experiment in near future.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.214-217
• /
• 2016

A 10-year-old, 24.1 kg, intact female Siberian husky dog (case 1) and 11-year-old, 5.0 kg, intact male Shihtzu dog (case 2) presented with chief complaints of polydipsia, anorexia, vomiting and exercise intolerance (case 1) and stranguria (case 2). Splenic nodule (case 1) and mass (case 2) were identified in these patients through ultrasonographic examination. Laparoscopic splenectomy was conducted for the histopathologic evaluation. In addition, laparoscopic ovariohysterectomy, liver biopsy (case 1) and castration (case 2) were performed for treatment or diagnosis of primary symptoms. Under general anesthesia, 5 mm three-portal access laparoscopic splenectomy was performed using the Sonicision$^{TM}$ equipment. The dogs were rotated onto right lateral recumbency. The spleen was elevated using a fan or goldfinger retractor, which revealed the ventral aspect of the spleen. Resection of vessels was started at the caudal aspect of the spleen using the Sonicision$^{TM}$. The excised spleen was removed from the abdominal cavity using a 12 mm endo-bag via the enlarged instrument portal. There were no post-operative complications in either patient. Histopathologic diagnoses were splenic lymphoid hyperplasia (case 1) and splenic nodular hyperplasia (case 2). Based on our experience, laparoscopic splenectomy is sufficient to replace traditional splenectomy in small animal surgery. The use of the Sonicision$^{TM}$ could be a novel surgical technique for three-portal laparoscopic splenectomy, regardless of patient size.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2009

The purpose of the present study was to examine the role of peripheral nitric oxide (NO) pathways in the onset of interleukin (IL)-1$\beta$-induced mechanical allodynia in the orofacial area. Experiments were carried out on male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 230-280 gm and surgical procedures were performed under pentobarbital sodium (40 mg/kg, i.p.). Under anesthesia, a polyethylene tube (PE10) was implanted into the subcutaneous area of one vibrissa pad, which enabled the injection of IL-1$\beta$ or other chemicals. We subcutaneously injected 50 ${\mu}L$ of IL-1$\beta$ into a vibrissa pad through the implanted polyethylene tube with a 100 ${\mu}L$ Hamilton syringe. After the administration of 0.01, 0.1, 1, or 10 pg of IL-1$\beta$, withdrawal behavioral responses were examined. The subcutaneous injection of saline had no effects on the air-puff thresholds. Following the subcutaneous injection of 0.01, 0.1, 1, or 10 pg of IL-1$\beta$, the threshold of air puffs decreased significantly to 12 $\pm$ 3, 7 $\pm$ 2, 5 $\pm$ 1, or 5 $\pm$ 1 psi, respectively, in a dose dependent manner. Pretreatment with L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, blocked IL-1$\beta$-induced mechanical allodynia. However, neither D-NAME, an inactive isomer of L-NAME, nor vehicle affected the IL-1$\beta$-induced mechanical allodynia. Subcutaneous injection of IL-1$\beta$ increased the number of c-fos-like immunoreactive neurons, whereas pretreatment with L-NAME decreased this number, in the trigeminal caudal nucleus. These results suggest that pro-inflammatory cytokines and NO are important contributors to the pathogenesis of persistent and exaggerated IL-1$\beta$-induced pain states. Based on these observations, peripheral application of NOS inhibitors may be of therapeutic value in treating pain disorders in the clinic.