• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2020

Background: The continuous search for a novel neuropathic pain drug with few or no side effects has been a main focus of researchers for decades. This study investigated the antinociceptive and neuroprotective effects of bromelain in sciatic nerve ligation-induced neuropathic pain in Wistar rats. Methods: Forty-eight Wistar rats randomly divided into eight groups comprised of six animals each were used for this study. Peripheral neuropathy was induced via chronic constriction of the common sciatic nerve. Thermal hyperalgesic and mechanical allodynia were assessed using a hotplate and von Frey filaments, respectively. The functional recovery and structural architecture of the ligated sciatic nerve were evaluated using the sciatic functional index test and a histological examination of the transverse section of the sciatic nerve. The neuroprotective effects of bromelain were investigated in the proximal sciatic nerve tissue after 21 days of treatment. Results: Bromelain significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated both the thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynic indices of neuropathic pain. There were improvements in sciatic function and structural integrity in rats treated with bromelain. These rats showed significant (P < 0.05) increases in sciatic nerve nuclear transcription factors (nuclear factor erythroid-derived-2-related factors-1 [NrF-1] and NrF-2), antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and glutathione), and reduced membranelipid peroxidation compared with the ligated control group. Conclusions: This study suggest that bromelain mitigated neuropathic pain by enhancing the activities of nuclear transcription factors (NrF-1 and NrF-2) which increases the antioxidant defense system that abolish neuronal stress and structural disorganization.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1105-1113
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• 2017

The Purpose of this study was to determine the effects of sciatic nerve mobilization on pain and lower back muscle strength in female patients in their 40s who have been diagnosed with lumbar radiculopathy. Using a simple blinded method, 20 female patients with neuropathy in the nerve segments between L4-S1 were randomly divided into one group (n=10) that would undergo sciatic nerve mobilization, and another group (n=10) that would perform lower back segment stabilization exercises. The two groups attended 3 sessions per week, with each session taking 30 minutes, for a duration of 4 weeks. In the preliminary examinations, the pain index as well as the isometric muscle strength of the lower back extensor and flexor muscles were measured. After the passing of 4 weeks. The same method of measurement was used for the concluding examinations. Comparison of the pain indices in the two groups revealed that they both experienced a statistically significant decrease, and further inspection revealed that the there was a more substantial difference in the sciatic nerve mobilization group. Results of comparing changes in the Isometric Muscle Strength lower back muscle and bending muscle by group, In comparison between groups, the isometric strength of the lower back extensor showed a more significant difference in the sciatic nerve mobilization group (p <.05). Conclulsion, it can be inferred that application of sciatic nerve mobilization has a positive effect on the pain index and isometric muscle strength of the lower back in female patients with lumbar radiculopathy in their 40s.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.258-263
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• 2021

Neurolymphomatosis (NL) is defined as the involvement of the peripheral nervous system in lymphocytic invasion. It is a very rare form of lymphoma that may occur as an initial presentation or recurrence. It affects various peripheral nervous structures and can therefore mimic disc-related nerve root pathology or compressive mononeuropathy. NL often occurs in malignant B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Notwithstanding its aggressiveness or intractability, NL should be discriminated from other neurologic complications of lymphoma. Herein, we present a case of primary NL as the initial presentation of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of the sciatic nerve. The patient presented with weakness and pain in his left leg but had no obvious lesion explaining the neurologic deficit on initial lumbosacral and knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). NL of the left sciatic nerve at the greater sciatic foramen was diagnosed based on subsequent hip MRI, electrodiagnostic test, positron emission tomography/computed tomography, and nerve biopsy findings. Leg weakness slightly improved after chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We report a case wherein NL, a rare cause of leg weakness, manifested as the initial presentation of primary DLBCL involving the sciatic nerve at the greater sciatic foramen.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.124-131
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• 2021

Background: Sciatic nerve injury due to intramuscular injection (SNIII) is still a health problem. This study aimed to determine whether there is a correlation between neuropathic pain and electrodiagnostic findings in SNIII. Methods: Patients whose clinical and electrodiagnostic findings were compatible with SNIII participated in this retrospective cohort study. Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitudes of the sural, superficial peroneal, peroneal, and tibial nerves were graded from 1 to 4. Leeds assessment of neuropathic symptoms and signs scale (LANSS) was applied to all patients. Results: Forty-eight patients were included in the study, 67% of whom had a LANSS score ≥ 12. Sural SNAP amplitude abnormalities were present in 8 (50%) out of 16 patients with a LANSS score < 12, and 28 (87.5%) out of 32 patients with a LANSS score ≥ 12, with significant differences between the groups (P = 0.011). There was a positive correlation between the LANSS score and the sural SNAP amplitude grading (P = 0.001, r = 0.476). A similar positive correlation was also found in the LANSS score and the tibial nerve CMAP amplitude grading (P = 0.004, r = 0.410). Conclusions: This study showed a positive correlation between the severity of tibial nerve CMAP/sural SNAP amplitude abnormality and LANSS score in SNIII. Neuropathic pain may be more common in SNIII patients with sural nerve SNAP amplitude abnormality.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.384-404
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• 2013

Objectives : Effects of Bogijetong-tang (BJT) on peripheral nerve regeneration have been reported in a previous study on BJT but additional study on a damaged peripheral neuropathy where its damage level is physically and chemically more severe was needed. Plus, this study was conducted because there haven't been any studies for BJT on central nerve regeneration. Methods : In order to check the effect on central nerve regeneration, the study on cerebellum cells was started and the sciatic nerve was used to observe the effects on a peripheral nerve which was severely damaged both physically and chemically. Nerve recovery effects were observed by analyzing target proteins such as phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase, ${\beta}1$ integrin, neurofilament 200, growth-associated protein-43, cyclin-dependent kinase 1, phospho-vimentin, phospho-Smad, and caspase 3. Results : The significant changes of target protein in cerebellum neurons have been observed. The changes of index protein on the axon regeneration and the nerve recovery in the sciatic nerve have been observed and the effects on cell protection were observed, as well. Conclusions : This study confirmed that BJT made a significant influence on nerve protection and recovery of a damaged peripheral neuropathy and it also made a possibility of its regeneration in a damaged central nerve injury.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.184-191
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• 2002

We investigated the role of vitamin C or rutin on neuropathy and lung damage of diabetic mellitus(DM) rats. Norepinephrine content was significantly decreased in sciatic nerves of DM rats compared with non-DM controls but vitamin C had no effect on decreases of norepinephrine. 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) incorporation, which is biomarker of protein oxidation, was increased in sciatic nerve of DM rats as compared with normal control. However, vitamin C had no effects on increases of DNPH incorporation . We measured the content of conjugated dienes (CD) as a biomarker of lipid oxidation in sciatic nerve. CD was increased in DM as compared with normal control, Vitamin C or rutin had no effects on increases of CD. However, Rutin plus vitamin C significantly decreased the content of CD as compared with CIM rats. In lung of DM rats, DNPH incorporation or CD was increased as compared with normal control. Vitamin C or Rutin had no effects on increases of CD However, Rutin plus vitamin C significantly decreased the content of DNPH incorporation or CD in lung tissue. Vitamin C caused marked pathological changes such as the increases of parenchyma and the thickening of alveolar septa in the lung of DM. Rutin had protective effects on the pathological changes in the lung of DM rats. In conclusion, Vitamin C had no effects on oxidative parameter, such as DNPH incorporation or CD, and on the decreases of norepinephrine content in DM rats. Vitamin C caused the marked pathological changes in the lung of DM rats but rutin had protective efforts against the pathological changes.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.45-55
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• 1995

This study was carried out to elucidate the toxic mechanism of cadmium in peripheral nerve. An animal model of cadmium neuropathy was induced by feeding diet containing cadmium to Sprague- Dawley rat (or two weeks. Four weeks aged Sprague- Dawley rats were divided into four groups : normal control group, 10ppm- cadmium treated group, 100ppm- cadmium treated group, 1000ppm- cadmium treated group, reference drug- treated group. All rats were sacrificed at the end of two weeks for assessing the development of cadmium neuropathy, These results obtained were summarized as follows : 1. Cadmium reduced peripheral flow of both acetylcholinesterase and cholinesterase in rat sciatic nerve. 2. The toxic mechanism of cadmium might be the result of an reduction of myo-inositol concentration in peripheral nervous system 3. Reduction in myo-inositol content of peripheral nerve resulted from the inhibition of sodium- Potassium ATPase activity, which is responsible for myo-inositol transport, by cadmium 4. Oral administration of myo-inositol improved the flow of both acetylcholinesterase and cholinesterasenerve in cadmium intoxicated rat. These results suggest that mild cadmium neuropathy might be diagnosed by checking nervous myo-inositol content and oral administraion of myo-inositol might prevent the development of severe cadmium neuropathy with special reference to detective axonal transport.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.254-256
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• 2014

Weakness of the dorsiflexor muscles of the ankle or toe, referred to as foot drop, is a relatively common presentation. In most cases, foot drop is caused by a lower motor neuron disease such as peroneal peripheral neuropathy, L4-5 radiculopathic sciatic neuropathy, or polyneuropathy. Although upper motor neuron lesions can present as foot drop, the incidence is very rare. Here, we report an extremely rare case in which foot drop was the only presenting symptom of cerebral infarction.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.117-121
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• 1993

The pyriformis syndrome is an entrapment neuropathy in which the sciatic nerve is compromised by the pyriformis muscle. Using local anesthetics and steroid injection through a needle guided by an electric nerve stimulator, we satisfactorily treated a case of pyriformis syndrome.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.445-452
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of DA-9801, an optimized extract of Dioscorea species, on diabetic peripheral neuropathy in a type 2 diabetic animal model. In this study, db/db mice were treated with DA-9801 (30 and 100 mg/kg, daily, p.o.) for 12 weeks. DA-9801 reduced the blood glucose levels and increased the withdrawal latencies in hot plate tests. Moreover, it prevented nerve damage based on increased nerve conduction velocity and ultrastructural changes. Decrease of nerve growth factor (NGF) may have a detrimental effect on diabetic neuropathy. We previously reported NGF regulatory properties of the Dioscorea genus. In this study, DA-9801 induced NGF production in rat primary astrocytes. In addition, it increased NGF levels in the sciatic nerve and the plasma of type 2 diabetic animals. DA-9801 also increased neurite outgrowth and mRNA expression of Tieg1/Klf10, an NGF target gene, in PC12 cells. These results demonstrated the attenuation of diabetic peripheral neuropathy by oral treatment with DA-9801 via NGF regulation. DA-9801 is currently being evaluated in a phase II clinical study.