Browse by Audience
As a progressive chronic condition, osteoarthritis (OA) causes substantial pain and impairment. Secrete proinflammatory cytokines are essential mediators involved in the pathophysiology of OA. In this regard, the clinical effectiveness of autologous conditioned serum (ASC) has been shown through its injection into OA tissues. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and concentration level of ACS components produced by Nano-carbon glass beads. Intravenous whole blood was obtained from each New Zealand male rabbit by 10-ml syringes, comprising 33 medical-grade Nano carbon-coated glass beads. Serum retrieving was performed after 6-8 h incubation (37 C, 5% Co), and then centrifuged. The ACS was then injected into OA rabbits to assess its function.
Learn More >We sought to identify and characterize distinct responder profiles among osteoarthritis (OA) subjects treated with tanezumab, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or placebo.
Learn More >A subset of osteoarthritis patients will experience chronic postoperative pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), but the source of pain is unclear. The aim of this exploratory study was to assess patients with and without postoperative pain after TKA using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), quantitative sensory testing (QST), clinical assessment of pain, and assessments of catastrophizing thoughts.
Learn More >Movement and posture are commonly believed to relate to low back pain (LBP). Yet, we know little about how people make sense of the relationship between their LBP, movement, and posture, particularly after recovery. We aimed to qualitatively explore this understanding, how it changes, and how it relates to quantitative changes.
Learn More >Several conditions have been associated with the development of small fiber neuropathy (SFN). The list of metabolic, immune-mediated, infectious, toxic, drugs-related, and hereditary conditions is still growing and various hypotheses are made about the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Understanding these processes is important to provide new targets for treatment. In addition, the specific SFN phenotype can provide direction for the underlying etiology. This review discusses the latest developments concerning the expanding etiologies in SFN.
Learn More >Chronic musculoskeletal pain is a health burden that may accelerate the aging process. Accelerated brain aging and epigenetic aging have separately been observed in those with chronic pain. However, it is unknown whether these biological markers of aging are associated with each other in those with chronic pain. We aimed to explore the association of epigenetic aging and brain aging in middle-to-older age individuals with varying degrees of knee pain. Participants (57.91 ± 8.04 years) with low impact knee pain (n=95), high impact knee pain (n=53) and pain-free controls (n=26) completed self-reported pain, a blood draw and an MRI scan. We used an epigenetic clock previously associated with knee pain (DNAmGrimAge), the subsequent difference of predicted epigenetic and brain age from chronological age (DNAmGrimAge-Difference and Brain-PAD, respectively). There was a significant main effect for pain impact group ( (2,167) = 3.847, p = 0.023, = 0.038, ANCOVA) on Brain-PAD and DNAmGrimAge-difference ( (2,167) = 6.800, p = 0.001, = 0.075, ANCOVA) after controlling for covariates. DNAmGrimAge-Difference and Brain-PAD were modestly correlated (r=0.198; p=0.010). Exploratory analysis revealed that DNAmGrimAge-difference mediated GCPS pain impact, GCPS pain severity and pain related disability scores on Brain-PAD. Based upon the current study findings, we suggest that pain could be a driver for accelerated brain aging via epigenome interactions.
Learn More >There is an ongoing discussion on the relevance of brain reorganization following amputation for phantom limb pain. Recent attempts to provide explanations for seemingly controversial findings-specifically, maladaptive plasticity versus persistent functional representation as a complementary process-acknowledged that reorganization in the primary somatosensory cortex is not sufficient to explain phantom limb pain satisfactorily. Here we provide theoretical considerations that might help integrate the data reviewed and suppose a possible additional driver of the development of phantom limb pain-namely, an error in interoceptive predictions to somatosensory sensations and movements of the missing limb. Finally, we derive empirically testable consequences based on our considerations to guide future research.
Learn More >Photophobia, the aberrantly increased sensitivity to light, is a common symptom in migraine patients and light discomfort is frequently found as a trigger for migraine attacks. In behavioral studies, planned exposure to light was found to reduce headache in migraine patients with photophobia, potentially by increasing habituation to this migraine trigger. Here, we aimed to elucidate neurophysiological mechanisms of light exposure versus light deprivation in migraine patients using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
Learn More >Refractory migraine is a particularly disabling form of chronic migraine, unresponsive to multiple prophylactic strategies. Ketogenic diet (KD) is useful to treat migraine but poorly tested for refractory migraine.
Learn More >Patients suffering from chronic pain experience significant disability and disease burden. Resilience has been understood to be a protective factor in face of adversity, eventually contributing to positive outcomes. As such, the current review sought to summarize the existing literature focusing on the roles of resilience in relation to pain phenomenology, pain outcomes (including function and mental health), amongst relevant clinical correlates in a bid to promote holistic management of debilitating chronic pain conditions from a resilience-oriented psychotherapeutic approach as an adjunct to pharmacological treatment.
Learn More >