Woo Seog Sim

Comparison between high and low molecular weight hyaluronates in knee osteoarthritis patients: open-label, randomized, multicentre clinical trial.

Efficacy and safety of high and low molecular weight hyaluronates in knee osteoarthritis patients were compared in a randomized, open-label trial. Patients in the high molecular weight hyaluronate group were treated once weekly for 3 weeks and in the low molecular weight group once weekly for 5 weeks. We evaluated weight-bearing pain, degree of flexion, swelling and knee tenderness; frequency and amount of rescue medication; patient and investigator global assessment of pain, and safety over 12 weeks after final injection of study medication. Significant improvements in pain and WOMAC-Likert scores were observed in both groups, but not between groups. Knee joint pain improvement was noted in both groups by patients and investigators during follow-up. Close correlation was observed between patient-and investigator-reported data. There was no significant difference in side-effects between the groups. In conclusion, the efficacy and safety of high and low molecular weight hyaluronate are similar.

Protective Effects of Gabapentin on Allodynia and α2δ1-Subunit of Voltage-dependent Calcium Channel in Spinal Nerve-Ligated Rats

This study was designed to determine whether early gabapentin treatment has a protective analgesic effect on neuropathic pain and compared its effect to the late treatment in a rat neuropathic model, and as the potential mechanism of protective action, the α2δ1-subunit of the voltage-dependent calcium channel (α2δ1-subunit) was evaluated in both sides of the L5 dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Neuropathic pain was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by a surgical ligation of left L5 nerve. For the early treatment group, rats were injected with gabapentin (100 mg/kg) intraperitoneally 15 min prior to surgery and then every 24 hr during postoperative day (POD) 1-4. For the late treatment group, the same dose of gabapentin was injected every 24 hr during POD 8-12. For the control group, L5 nerve was ligated but no gabapentin was administered. In the early treatment group, the development of allodynia was delayed up to POD 10, whereas allodynia was developed on POD 2 in the control and the late treatment group (p<0.05). The α2δ1-subunit was up-regulated in all groups, however, there was no difference in the level of the α2δ1-subunit among the three groups. These results suggest that early treatment with gabapentin offers some protection against neuropathic pain but it is unlikely that this action is mediated through modulation of the α2δ1-subunit in DRG.

Genome-wide expression profiling of complex regional pain syndrome.

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic, progressive, and devastating pain syndrome characterized by spontaneous pain, hyperalgesia, allodynia, altered skin temperature, and motor dysfunction. Although previous gene expression profiling studies have been conducted in animal pain models, there genome-wide expression profiling in the whole blood of CRPS patients has not been reported yet. Here, we successfully identified certain pain-related genes through genome-wide expression profiling in the blood from CRPS patients. We found that 80 genes were differentially expressed between 4 CRPS patients (2 CRPS I and 2 CRPS II) and 5 controls (cut-off value: 1.5-fold change and p<0.05). Most of those genes were associated with signal transduction, developmental processes, cell structure and motility, and immunity and defense. The expression levels of major histocompatibility complex class I A subtype (HLA-A29.1), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), alanine aminopeptidase N (ANPEP), l-histidine decarboxylase (HDC), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor 3 receptor (G-CSF3R), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) genes selected from the microarray were confirmed in 24 CRPS patients and 18 controls by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). We focused on the MMP9 gene that, by qRT-PCR, showed a statistically significant difference in expression in CRPS patients compared to controls with the highest relative fold change (4.0±1.23 times and p = 1.4×10−4). The up-regulation of MMP9 gene in the blood may be related to the pain progression in CRPS patients. Our findings, which offer a valuable contribution to the understanding of the differential gene expression in CRPS may help in the understanding of the pathophysiology of CRPS pain progression.

Comparison of Pulmonary Morbidity Using Sevoflurane or Propofol- Remifentanil Anesthesia in an Ivor Lewis Operation

OBJECTIVE An inhalation anesthetic-induced attenuation effect on the inflammatory reaction during one-lung ventilation (OLV) has been reported. Pulmonary inflammation is a substantive prognostic factor for Ivor Lewis operations. Blood inflammatory parameters and postoperative pulmonary complications between sevoflurane and propofol-remifentanil anesthesia in patients undergoing Ivor Lewis operations were compared. DESIGN A prospective, randomized study. SETTING A medical university. PARTICIPANTS Forty-eight patients undergoing Ivor Lewis operation allocated randomly into 2 groups. INTERVENTIONS Patients received sevoflurane or total intravenous anesthesia using propofol and remifentanil (n = 24 per group). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Blood interleukin-6 (IL-6), malondialdehyde (MDA), oxygenation, abnormalities on a chest radiograph (CXR), extubation, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, length of hospitalization, and postoperative complications were compared between the 2 anesthetic techniques. The level of IL-6 at the end of surgery was lower for sevoflurane (69.5 [35.9-121.0] pg/mL) than propofol-remifentanil (128.2 [92.8-163.8] pg/mL, p = 0.03), but this difference was not maintained 24 hours after surgery. Frequencies of abnormalities measured by a CXR, PaO(2)/F(I)O(2)<300, and PaCO(2) <50 mmHg until discharge, the postoperative highest C-reactive protein level, white blood cells, and MDA did not differ between the 2 anesthetics. No differences in the extubation time, ICU stay, discharge day, or the incidence of hospital complications between sevoflurane and propofol-remifentanil anesthesia techniques were observed. CONCLUSIONS Sevoflurane anesthesia attenuated an increase in blood IL-6 at the end of surgery but did not provide any advantages over propofol remifentanil in terms of postoperative pulmonary complications in Ivor Lewis operations.

Dilution and slow injection reduces the incidence of rocuronium-induced withdrawal movements in children.

Background The aim of this study was to evaluate whether slow injection of diluted rocuronium could reduce rocuronium-induced withdrawal movements effectively in children. Methods After loss of consciousness, rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg was administered into 171 children according to the pre-assigned groups as follows: Group CF, injection of non-diluted rocuronium over 5 seconds; Group CS, injection of non-diluted rocuronium over 1 minute; Group DF, injection of diluted rocuronium (10 times) over 5 seconds; Group DS, injection of diluted rocuronium over 1 minute. An investigator who was blind to the injection techniques recorded patient movements followed by rocuronium injection. Results The incidence of withdrawal movement in Group CF was highest among the groups (all P < 0.0001). Moreover, withdrawal movement was less frequently observed in Group DS than in Groups CS and DF (P = 0.021 and P = 0.007, respectively). Conclusions Slow injection of diluted rocuronium reduced the incidence of withdrawal movements in children.

Effect of Cervical Interlaminar Epidural Steroid Injection: Analysis According to the Neck Pain Patterns and MRI Findings

Background It is widely accepted that cervical interlaminar steroid injection (CIESI) is more effective in treating radicular pain than axial neck pain, but without direct comparison. And the differences of effect after CIESI according to MRI findings are inconsistent. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the therapeutic response of CIESI according to pain sites, durations, MRI findings, and other predictive factors altogether, unlike previous studies, which evaluated them separately. Methods The medical records of 128 patients who received fluoroscopy guided CIESI were analyzed. We evaluated the therapeutic response (more than a 50% reduction on the visual analog scale [VAS] by their second visit) after CIESI by (1) pain site; neck pain without radicular pain/radicular pain with or without neck pain, (2) pain duration; acute/chronic (more than 6 month), and (3) findings of MRI; herniated intervertebral disc (HIVD)/spinal stenosis, respectively and altogether. Results Eighty-eight patients (68%) responded to CIESI, and there were no significant differences in demographic data, initial VAS score, or laboratory findings. And there were no significant differences in the response rate relating to pain site, pain duration, or MRI findings, respectively. In additional analysis, acute radicular pain with HIVD patients showed significantly better response than chronic neck pain with spinal stenosis (P = 0.04). Conclusions We cannot find any sole predictive factor of therapeutic response to the CIESI. But the patients having acute radicular pain with HIVD showed the best response, and those having other chronic neck pain showed the worst response to CIESI.

Epidural Steroid Injection in Korean Pain Physicians: A National Survey

Background Epidural steroid injection (ESI) is one of the most common procedures for patients presenting low back pain and radiculopathy. However, there is no clear consensus on what constitutes appropriate steroid use for ESIs. To investigate optimal steroid injection methods for ESIs, surveys were sent to all academic pain centers and selected private practices in Korea via e-mail. Methods Among 173 pain centers which requested the public health insurance reimbursements for their ESIs and were enrolled in the Korean Pain Society, 122 completed questionnaires were returned, for a rate of 70.5%; also returned were surveys from 39 academic programs and 85 private practices with response rates of 83.0% and 65.9%, respectively. Results More than half (55%) of Korean pain physicians used dexamethasone for ESIs. The minimum interval of subsequent ESIs at the academic institutions (3.1 weeks) and the private practices (2.1 weeks) were statistically different (P = 0.01). Conclusions Although there was a wide range of variation, there were no significant differences between the academic institutions and the private practices in terms of the types and single doses of steroids for ESIs, the annual dose of steroids, or the limitations of doses in the event of diabetes, with the exception of the minimum interval before the subsequent ESI.

Comparison of respiratory mechanics between sevoflurane and propofol-remifentanil anesthesia for laparoscopic colectomy

Background The creation of pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg positioning during laparoscopic surgery are associated with respiratory changes. We aimed to compare respiratory mechanics while using intravenous propofol and remifentanil vs. sevoflurane during laparoscopic colectomy. Methods Sixty patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy were randomly allocated to one of the two groups: group PR (propofol-remifentanil group; n = 30), and group S (sevoflurane group; n = 30). Peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), dynamic lung compliance (Cdyn), and respiratory resistance (Rrs) values at five different time points: 5 minutes after induction of anesthesia (supine position, T1), 3 minutes after pneumoperitoneum (lithotomy position, T2), 3 minutes after pneumoperitoneum while in the lithotomy-Trendelenburg position (T3), 30 minutes after pneumoperitoneum (T4), and 3 minutes after deflation of pneumoperitoneum (T5). Results In both groups, there were significant increases in PIP and Rrs while Cdyn decreased at times T2, T3, and T4 compared to T1 (P < 0.001). The Rrs of group PR for T2, T3, and T4 were significantly higher than those measured in group S for the corresponding time points (P < 0.05). Conclusions Respiratory mechanics can be adversely affected during laparoscopic colectomy. Respiratory resistance was significantly higher during propofol-remifentanil anesthesia than sevoflurane anesthesia.

A comparison among infusion of lidocaine and dexmedetomidine alone and in combination in subjects undergoing coronary artery bypass graft: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND Previous studies have reported the cardioprotective effect of dexmedetomidine and lidocaine. We compared the effect of lidocaine and dexmedetomidine infusion during off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (OPCAB). METHODS 153 patients undergoing OPCAB were enrolled. The lidocaine group (n=36, Group LIDO) received an infusion of lidocaine 2 mg/kg/h after bolus 1.5 mg/kg; the dexmedetomidine group (n=40, Group DEX) received dexmedetomidine 0.3-0.7 μg/kg/h; the combined group (n=39, Group Combined) received infusion of both drugs; and the control group (n=38) received nothing. We measured serum creatinine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentration before and immediately after the surgery, postoperative day (POD)#1 and #2. The complication rate and clinical outcomes were compared. RESULTS The concentration of cTnI was significantly lower in the Group LIDO and Group Combined than the control group on POD#2. The concentration of CK-MB was significantly lower in the Group LIDO and Group Combined compared to the control group on POD#1 and #2 [CK-MB on POD#1: 7.67 (5.78-11.92) vs. 7.18 (5.01-11.72) vs. 13.19 (6.85-23.87) in the Group LIDO, combined and control, respectively, Group LIDO vs. control: p=0.003, Group Combined vs. control: p=0.015]. The AUC of CK-MB was significantly lower in the Group LIDO and Group Combined than the control group. However, clinical variables including complication rate, ICU stay and one-year mortality were not different. CONCLUSIONS Lidocaine infused at 2 mg/kg/h, but not dexmedetomidine infused at 0.3-0.7 μg/kg/h reduced postoperative myocardial injury marker levels compared with the control group. However, no other clinical benefits were observed.

Anatomical analysis of computed tomography images for determining the optimal oblique fluoroscope angle for percutaneous coeliac plexus block.

This retrospective study used abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan images to determine the optimal safe oblique angle for fluoroscopy in fluoroscope-assisted coeliac plexus block (CPB). Abdominal CT scans from 131 patients were included in the study: 42 patients with cancer of the pancreas head, 45 with cancer of the pancreas body and tail and 44 with chronic pancreatitis. The oblique angle and entry distance from the midline were measured at the T12 and L1 levels, and the safe angle range that avoided puncture of the organs was also measured. The optimal angle varied between the T12 and L1 levels, and between the right and left sides at the T12 level. There was no difference in the oblique angle between the patient groups. The optimal oblique angle for fluoroscopy was determined to be 17° for right T12, 18° for left T12, and 19° for both left and right L1.