• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.97-100
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• 2005

Background: The most distal sensory fibers of the feet are often affected first in polyneuropathy. However, they are not evaluated in routine nerve conduction studies. Thus we evaluated the dorsal sural sensory nerve in patients with sensorimotor polyneuropathy with normal sural response, in order to assess the usefulness in electrodiagnostic practice. Methods: In this study, 53 healthy subjects and 27 patients with clinical evidence of sensorimotor polyneuropathy were included. In all subjects, peripheral motor and sensory nerve studies were performed on the upper and lower limbs including dorsal sural nerve conduction studies. On electrodiagnostic testing, all patients had normal sural responses. Results: The dorsal sural sensory nerve action potentials (SNAPs) mean amplitude was $13.12{\pm}5.68{\mu}V$, mean latency was $3.12{\pm}0.43msec$, and mean sensory conduction velocity (SCV) was $36.50{\pm}3.40m/s$ in healthy subjects. In 7 of 27 patients, the dorsal sural nerve SNAPs were absent bilaterally, and in 20 patients, the mean dorsal sural nerve distal latency was longer($3.40{\pm}0.48ms$, P=0.006), and mean SCV was slower than in healthy subjects($35.08{\pm}4.59$, P=0.043). However, dorsal sural nerve amplitude was not different between the groups (P=0.072). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that dorsal sural nerve conduction studies should be included in the routine electrodiagnostic evaluation of patients with suspected polyneuropathy and normal sural nerve responses.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.11-16
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• 2018

Purpose: Stress tends to cause sympathetic hyperactivity and increase blood cortisol levels. The vagus nerve is a parasympathetic nerve that is involved in relaxing the body. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve on stress hormone (cortisol) levels and heart rate variability (HRV) in humans. Methods: A total of 10 healthy subjects participated in the pilot experiment. All subjects underwent electrical vagus nerve stimulation for 20 minutes in the cymba conchae of the left ear. An electro cardiogram meter was used to measure HRV. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for cortisol levels. The standard deviation of all normal N-N intervals (SDNN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), low frequency, high frequency, and cortisol levels were compared in pre and post mean values after the intervention. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon's signed-rank test. Results: Coritsol levels were observed to decrease after vagus nerve electrical stimulation. The mean SDNN and RMSSD values were increased after the intervention, but not significantly. Conclusion: Vagus nerve electrical stimulation has been shown to increase the ability of the parasympathetic nerve to adapt to upward regulation and stress. Vagus nerve electrical stimulation could thus be an effective treatment for modern social psychological stress control.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.28-38
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• 2009

Background : Peripheral nerve injuries are a commonly encountered clinical problem and often result in a chronic pain and severe functional deficits. Objective : The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix (G. M. Radix) on the pain control and the recovery of the locomotor function that results from the sciatic crushed nerve injury in rats. Method : Using rats, we crushed their sciatic nerve, and then orally administered the aqueous extract of G. M. Radix. The effects of G. M. Radix on the recovery locomotor function were investigated by walking track analysis. The effects of G. M. Radix on pain control were investigated by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the sciatic nerve, and c-Fos expression in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus and in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG). Result : G. M. RADIX facilitates motor function from the locomotor deficit, and thereby increased BDNF expression and suppressed painful stimuli in the PVN and vlPAG after sciatic crushed nerve injury. Conclusion : It is suggested that G. M. Radix might aid recovery locomotor function and control pain after sciatic crushed nerve injury. Further studies on identifying specific the component in G.M. Radix associated with enhanced neural activity in the peripheral nerve injury may be helpful to develop therapeutic strategies for the treatment of peripheral nerve injury.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.65-70
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• 2017

A 25-years-old woman with mandibular prognathism underwent a mandibular setback by way of mandibular sagittal split ramus osteotomy (MSSRO). After 2 days of operation, she developed difficulty of closing her right eye. The blink reflex test and motor nerve conduction study of the right orbicularis oris muscle were revealed right facial neuropathy of unknown origin and House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system (HBFNGS) grade V. For treatment, we initially prescribed oral prednisolone and nimodipine including physical therapy. The samples consisted of 11 facial nerve palsy patients caused by MSSRO and were analysed about onset of facial nerve palsy, postoperative HBFNGS, final HBFNGS, treatment method and recovery time. At 10 weeks of treatment of nimodipine, she had completely regained normal function (HBFNGS grade I) of the right facial nerve. The clinical results lead to assume a fast recovery of facial nerve function by the nimodipine medication, whereas average time of recovery is 16.32 weeks in references. Despite of the limited one patient treated, the result was very promising with respect to a faster recovery of the facial nerve function. Considering the use of nimodipine treatment for peripheral facial nerve palsy following a surgical approach with an anatomically preserved nerve can be recommended.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2014

Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (INM) inspection has a very important role. While preserving the patient's neurological function be sure to safe surgery, neurological examination should thank. Cerebello pontine angle tumor surgery, especially in the nervous system is more important to the meaning of INM. In cochlear nerve, facial nerve, trigeminal nerve, which are intricate brain surgery, doctors are only human eye and brain to the brain that it is virtually impossible to distinguish the nervous system. They receives a lot of help from INM. In this paper, we examined six kinds broadly. First, the methods of spontaneous EMG and Free-running EMG, which can instantly detect a damage inflicted on a nerve during surgery. Second, methods of triggered EMG and direct nerve electrical stimulation, which directly stimulate a nerve using electricity to distinguish between nerves and brain tumors. Third, the method of knowing a more accurate neurologic status by informing neurological surgeons about Free-running EMG wave forms that are segmetalized into four. Fourth, three ways of knowing when a patient will be awaken from intraoperative anesthesia, which happens due to a weak anesthetic. Fifth, a method of understanding the structures of a brain tumor and a facial nerve as five dividend segments. Sixth, comparisons between cases normal facial nerve recovery and occurrence of a facial nerve paralysis during the postoperative course.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.221-224
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• 2015

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a clinical syndrome characterized by unilateral facial nerve dysfunction. The usual cause involves vascular compression of the seventh cranial nerve, but compression by an artery passing through the facial nerve is very unusual. A 20-year-old man presented with left facial spasm that had persisted for 4 years. Compression of the left facial nerve root exit zone by the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) was revealed on magnetic resonance angiography. During microvascular decompression surgery, penetration of the distal portion of the facial nerve root exit zone by the AICA was observed. At the penetrating site, the artery was found to have compressed the facial nerve and to be immobilized. The penetrated seventh cranial nerve was longitudinally split about 2 mm. The compressing artery was moved away from the penetrating site and the decompression was secured by inserting Teflon at the operative site. Although the facial spasm disappeared in the immediate postoperative period, the patient continued to show moderate facial weakness. At postoperative 12 months, the facial weakness had improved to a mild degree. Prior to performing microvascular decompression of HFS, surgeons should be aware of a possibility for rare complex anatomy, such as compression by an artery passing through the facial nerve, which cannot be observed by modern imaging techniques.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.77-82
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation application on the autonomic nervous system of human body. Methods: Participants were seventeen healthy adults. Standard deviation of all normal N-N intervals(SDNN), root mean square of successive differences(RMSSD), low frequency(LF), high frequency(HF) were compared in pre and post Mean values after intervention. Data were analyzed in Wilcoxon's signed-ranks test. Results: The results of this study is that sistolic blood pressure and pulse rate decreased mean value after non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. High frequency, low frequency, SDNN, RMSSD increased mean value in heart rate variability after intervention. But that is not significant except for SDNN. Conclusion: Non-invasive vagus stimulation by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation effect on parasympathetic nerve stimulation, and then it might be effective method for autonomic nerve balance control.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influnce of afferent stimuli, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and ultra sound, on the electrdiagnostic study of normal subjects. Electrodiagnostic study was performed before and after the application of afferent stimulation of the right popliteal fossa on 18 healthy female volunteers. After the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, there is no significantly change of latencies and amplitudes of SEP, H-reflex, peroneal nerve F-wave, and sensory nerve conduction. After the ultra sound, there is no significantly change of latencies and amplitudes of SEP, H-reflex, peroneal nerve F-wave, and sensory nerve conduction. Tibial nope F-wave and motor nerve shows prolonged latency after TENS and US (p<0.01). Ultrasound may have a similar mechanism of action compared to transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation by having localized inhibitory effects of the peripheral nerve. However, further investigation is needed to assess their mechanism of action and the precise relevance of stimulation modality.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.124-131
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• 2021

Background: Sciatic nerve injury due to intramuscular injection (SNIII) is still a health problem. This study aimed to determine whether there is a correlation between neuropathic pain and electrodiagnostic findings in SNIII. Methods: Patients whose clinical and electrodiagnostic findings were compatible with SNIII participated in this retrospective cohort study. Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitudes of the sural, superficial peroneal, peroneal, and tibial nerves were graded from 1 to 4. Leeds assessment of neuropathic symptoms and signs scale (LANSS) was applied to all patients. Results: Forty-eight patients were included in the study, 67% of whom had a LANSS score ≥ 12. Sural SNAP amplitude abnormalities were present in 8 (50%) out of 16 patients with a LANSS score < 12, and 28 (87.5%) out of 32 patients with a LANSS score ≥ 12, with significant differences between the groups (P = 0.011). There was a positive correlation between the LANSS score and the sural SNAP amplitude grading (P = 0.001, r = 0.476). A similar positive correlation was also found in the LANSS score and the tibial nerve CMAP amplitude grading (P = 0.004, r = 0.410). Conclusions: This study showed a positive correlation between the severity of tibial nerve CMAP/sural SNAP amplitude abnormality and LANSS score in SNIII. Neuropathic pain may be more common in SNIII patients with sural nerve SNAP amplitude abnormality.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.36-39
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• 2019

Chronic postoperative inguinal pain (CPIP) is a major complication after inguinal herniorrhaphy. We report the treatment of CPIP using ultrasonography-combined with nerve stimulator for injection of the genitofemoral nerve (GFN). A 59-year-old man underwent laparoscopic herniorrhaphy and presented with numbness from the inguinal region to the scrotum after operation. In the pain clinic, ultrasonography-guided GFN block and pharmacological treatments had little effect. Six month after operation, patient was referred to the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and ultrasonography-combined with nerve stimulator for GFN injection underwent to enhance the accuracy of neural approach. The induction of scrotal contraction and paresthesia on the GFN distribution was monitored by nerve stimulator and local anesthetic was injected. After the block, pain relief lasted for 6 months without analgesic use. Ultrasonography-combined with nerve stimulator is an effective approach to treat CPIP as it enhances precise localization and injection of small peripheral nerve like GFN.