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Charlton JM, Chang E, Hou SW, Lo E, McClure E, Plater C, Wong S, Hunt MA. Moving in pain - A preliminary study evaluating the immediate effects of experimental knee pain on locomotor biomechanics. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302752. [PMID: 38941337 PMCID: PMC11213337 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Pain changes how we move, but it is often confounded by other factors due to disease or injury. Experimental pain offers an opportunity to isolate the independent effect of pain on movement. We used cutaneous electrical stimulation to induce experimental knee pain during locomotion to study the short-term motor adaptions to pain. While other models of experimental pain have been used in locomotion, they lack the ability to modulate pain in real-time. Twelve healthy adults completed the single data collection session where they experienced six pain intensity conditions (0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 out of 10) and two pain delivery modes (tonic and phasic). Electrodes were placed over the lateral infrapatellar fat pad and medial tibial condyle to deliver the 10 Hz pure sinusoid via a constant current electrical stimulator. Pain intensity was calibrated prior to each walking bout based on the target intensity and was recorded using an 11-point numerical rating scale. Knee joint angles and moments were recorded over the walking bouts and summarized in waveform and discrete outcomes to be compared with baseline walking. Knee joint angles changed during the swing phase of gait, with higher pain intensities resulting in greater knee flexion angles. Minimal changes in joint moments were observed but there was a consistent pattern of decreasing joint stiffness with increasing pain intensity. Habituation was limited across the 30-90 second walking bouts and the electrical current needed to deliver the target pain intensities showed a positive linear relationship. Experimental knee pain shows subtle biomechanical changes and favourable habituation patterns over short walking bouts. Further exploration of this model is needed in real-world walking conditions and over longer timeframes to quantify motor adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse M. Charlton
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Education, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Motion Analysis and Biofeedback Laboratory, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Elyott Chang
- Motion Analysis and Biofeedback Laboratory, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Graduate Programs in Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sabrina W. Hou
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ernest Lo
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Emily McClure
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Cole Plater
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Samantha Wong
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Michael A. Hunt
- Motion Analysis and Biofeedback Laboratory, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Tsao SC, Chang KH, Fu Y, Tai HH, Lin TH, Wu MC, Wang JC. Heterogeneous Integration of Memristive and Piezoresistive MDMO-PPV-Based Copolymers in Nociceptive Transmission with Fast and Slow Pain for an Artificial Pain-Perceptual System. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2311040. [PMID: 38864224 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202311040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Nociceptive pain perception is a remarkable capability of organisms to be aware of environmental changes and avoid injury, which can be accomplished by specialized pain receptors known as nociceptors with 4 vital properties including threshold, no adaptation, relaxation, and sensitization. Bioinspired systems designed using artificial devices are investigated to imitate the efficacy and functionality of nociceptive transmission. Here, an artificial pain-perceptual system (APPS) with a homogeneous material and heterogeneous integration is proposed to emulate the behavior of fast and slow pain in nociceptive transmission. Retention-differentiated poly[2-methoxy-5-(3,7-dimethyoctyoxyl)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MDMO-PPV) memristors with film thicknesses of 160 and 80 nm are manufactured and adopted as A-δ and C nerve fibers of nociceptor conduits, respectively. Additionally, a nociceptor mimic, the ruthenium nanoparticles (Ru-NPs)-doped MDMO-PPV piezoresistive pressure sensor, is fabricated with a noxiously stimulated threshold of 150 kPa. Under the application of pricking and dull noxious stimuli, the current flows predominantly through the memristor to mimic the behavior of fast and slow pain, respectively, in nociceptive transmission with postsynaptic potentiation properties, which is analogous to biological pain perception. The proposed APPS can provide potential advancements in establishing the nervous system, thus enabling the successful development of next-generation neurorobotics, neuroprosthetics, and precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shih-Cheng Tsao
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Chang Gung University, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan, 33302, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Hsuan Chang
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan, 33305, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan, 33302, Taiwan
| | - Yi Fu
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Chang Gung University, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan, 33302, Taiwan
| | - Han-Hsiang Tai
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Chang Gung University, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan, 33302, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Han Lin
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Chang Gung University, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan, 33302, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Chung Wu
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Chang Gung University, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan, 33302, Taiwan
- Center for Sustainability and Energy Technologies, Chang Gung University, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan, 33302, Taiwan
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan, 33305, Taiwan
| | - Jer-Chyi Wang
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Chang Gung University, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan, 33302, Taiwan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Guishan Dist., Taoyuan, 33305, Taiwan
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, Taishan Dist., New Taipei City, 243303, Taiwan
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Yang W, Lin L, Hu S, Jiang B, Yang R, Yu W, Tang J, Zhao D, Gu Y, Jin M, Li J, Lu E. Expression patterns of mechanosensitive ion channel PIEZOs in irreversible pulpitis. BMC Oral Health 2024; 24:465. [PMID: 38627713 PMCID: PMC11022356 DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-04209-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mechanosensitive ion channel PIEZOs have been widely reported to involve inflammation and pain. This study aimed to clarify expression patterns of PIEZOs and their potential relations to irreversible pulpitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Normal pulp tissues (n = 29) from patients with impacted third molars and inflamed pulp tissues (n = 23) from patients with irreversible pulpitis were collected. Pain levels were assessed using a numerical rating scale. PIEZO expressions were measured using real-time PCR and then confirmed using GEO datasets GSE77459, immunoblot, and immunohistochemistry staining. Correlations of PIEZO mRNA expression with inflammatory markers, pain markers, or clinical pain levels were evaluated using Spearman's correlation analysis. Univariate analysis was conducted to analyze PIEZO expressions based on pain description and clinical examinations of cold test, percussion, palpation, and bite test. RESULTS Compared with normal pulp tissues, mRNA expression levels of PIEZO1 were significantly increased in inflamed pulp tissues, while PIEZO2 was significantly decreased, which was further confirmed in GSE77459 and on a protein and histological level. The positive correlation of the mRNA expression levels between PIEZO1 and inflammatory markers, as well as between PIEZO2 and pain markers, was verified. PIEZO2 expression was also positively correlated with pain levels. Besides, irreversible pulpitis patients who reported continuous pain and who detected a positive response to cold stimulus exhibited a higher expression level of PIEZO2 in the inflamed pulp tissues. By contrast, patients reporting pain duration of more than one week showed a higher expression level of PIEZO1. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated the upregulation of PIEZO1 and the downregulation of PIEZO2 in irreversible pulpitis and revealed the potential relation of PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 to inflammation and pain. These findings suggested that PIEZOs might play critical roles in the progression of irreversible pulpitis and paved the way for further investigations aimed at novel therapies of irreversible pulpitis by targeting PIEZOs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenying Yang
- Department of Stomatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 160 Pujian Road, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Lu Lin
- Department of Stomatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 160 Pujian Road, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Shucheng Hu
- Department of Stomatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 160 Pujian Road, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Bin Jiang
- Department of Stomatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 160 Pujian Road, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Ruhan Yang
- Department of Stomatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 160 Pujian Road, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Weijun Yu
- Department of Stomatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 160 Pujian Road, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Jiaqi Tang
- Department of Stomatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 160 Pujian Road, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Dan Zhao
- Department of Stomatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 160 Pujian Road, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Yuting Gu
- Department of Stomatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 160 Pujian Road, Shanghai, 200127, China.
| | - Min Jin
- Department of Stomatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 160 Pujian Road, Shanghai, 200127, China.
| | - Jin Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 160 Pujian Road, Shanghai, 200127, China.
| | - Eryi Lu
- Department of Stomatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 160 Pujian Road, Shanghai, 200127, China.
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Mazzone GL, Coronel MF, Mladinic M, Sámano C. An update to pain management after spinal cord injury: from pharmacology to circRNAs. Rev Neurosci 2023; 34:599-611. [PMID: 36351309 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2022-0089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Neuropathic pain (NP) following a spinal cord injury (SCI) is often hard to control and therapies should be focused on the physical, psychological, behavioral, social, and environmental factors that may contribute to chronic sensory symptoms. Novel therapeutic treatments for NP management should be based on the combination of pharmacological and nonpharmacological options. Some of them are addressed in this review with a focus on mechanisms and novel treatments. Several reports demonstrated an aberrant expression of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that may represent key regulatory factors with a crucial role in the pathophysiology of NP and as potential diagnostic biomarkers. This review analyses the latest evidence for cellular and molecular mechanisms associated with the role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the management of pain after SCI. Advantages in the use of circRNA are their stability (up to 48 h), and specificity as sponges of different miRNAs related to SCI and nerve injury. The present review discusses novel data about deregulated circRNAs (up or downregulated) that sponge miRNAs, and promote cellular and molecular interactions with mRNAs and proteins. This data support the concept that circRNAs could be considered as novel potential therapeutic targets for NP management especially after spinal cord injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graciela L Mazzone
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional (IIMT), CONICET-Universidad Austral, Av. Pte. Perón 1500, B1629AHJ, Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María F Coronel
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional (IIMT), CONICET-Universidad Austral, Av. Pte. Perón 1500, B1629AHJ, Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Miranda Mladinic
- Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Cynthia Sámano
- Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Cuajimalpa. Avenida Vasco de Quiroga 4871, Col. Santa Fe Cuajimalpa. Alcaldía Cuajimalpa de Morelos, C.P. 05348, Ciudad de México, México
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