$498 Friday, November 11, 2005 Poster Abstracts

to ascertain the continuing presence of NeP and the ongoing need for treatment. Only patients who relapsed during a drug holiday (pain became moderately, nmch, or very much worse) resumed trial participation. Results: VAS pain scores for DPN and P H N patients were 73 mm and 75 nml at baseline and 47 nml and 48 mm after 15 months. At 3 months, 45% and 36% of DPN and PHN patients reported pain reductions _>50%, while at 15 months 36% and 38% of patients reported similar reductions. The median drug-holiday duration was 3 days. All but 4 patients experienced pain exacerbation (relapse) during drug holidays. Most common AEs were dizziness, somnolence, and peripheral edema. Ten patients withdrew because of AEs. Conclusion: DPN and PHN patients refractory to therapy with tricyclics, gabapentin, and 3"a-line analgesics experienced clinically meaningful and sustained pain relief with pregabalin on long-term exposure (>lyr). Pfizer-funded.

1565 Effectiveness of Oxcarbazepine in sTmptomatic treatment of painful Diabetic Neuropathy: an open label prospective trial

A, Kemal Erdemoglu 1, Ayhan Varlibas 1. 1Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Kirikkale University, Kirikkale, Turkey

Aim: Painful diabetic neuropathy causes considerable impact on quality of life. In this study, we investigated the long-term efficacy and safety of oxcarbazepine, a new antiepileptic, in symptoms of painful diabetic neuropathy. Methods: This study included tlffrty-eight patient aged 33-62 years with diabetic neuropathy. Patients are screened initially with Miclffgan Diabetic. Neuropathy Questionnaire, clinical assessment and electro- physiological studies. The efficacy and safety of oxcarbazepine in symptoms of painful diabetic neuropathy were evaluated according to the changes in pain intensity and social interference subitems of Short form-Brief pain Inventory (BPI) scores and electrophysiological studies at the end of six months of the treatment. Results: In BPI, there was a significant difference in all of subitems of pain intensity (worst, least, average and pain now) and social interference (general activity, mood, walk, work, people relations, sleep, and life enjoyment) at the end of six months. The mean of total pain intensity score decreased from 23.4 ± 3.4 to 11.9 ± 3.1 (p < 0.01), for a mean reduction 48.7± 11.9 and the total social interference scores, with a reduction from a mean score of 42.3 ± 5.8 at the initial to a mean score of 20.6±4.7 at the end of six months (iJ < 0.01) for a mean reduction was 51.1 ± 10.0. There was not any statistical difference in electrophysiological parameters (p > 0.05). None of these patients had any prominent side effect leading to discontinue the treatment. Conclusion: Long-term oxcarbazepine treatment was found to be effective and safe in the symptoms of painful diabetic neuropathy

1566 Spinal NO pathway takes part in the analgesic efl~ct of APA Microcapstdized BCCs Subaraehnoid Transplantation

Yuge Jiang ~, Longhe Xu ~, Yilong Xue 1, Hong Zhang ~ . ~Anesthesiology, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.

Background: To study APA microcapsulized bovine chromaffin cells (BCCs) subarachnoid transplantation on the changes of neural nitric oxid synthase (nNOS) in spinal cord of chronic constriction injury (CCI) rats. Methods: SD rats were randomly divided into four groups, each has five. Normal rats were used as control group (group C). Rats that right sciatic nerve was ligated were used as CCI group. Five to six hundred empty APA microcapsules(group APA) or 5 × 106 APA mJcro- capsulized BCCs ( group APA-BCCs) were grated into subarachnoid space of CCI rats 7 days after operation. Allodytria and hyperalgesia

were measured by Von- Frey filaments and CO2 laser dividually 7 days after transplantation. Se~nent four and five of lumbar spinal cord was taken out and 15 ~tm freezing sections were made 7 days after transplantation. Sections were stained for nNOS according to standard immunocytochemistry. Results: The expression o fnNOS in the spinal cord of group CCI and group APA was higher than that of group C. In group APA-BCCs, allodynia and hyperalgesia was significantly reduced and the expres- sion of nNOS in the spinal cord was lower than that of group CCI and group APA. There was no difference the expression of nNOS between group APA-BCCs and group C. Conclusion: The expression of nNOS in the spinal cord of CCI rats was elevated. APA rnicrocapsulized BCCs grafting can alleviate allodynia and hyperalgesia threshold of CC.I rats, meanwhile it can decrease the expression o fnNOS in the spinal cord of CCI rats. Spinal NO pathway takes part in the analgesic effect of APA microcapsulized BCCs subarachnoid transplantation.

1567 Low back pain in Developing Country schoolchildren - how they respond

Josifi, S D ~, Pandit, N a, S. Kunlar B.K a. 1Nepal Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Kathman~u, Nepal

Background: Developing country like Nepal has poor health status in school students. Low back pain (LBP) in schoolchildren with no apparent clinical causes is known to be a common problem. Aim: To assess the role of both mechanical and psychosocial factors (including emotional and behavioral problems and other somatic pain complaints) in clffldhood LBP. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in a population of 850 schoolchildren aged 11-16 years. Information on these potential risk factors for LBP was sought using a self complete questionnaire and a five day bag weight diary. Specific scores was given in each criteria. The data were analyzed and edited in epi info program. At last, psychosocial counseling was given to the teachers. Results: Mechanical factors such as physical activity and school bag weight were not associated with LBP. However, strong assodations with LBP were observed for emotional problems, conduct problems, troublesome headaches, abdominal pain, sore throats, and daytime tiredness. Conclusion: Results suggest that psychosocial factors rather than mechanical factors are more important in LBP occurring in young populations and could possibly be a reflection of distress in school- children. Recommendation: There should be such as psychosocial counseling, good ventilation, limited student in a class, awareness among teachers and parents to reduce LBP and other health problems. Last but not the least, tiffs type of programs is helpful to prevent from occupational health hazards also.

1568 Low Back Pain in a Rural Commmdty People of Developing Country Nepal: How They Come for Clinical Management

Joshi, S D ~, Pandit, N 1, S.Kumar B.K ~. 1Nepal Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal

Aim of Investigation: Pain is one of the great problems in Nepali commmffty. Most of the time, the patient go to traditional healers or home based medical treatment, tiffs study was mostly to find out the nature and responses of pain among the community people and lastly refer them to the hospital. Methods: A cross sectional study in Nepal to determine the prevalence and risk factors for low back pain within the community. Nine hundred adults were selected using a multistage sampling technique. A questionnaire was adnffnistered wlffch sought information on demographic characteristics, smoking status, presence of low back