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Zhu K, Chang J, Zhang S, Li Y, Zuo J, Ni H, Xie B, Yao J, Xu Z, Bian S, Yan T, Wu X, Chen S, Jin W, Wang Y, Xu P, Song P, Wu Y, Shen C, Zhu J, Yu Y, Dong F. The enhanced connectivity between the frontoparietal, somatomotor network and thalamus as the most significant network changes of chronic low back pain. Neuroimage 2024; 290:120558. [PMID: 38437909 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The prolonged duration of chronic low back pain (cLBP) inevitably leads to changes in the cognitive, attentional, sensory and emotional processing brain regions. Currently, it remains unclear how these alterations are manifested in the interplay between brain functional and structural networks. This study aimed to predict the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) in cLBP patients using multimodal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data and identified the most significant features within the multimodal networks to aid in distinguishing patients from healthy controls (HCs). We constructed dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) and structural connectivity (SC) networks for all participants (n = 112) and employed the Connectome-based Predictive Modeling (CPM) approach to predict ODI scores, utilizing various feature selection thresholds to identify the most significant network change features in dFC and SC outcomes. Subsequently, we utilized these significant features for optimal classifier selection and the integration of multimodal features. The results revealed enhanced connectivity among the frontoparietal network (FPN), somatomotor network (SMN) and thalamus in cLBP patients compared to HCs. The thalamus transmits pain-related sensations and emotions to the cortical areas through the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and primary somatosensory cortex (SI), leading to alterations in whole-brain network functionality and structure. Regarding the model selection for the classifier, we found that Support Vector Machine (SVM) best fit these significant network features. The combined model based on dFC and SC features significantly improved classification performance between cLBP patients and HCs (AUC=0.9772). Finally, the results from an external validation set support our hypotheses and provide insights into the potential applicability of the model in real-world scenarios. Our discovery of enhanced connectivity between the thalamus and both the dlPFC (FPN) and SI (SMN) provides a valuable supplement to prior research on cLBP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Zhu
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China; Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Jianchao Chang
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China; Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Siya Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China; Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China; Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Junxun Zuo
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China; Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Haoyu Ni
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China; Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Bingyong Xie
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China; Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Jiyuan Yao
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China; Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Zhibin Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China; Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Sicheng Bian
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China; Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Tingfei Yan
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China; Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Xianyong Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China; Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China; Department of Orthopedics, Anqing First People's Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anqing, PR China
| | - Senlin Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Dongcheng branch of The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University (Feidong People's Hospital), Hefei, PR China
| | - Weiming Jin
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China; Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Peng Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China; Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Peiwen Song
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China; Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Yuanyuan Wu
- Department of Medical Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Cailiang Shen
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China; Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Jiajia Zhu
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Yongqiang Yu
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Fulong Dong
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China; Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, PR China.
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Skogberg O, Karlsson L, Bäckryd E, Lemming D. Tonic cuff pressure pain sensitivity in chronic pain patients and its relation to self-reported physical activity. Scand J Pain 2024; 24:sjpain-2023-0033. [PMID: 38095182 DOI: 10.1515/sjpain-2023-0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Physical inactivity is a global health concern and a significant problem among chronic pain patients. They often experience pain flare-ups when they try to increase their physical activity level. Most research on the relationship between pain sensitivity and physical activity has been on healthy participants. Data on chronic pain patients are lacking. Using cuff pressure algometry, this study investigated tonic cuff pressure pain sensitivity and its associations to self-reported physical activity and other patient-reported outcomes in chronic pain patients. METHODS Chronic pain patients (n=78) were compared to healthy controls (n=98). Multivariate data analysis was used to investigate the associations between tonic cuff pressure pain sensitivity, physical activity, and other patient-reported outcome measures. RESULTS The three most important variables for group discrimination were perceived health status (EQVAS: p(corr)=-0.85, i.e., lower in patients), depression (HADS-D: p(corr)=0.81, i.e., higher in patients), and the tonic cuff pressure pain sensitivity variable maximum pain intensity (VAS-peak-arm: p(corr)=0.75, i.e., higher in patients). In patients, the most important predictors for high VAS-peak-arm were female sex (p(corr)=-0.75), higher number of painful regions (p(corr)=0.72), higher pain intensity (p(corr)=0.55), followed by lower level of self-reported physical activity (p(corr)=-0.39). VAS-peak-arm in patients correlated negatively with self-reported physical activity (rho=-0.28, p=0.018). CONCLUSIONS Physical activity may be the most important patient-changeable variable correlating to pain sensitivity. This study highlights the importance of more research to further understand how increased physical activity may decrease pain sensitivity in chronic pain patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olof Skogberg
- Pain and Rehabilitation Center, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Linn Karlsson
- Pain and Rehabilitation Center, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Emmanuel Bäckryd
- Pain and Rehabilitation Center, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Dag Lemming
- Pain and Rehabilitation Center, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Maritime and Civil Aviation Department, Swedish Transport Agency, Norrköping, Sweden
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Palmer KL, Shivgulam ME, Champod AS, Wilson BC, O'Brien MW, Bray NW. Exercise training augments brain function and reduces pain perception in adults with chronic pain: A systematic review of intervention studies. NEUROBIOLOGY OF PAIN (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2023; 13:100129. [PMID: 37206154 PMCID: PMC10189552 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2023.100129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Chronic pain (CP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Pain may be measured using subjective questionnaires, but understanding the underlying physiology, such as brain function, could improve prognosis. Further, there has been a shift towards cost-effective lifestyle modification for the management of CP. Methods We conducted a systematic review (Registration: #CRD42022331870) using articles retrieved from four databases (Pubmed, EMBASE, AMED, and CINAHL) to assess the effect of exercise on brain function and pain perception/quality of life in adults with CP. Results Our search yielded 1879 articles; after exclusion, ten were included in the final review. Study participants were diagnosed with either osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia. However, two studies included "fibromyalgia and low back pain" or "fibromyalgia, back, and complex regional pain." Exercise interventions that were 12 weeks or longer (n = 8/10) altered brain function and improved pain and/or quality of life outcomes. The cortico-limbic pathway, default-mode network, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex were key regions that experienced alterations post-intervention. All studies that reported an improvement in brain function also demonstrated an improvement in pain perception and/or quality of life. Discussion Our review suggests that alterations in brain function, notably the cortico-limbic, default-mode and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, may be responsible for the downstream improvements in the subjective experience of CP. Through appropriate programming (i.e., length of intervention), exercise may represent a viable option to manage CP via its positive influence on brain health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kierstyn L. Palmer
- School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Madeline E. Shivgulam
- Division of Kinesiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 3J5, Canada
| | - Anne Sophie Champod
- Dept. of Psychology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Brian C. Wilson
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Myles W. O'Brien
- School of Physiotherapy (Faculty of Health) and Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 3J5, Canada
| | - Nick W. Bray
- Cumming School of Medicine, Dept. of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
- Corresponding author at: Lab of Human Cerebrovascular Physiology, MR Neuroimaging Lab, Heritage Medical Research Building, Room HMRB 128, Calgary, AB N6C 0A7, Canada.
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