• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.8
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• pp.331-340
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• 2020

Rheumatoid arthritis ("RA"), whose characteristics are chronic inflammation and chronic pain, accompanies autonomic nervous system(ANS) dysfunction. In particular, ANS dysfunction in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain was found to have increased the local pain intensity while lowering the pain threshold, thereby negatively influencing pain. It is reported that thermo-spinal massage affects relief of chronic pain and recovery of ANS in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Therefore, we report a case of rheumatoid patients with chronic pain and ANS dysfunction, who experienced recovery of ANS dysfunction and pain reduction by applying thermo-spinal massage treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2006

This study conducted RIII reflex measurement to examine degree of pain depending on polarity of high voltage pulsed current of primary and secondary hyperalgesia site in hyperalgesia rat by local thermal injury. Hind paw which was injury site was taken as primary hyperalgeisa site, sole which was injury adjacent site was taken as secondary hyperalgesia site, and mechanical pain threshold, thermal pain threshold and root mean square of RIII reflex were measured. This study was conducted with control group I of hyperalgesia rat at hind paw by thermal injury and experimental groups divided into cathodal high voltage treatment group II, anodal high voltage treatment group III and alternate high voltage treatment group IV, applied active electrode of high voltage pulsed current to hind paw directly, placed reference electrode on the sole of injury adjacent site and applied pulse frequency. It measured RIII reflex and obtained the following results: Root mean square of RIII reflex at primary hyperalgeisa site was significantly reduced in group II after 2 days of hyperalgesia. Group II showed significant decrease after 5 and 6 days of hyperalgesia. Root mean square of RIII reflex at secondary hyperalgesia site showed significant reduction in group II after 6 days of hyperalgesia. Consequently it was found that application of high voltage pulsed current of hyperalgesia site reduced RIII reflex at primary hyperalgeisa site and secondary hyperalgesia site by electrical stimuli. Effects by polarity of high voltage pulsed current showed the greatest reduction of pain threshold when cathodal active electrode was used.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.417-422
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• 2009

Lipoxygenase (LO) metabolites are generated in inflamed tissues. However, it is unclear whether the inhibition of the LO activity regulates the expression of c-Fos protein, a pain marker in the spinal cord. Here we used a carrageenan-induced inflammation model to examine the role of LO in the development of c-Fos expression. Intradermally injected carrageenan caused elevated number of cells exhibiting Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-LI) in the spinal dorsal horn, and decreased the thermal and mechanical threshold in Hargreaves and von Frey tests. Pretreatment with an inhibitor of phospholipase A2, that generates the LO substrate, prior to the carrageenan injection significantly reduced the number of Fos-(+) cells. A general LO inhibitor NDGA, a 5-LO inhibitor AA-861 and a 12-LO inhibitor baicalein also exhibited the similar effects. Moreover, the LO inhibitors suppressed carrageenan-induced thermal and mechanical hyperalgesic behaviors, which inidcates that the changes in Fos expression correlates with those in the nociceptive behaviors in the inflamed rats. LO products are endogenous TRPV1 activators and pretreatment with BCTC, a TRPV1 antagonist inhibited the thermal but not the mechanical hypersensitivity. Overall, our results from the Fos-LI and behavior tests suggest that LO products released from inflamed tissues contribute to nociception during carrageenan-induced inflammation, indicating that the LO pathway is a possible target for modulating inflammatory pain.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.264-273
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• 2019

Objectives : Microglia play a crucial role in electroacupuncture (EA) analgesia on neuropathic pain. The role of chemokines in producing analgesic effects of EA, however, is largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the role of chemokines in producing analgesic effects of EA in the neuropathic pain model. Methods : Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into three groups (anesthetized group (ANE), non-acupoint EA group (NAP), and ST36 - GB34 EA group (ACU)). Neuropathic pain was induced by tight ligation of L5 spinal nerve. Mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity of hind paw was tested. Western blot tests and immunofluorescence assay for C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) levels and microglia activation were performed on spinal cord L5/6. EA was treated once daily from the 3rd day after surgery for 5 days. Results : EA treatments applied to ST36 and GB34 significantly reduced both mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity after two and three times of treatment, respectively. While CCL2 expression significantly increased in neuropathic rats, it was significantly reduced in the ACU. In addition, co-localization of CCL2 and activated microglia significantly decreased in the ACU compared to those of ANE and NAP in the spinal cord L5/L6 dorsal horn. Conclusions : The present results suggest that EA applied to ST36 and GB34 modulates the reduction of CCL2 release from the injured neurons and consequently decreases microglia activation in the spinal cord. Regulation of chemokine induced spinal activation of microglia plays a key role in analgesic effects of EA in the rat model of neuropathic pain.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.387-392
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• 2012

In this study, we examined the antinociceptive effect of Cyperi rhizoma (CR) and Corydalis tuber (CT) extracts using a chronic constriction injury-induced neuropathic pain rat model. After the ligation of sciatic nerve, neuropathic pain behavior such as mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia were rapidly induced and maintained for 1 month. Repeated treatment of CR or CT (per oral, 10 or 30 mg/kg, twice a day) was performed either in induction (day 0~5) or maintenance (day 14~19) period of neuropathic pain state. Treatment of CR or CT at doses of 30 mg/kg in the induction and maintenance periods significantly decreased the nerve injury-induced mechanical allodynia. In addition, CR and CT at doses of 10 or 30 mg/kg alleviated thermal heat hyperalgesia when they were treated in the maintenance period. Finally, CR or CT (30 mg/kg) treated during the induction period remarkably reduced the nerve injury-induced phosphorylation of NMDA receptor NR1 subunit (pNR1) in the spinal dorsal horn. Results of this study suggest that extracts from CR and CT may be useful to alleviate neuropathic pain.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.52-62
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• 2019

Objectives : The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Zingiberis Rhizoma Pharmacopuncture(ZP) at GB30 and ST36 in neuropathic pain induced SD rats by the block of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1(TRPV1). Methods : Neuropathic pain in rats was induced by tibial and common peroneal nerve transection of right leg. The rat subjects were divided into 6 groups : normal(Nor, n=5), control(Con, n=5), neuropathic pain plus 2 mg/kg ZP injection at GB30 and ST36(ZP-A, n=5), 10 mg/kg ZP(ZP-B, n=5), 20 mg/kg ZP(ZP-C, n=5) and 0.45 mg/kg Tramadol(Tra, n=5). Three days after the surgery, injections were administered once a day for 17 days. Withdrawal response of neuropathic rats' legs were measured by stimulating the paw of Right leg with von frey filament, acetone and radient heat on day 3, 7, 11, 15, 19 after surgery. After all treatments were completed, c-Fos in the midbrain central gray and TRPV1 & TRPA1 of DRG(L5) were analyzed. Results : Groups ZP-B and ZP-C showed a meaningful decrease in the withdrawal response of mechanical allodynia, thermal hyperalgesia and cold allodynia compared to the control group(p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001). Groups ZP-B and ZP-C showed a meaningful decrease in the expression of c-fos and TRPV1 protein level compared to the control group(p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001). Conclusions : These results suggest that Zingiberis Rhizoma Pharmacopuncture at GB30 and ST36 could decrease mechanical & cold allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia by block the TRPV1 on the model of neuropathic pain.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.39-46
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• 2015

Purpose: For this study, low back pain was analyzed by determining the influences of pain threshold, proprioceptive sense, and balance ability. Method: A total of 80 college students participated in this study with 30 adults regarded as normal and 50 adults regarded as having lower back pain. Measurements for participants regarding pain threshold, proprioception, and balance ability were conducted from April 10 to May 16, 2014. Result: Results from this study show significant differences between groups for back with regards to cold pain threshold, warm pain threshold measurements. There were also significant differences in proprioception for extension measurements. Finally, there were significant differences when comparing groups regarding balance for total balance score. Conclusion: With this data, practicing physical therapists can realize that a difference may exist between the patient's perception of treatment received and the actual treatment given by professionals due to differences in threshold, proprioception and balance ability. It is important for physical therapists to understand the reliance on objective data showing the effects of threshold, proprioception and balance ability on patients with back pain.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.107-115
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• 2017

Objectives This study is planned to classify correlation between HIVD of L-spine MRI and Digital Infrared Thermal Image (DITI). Methods We measured the temperature of both leg whose 120 men and 116 women patients with lumbar pain in Bucheon Jaseng Korean Medicine Hospital. And We use Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for classifying the patients who has lumbar intervertebral disc or not. Results 1) There was no statistical relation between difference of both leg's temperature and gender (p>0.05). 2) There was meaningful statistical relation between difference of both leg's temperature and age (p<0.05). 3) There was meaningful statistical relation between direction of HIVD of L-spine and direction of temperature reduction. 4) There was meaningful statistical relation between the severity of HIVD of L5/S1 and degree of temperature reduction. But there was no statistical relation between the severity of HIVD of L3/4, L4/5 and degree of temperature reduction. Conclusions We can use Digital Infrared thermal image (DITI) on low back pain patients for diagnosis. But we should not use DITI alone. DITI has limit in diagnosis.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.222-230
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• 1994

Acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(ALTENS) on acupuncture site(dorsal and ventral side of finger) were compared with a placebo site(forearm) by infrared thermal imaging. Six disease-free volunteers underwent, on different days, an ALTENS treatment and a placebo treatment in a cross-over sequences of stimulation control and inhibition control in excess of 50 treatments. ALTENS treatments were given at 30Hz at an intensity just below pain threshold delivered to acupuncture points on fingers. Placebo stimulations were administered in similar manner. After every thirty minutes of ALTENS and placebo treatment with stimulation, inhibition control sequence and vice versa, we examined whole body infrared thermal imaging and checked changed skin temperature on frontal, anterior chest, upper and lower abdomen, dorsal and ventral aspect of hand, thoracic and lumbar area, anterior and posterior aspect of lower leg. There were significant skin temperature elevations with ALTENS treatment, especially finger control gate corresponding organ area. Placebo treatment revealed no skin temperature change. We concluded that ALTENS on finger control gate influence physiologic state as opposed to conventional electric stimulation.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.106-118
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• 1983

The main purpose of this study is to systematically classify words indicating pain in terms of their ranks in each subclass. This study is a part of developing a Korean Pain Measurement Tool. This study didnot include exploration of each word's dimension such as sensory or affective. Eighty three Korean words tentatively classified in 19 subclasses in previous study were used for this study. At least three to six words were included in each subclass and the words were randomly placed in which each subject indicates their rank of pain degree. One hundred and fifty nursing students and one hundred clinical nurses were requested to indicate the rank of each word. One hundred and sixteen students and eighty three nurses completed the ratings for analysis. The data were collected from June 1983 to July 1983. The data using ordinal scale were analyzed by Friedman ANOVA to test significant difference between rank means. All of pain words indicated significant rank mean difference in all of 19 subclasses. Some of the words were either cancelled or replaced by other words, or rearranged for their ranks. Subclasses of which words were cancelled were 1) Simple stimulating pain, 2) Punctuate pressure, 3) peripheral nerve pain, 4) radiation pain, 5) punishment-related pain, and 6) suffering-related pain. Subclasses of which words were replaced or rearranged were 1) incisive pressure, 2) constrictive pressure, 3) dull pain, 4) tract pain, 5) digestion-related pain and 6) fear-related pain. Four subclasses such as traction pressure, thermal, cavity pressure, and fatigue- elated pain indicated significant differences among rank means in each subclasses and showed no visible overlaps of the ranks among means. Further research is needed using high level measurement of pain degree of each word and more sophisticated analysis of the pain degrees. Three pain words which would be related to chemical stimulation were newly explored and included as a new subclass. Through this study, the total number of subclasses increases from 19 to 20 and the total number of Korean words in the scale decreases from 83 to 80.