• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.157-167
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• 2001

Purpose : This study was 1) to determine the relationship between endogenous opioid-peptides and hope 2) to evaluate the availability of the opioid- peptides, known as biochemicals of emotion in psychoneuroimmunology, as a variable to explain hope. Method : blood sampling for 20 cancer patients' (age range 18-73, 13 men and 7 women, having mild pain or no pain, can do ADL) were made under approval from the doctors in a university hospital at 8 A.M. and quantitative analysis of opioid peptides were done by the internal standard method. In 10min after blood sampling, hope was measured using Kim and Lee's hope scale which had acceptable reliabilities and validity after making consent about interviewing. Blood was sampled from the seven normal adults for comparing the degrees of the opioids. None-parametric statistical analysis was used. Results : There was a significant difference in leucine enkephalin between normal adults and cancer patients. And significant positive relationship existed between chemotherapy and leucine enkephalin. So, the relationships between hope and the endogenous opioids in the patients before chemotherapy were re-tested, excluding the effect of chemotherapy on opioids. As a result, a significant negative relationship between hope and beta- endorphin(r=-.841<.05) showed. And there were highly negative relationships between leucine enkephalin and methionine enkephalin and hope, but not significant statistically. Conclusions : This results implies endogenous opioids can be used as a biological variable to explain hope. More researches in sophisticated design would be needed ,especially in human model.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2020

The progression of aging and the increase in musculoskeletal diseases have led to an increase in invasive treatment methods, including various surgical methods, but conservative treatment should be attempted before surgical treatment in musculoskeletal diseases. Medication for pain control, such as acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroid, opioids, antidepressants, etc., is one of the most popular methods for pain control. If the pain receptors on peripheral organ are stimulated, pain is transmitted to the brain by the ascending pathway, and the brain then secretes endogenous opioids, such as endorphin, by the descending pathway for pain control. Opioids are substances that act on the opioid receptors, and there are three receptors for opioids. The affinity for each receptor varies according to the tissue and the patient's systemic status. Antidepressants work on the synapses in the central nervous system and its main mechanism is regulation of the ascending pathway. This is mainly effective in chronic pain and neuropathic pain, which is similar in effectiveness to opioids. This review focuses on the effectiveness, method of use, and side effects of opioids and antidepressants.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.220-229
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• 2013

Objectives : Electroacupuncture(EA) has been used effectively in producing analgesia on ankle sprain pain of humans and animals. Currently to examine the underlying mechanisms of the EA-induced analgesia, the effects of EA on weight-bearing forces(WBR) were examined at ankle sprain classified as grade 3 in rats. Methods : The severe ankle sprain classified as grade 3 was induced surgically by ankle ligament injury in the Sprague-Dawley rats. WBR of the affected foot were examined to evaluate effects and mechanism of EA(2 Hz, 1 ms pulse width, 2 mA intensity, for 15 min) which was applied to either SI6, GB34, or GB39 acupoints. The rats were pretreated with naltrexone(10 mg/kg, i.p.) as an opioid receptor antagonist or phentolamine(5 mg/kg, i.p) as an ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptor antagonist at 30 min before EA. Results : The daily repeat EA at either SI6, GB34, or GB39 showed significant analgesic effects on the severe ankle sprain. Particularly, daily EA at GB34 showed more potent analgesic effect than the others. In addition, the naltrexone pretreatment completely blocked the analgesic effect of EA at GB34, indicating the involvement of the endogenous opioid system in mediating the effect of EA at GB34. However, the phentolamine pretreament blocked analgesic effects of EA at either SI6 or GB39, indicating the involvement of ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptors in mediating the effect of EA at either SI6 or GB39. Conclusions : These data suggest that EA-induced analgesia on ankle sprain pain is mediated through either endogenous opioids or ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptors dependant on acupoint specific pattern.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.313-320
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• 2014

Dexmedetomidine, an imidazoline compound, is a highly selective ${\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptor agonist with sympatholytic, sedative, amnestic, and analgesic properties. In order to minimize the patients' pain and anxiety during minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) when compared to conventional surgery under general anesthesia, an adequate conscious sedation (CS) or monitored anesthetic care (MAC) should be provided. Commonly used intravenous sedatives and hypnotics, such as midazolam and propofol, are not suitable for operations in a prone position due to undesired respiratory depression. Dexmedetomidine converges on an endogenous non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep-promoting pathway to exert its sedative effects. The great merit of dexmedetomidine for CS or MAC is the ability of the operator to recognize nerve damage during percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy, a representative MISS. However, there are 2 shortcomings for dexmedetomidine in MISS: hypotension/bradycardia and delayed emergence. Its hypotension/bradycardiac effects can be prevented by ketamine intraoperatively. Using atipamezole (an ${\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptor antagonist) might allow doctors to control the rate of recovery from procedural sedation in the future. MAC, with other analgesics such as ketorolac and opioids, creates ideal conditions for MISS. In conclusion, dexmedetomidine provides a favorable surgical condition in patients receiving MISS in a prone position due to its unique properties of conscious sedation followed by unconscious hypnosis with analgesia. However, no respiratory depression occurs based on the dexmedetomidine-related endogenous sleep pathways involves the inhibition of the locus coeruleus in the pons, which facilitates VLPO firing in the anterior hypothalamus.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1 s.29
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• pp.36-50
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• 1995

Acupuncture is so effective and simple to use in the pain and dysfunction syndrome of TMD. Acupuncture treatment is a point-specific. So, the selection of acupuncture point is very important. According to the traditional meridian theory, we select the points; local points around TMJ and mastication muscles(ST6, ST7, GB20, GB21) and remote point(LI4). And if there is another pain, one or two other points are added. Both neural and humoral mechanism play an important role in acupuncture analgesia. The discovery of spinal gate mechanisms shows somatic stimulation can induce pain inhibition. Humoral mechanism has been established from the discovery of opioid receptors and endogenous opioids. Acupuncture induces a relaxation in the patient, which further decreases the muscle tension.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.75-89
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• 2009

Objectives: Warm needling combines simultaneously the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion. This study was to investigate whether warm needling could relieve acute knee arthritis induced by carrageenan in rats. Methods: To illuminate the underlying mechanisms of the warm needling-induced antinociception, weight bearing force (WBF) was observed on the acute knee arthritic rat model. Under general anesthesia, ST36, SP9, Hakjung extra point, LI4 were punctured and stimulated with 30 mg moxa ball combustion on top of the needle (${\emptyset}0.18{\times}8mm$). Results: In behavioral test, rats subsequently showed a reduced stepping force of the affected limb 3 hours after the induction of arthritis. Warm needling on the contralateral or ipsilateral ST36 failed to show antinociceptive effect on the acute knee arthritis. Warm needling on the contralateral SP9 or LI4 increased WBF values to normal level in the acute stage of the arthritis. Warm needling on the Hakjung extra-point resulted in the significant antinociceptive effects through acute stage. These effects of warm needling were suppressed by opioids receptor antagonist naltrexone (10 mg/kg, i.p.) and alpha adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine (5 mg/kg, i.p.). Conclusion: The data suggest that warm needling-induced antinociception is differently mediated by acupoints and accomplished by activating the descending inhibitory systems including endogenous opioids and $\alpha$-adrenoceptors.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.22-25
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• 2003

The aims of this study were to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture on myoelectrical activity of inflamed or normal colon in the rat, and whether the effect of acupuncture on colonic motility was related to endogenous opioids. Twenty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups. Experimental groups were normal group (n = 8), colitis group (n = 6) and naloxone group (n = 8). Stainless steel bipolar electrodes were implanted on the serosal layer of the proximal colon of rats. Colitis was induced 7 days after electrode implantation using trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS) and ethanol. Electromyograms (EMG) were recorded by using polygraph 11 days after implantation of electrodes. In normal group, normal colonic motility was recorded for 60 min, and then traditional acupuncture at GV-1 was applied for 20 min and EMG was recorded for further 60 min in untreated rats. In colitis group, after recording of basal colonic motility for 60 min, 20 min of acupuncture treatment and further EMG recording was performed for 60 min in TNBS/ethanol treated rats. In naloxone group, following subcutaneous administration of naloxone (3 mg/kg), recording of EMG and acupuncture treatment were performed in TNBS/ethanol treated rats. In the normal group, acupuncture at GV-1 did not induce significant changes in colonic motility. TNBS/ethanol treatment had no significant effect on the frequency of colonic motility. And in colitis group, GV-1 acupuncture significantly decreased colonic motility (p < 0.01). In naloxone group, after injection of naloxone, acupuncture at GV-1 did not change colonic motility in TNBS/ethanol treated rats. On the inflamed colon, naloxone blocked the effect of acupuncture. The present results suggested that endogenous opioids released by acupuncture at GV-1 decrease the motility of inflamed colon in rats, but not normal colon.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.47-62
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• 2010

Objectives: Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by colonic mucosal inflammation and chronic relapsing events represents. The purpose of this study is to evaluate effects of pharmacopuncture of anti-inflammatory herbal compound (AiC) applied to the different acupoints in the acute colitis induced by trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) intracolonic injection in rats. Methods: In Male Sprague - Dawley rats, weighing 250~400g, TNBS (5 mg/kg) was infused intrarectally through a silicon rubber catheter into the anus under isoflurane anaesthesia. Acupoints of LI4 (Hapkok), ST25 (Cheonchu), ST36 (Joksamni), and BL25 (Daejangsu) were intramuscularly injected by AiC, respectively (injection volume & times: 0.2 ml / acupoint, twice times on the 2nd & 3rd day). Expressions of cFos protein in the periaqueductal gray (PAG), locus coeruleus (LC), nucleus of solitary tract (Sol), and the 6th lumbar spinal cord (L6 s.c.) were observed at 24 hr after TNBS induced colitis by immunohistochemistry. Results: The expression of c-Fos protein in the L6 s.c., Sol, LC and PAG increased 24 hr after TNBS injection into colorectum as compared to normal and 50% ethanol treated group. AiC to LI4 inhibited the expression of c-Fos protein in Sol and PAG but not L6 s.c. and LC. AiC to ST36 showed significant inhibition the c-Fos expression in L6 s.c., Sol and PAG. AiC to ST25 only showed the effects in L6 s.c. and PAG. AiC to BL25 inhibited significantly the expression of c-Fos protein all over the areas. To investigate whether or not endogenous opioids are involved, intrathecal injection of naltrexone (30ug/30ul) was applied before the 2nd pharmacopuncture treatment 24 hr after TNBS-induced colitis in rat. Naltrexone reversed the inhibition of c-Fos protein expression in the spinal cord and brainstem. Conclusions: These data show that pharmacopuncture of Aic potently inhibits signal pathways ascending hypersensitivity of colorectum after TNBS induced colitis and depends on the endogenous opioids according to acupoints.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 1996

The purpose of this study were to 1) determine the analgesic effect of 632.8 nm of helium-neon (He-Ne) laser stimulation on acupuncture point in rat and 2) determine the reversal of analgesic effect by naloxone injection. Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were devided into three groups : control (n=6) : laser (n=6), laser stimulation at $3.58\;J/cm^2$ ; and naloxone (n=6), 1 mg/kg of naloxone chloride inject into peritoneum before laser stimulation at $3.63J/cm^2$. Tail-flick latency were measured pretreat and posttreat with hot plate $(55^{\circ}C)$. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and paired t-teat for tail-flick latency. No significant change was noted in the tail-flick latency in either control or naloxone groups. But significant increased in tail-flick latency in taller group. The results suggest that He-Ne laser induced analgesic effect, and endogenous opioids may be involved in He-Ne laser induced analgesia.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 1998

Background: The present study was conducted to investigate effects of microinjection of bicuculline, GABA-A receptor antagonist, into the brain stem nuclei on the dorsal horn neuron responsiveness in rats with an experimental peripheral neuropathy. Methods: An experimental neuropathy was induced by a unilateral ligation of L5~L6 spinal nerves of rats. After 2~3 weeks after the surgery, single-unit recording was made from wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons in the spinal cord dorsal horn. Results: Responses of WDR neurons to both noxious and innocuous mechanical stimuli applied to the somatic receptive fields were enhanced on the nerve injured side. These enhanced responsiveness of WDR neurons were suppressed by microinjection of bicuculline into periaqueductal gray(PAG) or nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis(Gi). A similar suppression was also observed when morphine was microinjected into PAG or Gi. Suppressive action by Gi-bicuculline was reversed by naloxonazine, ${\mu}$-opioid receptor antagonist, microinjected into PAG whereas PAG-bicuculline induced suppression was not affected by naloxonazine injection into Gi. Gi-bicuculline induced suppression were reversed by a transection of dorsolateral funiculus(DLF) of the spinal cord. Conclusions: The results suggest that endogenous opioids, via acting on GABAergic interneurons in PAG and Gi, may be involved in the control of neuropathic pain by activating the descending inhibitory pathways that project to the spinal dorsal horn through DLF to inhibit the responsiveness of WDR neurons.