• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.35-37
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• 2015

Atypical facial pain (AFP) is a type of facial pain which does not fulfill any other diagnosis. It has several features such as no objective signs, no obvious explanation of the cause and poor response to treatments. We report a case of a female patient with AFP on the left maxillary area. The pain was increased by cold innocuous stimulation and thermography showed that the temperature on the painful area was significantly decreased. The pain was successfully alleviated by stellate ganglion block (SGB). Therefore, SGB can be effectively used to treat AFP.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.241-243
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• 2008

Polymyalgia rheumatica is characterized by bilateral shoulder or pelvic girdle pain, morning stiffness of greater than 45 minutes' duration, constitutional symptoms, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and a rapid response to prednisolone (${\leq}20mg/day$). Although it is not a rare disease, many cases might be neglected and treated inappropriately in pain clinics. We describe here two cases of polymyalgia rheumatica that was neglected and treated inappropriately.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.255-264
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• 2013

Background: We investigated the effects of pre-emptive administration of ketamine and norBNI on pain behavior and the expression of DREAM, c-Fos, and prodynorphin proteins on the ipsilateral side of the rat spinal cord at 2 and 4 hours after formalin injection. Methods: Eighty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 4 major groups consisting of control rats (C) (n = 12), rats given only formalin injections (F) (n = 24), and rats treated with pre-emptive administration of either ketamine (K+F) (n = 24) or norBNI (N+F) (n = 24). The non-control groups were further divided into subgroups consisting of rats that were sacrificed at 2 and 4 hours (n = 12 for each group) after formalin injection. Pain behavior was recorded for 1 hour. After 2 and 4 hours, the rats were sacrificed and the spinal cords (L4-L5 sections) were removed for immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. Results: The pain behavior response was reduced in the K+F group compared to the other groups during the second phase of the formalin pain response. We detected an increase in the nuclear DREAM protein level in the K+F group at 2 and 4 hours and a transient decrease in the N+F group at 2 hours; however, it increased at 4 hours after injection. Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) and Prodynorphin-like immunoreactivity (PLI) neurons decreased in the K+F group but increased in the N+F group at 2 hours after injection. While FLI decreased, PLI increased in all groups at 4 hours after injection. Conclusions: We suggest that NMDA and kappa opioid receptors can modulate DREAM protein expression, which can affect pain behavior and protein transcriptional processes at 2 hours and bring about either harmful or protective effects at 4 hours after formalin injection.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.27-30
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• 2013

Objective: Low back pain is a primary of source of dysfunction and economic costs. Gluteus medius muscle co-activation and activity pattern change caused the low back pain. Active release technique (ART) is a patented, non-invasive, soft tissue treatment process that both locates and breaks down the scar tissue and adhesions. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects on chronic low back pain using ART on gluteus medius so that suggest usable treatment method for treating chronic low back pain. Design: One group pretest-posttest design. Methods: Twelve patients with chronic low back pain were participated in this study. Subjects in ART group were received 2 times a week for 3 weeks treatments with either ART on gluteus medius muscle trigger points. Outcome measures were conducted by pain intensity with a pain visual analogue scale and pressure pain threshold on gluteus medius. Results: Completion of the intervention, the visual analogue scale was decreased in ART group (p<0.05). Also pressure pain threshold was decreased in ART group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Our results suggest that the response to ART may be usable to treat low back pain. ART was presented to reduce pain level of low back in people with chronic low back pain. Further study is required to management for low back pain due to gluteus medius and more ART study.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.165-175
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• 2021

Background: Management of pain from open wounds is a growing unmet healthcare need. However, the models available to study pain from wounds or to develop analgesics for the patients suffering from them have primarily relied on incisional models. Here, we present the first characterized and validated model of open wound pain. Methods: Unilateral full-skin excisional punch biopsy wounds on rat hind paws were evaluated for evoked pain using withdrawal responses to mechanical and thermal stimulation, and spontaneous pain was measured using hind paw weight distribution and guarding behavior. Evaluations were done before wounding (baseline) and 2-96 hours post-wounding. The model was validated by testing the effects of buprenorphine and carprofen. Results: Pain responses to all tests increased within 2 hours post-wounding and were sustained for at least 4 days. Buprenorphine caused a reversal of all four pain responses at 1 and 4 hours post-treatment compared to 0.9% saline (P < 0.001). Carprofen decreased the pain response to thermal stimulation at 1 (P ≤ 0.049) and 4 hours (P < 0.011) post-treatment compared to 0.9% saline, but not to mechanical stimulation. Conclusions: This is the first well-characterized and validated model of pain from open wounds and will allow study of the pathophysiology of pain in open wounds and the development of wound-specific analgesics.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.242-246
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• 2008

To assess the role of $\alpha_{1G}$ T-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels in neuropathic pain after L5 spinal nerve ligation, we examined behavioral pain susceptibility in mice lacking $Ca_{V}3.1$ (${\alpha}_{1G}{^{-/-}}$), the gene encoding the pore-forming units of these channels. Reduced spontaneous pain responses and an increased threshold for paw withdrawal in response to mechanical stimulation were observed in these mice. The ${{\alpha}_{1G}}^{-/-}$ mice also showed attenuated thermal hyperalgesia in response to both low-(IR30) and high-intensity (IR60) infrared stimulation. Our results reveal the importance of ${\alpha}_{1G}$ T-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels in the development of neuropathic pain, and suggest that selective modulation of ${\alpha}_{1G}$ subtype channels may provide a novel approach to the treatment of allodynia and hyperalgesia.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.368-373
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• 2013

Background: Bertolotti's syndrome (BS), a form of lumbago in lumbosacral transitional vertebrae, is an important cause of low back pain in young patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the etiology of low back pain and the efficacy of treatment offered to patients with BS. Methods: All patients of BS Castellvi type1a during a period of 6 months were enrolled in the study. The patients underwent interventional pain procedures for diagnosis and pain relief. Response to the therapy was assessed based on VAS and ODI scores. A 50% decrease in VAS score or a VAS score less than 3 would be considered adequate pain relief. Results: All 20 patients diagnosed with BS during the 6-month observation period had scoliosis. Common causes of back pain were the ipsilateral L5-S1 facet joint, neoarticulation, the SI joint, and disc degeneration. Responses to various interventions for pain relief were different and inconsistent from patient to patient. In particular, responses to interventions for neoarticular pain were generally poor. Conclusions: Pain in patients with BS does not usually respond to interventional pain treatment. A very dynamic treatment approach must be pursued while managing BS patients, and the treatment plan must be individualized at various stages in order to obtain satisfactory pain relief.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.100-104
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• 2011

Background: Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a regional musculoskeletal pain disorder that is caused by myofascial trigger points. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of MPS among chronic back pain patients, as well as to identify risk factors and the outcome of this disorder. Methods: This was a prospective observational study involving 126 patients who attended the Pain Management Unit for chronic back pain between 1st January 2009 and 31st December 2009. Data examined included demographic features of patients, duration of back pain, muscle(s) involved, primary diagnosis, treatment modality and response to treatment. Results: The prevalence of MPS among chronic back pain patients was 63.5% (n = 80). Secondary MPS was more common than primary MPS, making up 81.3% of the total MPS. There was an association between female gender and risk of developing MPS ($x^2$ = 5.38, P = 0.02, O.R. = 2.4). Occupation, body mass index and duration of back pain were not significantly associated with MPS occurrence. Repeated measures analysis showed significant changes (P < 0.001) in Visual Analogue Score (VAS) and Modified Oswestry Disability Score (MODS) with standard management during three consecutive visits at six-month intervals. Conclusions: MPS prevalence among chronic back pain patients was significantly high, with female gender being a significant risk factor. With proper diagnosis and expert management, MPS has a favourable outcome.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.200-206
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• 2008

A variety of mechanisms may generate pain resulting from injury to the peripheral nervous system. None of these mechanisms is disease-specific, and several different pain mechanisms may be present simultaneously in any one patient. Diagnosis of neuropathic pain is often easily made from the information gathered on neurologic examination and from patient history. Evidence of sensory disturbances elicited by examination combined with laboratory tests confirming injury to peripheral nerve establishes the diagnosis of neuropathic pain. Although treatment of neuropathic pain may be difficult, optimum treatment can be achieved if dentist has a complete understanding of the therapeutic options. Pharmacologic therapy has been the mainstay of treatment. Selection of an appropriate pharmacologic agent is by trial and error since individual response to different agents, doses, and serum level are highly variable. An adequate trial for each agent tried is key to pharmacologic treatment of neuripathic pain. If pharmacologic treatment is not effective, nerve block using lidocaine, steroid and alcohol and neurectomy must be considered for treatment option.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.188-202
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• 2001

This study was designed to investigate the effect of one-to-one labor support on labor pain, labor stress response, childbirth experience and neonatal status for primipara by a quasi experiment (nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design), from April 30, 1999 to February 20, 2000. The subjects of this experiment consisted of eighty two primipara with single gestation, full term, uncomplicated pregnancies. Forty one were in the experimental group and forty one in the control group. Their mean age was 25.95 years, their mean gestation period was 39.9 weeks. A caring package of one-to-one labor support had three components. Physical support consisted of massage, back pressure, touch. Emotional support was provided by a continuous nurse's presence, acceptance and encouragement. Informational support involved teaching breathing skills, relaxation skills and knowledge about the labor process. Data assessed labor pain, pulse rate and blood pressure to measure labor stress response. Also, in measuring the value of labor stress response, plasma epinephrine, plasma norepinephrine and serum cortisol were measured. In the 24 hours after birth, the data for the postpartum mother's childbirth experiences was collected. Umbilical cord arterial blood pH, one minute and five minute Apgar score were measured after birth. Data was analyzed by t-test, $x^2$-test, repeated measures ANOVA, ANCOVA with SAS Program. The results were as follows; 1. Labor pain was significantly low in the experimental group(P=.016). 2. No significant group effects were found, but significant time effects were found for plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine, serum cortisol, pulse rate and blood pressure. 3. The childbirth experience of the experimental group was significantly more positive than the control group (P = .005). 4. The umbilical cord arterial blood pH of the experimental group was significantly higher than the control group(P=.014). There was no significant difference between the two groups in neonatal one minute and five minute Apgar scores. In conclusion, these findings indicate that one-to-one labor support could be effective in decreasing labor pain, and increasing positive childbirth experiences, also increasing the neonatal umbilical cord arterial blood pH for primipara. So, one-to-one labor support could be applied as an effective nursing treatment for primipara.