• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.3-11
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• 2018

Skin biopsy and staining the specimens with immuno-reactive markers has been proven to be a useful method to demonstrate the pathologic status of small nerve fibers. Quantification of intraepidermal nerve fiber density using anti-protein gene product 9.5 antibody is a standard method to diagnose small fiber neuropathy. Skin biopsy also makes it possible to differentiate the nerve fibers according to their function by using different markers. Quantification of dermal structures with different types of nerve fibers could reveal the pathophysiologic mechanism of the disease state.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.35-40
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• 1998

This study was conducted to examine the pathological changes of rat peripheral nervous system during exposure to tellurium known to be a demyelinating agent by using teasing nerve fiber method and quantitative light microscopic analysis by image analyzer. The pellet containing 1.2% of tellurium were fed for 3, 5, 7, 9, 13 days to male wistar rats (21 days old) and then neurologic symptom and the feature of nerve fiber myelination were studied. From this study, following results were obtained. In 3 days treated group, it showed various neurologic symptom and teased nerve fiber showed slight irregularity of the myeline sheath. In 5 days and 7 days treated groups, it showed the segmental demyetination in larger size fiber and widening of nodes of ranvier. In 9 days and 13 days treated groups, the remyelinated fibers were observed and it was generally small in size. We consequently suggest that teasing nerve fiber method and quantitative analysis of nerve fiber were useful pathologic screening method of neurotoxicity of the peripheral nervous system.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.53-60
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• 2015

Skin biopsy with investigation of small nerve fiber in human epidermis and dermis has been proven to be a useful method for demonstration of small fiber neuropathy. Quantification of intraepidermal nerve fiber density using anti-Protein Gene Product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) antibody is standardized method to diagnose the small fiber neuropathy. Skin biopsy method also makes it possible to differentiate the type of nerve fibers by using different antibodies. Quantification of dermal structures with different type of nerve fibers could be used to invest pathophysiologic mechanism of diseased state.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.33-37
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• 2008

Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) is the most common form of diabetic neuropathy, and causes a significant morbidity with an impact on the quality of life in the patients with diabetes. Since DPN frequently induces foot deformity and ulceration, which finally leads to foot amputation, the early detection and treatment is very important for the prevention of a permanent structural change. In the early stage of DPN, the diagnostic methods which can evaluate the function or structure of small nerve fibers should be employed because small nerve fibers are first involved in the course of DPN. However, the nerve conduction study cannot reflect the function of the small nerve fibers, and thus, has a definite limitation in the early diagnosis of DPN. For the early detection of DPN, electrodiagnostic data should be interpreted on a clinical context, along with the careful evaluation of the small nerve fiber functions using the tests such as the analysis of intraepidermal nerve fiber density.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1992

The intradental nerve activity was recorded from single pulp nerve unit dissected from the inferior alveolar nerve in canine teeth of anesthetized cats. The effects of various test solutions on intradental nerve activity evoked by 4M NaCl applied to the deep dentinal cavities were investigated. 1. Total 15 single pulp nerve units were recorded. Of these 9 were Mi - fibers and 6 were C -fibers. The mean conduction velocity and electrical threshold of $A{\delta}$ - fiber were $6.3{\pm}3.7m/sec$, $1.2{\pm}0.7V$ and those of C - fiber were $1.0{\pm}0.2m/sec$, $2.3{\pm}1.3V$, respectively. The response to cold stimuli of $A{\delta}$ - fiber began immediately and that of C - fiber began after a latency. 2. When applied to deep dentinal cavity, 4M NaCl induced irregular bursts of action potential in 4 $A{\delta}$ - fibers and 3 C - fibers, which continued until the solution was washed away. 3. In the $A{\delta}$ - fiber, histamine failed to induce any nerve acitivity and did not produce an increase in intradental nerve activity evoked by 4M NaCl. However following the application of 1M KCl, the response to 4M NaCl was eliminated. 4. In the C - fiber, histamine generated some nerve activity and produced a significant increase in intradental nerve activity evoked by 4M NaCl, but 5M $CaCl_2$ did not abolish this enhandced response.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2003

Small-fiber neuropathy (SFN) is a common clinical problems. The disorder is a generalized peripheral polyneuropathy that selectively involves small-diameter myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers. It is often idiopathic and typically presents with painful feet in patients over the age of 60. And autoimmune mechanisms are often suspected, but rarely identified. The clinical features consisted of painful dysesthesias and postganglionic sympathetic dysfunction, as well as reduced pinprick and temperature sensation. Although affected patients complain of neuropathic pain, this condition is often difficult to diagnose because of the few objective physical signs and normal nerve conduction studies. Diagnosis of SFN is made on the basis of the clinical features, normal nerve conduction studies, and abnormal specialized tests of small fiber function. These specialized studies include assessment of epidermal nerve fiber density as well as sudomotor, quantitative sensory, and cardiovagal testing. Unless an underlying disease is identified, treatment is usually directed toward alleviation of neuropathic pain.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 1994

The present study was undertaken to elucidate the desensitization of cutaneous receptors and the conduction block of the afferent nerves induced by direct application of allyl isotheocyanate (mustard oil) to the receptive field (RF) or onto the afferent nerve, respectively. Dorsal horn cell responses to mechanical stimulations of RF were completely suppressed when mustard oil was applied to either the afferent nerve or the whole area of RF. C-fiber responses of dorsal horn cells were more susceptive to mustard oil than A-fiber activities. This was confirmed by the experiment in which the compound action potentials recorded from rat tibial nerve before and after topical application of mustard oil were compared. The higher the concentration of mustard oil and the longer the application time, the more powerful desensitization or conduction block was induced. From the results of the present study, it is suggested that the desensitization of the afferent fiber and sensory receptors induced by mustard oil results mainly from the conduction block of C-fiber in the primary afferent nerve.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.43-50
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• 2007

Analysis of intraepidermal nerve fibers using skin biopsy is a recently developed technique, providing diagnostic information on small fiber neuropathies. The specimens are obtained by 3 mm punch biopsy, which is safe and minimally invasive. Immunohistochemical staining by Protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 demonstrate not only intraepidermal nerve fibers but dermal structures, such as sweat gland and erector papillae. Up to now, many studies agree that intraepidermal nerve fiber density is dramatically reduced in various sensory neuropathies. The utility of density measure was confirmed with high sensitivity in the diagnosis of sensory neuropathy, comparable to sural nerve biopsy or quantitative sensory testing. Besides quantitative methods, morphological changes like axonal swelling and fragmentation can be used as predegenerative markers. This article reviews the technique of skin biopsy and clinical and experimental usefulness of skin biopsy in diagnosing and monitoring peripheral neuropathies.

• The Journal of Dong Guk Oriental Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.117-131
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• 1999

Yangkyuksanhoa-tang is frequently used for cerebrovascular accident(CVA). The present study was performed to investigate the effect of Yangkyuksanhoa-tang on the peri vascular immunoreactive nerve fiber of the basilar artery after experimentally induced subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH). Sprague Dawley rats weighing between 350-400g were used. The SAH induced by injection of the fresh autologus heart blood(0.3-0.4ml) into the cisterna magna through the posterior atlanto-occipital membrane. Sample group was given a $3.3m{\ell}/kg/day$ of Yangkyuksanhoa-tang extracts for 2 days after SAH. The experimental animals divided into 48hrs after SAH. The changes of perivascular immunoreactive nerve fiber was examined by using indirect immunofluorescence method. The meshlike perivascular nerve fiber appeared in the basilar artery of normal rats. In basilar artery of SAH elicitated rat, the distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-immunoreactivity(IR) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide(VIP)-IR of the perivascular nerve fiber were remarkably diminished, also dopamine beta hydroxylase(DBH)-IR, neuropeptide Y(NPY)-IR and serotonin-IR were diminished. In SAH elicitated rat with Yangkyuksanhoa-tang treatment, the CGRP-IR and VIP-IR degree were repaired as well as normal rat's, but DBH-IR, NPY-IR and serotonin-IR had no changes. These results provide the basic data to investigate the effect of Yangkyuksanhoa-tang on the vasospasm after SAH.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.527-537
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• 1995

The effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP) and electrical stimulation of the tooth on the intradental nerve activtiy (INA) was investigated in anesthetized cats. The INA was recorded from single pulp nerve units dissected from the inferior alveolar nerve under stereomicroscope. The INA elicited by 3 minute application of 4M NaCl in deep dentinal cavity was compared before and after stimulation at 10 minute intervals. The magnitude of INA was calculated as the total number of nerve impulses produced in given period, and the changes of INA are expressed as % of control INA. The results obtained were as follows. 1. 16 single pulp nerve units were classified as 14 $A{\delta}$-fibers (3.4~19.4m/sec) and 2-fibers (1.5~1.7m/sec) according to the conduction velocity. 2. 4M NaCl evoked an irregular bursts of spikes which continued until washing out. Isotonic saline did not affect INA to subsequent applications of the hypertonic NaCl solution (P>0.05). 3. Local application of CGRP ($200{\mu}g$/ml) in deep dentinal cavity reduced the INA induced by 4M NaCl in $A{\delta}$-fiber units (P<0.01) and some units of those responded to CGRP during application. 4. Local application of SP ($100{\mu}g$/ml) in deep dentinal cavity reduced the INA induced by 4M NaCl in AS-fiber units (p<0.05), but increased the INA in C-fiber unit coincided with large reduction of the INA of $A{\delta}$-fiber units. 5. Monopolar electrical stimulation applied to the crown at intensities high enough to excite C-fibers (12V, 5ms, 10Hz, 10~30min) decreased the INA in $A{\delta}$-fiber units (P<0.01) and systemic pretreatment with phenoxybenzamine (3mg/kg, i.v.) enhanced this inhibitory effect (P<0.01). On the contrary, electrical stimulation increased the INA in C-fiber unit.