• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.982-992
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• 2005

Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention is widely used for the treatment of many functional disorders such as substance abuse and mental dysfunction. Clinical trials are currently underway to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of drug addiction. Yet, there are still many unanswered questions about the basic mechanism of acupuncture. Studies have shown that both the psychomotor stimulant effects and rewarding properties of addictive drugs, including morphine, are sensitized by repeated drug administration and raised the possibility that both of these effects may De linked to the same or closely overlapping the mesolimbic dopamine systems. Neiguan (PC6) point on the pericardium channel which is associated with the brain and its mental function, has been used to treat mental, psychosomatic disorders and gastroenterological disorders. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of acupuncture on repeated morphine-induced changes in extracellular dopamine levels using in vivo microdialysis and to measure the effect of acupuncture on repeated morphine-induced behavioral changes. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated twice a day for three days with increasing doses of morphine (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg, s.c.) or with saline. After 15 days of withdrawal, rats were challenged with morphine hydrochloride (5 mg/kg, s.c.). Acupuncture was applied at bilateral Neiguan (PC6) points for 1min after the morphine challenge. Results showed that acupuncture at the specific acupoint PC6, but not at control points (tail and HE8) significantly decreased both dopamine release, behavior induced by a systemic morphine challenge or a single s.c. morphine injection in the morphine-repeated animals. These results suggest that reduction in sensitization may be one mechanism whereby acupuncture alleviates morphine craving in addicts. Moreover, in a more general sense these results suggest that acupuncture can be used as a therapeutic intervention for correcting reversible malfunction of the body by direction of brain pathway and thus acupuncture can contribute to the biochemical balance in the central nervous system by regulating neurotransmitters.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.361-369
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• 2019

1,2-Dichloropropane (1,2-DCP) has been used as an industrial solvent and a chemical intermediate, as well as in soil fumigants. Human exposure may occur during its production and industrial use. The target organs of 1,2-DCP are the eyes, respiratory system, liver, kidneys, central nervous system, and skin. Repeated or prolonged contact may cause skin sensitization. In this study, 1,2-DCP was dissolved in corn oil at 0, 2.73, 5.75, and 8.75 mL/kg. The skin of mice treated with 1,2-DCP was investigated using western blotting, hematoxylin and eosin staining, and immunohistochemistry. 1,2-DCP was applied to the dorsal skin and both ears of C57BL/6J mice. The thickness of ears and the epidermis increased significantly following treatment, and the appearance of blood vessels was observed in the dorsal skin. Additionally, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, which is tightly associated with neovascularization, increased significantly. The levels of protein kinase-B (PKB), phosphorylated PKB, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and phosphorylated mTOR, all of which are key components of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/PKB/mTOR signaling pathway, were also enhanced. Taken together, 1,2-DCP induced angiogenesis in dermatitis through the PI3K/PKB/mTOR pathway in the skin.

• 정신신체의학
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.99-107
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• 2020

섬유근통은 피로, 수면장애, 기분변화, 인지장애 및 만성 전신통증을 핵심 증상으로 하는 질환이다. 섬유근통은 유전적 취약성, 통증 처리과정 및 스트레스 반응 체계의 변화 등을 포함하는 생물학적 요인과 불안, 우울, 분노, 스트레스 등의 심리적 요인, 그리고 감염, 발열 질환, 외상 등의 환경적 요인이 함께 작용하여 발생하는 것으로 알려져 있으며, 핵심 병인으로 감각 자극이 인식되는 과정에서 증폭되어 통증이 증진되는 중추성 감작의 역할이 강조되고 있다. 가이드라인들은 개별 환자의 필요에 따라 선택된 다원적 접근을 권고하며, 임상의는 충분한 교육을 통해 지적 이해의 틀을 제공하고 자기 관리의 중요성을 강조해야 한다. 섬유근통에서 정신건강 문제의 유병률은 일반인구집단의 7~9배로 유의하게 높으며, 특정 정신병리 및 수면장애와의 관련성도 제기되고 있다. 정신과적 상태는 섬유근통과 양방향성 상호작용을 하며 경과에 영향을 주고, 취약성을 공유하며 서로의 위험 요인으로 작용할 수 있으므로, 동반질환을 면밀히 평가하여 보다 통합적인 관리가 필요할 것이다.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.97-105
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• 2022

Background: The pentadecapeptide BPC-157 has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and wound healing effects on multiple target tissues and organs. Peptides have potent anti-inflammatory effects on periodontal tissues in rats with periodontitis. Few studies have investigated the effect of BPC-157 on pain after dental procedures or oral surgeries. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the antinociceptive effects of BPC-157 on postoperative incisional pain in rats. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: control (saline with the same volume), BPC10 (10 ㎍/kg of BPC-157), BPC20 (20 ㎍/kg of BPC-157), BPC40 (40 ㎍/kg of BPC-157), and morphine (5 mg/kg of morphine). A 1-cm longitudinal incision was made through the skin, fascia, and muscle of the plantar aspect of the hind paw in isoflurane-anesthetised rats. Withdrawal responses were measured using von Frey filaments at 0, 2, 6 h and 4, 7 d after incision. The formalin test was also performed to differentiate its anti-nociceptive effect from an inflammatory reaction or central sensitization. Pain behavior was quantified periodically in phases 1 and 2 by counting the number of flinches in the ipsilateral paw after injection with 30 µL of 5% formalin. Results: The threshold of mechanical allodynia was significantly increased in the BPC10, BPC20, BPC40 and morphine groups compared with that in the control group at 2 h. These increasing thresholds then returned to the levels of the control group. The BPC-157 group showed a much higher threshold at 4 days after incision than the control group. The thresholds of the BPC groups, except the morphine group, were normalized 7 days after incision. The flinching numbers of the BPC10, BPC20, BPC40 and morphine groups were significantly decreased in phase 1, but there was no decrease in the BPC-157 groups except the morphine group in phase 2. Conclusions: BPC-157 was effective only for a short period after incision. It was also effective during phase 1 but not during phase 2, as determined by the formalin test. BPC-157 might have a short antinociceptive effect, even though it has anti-inflammatory and wound healing effects.