The effects of repeated thermal therapy for patients with chronic pain

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that local thermal therapy with a hot pack or paraffin relieves pain. We hypothesized that systemic warming may decrease pain and improve the outcomes in patients with chronic pain. The purpose of this study was to clarify the effects of systemic thermal therapy in patients with chronic pain. METHODS: Group A (n = 24) patients with chronic pain were treated by a multidisciplinary treatment including cognitive behavioral therapy, rehabilitation, and exercise therapy, whereas group B (n = 22) patients were treated by a combination of multidisciplinary treatment and repeated thermal therapy. A far-infrared ray dry sauna therapy and post-sauna warming were performed once a day for 4 weeks during hospitalization. We investigated the improvements in subjective symptoms, the number of pain behavior after treatment and outcomes 2 years after discharge. RESULTS: The visual analog pain score, number of pain behavior, self-rating depression scale, and anger score significantly decreased after treatment in both groups. After treatment, the number of pain behavior was slightly smaller (p = 0.07) and anger score was significantly lower in group B than those in group A (p = 0.05). Two years after treatment, 17 patients (77%) in group B returned to work compared with 12 patients (50%) in group A (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a combination of multidisciplinary treatment and repeated thermal therapy may be a promising method for treatment of chronic pain.     

Feedback regulation of antibody formation by suppressive B cell factor: preferential suppression of high-affinity antibody production by memory B lymphocytes

Cloned TS4.44 cells, which were hybridized HAT-sensitive 3T3-4E cells with B cells stimulated by immune complexes produce a lymphokine, biochemical and biological characteristics of which are identical with those of conventional suppressive B cell factor (SBF) synthesized by Fc receptor bearing B cells stimulated with immune complexes. This factor is known to suppress B cell responses to antigen/mitogen. The present studies were carried out by using this hybridoma-derived SBF to characterize the large proportion of B cells sensitive to SBF and the small proportion of B cells resistant to it in terms of affinities of antibodies which these cells are able to produce. The treatment of normal spleen cells with SBF resulted in a 50-70% decrease in anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) antibody production when the cells were transferred into X-ray-irradiated mice along with alum-precipitated dinitrophenyl-conjugated keyhole limpet hemocyanin (DNP-KLH). The affinity of anti-DNP antibody molecules produced in these mice was significantly lower than that of the controls, even if immunization was repeated. The target cells for SBF were B, and not helper T cells which might be involved in the process of affinity maturation. A single treatment of spleen cells in vitro with SBF was sufficient to abrogate the precursors committed to mediate high-affinity anti-DNP antibody responses, since the retreatment with SBF in vitro and transfer into the second irradiated recipients along with antigens of spleen cells of mice to which SBF-treated spleen cells were transferred 3 weeks before resulted in almost the same level of plaque-forming-cell-responses as in mice which received medium-treated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

EXPERIMENTAL MESANGIOPROLIFERATIVE GLOMERULONEPHRITIS IN RATS INDUCED BY INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION OF ANTI-THYMOCYTE SERUM

Focal glomerulonephritis was induced in rats, by a single intravenous injection of anti-Thy-1.1 antibody (ATS). One hour after the administration, the glomeruli of affected rats developed necrotic changes of the mesangial cells while after two hours, mesangiolytic changes appeared. From six days onwards, focal segmental mesangial proliferation which persisted until 30 days, occurred. This is thought to be the first report of experimental nephritis induced by pure anti-mesangial antibody.     

H-ras-1 point mutation in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors: polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and direct sequencing from paraffin-embedded tissues

It has been shown that the NF1 (neurofibromatosis type 1) gene encodes a tumor suppressor which inactivates ras proteins. Among malignant mesenchymal tumors, H-ras-1 mutations have been found in malignant fibrous histiocytoma, leiomyosarcoma and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. However, studies on H-ras-1 mutation of many cases of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) have not been documented. Therefore, we investigated H-ras-1 mutations of MPNST. In 45 cases of MPNSTs of our files, DNA was extracted from the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue, and the mutations of the H-ras-1 gene were detected by using PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphisms) method and direct sequencing. We found two cases with H-ras-1 point mutation in MPNST for the first time. Both cases showed the same mutation in codon 13.1 [GGT(Gly) to AGT(Ser) transition]. Interestingly, both cases were associated with NF1. It is possibile that the mutation of the H-ras-1 gene occurred after the mutation of the NF1 gene in the MPNST.     

A compact and inexpensive device using an electronic calculator for measuring ambulatory activity in mice

A device for measuring ambulatory activity in mice was developed. The device consisted of a plastic case, a bed plate, a step board (as a detector) and a calculator (as a recorder). A 2.2 cm width section was cut out from the middle of the case bottom in the direction of the minor axis and a step board, a width of 2 cm, was placed in the opening. A short bolt was screwed into one end of the step board and the head of the bolt was placed on the equal key of the calculator. The calculator counted the number of times the mouse stood on the step board. The validity of the device was demonstrated by measuring the effect of methamphetamine (1-4 mg/kg) on the ambulatory activity in mice.     

Sensory components facilitating jaw-closing muscle activities in the rabbit

Summary The role of oral and facial sensory receptors in the control of masticatory muscle activities was assessed from the effect of acute deafferentiation on cortically induced rhythmic jaw movements (CRJMs) in anesthetized rabbits. When a thin polyurethane-foam strip (1.5, 2.5 or 3.5 mm thick) was placed between opposing molars during CRJMs, masseteric activities were facilitated in association with an increase in the medial excursion of the mandible during the power phase. The effects varied with the pattern of CRJMs, and the rate of facilitation was greater for small circular movements than for the crescent-shaped movements. Furthermore, the response of the masseter muscle was greater in the anterior half of the muscle, where muscle spindles are most dense, than in its posterior half. It was also demonstrated that the response increased with an increase in the thickness of the test strip. In contrast, the activities of the jaw-opening muscle were not affected significantly. The duration of masseteric bursts increased during application of the test strip and the chewing rhythm tended to slow down. However, the latter effect was not significant. After locally anesthetizing the maxillary and inferior alveolar nerves, the facultative responses of the masseter muscle to the test strip was greatly reduced but not completely abolished. Lesioning of the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (Mes V) where the primary ganglion cells of muscle spindle afferents from jaw-closing muscles and some periodontal afferents are located, also reduced the facilitative effects. Similar results were obtained in the animals with the kainic acid injections into the Mes V 1 week before electrical lesioning of this nucleus. In these animals the effects of electrical lesioning of the Mes V could be attributed to the loss of muscle receptor afferents since the neurons in the vicinity of the Mes V were destroyed and replaced by glial cells, whereas the Mes V neurons are resistant to kainic acid. When electrical lesioning of the Mes V and sectioning of the maxillary and inferior alveolar nerves were combined in animals with a kainic acid injection into the Mes V, the response of the masseter muscle to application of the strip was almost completely abolished. From these findings, we conclude that both periodontal receptors and muscle spindles are primarily responsible for the facilitation of jaw-closing muscle activities. Furthermore, it is suggested that the transcortical loop may not be the only path producing this facilitation since similar effects were induced in animals with ablation of the cortical masticatory area (CMA), when the test strip was placed between the molars during rhythmic jaw movements induced by pyramidal tract stimulation.     

The effects of prostaglandin E1 on the pepsin activities in gastric mucosa and juice.

Prostaglandin E1 elevated pepsin activity in gastric mucosa but lowered pepsin activity in the gastric juice of rats treated by pylorus ligation and intragastric administration of hydrochloric acid. In these animals zymogen granules with low electron density were numerous in the gastric chief cells following prostaglandin E1 treatment. The prostaglandin E1-induced increase in mucosal pepsin activity was slightly inhibited by actinomycin D and there was no apparent increase in 3H-thymidine incorporation into gastric mucosa following treatment with prostaglandin E1. It is suggested that prostaglandin E1 causes an elevation of pepsin activity in the gastric mucosa by stimulating pepsin synthesis and perhaps also by facilitating pepsin release from zymogen granules. However, it also appears to inhibit pepsin release from the mucosa into the gastric cavity judging by the decrease of pepsin activity in gastric juice. The reduced pepsin activity in gastric juice may account, in part, for the reported anti-ulcerative action of prostaglandin.     

Expression profiling of cytokines and related genes in regenerating skeletal muscle after cardiotoxin injection: a role for osteopontin

To examine the roles of cytokines in muscle regeneration, we injected cardiotoxin into mouse tibialis anterior muscle and examined the expression profiles of cytokines and related genes in the regeneration process. Expression of 40, 64, and 7 genes among 522 genes spotted on a cytokine expression array were increased more than fivefold at 48 hours, 96 hours, and 7 days after toxin injection, respectively, when compared with those of the control muscle. Especially the levels of mRNA for chemokines and chemokine receptors, many of which are potent regulators of macrophages, were highly elevated 48 hours after injury. The expression of osteopontin (OPN), a versatile regulator of inflammation and tissue repair, was up-regulated more than 118-fold in regenerating muscle at 48 hours after injury. Northern blotting confirmed that the expression of OPN was highest at 48 hours after cardiotoxin injection and declined sharply thereafter. Immunohistochemistry showed that OPN was detected both in the cytoplasm of macrophages and in necrotic muscle infiltrated with macrophages. Our studies suggest OPN may serve as an adhesion molecule that promotes macrophage binding to necrotic fibers and may be an important mediator in the early phase of muscle regeneration.     

Inhibition of RNA synthesis differentially affects in vitro melatonin release from the pineal organs of ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The purpose of this study was to explore how the muscles which control postural body segments are activated during bilateral isometric ramp pushes exerted with the upper limbs by seated subjects. The paradigm under study presents the advantage that the subject is in a quasi-static posture, and since upper limbs are stretched out, the dynamic phenomena, which might occur, can only originate from the rest of the body, which means from the postural chain. A dynamometer was used to measure the horizontal force, Fx, exerted on the bar, and a custom-designed force-plate was used to measure global reaction forces (Rx) and displacement of the centre of pressure (Xp) along the antero-posterior axis. Electromyograms (EMGs) were picked up by bipolar surface electrodes from 14 muscles crossing the lower limb, pelvis, trunk and upper limb joints. It was shown that transient push efforts require monotonous EMG increase in postural as well as in focal muscles. The EMG sequence starts with the postural muscles and ends with the focal ones. The postural EMG sequence is anticipatory. It is concluded that the EMG sequence is programmed according to the task parameters, and that its role is to counteract in advance the perturbing effect of the effort, in order to allow the effort to be performed efficiently. It is suggested that excitation between the postural muscles is distributed according to their biomechanical role in relation to the supports.