Jung Hyuk Park

Effects of electroacupuncture on cold allodynia in a rat model of neuropathic pain: Mediation by spinal adrenergic and serotonergic receptors

The present study was performed to examine the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on cold allodynia and its mechanisms related to the spinal adrenergic and serotonergic systems in a rat model of neuropathic pain. For the neuropathic surgery, the right superior caudal trunk was resected at the level between S1 and S2 spinal nerves innervating the tail. Two weeks after the nerve injury, EA stimulation (2 or 100 Hz) was delivered to Zusanli (ST36) for 30 min. The behavioral signs of cold allodynia were evaluated by the tail immersion test [i.e., immersing the tail in cold water (4 degrees C) and measuring the latency to an abrupt tail movement] before and after the stimulation. And then, we examined the effects of intrathecal injection of prazosin (alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist, 30 microg), yohimbine (alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist, 30 microg), NAN-190 (5-HT1A antagonist, 15 microg), ketanserin (5-HT2A antagonist, 30 microg), and MDL-72222 (5-HT3 antagonist, 12 microg) on the action of EA stimulation. Although both 2 Hz and 100 Hz EA significantly relieved the cold allodynia signs, 2 Hz EA induced more robust effects than 100 Hz EA. In addition, intrathecal injection of yohimbine, NAN-190, and MDL-72222, but not prazosin and ketanserin, significantly blocked the relieving effects of 2 Hz EA on cold allodynia. These results suggest that low-frequency (2 Hz) EA is more suitable for the treatment of cold allodynia than high-frequency (100 Hz) EA, and spinal alpha2-adrenergic, 5-HT1A and 5-HT3, but not alpha1-adrenergic and 5-HT2A, receptors play important roles in mediating the relieving effects of 2 Hz EA on cold allodynia in neuropathic rats.

Inhibitory effects of Rumex japonicus Houtt. on the development of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice.

Background  Rumex japonicus Houtt. (RJH) is one of the herbs used in Eastern countries for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). It has been shown to have an antioxidative effect in human skin disease.

The association of serum leptin with the reduction of food intake and body weight during electroacupuncture in rats.

Previous studies indicate that acupuncture or electroacupuncture (EA) treatment reduces body weight and food intake in rats by increasing the level of anoretic peptides and decreasing that of orexigenic peptides in the hypothalamus. Considering a well-established role of leptin as a major regulator for feeding behavior in the hypothalamus, we hypothesized that EA might exert its effect via increasing serum leptin levels. In this study, we tested our hypothesis by evaluating the effects of EA on food intake and body weight, as well as on serum leptin levels in rats. Rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: AL (fed ad libitum with no treatments), Holder (fed ad libitum with daily holder restraint) and EA (fed ad libitum with daily holder restraint and 100 Hz EA stimulation) groups. During the four-week experimental period, daily food intake and body weight were measured. At the end of the experiment, levels of serum leptin and corticosterone, and plasma epinephrine (Epi) and norepinephrine (NE) were determined. Here we demonstrate that EA treatment indeed led to reduction of food intake and body weight, and to an increase of serum leptin levels. The level of Epi, NE, and corticosterone increased in the Holder group, but such increase in the level of aforementioned stress hormones was not observed in the EA group. Overall, our results suggest that EA treatment reduces food intake and body weight in rats possibly through increasing leptin levels, and that this effect of EA is not due to the stress caused by the daily holder restraint.

Electroacupuncture Potentiates the Antiallodynic Effect of Intrathecal Neostigmine in a Rat Model of Neuropathic Pain

This study was performed to examine whether electroacupuncture potentiates the neostigmine-induced antiallodynia in neuropathic pain rats. Although intrathecal neostigmine (0.05, 0.1, and 0.3 microg) dose-dependently relieved cold allodynia, 0.3 microg neostigmine caused side effects. The coapplication of 0.1 microg neostigmine and electroacupuncture, however, produced potent antiallodynia, which was parallel to the effect of 0.3 microg neostigmine, without side effects. These results indicate that electroacupuncture can enhance the antiallodynic action of intrathecal neostigmine.

Three-dimensional analysis of deciduous maxillary anterior teeth using cone-beam computed tomography.

The recent introduction of cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) into the medical field has allowed the nondestructive investigation of internal structures at relatively low cost and radiation exposure. The accuracy of CBCT in both two and three dimensions has been demonstrated, and CBCT has been used successfully for craniofacial anatomy. Knowing the anatomical structure of deciduous teeth is essential for clinical dentistry. However, the root structure of deciduous teeth is rarely reported because of the scarcity of intact deciduous teeth without root resorption. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intact root form of deciduous teeth using CBCT. Data from 38 young children was analyzed using an image‐analyzing program. The degree of buccal dilacerations was 26.3° for deciduous maxillary central incisors (DMA), 16.5° for deciduous maxillary lateral incisors (DMB), and 17.5° for deciduous maxillary canines (DMC) in about half of the root length. The crown‐to‐root ratios were 0.52 for DMA, 0.48 for DMB, and 0.52 for DMC. These data will be helpful for understanding the development of dentition, and for clinical dentistry. Clin. Anat. 25:182–188, 2012.

Novel Detection Method for Monitoring of Dental Caries Using Single Digital Subtraction Radiography

This study suggested a novel detection method for monitoring of dental caries based on pixel gray values in digital subtraction radiography images from single dental images of patient’s with dental caries. The advantage of single digital subtraction radiography (SDSR) is knowing the status of current teeth with caries without requiring a second digital radiograph. Digital subtraction is currently used in radiographic studies of periapical lesions or other dental disorders that have been treated and whose progress must be evaluated over time. SDSR is a novel detection method for caries that detects dental mass changes from only one dental radiograph. Subjects were chosen among patients who were diagnosed with dental caries from an intraoral X-ray system, we study marks the points of emphasis in hidden dental caries in dental X-ray images from 11 subjects. For each caries lesion that was diagnosed, a mean pixel value was obtained from a SDSR using a scale ranging from 0 to 255 gray values. The image mean variable of the tooth was 71.99 (± 25.64) and 3.25 (± 0.85) (P < 0.0001) for caries and healthy tissue, respectively. SDSR was found to be a novel detection method that uses single dental images of patients to mark the points of emphasis in hidden dental caries.

Detection for demineralization of dental hard tissues using index sequences

The purpose of this study was to develop the radiographic technique for detecting the demineralization which is known as indication of dental caries. This technique was based on the comparing of multiple radiographs which was irradiated by multiple X-ray spectra. For the meaningful comparing, the multiple radiographs were reconstructed to the dosimetrically consistent images using a standard material. The difference of resulting images of same target with multiple spectra represents the difference of response of material as regards the spectra. Consequently, we have found about 10% of demineralization of dental hard tissues particularly in the proximal region through the analyzing of differences. Most intriguing thing in this investigation was that the method to analyze difference shows us to an anatomic structure of dental hard tissues even if absolute values of optical density were excluded during the procedures.

Real-Time Monitoring of Extracellular Glutamate Release on Repetitive Ischemic Injury in Global Ischemia Model

During the operation, neurosurgeons usually perform the multiple temporary occlusions of parental artery which may induce the neuronal damage. It is generally thought that neuronal damage by cerebral ischemia is associated with extracellular concentrations of the excitatory amino acids. In this experiment, we measured the dynamics of extracellular glutamate release in 11 vessel occlusion (VO) model during repeated occlusion within short interval. Changes in cerebral blood flow were monitored by laser-Doppler flowmetry simultaneously with cortical glutamate level measured by amperometric biosensor. During ischemic episode, the maximum change of glutamate release was gradually decreased as 112.38 ± 26.21 μM in first period, 82.63 ± 18.50 μM in second period, and 48.58 ± 11.89 μM in third period. The time interval be tween the ischemia induction and the beginning of glutamate release was increased as 106.7 ± 10.89 (sec) at first attack, 139.11 ± 3.87 (sec) in second attack, 169.00 ± 14.56 (sec) in third ischemic period. From the results of real-time monitoring about glutamate release in 11 VO model during repetitive ischemic episode, it was demonstrated that repetitive ischemia induced less glutamate release from neuronal cell than single ischemia due to endogeneous protective mechanism which delayed glutamate release time in later ischemic injury.