• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.155-160
• /
• 2005

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of aqua-acupuncture a mixture of bos taurus domesticus and selenarctos thiberanus, and bos taurus domesticus, selenarctos thiberanus and Moschus moschiferus on an animal model of arthritic pain. Under halothane anesthesia, arthritic pain was induced by the injection of $2\%$ carrageenan into the left knee joint cavity of male Sprague-Dawley rats. The responses of afferents to a movement cycle were recorded before and after aqua-acupuncture. The aqua-acupuncture at acupoints reduced neural responses to noxious movement stimulation. Aqua-acupuncture at Zusanli inhibited neural responses of articular afferents to noxious stimulation more than at Hegu. These results indicate that aqua-acupuncture of a mixture of bos taurus domesticus and selenarctos thiberanus, and bos taurus domesticus, selenarctos thiberanus and Moschus moschiferusmay provide a potent strategy in relieving arthritic pain.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.357-362
• /
• 2023

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is neuropathic pain that affects the trigeminal nerve branches. Facial pain experienced by patients with TN is typically intense and excruciating. The second and third branches (maxillary and mandibular) are commonly affected. This case report focuses on the potential treatment options for acute TN attacks involving these branches. The proposed approach involves extra-oral peripheral blocks using local anesthetics. Pain levels were measured using a visual numeric scale (VNS) with potential side effects and other relevant documented information. The patients showed responses from high pain levels to almost complete remission (from 8 to 2 and from 10 to 2 on the final VNS), with no significant side effects. This technique provides immediate pain relief and complements oral medications by offering comfort and confidence until the desired drug effect is achieved.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.97-107
• /
• 2002

Objective : Acupuncture is a method used to treat many kinds of pain in oriental cultural medicine. Especially when hetero-segmental area acu-points are stimulated, the therapeutic effects of pain control have more critical properties than other methods of acupuncture. However, the mechanism of pain control by acupuncture is contradictory so far. The present study examined the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) applied to the acu-point of the hetero-segmental area on modulation of formalin-induced pain in Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods : In order to apply EA to acu-points in the plantar area of right forepaws, a pair of Teflon-coated stainless steel wires were implanted in HT 7 (Shin-Moon) and PC 7 (Dae-Reung) 7 days before the behavioral test. A behavioral test was performed by means of video camera after injection of 5% formalin ($50{\;}\mu\textrm{l}$) into the lateral plantar region of the left hind paw. EA was delivered by a constant DC current stimulator at 4~5 mA, 2 ms, and 10 Hz for 30 min. c-Fos protein expression was measured in the lumbar spinal cord at 2 hr and 4 hr after formalin injection. Results : Behavioral responses including favoring, flinching and biting occurred in the biphasic pattern, such as the 1st phase (0~5 min) and the 2nd phase (20~45 min) after formalin injection. However, EA (4~5 mA, 2 ms, 10 Hz) significantly inhibited the behavioral responses. Injection of formalin expressed c-Fos protein on the ipsilateral dorsal horn neurons in L3 - L5 and the expression was sustained more than 4 hrs after formalin injection. However, EA decreased c-Fos protein expression at dorsal horn neurons in the lumbar spinal cord till 4hrs after formalin injection. Conclusions : These results suggest that EA modulates formalin-induced pain and this inhibitory action may be elicited by the descending inhibitory system.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.95-98
• /
• 2006

Objective : The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of radiofrequency neurotomy[RFN] for remnant pain after vertebroplasty for the treatment of severe compression fracture. Methods : 25 patients with remnant pain after vertebroplasty for one level severe compression fracture were treated by RFN. The severe compression fractures were defined to the vertebrae which less than 50% of their original heights have collapsed. Pain relief was evaluated at 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 3 months after the procedure using a visual analog scale[VAS]. Results : Successful outcome was determined if pain reduction exceeded 50% on the VAS at 6 weeks. Six of the 25 patients did not respond favorably to RFN [pain reduction less than 50%], and nineteen patients showed successful responses. Mean VAS score was decreased from 5.48 to 2.96 at 6 weeks. Conclusion : The radiofrequency neurotomy may be both feasible and useful treatment for the remnant pain after vertebroplasty. However long-term follow up is needed to confirm the effectiveness.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.77-86
• /
• 2005

In this study, we examined the morphine-induced modulation of the nociceptive spinal dorsal horn neuronal activities before and after formalin-induced inflammatory pain. Intradermal injection of formalin induced time-dependent changes in the spontaneous activity of nociceptive dorsal horn neurons. In naive cats before the injection of formalin, iontophoretically applied morphine attenuated the naturally and electrically evoked neuronal responses of dorsal horn neurons. However, neuronal responses after the formalin-induced inflammation were significantly increased by morphine. Bicuculline, $GABA_A$ antagonist, increased the naturally and electrically evoked neuronal responses of dorsal horn neurons. This increase in neuronal responses due to bicuculline after the formalin-induced inflammation was larger than that in the naive state, suggesting that basal $GABA_A$ tone increased after the formalin injection. Muscimol, $GABA_A$ agonist, reduced the neuronal responses before the treatment with formalin, but not after formalin treatment, again indicating an increase in the GABAergic basal tone after the formalin injection which saturated the neuronal responses to GABA agonist. Morphine-induced increase in the spinal nociceptive responses after formalin treatment was inhibited by co-application of muscimol. These data suggest that formalin-induced inflammation increases $GABA_A$ basal tone and the inhibition of this augmented $GABA_A$ basal tone by morphine results in a paradoxical morphineinduced increase in the spinal nociceptive neuronal responses after the formalin-induced inflammation.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.442-454
• /
• 2003

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effects of silver spike point (SSP) low frequency electrical stimulation on plasma vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) activities measured by radioimmunoassay from volunteer and the effects of VIP on pain substance-induced contraction investigated by isometric tension methode in animal. The current of 3 Hz continue type, but not 100 Hz continue type, of SSP low frequency electrical stimulation significantly increased in plasma VIP from normal volunteer. The pain substance, such as norepinephrine, serotonin, and prostaglandin $F2{\alpha}$, increased vascular smooth muscle contraction, respectively. These responses were inhibited by VIP applied cumulatively (1 nM - $1\;{\mu}M$), but not serotonin-induced contraction. In addition, serotonin, and prostaglandin $F2{\alpha}$ induced uterine smooth muscle contraction from rat. However, these responses were inhibited by VIP ($1\;{\mu}M$), only serotonin-induced contraction. These results suggest that the VIP regulates pain substance in part and that the SSP low frequency electrical stimulation, specifically current of 3 Hz continue type, significantly increases plasma VIP from volunteer.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.150-154
• /
• 1998

Epidural steroid injection have become one of the most frequently applied conservative option for the management of acute and chronic back pain. As the indications for epidural steroid injections increase so do the adverse responses associated with this procedure. This study reports the succession of 3 patients who developed galactorrhea and hyperprolactinemia after recieving an epidural steroid injection for lumbar radiculopathy and low back pain. Serum prolactin level was elevated in accordance with epidural injection of corticosteroid. We measured the serum prolactin level by immunoradiometric assay method and peak serum prolactin level at above 500, 144.2, 150.3 ng/ml respectively. Also we found the serum prolactin level decreased to normal values 3 wks after corticosteroid injection. Galactorrhra ceased in advance of decrease of serum prolactin level. That "Hyperprolactinemia and galactorrhea can occur following epidural steroid injection", requires a much larger prospective investigation.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.78-85
• /
• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the pain reducing effects of the dextrose-coated pacifier on venipuncture in premature infants. Methods: The design of this study is a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design and a crossover trial. The analysed cases were 40 premature infants (20 in experimental group and 20 in control group) in neonatal intensive care unit of a University Hospital, Gyeongnam Province, Korea. The data were collected from April to October, 2009. The experimental treatment was carried out nursing 20% dextrose-coated pacifier on venipuncture for IV injection. The instruments were $O_2$ saturation and heart rate on pulse oxymeter monitor to measure physiologic pain responses, and NIPS to measure behavioral pain responses. Collected data were analyzed with $x_2$ test, t-test using SPSS program. Results: The effects of the 20% dextrose-coated pacifier were found in the physiologic (only heart rate) and behavioral pain response on venipuncture. Conclusion: These finding is suggested that the dextrose-coated pacifier could be an effective nursing intervention for reducing pain on venipuncture in premature infants.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.13-24
• /
• 2010

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the effects of bee venom acupuncture at Shinsu($BL_{23}$) and Daejangsu($BL_{25}$) on neuropathic pain induced by tibial and sural nerve injury in rats. Methods : Neuropathic pain model was made by partial resection of tibial and sural nerve. Three weeks after the neuropathic surgery, bee venom acupuncture was firstly injected at $BL_{23}$ and $BL_{25}$, then we measured withdrawal responses induced by von Frey filament and acetone stimulation. Bee venom acupunctures were injected 6times on every 2days. Measurement of withdrawal responses were conducted on the same days. After bee venom acupuncture injection, expression levels of c-Fos, nocieptin and KOR-3 were observed through using immunohistochemistry. Results : In this experiment, bee venom acupunctures at $BL_{23}$ and $BL_{25}$ decreased levels of withdrawal responses induced by von Frey filament and acetone stimulation respectively. In addtion, expression levels of c-Fos, nociceptin and KOR-3 in central gray part of brain in rats were decreased by bee venom acupuncture. Conclusions : These results imply that bee venom acupuncture was useful to treat patients with neuropathic pain, and related mechanisms were involved in opioid and their receptors such as nociceptin and KOR-3.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.9-17
• /
• 2023

Background: Dental evaluation and protection are important for preventing traumatic dental injuries when patients are under general anesthesia. The objective of the present study was to develop a questionnaire based on dentition-related risk factors that could serve as a valuable tool for dental evaluation and documentation. Methods: We developed a questionnaire for dental evaluation before administration of general anesthesia, investigated the association between patient-and-dentist responses and mouthguard fabrication, and assessed response agreement between 100 patients. Results: Protective mouthguards were fabricated for 27 patients who were identified as having a high risk of dental injury. There was a strong association between dentists' responses and mouthguard fabrication, depending on the general oral health status, use of ceramic prosthesis, presence of masticatory pain related to periodontal diseases, gingival edema, and implants (P < 0.05). Response agreement between patients and dentists for items related to dental pain, loss of dental pulp vitality, root canal therapy, dental trauma, aesthetic prosthesis, tooth mobility, and implant prosthesis was high (Cohen's kappa coefficient κ ≥ 0.6). Conclusions: A high agreement was observed between patient-dentist responses and a strong association with mouthguard fabrication for items pertaining to ceramic prosthesis, masticatory pain, and dental implants. Patients with a "yes" response to these items are recommended to undergo a dental evaluation and use a dental protective device while under general anesthesia.