• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.273-276
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• 2009

A 54-year-old man experienced injury to the second finger of his left hand due to damage from a paintball gun shot 8 years prior, and the metacarpo-phalangeal joint was amputated. He gradually developed mechanical allodynia and burning pain, and there were trophic changes of the thenar muscle and he reported coldness on his left hand and forearm. A neuroma was found on the left second common digital nerve and was removed, but his symptoms continued despite various conservative treatments including a morphine infusion pump on his left arm. We therefore attempted median nerve stimulation to treat the chronic pain. The procedure was performed in two stages. The first procedure involved exposure of the median nerve on the mid-humerus level and placing of the electrode. The trial stimulation lasted for 7 days and the patient's symptoms improved. The second procedure involved implantation of a pulse generator on the left subclavian area. The mechanical allodynia and pain relief score, based on the visual analogue scale, decreased from 9 before surgery to 4 after surgery. The patient's activity improved markedly, but trophic changes and vasomotor symptom recovered only moderately. In conclusion, median nerve stimulation can improve chronic pain from complex regional pain syndrome type II.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.39-61
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• 2008

Objectives : The present study was performed to investigate whether acupuncture stimulation in the rats affected regeneration properties of the injured sciatic nerve. A differential effect of acupuncture stimulation on the one point near the spinal nerve root controlling sciatic nerve activity and the other point in the peripheral area subordinated by injured nerve was compared. Materials and Methods: Rat sciatic nerves were injured by crush, and the effects on axonal regeneration on injured sciatic nerves were evaluated by acupuncture stimulation at two different regions. In proximal acupuncture stimulation group, acupuncture stimulation was performed on Huatuo Jiaji(EX B2) points located from L5 to S1 vertebral levels to stimulate the nearest spinal nerve root that innervates sciatic nerves. In distal acupuncture stimulation group, acupuncture stimulation was performed on Zusanli(ST 36) and Weizhong(BL 40) points to stimulate at peripheral area dominated by injured sciatic nerves. Acupuncture stimulation was given every other days for 1 or 2 weeks. Sciatic nerve tissues collected from acupuncture stimulation experimental groups, injury control group, and intact animal group were used for protein analysis by Western blotting or Hoechst nuclear staining. To determine axonal regeneration, Dil fluorescence dye was injected into the sciatic nerve 0.5 cm distal to the injury site in individual animal groups and Dil-labeled cells by retrograde tracing were measured in the DRG at lumbar 5 or in the spinal cord. DRG sensory neurons prepared from individual animal groups were used to measure the extent of neurite outgrowth and for immunofluorescence staining with anti-GAP-43 antibody. Results : Animal groups given proximal or distal acupuncture stimulation showed upregulation of GAP-43 and Cdc2 protein levels in the sciatic nerve at 7 days after injury. Cdk2 protein levels were strongly induced by nerve injury, but did not show changes by acupuncture stimulation. Phospho-Erk1/2 protein levels were elevated by acupuncture stimulation above those present in the injury control animals. These increase in regeneration-associated protein levels appeared to be related with increase cell proliferation in the injured sciatic nerves. Hoechst 33258 staining of sciatic nerve tissue to visualize nuclei of individual cells showed increased Schwann cell number in the distal portion of the injured nerve 7 and 14 days after injury and further increases by acupuncture stimulation particularly at the proximal position. Measurement of axonal regeneration by retrograde tracing showed significantly increased Dil-labeled cells in proximal acupuncture stimulation group compared to distal acupuncture stimulation group and injury control group. Finally, an evaluation of axonal regeneration by retrograde tracing showed increased number of Dil labeled cells in the DRG at lumbar 5 or in the ventral horn of the spinal cord at lower thoracic level at 7 days after nerve injury. Conclusions : The present data show that the proximal acupuncture stimulation at Huatuo Jiaji(EX B2) points governing injured sciatic nerves was more effective for axonal regeneration than the distal acupuncture stimulation. Further studies on functional recovery or associated molecular mechanisms should be critical for developing animal models and clinical applications.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.114-119
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to determine effects of the Ga-As (Gallium-Arsenide) Dens-Bio laser on mechanically injured sciatic nerves of rats. The improvement of the injured rat sciatic nerve was evaluated by measuring of nerve conduction velocity and amplitude of compound muscle action potential. The sciatic nerves of forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were compressed with hemostatic forceps for 30 seconds. The experimental group was divided into 4 subgroups according to the duration of treatment. Lower power infrared laser irradiation was done transcutaneously to the injured sciatic nerve area, 3 minutes daily to each of four treatment groups for 1, 3, 5, and 7 weeks, respectively. Compound muscle action potential and nerve conduction velocity of sciatic nerve were obtained before nerve injury and at 1, 3, 5, and 7 weeks after injury. There were significant difference of the nerve conduction velocity and amplitudes of compound muscle action potential between the treatment group and non-treatment group at 1, 3, and 5 weeks after laser treatment. However, there were no differences found between the electrophysiologic parameters that were measured after 7 weeks in two groups. There was significant correlation between the increment of compound muscle action potential and nerve conduction velocity after time course according to laser treatment. In conclusion, the low power laser treatment had improved the sciatic nerve function, and therefore these results may provide the basic data to clarify the neurological recovery and treatment after incomplete peripheral nerve injury.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1058-1069
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• 2018

Neuropathic cancer pain (NCP) is caused by nerve damage attributable to the cancer per se, and/or treatments including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery; the prevalence is reported to be as high as 40%. The etiologies of NCP include direct nerve invasion or nerve compression by the cancer, neural toxicity, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. NCP is subdivided into plexopathy, radiculopathy, and peripheral neuropathies, among several other categories. The clinical characteristics of NCP differ from those of nociceptive pain in terms of both the hypersensitivity symptoms (burning, tingling, and an electrical sensation) and the hyposensitivity symptoms (numbness and muscle weakness). Recovery requires several months to years, even after recovery from injury. Management is complex; NCP does not usually respond to opioids, although treatments may feature both opioids and adjuvant drugs including antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and anti-arrhythmic agents, all of which improve the quality-of-life. This review addresses the pathophysiology, clinical characteristics and management of NCP, and factors rendering pain control difficult.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.896-902
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• 2008

Yukmijihwang-tang(YM) is used in Oriental medicine for treatments of diverse systemic symptoms including neurological dosorders. The present study was performed to examine potential effects of YM on growth-promoting activity of injured sciatic nerve axons. YM treatment in the injured sciatic nerve induced enhanced distal elongation of injured axons when measured 3 and 7 days after injury. Retrograde tracing of sciatic nerve axons showed YM-mediated increases in the number of DiI-labeled dorsal root ganglion (DRG) sensory neurons and spinal cord motor neurons at 3 days after injury. Hoechst nuclear staining showed that non-neuronal cell population was largely elevated by YM treatment in distal nerve area undergoing axonal regeneration. Furthermore, phospho-Erk1/2 protein levels were upregulated by YM treatment in the injured nerve area. These data suggest that YM may play a role in facilitated axonal regeneration in injured peripheral nerves. Further investigations of individual herbal components would be useful to explore effective molecular components and develop therapeutic strategies.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2013

Purpose: Many surgical procedures in oral and maxillofacial area can induce trauma to the peripheral nerve. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of short-term steroid therapy on nerve recovery after crush injury. Methods: Sixteen rats were randomly divided into two groups. The right sciatic nerves were exposed, crushed, and sutured. The control group was not given steroids. The test group was injected with dexamethasone disodium phosphate (2 mg/kg body weight/day) for 7 days. In all animals, compound muscle action potential (CMAP) was recorded before and at 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after injury. Results: The amplitude of the CMAP before and at 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after injury were $53.20{\pm}4.80$ mV, $20.12{\pm}5.38$ mV, $30.01{\pm}14.15$ mV, $31.14{\pm}13.56$ mV, $31.73{\pm}16.33$ mV, and $37.23{\pm}16.98$ mV in the control group, and $55.25{\pm}6.72$ mV, $18.62{\pm}6.26$ mV, $29.50{\pm}13.06$ mV, $32.90{\pm}13.226$ mV, $30.17{\pm}11.80$ mV, and $38.41{\pm}12.27$ mV in the test group, respectively. The nerve conduction velocity was $18.82{\pm}3.94$ m/s, $16.73{\pm}3.48$ m/s, $19.60{\pm}2.45$ m/s, $18.68{\pm}3.94$ m/s, $18.02{\pm}3.51$ m/s, and $19.25{\pm}3.88$ m/s in the control group, and $18.94{\pm}3.48$ m/s, $17.28{\pm}2.53$ m/s, $7.57{\pm}2.54$ m/s, $18.77{\pm}2.12$ m/s, $19.48{\pm}1.55$ m/s, and $19.22{\pm}2.97$ m/s in the test group, respectively. There was no significant difference between both groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: This study did not show any therapeutic effect of short-term administration of steroids on injured rat sciatic nerve. Further studies are needed.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.395-406
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• 2000

In general. it is known that central nervous system associated with nerve injury and regeneration in mature cann't regenerate, unlikely peripheral nervous system, due to various reasons. Although a lot of Patients arc suffered with central nervous system injury in the world, but there art a few resolution and researches and investigations. 'rho effect of central nervous system regeneration was partly revealed by many researchers. In this article, we describe about recovery (inclusive of axonal regeneration, remyelination, repair of spinal cord) and associated factors(inclusive of macrophage and autoimmune T-cell. neural stem cells. Nogo) after central nervous system injury.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.118-125
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• 2016

Purpose: The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with altered sensation and/or pain, and to determine outcome predictors affecting persistent neuropathy. Methods: Patients who complained an altered sensation or pain following trigeminal nerve trauma were involved in this study. To determine outcome predictors affecting persistent neuropathy, the patients were divided into two groups; transient vs. persistent, and the clinical phenotypes are compared between groups. Data were analyzed with t-tests, chi-square, and multiple regression analyses with 95% confidence interval and p<0.05 significance level. Results: A total of 111 patients were included: 23 with transient and 88 persistent groups. The panoramic result and pin-prick test score were statistically different between the groups. Radiating symptoms after blunt and pinprick stimuli were also significantly different between groups. The results revealed that the presence of a neurologic lesion in the panoramic view result, reduced sensation in the pinprick test, and radiation in the pinprick test could affect the persistent group. Conclusions: The presence of a neurologic lesion in panoramic view result and reduced sensation and radiating symptoms in the pin prick test would be defining features of one of the main clinical features of persistent neuropathy. These features could serve as outcome predictors diagnosing the permanent nerve injury in trigeminal nerve.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2008

Background: Peripheral nerve injury induces up-regulation of the calcium channel alpha2delta (${\alpha}2{\delta}$) subunit and TRPM8 in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) which might contribute to allodynia development. We investigated the expression of the ${\alpha}2{\delta}$ subunit and TRPM8 in the DRG of sympathetically maintained pain (SMP) and sympathetic independent pain (SIP) rat model. Methods: For the SMP model, the L5 and L6 spinal nerves were ligated tightly distal to the DRG. For the SIP model, the tibial and sural nerves were transected, while the common peroneal nerve was spared. After a 7 day postoperative period, tactile and cold allodynia were assessed using von Frey filaments and acetone drops, respectively. Expression of the ${\alpha}2{\delta}$ subunit and TRPM8 in the L5 and L6 DRG were subsequently examined by a Western blot. Results: There were no significant differences between the two models for the thresholds of tactile and cold allodynia. Expression of the ${\alpha}2{\delta}$ subunit in the ipsilateral DRG to the injury was increased as determined on a Western blot as compared to that in the contralateral or sham-operated DRG of the SMP model, but there was no difference in expression seen with the use of the SIP model. There was no difference in the expression of TRPM8 in the ipsilateral DRG to the injury and the contralateral or sham-operated DRG of either model. Conclusions: Up-regulation of the ${\alpha}2{\delta}$ subunit in injured DRG may play a role that contributes to tactile allodynia development in SMP, but not TRPM8 to cold allodynia after peripheral nerve injury.

• 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.