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Ni X, Zhang J, Sun M, Wang L, Xu T, Zeng Q, Wang X, Wang Z, Liao H, Hu Y, Gao Q, Zhao L. Abnormal Dynamics of Functional Connectivity Density Associated With Chronic Neck Pain. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:880228. [PMID: 35845606 PMCID: PMC9277509 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.880228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Chronic neck pain (CNP) is highly prevalent and complicated, associated with limited movement, and accompanied by shoulder pain and other clinical manifestations such as dizziness, anxiety, and insomnia. Brain structural and functional abnormalities often occur in patients with CNP. However, knowledge of the brain’s functional organization and temporal dynamics in CNP patients is limited. Dynamic functional connectivity density (dFCD) can reflect the ability of brain areas or voxels to integrate information, and could become neuroimaging markers for objectively reflecting pain to a certain extent. Therefore, this study compared the dFCD between CNP patients and healthy controls (HCs) and investigated potential associations of the abnormal density variability in dynamic functional connectivity with pain characteristics in CNP patients. Methods: Resting functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed for 89 CNP patients and 57 HCs. After preprocessing resting-state fMRI images by the Data Processing and Analysis of Brain Imaging toolbox, the sliding window method was applied to investigate dFCD changes in CNP patients and HCs using the DynamicBC toolbox. Then we quantified dFCD variability using their standard deviation. Based on the pain-associated factors collected from the case report form of CNP patients, the mean dFCD variability values of each dFCD from region of interest were extracted to calculate Pearson’s correlation coefficient to study the potential correlation between dFCD abnormal variability and pain. Results: Compared with HCs, the dFCD values of the anterior cingulate cortex, occipital lobe, temporal lobe, and cerebellum were statistically different in patients with CNP. Subsequent correlation analysis showed that the variable dFCD in the related brain region was correlative with the course of the disease and clinical symptoms, such as pain and depression, in patients with CNP. Conclusion: Dynamic functional alterations were observed in the brain regions of CNP patients, and the dFCD of these brain regions could become neuroimaging markers for objectively reflecting pain to a certain extent. This suggests that chronic pain may cause changes in pain processing and emotional feedback and highlights the link between dynamic neural communication in brain regions and disease conditions, deepening our understanding of chronic pain diseases, and guiding clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xixiu Ni
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiabao Zhang
- School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Mingsheng Sun
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Linjia Wang
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Tao Xu
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Qian Zeng
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Ziwen Wang
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Huaqiang Liao
- Department of Imaging, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yimei Hu
- Department of Orthopedics, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Ling Zhao ; Qing Gao ; Yimei Hu
| | - Qing Gao
- School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Ling Zhao ; Qing Gao ; Yimei Hu
| | - Ling Zhao
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Ling Zhao ; Qing Gao ; Yimei Hu
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Ceccarelli I, Bioletti L, Peparini S, Solomita E, Ricci C, Casini I, Miceli E, Aloisi AM. Estrogens and phytoestrogens in body functions. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 132:648-663. [PMID: 34890602 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Estrogens are the hormones of reproduction in women as well as of many other important functions in the male and female body. They undergo significant changes in the different phases of life, e.g. during puberty, pregnancy or at menopause/andropause. Phytoestrogens are natural non-steroidal phenolic plant compounds that can mimic the activity of estrogens and their beneficial effects in women and in men. This narrative review summarizes the literature on the physiological role of estrogens and the several potential health benefits of phytoestrogens, with particular attention given to the possible role of phytoestrogens in aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Ceccarelli
- Department Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Lucia Bioletti
- Department Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Sofia Peparini
- Department Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Erminia Solomita
- Department Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Comasia Ricci
- Department Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Ilenia Casini
- Department Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Elisangela Miceli
- Department Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Aloisi
- Department Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
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Barbosa Neto JO, Garcia JBS, Cartágenes MDSDS, Amaral AG, Onuchic LF, Ashmawi HA. Influence of androgenic blockade with flutamide on pain behaviour and expression of the genes that encode the NaV1.7 and NaV1.8 voltage-dependent sodium channels in a rat model of postoperative pain. J Transl Med 2019; 17:287. [PMID: 31455381 PMCID: PMC6712891 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-019-2031-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Experimental studies suggest that testosterone reduces the nociceptive response after inflammatory and neuropathic stimuli, however the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of peripheral blockade of testosterone on pain behaviour and on expression levels of the genes that encode the NaV1.7 and NaV1.8 channels, in dorsal root ganglia in an acute postoperative pain model, as well as the influence of androgen blockade on the expression of these genes. Methods Postoperative pain was induced by a plantar incision and the study group received flutamide to block testosterone receptor. The animals were submitted to behavioural evaluation preoperatively, 2 h after incision, and on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 7th postoperative days. Von Frey test was used to evaluate paw withdrawal threshold after mechanical stimuli and the guarding pain test to assess spontaneous pain. The expression of the genes encoding the sodium channels at the dorsal root ganglia was determined by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results Animals treated with flutamide presented lower paw withdrawal threshold at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 7th postoperative days. The guarding pain test showed significant decrease in the flutamide group at 2 h and on the 3rd and 7th postoperative days. No difference was detected between the study and control groups for the gene expression. Conclusions Our data suggest an antinociceptive effect of androgens following plantar incision. The expression of genes that encode voltage-gated sodium channels was not influenced by androgen blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Osvaldo Barbosa Neto
- LIM/08 - Laboratório de Anestesiologia - Laboratórios de Investigação Médica do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | | | | | - Andressa Godoy Amaral
- LIM/29 - Laboratório de Nefrologia Celular, Genética e Molecular - Laboratórios de Investigação Médica do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luiz Fernando Onuchic
- LIM/29 - Laboratório de Nefrologia Celular, Genética e Molecular - Laboratórios de Investigação Médica do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Hazem Adel Ashmawi
- LIM/08 - Laboratório de Anestesiologia - Laboratórios de Investigação Médica do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Passavanti MB, Pota V, Sansone P, Aurilio C, De Nardis L, Pace MC. Chronic Pelvic Pain: Assessment, Evaluation, and Objectivation. PAIN RESEARCH AND TREATMENT 2017; 2017:9472925. [PMID: 29359045 PMCID: PMC5735788 DOI: 10.1155/2017/9472925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Revised: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP) and Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS) have a significant impact on men and women of reproductive and nonreproductive age, with a considerable burden on overall quality of life (QoL) and on psychological, functional, and behavioural status. Moreover, diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties are remarkable features in many patients. Therefore evaluation, assessment and objectivation tools are often necessary to properly address each patient and consequently his/her clinical needs. Here we review the different tools for pain assessment, evaluation, and objectivation; specific features regarding CPP/CPPS will be highlighted. Also, recent findings disclosed with neuroimaging investigations will be reviewed as they provide new insights into CPP/CPPS pathophysiology and may serve as a tool for CPP assessment and objectivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Beatrice Passavanti
- Department of Woman, Child, General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania L. Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Pota
- Department of Woman, Child, General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania L. Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Pasquale Sansone
- Department of Woman, Child, General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania L. Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Caterina Aurilio
- Department of Woman, Child, General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania L. Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Lorenzo De Nardis
- Department of Woman, Child, General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania L. Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Caterina Pace
- Department of Woman, Child, General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania L. Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
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Sandner P, Tinel H, Affaitati G, Costantini R, Giamberardino MA. Effects of PDE5 Inhibitors and sGC Stimulators in a Rat Model of Artificial Ureteral Calculosis. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141477. [PMID: 26509272 PMCID: PMC4624930 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Urinary colics from calculosis are frequent and intense forms of pain whose current pharmacological treatment remains unsatisfactory. New and more effective drugs are needed to control symptoms and improve stone expulsion. Recent evidence suggested that the Nitric Oxide (NO) / cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) / phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) system may contribute to ureteral motility influencing stone expulsion. We investigated if PDE5 inhibitors and sGC stimulators influence ureteral contractility, pain behaviour and stone expulsion in a rat model of ureteral calculosis. We investigated: a)the sex-specific PDE5 distribution in the rat ureter; b)the functional in vitro effects of vardenafil and sildenafil (PDE5 inhibitors) and BAY41-2272 (sGC stimulator) on induced ureteral contractility in rats and c)the in vivo effectiveness of vardenafil and BAY41-2272, alone and combined with ketoprofen, vs hyoscine-N-butylbromide alone or combined with ketoprofen, on behavioural pain indicators and stone expulsion in rats with artificial calculosis in one ureter. PDE5 was abundantly expressed in male and female rats’ ureter. In vitro, both vardenafil and BAY41-2272 significantly relaxed pre-contracted ureteral strips. In vivo, all compounds significantly reduced number and global duration of “ureteral crises” and post-stone lumbar muscle hyperalgesia in calculosis rats. The highest level of reduction of the pain behaviour was observed with BAY41-2272 among all spasmolytics administered alone, and with the combination of ketoprofen with BAY41-2272. The percentage of stone expulsion was maximal in the ketoprofen+BAY41-2272 group. The NO/cGMP/PDE5 pathway is involved in the regulation of ureteral contractility and pain behaviour in urinary calculosis. PDE5 inhibitors and sGC stimulators could become a potent new option for treatment of urinary colic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Sandner
- Bayer Health Care AG – Global Drug Discovery, Department of Cardiology – Pharma Research Center Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
- Institute of Pharmacology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Hanna Tinel
- Bayer Health Care AG – Global Drug Discovery, Department of Cardiology – Pharma Research Center Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Giannapia Affaitati
- Pathophysiology of Pain Laboratory, Ce.S.I., “G. D’Annunzio” University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, “G. D’Annunzio” University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy
| | - Raffaele Costantini
- Institute of Surgical Pathology, “G. D’Annunzio” University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy
| | - Maria Adele Giamberardino
- Pathophysiology of Pain Laboratory, Ce.S.I., “G. D’Annunzio” University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, “G. D’Annunzio” University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Traub RJ, Ji Y. Sex differences and hormonal modulation of deep tissue pain. Front Neuroendocrinol 2013; 34:350-66. [PMID: 23872333 PMCID: PMC3830473 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2013.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2013] [Revised: 07/08/2013] [Accepted: 07/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Women disproportionately suffer from many deep tissue pain conditions. Experimental studies show that women have lower pain thresholds, higher pain ratings and less tolerance to a range of painful stimuli. Most clinical and epidemiological reports suggest female gonadal hormones modulate pain for some, but not all, conditions. Similarly, animal studies support greater nociceptive sensitivity in females in many deep tissue pain models. Gonadal hormones modulate responses in primary afferents, dorsal horn neurons and supraspinal sites, but the direction of modulation is variable. This review will examine sex differences in deep tissue pain in humans and animals focusing on the role of gonadal hormones (mainly estradiol) as an underlying component of the modulation of pain sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Traub
- Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland Baltimore, 650 W. Baltimore St., 8 South, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Center for Pain Studies, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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Palmeira CCDA, Ashmawi HA, Posso IDP. Sex and pain perception and analgesia. Rev Bras Anestesiol 2012; 61:814-28. [PMID: 22063383 DOI: 10.1016/s0034-7094(11)70091-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2010] [Accepted: 02/21/2011] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex is an important factor in painful experience modulation. Large volume of evidence shows that experience is different for males and females, as well as the answer to some classes of analgesics. Laboratory experiments suggest that women have a lower pain threshold than men related to pain from noxious stimuli such as heat, cold, pressure and electrical stimulation. Pain is a dynamic phenomenon under the influence of various mechanisms of excitatory and inhibitory control. The differences in pain perception related to sex may be associated with hyperalgesia in women, but also to the hypoactivity of the inhibitory system of pain in females. The purpose of this review besides showing some relationship for gonadal hormones, central nervous system and pain is to provide reference points for the discussion of one of the most intriguing aspects of the pathophysiology of pain: the differences in the presence of painful stimuli related to gender.
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Ji Y, Tang B, Traub RJ. Spinal estrogen receptor alpha mediates estradiol-induced pronociception in a visceral pain model in the rat. Pain 2011; 152:1182-1191. [PMID: 21392887 DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2011.01.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2010] [Revised: 01/21/2011] [Accepted: 01/24/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
We previously reported that 17β-estradiol (E2) is pronociceptive in a visceral pain model in the rat. Subcutaneously (s.c.) administered E2 reversed the decrease in the colorectal distention (CRD)-evoked visceromotor response produced by ovariectomy (OVx) and CRD-induced nociceptive responses were greater in proestrous rats compared with met/diestrous rats. The site of action, the type of estrogen receptors activated, and the possible intracellular signaling pathway involved are yet to be established. In the present study, intrathecal (i.t.) E2 administered to OVx rats mimicked the effects of s.c. E2, suggesting that spinal estrogen receptors are involved. This is further supported by the observations that the anti-estrogen ICI 182,780 injected i.t. in intact female rats significantly decreased the visceromotor response to CRD, the response of colonic afferents was not affected by OVx, and colonic afferents did not label for estrogen receptor α (ERα). The ERα selective agonist, 4,4',4''-[4-propyl-(1H)-pyrazole-1,3,5-triyl]tris-phenol (PPT; s.c. or i.t.) facilitated the visceromotor response similar to E2, suggesting ERα activation is involved in mediating the pronociceptive effect of E2. PPT (s.c. or i.t.) increased the response of spinal dorsal horn neurons to CRD, indicating a spinal site of action. In addition, s.c. E2 or PPT increased CRD-induced spinal extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation that was not observed in OVx rats and a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase (MEK) inhibitor blocked facilitation of the visceromotor response by PPT. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that spinal ERα mediates the pronociceptive effect of E2 on visceral signal processing through activation of the MAPK pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaping Ji
- Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, University of Maryland Dental School, Baltimore, MD, USA
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