AIMS We examined the mechanism of action of naftopidil, an α1D/A blocker, on spinal descending serotonergic neurotransmission for the micturition reflex. METHODS We examined (1) urinary 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) after intraperitoneal administration of saline, para-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA; a serotonin synthetic enzyme inhibitor), and/or 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP; a serotonin prec...

OBJECTIVES Intracerebral injection of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) is being investigated as a therapeutic tool to prevent Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our aim was to investigate the effects of BMSCs by intrathecal injection in AD rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS BMSCs were obtained from the bone marrow of Wistar rat and transplanted into AD rat model via intrathecal injection. The rat model...

BACKGROUND Intrathecal adenosine reduces areas of mechanical hypersensitivity and provides analgesia in patients with neuropathic pain. Adenosine also causes side effects, yet its dose response for either efficacy or side effects has not been examined in double blind studies. We studied two doses of intrathecal adenosine in humans with experimental hypersensitivity and the ability of the adenos...

BACKGROUND Post herpetic neuralgia is a chronic neuropathic pain syndrome which remains one of the most difficult pain disorders to treat. Epidural injection of methylprednisolone with or without local anesthetic provides relief for neuralgia for a short duration only. Recent studies have shown a promising anti nociceptive effect for intrathecal midazolam, a water soluble benzodiazepine, due to...

INTRODUCTION Myelograghy is a process of instilling contrast medium to the subarachnoid space for evaluating the spinal column by radiography. There are various contrast solutions for different radiographic studies but not all of them are suitable for spinal column evaluation. CASE PRESENTATION Our patient was a 60-year-old man who developed severe pain, tonic clonic convulsions and cardiopul...

BACKGROUND Postoperative pain after TKA is a major concern to patients. The best technique to control pain is still controversial. Intrathecal morphine or periarticular multimodal drug injection are both commonly used and both appear to provide better pain control than placebo, but it is unclear whether one or the other provides better pain control. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES We asked whether intrath...

BACKGROUND For their analgesic and anti-arthritic effects, Aconitum species have been used in folk medicine in some East Asian countries. Although their analgesic effect is attributed to its action on voltage-dependent sodium channels, they also suppress purinergic receptor expression in dorsal root ganglion neurons in rats with neuropathic pain. In vitro study also demonstrated that the Aconit...