• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.369-376
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• 2022

Background: Nonobstetric surgery is sometimes required during pregnancy, and neck abscess or facial bone fracture surgery cannot be postponed in pregnant women. However, dental surgery can be stressful and can cause inflammation, and the inflammatory response is a well-known major cause of preterm labor. Propofol is an intravenous anesthetic commonly used for general anesthesia and sedation. Studies investigating the effect of propofol on human amnion are rare. The current study investigated the effects of propofol on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in human amnion-derived WISH cells. Methods: WISH cells were exposed to LPS for 24 h and co-treated with various concentrations of propofol (0.01-1 ㎍/ml). Cell viability was measured using the MTT assay. Nitric oxide (NO) production was analyzed using a microassay based on the Griess reaction. The protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE 2), p38, and phospho-p38 was analyzed using western blotting. Results: Propofol did not affect the viability and NO production of WISH cells. Co-treatment with LPS and propofol reduced COX-2 and PGE₂ protein expression and inhibited p38 phosphorylation in WISH cells. Conclusion: Propofol does not affect the viability of WISH cells and inhibits LPS-induced expression of inflammatory factors. The inhibitory effect of propofol on inflammatory factor expression is likely mediated by the inhibition of p38 activation.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.153-155
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• 2015

We are reporting a rare case of a delayed hypersensitivity reaction caused by hyaluronidase allergy following a lumbar transforaminal epidural block. Using an intradermal skin test, we have provided evidence that the systemic allergic reaction resulted from hypersensitivity to hyaluronidase. To our knowledge, this is a rare case of a delayed hypersensitivity reaction to epidural hyaluronidase, comprised of an initial exposure to hyaluronidase with no subsequent allergic response in prior block followed by a subsequent delayed reaction to hyaluronidase during a second epidural block.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.191-195
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• 1991

Trigeminal neuralgia(tic douloureux) is a common clinical syndrome which is characterized by a painful facial condition. The clinician must be able to identify a patient with tic douloureux because this most severe pain syndrome can almost always be controlled. Gangliolysis is the most recent development in the long history of destructive procedures for tic douloureux. H$\ddot{a}$kason pioneered a technique of placing a needle for injecting glycerol into the trigeminal cistern which he found safe and effective for pain control. In August at 1991, I injected pure sterile glycerol three times into the cistern of trigeminal ganglion using the H$\ddot{a}$rtel approach to relieve a patient from pain. The results were as follows; 1) The response of pain relief to a glycerol gangliolysis was excellent. 2) As a complication, there were mild sensory deficit, transient headache and herpes simplex around the mouth angle.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.208-209
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• 2005

Interstitial cystitis is an extremely painful and distressing condition, characterized by severe suprapubic pain, which increases with bladder filling and is relieved by voiding. The daily frequency of micturition may approach 100 times, but no incontinence is observed. The symptoms persist throughout the night, which consequently affects sleep. The etiology of this condition is still unknown, but includes infection, autoimmune response, allergic reaction, neurogenic inflammation, epithelial dysfunction and inherited susceptibility. Herein, a case of interstitial cystitis, with severe symptoms, which was successfully treated with lumbar sympathetic block, is reported.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.258-261
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• 1997

Back pain with sciatica is a common clinical syndrome that may be the expression of an uncommon pathological process. We describe a case of retroperitoneal lymphoma mimicking herniated lumbar disc. 62 year old male patient with a clinical picture of sciatica as a first manifestation of retroperitoneal lymphoma. His pain was not response to conventional therapy, and progressively worsened. We reevaluated him and found huge retroperitoneal lymphoma in his pelvic cavity. So we discuss how to identify the few who had extra attention. It is important to rule out occult pathology in patient with an atypical presentation. In assessing a patient with a low back pain, accurate evaluation require a logical, step by step method.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.191-197
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• 2020

This case study reports the clinical response to Korean Medicine (KM) treatments including capsaicin-containing (CP) pharmacopuncture in three patients with acute low back and hip pain. Three patients were diagnosed with acute lumbar sprain, and were treated with CP pharmacopuncture, and other KM treatments including acupuncture, cupping, and herbal medicine. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry Disablility Index (ODI), and Clinical Evaluation Grade (CEG) were used to evaluate symptom changes. After one or two treatments, acute pain with limited range of motion in the low back and thigh region improved with a decrease in NRS, ODI, and CEG. These results suggest that further studies on KM treatments including CP pharmacopuncture for acute low back and hip pain are warranted.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.16-26
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• 2018

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between neuroticism, pain catastrophizing, and experimentally induced pain threshold and pain tolerance in a healthy adult sample from two regions of the country of Croatia: the island of Korcula and city of Split. Methods: A total of 1,322 participants were enrolled from the Island of Korcula (n = 824) and the city of Split (n = 498). Participants completed a self-reported personality measure Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and pain catastrophizing questionnaire Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), followed by a mechanical pain pressure threshold and tolerance test. We have explored the mediating role of catastrophizing in the relationship between neuroticism and pain intensity. Results: The results showed that pain catastrophizing partially mediated the relationship between neuroticism and pain intensity, suggesting the importance of pain catastrophizing in increasing vulnerability to pain. The results also indicated gender-related differences, marked by the higher pain threshold and tolerance in men. Conclusions: This study adds to the understanding of the complex interplay between personality and pain, by providing a better understanding of such mechanisms in healthy adults.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.443-450
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• 2009

Objective : We estimated the number of Korean adults with back pain and evaluated population-based associated factors of back pain from a representative sample data from the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Methods : The number of Korean adults who experienced back pain (experienced patients), those who experienced back pain lasting for three or more months during the past year (chronic patients), and those who were currently suffering from back pain (current patients) were estimated by analyzing the data from the fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2007 using surveyfreq procedure of the SAS statistical package. Population-based odds ratios for being experienced, chronic, and current patient according to demographic (age and gender), socioeconomic (education and occupation), and lifestyle factors (smoking, drinking, and exercise) were estimated using surveylogistic procedure. Results : It was estimated that there were 5,554,256 (proportion, 15.4%; 95% CI, 4,809,466 - 6,299,046) experienced patients, 2,060,829 (5.7%; 1,557,413-2,564,246) chronic patients, and 3,084,188 (8.5%; 2,600,197 - 3,568,179) current patients among 36,107,225 Korean adults aged 20-89 years in 2007. Each of explanatory variables was significantly associated with at least one of the response variables for back pain. Conclusion : Based on our study results, further efforts to investigate epidemiology of back pain, to evaluate associated factors, and to improve treatment outcomes are needed.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.72-76
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• 2006

Background: The objective of this study was to describe the extent of pain relief after an epidural steroid injection in the patients suffering from chronic low back pain from herniated disks or lumbar spinal stenosis. Methods: The study was prospectively designed for patients suffering with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and herniated disks (HD) who were referred to a hospital-based pain clinic for epidural steroid injections (ESI). The pain was assessed with using a visual analog scale at baseline, two weeks after the first ESI and two weeks after the third ESI. Results: Eighty patients were enrolled, and all of them provided pain ratings before and after the injections. The LSS patients seemed to improve less than did the HD patients. The results showed no significant differences in the triamcinolone dosage and the frequency of injections for determining the efficacy of ESI. Conclusions: The LSS patients tended to have a less effective respond to ESIs than did the HD patients. The unsatisfactory response to ESI by the LSS patients underscores the need for randomized controlled trials of performing ESI in this population.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.87-95
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• 2003

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify nurses' knowledge of pain and provide basic data for development of pain management education programs. Method: The participants in the study were 764 nurses working at seven medical centers in Youngnam area. The instrument used in this study consisted of 22 items on pain knowledge. The data were collected between March 1 and June 30, 2002 using a self-administered questionnaire. Analysis of data was done using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA and Scheffe test with the SPSS program. Result: 1) The average score for pain knowledge was 13.63 (total possible score, 22). 2) The highest item with correct response rate for knowledge of fain was identifying 'Tylenol as opioid or non-opioid.' and the lowest was for 'When opioids are used for pain relief for 3-6 months, what percent of patients are likely to develop opioid addiction?' 3) Nurses' knowledge of pain was significantly different according to age (F=7.040, p=.000), education (F=3.385, p=.034) and work career (F=6.101, p=.000). Conclusion: The above findings indicate that it is necessary to develop a comprehensive pain management education program and continuously provide the medical team with new knowledge about pain.