BACKGROUND: Dexmedemomidine, a highly selective alpha-2 adrenoreceptor agonist has an analgesic and sedative effect without causing respiratory depression. In this study, we compared the duration of brachial plexus block (BPB), the time at which the patient first feels pain after performing BPB, the need for use of analgesics, and the occurrence rate of complications while continuous infusion with dexmedetomidine was used for sedation in patients undergoing BPB, to a control group, who were only infused with normal saline. METHODS: BPB was performed in 48 patients scheduled for upper limb surgery. Infraclavicular approach was provided with 40 ml of 1.5% mepivacaine and 200 microg of epinephrine using nerve stimulator. After verification of successful block, dexmedetomidine group received dexmedetomidine (loading dose 0.1 microg/kg/min for the first 10 minutes followed by a maintenance dose of 0.005 microg/kg/min as required to maintain bispectral index 60-80). In the control group, normal saline was infused at a rate of 10 ml/hr. The duration of BPB, the time at which the patient first feels pain after performing BPB, frequency of complication, and the use of analgesics of the both groups were checked. RESULTS: The motor and sensory block duration, and the time at which the patient first feels pain after BPB were longer in the dexmedetomidine group compared to the control group. And the need for analgesics were less in the dexmedetomidine group. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous administration of dexmedetomidine prolongs the duration of BPB.
Administration, Intravenous ; Analgesics ; Brachial Plexus ; Dexmedetomidine ; Epinephrine ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Mepivacaine ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Upper Extremity

The transdermal administration of narcotics is one of the alternative ways of providing adequate pain relief for the patients with chronic cancer pain. A Phase 4 trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Fentanyl-TTS in adult patients with cancer-related pain in Korea. METHODS: Patients with histologically confirmed malignancy, who have pain related to the cancer and/or therapy, pain necessitating the use of opoid analgesics, age of 18 yr or older, ability to communicate effectively with study personnel, and signed on informed consent were included. The patients were titrated with a short-acting narcotic to control their cancer pain before they are converted to a fentanyl-transdermal therapeutic system(TTS). Short acting parenteral morphine and MS contin were used as rescue medications. All patients were evaluated initially and were followed up with a pain visual analogue scale(VAS), quality of life(QOL)-VAS. Patients were asked to keep the daily record for 21 days about pain VAS, QOL-VAS, amount of rescue morphine used, and side effects. RESULTS: Twenth two patients were enrolled from January 1996 to October 1997. The dose of fentanyl-TTS required, ranged between 25 and 75 ug/hr (25 microgram/hr in 13, 50 microgram/hr in 4, and 75 microgram/hr in 2). The mean dose of morphine required before the use of the fentanyl-TTS was 135.3 mg (20-285 mg/day), but it was decreased after the use of the fentanyl-TTS. Pain VAS and QOL-VAS were in adquate level during the fentanyl- TTS treatment. Patients favored continuous use of fentanyl after the study was finished. Side effect of fentanyl-TTS was minimal. CONCLUSION: Transdermal fentanyl seems to be a convenient and effective analgesic for the control of cancer related pain in Korean. A controlled trial comparing fentanyl-TTS to morphine needs to be followed.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Adult* ; Analgesics ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Korea ; Morphine ; Narcotics

BACKGROUND: Since November 2012, some of over-the-counter (OTC) medications have been sold in convenience store without pharmacist' s supervision. We purposed to examine if the product labels of OTCs provide sufficient information that is appropriate for consumers who may have low health literacy. METHODS: We compared the difficulty of words that are utilized in pharmaceutical product labels of interest (intervention) with those in the 6th grade textbook (control). Pharmaceutical products of interest were comprised of 13 OTCs which have been sold currently in convenience stores. We grouped words into the 4 levels of difficulty based on the Korean Vocabulary Classification for Education, and statistically tested words frequency in each level between OTCs and control. RESULTS: The 13 OTC labels included lay language (easier or equal to language used in primary school) about 10% less; professional language about 10% more (p < 0.001 in all). Labels for analgesics had the longest and most difficult information, followed by common cold preparations, muscle pain relievers as plaster or cataplasma and digestives. CONCLUSION: The 13 OTC labels might fail to provide appropriate information for safety use by consumers in terms of the difficulty level of words. The improvement of labels of OTC medications and consumer education strategies are called for safety use of OTC medications sold in convenience stores.
Analgesics ; Classification ; Common Cold ; Comprehension* ; Education ; Health Literacy ; Myalgia ; Organization and Administration ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Product Labeling* ; Vocabulary

BACKGROUND: Compared with conventional routes of delivering potent analgesics to postoperative patients, transdermal administration of fentanyl offers the advantages of simplicity and noninvasiveness. The analgesic efficacy and safty of transdermal fentanyl patch (TDFP) were evaluated postoperatively. METHOD: TDFP releasing 25 mcg/hr (Group 1) or placebo (Group 2) were applied to 40 women 6 hours before total abdominal hysterectomy under the general anesthesia. Postoperatively, self-administered intravenous fentanyl was maintained with a 20-mcg incremental dose and a 10-min. locking interval. Each group was assessed following 48 hours with respects to vital signs, VAS pain scores, hourly-used fentanyl doses, satisfaction scores and side effects. RESULT: VAS observed 24 hours, 36 hours after operation were significantly lower in group 1 than group 2. Hourly-used fentanyl doses were significantly lower in group 1 than group 2 at 2 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours after operation. The incidence of side effects were similar between group 1 and group 2. CONCLUSION: TDFP-25 mcg applied 6 hours before operation provides supplementary analges-ia after the postoperative period without significant side effects such as respiratory depression.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Analgesics ; Anesthesia, General ; Female ; Fentanyl* ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Incidence ; Postoperative Period ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Vital Signs

Analgesics ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Injections, Spinal ; Neoplasms ; complications ; pathology ; Pain ; drug therapy ; etiology

The possible characteristics of spinal interaction between sildenafil (phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor) and morphine on formalin-induced nociception in rats was examined. Then the role of the opioid receptor in the effect of sildenafil was further investigated. Catheters were inserted into the intrathecal space of male Sprague-Dawley rats. For induction of pain, 50 microliter of 5% formalin solution was applied to the hindpaw. Isobolographic analysis was used for the evaluation of drug interaction between sildenafil and morphine. Furthermore, naloxone was intrathecally given to verify the involvement of the opioid receptor in the antinociception of sildenafil. Both sildenafil and morphine produced an antinociceptive effect during phase 1 and phase 2 in the formalin test. The isobolographic analysis revealed an additive interaction after intrathecal delivery of the sildenafil-morphine mixture in both phases. Intrathecal naloxone reversed the antinociception of sildenafil in both phases. These results suggest that sildenafil, morphine, and the mixture of the two drugs are effective against acute pain and facilitated pain state at the spinal level. Thus, the spinal combination of sildenafil with morphine may be useful in the management of the same state. Furthermore, the opioid receptor is contributable to the antinocieptive mechanism of sildenafil at the spinal level.
Analgesics/*administration & dosage ; Analgesics, Opioid/*administration & dosage ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal/drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Synergism ; Formaldehyde/toxicity ; Injections, Spinal ; Male ; Morphine/*administration & dosage ; Naloxone/administration & dosage ; Narcotic Antagonists/administration & dosage ; Pain/chemically induced/therapy ; Pain Measurement/drug effects ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors/*administration & dosage ; Piperazines/*administration & dosage ; Purines/administration & dosage ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sulfones/*administration & dosage ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of administration of dexmedetomidine in anaesthesia for esophageal cancer operation.

METHODS100 patients (ASAI-II) who were undergoing to esophageal cancer operation were randomly divided into control group (group A) and dexmedetomidine group (group B) (n = 50). The scheme of induction and maintenance of aesthesia of the two groups were identical. Patients in group B administered dexmedetomidine at a dose of 1 microg/kg over 10 min and patients in group A were given a placebo infusion of normal saline. Patients in group B administered dexmedetomidine at a dose of 0.4 microg/(kg x h) was injected and stoped at 30 min by the end of operation. Mean artery pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were detected before induction (T0), induction (T1), 1 min after extubation (T2), 5 min after extubation (T3) and 10 min after extubation (T4) Propofol comsumption, fentanlyl comsumption, and side effects were recorded as well.

RESULTSThe results showed that MAP and HR (T0, T1, T2, T3, T4) in group B were significantly different from those in group A which fluctuated more markedly (P < 0.05). Propofol comsumption in group A was much more than that in group B (P < 0.05). Incidence of pharynx and larynx ache and restlessness were higher in group A than those in group B (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDexmedetomidine could effectively reduce the cardiovascular response to incubation and extubation in esophageal cancer operation patients. Propofol comsumption, fentanlyl comsumption and side effects were reduceed as well.

Adjuvants, Anesthesia ; administration & dosage ; Adult ; Aged ; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic ; administration & dosage ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; administration & dosage ; Dexmedetomidine ; administration & dosage ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Fentanyl ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Propofol ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo investigate the preemptive analgesic efficiency of parecoxib in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

METHODSForty ASA I-II patients aged 30 to 64 years undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery were randomized to receive either intravenous parecoxib sodium (40 mg) at anesthesia induction (group A) or intravenous parecoxib sodium (40 mg) 30 min before the completion of surgery (group B). Butorphanol was administered by patient-controlled analgesia for postoperative analgesia. The intensity of pain measured by VAS score was recorded at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 h after the operation. The number of unsatisfied demand and the number of successfully delivered doses, butorphanol consumption at 12 h and 24 h after the operation, the patients' global evaluation of the postoperative analgesia and the number of the patients receiving rescue medication and adverse effects related to analgesia were recorded and compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe VAS scores at different time points were significantly lower in group A than in group B (P<0.05). The number of unsatisfied demand and the number of successfully delivered doses were significantly higher and butorphanol consumption at 12 h and 24 h after the operation was significantly less in group A (P<0.05). The incidence of adverse events was similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONAdministration of 40 mg parecoxib sodium at anesthesia induction in the patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery can result in significant preemptive analgesia.

Adult ; Analgesia ; methods ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Analgesics, Opioid ; administration & dosage ; Butorphanol ; administration & dosage ; Colorectal Surgery ; Humans ; Isoxazoles ; administration & dosage ; Laparoscopy ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo assess the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of Tongjingbao optimal formula and analyze its active components.

METHODAnimals were divided into the model group, the Tongjingbao granule group and the Tongjingbao optimal formula group. The mice dysmenorrhea model was induced by oxytocin, and their content of blood calcium and MDA, NO, PGE2 in uterus were determined to assess the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of different components in Tongjingbao optimal formula and their impacts.

RESULTAll components of Tongjingbao optimal formula could extend the dysmenorrhea incubation period of mice with dysmenorrhea, reduce their average writhing time, increase the writhing inhibition rate, lessen the content of blood calcium and MDA, PGE2 in uterus, and enhance the content of NO in uterus.

CONCLUSIONAll components of Tongjingbao optimal formula have the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, and different components show a synergistic effect in treating dysmenorrheal in many links.

Analgesics ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; Dysmenorrhea ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of intrathecal ouabain and tizanidine injection for treatment of neuropathic pain in rats.

METHODSMale SD rats weighing 250-300 g were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 6), namely the control group, ouabain group, tizanidine group, combined ouabain and tizanidine injection group, and the antagonist group. Intrathecal catheter was implanted 7 days before spinal nerve ligation to establish the neuropathic pain model. Mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) before and after intrathecal administration of the agents was recorded in the rats. Isobolographic analysis was performed to evaluate the interactions between the agents.

RESULTSIntrathecal injection of ouabain (0.25-5 microg) or tizanidine (0.5-5 microg) alone produced dose-dependent analgesic effect against the neuropathic pain (P < 0.05). Isobolographic analysis revealed a synergistic interaction between ouabain and tizanidine. Intrathecal pretreatment with atropine (5 microg) or yohimbine (20 microg) antagonized the effects of ouabain and tizanidine administered alone or in combination (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIntathecal injection of ouabain or tizanidine produces dose-dependent analgesic effects against neuropathic pain, and their synergistic effect after combined injection probably involves the cholinergic transmission and alpha2 receptor.

Analgesics ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Clonidine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Injections, Spinal ; Ouabain ; administration & dosage ; Pain ; drug therapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Nerves ; injuries