• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제13권6호
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• pp.289-294
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• 2013

Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) is an acute-phase protein induced by injury, infection, or other inflammatory stimuli. LCN2 binds small hydrophobic ligands and interacts with cell surface receptor to regulate diverse cellular processes. The role of LCN2 as a chemokine inducer in the central nervous system (CNS) has been previously reported. Based on the previous participation of LCN2 in neuroinflammation, we investigated the role of LCN2 in formalin-induced nociception and pathological pain. Formalin-induced nociceptive behaviors (licking/biting) and spinal microglial activation were significantly reduced in the second or late phase of the formalin test in Lcn2 knockout mice. Likewise, antibody-mediated neutralization of spinal LCN2 attenuated the mechanical hypersensitivity induced by peripheral nerve injury in mice. Taken together, our results suggest that LCN2 can be therapeutically targeted, presumably for both prevention and reversal of acute inflammatory pain as well as pathological pain.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.289-292
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• 2023

We describe the case of a 79-year-old man who presented with progressive aggravation of severe axial neck pain and fever 3 days after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), despite maintaining neutral neck posture during surgery. Laboratory examination revealed markedly elevated C-reactive protein levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rates. Computed tomography revealed crown-like calcifications surrounding the odontoid process. We diagnosed crowned dens syndrome (CDS) as the cause of acute-onset neck pain after TURP. The patient was treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for 5 days, and his symptoms resolved completely. CDS is a rare disease characterized by calcific deposits around the odontoid process with acute onset of severe neck pain and restricted motion. Evidence of inflammation on serological testing and fever are typical of CDS. However, the prevalence and pathophysiology of CDS remain unclear. We hypothesized that systemic inflammation after prostate surgery may have induced a local inflammatory response involving calcification around the odontoid process.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제28권5호
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• pp.582-586
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• 2005

The present study was designed to characterize the possible roles of spinally located cholera toxin (CTX)- and pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive G-proteins in pro- inflammatory cy tokine induced pain behaviors. Intrathecal injection of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-${\alpha}$; 100 pg), interleukin-1${\beta}$ (IL-1${\beta}$ 100 pg) and interferon-${\gamma}$ (INF-${\gamma}$; 100 pg) showed pain behavior. Intrathecal pretreatment with CTX (0.05, 0.1 and 0.5 mg) attenuated pain behavior induced by TNF-${\alpha}$ and INF-${\gamma}$ administered intrathecally. But intrathecal pretreatment with CTX (0.05, 0.1 and 0.5${\mu}g$) did not attenuate pain behavior induced by IL-1${\beta}$. On the other hand, intrathecal pretreatment with PTX further increased the pain behavior induced by TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-1${\beta}$ administered intrathecally, especially at the dose of 0.5 ${\mu}g$. But intrathecal pretreatment with PTX did not affect pain behavior induced by INF-${\gamma}$. Our results suggest that, at the spinal cord level, CTX- and PTX-sensitive G-proteins appear to play important roles in modulating pain behavior induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines administered spinally. Furthermore, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-1${\beta}$ arid INF-${\gamma}$ administered spinally appear to produce pain behavior by different mechanisms.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.191-194
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• 2009

Knee osteoarthritis is a common, but difficult problem to manage in primary care. Intra-articular hyaluronic acid injection has recently been frequently used for treating knee osteoarthritis. The adverse local reactions, except septic arthritis, following intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections are generally transient and not severe. Pseudoseptic arthritis is an extreme form of inflammatory arthritis that is not due to bacterial infection and it is important to distinguish this from true septic arthritis. In this article, we report 2 cases of acute pseudoseptic local reactions after intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.176-184
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• 2021

Background: Diabetes-related neuropathic pain frequently occurs, and the underpinning mechanism remains elusive. The periaqueductal gray (PAG) exhibits descending inhibitory effects on central pain transmission. The current work aimed to examine whether inflammatory cytokines regulate mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia induced by diabetes through the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in the PAG. Methods: Streptozotocin (STZ) was administered intraperitoneally to mimic allodynia and hyperalgesia evoked by diabetes in rats. Behavioral assays were carried out for determining mechanical pain and thermal hypersensitivity. Immunoblot and ELISA were performed to examine PAG protein amounts of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), as well as their corresponding receptors in STZ rats, and the expression of PI3K/protein kinase B (Akt)/mTOR signaling effectors. Results: Increased PAG p-PI3K/p-Akt/p-mTOR protein amounts were observed in STZ-induced animals, a PI3K-mTOR pathway inhibition in the PAG attenuated neuropathic pain responses. Moreover, the PAG concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α and their receptors (namely, IL-1R, IL-6R, and tumor necrosis factor receptor [TNFR] subtype TNFR1, respectively) were increased in the STZ rats. Additionally, inhibiting IL-1R, IL-6R, and TNFR1 ameliorated mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in STZ rats, alongside the downregulation of PI3K-mTOR signaling. Conclusions: Overall, the current study suggests that upregulated proinflammatory cytokines and their receptors in the PAG activate PI3K-mTOR signaling, thereby producing a de-inhibition effect on descending pathways in modulating pain transmission, and eventually contributing to neuropathic pain.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.64-71
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• 2019

The present study was conducted to investigate anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the leaves of Ilex latifolia Thunb (I. latifolia) in in vivo and in vitro. Writhing responses induced by acetic acid and formalin- and thermal stimuli (tail flick and hot plate tests)-induced pain responses for nociception were evaluated in mice. I. latifolia (50 - 200 mg/kg, p.o.) and ibuprofen (100 mg/kg, p.o.), a positive non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), inhibited the acetic acid-induced writhing response and the second phase response (peripheral inflammatory response) in the formalin test, but did not protect against thermal nociception and the first phase response (central response) in the formalin test. These results show that I. latifolia has a significant anti-nociceptive effect that appears to be peripheral, but not central. Additionally, I. latifolia (50 and $100{\mu}g/mL$) and 3,5-di-caffeoyl quinic acid methyl ester ($5{\mu}M$) isolated from I. latifolia as an active compound significantly inhibited LPS-induced NO production and mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory mediators, iNOS and COX-2, and the pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and $IL-1{\beta}$, in RAW 264.7 macrophages. These results suggest that I. latifolia can produce antinociceptive effects peripherally, but not centrally, via anti-inflammatory activity and supports a possible use of I. latifolia to treat pain and inflammation.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.271-279
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• 2022

Background: Inflammation is known to underlie the pathogenesis in neuropathic pain. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective mechanisms involved in antinociceptive effects of co-administration of acetaminophen and L-carnosine in chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced peripheral neuropathy in male Wistar rats. Methods: Fifty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven experimental groups (n = 8) treated with normal saline/acetaminophen/acetaminophen + L-carnosine. CCI was used to induce neuropathic pain in rats. Hyperalgesia and allodynia were assessed using hotplate and von Frey tests, respectively. Investigation of spinal proinflammatory cytokines and antioxidant system were carried out after twenty-one days of treatment. Results: The results showed that the co-administration of acetaminophen and L-carnosine significantly (P < 0.001) increased the paw withdrawal threshold to thermal and mechanical stimuli in ligated rats compared to the ligated naïve group. There was a significant (P < 0.001) decrease in the levels of nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer B cell inhibitor, calcium ion, interleukin-1-beta, and tumour necrotic factor-alpha in the spinal cord of the group coadministered with acetaminophen and L-carnosine compared to the ligated control group. Co-administration with acetaminophen and L-carnosine increased the antioxidant enzymatic activities and reduced the lipid peroxidation in the spinal cord. Conclusions: Co-administration of acetaminophen and L-carnosine has anti-inflammatory effects as a mechanism that mediate its antinociceptive effects in CCI-induced peripheral neuropathy in Wistar rat.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제15권8호
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• pp.5088-5094
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• 2014

헛개나무 추출물은 알코올 분해, 간 손상 회복과 항산화 기능을 가지고 있다. 본 연구에서 헛개나무 추출물이 formalin으로 유도된 염증통증 동물모델에서 염증성 안면통증의 개선하는 능력여부에 대하여 조사하였다. 동물모델은 각각 4개의 그룹으로 나누었다; 그룹1 (대조군), 그룹2 (우측 안면부에 5% fomalin을 피하 주입하여 염증성 안면통증 유발군), 그룹3 (5% fomalin+D.W. 투여군), 그룹4 (5% fomalin+ 4.5 ml/kg 헛개나무 추출물 투여군). 긁거나 문지르는 행위에 대한 계수시험은 3그룹 사이의 다른 점을 평가하기 위해 적용되었다. 뇌와 연수에서의 p38 MAPK, iNOS, Nrf2의 발현은 통증조절, 염증, 항산화와 NO생성과 관련된다. 이것들을 단백정량분석(western blot)으로 분석하였다. 안면통증의 정도는 그룹4가 그룹 1,2,3에 비하여 유의하게 낮았다. 뇌와 연수에서의 p38 MAPK, iNOS, Nrf2의 발현도 또한 그룹4이 다른 그룹에 비하여 낮았다. 이러한 결과는 헛개나무 추출물이 p38 MAPK, iNOS와 Nrf2의 발현을 억제함으로서 염증성 안면통증을 감소시킬 수 있다는 것을 시사한다.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• 제50권2호
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• pp.68-73
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• 2020

Pain management is an important part of dental practice, and dentists frequently prescribe analgesics to improve clinical outcomes. Dentists should be aware of the pharmacological characteristics of the analgesics commonly used in dentistry and should choose appropriate analgesics to treat and prevent pain associated with inflammation or surgery. In this article, we review the potential benefits and risks of the analgesics frequently used in dental practice and provide a stepwise approach for pain management.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.45-64
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory effects of NeungaSoJeokTang water extract (NSJT). Methods: In the study of anti-inflammatory effects, NSJT was investigated using cultured cells and murine models. As for the parameters of inflammation, levels of several inflammatory cytokines and chemical mediators which are known to be related to inflammation were determined in mouse lung fibroblast cells(mLFC) and RAW 264.7 cells. Results: Prior to the experiment, we evaluated sGOT, sGPT, BUN and creatine after the treatment. As a result, NSJT was innoxious on liver and kidney. In experiment of anti-thrombotic effect, NSJT inhibited the platelet aggregation induced by ADP and epinephrine, and inhibited pulmonary embolism induced by collagen and epinephrine. NSJT did not affect significantly the blood flow rate both in vitro and in vivo. NSJT increased platelet number and fibrinogen amount, and NSJT shortened PT and APTT in thrombus model induced by dextran. In experiment of anti-inflammatory effect, NSJT inhibited $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, COX-2 and NOS-II mRNA expression in a concentration-dependent manner in RAW 264.7 cell line, and inhibited significantly NO production at 50, 100 ${\mu}g/ml$, and also inhibited ROS production in a concentration-dependent manner. NSJT inhibited $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production significantly in serum of acute inflammation-induced Balb/c mice, and decreased $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production in spleen tissue, but increased $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production in liver tissue. NSJT increased survival rate at the 3th day in ICR mice with lethal endotoxemia induced by LPS. Conclusion: These results suggest that NSJT can be used for treating diverse female diseases caused by thrombosis and inflammation such as pelvic pain, pelvic inflammatory disease as well as vulvar pain due to vulvitis, vulvar vestibulitis and so on.