• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2021

Background: We aimed to investigate candidates for serological biomarkers of neuropathic pain in individuals with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Methods: We analyzed 38 sera samples from 38 participants with NMOSD in National Cancer Center. Neuropathic pain was evaluated using the painDETECT questionnaire. Pain with neuropathic components (painDETECT score ≥ 13) was observed in 22 participants, among whom 17 had definite neuropathic pain (painDETECT score ≥ 19). The remaining 16 participants had non-neuropathic pain (painDETECT score < 13). Serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) levels were assessed using a single-molecule array assay. Several cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and IL-17A, were measured by a multiplex bead-based immunoassay. Results: In comparison of NMOSD participants with neuropathic pain components (or definite neuropathic pain) and those with non-neuropathic pain, the absolute values of serum GFAP, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 levels were higher in participants with neuropathic pain components (or definite neuropathic pain), but these findings did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: Further larger-scale investigations to find reliable serological biomarkers for neuropathic pain in NMOSD are warranted.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.65-68
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• 2007

Objective : A new point of view on the chronic back pain proposed which is, named neuropathic back pain[NBP]. Some proposed a certain pain scale as an useful diagnostic tool. Before scientific verification, some doctors prescribed a new anticonvulsant for the NBP. We investigated diagnostic tools for NBP by a review of the literature. Methods : A comprehensive computer search of the English literature concerning neuropathic low back pain was performed using the key words such as neuropathic back pain and diagnosis in the PubMed. Results : In 1998, the term NBP was first used in a patient with lung cancer. In the English literature, there were two diagnostic methods for the NBP, Neuropathic pain scale[NPS] and a pharmacological test. NPS is a pain questionnaire, which depends on the patients' subjective reports on the given questions, such as 'how hot is your pain feel'. By the pharmacological test, NBP was defined as 50% or more decrease of pain on intravenous lidocaine and on local anesthetic epidurally. It also depends on the patients' subjective response to the therapy. Conclusion : There were still no reliable objective diagnostic criteria for the NBP. It seems to be better to reserve the new anticonvulsants for the NBP till scientific approval.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.215-224
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was to investigate the effect of music therapy as intervention on peripheral neuropathic pain and anxiety of gynecologic cancer patients who were undergoing paclitaxel chemotherapy. Methods: Hospitalized 62 patients were assigned to an experimental group (n=30) and a control group (n=33) in this quasi-experimental study. The experimental group participated in music therapy that includes listening, singing and song writing during 1 hour. The peripheral neuropathic pain, anxiety and depression were examined as pre-intervention evaluation by using pain scale, anxiety scale (20 questions) and depression scale (20 questions) in both groups. There were no further treatments for the control group while the experimental group involved in music therapy. The peripheral neuropathic pain and anxiety were evaluated in both groups as post-intervention evaluation. Results: Outcomes were verified through hypothesis testing. The level of peripheral neuropathic pain and anxiety in the experimental group was decreased, compared to the control group. Conclusion: According to the study, music therapy is a beneficial intervention that reduces peripheral neuropathic pain and anxiety in gynecologic cancer patients. These findings are encouraging and suggest that music therapy can be applied as an effective intervention for minimizing chemotherapy related symptoms.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.420-423
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• 2010

Objective : Peripheral nerve injury often leads to neuropathic pain, which is characterized by burning pain, allodynia, and hyperalgesia. The role of the sympathetic nervous system in neuropathic pain is a complex and controversial issue. It is generally accepted that the alpha adrenoreceptor (AR) in sympathetic nerve system plays a significant role in the maintenance of pain. Among alpha adrenoreceptor, alpha-1 receptors play a major role in the sympathetic mediated pain. The primary goal of this study is to test the hypothesis that sympathetically maintained pain involves peripheral alpha-2 receptors in human. Methods : The study was a randomized, prospective, double-blinded, crossover study involving twenty patients. The treatments were : Yohimbine (30 mg mixed in 500 mL normal saline), and Phentolamine (1 mg/kg in 500 mL normal saline) in 500 mL normal saline at 70 mL/hr initially then titrated. The patients underwent infusions on three different appointments, at least one month apart. Thus, all patients received all 2 treatments. Pain measurement was by visual analogue scale, neuropathic pain questionnaire, and McGill pain questionnaire. Results : There were significant decreases in the visual analogue scale, neuropathic score, McGill pain score of yohimnine, and phentolamine. Conclusion : We conclude that alpha-2 adrenoreceptor, along with alpha-2 adrenoreceptor, may be play role in sympathetically maintained pain in human.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.229-233
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• 2022

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a skin-sensitive condition/disease that causes severe pain in the facial area predominantly innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve. A 51-year-old man diagnosed with glossopharyngeal neuralgia who was hospitalized with severe pain that limited his daily life activities. From November 18, 2021, to March 4, 2022, he received inpatient (10 days) and outpatient treatment (35 times) using acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and herbal medicine. His symptoms were assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale, Neuropathic Pain Scale, and the Self-report Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptom and Signs. The pain reduced after 4 days of initiating Korean medicine treatment and was completely resolved within 4 months of treatment (Numerical Rating Scale score 4 to 0; Neuropathic Pain Scale score 49 to 8; Self-report Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs score 18 to 0). Korean medicine treatment could be an option for treating patients with neuropathy who rely on analgesics.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.82-90
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• 2004

Background: Gabapentin is widely used for the relief of neuropathic pain. But, there is no study of gabapentin in relation to traumatic neuropathic pain. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy and effectiveness of gabapentin for the various clinical symptoms of traumatic neuropathic pain Materials and Methods: 50 patients with traumatic nerve injury were assigned to receive gabapentin, titrated to 900 mg/day over 9 days, followed by further increases to a maximum of 2400 mg/day. Continuous pain, paroxysmal pain, allodynia and thermal evoked pain were measured in mean daily pain scores, based on the 11-point Likert scale. The primary efficacy parameter was compared from the baseline to the final study week. Results: Over the 4.5 week study, this pain score decreased by 2.6 points in the continuous pain, 3.6 points in the paroxysmal pain, 3.1 points in the allodynia, and 2.5 points in the thermal evoked pain. The percentage of patients with over 50% improvement in pain scores was 33% in the continuous pain, 67% in the paroxysmal pain, 53% in the allodynia and 36% in the thermal evoked pain. There was no significant correlation between the effect of gabapentin and the time difference of the onset of symptoms and start of medication. Conclusions: This study shows that gabapentin reduced neuropathic pain in patients with traumatic peripheral nerve injury. Among the various characteristics of neuropathic pain, the reduction of paroxysmal pain and allodynia was greatest.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.297-300
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• 2014

This report describes the long term safety and efficacy of intrathecal therapy using Sufentanil for the management of chronic intractable neuropathic pain in 12 chronic pain patients. Standardized psychological screening was used to determine treatment suitability. Evaluation data included the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Wong-Baker Faces Scale, Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH), McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire, and complications (granulomas, toxicity, withdrawal, or deaths). SPSS version 18 was used for data analysis. Pre- and post- treatment BPI measures and pain scale scores showed a statistically significant difference. There were no complications directly related to drug toxicity, nor drug withdrawals, granulomas, or deaths. Intrathecal therapy with Sufentanil therapy offers a good treatment alternative for those cases that have failed both surgery and standard pain treatment. Strict patient selection based on psychological screening, control of co-morbidities, a proper pain management may contribute to successful outcome.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

Objectives: To demonstrate an improvement of neuropathic pain after surgical site infection in a patient with anorectal cancer by administration of Soshihotang (SSHT). Methods: A 65-year-old female patient diagnosed with anorectal cancer was administered SSHT to relieve her neuropathic pain induced by surgical site infection. SSHT was administered from 4/22 to 5/2. Clinical outcomes were assessed using a numeric rating scale (NRS), and opioids administered to relieve her pain was calculated. Results: During 10 days of treatment, the NRS scale of neuropathic pain was improved and the dosage of opioids administered reduced to less than half. Conclusions: This case suggests that SSHT could be effective for the management of neuropathic pain induced by surgical site infection.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.175-184
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• 2013

This study is to observe the effect of Korean medicine treatment combined with electro-acupuncture and chuna manual treatment on tarsal tunnel syndrome inpatient. The patient, diagnosed as tarsal tunnel syndrome, was treated by Korean medicine treatment in combination with electro-acupuncture and chuna manual treatment. We measured visual analogue scale(VAS). Neuropathic pain scale(NPS) was adopted as a method of measuring the treatment results of pain & hypoesthesia. Rt. sole numbness & pain decreased from VAS 10 to VAS 4. Rt. foot paresthesia decreased from VAS 10 to VAS 4 and Rt. ankle pain was disappeared. NPS score decreased from 80 to 62. Korean medicine treatment in combination with electro-acupuncture and chuna manual treatment is proved to be helpful to improve the symptoms of the tarsal tunnel syndrome patient.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.94-98
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• 2012

Background: An intravenous infusion of lidocaine has been used on numerous occasions to produce analgesia in neuropathic pain. In the cases of failed back surgery syndrom, the pain generated as result of abnormal impulse from the dorsal root ganglion and spinal cord, for instance as a result of nerve injury may be particularly sensitive to lidocaine. The aim of the present study was to identify the effects of IV lidocaine on neuropathic pain items of FBSS. Methods: The study was a randomized, prospective, double-blinded, crossover study involving eighteen patients with failed back surgery syndrome. The treatments were: 0.9% normal saline, lidocaine 1 mg/kg in 500 ml normal saline, and lidocaine 5 mg/kg in 500 ml normal saline over 60 minutes. The patients underwent infusions on three different appointments, at least two weeks apart. Thus all patients received all 3 treatments. Pain measurement was taken by visual analogue scale (VAS), and neuropathic pain questionnaire. Results: Both lidocaine (1 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg) and placebo significantly reduced the intense, sharp, hot, dull, cold, sensitivity, itchy, unpleasant, deep and superficial of pain. The amount of change was not significantly different among either of the lidocaine and placebo, or among the lidocaine treatments themselves, for any of the pain responses, except sharp, dull, cold, unpleasant, and deep pain. And VAS was decreased during infusion in all 3 group and there were no difference among groups. Conclusions: This study shows that 1 mg/kg, or 5 mg/kg of IV lidocaine, and palcebo was effective in patients with neuropathic pain attributable to FBSS, but effect of licoaine did not differ from placebo saline.