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Speaker gender representation at medical conferences is a significant site of gender disparity. Our primary objective was to quantify the proportion of female speakers and compare plenary session opportunities by gender at the North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS) Annual Conference.
Learn More >Menthol is an important flavoring additive that triggers a cooling sensation. Under physiological condition, low to moderate concentrations of menthol activate transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 8 (TRPM8) in the primary nociceptors, such as dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and trigeminal ganglion, generating a cooling sensation, whereas menthol at higher concentration could induce cold allodynia, and cold hyperalgesia mediated by TRPM8 sensitization. In addition, the paradoxical irritating properties of high concentrations of menthol is associated with its activation of transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily A member 1 (TRPA1). Under pathological situation, menthol activates TRPM8 to attenuate mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia following nerve injury or chemical stimuli. Recent reports have recapitulated the requirement of central group II/III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR) with endogenous κ-opioid signaling pathways for menthol analgesia. Additionally, blockage of sodium channels and calcium influx is a determinant step after menthol exposure, suggesting the possibility of menthol for pain management. In this review, we will also discuss and summarize the advances in menthol-related drugs for pathological pain treatment in clinical trials, especially in neuropathic pain, musculoskeletal pain, cancer pain and postoperative pain, with the aim to find the promising therapeutic candidates for the resolution of pain to better manage patients with pain in clinics.
Learn More >Virtual reality (VR) has the potential to lessen pain and anxiety experienced by pediatric patients undergoing burn wound care procedures. Population-specific variables require novel technological application and thus, a systematic review among studies on its impact is warranted.
Learn More >Migraine headaches are highly prevalent, affecting 15% of the population. However, despite many studies to determine this disease's mechanism and efficient management, its pathophysiology has not been fully elucidated. There are suggested hypotheses about the possible mediating role of mast cells, immunoglobulin E, histamine, and cytokines in this disease. A higher incidence of this disease in allergic and asthma patients, reported by several studies, indicates the possible role of brain mast cells located around the brain vessels in this disease. The mast cells are more specifically within the dura and can affect the trigeminal nerve and cervical or sphenopalatine ganglion, triggering the secretion of substances that cause migraine. Neuropeptides such as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), neurokinin-A, neurotensin (NT), pituitary adenylate-cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP), and substance P (SP) trigger mast cells, and in response, they secrete pro-inflammatory and vasodilatory molecules such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as a selective result of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) secretion. This stress hormone contributes to migraine or intensifies it. Blocking these pathways using immunologic agents such as CGRP antibody, anti-CGRP receptor antibody, and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β)/interleukin 1 receptor type 1 (IL-1R1) axis-related agents may be promising as potential prophylactic migraine treatments. This review is going to summarize the immunological aspects of migraine.
Learn More >Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are comprised by a heterogenous group of diagnoses with multifaceted and complex etiologies. Although diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (MSD) have been reported as risk factors for developing TMD, no nationwide population-based registry studies have been conducted to investigate this possible link. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between MSD and TMD in a population-based sample using Swedish registry data, and to further investigate the difference in such association between patients diagnosed with TMD in a hospital setting and patients surgically treated for the condition.
Learn More >Endometriosis is a chronic, multifactorial, estrogen-dependent disease. The abnormal endocrine microenvironment of endometriosis lesions is considered a main feature and multiple enzymatic pathways leading to local increased synthesis of estrogens have been identified. However, the relevance of intracrinology in clinical practice is still lacking. Medline, Embase, Scopus database were systematically searched for studies reporting on local estrogens metabolism of endometriotic lesions. The main enzymatic pathways involved in the intracrinology of endometriosis such as aromatase (CYP19A1), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD17B) type 1, type 2 and type 5, steroid sulfatase (STS), estrogen sulfotransferase (SULT1E1) were assessed with a critical perspective on their role in disease endocrine phenotyping, drug resistance and as therapeutic targets. Overall, studies heterogeneity and missing clinical data affect the interpretation of the clinical role of these enzymes. Although the use of some drugs such as aromatase inhibitors has been proposed in clinical practice for two decades, their potential clinical value is still under investigation as well as their modality of administration. A closer look at new, more realistic drug targets is provided and discussed. Altered expression of these key enzymes in the lesions have far reaching implication in the development of new drugs aimed at decreasing local estrogenic activity with a minimal effect on gonadal function; however, given the complexity of the evaluation of the expression of the enzymes, multiple aspects still remains to be clarified.
Learn More >To investigate the feasibility of using music listening by adults with fibromyalgia (FM) as a potential tool for reducing pain sensitivity.
Learn More >Recent studies have demonstrated the contribution of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) to neuropathic pain. However, the expression profile of ncRNAs in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) and their functional mechanism underlying trigeminal neuropathic pain are still unclear.
Learn More >Cryoneurolysis uses tissue cooling as an opioid-sparing, long-lasting treatment for peripheral nerve pain. A nerve-selective method for cryoneurolysis by local injection of ice-slurry was developed to allow cryoneurolysis to be performed with a standard needle and syringe, similar to peripheral nerve blocks. Since the treatment of patients with chronic pain may require repeated injections, we investigated the safety and tolerance of repeated treatments in a rat model.
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