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Novel treatments of neuropathic pain (NP) are urgently needed. Based on repeated observation of rapid relief of neuropathic cancer pain (NCP) after single doses of intravenous epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor (EGFR-I), we have successfully treated patients with and without cancer who suffer from severe, treatment-refractory NP with EGFR-Is. Pain research is complicated by endpoint subjectivity. Patients with advanced cancer are heterogeneous, with complex, fluctuating clinical pictures, hampering feasibility of standard drug-trial procedures.
Learn More >The association between diet and migraine has been reported in the literature, but only a few studies have evaluated whether the diet consumed by patients with migraine differs from individuals without migraine.
Learn More >Protocol for crystal structure determination of the antagonist-bound human cannabinoid receptor CB2.
Human cannabinoid receptor CB2 plays an important role in the immune system and is an attractive therapeutic target for pain and for inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. However, the structural basis of CB2 agonist selectivity is still elusive. Here, we describe a detailed protocol for the determination of the crystal structure of antagonist AM10257-bound CB2. This methodology could be applied to the structural studies of CB2 with diverse antagonists and agonists or to other class A G-protein-coupled receptors. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Li et al. (2019).
Learn More >Does feeling reassured after a consultation reduce future disability or healthcare use in people with acute low back pain (LBP)?
Learn More >Racial health disparities persist despite increased public awareness of systemic racism. Due to the inherent subjectivity of pain perception, assessment and management, physician-patient bias in pain medicine remains widespread. It is broadly accepted that increasing racial diversity in the field of medicine is a critical step towards addressing persistent inequities in patient care. To assess the current racial demographics of the pain medicine pipeline, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of medical school matriculants and graduates, residents, and pain fellows in 2018. Our results show that the 2018 anesthesiology residency ERAS applicant pool consisted of 46.2% non-Hispanic White, 7.0% non-Hispanic Black and 5.8% Hispanic students. The population of 2018 anesthesiology residents included 63% non-Hispanic White, 6.8% non-Hispanic Black and 5.4% Hispanic persons. Of the total eligible resident pool for pain fellowships (n = 30,415) drawn from core specialties, 44% were non-Hispanic White, 4.9% non-Hispanic Black and 5.1% Hispanic. Similar proportions were observed for pain medicine and regional anesthesia fellows. We briefly discuss the implications of the shortage of non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic representation in pain medicine as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic and suggest approaches to improving these disparities.
Learn More >Randomized clinical trials (RCT) suggest a multidisciplinary approach to pain rehabilitation is superior to other active treatments in improving pain intensity, function, disability, and pain interference for patients with chronic pain, with small effect size (ds= 0.20-0.36) but its effectiveness remains unknown in real-world practice.
Learn More >Research suggests that partner relationship quality influences the psychological well-being of individuals with chronic pain, but the specific components of the relationship involved remain understudied. This study examined which dimensions of relationship adjustment influence the depressive and anxiety symptoms reported by the partner with chronic pain. A community sample of 214 adults in a romantic relationship for at least a year were recruited. Participants completed online questionnaires assessing pain characteristics (pain duration, pain intensity), relationship characteristics (marital status, duration of relationship), quality of relationship (dyadic adjustment, conjugal support) and emotional state (symptoms of depression and anxiety). Overall, participants reported well-adjusted relationships with their partners and higher levels of dyadic adjustment and conjugal support were associated with reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety. Most importantly, dyadic consensus, marital status, and pain intensity revealed to be predictive of depressive symptoms, whereas dyadic consensus and pain intensity were predictive of anxiety symptoms. These findings highlight the need to consider the interpersonal functioning of this population to enhance their psychological well-being.
Learn More >Intravenous eptinezumab, an anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide antibody, is approved for migraine prevention in adults. It has established onset of preventive efficacy on day 1 after infusion.
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