Convergence of cutaneous, musculoskeletal, dural and visceral afferents onto nociceptive neurons in the first cervical dorsal horn

The effect of simultaneous administration of occipital nerve block and cervical myofascial trigger point injection (MTrPI) on headache parameters in chronic migraine patients

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Peripheral myofascial mechanisms have been identified as contributors to migraine pathophysiology. The specific comorbid relationship between migraine and cervical trigger points may exacerbate the occurrence and severity of migraine attacks. Trigger point injections (TPIs) are frequently employed to address headaches and alleviate migraine symptoms. The current study explores the impact of concurrent myofascial trigger point injection (MTrPI) and occipital nerve block (greater occipital nerve block [GONB] + lesser occipital nerve block [LONB]) on the severity of headaches and the number of migraine attacks in individuals with chronic migraine (CM) and cervical myofascial trigger points (MTrPs), with a comparison of occipital nerve block alone (GONB + LONB). During trigger point examination and injection, trapezius, levator scapulae, splenius capitis, temporalis, and sternocleidomastoid muscles were targeted. We planned the treatment based on whether they were in the muscle groups we determined, rather than the number of trigger points.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

This study enrolled 62 individuals experiencing CM with bilateral headache and cervical MTrP who sought care at the Algology Unit within the Departments of Neurology and Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation at Siirt Training and Research Hospital between 2020 and 2022. The CM cohort was stratified into two groups: group 1 received trigger point injections (TrPI), while group 2 underwent concurrent bilateral occipital nerve block (GONB + LONB) and TrPI. Both groups underwent three treatment sessions with bupivacaine 0.5% (1 ml = 5 mg) in weeks 1, 2, and 4. Visual analog scale (VAS) was used to measure the patients' pain intensity. The evaluation included the assessment of the monthly migraine frequency and visual analog scale (VAS) p score for pain before treatment (BT) and after treatment (AT), conducted at baseline and during follow-up visits. Analysis of the data was conducted utilizing IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows version 28.0 software.

RESULTS

Among patients diagnosed with CM and MTrPs, 32 individuals (51.6%) underwent GONB and LONB, while 30 patients (48.4%) received simultaneous GONB, LONB, and cervical MTrPI. Within the entire sample, 51 participants (82.3%) were female, and 11 (17.7%) were male, with a mean age of 32.81 ± 10.75 years. With an average age of 32.81 ± 10.75 years, there was no statistically significant variance between the two groups (p = 0.516). Of the total cohort, 45 individuals (72.6%) reported experiencing headaches persisting for 12 months or longer. Among CM patients, 80% had active trigger points, while 20% had latent trigger points. No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups concerning TrPs (p = 0.158), and the distribution of TrPs was homogenous across the two groups. In group 1, the median (min-max) monthly frequency of migraines reduced from 18.5 days (range: 15.0 to 25.0 days) before treatment to 12.0 days (range: 7.0 to 17.0 days) after treatment (p = 0.000). In group 2, the median monthly frequency of migraines reduced from 16.5 days (range: 15.0 to 22.0 days) before treatment to 4.0 days (range: 2.0 to 8.0 days) after treatment (p = 0.000). The median (min-max) VAS score in group 1 was 8.0 (range: 5.0 to 9.0) before treatment, 4.0 (range: 2.0 to 6.0) at week 1, and 5.0 (range: 4.0 to 8.0) at week 4 (p = 0.000). In group 2, the median VAS score was 7.0 (range: 5.0 to 9.0) before treatment, 0.0 (range: 0.0 to 0.3) at week 1, and 2.0 (range: 0.0 to 0.3) at week 4 (p = 0.000). There were significant distinctions between the groups in terms of both the monthly count of migraine days and the severity of headaches (p = 0.000).

CONCLUSION

The combination of repeated MTrPIs and ONB proves more effective than ONB alone in managing patients with CM and cervical MTrP. In patients with CM, performing TrPs examination and adding treatments for this may contribute to the treatment. In cases where patients endure prolonged episodes of headache associated with chronic migraine, the inclusion of trigger point injections alongside peripheral nerve blocks may offer enhanced therapeutic benefits.

Whiplash trauma did not predict jaw pain after 2 years: an explorative study

OBJECTIVES

To explore predictive factors for the development and maintenance of jaw pain over a 2-year period.

METHODS

One hundred nineteen cases (73 women) and 104 controls (59 women), mean age 34.9 years (SD 13.9), attended baseline and 2-year follow-up examinations. The whiplash cases visited the emergency department at Umeå University Hospital, Sweden, with neck pain within 72 h following a car accident, and baseline questionnaires were answered within a month after trauma. Controls were recruited via advertising. Inclusion criteria were age 18-70 years, living in Umeå municipality and Swedish speaking. The exclusion criterion was neck fracture for cases and a previous neck trauma for controls. Validated questionnaires recommended in the standardized Research Diagnostic Criteria for temporomandibular disorders were used. Jaw pain was assessed by two validated screening questions answered with "yes" or "no." A logistic regression analysis was used to predict the outcome variable jaw pain (yes/no) after 2 years.

RESULTS

Whiplash trauma did not increase the odds of development of jaw pain over a 2-year period (OR 1.97, 95% CI 0.53-7.38). However, non-specific physical symptoms (OR 8.56, 95% CI 1.08-67.67) and female gender (OR 4.89, 95% CI 1.09-22.02) did increase the odds for jaw pain after 2 years.

CONCLUSION

The development and maintenance of jaw pain after whiplash trauma are primarily not related to the trauma itself, but more associated with physical symptoms.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The development of jaw pain in connection with a whiplash trauma needs to be seen in a biopsychosocial perspective, and early assessment is recommended.

Morphological Changes of the Suboccipital Musculature in Women with Myofascial Temporomandibular Pain: A Case-Control Study

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is an umbrella term including pain problems involving the cranio-cervical region. It has been suggested that patients with TMD also exhibit cervical spine disturbances. Evidence suggests the presence of morphological changes in the deep cervical muscles in individuals with headaches. The objective of this study was to compare the morphology of the suboccipital muscles between women with TMD and healthy controls. An observational, cross-sectional case-control study was conducted. An ultrasound examination of the suboccipital musculature (rectus capitis posterior minor, rectus capitis posterior major, oblique capitis superior, oblique capitis inferior) was conducted in 20 women with myofascial TMD and 20 matched controls. The cross-sectional area (CSA), perimeter, depth, width, and length of each muscle were calculated by a blinded assessor. The results revealed that women with myofascial TMD pain exhibited bilaterally reduced thickness, CSA, and perimeter in all the suboccipital muscles when compared with healthy women. The width and depth of the suboccipital musculature were similar between women with myofascial TMD and pain-free controls. This study found morphological changes in the suboccipital muscles in women with myofascial TMD pain. These changes can be related to muscle atrophy and are similar to those previously found in women with headaches. Future studies are required to investigate the clinical relevance of these findings by determining if the specific treatment of these muscles could help clinically patients with myofascial TMD.

Pathogenesis and Differential Diagnosis of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are an umbrella term including disorders of the temporomandibular joint and muscles of the masticatory system. They are the most common nonodontogenic cause of pain in the orofacial region. A clear understanding of various conditions, underlying mechanisms, clinical presentation, and examination skills is required to effectively diagnose and manage these patients.

The degeneration-pain relationship in the temporomandibular joint: Current understandings and rodent models

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) represent a group of musculoskeletal conditions involving the temporomandibular joints (TMJ), the masticatory muscles and associated structures. Painful TMD are highly prevalent and conditions afflict 4% of US adults annually. TMD include heterogenous musculoskeletal pain conditions, such as myalgia, arthralgia, and myofascial pain. A subpopulations of TMD patients show structural changes in TMJ, including disc displacement or degenerative joint diseases (DJD). DJD is a slowly progressing, degenerative disease of the TMJ characterized by cartilage degradation and subchondral bone remodeling. Patients with DJD often develop pain (TMJ osteoarthritis; TMJ OA), but do not always have pain (TMJ osteoarthrosis). Therefore, pain symptoms are not always associated with altered TMJ structures, which suggests that a causal relationship between TMJ degeneration and pain is unclear. Multiple animal models have been developed for determining altered joint structure and pain phenotypes in response to various TMJ injuries. Rodent models of TMJOA and pain include injections to induce inflammation or cartilage destruction, sustained opening of the oral cavity, surgical resection of the articular disc, transgenic approaches to knockout or overexpress key genes, and an integrative approach with superimposed emotional stress or comorbidities. In rodents, TMJ pain and degeneration occur during partially overlapping time periods in these models, which suggests that common biological factors may mediate TMJ pain and degeneration over different time courses. While substances such as intra-articular pro-inflammatory cytokines commonly cause pain and joint degeneration, it remains unclear whether pain or nociceptive activities are causally associated with structural degeneration of TMJ and whether structural degeneration of TMJ is necessary for producing persistent pain. A thorough understanding of the determining factors of pain-structure relationships of TMJ during the onset, progression, and chronification by adopting novel approaches and models should improve the ability to simultaneously treat TMJ pain and TMJ degeneration.

Back and neck pain: A comparison between acute and chronic pain-related Temporomandibular Disorders

Background

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are common and cause persistent pain. Comorbidities are associated with TMDs and can affect the effectiveness of their treatments. The literature is lacking enough evidence on the difference between acute and chronic pain, particularly in TMDs. Investigating this difference could highlight potential risk factors for the transition from acute to chronic pain–related TMDs.

Aim

To compare the likelihood of back and neck pain (BP, NP) between acute and chronic pain–related TMDs (AP-TMD, CP-TMD) as defined by pain duration and pain-related disability.‎

Methods

Participants with AP-TMDs (≤3 months) and CP-TMDs (>3 months) were recruited according to the diagnostic criteria and research diagnostic criteria of TMD. BP and NP were assessed using a self-reported checklist. CP-TMDs defined by disability (chronic disability) and depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed using validated instruments. Logistic regression analyses were employed.

Results

This study enrolled 487 adults with AP-TMD (n = 118) and CP-TMD (n = 369). Relative to AP-TMD, participants with CP-TMD had twice the odds of reporting NP (odds ratio [OR] = 2.17‎, 95% CI 1.27–3.71) but not BP ‎‎(OR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.57–1.64). Participants with chronic disability were twice as likely to report NP ‎(OR = 1.95‎, 95% CI 1.20–3.17‎) but not BP (OR = 1.13, 95% CI 0.69–1.82)‎ compared to those without. All analyses were adjusted for age, sex, and anxiety and depression symptoms.

Conclusions

Within the limitations of this study, results suggest that central dysregulation or trigeminocervical convergence mechanisms are implicated in the process of pain-related TMD chronification and highlight the relevance of considering disability when defining CP-TMDs.

Preventive effect of greater occipital nerve block on patients with episodic migraine: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

Since the data regarding the efficacy of greater occipital in episodic migraines are rare, we aimed to examine the efficacy of greater occipital block in the prophylaxis of episodic migraines without aura and compare different injectable drug regimens.

METHODS

In a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial, adult patients suffering from episodic migraines without aura were randomized to one of the following: triamcinolone, lidocaine, triamcinolone plus lidocaine, and saline. Patients were assessed at baseline, one week, two weeks, and four weeks after the injection for severity and duration of headaches and side effects.

RESULTS

Fifty-five patients completed the study. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated that the severity and duration decreased significantly after the greater occipital block (P < 0.001, P = 0.001 respectively) in all four groups. However, there was no difference between groups at any study time points (P > 0.05). In paired sample T-test, only groups 2 and 3 with lidocaine as a part of the injection showed a significant decrease in frequency compared to the baseline (P = 0.002, P = 0.019). Three patients reported side effects with a possible association with triamcinolone.

CONCLUSION

Greater occipital block with a local anesthetic significantly decreases the number of attacks in episodic migraine, whereas no injection was superior to the placebo in regards to the duration and severity of the headaches.Trial Registration Information: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT). Registration number: IRCT2017070334879N1. https://www.irct.ir/trial/26537.

Painful and non-painful comorbidities associated with short- and long-term painful temporomandibular disorders: A cross-sectional study among adolescents from Brazil, Canada, and France

BACKGROUND

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain is common among adolescents. The association between painful TMD and other comorbidities has been demonstrated. However, the difference between short-term (<6 months) and long-term (≥ 6 months) painful TMD is not yet clear.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the association between comorbidities and short- and long-term painful TMD among adolescents.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, adolescents were recruited from Montreal (Canada), Nice (France), and Arceburgo (Brazil). Self-reported painful TMD, comorbidities, school absence, and analgesic intake were assessed using reliable instruments. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the study aims.

RESULTS

The prevalence of short- and long-term painful TMD was estimated at 22.29% and 9.93%, respectively. The number of comorbidities was associated with short- (OR = 1.71, 95%CI = 1.53-1.90) and long-term painful TMD (OR = 1.79, 95%CI = 1.55-2.08) compared to controls. Frequent headaches (OR_short-term = 4.39, 95%CI = 3.23-5.98, OR_long-term = 3.69, 95%CI = 2.45-5.57) and back pain (OR_short-term = 1.46, 95%CI=1.06-2.03, OR_long-term  = 1.69, 95%CI = 1.11-2.59) were associated with both painful TMD groups. Frequent neck pain (OR = 2.23, 95%CI = 1.53-3.26) and allergies were only associated with short-term painful TMD (OR = 1.54, 95%CI = 1.13-2.10). Frequent stomach pain was related to long-term (OR = 2.01, 95%CI = 1.35-3.26), and it was the only comorbidity significantly more frequent among the long than short-term TMD (OR = 1.82, 95%CI: 1.14-2.90). These analyses were adjusted by sex, age, and city.

CONCLUSION

In this multi-center study, both short- and long-term painful TMD are associated with frequent headaches and back pain, whereas frequent neck pain and allergies are related to only short-term, and frequent stomach pain with long-term painful TMD.

Processing of trigeminocervical nociceptive afferent input by neuronal circuity in the upper cervical lamina I

ABSTRACT

Afferents from the C2 spinal nerve (SN) and trigeminal nerve (TN) innervate neighboring cranial territories, and their convergence on the upper cervical dorsal horn neurons represents neural substrate of pain referral in primary headache disorders. Unfortunately, little is known about trigeminocervical input to the major spinal nociceptive projection area lamina I. Here, we used ex vivo brainstem-cervical cord preparation for the visually guided whole-cell recording from the upper cervical lamina I neurons. We show that 50% of them receive convergent monosynaptic input from both nerves, whereas 35% and 11% of neurons receive specific supply from the C2 SN and TN, respectively. Altogether, 10 distinct patterns of synaptic input from the C2 SN and TN to lamina I neurons could be identified. Although stimulation of both nerves evoked excitatory/inhibitory responses, more numerous pure inhibitory inputs arose from the TN. We show that cervical and trigeminal nociceptors converge on to lamina I projection and inhibitory neurons. Thus, trigeminocervical input in lamina I is processed in both nerve-specific and convergent circuitries. Afferent convergence on to inhibitory interneurons serves as a feedforward mechanism balancing excitatory drive to projection neurons. Disruption of this balance may cause pain in primary headache syndromes.

Neck associated factors related to migraine in adolescents with painful temporomandibular disorders

OBJECTIVE

Migraine is a comorbidity of painful temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). Both migraine and painful TMD have associations with neck pain and head posture. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of neck pain and head posture on the association between migraine and painful TMD in adolescents.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

In total 314 adolescents were included: 235 adolescents with only painful TMD (pTMD) and 79 adolescents with painful TMD and migraine (TMDMIG). Adolescents were diagnosed according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders and International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition. Head postures were identified using lateral cephalograms. Myofascial trigger points (TrPs) were evaluated in the temporalis, masseter, trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, sub-occipitalis, and splenius capitis muscles.

RESULTS

Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed the associations among the orofacial pain duration, number of active TrPs in the trapezius muscles, intensity of neck pain, and distance between the occiput and atlas and migraine in adolescents with TMD. The relationships among intensity of neck pain, number of TrPs in the cervical muscles, and head posture were more prominent in the TMDMIG than those in the pTMD.

CONCLUSION

Neck associated factors seemed to have relevance with migraine in adolescents with painful TMD.

Noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation and morphine transiently inhibit trigeminal pain signaling in a chronic headache model

Noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation suppressed persistent trigeminal nociception in a chronic headache model similarly to morphine and may provide a safe, nonaddictive abortive therapy for chronic headache.

Introduction:

Chronic headache conditions are characterized by persistent sensitization of the trigeminal system, which involves dysfunction of descending pain modulation. We previously reported that noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) inhibits trigeminal nociception in models of episodic migraine through a mechanism involving enhanced serotonergic and GABAergic descending pain signaling.

Objectives:

The analgesic effectiveness of nVNS and morphine were investigated in an animal model of chronic headache mediated by the combination of the 3 migraine risk factors of neck muscle tension, paradoxical sleep deprivation, and pungent odors.

Methods:

Sprague–Dawley rats were injected with complete Freund's adjuvant in the trapezius and sleep deprived for 1 night to promote trigeminal sensitization. After 7 days, animals were exposed to a pungent odor, and mechanical nocifensive head withdrawal responses were determined using von Frey filaments. Beginning on day 3 after odor exposure, animals were treated daily with either nVNS or morphine for 7 days.

Results:

Exposure of animals sensitized by neck inflammation and sleep deprivation to a pungent odor resulted in a prolonged state of trigeminal nociception. Daily administration of nVNS or morphine significantly repressed the nocifensive response; however, cessation resulted in a return to heightened pretreatment nocifensive levels.

Conclusions:

The combination of reported migraine risk factors promotes a state of sustained trigeminal hypersensitivity characteristic of chronic headache. Daily nVNS was similarly effective as morphine in inhibiting nociception and may represent a safer, opioid-sparing therapeutic option for other chronic pain disorders involving sensitization of the trigeminal system by promoting descending pain modulation.

Dietary supplementation with grape seed extract prevents development of trigeminal sensitization and inhibits pain signaling in a preclinical chronic temporomandibular disorder model

BACKGROUND

The risk factors neck muscle tension, prolonged jaw opening, and female gender are associated with developing temporomandibular disorders (TMD), which are characterized by persistent sensitization of trigeminal neurons and enhanced pain signaling. Dietary supplementation with a grape seed extract (GSE) can modulate expression of proteins that decrease neuronal excitability and trigeminal sensitization.

METHODS

Mechanical nocifensive thresholds over the masseter were determined using von Frey filaments in male and female adult Sprague Dawley rats. To promote trigeminal sensitization, animals were injected with complete Freund's adjuvant in the upper trapezius. After 8 days, animals were subjected to near maximal jaw opening and head withdrawal responses were determined for 28 days. Some animals received continuous supplementation with 0.5% GSE in their drinking water two weeks prior to trapezius injections.

RESULTS

Prolonged jaw opening increased the average number of nocifensive responses to mechanical stimuli for 14 days in males and females. However, trapezius inflammation prior to jaw opening promoted persistent mechanical sensitivity up to 28 days post-jaw opening in females, while in males nociceptive levels were still elevated at day 21. Supplementation with GSE, which is enriched in polyphenols and exhibits antioxidant and COX-2 activity, inhibited trigeminal nociception in response to jaw opening in both male and female sensitized animals.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide evidence that multiple risk factors contribute to the development of a prolonged state of trigeminal sensitization that is more severe in females and provide preclinical evidence that supplementation with GSE could be beneficial in the management of TMD.

The receptive field for visceral pain referred orofacially by the vagus nerves

BACKGROUND

The nociceptive receptive field of the vagus nerves in animals includes virtually the entire thoracic, abdominal and laryngopharyngeal regions. However, the role of the vagus nerves in the transmission of visceral pain in humans, with the exception of pain from coronary artery diseases, is believed to be insignificant.

AIM

The purpose of this report is to map out the clinical visceral pain receptive field of the vagus nerves relative to its nociceptive counterpart in animals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The PubMed database and PMC were searched for case reports of patients with orofacial pain believed by the author(s) of the article to be referred from underlying non-cardiac thoracic, laryngopharyngeal or abdominal diseases. Reports of diseases for which non-neural explanations for the orofacial spread of pain were suggested were excluded.

RESULTS

A total of 52 case reports of jaw pain and/or otalgia referred from laryngopharyngeal and noncardiac thoracic sources were discovered. In addition, a multicenter prospective study found that 25.8% of more than 3,000 patients with thoracic aortic dissection experienced pain in the head and neck region. In stark contrast, no case reports of orofacially referred pain from abdominal diseases were found.

DISCUSSION

The results indicate that the laryngopharyngeal and thoracic portions of the vagal receptive field are capable of referring pain orofacially while the abdominal portion is not. The roles of the somatotopic organization of the trigeminal sub nucleus caudalis and neuromodulation in this referral of pain were discussed.

CONCLUSION

Referred orofacial pain can lead to delayed diagnosis and poorer outcome in visceral diseases.

Signaling Interaction between Facial and Meningeal Inputs of the Trigeminal System Mediates Peripheral Neurostimulation Analgesia in a Rat Model of Migraine

Peripheral neurostimulation within the trigeminal nerve territory has been used for pain alleviation during migraine attacks, but the mechanistic basis of this non-invasive intervention is still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic role of peripheral stimulation of the trigeminal nerve, which provides homosegmental innervation to intracranial structures, by assessing analgesic effects in a nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced rat model of migraine. As a result of neurogenic inflammatory responses in the trigeminal nervous system, plasma protein extravasation was induced in facial skin by applying noxious stimulation to the dura mater. Noxious chemical stimulation of the dura mater led to protein extravasation in facial cutaneous tissues and caused mechanical sensitivity. Trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons were double-labeled via retrograde tracing to detect bifurcated axons. Extracellular recordings of wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons in the spinal trigeminal nucleus caudalis (Sp5C) demonstrated the convergence and interaction of inputs from facial tissues and the dura mater. Peripheral neurostimulation of homotopic facial tissues represented segmental pain inhibition on cephalic cutaneous allodynia in the migraine model. The results indicated that facial territories and intracranial structures were directly connected with each other through bifurcated double-labeled neurons in the TG and through second-order WDR neurons. Homotopic stimulation at the C-fiber intensity threshold resulted in much stronger inhibition of analgesia than the same intensity of heterotopic stimulation. These results provide novel evidence for the neurological bases through which peripheral neurostimulation may be effective in treating migraine in clinical practice.

Inhibition of Trigeminal Nociception by Non-invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Investigating the Role of GABAergic and Serotonergic Pathways in a Model of Episodic Migraine

Migraine is a prevalent neurological disease that is characterized by unpredictable episodic attacks of intense head pain. The underlying pathology involves sensitization and activation of the trigeminal system. Although non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) is recommended for the treatment of migraine, the abortive mechanism of action is not well-understood. The goal of this study was to compare the ability of nVNS and sumatriptan to inhibit trigeminal activation in two animal models of episodic migraine and to investigate the receptor mechanism of action of nVNS. Nocifensive head withdrawal response was investigated in adult male Sprague Dawley rats using von Frey filaments. To induce trigeminal nociceptor sensitization, complete Freund's adjuvant was injected in the trapezius muscle and trigeminal neurons were activated by exposure to a pungent odor or injection of the nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside. Some animals received nVNS or sumatriptan as treatment. Some animals were injected intracisternally with antagonists of GABAA, 5-HT3 or 5-HT7 receptors prior to nVNS since these receptors are implicated in descending modulation. While unsensitized animals exposed to the pungent odor or nitric oxide alone did not exhibit enhanced mechanical nociception, sensitized animals with neck muscle inflammation displayed increased trigeminal nocifensive responses. The enhanced nociceptive response to both stimuli was attenuated by nVNS and sumatriptan. Administration of antagonists of GABAA, 5-HT3, and 5-HT7 receptors in the upper spinal cord suppressed the anti-nocifensive effect of nVNS. Our findings suggest that nVNS inhibits trigeminal activation to a similar degree as sumatriptan in episodic migraine models via involvement of GABAergic and serotonergic signaling to enhance central descending pain modulation.

The effects of estrogen on temporomandibular joint pain as influenced by trigeminal caudalis neurons

The signs and symptoms of persistent temporomandibular joint (TMJ)/muscle disorder (TMJD) pain suggest the existence of a central neural dysfunction or a problem of pain amplification. The etiology of chronic TMJD is not known; however, female sex hormones have been identified as significant risk factors. Converging lines of evidence indicate that the junctional region between the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc) and the upper cervical spinal cord, termed the Vc/C1-2 region, is the primary site for the synaptic integration of sensory input from TMJ nociceptors. In this paper, the mechanisms behind the estrogen effects on the processing of nociceptive inputs by neurons in the Vc/C1-2 region reported by human and animal studies are reviewed. The Vc/C1-2 region has direct connections to endogenous pain and autonomic control pathways, which are modified by estrogen status and are suggested to be critical for somatomotor and autonomic reflex responses of TMJ-related sensory signals.

Thoracic spine manipulation did not improve maximal mouth opening in participants with temporomandibular dysfunction

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) have a prevalence of more than 5% in the general population. A positive correlation exists between temporomandibular joint mobility and cervical spine mobility. Similarly, a relationship exists between thoracic and cervical spine mobility. However, it is unknown if interventions to improve the mobility of the thoracic spine positively impact temporomandibular joint motion and pain. This study tested the hypothesis that a single thoracic thrust joint manipulation (TJM) would improve maximum mouth opening (MMO) compared with participants without TMD as well as decrease TMD symptoms.

METHODS

Forty-eight people with TMD (30.9 years old ±11.3) and 55 people without TMD (28.5 years old ±9.2) participated. Both groups received a seated upper thoracic TJM and were measured for MMO before and immediately following the TJM. The duration of TMD symptoms and pre-thrust current pain, using the 11-point Verbal Pain Rating Scale (VPRS), was recorded in the TMD group. Participants in the TMD group were contacted 2-3 days after TJM to report current VPRS and improvement utilizing the Global Rating of Change (GROC) scale.

RESULTS

No difference in MMO treatment response over time was observed between groups (p = .56). The MMO in the TMD group improved from 40 to 41.3 mm, and the non-TMD similarly improved from 44.5 to 45.4 mm. The VPRS decreased from 2.4 (±1.8) to 1.3 (±1.5) following thoracic TJM (p < .001), and the average GROC score was 1.8 (±2.25), which was statistically different than zero (no change; p < .001). The duration of TMD symptoms prior to TJM was not associated with GROC scores (r = .018, p = .90) or VPRS change scores (r = -.07, p = .64).

CONCLUSION

The observed treatment effects did not exceed previously reported standards for clinical relevance (5 mm and 2 points, respectively).

Anatomical selectivity in overlap of chronic facial and bodily pain

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text.

Background:

Chronic facial pain often overlaps with pain experienced elsewhere in the body, although previous studies have focused on a few, selected pain conditions when assessing the degree of overlap.

Aim:

To quantify the degree of overlap between facial pain and pain reported at multiple locations throughout the body.

Methods:

Data were from a case–control study of US adults participating in the Orofacial Pain: Prospective Evaluation and Risk Assessment (OPPERA) project. They were interviewed to determine the presence of chronic facial pain (n = 424 cases) or its absence (n = 912 controls). A mailed questionnaire with a body drawing asked about pain at other locations. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence limits (95% CLs) quantified the degree of overlap between facial pain and pain at other locations. For replication, cross-sectional data were analyzed from the UK Biobank study (n = 459,604 participants) and the US National Health Interview Survey (n = 27,731 participants).

Results:

In univariate analysis, facial pain had greatest overlap with headache (OR = 14.2, 95% CL = 9.7–20.8) followed by neck pain (OR = 8.5, 95% CL = 6.5–11.0), whereas overlap decreased substantially (ORs of 4.4 or less) for pain at successively remote locations below the neck. The same anatomically based ranking of ORs persisted in multivariable analysis that adjusted for demographics and risk factors for facial pain. Findings were replicated in the UK Biobank study and the US National Health Interview Survey. The observed anatomical selectivity in the degree of overlap could be a consequence of neurosensory and/or affective processes that differentially amplify pain according to its location.

A Neuroscience Perspective of Physical Treatment of Headache and Neck Pain

The most prevalent primary headaches tension-type headache and migraine are frequently associated with neck pain. A wide variety of treatment options is available for people with headache and neck pain. Some of these interventions are recommended in guidelines on headache: self-management strategies, pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Physical treatment is a frequently applied treatment for headache. Although this treatment for headache is predominantly targeted on the cervical spine, the neurophysiological background of this intervention remains unclear. Recent knowledge from neuroscience will enhance clinical reasoning in physical treatment of headache. Therefore, we summarize the neuro- anatomical and—physiological findings on headache and neck pain from experimental research in both animals and humans. Several neurophysiological models (referred pain, central sensitization) are proposed to understand the co-occurrence of headache and neck pain. This information can be of added value in understanding the use of physical treatment as a treatment option for patients with headache and neck pain.

An Integrative Model Accounting for the Symptom Cluster Triggered After an Acoustic Shock

Acoustic shocks and traumas sometimes result in a cluster of debilitating symptoms, including tinnitus, hyperacusis, ear fullness and tension, dizziness, and pain in and outside the ear. The mechanisms underlying this large variety of symptoms remain elusive. In this article, we elaborate on the hypothesis that the tensor tympani muscle (TTM), the trigeminal nerve (TGN), and the trigeminal cervical complex (TCC) play a central role in generating these symptoms. We argue that TTM overuse (due to the acoustic shock), TTM overload (due to muscle tension), and ultimately, TTM injury (due to hypoxia and "energy crisis") lead to inflammation, thereby activating the TGN, TCC, and cortex. The TCC is a crossroad structure integrating sensory inputs coming from the head-neck complex (including the middle ear) and projecting back to it. The multimodal integration of the TCC may then account for referred pain outside the ear when the middle ear is inflamed and activates the TGN. We believe that our model proposes a synthetic and explanatory framework to explain the phenomena occurring postacoustic shock and potentially also after other nonauditory causes. Indeed, due to the bidirectional properties of the TCC, musculoskeletal disorders in the region of the head-neck complex, including neck injury due to whiplash or temporomandibular disorders, may impact the middle ear, thereby leading to otic symptoms. This previously unavailable model type is experimentally testable and must be taken as a starting point for identifying the mechanisms responsible for this particular subtype of tinnitus and its associated symptoms.

Concomitant Migraine and Temporomandibular Disorders are Associated With Higher Heat Pain Hyperalgesia and Cephalic Cutaneous Allodynia

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess differences in the levels of hyperalgesia and cutaneous allodynia (CA) among women with migraine, temporomandibular disorders (TMD), or both.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty women participated in the study. Mean ages for the control group, TMD group, migraine group, and migraine+TMD group were 26.15 (95% confidence interval [CI], 28.73 to 23.57), 31.65 (95% CI, 37.82 to 25.48), 35.05 (95% CI, 40.37 to 29.73), and 34.20 (95% CI, 37.99 to 30.41) years, respectively. The 12-item Allodynia Symptom Checklist was administered to assess CA. All participants underwent the Quantitative Sensory Test to determine the cold-pain and heat-pain thresholds. Mechanical pain thresholds were assessed using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments. One-way analysis of variance and χ tests were used for statistical analysis. Alpha was set at 0.05 level for statistical significance.

RESULTS

For all sites evaluated, the mean cold-pain threshold values were significantly lower in the TMD, migraine, and TMD+migraine groups compared with the control group. However, the mean heat-pain threshold values in the extracephalic region were significantly smaller only for the TMD+migraine group compared with the control group (41.94°C; 95% CI, 40.54 to 43.34 vs. 44.79°C; 95% CI, 43.45 to 46.12; P=0.03). Mechanical hyperalgesia in orofacial and neck sites was significantly lower in the TMD and TMD+migraine groups compared with the control group. Mean total 12-item Allodynia Symptom Checklist score in the TMD+migraine group was significantly higher than in the migraine group (9.53; 95% CI, 7.45 to 11.60 vs. 6.95; 95% CI, 5.35 to 8.55; P=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

More pronounced levels of hyperalgesia and CA were found in patients with both TMD and migraine. Thus, it is suggested that the concomitant presence of TMD and migraine may be related to intensification of central sensitization.

Oxytocin inhibits the rat medullary dorsal horn Sp5c/C1 nociceptive transmission through OT but not V1A receptors

The medullary dorsal horn (MDH or Sp5c/C1 region) plays a key role modulating the nociceptive input arriving from craniofacial structures. Some reports suggest that oxytocin could play a role modulating the nociceptive input at the MDH level, but no study has properly tested this hypothesis. Using an electrophysiological and pharmacological approach, the present study aimed to determine the effect of oxytocin on the nociceptive signaling in the MDH and the receptor involved. In sevoflurane, anesthetized rats, we performed electrophysiological unitary recordings of second order neurons at the MDH region responding to peripheral nociceptive-evoked responses of the first branch (V1; ophthalmic) of the trigeminal nerve. Under this condition, we constructed dose-response curves analyzing the effect of local spinal oxytocin (0.2-20 nmol) on MDH nociceptive neuronal firing. Furthermore, we tested the role of oxytocin receptors (OTR) or vasopressin V_1A receptors (V_1AR) involved in the oxytocin effects. Oxytocin dose-dependently inhibits the peripheral-evoked activity in nociceptive MDH neurotransmission. This inhibition is associated with a blockade of neuronal activity of Aδ- and C-fibers. Since this antinociception was abolished by pretreatment (in the MDH) with the potent and selective OTR antagonist (L-368,899; 20 nmol) and remained unaffected after the V_1AR antagonist (SR49059; 20 nmol or 200 nmol), the role of OTR is implied. This electrophysiological study demonstrates that oxytocin inhibits the peripheral-evoked neuronal activity at MDH, through OTR activation. Thus, OTR may represent a new potential drug target to treat craniofacial nociceptive dysfunction in the MDH.

Somato-Visceral Effects in the Treatment of Dysmenorrhea: Neuromuscular Manual Therapy and Standard Pharmacological Treatment

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to verify whether neuromuscular therapy (NMT) or pharmacology therapy (PT) is more effective for reducing symptoms in women affected by primary dysmenorrhea and the effects associated with each treatment.

DESIGN

A controlled, randomized, single-blind clinical trial within the framework of the chair of physical medicine and rehabilitation of the University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara. The study was conducted on a sample of 60 women suffering from primary dysmenorrhea. Subjects were randomly divided in two groups (A and B). Group A was treated with NMT and group B with PT. Group B was given ibuprofen or naproxen because they are considered the best painkillers for this condition. Group A was treated with 8 neuromuscular manual lumbosacral and abdominal therapy sessions twice per week for 4 weeks. Results were analyzed at the beginning (T0) and end (T1) of the study with a menstrual distress questionnaire, brief pain inventory, and visual analogue scale. Twenty patients from Group A were selected for evaluation of their maintenance of the eventual improvement that was detected in T1 at follow-up (T2).

RESULTS

Both therapies had significant short-term effects in reducing the perception and duration of pain. However, NMT appears to give more improvements in the duration of pain. NMT had a long-term effect on perception of pain because patients conserved the positive effects of treatment after 4 weeks. NMT also had a long-term effect on duration of pain because patients conserved benefits of treatment, but this improvement started to decrease after 4 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

In the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea, NMT represents a valid therapeutic alternative method to PT. NMT is free from potential adverse effects of analgesics, is noninvasive, and is easy to perform.

Vagus nerve stimulation inhibits trigeminal nociception in a rodent model of episodic migraine

INTRODUCTION

Although neck muscle tension is considered a risk factor for migraine, pungent odors can act as a trigger to initiate an attack in sensitized individuals. Although noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) is now an approved treatment for chronic migraine, how it functions to inhibit trigeminal nociception in an episodic migraine model is not known.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to determine if nVNS could inhibit trigeminal nociception in a novel model of episodic migraine and investigate changes in the expression of proteins implicated in peripheral and central sensitization.

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley male rats were injected with an inflammatory agent in the trapezius muscle before exposure to pungent volatile compounds, which was used to initiate trigeminal nociceptor activation. The vagus nerve was stimulated transdermally by a 1-ms pulse of 5 kHz sine waves, repeated at 25 Hz for 2 minutes. Nocifensive head withdrawal response to von Frey filaments was determined and immunoreactive protein levels in the spinal cord and trigeminal ganglion (TG) were investigated.

RESULTS

Exposure to the pungent odor significantly increased the number of nocifensive withdrawals in response to mechanical stimulation of sensitized TG neurons mediated by neck muscle inflammation. Noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation inhibited nociception and repressed elevated levels of P-ERK in TG, Iba1 in microglia, and GFAP in astrocytes from sensitized animals exposed to the pungent odor.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate that nVNS inhibits mechanical nociception and represses expression of proteins associated with peripheral and central sensitization of trigeminal neurons in a novel rodent model of episodic migraine.

Diverse Physiological Roles of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide in Migraine Pathology: Modulation of Neuronal-Glial-Immune Cells to Promote Peripheral and Central Sensitization

The neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is implicated in the underlying pathology of migraine by promoting the development of a sensitized state of primary and secondary nociceptive neurons. The ability of CGRP to initiate and maintain peripheral and central sensitization is mediated by modulation of neuronal, glial, and immune cells in the trigeminal nociceptive signaling pathway. There is accumulating evidence to support a key role of CGRP in promoting cross excitation within the trigeminal ganglion that may help to explain the high co-morbidity of migraine with rhinosinusitis and temporomandibular joint disorder. In addition, there is emerging evidence that CGRP facilitates and sustains a hyperresponsive neuronal state in migraineurs mediated by reported risk factors such as stress and anxiety. In this review, the significant role of CGRP as a modulator of the trigeminal system will be discussed to provide a better understanding of the underlying pathology associated with the migraine phenotype.

Functional Organization of Cutaneous and Muscle Afferent Synapses onto Immature Spinal Lamina I Projection Neurons

It is well established that sensory afferents innervating muscle are more effective at inducing hyperexcitability within spinal cord circuits compared with skin afferents, which likely contributes to the higher prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal pain compared with pain of cutaneous origin. However, the mechanisms underlying these differences in central nociceptive signaling remain incompletely understood, as nothing is known about how superficial dorsal horn neurons process sensory input from muscle versus skin at the synaptic level. Using a novel ex vivo spinal cord preparation, here we identify the functional organization of muscle and cutaneous afferent synapses onto immature rat lamina I spino-parabrachial neurons, which serve as a major source of nociceptive transmission to the brain. Stimulation of the gastrocnemius nerve and sural nerve revealed significant convergence of muscle and cutaneous afferent synaptic input onto individual projection neurons. Muscle afferents displayed a higher probability of glutamate release, although short-term synaptic plasticity was similar between the groups. Importantly, muscle afferent synapses exhibited greater relative expression of Ca²⁺-permeable AMPARs compared with cutaneous inputs. In addition, the prevalence and magnitude of spike timing-dependent long-term potentiation were significantly higher at muscle afferent synapses, where it required Ca²⁺-permeable AMPAR activation. Collectively, these results provide the first evidence for afferent-specific properties of glutamatergic transmission within the superficial dorsal horn. A larger propensity for activity-dependent strengthening at muscle afferent synapses onto developing spinal projection neurons could contribute to the enhanced ability of these sensory inputs to sensitize central nociceptive networks and thereby evoke persistent pain in children following injury.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The neurobiological mechanisms underlying the high prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal pain remain poorly understood, in part because little is known about why sensory neurons innervating muscle appear more capable of sensitizing nociceptive pathways in the CNS compared with skin afferents. The present study identifies, for the first time, the functional properties of muscle and cutaneous afferent synapses onto immature lamina I projection neurons, which convey nociceptive information to the brain. Despite many similarities, an enhanced relative expression of Ca²⁺-permeable AMPA receptors at muscle afferent synapses drives greater LTP following repetitive stimulation. A preferential ability of the dorsal horn synaptic network to amplify nociceptive input arising from muscle is predicted to favor the generation of musculoskeletal pain following injury.

Does induced masseter muscle pain affect integrated jaw-neck movements similarly in men and women?

Normal jaw opening-closing involves simultaneous jaw and head-neck movements. We previously showed that, in men, integrated jaw-neck movements during jaw function are altered by induced masseter muscle pain. The aim of this study was to investigate possible sex-related differences in integrated jaw-neck movements following experimental masseter muscle pain. We evaluated head-neck and jaw movements in 22 healthy women and 16 healthy men in a jaw opening-closing task. The participants performed one control trial and one trial with masseter muscle pain induced by injection of hypertonic saline. Jaw and head movements were registered using a three-dimensional optoelectronic recording system. There were no significant sex-related differences in jaw and head movement amplitudes. Head movement amplitudes were significantly greater in the pain trials for both men and women. The proportional involvement of the neck motor system during jaw movements increased in pain trials for 13 of 16 men and for 18 of 22 women. Thus, acute pain may alter integrated jaw-neck movements, although, given the similarities between men and women, this interaction between acute pain and motor behaviour does not explain sex differences in musculoskeletal pain in the jaw and neck regions.

The role of the cervical spine in post-concussion syndrome

While much is known regarding the pathophysiology surrounding concussion injuries in the acute phase, there is little evidence to support many of the theorized etiologies to post-concussion syndrome (PCS); the chronic phase of concussion occurring in ∼ 10-15% of concussed patients. This paper reviews the existing literature surrounding the numerous proposed theories of PCS and introduces another potential, and very treatable, cause of this chronic condition; cervical spine dysfunction due to concomitant whiplash-type injury. We also discuss a short case-series of five patients with diagnosed PCS having very favorable outcomes following various treatment and rehabilitative techniques aimed at restoring cervical spine function.

Therapeutic use of botulinum toxin in migraine: mechanisms of action

Migraine pain represents sensations arising from the activation of trigeminal afferents, which innervate the meningeal vasculature and project to the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC). Pain secondary to meningeal input is referred to extracranial regions innervated by somatic afferents that project to homologous regions in the TNC. Such viscerosomatic convergence accounts for referral of migraine pain arising from meningeal afferents to particular extracranial dermatomes. Botulinum toxins (BoNTs) delivered into extracranial dermatomes are effective in and approved for treating chronic migraine pain. Aside from their well-described effect upon motor endplates, BoNTs are also taken up in local afferent nerve terminals where they cleave soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins, and prevent local terminal release. However, a local extracranial effect of BoNT cannot account for allthe effects of BoNT upon migraine. We now know that peripherally delivered BoNTs are taken up in sensory afferents and transported to cleave SNARE proteins in the ganglion and TNC, prevent evoked afferent release and downstream activation. Such effects upon somatic input (as from the face) likewise would not alone account for block of input from converging meningeal afferents. This current work suggests that BoNTs may undergo transcytosis to cleave SNAREs in second-order neurons or in adjacent afferent terminals. Finally, while SNAREs mediate exocytotic release, they are also involved in transport of channels and receptors involved in facilitated pain states. The role of such post-synaptic effects of BoNT action in migraine remains to be determined.

Botulinum toxin in migraine: Role of transport in trigemino-somatic and trigemino-vascular afferents

Migraine secondary to meningeal input is referred to extracranial regions innervated by somatic afferents that project to homologous regions in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC). Reported efficacy of extracranial botulinum toxin (BoNT) in treating migraine is surprising since a local extracranial effect of BoNT cannot account for its effect upon meningeal input. We hypothesize that intradermal BoNT acts through central transport in somatic afferents. Anesthetized C57Bl/6 mice (male) received unilateral supraorbital (SO) injections of BoNT-B (1.5 U/40 μl) or saline. 3 days later, mice received ipsilateral (ipsi)-SO capsaicin (20 μl of 0.5mM solution) or meningeal capsaicin (4 μl of 0.35 μM). Pre-treatment with ipsi-SO BoNT-B i) decreased nocicsponsive ipsilateral wiping behavior following ipsi-SO capsaicin; ii) produced cleavage of VAMP in the V1 region of ipsi-TG and in TG neurons showing WGA after SO injection; iii) reduced expression of c-fos in ipsi-TNC following ipsi-SO capsaicin; iv) reduced c-fos activation and NK-1 internalization in ipsi-TNC secondary to ipsi-meningeal capsaicin; and vi) SO WGA did not label dural afferents. We conclude that BoNT-B is taken up by peripheral afferents and transported to central terminals where it inhibits transmitter release resulting in decreased activation of second order neurons. Further, this study supports the hypothesis that SO BoNT exerts a trans-synaptic action on either the second order neuron (which receives convergent input from the meningeal afferent) or the terminal/TG of the converging meningeal afferent.

A new electronic diary tool for mapping and tracking spatial and temporal head pain patterns in migraine

AIM

We present an electronic tool for collecting data on the patterns of migraine headache onset and progression.

METHODS

A digitized map consisting of 44 color-coded segments was defined based on previous reports of migraine pain and the distribution of nerves in the face, head and neck. The map was overlaid on a schematic map of the face, head and neck nerves. Thirty-six patients (N = 36, 28 female/eight male), who met ICDH-II criteria for episodic migraine and had headaches for at least three years, identified all regions where pain typically started and how pain spread and subsequently progressed.

RESULTS

Consistent with previous findings, throbbing was the most prevalent quality of migraine pain, always present in 70% of patients surveyed. For the 70% of the patients with throbbing pain, the temple was the onset site of throbbing pain, with no significant difference in the laterality of onset site (58.3% on the right vs. 55.6% on the left hemisphere). The tool was able to capture patterns of pain distribution for throbbing and pressure headache pain and also may be used to assess the change in the pattern of the pain distribution as the disease progresses.

DISCUSSION

The pain map survey may be a useful tool for recording and tracking the temporal pattern of migraine onset both for clinical and research purposes. The tool could be used to create maps of pain locations on a large population scale and thus will be a very useful tool in correlating the temporal nature of headache symptoms with potential mechanisms of disease evolution.

Contrasting alterations to synaptic and intrinsic properties in upper-cervical superficial dorsal horn neurons following acute neck muscle inflammation

Background

Acute and chronic pain in axial structures, like the back and neck, are difficult to treat, and have incidence as high as 15%. Surprisingly, most preclinical work on pain mechanisms focuses on cutaneous structures in the limbs and animal models of axial pain are not widely available. Accordingly, we developed a mouse model of acute cervical muscle inflammation and assessed the functional properties of superficial dorsal horn (SDH) neurons.

Results

Male C57/Bl6 mice (P24-P40) were deeply anaesthetised (urethane 2.2 g/kg i.p) and the rectus capitis major muscle (RCM) injected with 40 μl of 2% carrageenan. Sham animals received vehicle injection and controls remained anaesthetised for 2 hrs. Mice in each group were sacrificed at 2 hrs for analysis. c-Fos staining was used to determine the location of activated neurons. c-Fos labelling in carrageenan-injected mice was concentrated within ipsilateral (87% and 63% of labelled neurons in C1 and C2 segments, respectively) and contralateral laminae I - II with some expression in lateral lamina V. c-Fos expression remained below detectable levels in control and sham animals. In additional experiments, whole cell recordings were obtained from visualised SDH neurons in transverse slices in the ipsilateral C1 and C2 spinal segments. Resting membrane potential and input resistance were not altered. Mean spontaneous EPSC amplitude was reduced by ~20% in neurons from carrageenan-injected mice versus control and sham animals (20.63 ± 1.05 vs. 24.64 ± 0.91 and 25.87 ± 1.32 pA, respectively). The amplitude (238 ± 33 vs. 494 ± 96 and 593 ± 167 pA) and inactivation time constant (12.9 ± 1.5 vs. 22.1 ± 3.6 and 15.3 ± 1.4 ms) of the rapid A type potassium current (I_Ar), the dominant subthreshold current in SDH neurons, were reduced in carrageenan-injected mice.

Conclusions

Excitatory synaptic drive onto, and important intrinsic properties (i.e., I_Ar) within SDH neurons are reduced two hours after acute muscle inflammation. We propose this time point represents an important transition period between peripheral and central sensitisation with reduced excitatory drive providing an initial neuroprotective mechanism during the early stages of the progression towards central sensitisation.

Parasympathetic preganglionic cardiac motoneurons labeled after voluntary diving

A dramatic bradycardia is induced by underwater submersion in vertebrates. The location of parasympathetic preganglionic cardiac motor neurons driving this aspect of the diving response was investigated using cFos immunohistochemistry combined with retrograde transport of cholera toxin subunit B (CTB) to double-label neurons. After pericardial injections of CTB, trained rats voluntarily dove underwater, and their heart rates (HR) dropped immediately to 95 ± 2 bpm, an 80% reduction. After immunohistochemical processing, the vast majority of CTB labeled neurons were located in the reticular formation from the rostral cervical spinal cord to the facial motor nucleus, confirming previous studies. Labeled neurons caudal to the rostral ventrolateral medulla were usually spindle-shaped aligned along an oblique line running from the dorsal vagal nucleus to the ventrolateral reticular formation, while those more rostrally were multipolar with extended dendrites. Nine percent of retrogradely-labeled neurons were positive for both cFos and CTB after diving and 74% of these were found rostral to the obex. CTB also was transported transganglionically in primary afferent fibers, resulting in large granular deposits in dorsolateral, ventrolateral, and commissural subnuclei of the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) and finer deposits in lamina I and IV-V of the trigeminocervical complex. The overlap of parasympathetic preganglionic cardiac motor neurons activated by diving with those activated by baro- and chemoreceptors in the rostral ventrolateral medulla is discussed. Thus, the profound bradycardia seen with underwater submersion reinforces the notion that the mammalian diving response is the most powerful autonomic reflex known.

Perception and pain thresholds for cutaneous heat and cold, and rectal distension: associations and disassociations

BACKGROUND

Hypersensitivity to somatic or visceral pain has been reported in numerous clinical conditions such as fibromyalgia or the irritable bowel syndrome, and general hypersensitivity has been proposed to be the underlying mechanism. However, cross-modal relationships especially between somatic and visceral pain have rarely been investigated even in healthy volunteers. Furthermore, psychological influences on pain have rarely been characterized across modalities.

METHODS

Sixty-one healthy participants underwent testing of perception and pain thresholds for cutaneous thermode heat and cold, as well as for rectal balloon distension. Psychological testing for anxiety, depression, and pain experience (including catastrophizing and coping) as well as cardiac interoception was performed. Measurement quality and the correlations between the different modalities were examined.

KEY RESULTS

Significant correlations existed between the perception thresholds for cold/heat (τB  = -0.28, p = 0.002) and cold/distension (τB  = -0.21, p = 0.03) and for the pain thresholds for cold/heat (r = -0.61, p < 0.001) and heat/distension (r = 0.33, p = 0.01). No association was found between pain thresholds and anxiety, depression, psychological experience with and processing of pain, or cardiac interoception. Retest reliabilities for pain measurements were satisfying after short intertrial intervals (all intraclass correlation coefficients >0.8), but less so after longer intervals. The individuals contributing to the respective correlations differ between measurements.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

Moderate associations were found for pain thresholds across modalities. The strength of the associations and their stability over time warrants further investigation and might serve to increase the understanding of conditions affecting multiple pain modalities.

The role of the trigeminal sensory nuclear complex in the pathophysiology of craniocervical dystonia

Isolated focal dystonia is a neurological disorder that manifests as repetitive involuntary spasms and/or aberrant postures of the affected body part. Craniocervical dystonia involves muscles of the eye, jaw, larynx, or neck. The pathophysiology is unclear, and effective therapies are limited. One mechanism for increased muscle activity in craniocervical dystonia is loss of inhibition involving the trigeminal sensory nuclear complex (TSNC). The TSNC is tightly integrated into functionally connected regions subserving sensorimotor control of the neck and face. It mediates both excitatory and inhibitory reflexes of the jaw, face, and neck. These reflexes are often aberrant in craniocervical dystonia, leading to our hypothesis that the TSNC may play a central role in these particular focal dystonias. In this review, we present a hypothetical extended brain network model that includes the TSNC in describing the pathophysiology of craniocervical dystonia. Our model suggests the TSNC may become hyperexcitable due to loss of tonic inhibition by functionally connected motor nuclei such as the motor cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum. Disordered sensory input from trigeminal nerve afferents, such as aberrant feedback from dystonic muscles, may continue to potentiate brainstem circuits subserving craniocervical muscle control. We suggest that potentiation of the TSNC may also contribute to disordered sensorimotor control of face and neck muscles via ascending and cortical descending projections. Better understanding of the role of the TSNC within the extended neural network contributing to the pathophysiology of craniocervical dystonia may facilitate the development of new therapies such as noninvasive brain stimulation.

Anatomic connections of the diaphragm: influence of respiration on the body system

The article explains the scientific reasons for the diaphragm muscle being an important crossroads for information involving the entire body. The diaphragm muscle extends from the trigeminal system to the pelvic floor, passing from the thoracic diaphragm to the floor of the mouth. Like many structures in the human body, the diaphragm muscle has more than one function, and has links throughout the body, and provides the network necessary for breathing. To assess and treat this muscle effectively, it is necessary to be aware of its anatomic, fascial, and neurologic complexity in the control of breathing. The patient is never a symptom localized, but a system that adapts to a corporeal dysfunction.

Insights into the mechanism of onabotulinumtoxinA in chronic migraine

OnabotulinumtoxinA has recently been approved by regulatory agencies in the UK and United States for treatment of chronic migraine based on data generated from the PREEMPT studies. As such, onabotulinumtoxinA is the only prophylactic therapy specifically approved for chronic migraine. Most headache clinicians would agree that acute episodic migraine and chronic migraine differ in their pathophysiology, etiology, diagnosis, and response to pharmacological as well as nonpharmacological therapies. Of the 7 botulinum neurotoxin serotypes, botulinum neurotoxin type A (onabotulinumtoxinA) has been the most thoroughly investigated in preclinical and clinical studies. Based on preclinical studies, onabotulinumtoxinA is known to inhibit the release of excitatory neurotransmitters from both motor and sensory neurons by preventing vesicle fusion to the cell membrane. In addition to the well-documented myorelaxant effects of this neurotoxin, onabotulinumtoxinA can exert a direct analgesic effect that likely involves inhibition of primary and secondary nociceptive neurons. The inhibitory effects of onabotulinumtoxinA are also likely to involve suppressing the activity of myogenic trigger points and decreasing the persistent nociceptive barrage that promotes and maintains central sensitization. This article describes possible mechanisms to explain how onabotulinumtoxinA functions as a therapy for chronic migraine and considers why treatment with the neurotoxin is not effective in some chronic migraineurs.

Vagal afferent modulation of spinal trigeminal neuronal responses to dural electrical stimulation in rats

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an approved antiepileptic and antidepressant treatment, which has recently shown promise as a therapy for drug-resistant primary headaches. Specific neurobiological mechanisms underlying its anticephalgic action are not elucidated, partly because of the deficiency of research-related findings. The spinal trigeminal nucleus (STN) plays a prominent role in pathophysiology of headaches by modulating pain transmission from intracranial structures to higher centers of the brain. To determine whether vagal stimulation may affect trigeminovascular nociception, we investigated the effects of VNS on the STN neuronal activity in the animal model of headache. In anesthetized rats the spike activity of the STN neurons with convergent orofacial and meningeal inputs was monitored, and the changes in neuronal responses to electrical stimulation of the dura mater under preconditioning or under continuous electrical stimulation of the left cervical vagus nerve were studied. Preconditioning vagal afferent stimulation (200-ms train of pulses at 30 Hz applied before each dural stimulus) did not produce substantial changes in the STN spike activity. However, continuous VNS with frequency of 10 Hz in 48% of cases significantly suppressed trigeminal neuronal responses to dural electrical stimulation. In line with the decrease in evoked activity, the VNS-induced depression of ongoing neuronal firing was observed. Although the inhibitory effect was prevailing, 29.5% of STN neurons were facilitated by VNS, whereas 22.5% were unresponsive to the stimulation. These results provide an evidence of VNS-induced modulation of trigeminovascular nociception, and therefore contribute to a deeper understanding of neurophysiological mechanisms underlying effects of vagal stimulation in chronic drug-resistant headaches.

What is different about spinal pain?

BACKGROUND

The mechanisms subserving deep spinal pain have not been studied as well as those related to the skin and to deep pain in peripheral limb structures. The clinical phenomenology of deep spinal pain presents unique features which call for investigations which can explain these at a mechanistic level.

METHODS

Targeted searches of the literature were conducted and the relevant materials reviewed for applicability to the thesis that deep spinal pain is distinctive from deep pain in the peripheral limb structures. Topics related to the neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of deep spinal pain were organized in a hierarchical format for content review.

RESULTS

Since the 1980's the innervation characteristics of the spinal joints and deep muscles have been elucidated. Afferent connections subserving pain have been identified in a distinctive somatotopic organization within the spinal cord whereby afferents from deep spinal tissues terminate primarily in the lateral dorsal horn while those from deep peripheral tissues terminate primarily in the medial dorsal horn. Mechanisms underlying the clinical phenomena of referred pain from the spine, poor localization of spinal pain and chronicity of spine pain have emerged from the literature and are reviewed here, especially emphasizing the somatotopic organization and hyperconvergence of dorsal horn "low back (spinal) neurons". Taken together, these findings provide preliminary support for the hypothesis that deep spine pain is different from deep pain arising from peripheral limb structures.

CONCLUSIONS

This thesis addressed the question "what is different about spine pain?" Neuroanatomic and neurophysiologic findings from studies in the last twenty years provide preliminary support for the thesis that deep spine pain is different from deep pain arising from peripheral limb structures.

Endometriosis and abdominal myofascial pain in adults and adolescents

Endometriosis and myofascial pain are common disorders with significant impact on quality of life. Increasingly, these conditions are being recognized as highly interconnected through processes that have been described for more than a century. This review is directed to this interconnection through a description of the relationships of endometriosis to proposed mechanisms of pain and chronic pain physiology; the clinical assessment of myofascial representations of this pain; and an approach to the management of these interconnected disorders.

Are all spinal segments equal: intrinsic membrane properties of superficial dorsal horn neurons in the developing and mature mouse spinal cord

Neurons in the superficial dorsal horn (SDH; laminae I-II) of the spinal cord process nociceptive information from skin, muscle, joints and viscera. Most of what we know about the intrinsic properties of SDH neurons comes from studies in lumbar segments of the cord even though clinical evidence suggests nociceptive signals from viscera and head and neck tissues are processed differently. This ‘lumbar-centric' view of spinal pain processing mechanisms also applies to developing SDH neurons. Here we ask whether the intrinsic membrane properties of SDH neurons differ across spinal cord segments in both the developing and mature spinal cord. Whole cell recordings were made from SDH neurons in slices of upper cervical (C2-4), thoracic (T8-10) and lumbar (L3-5) segments in neonatal (P0-5) and adult (P24-45) mice. Neuronal input resistance (R(IN)), resting membrane potential, AP amplitude, half-width and AHP amplitude were similar across spinal cord regions in both neonates and adults (∼100 neurons for each region and age). In contrast, these intrinsic membrane properties differed dramatically between neonates and adults. Five types of AP discharge were observed during depolarizing current injection. In neonates, single spiking dominated (∼40%) and the proportions of each discharge category did not differ across spinal regions. In adults, initial bursting dominated in each spinal region, but was significantly more prevalent in rostral segments (49% of neurons in C2-4 vs. 29% in L3-5). During development the dominant AP discharge pattern changed from single spiking to initial bursting. The rapid A-type potassium current (I(Ar)) dominated in neonates and adults, but its prevalence decreased (∼80% vs. ∼50% of neurons) in all regions during development. I(Ar) steady state inactivation and activation also changed in upper cervical and lumbar regions during development. Together, our data show the intrinsic properties of SDH neurons are generally conserved in the three spinal cord regions examined in both neonate and adult mice. We propose the conserved intrinsic membrane properties of SDH neurons along the length of the spinal cord cannot explain the marked differences in pain experienced in the limbs, viscera, and head and neck.