• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3 s.71
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• pp.173-182
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• 2007

Objective : To develop an integrated curriculum for acupuncture treatment and pain sensitivity practice, and discuss its usefulness. Method : We established an integrated practice program incorporating acupuncture and pain on physiology perspectives, and measured pain sensitivity at Yin (PC6${\sim}$PC4) and Yang (TE5${\sim}$TE9) meridians before and after the acupuncture treatment. Results : The Yang (39.4${\pm}$23.5) and Yin (46.0${\pm}$25.5) meridians have significantly different degrees of pain sensitivity (n=118, p=0.018). Pain sensitivity was significantly decreased after acupuncture treatment at Yang (54.63${\pm}$28.02/ 40.81${\pm}$29.39) and Yin (56.13${\pm}$27.88/ 38.72${\pm}$25.17) meridians (n=16, p<0.001). Discussion and Conclusion : The difference between the Yin and Yang meridians can be materialized in this integrated practice curriculum model. The effectiveness of this integrated class and suggestions for improvement of integrated curricula were discussed.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.571-577
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the pain and the weather. One hundred ninety three patients treated for pain were recruited for this study. All subjects completed a 8-item weather and pain questionnaire to find out whether the pain are related to change in the weather, Of all subjects, 126 patients(65.3%) believed that change in the weather affected their pain. Of theses 126 patients, 85 patients(67.5%) reported that their pain was affected before weather changes, 44 patients(34.9%) stated that their pain was affected during weather changes. Damp/Rainy(n=91, 72.2%) and cold(n=60, 47.6%) conditions were mostly considered to have influence on pain. Of all subjects, 125 patients(64.8%) believed that change in the weather affected their mood. In the female group, a tendency to have pain or mood sensitivity to change in the weather was significantly higher than the male group(p=0.006, p=0.003) In the non-religious group, a tendency to have pain or mood sensitivity to change in the weather was significantly higher than the religious group(p=0.006, p=0.004). Of the pain sensitive group to change in the weather, 97 patients(77.0%) reported that they also have mood sensitivity to change in the weather(p=0.000). In the pain or mood sensitive group to change in the weather, their pain intensity(VAS) was significantly higher than the other group(p=0.000, p=0.021). The results of this survey give support to the idea that most patients with pain believe that weather has an important impact on their pain. Further investigations are needed to identify the mechanisms involved in the effects of weather changes on pain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.11-17
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• 2009

Objectives : The objectives of this study were to examine the specificity and the sensitivity of tenderness testing on the ear about the postpartum breast pain, and to improve the efficacy of the tenderness test. Methods : Thirty women who visited in the hospital for recuperating 2-14 days after childbirth participated in this study. They answered the questionnaire of the severity of breast pain and their auricular acupuncture points were tested by a long metal probe with round tip 1.1mm in diameter. We analyzed the relationship between auricular tenderness testing on mammary gland zone[CW6] and postpartum breast pain with validity and significance as grouping 8 diagnosis methods. Results : When we consider above 'moderate pain' or 'severe pain' in the auricular tenderness testing as a positive sign, and above 'evere pain' or 'very severe pain' in the self-reported breast pain score as a positive symptom, the diagnostic efficacy was highest. The sensitivity for tenderness testing was 0.62-0.75, and the specificity was 0.64-0.72, and the sensitivity and the specificity in the contralateral ear were a little higher than in the ipsilateral ear. Conclusions : These results suggest that auricular tenderness testing can be objectified clinically and be used in diagnosis.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.320-331
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• 2024

Background: MicroRNA (miRNA) plays a crucial role in neuropathic pain (NP) by targeting mRNAs. This study aims to analyze the regulatory function and mechanism of miR-382-5p/dual specificity phosphatase-1 (DUSP1) axis in NP. Methods: We utilized rats with chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve as the NP model. The levels of miR-382-5p and DUSP1 were reduced by intrathecal injection of lentiviral interference vectors targeting miR-382-5p and DUSP1. The mRNA levels of miR-382-5p and DUSP1 in the dorsal root ganglions (DRGs) were measured by RT-qPCR assay. The pain behavior was evaluated by mechanical nociceptive sensitivity and thermal nociceptive sensitivity. The expression levels of interleukin-6 (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α in the DRGs were analyzed by ELISA assay. The targeting relationship between miR-382-5p and DUSP1 was verified by DLR assay and RIP assay. Results: Compared to the Sham group, the CCI rats exhibited higher levels of miR-382-5p and lower levels of DUSP1. Overexpression of miR-382-5p significantly decreased DUSP1 levels. Reducing miR-382-5p levels can lower the mechanical nociceptive sensitivity and thermal nociceptive sensitivity of CCI rats and inhibit the over-activation of pro-inflammatory factors. Reduced miR-382-5p levels decreased NP in CCI rats. DUSP1 is the target of miR-382-5p, and down-regulation of DUSP1 reverses the inhibitory effect of reduced miR-382-5p levels on NP. Conclusions: Down-regulation of miR-382-5p inhibits the over-activation of pro-inflammatory factors by targeting and regulating the expression of DUPS1, thereby alleviating NP.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.147-150
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• 2010

Background: Chronic low back pain can be a manifestation of lumbar degenerative disease, herniation of intervertebral discs, arthritis, or lumbar stenosis. When nerve roots are compromised, low back pain, with or without lower extremity involvement, may occur. Local inflammatory processes play an important role in patients with acute lumbosciatic pain. The purpose of this study was to assess the value of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) measurements in patients with chronic low back pain or radiculopathy. Methods: ESR and hsCRP were measured in 273 blood samples from male and female subjects with low back pain and/or radiculopathy due to herniated lumbar disc, spinal stenosis, facet syndrome, and other diseases. The hsCRP and ESR were measured prior to lumbar epidural steroid injection. Results: The mean ESR was 18.8 mm/h and mean hsCRP was 1.1 mg/L. ESR had a correlation with age. Conclusions: A significant systemic inflammatory reaction did not appear to arise in patients with chronic low back pain.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1154-1160
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• 2004

We investigated the neurotoxic effects of capsaicin (CAP) on pain sensitivity and on the expression of capsaicin receptor, the vanilloid receptor (VR1), in rats. High-dose application of CAP has been known to degenerate a large fraction of the sensory neurons. Although the neurotoxic effects of CAP are well documented, the effects of CAP on the vanilloid receptor (VR1) are not yet known. In this paper, we investigated the effects of high-dose application of CAP on the expression of VR1 in rats. Thermal and mechanical pain sensitivity was reduced when neonatal rats were treated with a high dose of CAP. This reduction of pain sensitivity was significantly decreased after initiating carrageenan-induced inflammation. The expression of VR1 in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) isolated from the CAP-treated rats was reduced compared to that from the vehicle-treated rats. Therefore, we can conclude that the neurotoxic effect of CAP is related to the decrease of VR1 expression.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 1999

The author studied the prevalence and sites of orofacial pain during the latest 6 months, and psychologic symptoms under the emotional stress through SCL-90-R in thirty-five dental students(nineteen men and sixteen women) of school of Dentistry, Chonbuk National University. 26 students(74.3%), 12 men and 14 women, experienced the orofacial pain; headache, toothache, facial & buccal pain, TMJ pain and intraoral pain were occurred in 51.4%, 37.1%, 25.7%, 17.1% and 17.1% respectively. In psychological scores in before-, during- and after examination, there was no significant difference between men and women. On the other hand, when these scores were compared each other in one group with orofacial pain experience and the other group without pain experience, the former showed significantly higher values in somatization, depression, hostility, and paranoid ideation dimension before examination, interpersonal sensitivity and anxiety dimension during examination, and somatization dimension after examination than those of the later group(P<0.05). The changes of psychologic symptoms in before-, during-, and after examination were observed in one group with pain experience and the other group without pain experience, respectively; in the former group the significantly higher values of anxiety dimension in during examination than after examination, and the significantly higher values of interpersonal sensitivity dimension in before examination than after examination(P<0.05) were evaluated.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 2008

Background: Preoperative dexamethasone improves the surgical outcome after laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC). The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of preoperative dexamethasone on the postoperativepain according to age and gender in patients who undergo LC.Methods: In this double blind prospective study, 400 patients, males or females :< 45 yr and males or femaless 65 yr (n = 50 in each of eight groups) who undergoing LC were randomized to receive dexamethasone 8mg (5 ml) or saline 5 ml intravenously 100 minutes before their operation, Postoperative pain was assessedon a visual analog scale (VAS) at 1, 6, 12, and 24 hour, and the time to administering the first postoperativeanalgesics was recorded.Results: Dexamethasone was administered without consideration for age and gender, and it reduced thepostoperative pain VAS score at 1, 6, and 12 hours, and the opioid analgesic requirement, but there was nosignificant difference between administering saline or dexamethasone in the same gender and age groups.Females U 45 yr who were administered saline had the most pain sensitivity and males S 65 yr who wereadministered dexamethasone had the least pain sensitivity.Conclusions: Preoperative dexamethasone reduces the pain intensity and opioid consumption, but does notreduce the pain intensity, according to age and gender in the patients undergoing LC. As a result, Preoperativedexamethasone should be considered for routine use for patients who are undergoing laparoscopic cho-lecystectomy. (Korean J Pain 2008; 21: 51 56)

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.106-117
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• 1998

The pain is common among individuals with physical disabilities. It can interfere with therapy since patients with pain can become uncooperative and reluctant to move. This paper reviews the natural physiological mechanisms that can reduce pain perception, and considers physiological mechanisms which contribute to clinical pain by describing how the pain system changes its sensitivity depending upon the body's needs. The peripheral and central mechanisms contributing to sensitised nociceptive system are described with reference to the symptoms of clinical pain such as hyperalgesia, allodynia sopntaneous 'on-going'-projected and referred pain. It is suggested that in some chronic pain the nociceptive system maintains a state of sensitivity despite the absence of on-going tissue damage and under such circumstances the nociceptive system itself may have become dysfunctional. Such situations are often initiated by damage to nervous tissue which results in changes in the activity and organization of neuronal circuits within the central nervous system. The ability of the nociceptive system to operate in a suppressed state is also discussed with reference to pain modulation. The physical therapist can help facilitate the activation of these mechanisms through a combination of noninvasive modalities, functional activities, and the therapeutic use of self.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.120-128
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• 2019

Background: We aimed to explore the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1990 and 2011 fibromyalgia (FM) classification criteria's items and the components of Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) to identify features best discriminating FM features. Finally, we developed a combined FM diagnostic (C-FM) model using the FM's key features. Methods: The means and frequency on tender points (TPs), ACR 2011 components and FIQ items were calculated in the FM and non-FM (osteoarthritis [OA] and non-OA) patients. Then, two-step multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to order these variables according to their maximal statistical contribution in predicting group membership. Partial correlations assessed their unique contribution, and two-group discriminant analysis provided a classification table. Using receiver operator characteristic analyses, we determined the sensitivity and specificity of the final model. Results: A total of 172 patients with FM, 75 with OA and 21 with periarthritis or regional pain syndromes were enrolled. Two steps multiple logistic regression analysis identified 8 key features of FM which accounted for 64.8% of variance associated with FM group membership: lateral epicondyle TP with variance percentages (36.9%), neck pain (14.5%), fatigue (4.7%), insomnia (3%), upper back pain (2.2%), shoulder pain (1.5%), gluteal TP (1.2%), and FIQ fatigue (0.9%). The C-FM model demonstrated a 91.4% correct classification rate, 91.9% for sensitivity and 91.7% for specificity. Conclusions: The C-FM model can accurately detect FM patients among other pain disorders. Re-inclusion of TPs along with saving of FM main symptoms in the C-FM model is a unique feature of this model.