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Vascular safety of erenumab for migraine prevention.

To examine the cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral vascular safety of erenumab across migraine prevention studies.

A novel gain-of-function sodium channel β2 subunit mutation in idiopathic small fiber neuropathy.

Small fiber neuropathy (SFN) is a common condition affecting thinly myelinated Aδ and unmyelinated C fibers, often resulting in excruciating pain and dysautonomia. SFN has been associated with several conditions, but a significant number of cases have no discernible cause. Recent genetic studies have identified potentially pathogenic gain-of-function mutations in several the pore-forming voltage-gated sodium channel α subunits (Nas) in a subset of patients with SFN, but the auxiliary sodium channel β subunits have been less implicated in the development of the disease. β subunits modulate Na trafficking and gating, and several mutations have been linked to epilepsy and cardiac dysfunction. Recently, we provided the first evidence for the contribution of a mutation in the β2-subunit to pain in human painful diabetic neuropathy. Here, we provide the first evidence for the involvement of a sodium channel β subunit mutation in the pathogenesis of SFN with no other known causes. We show, through current-clamp analysis, that the newly-identified Y69H variant of the β2 subunit induces neuronal hyperexcitability in dorsal root ganglion neurons, lowering the threshold for action potential firing and allowing for increased repetitive action potential spiking. Underlying the hyperexcitability induced by the β2-Y69H variant, we demonstrate an upregulation in tetrodotoxin-sensitive, but not tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium currents. This provides the first evidence for the involvement of β2 subunits in SFN and strengthens the link between sodium channel β subunits and the development of neuropathic pain in humans.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the pharmacological, physical, and psychological treatments of pain: findings from the Chronic Pain & COVID-19 Pan-Canadian Study.

Multimodal treatment is recognized as the optimal paradigm for the management of chronic pain (CP). Careful balance between pharmacological and physical/psychological approaches is thus desirable but can be easily disrupted.

Association between county level cannabis dispensary counts and opioid related mortality rates in the United States: panel data study.

To examine county level associations between the prevalence of medical and recreational cannabis stores (referred to as dispensaries) and opioid related mortality rates.

Of mice, microglia, and (wo)men: a case series and mechanistic investigation of hydroxychloroquine for complex regional pain syndrome.

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a condition that occurs after minor trauma characterized by sensory, trophic, and motor changes. Although preclinical studies have demonstrated that CRPS may be driven in part by autoinflammation, clinical use of immune-modulating drugs in CRPS is limited. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug used to treat malaria and autoimmune disorders that may provide benefit in CRPS.

Greater mechanical temporal summation of pain in Latinx-Americans and the role of adverse life experiences.

Adverse life experiences disproportionately impact Latinx-Americans and are related to greater chronic pain rates. However, little is known about how adversities interact with central pain mechanisms for the development of later pain among Latinx-Americans.

Self-forgiveness in fibromyalgia patients and its relationship with acceptance, catastrophising and coping.

Forgiveness influences health through numerous mechanisms, but commonly it is thought to reduce stress, increase healthy behaviour, and promote social support, thereby positively impacting health and wellbeing. Self-forgiveness has been given considerable attention in relation to health and wellbeing. Fibromyalgia (FM) patients had lower forgiveness of others and self-forgiveness as compared to controls. The aim of this study is to explore the relationship of self-forgiveness (FS) with the impact and severity of FM, acceptance, catastrophising, and coping.

Comparison of pain and psychosocial correlates among Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White youth with chronic pain.

Despite well-documented pain disparities among adults from non-White and Hispanic groups, less is known about pain disparities in non-White and Hispanic pediatric populations.

Conditioned pain modulation is associated with heightened connectivity between the periaqueductal grey and cortical regions.

Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) is a psychophysical assessment used to estimate the efficiency of an individual's endogenous modulatory mechanisms. Conditioned pain modulation has been used as a predictive assessment for the development of chronic pain and responses to pain interventions. Although much is known about the spinal cord mechanisms associated with descending pain modulation, less is known about the contribution of supraspinal and especially cortical regions.

Region-Specific Effects of Trigeminal Capsaicin Stimulation.

To investigate the region-specific effects of painful trigeminal capsaicin stimulation in healthy participants.

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