• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.288-298
• /
• 2024

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a neurotrophic protein that has crucial roles in survival, growth and differentiation. It is expressed in neuronal and non-neuronal tissues. NGF exerts its effects via two types of receptors including the high affinity receptor, tropomyosin receptor kinase A and the low affinity receptor p75 neurotrophin receptor highlighting the complex signaling pathways that underlie the roles of NGF. In pain perception and transmission, multiple studies shed light on the effects of NGF on different types of pain including inflammatory, neuropathic, cancer and visceral pain. Also, the binding of NGF to its receptors increases the availability of many nociceptive receptors such as transient receptor potential vanilloid 1, transient receptor potential ankyrin 1, N-methyl-D-aspartic acid, and P2X purinoceptor 3 as well as nociceptive transmitters such as substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide. The role of NGF in pain has been documented in pre-clinical and clinical studies. This review aims to shed light on the role of NGF and its signaling in different types of pain.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.61-68
• /
• 2014

Objectives : To study the effect of SB injection on tumor size in an advanced non-small cell lung cancer patient. Methods : A patient was clinically diagnosed as advanced non-small cell lung cancer (Stage IIIa). Four cycles of intravenous SB injection were conducted. Each cycle lasted 4 days. The content of 7vials SB was injected every day. To compare the tumor size before treatment and after four cycles of SB injection, chest computed tomography (CT) was performed. Results : Follow-up CT images showed that the tumor size was reduced. In admission, size of the tumor $6.7{\times}8.5{\times}9.5cm$ on the left lower lobe of lung. After SB injection, size of the tumor $5.6{\times}6.8{\times}8.4cm$ by Chest CT. The patient's symptoms such as cough, sputum were improving until four cycles of SB injection. Numerical rating scale (NRS) showed improvement of Chest pain from point 3 to point 0. Conclusions : This case study suggests that intravenous SB injection may have significant effects of anti-tumor for non-small cell lung cancer.

• Clinical Pain
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.120-123
• /
• 2020

Rapidly destructive arthrosis is a rare syndrome characterized by narrowing of the joint space and rapid joint destruction within 6~12 months. A 62-year-old woman with anaplastic lymphoma kinase rearranged non-small-cell lung cancer presented with both knee pain and varus deformity. She was treated with crizotinib 500 mg/day for more than 2 years, with partial tumor response. Initial plain radiography showed Kellgren and Lawrence (K-L) grade 1. After 10 months, varus deformity was worsened and plain radiography aggravated to K-L grade 4 despite conservative treatment including activity modification. Diffuse synovitis with massive joint effusion and destruction of anterior cruciate ligament, medial meniscus, medial collateral ligament, and lateral collateral ligament were shown in magnetic resonance imaging. The patient was diagnosed with rapidly destructive arthrosis of knee and underwent a both total knee arthroplasty.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.13-22
• /
• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study is to report the effect of Nobongsangki-Jeong on skin rash caused by Olmutinib. Methods: A female Non-Small cell lung carcinoma patient (Adenocarcinoma, Stage IV, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor positive) suffered from skin rash due to the side effect of Olmutinib administration. She was treated with Nobongsangki-Jeong for the symptom management for 14 days. The clinical outcomes were measured by numeric rating scale (NRS) and National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) version 4.03. Results: After treatment, skin rash was improved from NRS 5 to 1. Pruritus and pain of skin were improved from NCI-CTCAE grade 2 to 1. Conclusion: This case study suggests that Nobongsangki-Jeong may have the efficacy for the treatment of skin rash caused by Olmutinib.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.152-157
• /
• 2018

Opioid aberrant behavior is an emerging problem as strong opioid is increasingly used to alleviate cancer pain in patients with cancer. Although the treatment of opioid addiction and physical dependence for non-cancer pain is well known, few studies have been conducted with cancer patients, particularly in the Korean population. Presented here are ten cases of cancer patients who were physically dependent on strong opioid and successfully treated with a partial mu-opioid receptor agonist, buprenorphine. This is the first report showing the efficacy of transdermal buprenorphine as a treatment for physical dependence on opioid medication in cancer patients.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.101-120
• /
• 2024

Purpose : This study aimed to carry out a scoping review to investigate the research trends in non-pharmacological interventions for physical rehabilitation following breast cancer treatment. Methods : A scoping review was conducted according to the five steps outlined by Arksey and O'Malley and PRISMA-ScR. We searched three domestic databases (ScienceOn, Riss, KCI) and two international databases (PubMed, Cochrane Central) between January 2014 and April 2024. The keywords used were 'breast cancer surgery', 'breast cancer treatment', 'breast cancer lymphedema', 'intervention', 'management', 'therapy', 'disorder', and 'dysfunction'. Results : In terms of publication, the number of studies in the past five years has increased compared to the previous five years, with most studies focusing on patients aged 41 to 60 and who underwent surgical treatment for breast cancer. A total of 43 different types of non-pharmacological interventions were applied: 21 single interventions and 22 combination interventions. Among the intervention methods, complete decongestive treatment (CDT), resistance training, and manual lymphatic drainage were the most frequently utilized. The most common duration of intervention turned out to be 4~5 weeks and more than 8 weeks, with frequencies of 2~3 sessions per week and more than 4 sessions per week. The most frequently used dependent variables included range of motion (ROM) and disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) for the function and disorder of the upper limb category; arm circumference or volume and bio-impedance for the lymphedema category; visual analogue scale (VAS) and numerical rating scale (NRS) for the pain category; and the European organization for research and treatment of cancer quality of life questionnaire breast cancer module (EORTC QLQ) and functional assessment of cancer therapy-breast (FACT-B) for the quality of life category. Conclusion : The findings of this scoping review provide valuable mapping data for non-pharmacological interventions for physical rehabilitation following breast cancer treatment. We recommend further research, particularly systematic reviews and meta-analyses, to build upon these findings.

• Clinical Pain
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.88-91
• /
• 2019

Unexplained pain and weakness, i.e., without obvious predisposing factors, are often encountered by physiatrists and efforts should be made to determine the cause. A 63-year-old male presented with radiating pain in his right arm and mild weakness of the right hand. An electrodiagnostic examination revealed distal symmetric sensory polyneuropathy in the upper and lower extremities, and denervation potentials in the forearm muscles, which were inconsistent with the cervical spine MRI images and symptoms. A predisposing undiscovered disease was revealed, i.e., squamous cell carcinoma in the lung; brain metastasis affecting the left primary motor cortex was also detected. Therefore, we concluded that the pain and weakness were related to paraneoplastic syndrome and brain metastases of the hand knob. The observed denervation potentials were characterized as trans-synaptic changes in the brain metastasis. This case highlights the importance of unexplainable focal pain and weakness in the increasing prevalence of cancer.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.112-118
• /
• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of music therapy on pain, depression, and anxiety in terminally ill patients. Methods: Twenty patients in the experimental group were provided with music via headphones for 30-40 min at a time as they requested for 2 weeks, whereas no music was provided for the nineteen patients in the control group. Data were collected using a questionnaire. The research instruments included Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Depression & Anxiety Inventory Scale. Data were analyzed using ${\chi}^2$-test, t-test, and Fisher's exact test, using SPSS 15.0. Results: There were significant decreases in the scores of pain at present (t=-2.54, p<.05), depression (t=-2.187, p<.05) and anxiety (Z=-2.114, p<.05) in the experimental group compared to those in the control group. Conclusion: Music therapy is considered non-invasive and inexpensive intervention and can be easily applied to alleviate pain, depression and anxiety for terminally ill patients.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.47-50
• /
• 2019

Background: It is uncommon for patients who have received a permanent implant to remove the spinal cord stimulator (SCS) after discontinuation of medication in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) due to their completely painless state. This study evaluated CRPS patients who successfully removed their SCSs. Methods: This 10-year retrospective study was performed on patients who had received the permanent implantation of an SCS and had removed it 6 months after discontinuation of stimulation, while halting all medications for neuropathic pain. Age, sex, duration of implantation, site and type of CRPS, and their return to work were compared between the removal and non-removal groups. Results: Five (12.5%, M/F = 4/1) of 40 patients (M/F = 33/7) successfully removed the permanent implant. The mean age was younger in the removal group ($27.2{\pm}6.4$ vs. $43.5{\pm}10.7$ years, P < 0.01). The mean duration of implantation in the removal group was $34.4{\pm}18.2$ months. Two of 15 patients (13.3%) and 3 of 25 patients (12%) who had upper and lower extremity pain, respectively, had removed the implant. The implants could be removed in 5 of 27 patients (18.5%) with CRPS type 1 (P < 0.01). All 5 patients (100%) who removed their SCS returned to work, while only 5 of 35 (14.3%) in the non-removal group did (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Even though this study had limited data, younger patients with CRPS type 1 could remove their SCSs within a 5-year period and return to work with complete pain relief.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.137-140
• /
• 2010

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) constitute the most common primary mesenchymal tumors of the digestive tract and characteristically express c-kit (CD117). GISTs are the most common non-epithelial tumor of the GI tract and frequently originate from the stomach and small bowel. Specifically, the synchronous occurrence of a GIST with other epithelial tumors is rarely reported. Recently, we discovered one case of a concurrent gastric cancer and a small bowel GIST that was initially suspected to be peritoneal seeding from gastric cancer. The patient was initially admitted with epigastric pain. Gastric cancer with peritoneal seeding was suspected after an evaluation. Following a laparoscopic examination, a distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection and small-intestine segmental resection was performed. The final pathologic diagnosis was early gastric cancer and high-risk small bowel GIST. The patient refused adjuvant therapy for the GIST, and currently shows no other marked indisposition. He has been disease-free for 14 months.