• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.252-259
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• 2016

Neuropathic pain is a complex state showing increased pain response with dysfunctional inhibitory neurotransmission. The TREK family, one of the two pore domain $K^+$ (K2P) channel subgroups were focused among various mechanisms of neuropathic pain. These channels influence neuronal excitability and are thought to be related in mechano/thermosensation. However, only a little is known about the expression and role of TREK-1 and TREK-2, in neuropathic pain. It is performed to know whether TREK-1 and/or 2 are positively related in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of a mouse neuropathic pain model, the chronic constriction injury (CCI) model. Following this purpose, Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analyses were performed using mouse DRG of CCI model and compared to the sham surgery group. Immunofluorescence staining of isolectin-B4 (IB4) and TREK were performed. Electrophysiological recordings of single channel currents were analyzed to obtain the information about the channel. Interactions with known TREK activators were tested to confirm the expression. While both TREK-1 and TREK-2 mRNA were significantly overexpressed in DRG of CCI mice, only TREK-1 showed significant increase (~9 fold) in western blot analysis. The TREK-1-like channel recorded in DRG neurons of the CCI mouse showed similar current-voltage relationship and conductance to TREK-1. It was easily activated by low pH solution (pH 6.3), negative pressure, and riluzole. Immunofluorescence images showed the expression of TREK-1 was stronger compared to TREK-2 on IB4 positive neurons. These results suggest that modulation of the TREK-1 channel may have beneficial analgesic effects in neuropathic pain patients.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.136-141
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• 2010

The aim of this study is to investigate whether medetomidine (MED) and tiletamine/zolazepam (ZT) combination in dogs provide the sufficient analgesia during the period of the stage of surgical anesthesia determined by the response to the noxious stimuli, which were evaluated by the change of electroencephalogram (EEG) and hemodynamic values. Seven clinically healthy, adult beagle dogs were used. They were used repeatedly at interval of a week, according to a randomized design. This study had 2 experimental groups. In Group 1, dogs received $30\;{\mu}g/kg$ of medetomidine and 10 mg/kg of tiletamine/zolazepam. Both drugs were administered intramuscularly. In Group 2, dogs were medicated with the same method as in Group 1, except the pedal withdrawal reflex test was done. In Group 2, interdigital regions were grasped with a mosquito forceps for 30 seconds, every 5 min from 10 min to 45 min after ZT injection. During all recording stages, the power for each band, mean arterial pressure and heart rates were calculated. On EEG, no significant changes were observed between groups. Although mean arterial pressure and heart rate were increased 10 min after ZT injection, no significant differences were observed between groups. In conclusion, the MED and ZT anesthesia in dogs are seemed to provide a satisfactory analgesic effect during the period of surgical anesthesia based on EEG with pedal withdrawal reflex test.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.11-16
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• 2010

Objective : Oriental medicines have been combined oriental medical theory which based on the seven modes of emotions. Notopterygium incisum (N. incisum) and Clematis manshurica (C. manshurica) have been used as an anti-rheumatic and analgesic medicine for the treatment of rheumatism, headache, cold, etc. In this study, we evaluate the synergistic anti-inflammatory effect of N. incisum and C. manshurica. Method : To evaluate the synergistic anti-inflammatory effect of a herbal mixture N. incisum and C. manshurica, we examined the changed ear thickness in 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced mouse ear edema model after topical application of herbal mixture. In addition, the levels of markers for inflammation, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, prostaglandin $G_2$ ($PGE_2$), and nitric oxide (NO) were measured by ELISA assay and Griess reagent in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells. Results : Our results showed that aqueous extracts of N. incisum and C. manshurica combination significantly inhibited the mouse ear edema induced by TPA. Moreover, the aqueous extracts of N. incisum and C. manshurica combination exhibited synergistic effects in down-regulating TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, $PGE_2$ level, but not NO. Conclusions : This study suggested that combined treatment of N. incisum and C. manshurica, based on seven methods in prescription compatibility, has a synergistic effect in down-regulating inflammatory response both in vitro and in vivo models.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.12-24
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• 2008

Background and Objective : Chungsangboha-tang (CSBHT) has analgesic, sedative, anti-convulsive and anti-histamine effects, so it alleviates the symptoms of asthma. For the comparison of anti-inflammatory effect(s) on CSBHT, PD098059 was used as a negative control. Materials and Methods : This study emphasized THP-1 cells, which had been well characterized as a human monocytic leukemic cell line. The cells resemble monocytes with respect to several criteria and can be differentiated into macrophage-like cells by treatment with PMA. By using the MTS assay, it was possible to prove the safety of CSBHT. Results : Results shows that the CSBHT did not affected cell survival within $10^{1}$ ng/ml to $10^{5}$ ng/ml. Especially, $10^{5}$ ng/ml CSBHT treated cells show 70% deduction of $TNF-{\alpha}$ gene expression against that of LPS treated group. Furthermore, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels are down-regulated when treated with CSBHT with concentrations up to 100 ug/ml on monocyte-derived macrophages. Interestingly, CSBHT-treated samples showed that overall transcriptional activities were down-regulated to 20% of that of PD098059 ($TNF-{\alpha}$ inhibitor). At protein level, the expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ showed similar results as that of transcriptional activity. Results show that the protein level decreased more in the CSBHT-treated group (487 ${\pm}$ 87 pg/ml) than in the LPS-treated group (703 ${\pm}$ 103 pg/ml). In addition, the protein level of IL-8 in the CSBHT treated-group (9.84 ${\pm}$ 3.28 ng/ml) decreased similar as the expression of the control and PD098059-treated groups. Conclusion : CSBHT affects immune response, especially allergic responses and suppression of inflammatory reaction. The results provide us an alternative way to care for clinical inflammatory diseases, not only asthma but also the other possible general inflammatory and allergic diseases.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.343-347
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to determine the antagonistic effects of yohimbine on sedation induced in dogs with medetomidine. Six mixed breed dogs were repeatedly used at a 2 weeks withdrawal time in this study. The dogs received $40\;{\mu}g/kg$ of medetomidine followed 15 minutes later by 0.2 ml/kg saline solution (group M) or 0.11 mg/kg yohimbine (group MY). All the dogs were examined before and 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 120 and 150 minutes after the injection of medetomidine, and the induction and recovery times, vital signs, blood biochemistry and anesthetic quality were recorded. There were significant differences in the recovery of anesthesia between the groups. In both groups the heart rate decreased rapidly down to five minutes after the administration of medetomidine. The activity of ALT, AST and the protein concentration did not change significantly in either group and there was no significant difference between them at any time. Response to noise, muscle tone and analgesic score in the MY group at 30 minutes were significantly lower than those of the M group. When recovering from anesthesia, the dogs treated with yohimbine took less time to achieve sternal recumbency and less time to be able to stand and walk. It was concluded that yohimbine reversed effectively medetomidine sedation in dogs.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.477-486
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• 1996

Endogenous analgesic systems are known to be activated by peripheral noxious stimulation as well as arterial carbon dioxide elevation. In the present study, neuronal Activities in the rostral ventrolateral med- ulla were identified and classified in according to their rhythmic activities, and their responses to noxious peripheral nerve stimulations before and after elevating the arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure were investigated Using extracellular recording technic, a total of 53 spontaneously active neurons were recorded from the rostral ventrolateral medulla in u-chloralose anesthetized cats. These were classified as cardiovascular (28), respiratory (16), both cardiovascular and respiratory (2) and noncardiovascular - nonrespiratory (7). - Among the 28 cardiovascular neurons eleven showed increased activities during arterial hypercapnia, thirteen showed decreased responses, and four showed no change. Nine respiratory neurons showed increased responses to arterial hypercapnia, six showed decreased responses and one showed no change. neither of the cardiovascular and respiratory neurons showed significant change in its activity during ar- terial hypercapnia, however, four of the noncardiovascular - nonrespiratory neurons exhibited decreased their activities in response to arterial hypercapnia while two exhibited increased activities. Arterial hypercapnia increased the responses of cardiovascular neurons to peripheral nerve stimulation with C-inteniity, while not changing the responses to Ak_stimulation significantly . From the above results it was conclllded that during arterial hypercapnia, some cardiovascular neurons and respiratory neurons have increased activities as well as increased reponses to C-Hber stimulation.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.231-236
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• 1993

Clonidine, a centrally-acting antihypertensive agent known to reduce central sympathetic outflow and modulate presynaptic transmitter's release, has shown to suppress central noradrenergic hyperactivity induced by immobilization stress in animals, by decreasing the MAC of halothane and the dose of narcotics required to prevent reflex cardiovascular response to noxious stimuli, and to have potent analgesic properties in humans. These characteristics suggest that clonidine might be a useful adjunct to the anesthetic management of patients with preexisting hypertension. Accordingly, we determined the clinical efficacy and safety on analgesia, sedation and hemodynamic stability in the perioperative period. Thirty patients(ASA physical status II-III) with a history of arterial hypertension, scheduled for elective orthopedic surgery were randomly assigned to two groups. We applied CPA-clonidine patch($6.9\;mg/cm^2$, 0.2 mg delivered daily) or placebo patch to each groups, 48 hours prior to induction of anesthesia. Antihypertensive medication was continued until the morning of the scheduled surgery. All patients received premedication of atropine and lorazepam, and induced anesthesia with thiopental and succinylcholine, and maintained with enflurane and 50% nitrous oxide, while sustaining the BP and pulse rate at acceptable range. For the relief of pain postoperatively, diclofenac and fentanyl were administered intramuscularly on demand. The results were as follows: 1) The change of hemodynamic responses in clonidine group was less compared to the placebo group. 2) Intraoperative anesthetic requirement for enflurane in clonidine group were significantly lower than placebo group. 3) Postoperative analgetic requirement in clonidine group were significantly lower than placebo group. In clonidine group, 5 cases out of 15 cases were required no analgetics, and the incidence of administration of additional fentanyl was decreased to 5 cases, comparing with 10 cases in placebo group.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.10-21
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• 1992

The purpose of this study was to investigate the analgesic effect of eugenol, capsaicin and demethoxy-NE. Young adult cats, weighing 2.0 to 3.0kg, were used. Each animal was anesthetized (${\alpha}$-chloralose 60mg per kg body weight) and divided into four groups; control, eugenol, capsaicin and demethoxy-NE group. The anterior digastric muscles were exposed and a pair of electrodes was inserted to record the electromyograms. To expose the pulp, each canine teeth was prepared with a low speed bur under cooling and used for recording anterior digastric muscular EMGs evoked by noxious stimulation of dental pulp. To observe effects on jaw opening reflex, inferior alveolar nerve of both sides were exposed for drug application and wire electrodes were inserted in anterior digstric muscle for recording the EMGs. To observe effects on action potential, saphenous nerves of both sides were exposed and three tissue pools were made from surrounding tissue. The most distal pool was used for applying stimulation, the most proximal one for recording of action potential, and the other one for drug application. One side of inferior alveolar nerve and saphenous nerve were used for eugenol, capsaicin, or demethoxy-NE application, the other side of nerve for control experiments(only vehicle application). Anterior digastric muscular EMGs evoked by noxious stimulation of dental pulp were recorded before drug application, immediate after drug application, at 60 and 120 minutes, and 5 days after drug application. Action potentials were recorded before drug application, immediate after 30 minutes drug application, at 30, 60 and 120 minutes after drug had been washed out. The results were as follows; 1. Eugenol had a continuous blocking effect on the anterior digastric muscular EMGs evoked by noxious pulp stimulation and after 5 days, showed completely blocking effect. 2. After 5 days, demethoxy-NE applied to dental pulp had a considerable blocking effect on the jaw opening retlex evoked by noxious stimulation but capsaicin had no significant effect. 3. After 5 days, eugenol group showed the strongest blocking effect among the all experimental groups on the jaw opening reflex evoked by noxious stimulation of dental pulp and capsaicin group showed the weakest blocking effect. 4. Eugenol had a completely blocking effect on the action potential conductivity of peripheral nerve. Capsaicin and demethoxy-NE had the blocking effect on the action potential conductivity of ${\alpha}$-and C-nerve fibers. 5. Capsaicin, demethoxy-NE and eugenol applied to inferior alveolar nerve surppressed the jaw opening reflex evoked by noxious stimulation of dental pulp.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.9-19
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• 2022

Objectives : Angelicae Gigantis Radix (AG) is a plant of the Ranunculus family. AG have been reported to have various pharmacological effects on human health which include uterine growth promotion, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and immune enhancement. However, research on dermatitis disease is insufficient. Therefore, we investigated the effects of AG on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)/interferon-γ (IFN-γ) stimulated HaCaT cell. Methods : To investigate the effect of AG on HaCaT cell, HaCaT cells were pre-treated with AG for 1 hour and then stimulated with TNF-α/IFN-γ. After 24 hours, media and cells were harvested to analyze the inflammatory mediators. Concentration of human interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and TNF-α in the media were assessed by ELISA. mRNA expression of human thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), IL-6, and IL-8 were analyzed by RT-PCR. Additionally, the mechanisms of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signaling pathway were investigated by Western blot. Results : The treatment of AG inhibited gene expression levels of IL-6, IL-8, and TARC and protein expression levels of IL-1β, MCP-1, and GM-CSF. Also, AG significantly reduced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation and NF-κB translocation in TNF-α/IFN-γ stimulated HaCaT cell. Conclusions : Taken together, these results demonstrate that AG can alleviate inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis by regulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Also, it suggest that AG may a promising candidate drug for the treatment of inflammatory disease such as atopic dermatitis.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.43-53
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• 2022

Objectives : Paeonia lactiflora Pallas (PLP) have been reported to have pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory and analgesic. However, it is not yet known whether PLP extract has anti-inflammatory effect on HaCaT cells, human keratinocyte. Methods : To confirm the anti-inflammatory effect of PLP on keratinocyte, TNF-𝛼/IFN-𝛾-stimulated HaCaT cells were used. HaCaT cells were pre-treated with PLP for 1h before stimulation with TNF-𝛼/IFN-𝛾. Then HaCaT cells were stimulated with TNF-𝛼/IFN-𝛾 for 24 h, the cells and media were harvested to measure the inflammatory cytokines levels. Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1𝛽), and TNF-𝛼 were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the mRNA expression of thymus and activation-regulated chemokines (TARC), IL-6, and IL-8 were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We also investigated the inhibitory mechanism of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs) including ERK, JNK, and p38 and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-𝜅B) by PLP using western blot. Results : PLP did not show cytotoxicity in HaCaT cells. In TNF-𝛼/IFN-𝛾-stimulated HaCaT cells, PLP significantly inhibited the expression of GM-CSF, MCP-1 IL-1𝛽, TNF-𝛼, TARC and IL-6. PLP inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK and translocation of NF-𝜅B into the nucleus. Conclusions : These results indicate that PLP could ameliorate the TNF-𝛼/IFN-𝛾-stimulated inflammatory response through inhibition of MAPK and NF-kB signal pathway. This suggests that PLP could be used beneficial agent to improve skin inflammation.