Effect of the menstrual cycle phase on foot skin temperature during menthol application in young women

Mental status is significantly associated with low back pain: a survey-based cross-sectional study among Japanese women

OBJECTIVE

Low back pain (LBP) is a highly prevalent condition that poses significant patient burden. This cross-sectional study identified factors associated with LBP occurrence and developed a strategy to identify, prevent, and reduce LBP-related burden on patient health. A web-based questionnaire-answering system was used to assess the potential effects of LBP on mental health, assessing five domains (physical features, demographics, lifestyle, diet, and mental status) conceptually associated with hie, a common disease state traditionally described in the Japanese culture as a chilly sensation.

RESULTS

Of 1000 women, 354 had and 646 did not have LBP. The Chi test identified 21 factors, and subsequent multivariate logistic regression indicated eight factors significantly associated with LBP: age, history of physician consultation regarding anemia, history of analgesic agents, dietary limitations, nocturia, sauna use, hie, and fatigue. Furthermore, women with LBP exhibited a significantly lower body temperature (BT) in the axilla/on the forehead than women without LBP. LBP and hie are subjective and potentially affected by patient mental status. Stress reduces blood circulation, causing hypothermia and possibly worsening LBP. Therefore, mental-health support is important for patients with LBP to reduce physiological stress. Hyperthermia therapy, a traditionally prescribed intervention, is a potential intervention for future studies.

Effect of menstrual cycle and female hormones on TRP and TREK channels in modifying thermosensitivity and physiological functions in women

Thermoregulation is crucial for human survival at various ambient temperatures. Transient receptor potential (TRP) and TWIK-related K⁺ (TREK) channels expressed in sensory neurons play a role in peripheral thermosensitivity for temperature detection. In addition, these channels have various physiological roles in the skeletal, nervous, immune, vascular, digestive, and urinary systems. In women, the female hormones estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4), which fluctuate during the menstrual cycle, affect various physiological functions, such as thermoregulation in hot and cold environments. The present review describes the effect of female hormones on TRP and TREK channels and related physiological functions. The P4 decreased thermosensitivity via TRPV1. E2 facilitates temporomandibular joint disease (TRPV1), breast cancer (TRPM8), and calcium absorption in the digestive system (TRPV5 and TRPV6), inhibits the facilitation of vasoconstriction (TRPM3), nerve inflammation (TRPM4), sweetness sensitivity (TRPM5), and menstrual disorders (TRPC1), and prevents insulin resistance (TRPC5) via each channel. P4 inhibits vasoconstriction (TRPM3), sweetness sensitivity (TRPM5), ciliary motility in the lungs (TRPV4), menstrual disorder (TRPC1), and immunity (TRPC3), and facilitates breast cancer (TRPV6) via each channel as indicated. The effects of female hormones on TREK channels and physiological functions are still under investigation. In summary, female hormones influence physiological functions via some TRP channels; however, the literature is not comprehensive and future studies are needed, especially those related to thermoregulation in women.

Emotional Effects on Factors Associated with Chronic Low Back Pain

PURPOSE

Although chronic low back pain (CLBP) has profound effects on patients, society, and economy, its causes are difficult to identify. Psychogenic effects or social stress is known to affect CLBP; hence, investigation of its underlying causes requires a multifactorial approach. We determined the factors associated with CLBP by using an Internet-based survey. To prevent CLBP, we need to understand its cause and background.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 1000 participants either with (+) or without (-) CLBP answered the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ), which assesses five domains of CLBP: low back pain, lumbar function, walking ability, social life function and mental health. We also administered a new questionnaire for participants, that comprised five different domains: Body, Lifestyle, Emotion, Diet, and Social. To evaluate psychogenic effects on CLBP, we added two original factors, namely outshout and HIE, which have not yet been studied. HIE is a traditional concept (sense) of "feeling cold" or "chilly." All participants completed both questionnaires.

RESULTS

Multivariate logistic regression analysis extracted four factors (sleep, room temperature, outshout, and HIE) that were associated with CLBP. The mental health domain was assessed using the JOABPEQ for each of these factors. The factors outshout and HIE differed between CLBP (+) and CLBP (-) patients. CLBP (-) participants also showed a difference in Sleep and HIE factors.

CONCLUSION

Among psychogenic effects, Emotion was common to all the four extracted factors. There was no common physical divisor. Therefore, we hypothesized that acute low back pain might develop into CLBP in the presence of psychological stress or other emotional factors such as outshout or HIE. Hence, we need to consider both physical and psychogenic effects in the prevention and treatment of CLBP. Furthermore, appropriate evaluation and treatment of psychological stress may be effective in reducing CLBP.