• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.71-77
• /
• 2010

Purpose: To determine whether upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) transcription and translation is related to radicular pain in a model of lumbar disc herniation. Also, to investigate the temporal changes of mRNA expression of iNOS and the identity of iNOS and transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) 1 channel expression cells in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of a model of lumbar disc herniation. Methods: A lumbar disc herniated rat model was developed by implantation of the autologous nucleus pulposus, harvested from the coccygeal vertebra of each tail, on the left L5 nerve root just proximal to the DRG. Rats were tested for mechanical allodynia of the plantar surface of both hind paws 2 days before surgery and 1, 5, 10, 20 and 30 days postoperatively. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to follow iNOS mRNA expression. To stain iNOS and TRPV1 in DRG, an immunohistochemical study was done 10 days after surgery. Results: A significant drop in mechanical withdrawal threshold on the ipsilateral and contralateral hind paws was observed 1 day after surgery and was prolonged to 30 days in rats with lumbar disc herniation. The expression of mRNA for iNOS peaked at postoperative day 10 on both sides of the DRG. iNOS-positive sensory neurons in the DRG varied in size from large to small diameter cells. A majority of small and intermediate sensory neurons were TRPV1-positive cells. Double immunofluorescence staining for TRPV1 and iNOS revealed that most intermediate TRPV1-positive sensory neurons co-localized with iNOS-positive neurons. Conclusion: Nucleus pulposus-induced mechanical allodynia can be generated without mechanical compression. This pain is related to temporal changes in expression of iNOS mRNA in the DRG. Co-localization of TRPV1 and iNOS in intermediate neurons of the DRG is correlated with pain modality and intensity.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.111-120
• /
• 1984

A new restoration method of chest X-ray image (dual project filter) was proposed to improve SNR (signal to noise ratio) characteristics. In this method, a priori information of system and anatomical structure and statistics of projected object are used in the design of filter. Dual projection filter varies its parameters, adapting to the local regions of chest(lungregion, mediasternum, subdiaphragm) and the structure of chest (bone, tissue, blood vessel, bronchia). The performance of Dual Projection Filter was 0.1-0.2dB better than Dual Sensor Wiener Filter, which was used for initial estimate of Dual Porjection Filter.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.132-137
• /
• 1974

Acid mucopolysaccharides were isolated from nucleus pulposus of whale embryo. The separation of acid mucopolysaccharides was most excellent in $0.03{\%}$ hexamine cobaltic chloride in 0.05 M-sodium acetate buffer solution at pH 4.8. Changes in electrophoretic mobility of acid mucopolysaccharides were observed when the sample solution on top of spacer gel were covered with $40{\%}$ sucrose solution. This effect was not observed by the addition of hexamine cobaltic chloride to the buffer solution.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.40 no.6
• /
• pp.419-422
• /
• 2006

Objective : Radiofrequency facet rhizotomy[RFFR] has been widely performed for treatment of chronic neck pain caused by cervical dorsal ramus syndrome[CDRS]. To evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of RFFR in the patients with CDRS, we analyzed patients with various cervical pathologic conditions. Methods : The therapeutic results in forty-four patients who underwent RFFR for CDRS from January, 2000 to December, 2002 were analyzed according to the underlying pathologic conditions causing CDRS. The pathologic conditions were sprain [33 cases], herniated nucleus pulposus [6], foraminal stenosis [4], and compression fracture [1]. The therapeutic results were evaluated one month after the operation and graded as excellent, good, fair of poor. Treatments were considered successful if the therapeutic results were graded as either excellent of good. Results : The overall success rate in all patients was 72.7%. The success fate for treatment of cases with cervical sprain was 87.9%, but treatment of cases with herniated nucleus pulposus, foraminal stenosis, and fracture showed unsatisfactory results [mean success rate was 27.3%]. Some patients complained of transient hypesthesia [4 cases] of transient dull pain at the electrode insertion sites [2 cases]. Conclusion : RFFR is an effective and safe treatment for CDRS caused by cervical sprain, regardless of the patient's age, the duration of the symptoms, and the presence of radiating pain.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.22-29
• /
• 2018

Intervertebral disc(IVD) mainly consists of Annulus fibrosus(AF) and Nucleus pulposus(NP), playing a role of distributing a mechanical load on vertebral body. IVD tissue engineering has been developed the methods to achieve anatomic morphology and restoration of biological function. The goal of present study is to identify the possibilities for creating a substitute of IVD the morphology and biological functions are the same as undamaged complete IVD. To fabricate the AF and NP combine biphasic IVD tissue, AF tissue scaffolds have been printed by 3D bio-printing system with natural biomaterials and NP tissues have been prepared by scaffold-free culture system. We evaluated whether the combined structure of 3D printed AF scaffold and scaffold-free NP tissue construct could support the architecture and cell functions as IVD tissue. 3D printed AF scaffolds were printed with 60 degree angle stripe patterned lamella structure(the inner-diameter is 5mm, outer-diameter is 10 mm and height is 3 mm). In the cytotoxicity test, the 3D printed AF scaffold showed good cell compatibility. The results of histological and immunohistochemical staining also showed the newly synthesized collagens and glycosaminoglycans, which are specific makers of AF tissue. And scaffold-free NP tissue actively synthesized glycosaminoglycans and type 2 collagen, which are the major components of NP tissue. When we combined two engineered tissues to realize the IVD, combined biphasic tissues showed a good integration between the two tissues. In conclusion, this study describes the fabrication of Engineered biphasic IVD tissue by using enable techniques of tissue engineering. This fabricated biphasic tissue would be used as a model system for the study of the native IVD tissue. In the future, it may have the potential to replace the damaged IVD in the future.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.47-57
• /
• 2021

Background: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common cause of radicular pain, but the mechanism is not clear. In this study, we investigated the engagement of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in radicular pain and its possible mechanisms. Methods: An LDH model was induced by autologous nucleus pulposus (NP) implantation, which was obtained from coccygeal vertebra, then relocated in the lumbar 4/5 spinal nerve roots of rats. Mechanical and thermal pain behaviors were assessed by using von Frey filaments and hotplate test respectively. The protein level of TLR4 and phosphorylated-p65 (p-p65) was evaluated by western blotting analysis and immunofluorescence staining. Spinal microglia activation was evaluated by immunofluorescence staining of specific relevant markers. The expression of proand anti-inflammatory cytokines in the spinal dorsal horn was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Spinal expression of TLR4 and p-NF-κB (p-p65) was significantly increased after NP implantation, lasting up to 14 days. TLR4 was mainly expressed in spinal microglia, but not astrocytes or neurons. TLR4 antagonist TAK242 decreased spinal expression of p-p65. TAK242 or NF-κB inhibitor pyrrolidinedithiocarbamic acid alleviated mechanical and thermal pain behaviors, inhibited spinal microglia activation, moderated spinal inflammatory response manifested by decreasing interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α expression and increasing IL-10 expression in the spinal dorsal horn. Conclusions: The study revealed that TLR4/NF-κB pathway participated in radicular pain by encouraging spinal microglia activation and inflammatory response.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.975-980
• /
• 1996

The purpose of study was aimed at analysing the body deformity types through LHNP(lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus) patients without considering of lower extremity radiating pain. This study was proceeded in a time-series method through the ninety LHNP patients visited the hospital for the first time. The results were as follows. 1. Body type I : Deformity style of Lt shoulder & pelvis forward tilt 2. Body type II : Deformity style of Rt shoulder & pelvis forward tilt style 3. Body type III : Deformity style of Lt shoulder & Rt pelvis forward tilt style 4. Body type N : Deformity style of Rt shoulder & Lt pelvis forward tilt style.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.69-74
• /
• 2008

Purpose: The majority of patients with radiculopathy caused by a herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) heal spontaneously without surgery. The aim of this report is to describe the spontaneous regression of lumbar disc herniation and the results of clinical follow-up. Methods: Three patients with radiating low back pain presented with an extruded intervertebral disc on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We performed follow-up with conservative treatment (epidural injection, medication, physical therapy, exercise) and clinical assessments on the 6th, 10th and 22nd months. Results: The extruded intervertebral disc almost complete regressed, and correlated with clinical improvement and follow-up MRI. Conclusion: Conservative treatment can be an effective approach for a herniated lumbar discs if no neurological deficits are present.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.58 no.2
• /
• pp.144-146
• /
• 2015

Postdural punctural headache (PDPH) following spinal anesthesia is due to intracranial hypotension caused by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, and it is occasionally accompanied by an intracranial hematoma. To the best of our knowledge, an intracranial chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) presenting with an intractable headache after a cervical epidural steroid injection (ESI) has not been reported. A 39-year-old woman without any history of trauma underwent a cervical ESI for a herniated nucleus pulposus at the C5-6 level. One month later, she presented with a severe headache that was not relieved by analgesic medication, which changed in character from being positional to non-positional during the preceding month. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a CSDH along the left convexity. Emergency burr-hole drainage was performed and the headache abated. This report indicates that an intracranial CSDH should be considered a possible complication after ESI. In addition, the event of an intractable and changing PDPH after ESI suggests further evaluation for diagnosis of an intracranial hematoma.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.161-170
• /
• 2012

Purpose: This study was to report the effect and safety of oriental medical treament in the pregnant woman diagnosed to herniated of nucleus pulposus(HNP) at L-spine. Methods: The patient was diagnosed with HNP at L-spine during Pregnancy. She was treated by herb medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion. Their symptoms was disappeared. Results: After treatment, most symptoms decreased, VAS score changed 10 to 2, ODI changed 41 to 20. Conclusions: The oriental medical treament(herb medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion) relieves HNP at L-spine during Pregnancy.