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Abdominal pain is common and is associated with high disease burden and health care costs in pediatric acute recurrent and chronic pancreatitis (ARP/CP). Despite the strong central component of pain in ARP/CP and the efficacy of psychological therapies for other centralized pain syndromes, no studies have evaluated psychological pain interventions in children with ARP/CP. The current trial seeks to 1) evaluate the efficacy of a psychological pain intervention for pediatric ARP/CP, and 2) examine baseline patient-specific genetic, clinical, and psychosocial characteristics that may predict or moderate treatment response.
Learn More >Lasmiditan demonstrated superiority to placebo in the acute treatment of migraine in adults with moderate/severe migraine disability in two similarly designed Phase 3 trials, SAMURAI and SPARTAN. Post-hoc integrated analyses evaluated the efficacy of lasmiditan in patients who reported a good or insufficient response to triptans and in those who were triptan naïve.
Learn More >The relationships between family history, sex, age at onset, and migraine occurrence have been documented. However, the associations between these factors across different sexes and subgroups of patients have yet to be elucidated. This study evaluated the association between family history and migraine in male and female patients experiencing episodic and chronic migraine with and without aura.
Learn More >An imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission has been linked to fibromyalgia (FM). Magnetic resonance spectroscopy has shown increased levels of glutamate in the insula and posterior cingulate cortex in FM as well as reduced insular levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Both of these changes have been associated with increased pain sensitivity. However, it is not clear whether excitatory and/or inhibitory neurotransmission is altered across the brain. Therefore, the aim of this study was to quantify GABAA receptor concentration on the whole brain level in FM to investigate a potential dysregulation of the GABAergic system. Fifty-one postmenopausal women (26 FM, 25 matched controls) underwent assessments of pain sensitivity, attention and memory, psychological status and function, as well as positron emission tomography imaging using a tracer for GABAA receptors, [F]flumazenil. Patients showed increased pain sensitivity, impaired immediate memory, and increased cortical GABAA receptor concentration in the attention and default-mode networks. No decrease of GABAA receptor concentration was observed. Across the 2 groups, GABAA receptor concentration correlated positively with functional scores and current pain in areas overlapping with regions of increased GABAA receptor concentration. This study shows increased GABAA receptor concentration in FM, associated with pain symptoms and impaired function. The changes were widespread and not restricted to pain-processing regions. These findings suggest that the GABAergic system is altered, possibly indicating an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission. Future studies should try to understand the nature of the dysregulation of the GABAergic system in FM and in other pain syndromes.
Learn More >Evaluate changes from baseline in health-related quality of life (QoL) in Japanese patients with episodic migraine receiving preventive treatment with galcanezumab (GMB).
Learn More >ASP0819 is a novel, non-opioid K3.1 channel opener that reverses abnormal nerve firing of primary sensory afferent nerves. Currently available treatments for fibromyalgia provide only modest relief and are accompanied by a host of adverse side effects.
Learn More >Oliceridine, an investigational IV opioid, is a first-in-class G-protein selective agonist at the -opioid receptor. The G-protein selectivity results in potent analgesia with less recruitment of -arrestin, a signaling pathway associated with opioid-related adverse events (ORAEs). In randomized controlled studies in both hard and soft tissue models yielding surgical pain, oliceridine provided effective analgesia with a potential for an improved safety and tolerability profile at equianalgesic doses to morphine. The phase 3, open-label, single-arm, multicenter ATHENA trial demonstrated the safety, tolerability, and effectiveness of oliceridine in moderate to severe acute pain in a broad range of patients undergoing surgery or with painful medical conditions warranting use of an IV opioid. This retrospective, observational chart review study compared respiratory depression events associated with oliceridine administration as found in the ATHENA trial to a control cohort treated with conventional opioids.
Learn More >Developmental life stage at chronic pain onset differs among chronic pain patients. Although pain affects multiple life domains, it is unknown whether the timing of chronic pain onset relates to pain characteristics and psychosocial outcomes. The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate differences in pain characteristics and psychosocial outcomes in patients at different developmental life stages at chronic pain onset.
Learn More >Vixotrigine (BIIB074) is a voltage- and use-dependent sodium channel blocker. These studies will evaluate the efficacy and safety of vixotrigine in treating pain experienced by patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) using enriched enrollment randomized withdrawal trial designs.
Learn More >Veterans frequently seek chronic pain care from their primary care providers (PCPs) who may not be adequately trained to provide pain management. To address this issue the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Specialty Care adopted the Specialty Care Access Network Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (VA-ECHO née SCAN-ECHO). The VA-ECHO program offered training and mentoring by specialists to PCPs and their staff. VA-ECHO included virtual sessions where expertise was shared in two formats: (1) didactics on common pain conditions, relevant psychological disorders, and treatment options and (2) real-time consultation on patient cases. VA-ECHO participants' perspectives were obtained using a semi-structured interview guide designed to elicit responses based on the RE-AIM (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance) framework. A convenience sampling was used to recruit PCPs and non-physician support staff participants. Non-physicians from rural VHA sites were purposively sampled to gain diverse perspectives. This qualitative study yielded data on each RE-AIM domain except reach. Program reach was not measured as it is outside the scope of this study. Respondents reported program effectiveness as gains in knowledge and skills to improve pain care delivery. Effective incorporation of learning into practice was reflected in respondents' perceptions of improvements in: patient engagement, evidenced-based approaches, appropriate referrals, and opioid use. Program adoption included how participating health care systems selected trainees from a range of sites and roles to achieve a wide reach of pain expertise. Participation was limited by time to attend and facilitated by institutional support. Differences and similarities were noted in implementation between hub sites. Maintenance was revealed when respondents noted the importance of the lasting relationships formed between fellow participants. This study highlights VA-ECHO program attributes and unintended consequences. These findings are expected to inform future use of VA-ECHO as a means to establish a supportive consultation network between primary and specialty care providers to promote the delivery evidence-based pain management practices.
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