YokoCo

To assess the effectiveness of mind-body (MB) exercise interventions provided by physical therapists for reducing pain and disability in people with low back pain (LBP).

Kinins are endogenous peptides that belong to the kallikrein-kinin system, extensively studied for over a century. Their essential role in multiple physiological and pathological processes is demonstrated by activating two transmembrane G-protein-coupled receptors, the kinin B and B receptors. Attention is mainly given to the pathological role of kinins in pain transduction mechanisms. In the past years, a wide range of preclinical studies has amounted to the literature reinforcing the need for an updated review about the participation of kinins and their receptors in pain disorders. Here, we performed an extensive literature search since 2004, describing the historical progress and the current understanding of the kinin receptors' participation and its potential therapeutic in several acute and chronic painful conditions. These include inflammatory (mainly arthritis), neuropathic (caused by different aetiologies, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, antineoplastic toxicity and diabetes) and nociplastic (mainly fibromyalgia) pain. Moreover, we highlighted the pharmacological actions and possible clinical applications of the kinin B and B receptor antagonists, kallikrein inhibitors or kallikrein-kinin system signalling pathways-target molecules in these different painful conditions. Notably, recent findings sought to elucidate mechanisms for guiding new and better drug design targeting kinin B and B receptors to treat a disease diversity. Since the kinin B receptor antagonist, Icatibant, is clinically used and well-tolerated by patients with hereditary angioedema gives us hope kinin receptors antagonists could be more robustly tested for a possible clinical application in the treatment of pathological pains, which present limited pharmacology management.

Tear film lipid layer (TFLL), the final layer of the human tear film is responsible for surface tension reduction while blinking, water evaporation retardation and maintaining the stability of the tear film. The study of the composition-structure-function relationship of TFLL is paramount, as a compromised structure of TFLL leads to the emergence of dry eye disease (DED) which is one the most prevalent ophthalmic surface diseases of the modern world, associated with chronic pain and reduced visual capability. In this model membrane study, a systematic approach is used to study the biophysical properties of TFLL model membranes as a function of composition. Three mixed-lipid model membranes are studied along with their individual components comprising cholesteryl oleate (CO), glyceryl trioleate (GT), L-α-phosphatidylcholine (egg PC) and a free fatty acid mixture. The models become progressively more complex from binary to quaternary mixtures, allowing the role of each individual lipid to be derived. Langmuir balance, Brewster Angle Microscopy (BAM) and Profile Analysis Tensiometer (PAT) are used to study the surface activity and compression-expansion cycles, morphology, and rheological behaviour of the model membranes, respectively. Evidence of multilayering is observed with inclusion of CO and a reversible collapse is associated with the GT phase transition. An initially more coherent film is observed due to the addition of polar PC. Notably, these individual behaviours are retained in the mixed films and suggest a possible role for each physiological component of TFLL.

Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman (Rosaceae), commonly known as "Pygeum" or "African cherry", occurs in mainland montane forest "islands" scattered across sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and some surrounding islands. Traditionally, decoctions of the stem-bark are taken orally for the treatment of a wide variety of conditions, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), stomach ache, chest pain, malaria, heart conditions, and gonorrhoea, as well as urinary and kidney diseases. The timber is used to make axe handles and for other household needs. The dense wood is also sawn for timber.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) due to the novel coronavirus has become the highest priority that threatens human health. This situation demands widespread vaccination and the innovation of new therapeutic methods. Despite drug discoveries, the need for approving new medicaments is felt because of adverse effects and lack of efficacy. Several medicinal plants including Viola odorata L. are recommended in traditional Persian medicine for alleviating respiratory infection symptoms. Recent studies showed anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-asthmatic, antitussive, analgesic, and antibacterial activities of sweet violet. These enhance respiratory functions, reduce pulmonary inflammation, and decline mucous membrane edema. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of sweet violet syrup in alleviating the manifestations of COVID-19 infection.

Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a common cycling-related injury, and independent factors need to be identified to enable effective injury prevention strategies. We aim to determine factors associated with PFP in cyclists entering mass community-based events.

We assessed whether race or ethnicity was associated with the incidence of high-impact chronic pain (cLBP) among adults consulting a primary care provider for acute low back pain (aLBP).

Previous studies have suggested that administration of epidural 3% 2-chloroprocaine (CP) before epidural morphine results in decreased analgesic efficacy of epidural morphine. We sought to determine whether these observations were a result of antagonism or a window period between the conclusion of surgical anesthesia for cesarean delivery and the peak onset time of epidural morphine, and whether a method to preserve the analgesic efficacy of epidural morphine exists.

Chronic pain is a common and often debilitating problem that affects 100 million Americans. A better understanding of pain's molecular mechanisms is necessary for developing safe and effective therapeutics. Microglial activation has been implicated as a mediator of chronic pain in numerous preclinical studies; unfortunately, translational efforts using known glial modulators have largely failed, perhaps at least in part due to poor specificity of the compounds pursued, or an incomplete understanding of microglial reactivity. In order to achieve a more granular understanding of the role of microglia in chronic pain as a means of optimizing translational efforts, we utilized a clinically-informed mouse model of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and monitored microglial activation throughout pain progression. We discovered that while both males and females exhibit spinal cord microglial activation as evidenced by increases in Iba1, activation is attenuated and delayed in females. We further evaluated the expression of the newly identified microglia-specific marker, TMEM119, and identified two distinct populations in the spinal cord parenchyma after peripheral injury: TMEM119+ microglia and TMEM119- infiltrating myeloid lineage cells, which are comprised of Ly6G + neutrophils and Ly6G- macrophages/monocytes. Neurons are sensitized by inflammatory mediators released in the CNS after injury; however, the cellular source of these cytokines remains somewhat unclear. Using multiplex hybridization in combination with immunohistochemistry, we demonstrate that spinal cord TMEM119+ microglia are the cellular source of cytokines IL6 and IL1β after peripheral injury. Taken together, these data have important implications for translational studies: 1) microglia remain a viable analgesic target for males and females, so long as duration after injury is considered; 2) the analgesic properties of microglial modulators are likely at least in part related to their suppression of microglial-released cytokines, and 3) a limited number of neutrophils and macrophages/monocytes infiltrate the spinal cord after peripheral injury but have unknown impact on pain persistence or resolution. Further studies to uncover glial-targeted therapeutic interventions will need to consider sex, timing after injury, and the exact target population of interest to have the specificity necessary for translation.

There is growing literature supporting cannabinoids as a potential therapeutic for pain conditions. The development of chronic pain has been associated with reduced concentrations of the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide (AEA) in the midbrain dorsal periaqueductal gray (dPAG), and microinjections of synthetic cannabinoids into the dPAG are antinociceptive. Therefore, the goal of this study was to examine the role of the dPAG in cannabinoid-mediated sensory inhibition. Given that cannabinoids in the dPAG also elicit sympathoexcitation, a secondary goal was to assess coordination between sympathetic and antinociceptive responses. AEA was microinjected into the dPAG while recording single unit activity of wide dynamic range (WDR) dorsal horn neurons (DHNs) evoked by high intensity mechanical stimulation of the hindpaw, concurrently with renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), in anesthetized male rats. AEA microinjected into the dPAG decreased evoked DHN activity (n = 24 units), for half of which AEA also elicited sympathoexcitation. AEA actions were mediated by cannabinoid 1 receptors as confirmed by local pretreatment with the cannabinoid receptor antagonist AM281. dPAG microinjection of the synaptic excitant DL-homocysteic acid (DLH) also decreased evoked DHN activity (n = 27 units), but in all cases this was accompanied by sympathoexcitation. Thus, sensory inhibition elicited from the dPAG is not exclusively linked with sympathoexcitation, suggesting discrete neuronal circuits. The rostrocaudal location of sites may affect evoked responses as AEA produced sensory inhibition without sympathetic effects at 86 % of caudal compared to 25 % of rostral sites, supporting anatomically distinct neurocircuits. These data indicate that spatially selective manipulation of cannabinoid signaling could provide analgesia without potentially harmful autonomic activation.