02-4 Aberrant temperature disparity in fingers, and its amelioration by warming therapies, in connective tissue diseases patients / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

Introduction: Human body has systems that preserve its homeostasis, corresponding to a spectrum of stimuli. As for thermal stimuli, vasculatures would react most, and changes in blood flow could be observed as skin temperature measured by thermography. In case that vasculature gets sickened, its response may change. We have observed that temperature unevenness/disparity among fingers is the most useful finding to see disturbed peripheral circulation in connective tissue diseases (CTDs) patients, although low temperatures prior to immersion and their delayed recovery after immersion are distinguished. Objectives: To examine whether warm stimulus ameliorates temperature disparity, and if it works, whether any differences are between warm tap water and warm water containing CO2. Patients and methods: CTD patients with signs or symptoms of circulatory disturbance in periphery of extremities were tested for thermo-loading test. Loading was hands immersion in 42C tap water or water containing CO2 (1000 ppm) for 10’’. Coefficient of variation (CV, mean of right & left SD/mean of 5 nailfolds’ temperature) was calculated at each measuring point (baseline, 0, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 minutes after the immersion), its change from baseline was examined, and the CV change was compared between tap and CO2 warm water. Results: Twenty-one (F:20, M:1, 60.0±17.1 year-old) , and 24 (F:22, M:2 58.3±19.4 y) patients were tested for tap and CO2 water immersion, respectively. Before warm bathing, varying levels of CV was observed from patient to patient (tap, 0.020+/-0.014; CO2 0.029+/-0.029, p<0.05). Just after the immersion, CV decreased in all of the patients (0.010+/-0.003, p<0.05 vs. baseline; 0.013+/-0.005, p<0.05). Then, afterward, CV gradually re-increased toward the level at baseline prior to bathing; however, until 20’ after, CV was still lower than that at baseline, in both immersions (data not shown). Thirty minutes after the immersion, CV re-increased to a level not statistically different from that at baseline in tap water immersion (0.018+/-0.011, ns); however, CV was still statistically lower in CO2 water immersion (0.016+/-0.014, p<0.05). Conclusion: Hands immersion in warm tap water and warm CO2 water both once ameliorated varied temperature, evaluated by CV. Amelioration was dissolved 30’ after the immersion in tap water, but sustained even 30’ after the immersion in CO2 water, in spite of higher CV in CO2 group

02-4Aberrant temperature disparity in fingers, and its amelioration by warming therapies, in connective tissue diseases patients / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

<b>Introduction:</b> Human body has systems that preserve its homeostasis, corresponding to a spectrum of stimuli. As for thermal stimuli, vasculatures would react most, and changes in blood flow could be observed as skin temperature measured by thermography. In case that vasculature gets sickened, its response may change. We have observed that temperature unevenness/disparity among fingers is the most useful finding to see disturbed peripheral circulation in connective tissue diseases (CTDs) patients, although low temperatures prior to immersion and their delayed recovery after immersion are distinguished. <BR><b>Objectives:</b> To examine whether warm stimulus ameliorates temperature disparity, and if it works, whether any differences are between warm tap water and warm water containing CO₂.<BR><b>Patients and methods: </b>CTD patients with signs or symptoms of circulatory disturbance in periphery of extremities were tested for thermo-loading test. Loading was hands immersion in 42C tap water or water containing CO₂ (1000 ppm) for 10’’. Coefficient of variation (CV, mean of right & left SD/mean of 5 nailfolds’ temperature) was calculated at each measuring point (baseline, 0, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 minutes after the immersion), its change from baseline was examined, and the CV change was compared between tap and CO₂ warm water.<BR><b>Results:</b> Twenty-one (F:20, M:1, 60.0±17.1 year-old) , and 24 (F:22, M:2 58.3±19.4 y) patients were tested for tap and CO₂ water immersion, respectively. Before warm bathing, varying levels of CV was observed from patient to patient (tap, 0.020+/-0.014; CO₂0.029+/-0.029, p<0.05). Just after the immersion, CV decreased in all of the patients (0.010+/-0.003, p<0.05 vs. baseline; 0.013+/-0.005, p<0.05). Then, afterward, CV gradually re-increased toward the level at baseline prior to bathing; however, until 20’ after, CV was still lower than that at baseline, in both immersions (data not shown). Thirty minutes after the immersion, CV re-increased to a level not statistically different from that at baseline in tap water immersion (0.018+/-0.011, ns); however, CV was still statistically lower in CO₂ water immersion (0.016+/-0.014, p<0.05). <BR><b>Conclusion:</b> Hands immersion in warm tap water and warm CO₂ water both once ameliorated varied temperature, evaluated by CV. Amelioration was dissolved 30’ after the immersion in tap water, but sustained even 30’ after the immersion in CO₂ water, in spite of higher CV in CO₂ group

The Effect of Nitric Oxide on Mechanical and Theraml Allodynia in Neuropathic Pain Model of Rat

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) is known to play causative role in the development of neuropathic pain following peripheral nerve injury. However, it is yet to be investigated whether the role of NO differs in pain modalities, such as mechanical and thermal stimuli. Also, it has not been investigated whether NO has different roles in the stages of neuropathic pain - its development and maintenance. METHODS: Neuropathic pain was induced by a resection of the lumbar dorsal root 5, 6 (L 5, 6). After N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an NO synthase inhibitor was injected intrathecally or locally around the dorsal root, we observed the behavioral response to the mechanical and thermal stimuli. RESULTS: Mechanical and thermal allodynia was inhibited by the application of L-NAME before the dorsal root injury. However, L-NAME did not affect the mechanical and thermal allodynia during the maintenance of neuropathic pain. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that NO in the spinal cord or injured perineural site may play an important role in the induction of neuropathic pain, and may be associated with mechanical and thermal allodynia.

Effects of rectal thermal-and pressure-stimuli on visceral perception thresholds in patients with irritable bowel syndrome / 中华消化杂志

Objective To observe the effects of rectal thermal- and pressure- stimuli on visceral perception thresholds in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and investigate its pathogenesis. Methods Rectal visceral perception thresholds were examined in 46 patients with IBS and in 13 normal controls after rectal thermal- and pressure stimuli. Subjects were asked to report its sensation, location and spread. Results Compared with healthy subjects, IBS patients, especially those with diarrhea-predominant IBS, demonstrated significantly lower perception thresholds to rectal thermal and pressure stimuli. Ice had varied effects on symptoms in patients with IBS and no effects on perception thresholds. Conclusion Visceral perception thresholds were decreased significantly after rectal thermal-and pressure- stimuli in patients with IBS. Visceral hypersensitivity is one of the important pathogenesis in IBS.