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Sleep problems are common in individuals with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Central sensitization (CS) is present in a subgroup of individuals with CLBP. However, our knowledge about whether sleep quality varies between the subgroups of CLBP is limited. Therefore, we sought to examine whether the subgroup of CLBP with CS has poorer sleep quality than the subgroup without CS.
Learn More >Migraines constitute a common neurological and headache disorder affecting around 15% of the world's population. In addition to other mechanisms, neurogenic neuroinflammation has been proposed to play a part in migraine chronification, which includes peripheral and central sensitization. There is therefore considerable evidence suggesting that inflammation in the intracranial meninges could be a key element in addition to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), leading to sensitization of trigeminal meningeal nociceptors in migraines. There are several studies that have utilized this approach, with a strong focus on using inflammatory animal models. Data from these studies show that the inflammatory process involves sensitization of trigeminovascular afferent nerve terminals. Further, by applying a wide range of different pharmacological interventions, insight has been gained on the pathways involved. Importantly, we discuss how animal models should be used with care and that it is important to evaluate outcomes in the light of migraine pathology.
Learn More >A meaningful part of schizophrenia patients suffer from physiosomatic symptoms (formerly named psychosomatic) which are reminiscent of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia (FF) and are associated with signs of immune activation and increased levels of tryptophan catabolites (TRYCATs).
Learn More >Despite the high prevalence of a myofascial pain component in chronic pelvic pain (CPP) syndromes, awareness and management of this component are lacking among health care providers.
Learn More >We compared the effects of one versus two daily sessions of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) delivered to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) for 10 days in a cohort of 30 women (mean age 28.0±6.92) with chronic migraine (CM, disease duration: 37.8±48.41 month). Participants were randomly allocated to three groups: a-tDCS 1-s Group received one daily a-tDCS session; a-tDCS 2-s Group received two daily a-tDCS sessions; Group SHAM received one daily session with a simulated (placebo) current. All participants were assessed before, after and one month after treatment, using the Migraine Disability Assessment, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, d2 Test of Attention, Trail Making Test (part B), Sequence of Letters and Numbers of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – III, and Nine Hole Peg Test. We found no difference between groups in the cognitive measures and motor dexterity. However, after treatment, a significant decrease in migraine-related disability was found for the a-tDCS 1-s Group. For all variables, no cumulative effects were observed in a-tDCS 2-s compared to the a-tDCS 1-s Group. The study findings provide preliminary results for future clinical trials designed to compare different intervals between tDCS sessions in CM.
Learn More >Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent, progesterone-resistant, chronic inflammatory gynecological disease of reproductive-age women. Two major clinical symptoms of endometriosis are chronic pelvic pain and infertility, which profoundly affect the quality of life in women. Current hormonal therapies to induce a hypoestrogenic state are unsuccessful because of undesirable side effects, reproductive health concerns, and failure to prevent disease recurrence. Prostaglandin E (PGE) plays an important role in the survival and growth of endometriotic lesions. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNAs that control gene expressions through multiple mechanisms and have important roles in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. The objective of the present study is to determine the effects of pharmacological inhibition of PGE receptors, EP2 and EP4, on miRNA profile in endometriosis. The novel results collectively indicate that inhibition of PGE-EP2/EP4 signaling regulated several miRNA clusters associated with cell adhesion, migration, invasion, survival and growth in cell-specific and the chromosome-specific manner and reverses the epigenetic silencing of proapoptotic miRNAs 15a and 34c in the human endometriotic epithelial and stromal cells and experimental endometriotic lesions. Thus, selective inhibition of EP2/EP4 receptors could emerge as a potential nonsteroidal therapy for endometriosis.
Learn More >To evaluate the effects of interdisciplinary pain management on pain-related disability and opioid reduction in polymorbid pain patients with two or more comorbid psychiatric conditions.
Learn More >Patients often report various symptoms after recovery from acute COVID-19. Previous studies on post-COVID-19 condition have not corrected for the prevalence and severity of these common symptoms before COVID-19 and in populations without SARS-CoV-2 infection. We aimed to analyse the nature, prevalence, and severity of long-term symptoms related to COVID-19, while correcting for symptoms present before SARS-CoV-2 infection and controlling for the symptom dynamics in the population without infection.
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