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Despite the enormous financial and humanistic burden of chronic low back pain (CLBP), there is little consensus on what constitutes the best treatment options from a multitude of competing interventions. The objective of this network meta-analysis (NMA) is to determine the relative efficacy and acceptability of primary care treatments for non-specific CLBP, with the overarching aim of providing a comprehensive evidence base for informing treatment decisions.
Learn More >The fifth cranial nerve is the common denominator for many headaches and facial pain pathologies currently known. Projecting from the trigeminal ganglion, in a bipolar manner, it connects to the brainstem and supplies various parts of the head and face with sensory innervation. In this review, we describe the neuroanatomical structures and pathways implicated in the sensation of the trigeminal system. Furthermore, we present the current understanding of several primary headaches, painful neuropathies and their pharmacological treatments. We hope that this overview can elucidate the complex field of headache pathologies, and their link to the trigeminal nerve, to a broader field of young scientists.
Learn More >Migraine is a common brain disorder with a large genetic component. Of the two main migraine types, migraine with aura and migraine without aura, the genetic underpinning in the former is least understood. Given the evidence from epidemiological studies in cohorts and families that the genetic contribution is highest in migraine with aura, this seems paradoxical. Various genetic approaches have been applied to identify genetic factors that confer risk for migraine. Initially, so-called candidate gene associations studies (CGAS) have been performed that test DNA variants in genes prioritized based on presumed a priori knowledge of migraine pathophysiology. More recently, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) tested variants in any gene in an hypothesis-free manner. Whereas GWAS in migraine without aura, or the more general diagnosis migraine have already identified dozens of gene variants, the specific hunt for gene variants in migraine with aura has been disappointing. The only GWAS specifically investigating migraine with aura yielded only one single associated single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), near MTDH and PGCP, with genome-wide significance. However, interrogation of all genotyped SNPs, so beyond this one significant hit, was more successful and led to the notion that migraine with aura and migraine without aura are genetically more alike than different. Until now, most relevant genetic discoveries related to migraine with aura came from investigating monogenetic syndromes with migraine aura as a prominent phenotype (i.e. FHM, CADASIL and FASPS). This review will highlight the genetic findings relevant to migraine with aura.
Learn More >Several previous studies have reported a cross-sectional association between elevated high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and migraine. The aim of this population-based follow-up study was to investigate the influence of hs-CRP at baseline on the risk of developing migraine 11 years later.
Learn More >In this study, we investigated the evolution of chronic pain in sickle cell patients (SCD) as an age-dependent phenomenon, and studied the frequency of vaso-occlusive episode frequency, opioid use, quantitative sensory testing (QST) and biomarkers of chronic pain (CP).
Learn More >Pain is the most common and troublesome complaint in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to assess the prevalence and clinical implications of unacceptable pain in an inception cohort of patients with RA.
Learn More >Changes in serotonergic sensory modulation associated with overexpression of 5-HT receptors in the CNS have been implicated in the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain after peripheral nerve damage. 5-HT receptor antagonists such as ondansetron can potentially alleviate neuropathic pain, but have limited effectiveness, due potentially to limited CNS access. However, there is currently limited information on CNS disposition of systemically-administered 5-HT receptor antagonists. This study evaluated the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) disposition of ondansetron, as a surrogate of CNS penetration.
Learn More >NSAIDs are the drugs most commonly used to alleviate pain. Despite being a heterogeneous group of compounds, all of them share a mechanism of action based on blockade of COXs enzymes, which confers them anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Diclofenac is a NSAID with preferred activity on COX-2 isozymes, but additionally, other targets may be implicated in its analgesic activity. Among them, diclofenac may facilitate the activity of K7 channels, that have been previously recognized as potential therapeutic targets in analgesia. In this study, the antinociceptive actions of diclofenac acting at the spinal level and the role of K7 channels in its effects were evaluated. Electrophysiological recordings of spinal reflexes and responses of dorsal horn neurons were obtained using in vitro spinal cord preparations from neonatal mice. Diclofenac, applied at clinically relevant concentrations to the entire preparation, depressed wind-up of spinal reflexes with a pattern similar to that of flupirtine, an analgesic with activity as K7 channel opener. Depressant actions of both compounds were strongly reduced after K7 channel blockade with XE-991, indicating the implication of these channels in the observed effects. Flupirtine, but not diclofenac, also reduced action potential firing of dorsal horn neurons in response to electrical activation of nociceptive afferents, suggesting differences in the actions of both compounds on K7 channel configurations present in sensory areas of the cord. Results demonstrate previously unknown central actions of diclofenac on K7 channels located in spinal circuits, expanding the knowledge about its pharmacological actions.
Learn More >The purpose of this study is to define the impact of preoperative opioid use on post-operative opioid use, patient-reported outcomes and revision rates in a cohort of patients receiving arthroscopic shoulder surgery METHODS: Patients who underwent shoulder arthroscopy were identified from an institutional database. Inclusion criteria were completion of preoperative and postoperative patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) at one-year follow-up, in addition to a questionnaire on use of opioids and number of pills per day. Outcomes assessed included postoperative PROM scores, postoperative opioid use, persistent pain, and achievement of the patient acceptable symptomatic state (PASS). A matched-cohort analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of opioid use on achievement of postoperative outcomes while a multivariate regression was performed to determine additional risk factors. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to establish threshold values in oral morphine equivalents (OME) that predicted each outcome.
Learn More >Perceived stress and musculoskeletal pain are common, especially in low-income populations. Studies evaluating treatments to reduce stress in patients with chronic pain are lacking. We aimed to quantify the effect of two evidence-based interventions for chronic low back pain (cLBP), yoga and physical therapy (PT), on perceived stress in adults with cLBP.
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