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Clinical Trial Summary

This proposed study suggests that peripheral tissue acidosis sensed by the somatosensory system (sngceptin) would evoke the sng perception in the brain. This hypothesis is based on investigators preliminary data that the peripheral muscle acidosis will evoked the central sng perception. This proposed study also identify the detection of brain activation areas related to the peripheral muscle acidosis. Investigators will know specific brain areas related to sng perception evoked by the peripheral muscle acidosis and, accordingly, a novel mechanism and potential treatment for sng would be developed in this proposed study.


Clinical Trial Description

Sng is a prominent complaint in Taiwanese people with low back pain. "Sng" is created to represent this Taiwanese word. Based on investigators preliminary data, sng was one of the most common complaints in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and also one of the most common indication for lumbar spine operations. Back sng is not adequately relieved by pain-killers or even by the lumbar spine operations. By using functional magnetic resonance imaging and questionnaires, the investigators preliminary study demonstrated that sng is different from pain in the level of brain perception and the level of subjective concept. It is very likely that sng has its own unique nerve pathway other than pain. The subjective feeling of sng is very similar to sour in taste, so it is likely that acidosis may be involved in the process of sng sensation, especially in the muscle. Delayed onset muscle soreness is a well-known example, and the soreness is dependent on the proton-sensing neurons. Indeed, substantial evidences showed that up to 80% muscle afferents are acid-sensitive but not nociceptors. Therefore, the investigators propose that sng is the perception in the brain when the tissue acidosis is sensed by the somatosensory system, and "sng-ception" is created to indicate the sensation of tissue acidosis. However, the causal connection between the peripheral sngception and the central brain perception of sng is not established. The objective of this proposal is to establish the causal connection between peripheral muscle acidosis and the central brain sng perception. The investigators central hypothesis is that acidosis-evoked sensation in the muscles will cause a central sng perception in the brain. This hypothesis is based on investigators previous studies that showed sng is different from pain in terms of subjective responses, brain activation areas and clinical impacts. To achieve this goal, two specific aims will be pursued 1. to determine if an acid solution will evokes sng response, and, 2. to detect the brain activation area of sng evoked by an acid solution in functional magnetic resonance imaging. Successful establishment of the casual connection between the peripheral muscle acidosis and the central brain sng perception will lead to a more comprehensive understanding of sng mechanism and the potential medication development. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT04049253
Study type Interventional
Source Taipei Medical University Hospital
Contact Jiann-Her Lin, MD/PhD
Phone +886973405133
Email jiannher@me.com
Status Recruiting
Phase N/A
Start date July 11, 2019
Completion date January 1, 2023

See also
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