Effects of Paraspinal Intramuscular Injection of Atelocollagen in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Retrospective Observational Study.

: Atelocollagen is used for soft tissue repair and reconstruction by replacing defective or damaged muscles, membranes, ligaments, and tendons. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of additional paraspinal intramuscular injection of atelocollagen on lumbar epidural steroid injection for reducing pain and improving functional capacity of patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). We retrospectively enrolled 608 consecutive patients with CLBP who received lumbar epidural steroid injection with or without additional paraspinal intramuscular injection of atelocollagen.

A New Role for Epidurography: A Simple Method for Assessing the Adequacy of Decompression during Percutaneous Plasma Disc Decompression.

Percutaneous plasma disc decompression (PPDD) is a minimally invasive treatment for discogenic low back pain and herniated disc-related symptoms. However, there are no known outcome predictive variables during the procedure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and validate epidurography as an intra-procedure outcome predictor.

Effect of Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression on Intensity of Pain and Herniated Disc Volume in Subacute Lumbar Herniated Disc.

Objective: Nonsurgical spinal decompression therapy (NSDT) is a conservative treatment for the lumbosacral herniated intervertebral disc (L-HIVD). This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the NSDT and change in disc volume through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in subacute L-HIVD.

Methods: Sixty patients with subacute L-HIVD were randomized into either the decompression group (group D,  = 30) or the nondecompression group (group N,  = 30).

Aspirin Cessation Before Interventional Procedures: Not Blindly Following Guidelines but Making Test-based Decisions.

Background: Deciding whether to continue or discontinue aspirin prior to interventional procedures is a major concern for pain physicians. Many guidelines have been published on the discontinuation of aspirin before invasive procedures; however, the recommendations are inconsistent and do not consider individual platelet function. Furthermore, many studies have shown a high prevalence of aspirin resistance  in patients taking this medication.

Comparison of Temperature and Pain Changes between the Drip and Topical Methods of Administering the Transnasal Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block.

The objective of this study was to compare facial temperatures and the visual analogue scale (VAS) between the drip method and the topical method of transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion block (SPGB). The transnasal SPGB is administered to patients with facial or head and neck pain. In the transnasal approach, the drip and topical methods are frequently used.

Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection for Zoster-Related Pain: The Golden Period for the Best Outcome.

Background: Zoster-related pain (ZRP) has many negative effects on a patient's quality of life. The transforaminal steroid injection (TFESI), which reduces neural inflammation and pain, has been advocated by pain physicians. Many reports demonstrated that early administration of TFESI showed better efficacy; however, the golden period during which TFESI is most effective remains unclear.

A Novel Application of Buprenorphine Transdermal Patch to Relieve Pain in the Knee Joint of Knee Osteoarthritis Patients: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is considered to be one of the most disabling diseases. The intra-articular opioid injection has been widely studied for its simplicity, safety, and efficacy in OA. In this study, however, we suggest a novel method of buprenorphine transdermal patch (BTDP) to painful knee joints of OA patients, instead of intra-articular opioid injection, and subsequently compared the knee application with conventional chest application.

Increased cerebral nuclear factor kappa B in a complex regional pain syndrome rat model: possible relationship between peripheral injury and the brain.

Purpose: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a rare but refractory pain disorder. Recent advanced information retrieval studies using text-mining and network analysis have suggested nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) as a possible central mediator of CRPS. The brain is also known to play important roles in CRPS.

Effects of 8 weeks of mat-based Pilates exercise on gait in chronic stroke patients.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an 8-week program of Pilates exercise on gait in chronic hemiplegia patients and to determine whether or not it can be used for rehabilitation in postsrtoke patients. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty individuals with unilateral chronic hemiparetic stroke (age, 66.1 ± 4.

Type and cause of liver disease in Korea: single-center experience, 2005-2010.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to describe the types and causes of liver disease in patients from a single community hospital in Korea between April 2005 and May 2010.

Methods: A cohort of patients who visited the liver clinic of the hospital during the aforementioned time period were consecutively enrolled (n=6,307). Consistent diagnostic criteria for each liver disease were set by a single, experienced hepatologist, and the diagnosis of all of the enrolled patients was confirmed by retrospective review of their medical records.

Clinical observation of 12 farmers who believe themselves to have suffered from chronic pesticide intoxication.

Background/aim: We assessed twelve cases of suspected chronic pesticide intoxication, with medically unexplained physical symptoms.

Methods: Complete blood cell count (CBC), blood chemistry, routine urinalysis, chest X-ray, ECG, gastrofiberscopy, abdominal ultrasonography, neuroselective sensory nerve conduction threshold, and psychological assessment were performed on 12 farmers who believe themselves to have suffered from chronic pesticide intoxication.

Results: No specific abnormalities were observed on CBC, routine urinalysis, chest X-ray, ECG, gastroscopy, abdominal ultrasonography, or peripheral nerve conduction velocity test.

Pesticide-initiated idiopathic environmental intolerance in South Korean farmers.

This study was designed to study patients with intolerance to pesticide smells. Ten subjects chosen were complaining of vague symptoms such as headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, myalgia, flu-like symptoms, etc., whenever exposed to the pesticide smells even at low intensity.