[Expression and significance of substance P, neurofilament-H in glomus tumors with chronic pain].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the expression and distribution of substance P (SP), neurofilament-H (NFH) in glomus tumors with chronic pain, and to discuss the process of chronic pain and the relationship with pain degree.


METHODS
Twenty-seven patients diagnosed as glomus tumor with chronic pain were enrolled as case group, and divided into light pain symptomatic group (LPSG) (n = 12) and severe pain symptomatic group (SPSG) (n = 15) according to clinical manifestations. Control group (CG) were enrolled by 30 patients with amputated extremities or hands after trauma. Immunohistochemical methods were used to determine the expression of SP, NFH which were detected quantitatively by computer graph analysis system too.


RESULTS
The positive expression and distribution of SP, NFH existed in all the three groups and SPSG expression level was the highest [Grayscale Value(SP) (143.3 +/- 7.5), Grayscale Value(NFH) (167.7 +/- 4.4)], LPSG followed [Grayscale Value(SP) (156.2 +/- 8.2), Grayscale Value(NFH) (194.8 +/- 4.0)], control group was the third [Grayscale Value(SP) (208.2 +/- 16.6), Grayscale Value(NFH) (225.1 +/- 8.3)]; The difference of expression level among three groups was significant [SPSG vs LPSG (P(SP) = 0.002, P(NFH) < 0.0001), SPSG vs CG (P(SP) < 0.0001, P(NFH) < 0.0001), LPSG vs CG (P(SP) < 0.0001, P(NFH) < 0.0001)]. The findings of Pearson product-moment correlation analysis between quantitative grayscale value of SP, NFH respectively and pain score in all the patients with glomus tumor showed linear negative correlation (r(SP) = -0.8974, P(SP) = 0.000001; r(NFH) = -0.6545, P(NFH) = 0.000212).


CONCLUSIONS
SP is the mainly afferent pain transmitter in the process of chronic pain in glomus tumor, and NFH plays an important role in pain-transmitted activities.
Wu
Jun-song
JS
Department of Orthopaedics, Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China.
Huang
Zong-jian
ZJ
Zhou
Jun-fu
JF
Lin
Min
M
Fang
Ma-rong
MR
Pang
Zhi-jun
ZJ
Yan
He-de
HD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005918:Glomus Tumor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis*
D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; C051774:neurofilament protein H; D013373:Substance P