1
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Velickovic Z, Radunovic G. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Fibromyalgia: Exploring the Necessity of Neuronavigation for Targeting New Brain Regions. J Pers Med 2024; 14:662. [PMID: 38929883 PMCID: PMC11204413 DOI: 10.3390/jpm14060662] [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: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis are among the most prevalent rheumatic conditions worldwide. Nonpharmacological interventions have gained scientific endorsements as the preferred initial treatments before resorting to pharmacological modalities. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is among the most widely researched neuromodulation techniques, though it has not yet been officially recommended for fibromyalgia. This review aims to summarize the current evidence supporting rTMS for treating various fibromyalgia symptoms. Recent findings: High-frequency rTMS directed at the primary motor cortex (M1) has the strongest support in the literature for reducing pain intensity, with new research examining its long-term effectiveness. Nonetheless, some individuals may not respond to M1-targeted rTMS, and symptoms beyond pain can be prominent. Ongoing research aims to improve the efficacy of rTMS by exploring new brain targets, using innovative stimulation parameters, incorporating neuronavigation, and better identifying patients likely to benefit from this treatment. Summary: Noninvasive brain stimulation with rTMS over M1 is a well-tolerated treatment that can improve chronic pain and overall quality of life in fibromyalgia patients. However, the data are highly heterogeneous, with a limited level of evidence, posing a significant challenge to the inclusion of rTMS in official treatment guidelines. Research is ongoing to enhance its effectiveness, with future perspectives exploring its impact by targeting additional areas of the brain such as the medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and inferior parietal lobe, as well as selecting the right patients who could benefit from this treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Goran Radunovic
- Institute of Rheumatology, Resavska 69, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
- School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotića 1, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
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2
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Kaplan CM, Kelleher E, Irani A, Schrepf A, Clauw DJ, Harte SE. Deciphering nociplastic pain: clinical features, risk factors and potential mechanisms. Nat Rev Neurol 2024; 20:347-363. [PMID: 38755449 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-024-00966-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Nociplastic pain is a mechanistic term used to describe pain that arises or is sustained by altered nociception, despite the absence of tissue damage. Although nociplastic pain has distinct pathophysiology from nociceptive and neuropathic pain, these pain mechanisms often coincide within individuals, which contributes to the intractability of chronic pain. Key symptoms of nociplastic pain include pain in multiple body regions, fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive dysfunction, depression and anxiety. Individuals with nociplastic pain are often diffusely tender - indicative of hyperalgesia and/or allodynia - and are often more sensitive than others to non-painful sensory stimuli such as lights, odours and noises. This Review summarizes the risk factors, clinical presentation and treatment of nociplastic pain, and describes how alterations in brain function and structure, immune processing and peripheral factors might contribute to the nociplastic pain phenotype. This article concludes with a discussion of two proposed subtypes of nociplastic pain that reflect distinct neurobiological features and treatment responsivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea M Kaplan
- Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Eoin Kelleher
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Anushka Irani
- Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Division of Rheumatology, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Andrew Schrepf
- Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Daniel J Clauw
- Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Steven E Harte
- Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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3
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Hassanpour S, Algitami H, Umraw M, Merletti J, Keast B, Stroman PW. Investigating Descending Pain Regulation in Fibromyalgia and the Link to Altered Autonomic Regulation by Means of Functional MRI Data. Brain Sci 2024; 14:450. [PMID: 38790429 PMCID: PMC11118798 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14050450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) is a chronic pain condition that affects a significant portion of the population; yet, this condition is still poorly understood. Prior research has suggested that individuals with FM display a heightened sensitivity to pain and signs of autonomic dysfunction. Recent advances in functional MRI analysis methods to model blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) responses across networks of regions, and structural and physiological modeling (SAPM) have shown the potential to provide more detailed information about altered neural activity than was previously possible. Therefore, this study aimed to apply novel analysis methods to investigate altered neural processes underlying pain sensitivity in FM in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from the brainstem and spinal cord. Prior fMRI studies have shown evidence of functional differences in fibromyalgia (FM) within brain regions associated with pain's motivational aspects, as well as differences in neural activity related to pain regulation, arousal, and autonomic homeostatic regulation within the brainstem and spinal cord regions. We, therefore, hypothesized that nociceptive processing is altered in FM compared to healthy controls (HCs) in the brainstem and spinal cord areas linked to autonomic function and descending pain regulation, including the parabrachial nuclei (PBN) and nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). We expected that new details of this altered neural signaling would be revealed with SAPM. The results provide new evidence of altered neural signaling in FM related to arousal and autonomic homeostatic regulation. This further advances our understanding of the altered neural processing that occurs in women with FM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shima Hassanpour
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (S.H.); (H.A.); (M.U.); (J.M.); (B.K.)
| | - Hannan Algitami
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (S.H.); (H.A.); (M.U.); (J.M.); (B.K.)
| | - Maya Umraw
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (S.H.); (H.A.); (M.U.); (J.M.); (B.K.)
| | - Jessica Merletti
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (S.H.); (H.A.); (M.U.); (J.M.); (B.K.)
| | - Brieana Keast
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (S.H.); (H.A.); (M.U.); (J.M.); (B.K.)
| | - Patrick W. Stroman
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (S.H.); (H.A.); (M.U.); (J.M.); (B.K.)
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
- Department of Physics, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
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4
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Daher M, Abbas S, Asaad Z, Khalil K, Jadid G. Prevalence of fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome and its association with studying medicine, a cross-sectional study in Al-Baath University, Syria. Brain Behav 2024; 14:e3445. [PMID: 38468467 PMCID: PMC10928353 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence rate of fibromyalgia (FM) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among Al-Baath University students and find out whether studying medicine has an association with a higher prevalence rate. METHODS The participants of this observational cross-sectional study were students aged 18-30 years from Al-Baath University. A structured self-estimated electronic questionnaire developed by Google Forms was distributed using social media platforms from 15 February to 15 March, 2023. We used The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2016 and Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool criteria to assess the prevalence rate of FM. We used The ROME IV criteria to asses IBS prevalence rate. RESULTS The final sample size was 800 individuals. The prevalence of IBS in the study population was 26.8%. Overall, IBS-Constipation was the most common subtype, and the prevalence rate was higher among medical students (14%) compared to other colleges (12.8%) (p = .002). The difference in IBS prevalence between males and females was (9.3% vs. 17.5%, p = .283), but this did not reach the statistical significance. The prevalence of FM according to The ACR in the study population was 3.6%. Females had higher prevalence rate than males (3.1% vs. 0.5%, p = .007). The prevalence of FM was also higher in other colleges compared to medicine (2.3% vs. 1.4%, p = .547), but this did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION We found an increased prevalence of IBS among medical students. The prevalence of FM did not show any relation to studying medicine. We recommend additional prospective studies to assess whether studying medicine could be a risk factor for these disorders or not.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara Abbas
- Faculty of MedicineDamascus UniversityDamascusSyria
| | - Zainab Asaad
- Faculty of MedicineDamascus UniversityDamascusSyria
| | - Karam Khalil
- Faculty of MedicineDamascus UniversityDamascusSyria
| | - Ghania Jadid
- Scientific Representative at Faculty of MedicineAl‐Baath UniversityHomsSyria
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5
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Kaptan M, Pfyffer D, Konstantopoulos CG, Law CS, Weber II KA, Glover GH, Mackey S. Recent developments and future avenues for human corticospinal neuroimaging. Front Hum Neurosci 2024; 18:1339881. [PMID: 38332933 PMCID: PMC10850311 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1339881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive neuroimaging serves as a valuable tool for investigating the mechanisms within the central nervous system (CNS) related to somatosensory and motor processing, emotions, memory, cognition, and other functions. Despite the extensive use of brain imaging, spinal cord imaging has received relatively less attention, regardless of its potential to study peripheral communications with the brain and the descending corticospinal systems. To comprehensively understand the neural mechanisms underlying human sensory and motor functions, particularly in pathological conditions, simultaneous examination of neuronal activity in both the brain and spinal cord becomes imperative. Although technically demanding in terms of data acquisition and analysis, a growing but limited number of studies have successfully utilized specialized acquisition protocols for corticospinal imaging. These studies have effectively assessed sensorimotor, autonomic, and interneuronal signaling within the spinal cord, revealing interactions with cortical processes in the brain. In this mini-review, we aim to examine the expanding body of literature that employs cutting-edge corticospinal imaging to investigate the flow of sensorimotor information between the brain and spinal cord. Additionally, we will provide a concise overview of recent advancements in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques. Furthermore, we will discuss potential future perspectives aimed at enhancing our comprehension of large-scale neuronal networks in the CNS and their disruptions in clinical disorders. This collective knowledge will aid in refining combined corticospinal fMRI methodologies, leading to the development of clinically relevant biomarkers for conditions affecting sensorimotor processing in the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merve Kaptan
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Dario Pfyffer
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Christiane G. Konstantopoulos
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Christine S.W. Law
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Kenneth A. Weber II
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Gary H. Glover
- Radiological Sciences Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Sean Mackey
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States
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6
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Staud R, Godfrey MM, Stroman PW. Fibromyalgia is associated with hypersensitivity but not with abnormal pain modulation: evidence from QST trials and spinal fMRI. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2023; 4:1284103. [PMID: 38116188 PMCID: PMC10728773 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2023.1284103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Widespread pain and hyperalgesia are characteristics of chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions, including fibromyalgia syndrome (FM). Despite mixed evidence, there is increasing consensus that these characteristics depend on abnormal pain augmentation and dysfunctional pain inhibition. Our recent investigations of pain modulation with individually adjusted nociceptive stimuli have confirmed the mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia of FM patients but failed to detect abnormalities of pain summation or descending pain inhibition. Furthermore, our functional magnetic resonance imaging evaluations of spinal and brainstem pain processing during application of sensitivity-adjusted heat stimuli demonstrated similar temporal patterns of spinal cord activation in FM and HC participants. However, detailed modeling of brainstem activation showed that BOLD activity during "pain summation" was increased in FM subjects, suggesting differences in brain stem modulation of nociceptive stimuli compared to HC. Whereas these differences in brain stem activation are likely related to the hypersensitivity of FM patients, the overall central pain modulation of FM showed no significant abnormalities. These findings suggest that FM patients are hyperalgesic but modulate nociceptive input as effectively as HC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Staud
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Melyssa M. Godfrey
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Patrick W. Stroman
- Center for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada
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7
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Stroman PW, Umraw M, Keast B, Algitami H, Hassanpour S, Merletti J. Structural and Physiological Modeling (SAPM) for the Analysis of Functional MRI Data Applied to a Study of Human Nociceptive Processing. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1568. [PMID: 38002528 PMCID: PMC10669617 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13111568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
A novel method has been developed for analyzing connectivity between regions based on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. This method, termed structural and physiological modeling (SAPM), combines information about blood oxygenation-level dependent (BOLD) responses, anatomy, and physiology to model coordinated signaling across networks of regions, including input and output signaling from each region and whether signaling is predominantly inhibitory or excitatory. The present study builds on a prior proof-of-concept demonstration of the SAPM method by providing evidence for the choice of network model and anatomical sub-regions, demonstrating the reproducibility of the results and identifying statistical thresholds needed to infer significance. The method is further validated by applying it to investigate human nociceptive processing in the brainstem and spinal cord and comparing the results to the known neuroanatomy, including anatomical regions and inhibitory and excitatory signaling. The results of this analysis demonstrate that it is possible to obtain reliable information about input and output signaling from anatomical regions and to identify whether this signaling has predominantly inhibitory or excitatory effects. SAPM provides much more detailed information about neuroanatomy than was previously possible based on fMRI data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick W. Stroman
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.U.); (B.K.); (H.A.); (S.H.); (J.M.)
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
- Department of Physics, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Maya Umraw
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.U.); (B.K.); (H.A.); (S.H.); (J.M.)
| | - Brieana Keast
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.U.); (B.K.); (H.A.); (S.H.); (J.M.)
| | - Hannan Algitami
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.U.); (B.K.); (H.A.); (S.H.); (J.M.)
| | - Shima Hassanpour
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.U.); (B.K.); (H.A.); (S.H.); (J.M.)
| | - Jessica Merletti
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.U.); (B.K.); (H.A.); (S.H.); (J.M.)
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8
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Crawford LS, Meylakh N, Macey PM, Macefield VG, Keay KA, Henderson LA. Stimulus-independent and stimulus-dependent neural networks underpin placebo analgesia responsiveness in humans. Commun Biol 2023; 6:569. [PMID: 37244947 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04951-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The neural circuits that regulate placebo analgesia responsivity are unknown, although engagement of brainstem pain modulatory regions is likely critical. Here we show in 47 participants that differences are present in neural circuit connectivity's in placebo responders versus non-responders. We distinguish stimulus-independent and stimulus-dependent neural networks that display altered connections between the hypothalamus, anterior cingulate cortex and midbrain periaqueductal gray matter. This dual regulatory system underpins an individual's ability to mount placebo analgesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis S Crawford
- School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Noemi Meylakh
- School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Paul M Macey
- UCLA School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Vaughan G Macefield
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Kevin A Keay
- School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Luke A Henderson
- School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
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9
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Ioachim G, Warren HJM, Powers JM, Staud R, Pukall CF, Stroman PW. Distinct neural signaling characteristics between fibromyalgia and provoked vestibulodynia revealed by means of functional magnetic resonance imaging in the brainstem and spinal cord. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2023; 4:1171160. [PMID: 37283704 PMCID: PMC10240076 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2023.1171160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Fibromyalgia and provoked vestibulodynia are two chronic pain conditions that disproportionately affect women. The mechanisms underlying the pain in these conditions are still poorly understood, but there is speculation that both may be linked to altered central sensitization and autonomic regulation. Neuroimaging studies of these conditions focusing on the brainstem and spinal cord to explore changes in pain regulation and autonomic regulation are emerging, but none to date have directly compared pain and autonomic regulation in these conditions. This study compares groups of women with fibromyalgia and provoked vestibulodynia to healthy controls using a threat/safety paradigm with a predictable noxious heat stimulus. Methods Functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired at 3 tesla in the cervical spinal cord and brainstem with previously established methods. Imaging data were analyzed with structural equation modeling and ANCOVA methods during: a period of noxious stimulation, and a period before the stimulation when participants were expecting the upcoming pain. Results The results demonstrate several similarities and differences between brainstem/spinal cord connectivity related to autonomic and pain regulatory networks across the three groups in both time periods. Discussion Based on the regions and connections involved in the differences, the altered pain processing in fibromyalgia appears to be related to changes in how autonomic and pain regulation networks are integrated, whereas altered pain processing in provoked vestibulodynia is linked in part to changes in arousal or salience networks as well as changes in affective components of pain regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Ioachim
- Center for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | | | - Jocelyn M. Powers
- Center for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Roland Staud
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainseville, FL, United States
| | - Caroline F. Pukall
- Center for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Patrick W. Stroman
- Center for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada
- Department of Physics, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
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10
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Stroman PW, Powers JM, Ioachim G. Proof-of-concept of a novel structural equation modelling approach for the analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging data applied to investigate individual differences in human pain responses. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:2523-2542. [PMID: 36773275 PMCID: PMC10028631 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
A novel network analysis method is demonstrated for applications with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. The method is based on structural equation modeling (SEM) plus modeling of physiological responses in order to explain blood oxygenation-level dependent (BOLD) responses across interconnected regions. The method, termed structural and physiological modeling (SAPM) aims to overcome a weakness of previous analysis methods by estimating both input and output signaling of every region of a network. The results also provide weighting factors (B) which describe the influence of each input signal to a region on its output signaling to another region. The SAPM method is demonstrated by applying it to fMRI data from the brainstem and spinal cord in 55 healthy participants undergoing repeated applications of a heat pain stimulation paradigm. Data are also analyzed using our established SEM method for comparison. The results with both methods indicate that individual differences in nociceptive processing are mediated by differences in descending regulation of spinal cord neurons under the influence of both the nucleus tractus solitarius and periaqueductal gray region. The SAPM results show that BOLD responses in the entire network can be explained during all periods of the stimulation paradigm based on two latent (unobserved) input signaling sources, and a model of the predicted BOLD responses to the heat stimulus. The results demonstrate the concept of our novel SAPM method and provide evidence for its validity. Additional studies are needed to further develop the method and its applications to investigations of complex neural processes across networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick W Stroman
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physics, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jocelyn M Powers
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gabriela Ioachim
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
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11
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Thapaliya K, Marshall-Gradisnik S, Barth M, Eaton-Fitch N, Barnden L. Brainstem volume changes in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and long COVID patients. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1125208. [PMID: 36937672 PMCID: PMC10017877 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1125208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID patients have overlapping neurological, autonomic, pain, and post-exertional symptoms. We compared volumes of brainstem regions for 10 ME/CFS (CCC or ICC criteria), 8 long COVID (WHO Delphi consensus), and 10 healthy control (HC) subjects on 3D, T1-weighted MRI images acquired using sub-millimeter isotropic resolution using an ultra-high field strength of 7 Tesla. Group comparisons with HC detected significantly larger volumes in ME/CFS for pons (p = 0.004) and whole brainstem (p = 0.01), and in long COVID for pons (p = 0.003), superior cerebellar peduncle (p = 0.009), and whole brainstem (p = 0.005). No significant differences were found between ME/CFS and long COVID volumes. In ME/CFS, we detected positive correlations between the pons and whole brainstem volumes with "pain" and negative correlations between the midbrain and whole brainstem volumes with "breathing difficulty." In long COVID patients a strong negative relationship was detected between midbrain volume and "breathing difficulty." Our study demonstrated an abnormal brainstem volume in both ME/CFS and long COVID consistent with the overlapping symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Thapaliya
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- *Correspondence: Kiran Thapaliya,
| | - Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Markus Barth
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Natalie Eaton-Fitch
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Leighton Barnden
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
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12
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Ricci M, Cimini A, Grivet Fojaja MR, Ullo M, Carabellese B, Frantellizzi V, Lubrano E. Novel Approaches in Molecular Imaging and Neuroimaging of Fibromyalgia. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415519. [PMID: 36555158 PMCID: PMC9778683 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415519] [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: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibromyalgia (FM) represents a condition that is still controversial in its entity, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management. The aim of this review is to focus on imaging aspects of FM, especially on novel approaches in molecular imaging, with a special focus on neuroimaging. Novel functional and molecular imaging findings may represent, eventually, future biomarkers both in research settings and in terms of clinical practice. Several imaging techniques have already been tested in clinical trials in the FM field, including functional MRI, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with 18F-FDG in FM, PET imaging of the dopaminergic system, PET imaging of the GABAergic system, PET imaging with neuroinflammation and neuroimmune parameters, PET imaging of the opioid system and H215O-PET activation studies. Therefore, the potential role in the FM field of fMRI and different PET tracers has been discussed in different settings, serving as a comprehensive guide of novel imaging options both in research and in the clinical field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Ricci
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, Cardarelli Hospital, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
- Correspondence: or
| | - Andrea Cimini
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, St. Salvatore Hospital, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Viviana Frantellizzi
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Anatomo-Pathology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Ennio Lubrano
- Department of Rheumatology, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
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13
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Stellman S, Ellis B, Dawson H, Kocsis A, Mundra J, Hill C, Sahota K, Douglas S. Piloting a new model of personalised care for people with fibromyalgia in primary care with secondary care multidisciplinary support. Musculoskeletal Care 2022. [PMID: 36349698 DOI: 10.1002/msc.1708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE An estimated 5.5 million people in England have high-impact chronic pain, which is severe pain associated with significant disability. Current models of healthcare often fail to address their broad range of symptoms and address their complex non-medical needs. METHODS A pilot project was designed with the aim of improving the quality of care and addressing unmet needs of patients high-impact musculoskeletal (MSK) pain through providing a personalised approach to their pain and wider psychosocial needs. The model comprised a longer initial appointment with a general practitioner, a later follow-appointment, and support of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) (informally and through a formal MDT meeting) with both primary care clinicians and specialists based in secondary care. RESULTS Forty six patients were seen using this model, with prominent themes of consultations including self-management, social needs, mental health and understanding their diagnosis. Evaluation of the pilot demonstrated improvements in MSK and non-MSK symptoms, together with improved patient confidence in self-management and knowledge and understanding of their condition. Multidisciplinary working proved to be invaluable in addressing patients' wider needs but also upskilling and supporting primary care clinicians. Primary care staff also found it to be a satisfying way to care for patients, and developed increasing skills and confidence in supporting patients with chronic pain. CONCLUSION This model of care appears to be an effective way to help primary care teams to provide more holistic personalised care to a group of patients who are highly complex and so often forgotten.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selena Stellman
- NHS North West London Personalised Care Team North End Medical Centre London UK
| | | | | | | | - Jag Mundra
- National Association of Primary Care London UK
| | - Cameron Hill
- NHS North West London Personalised Care Team London UK
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Chu ECP, Lee LYK. Cervical Spondylosis as a Hidden Contributing Factor to Fibromyalgia: A Case Report. Int Med Case Rep J 2022; 15:639-646. [PMID: 36388239 PMCID: PMC9653028 DOI: 10.2147/imcrj.s382872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The present case study describes the long-term symptomatic remission in a patient with fibromyalgia (FM) after multimodal spinal manipulation. A 44-year-old woman presented with a chronic headache, severe neck pain, shoulder pain, and back pain lasting for 2 years after experiencing domestic violence. She had sleep disorders, fatigue, and depressive mood. Her primary care physician diagnosed her with FM and comorbid depression. Despite treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, anti-depressants, anti-epileptics, acupuncture, and aqua-therapy, she experienced no appreciable relief from her symptoms. The patient then sought a chiropractic evaluation and potential treatment for her symptoms. At presentation, widespread tenderness was palpable over the neck, shoulder, back, anterior chest, abdominal wall, and buttock. Radiographs showed loss of cervical lordosis, widespread degenerative spondylosis, and osteitis pubis. Surface electromyography (sEMG) revealed neck and thoracic paraspinal muscular spasms. The patient was diagnosed with FM based on the American College of Rheumatology diagnostic criteria and the associated comorbidities. Multimodal chiropractic approaches, which consisted of spinal manipulation, massage, and intermittent motorized cervical traction, were used twice weekly to relieve soft-tissues and intervertebral joints and stretch core musculatures. The patient's physical and mental complaints were mostly resolved near the end of 9 months of treatment. Her symptom alleviation was associated with corresponding change in normalized sEMG signal and cervical spine realignment at the 16th- and 26th-month follow-ups. Widespread pain in FM can lead to confused thinking and a lack of awareness of cervical spondylosis. In this example, it is assumed that the noxious cervical inputs triggered an ongoing FM process. Chiropractic treatment blocked noxious inputs coming from pain sources, corrected pain thresholds, and lowered excitability, thereby eradicating FM symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Chun-Pu Chu
- New York Chiropractic & Physiotherapy Center, New York Medical Group, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China
- School of Nursing and Health Studies, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China
| | - Linda Yin-King Lee
- School of Nursing and Health Studies, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China
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15
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Thieme K, Jung K, Mathys MG, Gracely RH, Turk DC. Cardiac-Gated Neuromodulation Increased Baroreflex Sensitivity and Reduced Pain Sensitivity in Female Fibromyalgia Patients. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11206220. [PMID: 36294542 PMCID: PMC9605536 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11206220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The study presents a novel approach of programing pain inhibition in chronic pain patients based on the hypothesis that pain perception is modulated by dysfunctional dorsal medial nucleus tractus solitarii (dmNTS) reflex arcs that produce diminished baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) resulting from a conditioned response. This study tested whether administration of noxious and non-noxious electrical stimuli synchronized with the cardiac cycle resets BRS, reestablishing pain inhibition. A total of 30 pain-free normotensives controls (NC) and 32 normotensives fibromyalgia (FM) patients received two, ≈8 min-epochs of cardiac-gated, peripheral electrical stimuli. Non-painful and painful electrical stimuli were synchronized to the cardiac cycle as the neuromodulation experimental protocol (EP) with two control conditions (CC1, CC2). BRS, heart-rate-variability (HRV), pain threshold and tolerance, and clinical pain intensity were assessed. Reduced BRS in FM at baseline increased by 41% during two, ≈8 min-epochs of stimulation. Thresholds in FM increased significantly during the experimental protocol (all Ps < 0.001) as did HRV. FM levels of clinical pain significantly decreased by 35.52% during the experimental protocol but not during control stimulations (p < 0.001). Baroreceptor training may reduce FM pain by BRS-mediated effects on intrinsic pain regulatory systems and autonomic responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kati Thieme
- Department of Medical Psychology, Philipps-University Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-15158532986
| | - Kathrin Jung
- Department of Medical Psychology, Philipps-University Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Marc G. Mathys
- Department of Medical Psychology, Philipps-University Marburg, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Richard H. Gracely
- Center for Pain Research and Innovation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Dennis C. Turk
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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Barjola P, Peláez I, Ferrera D, González-Gutiérrez JL, Velasco L, Peñacoba-Puente C, López-López A, Fernandes-Magalhaes R, Mercado F. Electrophysiological indices of pain expectation abnormalities in fibromyalgia patients. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:943976. [PMID: 36248693 PMCID: PMC9562711 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.943976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by dysfunctional processing of nociceptive stimulation. Neuroimaging studies have pointed out that pain-related network functioning seems to be altered in these patients. It is thought that this clinical symptomatology may be maintained or even strengthened because of an enhanced expectancy for painful stimuli or its forthcoming appearance. However, neural electrophysiological correlates associated with such attentional mechanisms have been scarcely explored. In the current study, expectancy processes of upcoming laser stimulation (painful and non-painful) and its further processing were explored by event-related potentials (ERPs). Nineteen fibromyalgia patients and twenty healthy control volunteers took part in the experiment. Behavioral measures (reaction times and subjective pain perception) were also collected. We manipulated the pain/no pain expectancy through an S1–S2 paradigm (cue-target). S1 (image: triangle or square) predicted the S2 appearance (laser stimulation: warmth or pinprick sensation). Laser stimuli were delivered using a CO2 laser device. Temporal and spatial principal component analyses were employed to define and quantify the ERP component reliability. Statistical analyses revealed the existence of an abnormal pattern of pain expectancy in patients with fibromyalgia. Specifically, our results showed attenuated amplitudes at posterior lCNV component in anticipation of painful stimulation that was not found in healthy participants. In contrast, although larger P2 amplitudes to painful compared to innocuous events were shown, patients did not show any amplitude change in this laser-evoked response as a function of pain predictive cues (as occurred in the healthy control group). Additionally, analyses of the subjective perception of pain and reaction time indicated that laser stimuli preceded by pain cues were rated as more painful than those signaling non-pain expectancy and were associated with faster responses. Differences between groups were not found. The present findings suggest the presence of dysfunction in pain expectation mechanisms in fibromyalgia that eventually may make it difficult for patients to correctly interpret signs that prevent pain symptoms. Furthermore, the abnormal pattern in pain expectancy displayed by fibromyalgia patients could result in ineffective pain coping strategies. Understanding the neural correlates of pain processing and its modulatory factors is crucial to identify treatments for chronic pain syndromes.
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