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Cao B, Xu Q, Shi Y, Zhao R, Li H, Zheng J, Liu F, Wan Y, Wei B. Pathology of pain and its implications for therapeutic interventions. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:155. [PMID: 38851750 PMCID: PMC11162504 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01845-w] [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: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Pain is estimated to affect more than 20% of the global population, imposing incalculable health and economic burdens. Effective pain management is crucial for individuals suffering from pain. However, the current methods for pain assessment and treatment fall short of clinical needs. Benefiting from advances in neuroscience and biotechnology, the neuronal circuits and molecular mechanisms critically involved in pain modulation have been elucidated. These research achievements have incited progress in identifying new diagnostic and therapeutic targets. In this review, we first introduce fundamental knowledge about pain, setting the stage for the subsequent contents. The review next delves into the molecular mechanisms underlying pain disorders, including gene mutation, epigenetic modification, posttranslational modification, inflammasome, signaling pathways and microbiota. To better present a comprehensive view of pain research, two prominent issues, sexual dimorphism and pain comorbidities, are discussed in detail based on current findings. The status quo of pain evaluation and manipulation is summarized. A series of improved and innovative pain management strategies, such as gene therapy, monoclonal antibody, brain-computer interface and microbial intervention, are making strides towards clinical application. We highlight existing limitations and future directions for enhancing the quality of preclinical and clinical research. Efforts to decipher the complexities of pain pathology will be instrumental in translating scientific discoveries into clinical practice, thereby improving pain management from bench to bedside.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Cao
- Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Qixuan Xu
- Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Yajiao Shi
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Ruiyang Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Hanghang Li
- Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Jie Zheng
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Fengyu Liu
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - You Wan
- Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Bo Wei
- Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
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Keefer L, Hashash JG, Szigethy E, Mayer EA. AGA Clinical Practice Update on Pain Management in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Commentary. Gastroenterology 2024; 166:1182-1189. [PMID: 38639677 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2024.03.034] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
DESCRIPTION Pain is a common symptom among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although pain typically occurs during episodes of inflammation, it is also commonly experienced when intestinal inflammation is quiescent. Many gastroenterologists are at a loss how to approach pain symptoms when they occur in the absence of gut inflammation. We provide guidance in this area as to the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of pain among patients with IBD. METHODS This CPU was commissioned and approved by the AGA Institute Clinical Practice Updates Committee (CPUC) and the AGA Governing Board to provide timely guidance on a topic of high clinical importance to the AGA membership and underwent internal peer review by the CPUC and external peer review through standard procedures of Gastroenterology. This expert commentary incorporates important as well as recently published studies in this field, and it reflects the experiences of the authors. Formal ratings regarding the quality of evidence or strength of the presented considerations were not included because systematic reviews were not performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie Keefer
- Division of Gastroenterology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Jana G Hashash
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida
| | - Eva Szigethy
- Department of Pediatric Psychiatry, Akron Children's Hospital, Akron, Ohio; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Emeran A Mayer
- Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
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Qu Y, Peng Y, Xiong Y, Dong X, Ma P, Cheng S. Acupuncture-Related Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Narrative Review of Neuroimaging Studies. J Pain Res 2024; 17:773-784. [PMID: 38435748 PMCID: PMC10908283 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s450515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Acupuncture has been widely applied for treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Numerous studies have found that acupuncture can effectively alleviate KOA symptoms. With the advancement of neuroimaging techniques, integrating neuroimaging with in-depth investigations of acupuncture mechanisms has emerged as a hot topic in traditional Chinese medical neuroscience research. This review aimed to analyze the study design and main findings from neuroimaging studies of acupuncture-related therapy for KOA to provide a reference for future research. Original studies were sourced from English databases (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library) and Chinese databases (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, the Chongqing VIP database, and Wanfang database). As a result, thirteen articles were ultimately included in this review. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was the most frequently used neuroimaging technique to explore cerebral responses to acupuncture-related therapy for KOA. Findings suggested that acupuncture-related therapy could regulate some brain regions in patients with KOA. Specifically, for acupuncture, it showed that the medial pain pathway and the limbic system were involved in the regulation of KOA. Meanwhile, moxibustion induced a wide range of functional activity throughout the entire brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhu Qu
- Post-Doctoral Scientific Research Workstation of Affiliated Sport Hospital, Chengdu Sport University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China
- Acupuncture and Brain Science Research Center, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ying Peng
- Medical Aesthetics Department, Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan Xiong
- Department of Osteoporosis, West China Fourth Hospital Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaohui Dong
- Acupuncture and Brain Science Research Center, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Peihong Ma
- Medical Technology School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shirui Cheng
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China
- Acupuncture and Brain Science Research Center, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China
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Yu Z, Yang H, Liu LY, Chen L, Su MH, Yang L, Zhu MJ, Yang LL, Liang F, Yu S, Yang J. Altered cognitive control network mediates the association between long-term pain and anxiety symptoms in primary dysmenorrhea. Neuroreport 2024; 35:9-16. [PMID: 37994619 PMCID: PMC10702699 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000001971] [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: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Neuroimaging studies have demonstrated the association of the cognitive control network (CCN) with the maintenance of chronic pain. However, whether and how dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a key region within the CCN, is altered in menstrual pain is unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate alterations in the DLPFC functional connectivity network in patients with primary dysmenorrhea (PDM). The study comprised 41 PDM patients and 39 matched healthy controls (HCs), all of whom underwent a resting-state functional MRI scan during the menstrual stage. All participants were instructed to complete the clinical assessment before the MRI scan. We used the DLPFC as the seed in resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) analysis to investigate the difference between PDM patients and HCs. Compared to HCs, PDM patients showed increased right DLPFC rsFC at the bilateral lingual gyrus, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), and middle cingulate cortex, and decreased left DLPFC rsFC at the right orbital frontal cortex. In addition, increased right DLPFC-bilateral dACC connectivity mediated the association between disease duration and the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) scores in PDM patients. We confirmed that the DLPFC-dACC rsFC was associated with higher SAS scores, which could mediate the association between disease duration and anxiety symptoms in patients with PDM. Our findings provide central pathological evidence for an abnormal rsFC of the CCN in PDM patients, which may contribute to a better understanding of the neuropathophysiological mechanisms underlying PDM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Yu
- School of Intelligent Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu
| | - Han Yang
- Division of Internal Medicine, Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University
| | - Li-ying Liu
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
| | - Lin Chen
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
| | - Meng-hua Su
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
| | - Lu Yang
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
| | - Man-jia Zhu
- School of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu
| | - Li-li Yang
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
| | - Fanrong Liang
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
| | - Siyi Yu
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
| | - Jie Yang
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, Sichuan Jinxin Xi’nan Women’s and Children’s Hospital
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Rodrigues JM, Ventura C, Abreu M, Santos C, Monte J, Machado JP, Santos RV. Electro-Acupuncture Effects Measured by Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging-A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 12:2. [PMID: 38200908 PMCID: PMC10778902 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12010002] [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: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Electro-acupuncture, an innovative adaptation of traditional acupuncture, combines electrical stimulation with acupuncture needles to enhance therapeutic effects. While acupuncture is widely used, its biological mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Recent research has explored the neurophysiological aspects of acupuncture, particularly through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate its effects on brain activity. METHODS In this systematic review, we conducted an extensive search for randomized clinical trials examining electro-acupuncture effects measured by fMRI. We employed strict eligibility criteria, quality assessment, and data extraction. RESULTS Five studies met our inclusion criteria and were analyzed. The selected studies investigated electro-acupuncture in various medical conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and obesity. Notably, electro-acupuncture was found to modulate brain activity and connectivity in regions associated with pain perception, emotional regulation, and cognitive processing. These findings align with the holistic approach of traditional Chinese medicine, emphasizing the interconnectedness of body and mind. DISCUSSION In carpal tunnel syndrome, electro-acupuncture at both local and distal sites showed neurophysiological improvements, suggesting distinct neuroplasticity mechanisms. In fibromyalgia, somatosensory electro-acupuncture correlated with reduced pain severity, enhanced brain connectivity, and increased gamma-aminobutyric acid levels. For Crohn's disease, electro-acupuncture influenced the homeostatic afferent processing network, potentially mitigating gut inflammation. Electro-acupuncture for irritable bowel syndrome led to decreased activity in the anterior cingulate cortex, offering pain relief, while electro-acupuncture for obesity impacted brain regions associated with dietary inhibition and emotional regulation. CONCLUSION This systematic review provides evidence that electro-acupuncture can positively impact a range of medical conditions, possibly by modulating brain activity and connectivity. While the quality of the reviewed studies is generally good, further research with larger sample sizes and longer-term assessments is needed to better understand the mechanisms and optimize electro-acupuncture protocols for specific health conditions. The limited number of studies in this review emphasizes the need for broader investigations in this promising field. The research protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023465866).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Magalhães Rodrigues
- IPTC—Research Department in Complementary Therapies, Portuguese Institute of Taiji and Qigong, 4470-765 Maia, Portugal
- ABS—Health Level Department, Atlântico Business School, 4405-604 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
- CBSin—Center of BioSciences in Integrative Health, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Cristina Ventura
- IPTC—Research Department in Complementary Therapies, Portuguese Institute of Taiji and Qigong, 4470-765 Maia, Portugal
- ABS—Health Level Department, Atlântico Business School, 4405-604 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
| | - Manuela Abreu
- IPTC—Research Department in Complementary Therapies, Portuguese Institute of Taiji and Qigong, 4470-765 Maia, Portugal
- ABS—Health Level Department, Atlântico Business School, 4405-604 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
| | - Catarina Santos
- IPTC—Research Department in Complementary Therapies, Portuguese Institute of Taiji and Qigong, 4470-765 Maia, Portugal
- ABS—Health Level Department, Atlântico Business School, 4405-604 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
| | - Joana Monte
- ABS—Health Level Department, Atlântico Business School, 4405-604 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
| | - Jorge Pereira Machado
- CBSin—Center of BioSciences in Integrative Health, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
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Wu Z, Guo G, Zhang Y, Li Y, He T, Zhu Q, Kong L, Fang M. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging reveals brain remodeling after Tuina therapy in neuropathic pain model. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1231374. [PMID: 37501727 PMCID: PMC10368882 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1231374] [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: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Tuina, a method of traditional Chinese manual manipulation, is an effective alternative therapy for neuropathic pain (NP), but its analgesic mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (R-fMRI) to explore the analgesic mechanism of Tuina in an NP rat model. After undergoing surgery to induce chronic compression of the dorsal root ganglion (CCD), one group of rats underwent Tuina at the ipsilateral BL40 acupoint once a day for 10 min during the 25 days following surgery while another group did not. Behavioral tests were performed at baseline, on the third day following surgery, and once a week for the next 4 weeks. R-fMRI was performed at baseline and 7 days and 28 days following surgery. Behavioral testing revealed that the Tuina group presented a significant response improvement to mechanical and thermal nociception stimuli compared to the untreated group 2 weeks following CCD surgery. Interestingly, rats submitted to Tuina presented higher measures of spontaneous neuronal activity in basal forebrain region, primary somatosensory cortex barrel field, dentate gyrus, secondary somatosensory cortex, striatum, descending corticofugal pathways, and globus pallidum of the left hemisphere 4 weeks after the CCD surgery compared to rats having undergone CCD only. In addition, on the 28th day, the ALFF signals of the left dentate gyrus, left secondary somatosensory cortex, left striatum, and bilateral primary cingulate cortex were significantly increased while those in the right dentate gyrus and bilateral periaqueductal gray were significantly decreased compared to those on the 7th day. Correlation analysis showed that the ALFF values of the left descending corticofugal pathways and globus pallidum had a positive correlation with mechanical withdrawal threshold and paw withdrawal thermal latency tests. Altogether, these results indicate that NPP induced by CCD surgery affects the plasticity of the cerebral cortex, and that Tuina alleviate pain behavior by promoting cortical remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Wu
- Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Tuina, Shanghai Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Guangxin Guo
- Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Acupuncture and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuwen Zhang
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunyi Li
- Department of Acupuncture and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tianxiang He
- Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingguang Zhu
- Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Tuina, Shanghai Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lingjun Kong
- Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Fang
- Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Tuina, Shanghai Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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