Rejected

Chronic pain often has an unknown cause, and many patients with chronic pain learn to accept that their pain is incurable and pharmacologic treatments are only temporarily effective. Complementary and integrative health approaches for pain are thus in high demand. One such approach is soft touch, e.g., adhesion of pyramidal thorn patches in a pain region. The effects of patch adhesion on pain relief have been confirmed in patients with various types of pain. A recent study using near-infrared spectroscopy revealed that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), especially the left side, is likely to be inactivated in patients experiencing pain relief during patch treatment. Mindfulness meditation is another well-known complementary and integrative approach for achieving pain relief. The relation between pain relief due to mindfulness meditation and changes in brain regions, including the DLPFC, has long been examined. In the present review article, we survey the literature describing the effects of the above-mentioned complementary and integrative treatments on pain relief, and outline the important brain regions, including the DLPFC, that are involved in analgesia. We hope that the present article will provide clues to researchers who hope to advance neurosensory treatments for pain relief without medication.

People with axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) suffer from lengthy diagnostic delays of ~7 years. The usage of screening tools to identify axSpA patients in primary care can reduce diagnostic delays by facilitating early referral to rheumatologic care. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of a potential screening tool for patients with axSpA.

Diacutaneous fibrolysis is a non-invasive instrumental physiotherapeutic technique, used to treat mechanical or inflammatory pain and normalize function in the musculoskeletal system. Different studies have reported positive effects on range of motion, strength or function in musculoskeletal disorders, mainly in the upper extremity. The incidence and recurrence rates of hamstring injuries are high in many sports. However, there are no studies assessing these parameters in the hamstring and gluteus maximus in athletes. Objective. To evaluate the immediate and 30 minutes post-treatment effects of a single diacutaneous fibrolysis session on hamstring length, flexibility, muscle strength, myoelectrical activity and lower limb performance in athletes with hamstring shortening.

Migraine headache is a widespread and complex neurobiological disorder that is characterized by unilateral headaches that are often accompanied by photophobia and phonophobia. Migraine is one of the leading chief complaints in the emergency department with negative impacts on quality of life and activities of daily living. The high number of emergency presentations also results in a significant economic burden. Its risk factors include family history, genetics, sex, race, socioeconomics, the existence of comorbid conditions, and level of education. Triggers include stress, light, noise, menstruation, weather, changes in sleep pattern, hunger, dehydration, dietary factors, odors, and alcohol. The International Headache Society has defined criteria for the diagnosis of migraine with and without aura. The pathophysiology of migraine headaches is multifactorial so there are a variety of treatment approaches. The current treatment approach includes abortive medications and prophylactic medications. Abortive medications include the first-line treatment of triptans, followed by ergot alkaloids, and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists along with supplemental caffeine and antiemetics. Trigeminal afferents from the trigeminal ganglion innervate most cranial tissues and many areas of the head and face. These trigeminal afferents express certain biomarkers such as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P, neurokinin A, and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide that are important to the pain and sensory aspect of migraines. In this comprehensive review, we discuss Zavegepant, a calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist, as a new abortive medication for migraine headaches.

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a commonly utilized therapy for the treatment of neuropathic pain conditions. The primary indications for SCS therapy are post-laminectomy syndrome as well as complex regional pain syndrome. SCS therapy is minimally invasive and reversible. It involves the implantation of percutaneous or paddle leads along with a surgically implanted pulse generator (IPG). Severe pocket pain from the IPG is a well-known complication following SCS implants that can be challenging to treat and can lead to an explant of the SCS system. We present the case of a patient with post-laminectomy syndrome who underwent an explant of her SCS system due to severe pocket pain complaints. The patient was successfully reimplanted with a Nalu micro-implantable pulse generator for SCS therapy with 75% improvement in her post-laminectomy pain complaints with no complaints of pocket pain.

To identify clinical and laboratory indicators associated with the development of chronic musculoskeletal pain syndrome in young and middle-aged patients with degenerative changes of the spine.

Posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysms often require cerebral vascular reconstruction for surgical treatment because of their characteristic morphology. Despite its potential complications, the occipital artery-to-posterior inferior cerebellar artery (OA-PICA) bypass is a typical treatment because of its versatility. Although a few cases of intracranial-to-intracranial bypass have been reported, this type of vascular reconstruction is only regarded as an alternative to the OA-PICA bypass because of the uncertainty of bypass feasibility and potential risk of ischemic complications. In this article, we report a case of proximal PICA ruptured aneurysm that was treated with a PICA-to-PICA (PICA-PICA) bypass. A 79-year-old man presented with a chief complaint of sudden, severe headache and disturbances in consciousness. Radiological examination revealed a right proximal PICA fusiform aneurysm. The patient had many systemic disorders such as microscopic polyangiitis and steroid-induced diabetes mellitus that could have caused wound dehiscence and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage. We performed the PICA-PICA bypass and trapping surgery rather than the OA-PICA bypass to avoid skin problems and CSF leakage. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on day 64 without any neurological disorders. In comparison with the OA-PICA bypass, the PICA-PICA bypass is less likely to cause CSF leakage and skin complications, although it carries the risk of specific ischemic complications and requires advanced surgical techniques. For some patients with systemic disorders, the PICA-PICA bypass could be an optimal treatment option for proximal fusiform PICA aneurysms rather than as an alternative to the OA-PICA bypass.

The best way to eradicate corona virus disease (COVID-19) viral infection is mass vaccination. Many studies demonstrate vaccination is associated with some local and systemic side effects. This study aimed to provide evidence on AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine side effects.

The diagnosis of isolated small bowel Crohn's disease (ISBCD) has always been challenging.

The analgesic specificity of navicular bursa (NB) anesthetic infiltration is still questionable. The study aimed to determine the mechanical nociceptive threshold of non-specific analgesia in the dorsal lamellar stratum, as well as in the sole, coronary band, and heel bulbs of the hoof, after navicular bursa anesthetic infiltration. Six healthy horses with no clinical or radiographic changes of the digits and no communication between the NB and the distal interphalangeal joint, were used. After random selection, the NB of one of the forelimbs was infiltrated with 2% lidocaine and the contralateral one with lactated ringer's solution. Contrast was added to confirm radiographic infiltration. The mechanical nociceptive threshold was determined using a portable pressure dynamometer, before and at various times after the infiltration, in 10 points of the hoof. The effects of time and treatment were verified by ANOVA (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the values of the mechanical nociceptive threshold (P>0.05) in all regions evaluated. However, in one of the six hooves that receives lidocaine, complete absence of response to the painful stimulus (maximum force of 6 Kg over an area of 38.46 mm2, for a maximum of 4 seconds) was observed in the dorsal lamellae between 30 and 60 min after infiltration. In conclusion, lidocaine infiltration of NB did not promote significant increases in the nociceptive threshold of the sole, coronary band, bulbs of the heel and dorsal lamellae clinically healthy horses. However, the occurrence of analgesia in one of the six hooves subjected to NB anesthesia indicates that the technique may not be fully specific in few horses.