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(1) Characterize objective physical activity patterns via actigraphy over 4 months post-spinal fusion surgery, and (2) examine associations between activity patterns at 2-weeks and chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP) status at 4-months.
Learn More >Insufficient quality evidence exists to support or refute the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the management of cancer pain. We aimed to determine the most clinically pragmatic design of a future randominsed controlled trial (RCT), based on how NSAIDs are currently used and perceived efficacy.
Learn More >To characterise the symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19).
Learn More >Positive emotions have been found to be analgesic and can be induced by positive psychology exercises. This study tested if positive psychology exercises provide beneficial effects on pain, responses to pain, physical (pain interference), and emotional function.
Learn More >Neuropathic pain is a type of spontaneous pain that causes damage to the central nervous system. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in the progression of various nervous system diseases, including neuropathic pain. However, the biological function of GAS5 in neuropathic pain remains unclear. Our findings revealed that GAS5 was downregulated in chronic constriction injury (CCI) rats. Besides, ELISA showed that the concentration of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β were reduced by overexpressed GAS5 in spinal cord homogenates of CCI rats. Moreover, mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in CCI rats were inhibited by GAS5 overexpression, suggesting that GAS5 overexpression attenuated neuropathic pain. Subsequently, we found that GAS5 served as a sponge for miR-452-5p in CCI rats and CELF2 was the downstream target of miR-452-5p. Finally, through a rescue assay, we found that GAS5 ameliorated neuropathic pain in CCI rats by sponging miR-452-5p to regulate CELF2 expression. Our study confirmed that GAS5 ameliorated neuropathic pain in rats by modulation of the miR-452-5p/CELF2 axis, which may provide some clues for neuropathic pain treatment.
Learn More >Opioids are the gold standard drugs for the treatment of acute and chronic severe pain, although their serious side effects constitute a big limitation. In the search for new and safer drugs, 5-HTR agonists are emerging as potential candidates in pain relief therapy. In this work, we evaluated the affinity and activity of enantiomers of the two newly synthesized, potent 5-HTR agonists -[(2,2-diphenyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methyl]-2-[2-(pyridin-4-yl)phenoxy]ethan-1-ammonium hydrogenoxalate () and -((2,2-diphenyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methyl)-2-(2-(1-methyl-1-imidazol-5-yl)phenoxy)ethan-1-ammonium hydrogenoxalate () and . The role of chirality in the interaction with 5-HTR was evaluated by molecular docking. The activity of the was tested in mouse models of acute pain (hot plate) and severe tonic nociceptive stimulation (intraplantar formalin test). was active in the formalin test with a reduction in paw licking in both phases at 10 mg/kg, and its effect was abolished by the selective 5-HTR antagonist, WAY-100635. The eutomer ()-, but not the racemate, was active during the hot plate test at 10 and 20 mg/kg, and this effect was abolished by 30 min treatment with WAY-100635 at 30 min. Similarly to 8-OH-DPAT, ()- evoked a slow outward current and depressed spontaneous glutamatergic transmission in superficial dorsal horn neurons, more effectively than -. The eutomer ()- showed promising developability properties, such as high selectivity over 5-HT subtypes, no interaction with the μ receptors, and low hepato- and cardiotoxicity. Therefore, ()- may represent a potential candidate for the treatment of acute and chronic pain without having the adverse effects that are commonly associated with the classic opioid drugs.
Learn More >Chronic, multisite pain is a common phenomenon in aging and is associated with a host of negative health outcomes. It is a complex and multifaceted condition that may be exacerbated by weight gain and long periods of inactivity. Unfortunately, older adults suffering from chronic pain have unique barriers limiting access to center-based behavior change interventions. The MORPH study first adapted and iteratively refined an evidence-based group-mediated intervention for delivery in the home via mHealth tools (a smartphone app, teleconferencing software, wearable activity monitor, smart weight scale). This was followed by a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) meant to assess feasibility of the MORPH intervention, and to examine initial effects on physical function, pain, weight, and sedentary behavior. We recruited low-active and obese older adults with multisite pain to partake in a series of N-of-1 refinement studies ( = 5 total) or a 12-week pilot RCT delivered largely in the home ( = 28 assigned to active intervention or wait-list control). The refinement phase identified several key technological (e.g., selection of a new smart weight scale) and user interface (e.g., clarification of in-app phrasing) modifications that were made before initiating the RCT phase. Analyses of covariance, controlling for baseline values, sex, and age indicated effects favoring the intervention across all domains of interest: there was a substantially clinically meaningful difference in short physical performance battery scores (0.63 points, = 0.08), a moderate-to-large difference in PROMIS pain intensity scores (5.52 points, = 0.12), a large difference in body weight (2.90 kg, = 0.207), and a moderate effect on adjusted ActivPAL-assessed sedentary time (64.90 min, = 0.07) with a small effect on steps (297.7 steps, = 0.01). These results suggest a largely-home delivered movement and weight loss program for older adults with pain is feasible and recommendations are provided for future programs of this nature.
Learn More >Phenotypes of Women with and Without Endometriosis and Relationship with Functional Pain Disability.
Primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea due to endometriosis share overlapping symptoms and likely demonstrate aspects of central sensitization. The present study aimed to identify distinct phenotypes of women who have dysmenorrhea with and without endometriosis to shed light on the unique mechanisms contributing to the pathogenesis of each condition.
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