Rejected

Schmorls node (SN) are mostly asymptomatic and incidental findings on MRI. However, sometimes they present like acute onset low back pain or acute exacerbation of chronic back pain after minor trauma.

Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is a life-saving therapy administered to millions of patients. However, it is associated with significant adverse effects, namely liver injury, risk of infections, and metabolic derangements. In this review, we first identify the underlying causes of TPN-associated adverse effects, specifically gut atrophy, dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiome, leakage of the epithelial barrier with bacterial invasion and inflammation. We analyze the role of the bile acid receptors farnesoid X receptor and Takeda G protein-coupled receptor, of pleiotropic hormones and growth factors, and further scrutinize the mechanisms of insulin resistance, namely the lack of insulinotropic and insulinomimetic signaling of gut-originating incretins as well as the administration of potentially toxic phytosterols and pro-inflammatory fatty acids mainly released from soybean oil-based lipid emulsions used for TPN. Finally, we propose novel approaches in the design of next generation lipid delivery systems by modifying the physicochemical properties of lipid emulsions, the use of lipid emulsions generated from sustainable oils with favorable ratios of anti-inflammatory n-3 to pro-inflammatory n-6 fatty acids, beneficial adjuncts to TPN, and concomitant pharmacotherapies to mitigate TPN-associated adverse effects. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly changed our practice of medicine. With our collective resources and attention focused on caring for those afflicted with the disease, other medical conditions have temporarily but understandably faced constraint. For migraine patients who often require in-person visits for infusions and procedures, this has become particularly challenging. Here, we share our experience in navigating this exigency amidst a local surge of COVID-19.

Approximately, 13.5% of the population suffers from chronic itch. Many cosmetic and pharmaceutical treatments for itch are available; however, cosmetic treatments are not reliably effective and most pharmaceutical formulations carry the risk of adverse events with chronic use.

Mechanically isolated stromal vascular fraction (tSVF, tissue SVF) is a potent regenerative solution, increasingly used as a therapeutic modality for a variety of pathologies. With recent evidence conclusively favoring mechanical isolation over enzymatic alternatives, the therapeutic share and indications of tSVF are expected to grow even further.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected disease that promotes destructive lesions. Difficulties in treatment are related to accessibility of drugs, resistance and toxicity. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT) has been emerging as a promising treatment for CL. In this work, we evaluated methylene blue (MB)-mediated APDT (MB-APDT) on Leishmania amazonensis in vitro and in vivo by bioluminescence technique. In vitro, MB-APDT was performed using a red LED (λ= 660±11 nm, 100 mW/cm ) and MB (100 µM) at different light doses. In vivo, mice were infected and 4 weeks later, randomly divided into 3 groups: control, APDT 1 (single session) and APDT 2 (2 sessions of MB-APDT). MB was used at 100 µM and energy dose was established at 150 J/cm . Parasite burden, lesion size and pain were evaluated weekly for 4 weeks. In vitro, lethal dose for 90% parasite inactivation was achieved at 48.8 J/cm . In vivo, although APDT 1 and APDT 2 groups have showed similar parasite burden after 4 weeks, two sessions were clinically better, especially considering the inflammatory process associated to CL. Our findings reinforce MB-APDT as a cost-effective treatment to combat CL.

The benefits of the regular exercise on quality of life of individuals living with a headache are well known. However, whether the benefits of the exercise training on headache parameters (i.e., intensity, frequency and pain duration) occur in an intensity-dependent fashion remains unknown.

Cytokines are proteins secreted by diverse types of immune and non-immune cells and play a role in the communication between the immune and nervous systems. Cytokines include lymphokines, monokines, chemokines, interleukins, interferons, colony stimulating factors, and growth factors. They can be both pro- and anti-inflammatory and have autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine activities. These proteins are involved in initiation and persistence of pain, and the progress of hyperalgesia and allodynia, upon stimulating nociceptive sensory neurons, and inducing central sensitization. The objective of this review is to discuss several types of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators and their relation with inflammatory pain in masticatory muscles.

Parenteral opioids are used for pain relief in labour but there are little data for oxycodone in this context.The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy, foetal exposure and safety of subcutaneous oxycodone in the latent phase of labour.