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Acute migraine attack in familial hemiplegic migraine type 2 (FHM2) patients is characterized by sequential hypo- and hyperperfusion. FHM2 is associated with mutations in the Na,K-ATPase α2 isoform. Heterozygous mice bearing one of these mutations (α2+/G301R) were shown to have elevated cerebrovascular tone and, thus, hypoperfusion that might lead to elevated concentrations of local metabolites. We hypothesize that these α2+/G301R mice also have increased cerebrovascular hyperemic responses to these local metabolites leading to hyperperfusion in the affected part of the brain.
Learn More >Chronic pain is a leading cause of disability in low- and middle-income countries; however, pain assessment tools have generally been developed and validated in high-income countries. This study examines the psychometric properties of a set of translated pain (and distress) questionnaires in Mongolia and documents the characteristics of people seeking treatment for chronic pain in Mongolia, compared with those in New Zealand, which is representative of high-income countries.
Learn More >Aberrant functional connectivity of brain networks has been demonstrated in migraine sufferers. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) may illustrate altered connectivity in patients suffering from migraine without aura (MwoA). Here, we applied a seed-based approach based on limbic regions to investigate disrupted functional connectivity between spontaneous migraine attacks. Resting-state fMRI data were obtained from 28 migraine patients without aura and 23 well-matched healthy controls (HC). The functional connectivity of the limbic system was characterized using a seed-based whole-brain correlation method. The resulting functional connectivity measurements were assessed for correlations with other clinical features. Neuropsychological data revealed significantly increased connectivity between the limbic system (bilateral amygdala and right hippocampus) and left middle occipital gyrus (MOG), and a positive correlation was revealed between disease duration and connective intensity of the left amygdala and the ipsilateral MOG. There was decreased functional connectivity between the right amygdala and contralateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). In addition, resting-state fMRI showed that, compared to HC, patients without aura had significant functional connectivity consolidation between the bilateral hippocampus and cerebellum, and a negative correlation was detected between scores on the headache impact test (HIT) and connectivity intensity of the right hippocampus and bilateral cerebellum. There was decreased functional connectivity between the left hippocampus and three brain areas, encompassing the bilateral inferior parietal gyri (IPG) and contralateral supplementary motor area (SMA). There were no structural differences between the two groups. Our data suggest that migraine patients have disrupted limbic functional connectivity to pain-related regions of the modulatory and encoding cortices, which are associated with specific clinical characteristics. Disturbances of resting-state functional connectivity may play a key role in neuropathological features, perception and affection of migraine. The current study provides further insights into the complex scenario of migraine mechanisms. .
Learn More >Previous research has shown that African Americans (AA) report higher pain intensity and pain interference than other racial/ethnic groups as well as greater levels of other risk factors related to worse pain outcomes, including PTSD symptoms, pain catastrophizing, and sleep disturbance. Within a Conservation of Resources theory framework, we tested the hypothesis that socioeconomic status (SES) factors (i.e., income, education, employment, perception of income meeting basic needs) largely account for these racial/ethnic differences. Participants were 435 women [AA, 59.1%; Hispanic/Latina (HL), 25.3%; Non-Hispanic/White (NHW), 15.6%] who presented to an Emergency Department (ED) with an acute pain-related complaint. Data were extracted from psychosocial questionnaires completed at the participants' baseline interview. Structural equation modeling was used to examine whether racial/ethnic differences in pain intensity and pain interference were mediated by PTSD symptoms, pain catastrophizing, sleep quality, and sleep duration, and whether these mediation pathways were, in turn, accounted for by SES factors. Results indicated that SES factors accounted for the mediation relationships linking AA race to pain intensity via PTSD symptoms and the mediation relationships linking AA race to pain interference via PTSD symptoms, pain catastrophizing, and sleep quality. Results suggested that observed racial/ethnic differences in AA women's pain intensity, pain interference, and common risk factors for elevated pain may be largely due to racial/ethnic differences in SES. These findings highlight the role of social inequality in persistent health disparities facing inner-city, AA women.
Learn More >The study aims were 1) to investigate the direction of mutual inhibitory pathways on itch intensity by utilizing conditioned pain modulation paradigms for pain and itch attenuation and 2) to explore whether itch severity is affected by the individual pain sensitivity profile, as well as pain scores reported during the tests and the past week.
Learn More >Oral β-blockers used for the prevention of migraine headache are not effective for the treatment of acute pain. Small case series have suggested that topically applied β-blockers may be useful in the management of acute migraine pain, warranting evaluation with randomized clinical trials.
Learn More >The objective of this study was to examine the day-to-day associations between partner support, pain catastrophizing and pain intensity in individuals with end-stage knee osteoarthritis. In this microlongitudinal cohort study, participants (N = 124) with end-stage knee osteoarthritis completed baseline measures of trait pain catastrophizing and negative affect. Participants also provided daily diary assessments of partner support, pain catastrophizing and pain intensity for a period of 7 days using a personal digital assistant. Multilevel analyses revealed that day-to-day fluctuations in pain catastrophizing were associated with pain intensity. Data from multilevel analyses indicated that the main effect of partner support was not significantly associated with pain intensity. Results also indicated the interactions between partner support and both trait and state pain catastrophizing were significant, suggesting that both trait and state pain catastrophizing moderated the relationship between daily partner support and pain intensity. That is, on days when participants experienced low levels of partner support, high catastrophizers reported higher levels of pain intensity than low catastrophizers. In the presence of higher levels of partner support, pain intensity did not differ between high and low catastrophizers. These results are consistent with the Communal Coping Model of pain catastrophizing, and highlight the interpersonal context within which pain catastrophizing impacts pain outcomes. These findings also suggest that future interventions designed to specifically target the dynamic between pain catastrophizing and partner support may improve pain outcomes in individuals with end-stage knee OA.
Learn More >Long-term opioid use has negative health care consequences. Opioid-naïve adults are at risk for prolonged and persistent opioid use after surgery. While these outcomes have been examined in some adolescent and teenage populations, little is known about the risk of prolonged and persistent postoperative opioid use after common surgeries compared to children who do not undergo surgery and factors associated with these issues among pediatric surgical patients of all ages.
Learn More >Self-efficacy, fear of movement, and depression may mediate the sequential pathway of how pain leads to disability in nonspecific low back pain. Participants with chronic (>13 weeks) non-specific low back pain were included. They were prospectively monitored for eight consecutive weeks. Each second day, all participants filled in a survey (30 surveys pp). Questionnaires on current back pain intensity (NRS) and disability (PDI) were completed in each survey. One out of three standardized questionnaires on self-efficacy (SES), fear of movement, kinesiophobia (TSK), or depression (PHQ-9) were randomly completed each time. Multilevel mediation analyses on the within-(temporal changes) and between-patients total and indirect (mediated by SES; TSK and PHQ-9) effect of pain on disability were conducted for three temporal associations: No time delay, Simple temporal delay, and Double delay. In total, 280 questionnaires were filled in by 10 participants (m = 4; 34.4 ± 12.2 years). A moderate to strong effect of pain on disability in the no delay-model for the within-patients (0.436), and (all models) in the between-patients (0.595-0.627) models was found. The way how pain affects kinesiophobia was influenced by the time passed. Kinesiophobia itself predicted disability. Further, depression was affected by (within and between) pain intensity (NRS). In the simple delay effects mediation, depression affects disability (within) and is itself affected by the pain (between). No indirect effect of self-efficacy, fear of movement and depression in the pain-disability relationship was found. Understanding underlying mechanisms of how and when pain leads to disability might help to find accurate measures in therapy setting.
Learn More >Little is known about risk factors for emergency department (ED) attendance for chronic pain (CP) management and the relative service burden. We examined emergency department (ED) utilisation in patients with chronic pain (CP), identified risk factors associated with attendance for chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) and estimated the comparative cost of treatment. The study cohort comprised a random sample of 3,700 adults from the general population in Tayside, Scotland. Linked regional extracts, spanning a 12-month period, were obtained from national registers, providing information on ED attendances, community-dispensed prescribing and outpatient clinic attendances. The NHS Scotland Cost Book was used to ascertain the current average cost of an ED attendance (£130; ∼$167).All-cause ED attendance was higher in those with CP (68.5%; n=252) than without (29.3%; n=967). In the entire cohort, more patients attended the ED for the treatment of CMP than for any other medical condition (n=119; 32.3% of those with CP). Risk factors for ED attendance for CMP were: recent analgesic dose decreases (OR=4.55); and transitioning from opioid to non-opioid analgesics (OR=5.08). Characteristics protective of ED attendance for CMP were: being in receipt of strong opioids (OR=0.21); transitioning from non-opioid to opioid analgesics (OR=0.25); recent analgesic dose increases (OR=0.24); and being prescribed tricyclic antidepressants (OR=0.10), benzodiazepines (OR=0.46) or hypnotics (OR=0.45). CMP was one of the most expensive conditions to treat (£17,680 (∼$22,668) per annum), conferring a substantial burden on ED services. Improved understanding of the risk/protective factors could inform healthcare redesign to reduce avoidable ED attendances for CMP management.
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