• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.34-40
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• 2010

Radiofrequency (RF) radiation might induce the transcription of a certain set of genes as other physical stresses like ionizing radiation and UV. To observe transcriptional changes upon RF radiation, we exposed WI-38, human lung fibroblast cell to 1763 MHz of mobile phone RF radiation at 60 W/kg of specific absorption rate (SAR) for 24h with or without heat control. There were no significant changes in cell numbers and morphology after exposure to RF radiation. Using quantitative RT-PCR, we checked the expression of three heat shock protein (HSP) (HSPA1A, HSPA6 and HSP105) and seven stress-related genes (TNFRSF11B, FGF2, TGFB2, ITGA2, BRIP1, EXO1, and MCM10) in RF only and RF/HS groups of RF-exposed cells. The expressions of three heat shock proteins and seven stress-related genes were selectively changed only in RF/HS groups. Based on the expression of ten genes, we could classify thermal and non-thermal effect of RF-exposure, which genes can be used as biomarkers for RF radiation exposure.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.104-107
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• 2018

딸꾹질은 대개의 경우에는 특별한 처치 없이도 고식적인 방법으로 멈추지만, 한 달 이상 지속되는 지속성 딸꾹질은 생명을 위협할 정도의 심각한 부작용을 초래한다. 특히 정확한 치료방법 또한 확립되어 있지 않고, 몇몇 보고에서 양측 횡격막 신경차단이 보고되어 있을 뿐이다. 56세 남환의 우측 횡격막을 침범한 말기폐암환자에서 발생한 난치성 지속성 딸꾹질에 대해 박동성 고주파술을 시행하여 좋은 치료 결과를 얻은 바, 문헌고찰과 함께 보고하고자 한다.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.150-154
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• 2008

Pulsed or conventional radiofrequency (RF) denervation of the third occipital nerve (TON) is considered to be a safe and effective alternative for the treatment of pain originating from the cervical 2-3 facet joint, including cervicogenic headache. However, proper positioning of the RF probe in the TON can be difficult and time consuming due to the possible involvement of various lesions along the target nerve. We found that bipolar RF is easier to perform and more convenient than unipolar RF when administering a lumbar medial branch block. Here, we report the successful treatment of a patient with a cervicogenic headache by pulsed RF (PRF) denervation of the TON, using a bipolar probe. We believe that bipolar PRF denervation of the TON is an effective alternative to unipolar RF or PRF for the treatment of pain originating from the cervical 2-3 facet joint.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.195-198
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• 2007

A cluster headache is characterized by the occurrence of strictly unilateral and periocular pain with no side shift and ipsilateral oculofacial autonomic symptoms such as conjunctival injection, lacrimation, rhinorrhea and miosis. Cluster headache involves the activation of parasympathetic nerve structures located within the sphenopalatine ganglion, and blockade of the sphenopalatine ganglion has been shown to be effective at the treatment of cluster headaches that are resistant to conventional therapy. Herein, we describe a case of a 50-year-old male with a cluster headache that could not be controlled by conventional treatments who showed improvement after being treated with sphenopalatine ganglion pulsed radiofrequency.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.230-234
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• 2007

A diagnosis of shoulder pain is varied and difficult to make. The initial onset of liver cancer is difficult to detect and patients typically do not complain of symptoms as most tumors are asymptomatic. If the symptoms of the patients develop, the first symptom is usually pain that extends from the abdomen to the back and shoulder. A suprascapular nerve block is used in the treatment of the referred shoulder pain due to a metastatic hepatoma, but the effectiveness of the treatment has been limited because of its short duration. Recently, the advent of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) lesioning has proved a successful treatment for chronic refractory pain involving the peripheral nerves. We experienced a case of a 66-year-old male patient complaining of referred right shoulder pain due to metastatic liver cancer, which was relieved after PRF lesioning of the suprascapular nerve.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.84-88
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• 2013

A 60-year-old man presented with pain on the left cheek and lateral nose. The patient had been diagnosed with facial herpes zoster in the left V2 area 6 months previously. Medical treatment was prescribed for 6 months but it had little effect. We blocked the left infraorbital nerve under ultrasound guidance, but pain relief was short term. Therefore, we performed pulsed radiofrequency treatment on the left infraorbital nerve under ultrasound guidance. Six months after the procedure, the reduction of pain was still maintained, and there was no need for further management.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제38권5호
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• pp.707-710
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• 2011

Purpose: Cardiac radiofrequency catheter ablation procedures using fluoroscopy were performed for the treatment of supraventricular and selected ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Fluoroscopy is used to localize the position of the intracardiac catheter. Fluoroscopically-guided procedures often involve high radiation doses to patient's skin, but the incidence of serious radiation injuries in these patients is rare. We reported two cases of severe postradiation skin injury on the back treated with the V-Y latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap. Methods: These two patients underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation under the diagnosis of Woff Parkinson White syndrome (WPW syndrome). They had radiation-induced skin injuries on the subscapular area and these lesions represented chronic ulceration, surrounding induration, hardness, and dyspigmentation. We treated these lesions with complete excision and coverage with V-Y latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap. Results: These two patients had no recurrence and no special complications during 20 months and 12 months follow-up periods and were satisfied aesthetically and functionally. Conclusion: V-Y latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap obtained better results functionally and aesthetically compared with conservative management and skin graft in severe radiation-induced skin injuries after cardiac radiofrequency catheter ablation procedure.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.280-285
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• 2019

Background: Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is a treatment modality that alleviates radicular pain by intermittently applying high-frequency currents adjacent to the dorsal root ganglion. There has been no comparative study on analgesic effect according to the position of the needle tip in PRF treatment. The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcomes of PRF according to the needle tip position. Methods: Patients were classified into 2 groups (group IP [group inside of pedicle] and group OP [group outside of pedicle]) based on needle tip position in the anteroposterior view of fluoroscopy. In the anteroposterior view, the needle tip was advanced medially further than the lateral aspect of the corresponding pedicle in group IP; however, in group OP, the needle tip was not advanced. The treatment outcomes and pain scores were evaluated at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after applying PRF. Results: At 4, 8, and 12 weeks, there were no significant differences between the successful response rate and numerical rating scale score ratio. Conclusions: The analgesic efficacy of PRF treatment did not differ with the needle tip position.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.200-205
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• 2022

Pain from nervous or musculoskeletal disorders is one of the most common complaints in clinical practice. Corticosteroids have a high pain-reducing effect, and their injection is generally used to control various types of pain. However, they have various adverse effects including flushing, hyperglycemia, allergic reactions, menstrual changes, immunosuppression, and adrenal suppression. Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is known to have a pain-reducing effect similar to that of corticosteroid injection, with nearly no major side effects. Therefore, it has been widely used to treat various types of pain, such as neuropathic, joint, discogenic, and muscle pain. In the current review, we outlined the pain-reducing mechanisms of PRF by reviewing previous studies. When PRF was first introduced, it was supposed to reduce pain by long-term depression of pain signaling from the peripheral nerve to the central nervous system. In addition, deactivation of microglia at the level of the spinal dorsal horn, reduction of proinflammatory cytokines, increased endogenous opioid precursor messenger ribonucleic acid, enhancement of noradrenergic and serotonergic descending pain inhibitory pathways, suppression of excitation of C-afferent fibers, and microscopic damage of nociceptive C- and A-delta fibers have been found to contribute to pain reduction after PRF application. However, the pain-reducing mechanism of PRF has not been clearly and definitely elucidated. Further studies are warranted to clarify the pain-reducing mechanism of PRF.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.34-40
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• 2024

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of pulsed radiofrequency applied using transcutaneous electrodes in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods: After randomization, the patients received two cycles of noninvasive pulsed radiofrequency (NiPRF), once weekly, or splinting (the control group) for three months. Clinical evaluations were recorded at baseline and weeks 4 and 8. The Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTQ) was used to determine the functional status and symptom severity. Results: Sixty-two patients were followed up for three months. There was no difference between the groups in the BCTQ scores before and after treatment. The NiPRF group found a significant difference between the BCTQ measurements at all time intervals (paired sample t-test; P < 0.001). In the splint group, there was a significant difference only between the basal-1st month and basal-3rd month (paired samples t-test; P < 0.001). The main effect of the time variable was statistically significant (ANOVA; P < 0.001), but the group variable was not. There was no correlation between the BCTQ results measured at any time and the electroneuromyelogragphy findings in either group. Conclusions: NiPRF effectively improves symptoms and functionality in patients with CTS for up to 3 months. Thus, NiPRF can be considered an easy, safe, and useful alternative treatment modality for CTS.