• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.77-90
• /
• 2005

Objective : Neuropathic pain sometimes arises from a partial peripheral nerve injury. This kind of pain is usually accompanied by spontaneous burning pain, allodynia and hyperalgesia. It has been well known that acupuncture is effective to the pain control from ancient time in Asia. However, it is not clear whether Electroacupuncture(EA) & Acupuncture(AC) can control neuropathic pain effectively. The aim of this study is to examine if Electroacupuncture&Acupuncture at Hu-gye(SI03), Wijung(BL4O), Hu-gye(SI03) Wijung(BL40) may be effective to the neuropathic pain (mechanical allodynia cold allodynia) in a rat model of neuropathic pain. Methods : A rat model of neuropathic pain was made by injurying tibial nerve and sural nerve while common peroneal nerve was maintained. After the neuropathic surgery, we examined if the rats exhibited the behavioral signs allodynia. The allodynia was assessed by stimulating the medial malleolus with von frey filament and acetone. Three weeks after the neuropathic surgery, electroacupuncture &, acupuncture stimulation was delivered to Hu-gye(SI03), Wijung(BL40), Hu-gye(SI03) Wijung(BL40) one time a day for one week. After that we examined the withdrawal response of neuropathic rats' legs by von frey filament and acetone stimulation, c-fos and AchE(Acetylcholine esterase) in the periaqe- ductal gray(PAG) of neuropathic rats' brain. Results : 1. Electroacupuncture&Acupuncture at Hu-gye(SI03), Wijung(BL40), Hu-gye(SI03) Wijung(BL4O) significantly decreased the withdrawal response of mechanically allodynia in EA-BL40+SI03 group and AC-SI03 group as compared with control group on 6th day. 2. Electroacupuncture &Acupuncture at Hu-gye(SI03), Wijung(BL40), Hu-gye (SI03) Wijung (BL40) significantly decreased the withdrawal response of chemical allodynia(cold allodynia) in EA-SI03 group, EA-BL40+SI03 group and AC-SI03 group as compared with control group on 6th day. 3. Electroacupuncture & Acupuncture at Hu-gye ( SI03), Wijung (BL40), Hu-gye (SI03) Wijung(BL40) significantly decreased the expression of c-fos in the periaqe- ductal gray(PAC) of neuropathic rats' brain in EA-BL40+SI03 group and AC-SI03 group as compared with control group. 4. Electroacupuncture&Acupuncture at Hu-gye(SI03), Wijung(BL40), Hu-gye (SI03) Wijung(BL40) significantly decreased the expression of AchE in the periaqe- ductal gray(PAG) of neuropathic rats' brain in EA-BL40+SI03 group and AC-SI03 group as compared with control group. Conclusions : Based on the above results it is assumed that Electroacupuncture at Hu-gye(SI03) Wijung(BL40) and Acupuncture at Hu-gye(SI03) can help the treatment of neuropathic pain.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.281-286
• /
• 2017

Background: In chemical pleurodesis for managing pulmonary air leak, tetracycline derivatives are commonly used, and their effectiveness has been established in many studies. Recently, a Viscum album extract was used in chemical pleurodesis. We compared the effects of V. album with those of a tetracycline derivative (doxycycline) to demonstrate the therapeutic effectiveness of the V. album extract in chemical pleurodesis for managing pulmonary air leak. Methods: Between October 2010 and October 2016, chemical pleurodesis was performed using doxycycline in 40 patients and the V. album extract in 37 patients. Thirty-three patients were in the postoperative state after pulmonary resection, and 44 patients suffered from spontaneous pneumothorax. Results: No statistically significant difference in the success rate was observed between the 2 groups (V. album extract and doxycycline). In both groups, chest pain was the most common complication. More patients in the doxycycline group complained of severe chest pain (42.1% vs. 13.5%, p=0.006). In the V. album extract group, 24.3% of the patients required a chest tube to drain the pleural effusion after cessation of the air leak (doxycycline group: 5%, p=0.022). Further, the amount of pleural effusion drained on the day after the last chemical pleurodesis in the V. album extract group was greater than that in the doxycycline group ($162.2{\pm}170.2mL$ vs. $97.0{\pm}77.2mL$, p=0.032). All patients were discharged from the hospital without complications after pleural effusion drainage. Conclusion: Considering that treatment using the V. album extract was less painful, V. album might be a feasible option for chemical pleurodesis. However, pleural effusion should be monitored carefully when using V. album extract for treating patients suffering from air leak.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.77-86
• /
• 2005

In this study, we examined the morphine-induced modulation of the nociceptive spinal dorsal horn neuronal activities before and after formalin-induced inflammatory pain. Intradermal injection of formalin induced time-dependent changes in the spontaneous activity of nociceptive dorsal horn neurons. In naive cats before the injection of formalin, iontophoretically applied morphine attenuated the naturally and electrically evoked neuronal responses of dorsal horn neurons. However, neuronal responses after the formalin-induced inflammation were significantly increased by morphine. Bicuculline, $GABA_A$ antagonist, increased the naturally and electrically evoked neuronal responses of dorsal horn neurons. This increase in neuronal responses due to bicuculline after the formalin-induced inflammation was larger than that in the naive state, suggesting that basal $GABA_A$ tone increased after the formalin injection. Muscimol, $GABA_A$ agonist, reduced the neuronal responses before the treatment with formalin, but not after formalin treatment, again indicating an increase in the GABAergic basal tone after the formalin injection which saturated the neuronal responses to GABA agonist. Morphine-induced increase in the spinal nociceptive responses after formalin treatment was inhibited by co-application of muscimol. These data suggest that formalin-induced inflammation increases $GABA_A$ basal tone and the inhibition of this augmented $GABA_A$ basal tone by morphine results in a paradoxical morphineinduced increase in the spinal nociceptive neuronal responses after the formalin-induced inflammation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.265-271
• /
• 1999

Patients with mediastinal teratoma are usually asymptomatic, but may develop symptoms by rupture into adjacent structures which result in pneumonia, hemoptysis, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, or pneumothorax. Rarely, life-threatening acute respiratory distress require a emergency surgery. Rupture into pleural cavity may result in pleuritis and pleural effusion with severe anterior chest or back pain. The symptom must be differentiated from other common intrathoracic distress diseases. Clinical, cytologic and radiologic examinations of pleural effusion, and moreover, measurement of enzymes such as amylase or insulin, which is secreted from pancreatic tissues, in pleural effusion and cystic fluid enabled us to make the diagnosis of rupture of mediastinal teratoma preoperatively.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.432-437
• /
• 2007

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are toxic agents that may be involved in various neurodegenerative diseases. Recent studies indicate that ROS are also involved in persistent pain through a spinal mechanism. In the present study, whole cell patch clamp recordings were carried out on substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons in spinal cord slice of neonatal rats to investigate the effects of ROS on neuronal excitability and excitatory synaptic transmission. In current clamp condition, tert-buthyl hydroperoxide (t-BuOOH), an ROS donor, induced a electrical hyperexcitability during t-BuOOH wash-out followed by a brief inhibition of excitability in SG neurons. Application of t-BuOOH depolarized membrane potential of SG neurons and increased the neuronal firing frequencies evoked by depolarizing current pulses. Phenyl-N-tert-buthylnitrone (PBN), an ROS scavenger, antagonized t-BuOOH induced hyperexcitability. IN voltage clamp conditions, t-BuOOH increased the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs). In order to determine the site of action of t-BuOOH, miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) were recorded. t-BuOOH increased the frequency and amplitude of mEPSCs, indicating that it may modulate the excitability of the SG neurons via pre- and postsynaptic actions. These data suggest that ROS generated by peripheral nerve injury can induce central sensitization in spinal cord.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.461-465
• /
• 2014

A 3-year-old colt Thoroughbred horse was referred with obvious lameness (3/5G) and mild heat and pain on left hoof of forelimb. He was diagnosed with quarter cracks that have a typical conformation of sheared heel, which are a different length and height between medial/lateral heels. Various materials and techniques were carried out to repair quarter cracks by using many different kinds of clips, bar shoes on fifth times for about 10 months. It worked on him without pain and heat on the cracked hoof, and then he could retrain for racing from the 36th weeks beginning of therapeutic shoeing. We suggested that especially fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) material and therapeutic shoeing were a great help to treat quarter cracks induced by sheared heel.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.209-216
• /
• 2018

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS) are involved in cellular signaling processes as a cause of oxidative stress. According to recent studies, ROS and RNS are important signaling molecules involved in pain transmission through spinal mechanisms. In this study, a patch clamp recording was used in spinal slices of rats to investigate the action mechanisms of $O_2{^{{\bullet}_-}}$ and NO on the excitability of substantia gelatinosa (SG) neuron. The application of xanthine and xanthine oxidase (X/XO) compound, a ROS donor, induced inward currents and increased the frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSC) in slice preparation. The application of S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP), a RNS donor, also induced inward currents and increased the frequency of sEPSC. In a single cell preparation, X/XO and SNAP had no effect on the inward currents, revealing the involvement of presynaptic action. X/XO and SNAP induced a membrane depolarization in current clamp conditions which was significantly decreased by the addition of thapsigargin to an external calcium free solution for blocking synaptic transmission. Furthermore, X/XO and SNAP increased the frequency of action potentials evoked by depolarizing current pulses, suggesting the involvement of postsynaptic action. According to these results, it was estblished that elevated ROS and RNS in the spinal cord can sensitize the dorsal horn neurons via pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms. Therefore, ROS and RNS play similar roles in the regulation of the membrane excitability of SG neurons.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.27-37
• /
• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to broaden our understanding of the predisposing factor and treatment of dislocation by analyzing and evaluating the morphology of the articular eminence (AE) in subjects with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dislocation using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: The subjects were divided into two groups: dislocation (31 subjects) and control (32 subjects). CBCT was used to examine 126 TMJs in 63 subjects (26 males, 37 females). The height, width, and posterior slope of the AE were measured in the parasagittal plane. The posterior slope was measured using the "top-roof line angle (TR angle)" method and the "best-fit line angle (BF angle)" method. The AE on the left side (AEL) and the AE on the right side (AER) of the subjects in the dislocation group were separately analyzed and compared with the control group after taking measurements. The average value of both sides was used when comparing with subjects with bilateral dislocation. Results: Dislocations were more frequent in females (67.7%) than in males (32.3%). The dislocation group showed a gentler TR angle than the control group in the AER and in the average of AE on the both sides (AEB). The same group also showed a wider AE in the AEL and the AER (p<0.05). In subjects with unilateral dislocation, the width of the AE with dislocation was narrower and the TR angle and BF angle was steeper than the other side without dislocation (p<0.05). Conclusions: In subjects with unilateral TMJ dislocation, the posterior slope of the AE is steeper, and the width is narrower at the site of dislocation compared to the site without dislocation. However, in subjects with bilateral TMJ dislocation, AEB were wider, and the mean value of the posterior slope of AEB was gentler than that of the control group.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.258-262
• /
• 1992

Herpes zoster is an acute infectious viral disease which affects the posterior spinal root ganglion of the spinal nerve. A single posterior spinal root ganglion or a small number of adjacent ones may be affected, usually on the same side. The corresponding ganglia of the cranial nerve may also be similarly affected. The causative virus, varicella zoster, belongs to the group of host-specific DNA viruses. Postherpetic neuralgia is a continuation of herpes zoster in older patients. Although spontaneous resolution of herpes zoster may be expected in most patients, a significant number experience intractable pain. Postherpetic neuralgia is one of the most difficult problems encountered by physicians. There are many methods for management of postherpetic neuralgia, but there is no method that results in complete remission. Laser has lately come into use to reduce several acute or chronic pains. In order to determine the degree of pain relief by laser, 27 patients of postherpetic neuralgia were irradiated with He Ne, Infrared, and $CO_2$ combine scan moded lasers two to three times per week. The results were as follows: 1) The most frequent site was thoracic vertebral nerve area. 2) Patients younger than 70 years of age showed an improvement rate of 57% vs 27% for those patients older than 70 years of age. 3) Laser therapy proved effective of those patients who received the laser treatment within one month of the onset of the disease. 4) For those patients who received treatment within one month of the disease and reflecting a 50% improvement rate, the average irradiation time was 5.7.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.445-452
• /
• 2015

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a neuromodulatory technique that delivers a low-intensity direct current to the cortical areas, thereby facilitating or inhibiting spontaneous neuronal activity. This study was designed to examine the changes in various sensory functions after tDCS. A single-center, single-blinded, randomized trial was conducted to determine the effect of a single session (August 4 to August 29) of tDCS with the current perception threshold (CPT) in 50 healthy volunteers. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) were performed in relation to the median sensory and motor nerves on the dominant hand to discriminate peripheral nerve lesions. The subjects received anodal tDCS with 1mA for 15 minutes under two different conditions, with 25 subjects in each group. The conditions were as follows: tDCS on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and sham tDCS on DLPFC. The parameters of the CPT was recorded with a Neurometer$^{(R)}$ at frequencies of 2000, 250 and 5 Hz in the dominant index finger to assess the tactile sense, fast pain and slow pain, respectively. In the test to measure the CPT values of the DLPFC in the anodal tDCS group, the values increased significantly in all of 250 and 5 Hz. All CPT values decreased for the sham tDCS. These results showed that DLPFC anodal tDCS can modulate the sensory perception and pain thresholds in healthy adult volunteers. This study suggests that tDCS may be a useful strategy for treating central neurogenic pain in rehabilitation medicine.