• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2022

The present study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive potential of the ethyl acetate fraction of Lindera glauca (ELG). We found that ELG significantly suppressed NO production through decreased enzyme activity and expression of iNOS in the IFN-γ/LPS-activated murine peritoneal macrophages. The treatment of ELG also down-regulated the expression of COX-2. Our western blot data revealed that inhibitory effects of ELG on these pro-inflammatory mediators were attributed to inactivation of NF-κB. In addition, ELG-fed mice showed a marked decrease in paw edema induced by subplantar injection of trypsin, suggesting in vivo anti-inflammatory potential of ELG. We further investigated the anti-nociceptive properties of ELG using thermal and chemical nociception model. We found that ELG has a strong anti-nociceptive activities in both central and peripheral mechanism. An additional combination test with naloxone revealed that opioid receptor was not involved in the ELG-mediated anti-nociception. In conclusion, ELG may possibly be used as valuable anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive agent for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and pains.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.172-178
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• 2023

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a noninvasive surgery, but postoperative pain is a major problem. Studies have indicated that erector spinae plane block (ESPB) has an analgesic effect after LC. We aimed to compare the efficacy of different ESPB anesthetic concentrations in pain control in patients with LC. Methods: This retrospective study included patients aged 20 to 75 years scheduled for LC with the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification I or II. ESPB was administered using 0.375% bupivacaine in group 1 and 0.25% in group 2. Both groups received general anesthesia. Postoperative tramadol consumption and pain scores were compared and intraoperative and postoperative fentanyl requirements in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) were measured. Results: Eighty-five patients were included in this analysis. Tramadol consumption in the first 12 hours, second 12 hours, and total 24 hours was similar between groups (p>0.05). The differences between postoperative numeric rating scale (NRS) scores at rest did not differ significantly. The postoperative NRS scores upon bodily movement were not statistically different between the two groups, except at 12 hours. The mean intraoperative and postoperative fentanyl requirements in the PACU were similar. The difference in the requirement for rescue analgesics was not statistically significant (p=0.788). Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided ESPB performed with different bupivacaine concentrations was effective in both groups for LC analgesia, with similar opioid consumption. A lower concentration of local anesthetic can be helpful for the safety of regional anesthesia and is recommended for the analgesic effect of ESPB in LC.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.291-299
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• 2024

Background: Postoperative pain management following minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE) remains a critical concern due to severe post-procedural pain. Promising results have been reported for cryoanalgesia following MIRPE; however, its invasiveness, single-lung ventilation, and additional instrumentation requirements remain obstacles. Serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) is a regional block technique capable of covering the anterior chest wall at the T2-9 levels, which are affected by MIRPE. We hypothesized that SAPB would be a superior alternative pain control modality that reduces postoperative pain more effectively than conventional methods. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients who underwent MIRPE between March 2022 and August 2023. The efficacy of pain control was compared between group N (conventional pain management, n=24) and group S (SAPB, n=26). Group N received intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) and subcutaneous local anesthetic infusion. Group S received bilateral continuous SAPB with 0.3% ropivacaine after a bilateral bolus injection of 30 mL of 0.25% ropivacaine with baseline IV-PCA. Pain levels were evaluated using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively and total intravenous rescue analgesic consumption by morphine milligram equivalents (MME). Results: Mean VAS scores were significantly lower in group S than in group N throughout the 72-hour postoperative period (p<0.01). Group S showed significantly lower MME at postoperative 72 hours (group N: 108.53, group S: 16.61; p<0.01). Conclusion: SAPB improved immediate postoperative pain control in both the resting and dynamic states and reduced opioid consumption compared to conventional management.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.939-946
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• 2019

Objective: To report our initial experience of percutaneous sacroplasty (PSP) with an interpedicular approach for treating painful sacral metastases involving multiple sacral vertebral bodies. Materials and Methods: This study prospectively enrolled 10 consecutive patients (six men and four women; mean age, 56.3 ± 13.8 years) who underwent PSP for painful sacral metastases involving multiple sacral vertebral bodies from March 2017 to September 2018. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, Oswestry disability index (ODI) values, and the number of opioids prescribed to the patients were assessed before and after PSP. The procedure duration, length of hospitalization, and complications were also recorded. Results: Mean VAS and ODI declined significantly from 6.90 ± 1.20 and 74.40 ± 5.48 before the procedure to 2.70 ± 1.34 and 29.60 ± 14.57 after the procedure, respectively (p < 0.01). The median number of opioids prescribed per patient decreased from 2 (interquartile range [IQR] 1-3) pre-procedure to 1 (IQR 0-3) post-procedure (p < 0.01). Nine of the 10 patients showed no or decreased opioid usage, and only 1 patient showed unchanged usage. The mean procedure duration was 48.5 ± 3.0 minutes. The average length of hospitalization was 4.7 ± 1.7 days. Extraosseous cement leakage occurred in three cases without causing any clinical complications. Conclusion: PSP with an interpedicular approach is a safe and effective treatment in patients with painful sacral metastases involving multiple sacral vertebral bodies and can relieve pain and improve mobility.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2002

Background : Pain is one of the most feared consequences of cancer. $65{\sim}85%$ of cancer patients experienced severe pain, and sometimes high dose morphine is used to these patients. But many doctors still have 'opioid-phobia' and hesitate to use high dose morphine. We investigated the morphine therapy in terminal cancer patients during the last 1 week to death, and found any differences according to the morphine dosage. Methods : 93 patients admitted to National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan Hospital, department of family medicine for hospice care between September 2000 and the end of October 2001 and lived more than 1 week entered in the study. We investigated the demographic data, laboratory tests and sufficient dosage of morphine for pain control. According to the calculated dosage by OME(oral morphine equivalent), patients were divided into low dosage group (${\leq}150mg/day$) and high dosage group (>150 mg/day). The chi-squared test were used to evaluate the influence of age, gender, tumor sites, metastasis and adverse effects of morphine. Results : Mean age was $65.0{\pm}13.1year$ in low dosage group and $59.9{\pm}11.6year$ in high dosage group. 32 men (50.0%) and 32 women (50.0%) were included in low dosage group and 15 men (51.7%) and 14 women (48.3%) in high dosage group. Stomach was the most frequent tumor site and lung was the next. Metastasis were found 58 (90.6%) in low dosage group and 28 (96.6%) in high dosage group. In other palliative radiotherapy and adverse effects, there were no differences in both group. Conclusion : During the last 1 week to death in cancer patients, there were no difference according to the morphine dosage. So we don't have to have 'opioid-phobia' in treating the terminal cancer patients.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.161-174
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• 2013

This study was designed to evaluate the pain control effect by morphine injection to masticatory muscle pain patients. Patients with masticatory muscle pain visited the Department of Oral Medicine, Kyung Hee University Dental Hospital were recruited to this study and diagnosed by RDC/TMD. Experimental group were divided into four group; saline injection group (n=10), lidocaine injection group (n=10), morphine 1.5 mg injection group (n=10) and morphine 3 mg injection group (n=10). Evaluation list was the subjective pain evaluation(visual analogue scale, Mc Gill pain questionnaire, pain drawing) and the objective pain evaluation(pressure pain threshold, pressure pain tolerance) and evaluation time was injection before, after 1 hour, 24 hour, 48 hour and then it was analyzed statistically. The results were as follows : 1. The subjective pain evaluation were significantly different statistically in morphine 3 mg group after 48 hour. (VAS: p<0.01, MGQ: p<0.001, PD: p<0.05) 2. The objective pain evaluation were significantly different statistically in morphine 1.5 mg group after 1 hour. (PPT: p<0.01, PPTol: p<0.05) 3. The morphine 3 mg group were more significantly different than lidocaine group and morphine 1.5 mg group statistically in the McGill pain questionnaire evaluation. (1h: p<0.01, 24h: p<0.01, 48h: p<0.001) Therefore, it was revealed that the morphine 3 mg injection was effective to pain control for masticatory muscle pain patients within 48 hours and more effect than lidocaine injection.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1576-1581
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• 2007

Dopamine reward pathway projecting from ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens is well known as playing an important role in alcohol dependence. It is supposed that this dopamine pathway is modulated by $5-HT_3$ nervous system, and it was reported that ondansetron (OND), $5-HT_3$ receptor antagonist, reduced drinking amount and increased abstinence rate in alcohol-dependent patients. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of combination of OND and naltrexone (NTX), non-specific opioid receptor antagonist, on alcohol intake in C57BL/6 mice. In 40 C57BL/6 mice in the state of alcohol dependence, vehicle, while OND 0.01 mg/kg, or NTX 1.0 mg/kg administrated respectively, or OND 0.01 mg/kg and NTX 1.0 mg/kg administrated simultaneously for ten days, medication effects on 2-hr alcohol, 22-hr water, 24-hr food intake and body weight were studied. When vehicle group was compared with 3 medication groups respectively, using a repeated measure ANOVA, NTX alone and vehicle groups showed a significant medication by time interaction (p=0.042) in 2-hr alcohol intake, but in the other 2 groups, OND and NTX combination group and OND alone group, there was no significant interaction with vehicle group in 2-hr alcohol intake. From these results, it is suggested that there is no effect on alcohol intake in mice treating with OND, and naltrexone#s suppression effect on alcohol intake in mice is attenuated when treating with OND and NTX simultaneously. It is supposed that a further study looking at the interactions of serotonin, dopamine and opioid nerves systems will be needed.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.378-385
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• 2020

Background: The thoracic paravertebral block is an effective analgesic technique for postoperative pain management after breast surgery. The ultrasound-guided retrolaminar block (RLB) is a safer alternative to conventional paravertebral block. Thus, we assessed the analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided RLB for postoperative pain management after breast surgery. Methods: Patients requiring breast surgery were randomly allocated to group C (retrolaminar injection with saline) and group R (RLB with local anesthetic mixture). The RLB was performed at the level of T3 with local anesthetic mixture (0.75% ropivacaine 20 mL + 2% lidocaine 10 mL) under general anesthesia before the skin incision. The primary outcome was cumulative morphine consumption using intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) at 24 hour postoperatively. The secondary outcomes were the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at 1, 6, 24, and 48 hour postoperatively and the occurrence of adverse events and patient satisfaction after the surgery. Results: Forty-six patients were included, 24 in group C and 22 in group R. The cumulative morphine consumption using IV-PCA did not differ between the two groups (P = 0.631). The intraoperative use of remifentanil was higher in group C than in group R (P = 0.025). The resting and coughing VAS scores at 1 hour postoperatively were higher in group R than in group C (P = 0.011, P = 0.004). The incidence of adverse events and patient satisfaction was not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions: A single injection of ultrasound-guided RLB did not reduce postoperative analgesic requirements following breast surgery.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.343-351
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• 2019

Background: Preterm labor and miscarriage may occur in stressful situations, such as a surgical operation or infection during pregnancy. Pharyngeal and buccal abscess and facial bone fractures are inevitable dental surgeries in pregnant patients. Remifentanil is an opioid analgesic that is commonly used for general anesthesia and sedation. Nonetheless, no study has investigated the effects of remifentanil on amniotic epithelial cells. This study evaluated the effects of remifentanil on the factors related to uterine contraction and its mechanism of action on amniotic epithelial cells. Methods: Amniotic epithelial cells were preconditioned at various concentrations of remifentanil for 1 h, followed by 24-h lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure. MTT assays were performed to assess the cell viability in each group. The effects of remifentanil on factors related to uterine contractions in amniotic epithelial cells were assessed using a nitric oxide (NO) assay, western blot examinations of the expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂), and RT-PCR examinations of the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Results: Remifentanil did not affect viability and nitric oxide production of amniotic epithelial cells. Western blot analysis revealed that remifentanil preconditioning resulted in decreased expressions of NF-κB and PGE2 in the cells in LPS-induced inflammation, and a tendency of decreased COX2 expression. The results were statistically significant only at high concentration. RT-PCR revealed reduced expressions of IL-1β and TNF-α. Conclusions: Preconditioning with remifentanil does not affect the viability of amniotic epithelial cells but reduces the expression of factors related to uterine contractions in situations where cell inflammation is induced by LPS, which is an important inducer of preterm labor. These findings provide evidence that remifentanil may inhibit preterm labor in clinical settings.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.165-170
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• 2005

Background: It is difficult to treat tourniquet-induced hypertension despite adequate anesthesia, and the mechanism of that is not known. And it may be possible that intraoperative continuous infusion of opioid induces preemptive analgesia postoperatively. We investigated the effect of intraoperative continuous i.v. fentanyl on tourniquet induced cardiovascular changes and postoperative preemptive analgesia in total knee replacements. Methods: Sixty patients were randomly assigned to two groups; In study group ($1.5{\mu}g/kg$ loading and $0.5{\mu}g/kg/hr$ continuous infusion of fentanyl before skin incision and tourniquet inflation) and control group (no treatment). Anesthesia was maintained with enflurane (1-2 MAC) and 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen. Arterial pressure and heart rate were compared between two groups. They received postoperative pain treatment with patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with fentanyl during the postoperative 48 hours after total knee replacement. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores at either rest or movement were used to assess pain. Total fentanyl dose delivered, number of PCA requests, supplemental analgesics, overall satisfaction score and adverse events were evaluated. Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups on cardiovascular changes by tourniquet induced pain effect. VAS, PCA delivered dose and PCA demands at movement in the 24-48 hour decreased in study group compared with control group (P < 0.05). But there were no significant differences between the two groups on the other time periods except 24-48 hour's patient satisfaction and adverse events. Conclusions: We suggest that intraoperative continuous i.v. fentanyl infusion dose not affect cardiovascular change by tourniquet induced pain. But it may induce preemptive analgesia postoperatively.