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Ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopaminergic neurons, which are well known for their central roles in reward and motivation-related behaviors, have been shown to participate in itch processing via their projection to the nucleus accumbens (NAc). However, the functional roles of different dopamine receptor subtypes in subregions of the NAc during itch processing remain unknown. With pharmacological approaches, we found that the blockade of dopamine D1 receptors (D1R), but not dopamine D2 receptors (D2R), in the lateral shell (LaSh) of the NAc impaired pruritogen-induced scratching behavior in male mice. In contrast, pharmacological activation of D2R in both the LaSh and medial shell (MeSh) of the NAc attenuated the scratching behavior induced by pruritogens. Consistently, we found that dopamine release, as detected by a dopamine sensor, was elevated in the LaSh rather than the MeSh of the NAc at the onset of scratching behavior. Furthermore, the elevation of dopamine release in the LaSh of the NAc persisted even though itch-relieving behavior was blocked, suggesting that the dopamine signal in the NAc LaSh represents a motivational component of itch processing. Our study revealed different dynamics of dopamine release that target neurons expressing different dopamine receptors within different subregions of the NAc, and emphasized that D1R in the LaSh of the NAc is important in itch signal processing.Dopamine has been implicated in itch signal processing. However, the mechanism underlying the functional role of dopamine in itch processing remains largely unknown. Here, we examined the role of D1R and D2R in the NAc shell during pruritogen-induced scratching behavior. We demonstrated that D1R in the NAc LaSh might play an important role in motivating itch-induced scratching behavior, while activation of D2R would terminate scratching behavior. Our study revealed the diverse functional roles of dopamine signals in the NAc shell during itch processing.

A 25-year old male presented with chest pain and elevated troponin following COVID-19 vaccination. Despite initial response to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, he developed a recurrent and relapsing course requiring multiple readmissions. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging confirmed myocarditis. Due to progressing macrocytic anemia, he was eventually diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, thought to be the underlying cause of driver of his recurrent and persistent myocarditis.

Peri-implantitis is an inflammatory process affecting soft and hard tissues surrounding dental implants, causing progressive marginal bone loss. Peri-implant surgery is the treatment of choice. However, evidence about its impact on patients' quality of life (QoL) is limited. This study aimed to assess pain and QoL in the first seven post-operative days and measure patient satisfaction at the end of this period.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease characterized by abscesses and inflammatory nodules, and occasionally tunnels and scars, in the axillae, groin, and inframammary areas.

HYR-PB21 is a new sustained-release formulation of bupivacaine indicated for controlling postoperative pain. The objectives of this study were to investigate the analgesic efficacy and safety profile of HYR-PB21 in patients after haemorrhoidectomy.

Repetitive opioid use does not always alleviate basal pain, procedural pain, or both after burn injury. Mitigation of burn injury-site pain can be achieved by GTS-21 stimulation of α7-acetylcholine nicotinic receptors (α7AChRs) and reduced microglia activation in rat. We tested the hypothesis that morphine exaggerates burn injury-site pain and GTS-21 alleviates both morphine-induced aggravated burn injury pain and microglia activation.

In response to the surgical backlog created by the COVID-19 pandemic and to spare valuable hospital resources, we developed and implemented a continuous adductor canal catheter (CACC) program for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients. CACC's offer superior analgesia, decrease opioid use, and increase patient satisfaction while simultaneously promoting a decreased length of hospital stay and even same day discharges. The implementation of analgesia protocols using continuous peripheral nerve catheters and isometric pumps has been described for other surgical procedures and populations; however, the role of the Acute Pain Service Nurse (APS RN) in the implementation of such a program has not been described.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) utilization is increasing on a global scale, and despite technological advances, minimal standardized approaches to pharmacotherapeutic management exist. This objective was to create a comprehensive review for medication dosing in ECMO based on the most current evidence.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) regulates overall energy consumption and energy intake through cytokines. Ligusticum striatum DC (CX) combined with Gastrodia elata Blume (TM) has been used for migraine treatment for millennia. When used alone in clinical practice, CX causes symptoms of thirst, irritability, and yellow urine and has influenced the levels of cytokines such as AMP that activate the AMPK pathway of energy metabolism. However, relationships between this compatibility prescription, integral biological energy metabolism, and the AMPK pathway remain unclear. Studies were performed by treating normal rats with physiological saline, CX extract, CX coupled TM extract, and TM extracts separately for 4 weeks. Food intake, water intake, urine output, stool output, and body weight were monitored once a week by the metabolic cage method. Values of FBG, BUN, TP, TC and TG in blood samples were detected approaching the whole blood automatic detector from 1 to 4 weeks. Na -K -ATPase, Ca -Mg -ATPase, cAMP, and cGMP activity were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); the biological samples that were obtained at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after drug administration were tested by GC-TOF-MS. Then real-time PCR and Western Blot were applied to detect changes in expression of some substances involved in energy metabolism. The results demonstrated that administering CX alone increased energy input, mobility, and respiratory exchange ratio, accelerated energy consumption, and caused inflammatory infiltration in the liver. CX coupled with TM led to lower energy metabolism and liver damage in comparison with CX used alone. Moreover, CX-treated rats harbored higher levels of differential metabolites (including pyrophosphate, oxaloacetic acid, and galactinol). Glycerophospholipid metabolism and the citrate cycle are closely related to the differential metabolites above. In addition, CX-induced unbalanced energy metabolism depends on cAMP activation mediated by the AMPK/PGC-1α pathway in rats. Our findings suggest that CX-induced energy metabolism imbalance was corrected after coupling with TM by mediating the AMPK/PGC-1α pathway.