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Alami K, Ghasemi E, Semnanian S, Azizi H. Adolescent morphine exposure changes the endogenous vlPAG opioid response to inflammatory pain in rats. Dev Psychobiol 2024; 66:e22447. [PMID: 38131239 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22447] [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: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Adolescence is one of the most critical periods for brain development, and exposure to morphine during this period can have long-life effects on pain-related behaviors. The opioid system in the periaqueductal gray (PAG) is highly vulnerable to drug exposure. However, the impact of adolescent morphine exposure (AME) on the endogenous opioid system in the PAG is currently unknown. This study aims to investigate the long-lasting effects of AME on the endogenous opioid system and its involvement in altering nociceptive behaviors. Adolescent rats were given escalating doses of morphine (2.5-25 mg/kg, subcutaneous) or an equal volume of saline twice daily for 10 consecutive days (PND 31-40). After a 30-day washout period, adult rats underwent formalin tests following microinjection of morphine, naloxone, or saline into the ventrolateral PAG (vlPAG) region. The results indicated that morphine microinjection into the vlPAG of the adolescent morphine-treated group significantly reduced the nociceptive score. However, the analgesic response to morphine in this group was significantly lower compared to the saline-treated group during adolescence. Additionally, the nociceptive score significantly increased following naloxone but not saline microinjection into the vlPAG of the saline-treated group during adolescence, rather than the morphine-treated one. These findings indicate that AME has long-lasting effects on the endogenous opioid system in the vlPAG, which can consequently alter behaviors related to inflammatory pain in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kawsar Alami
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elmira Ghasemi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeed Semnanian
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Azizi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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2
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Romero-Reyes M, Arman S, Teruel A, Kumar S, Hawkins J, Akerman S. Pharmacological Management of Orofacial Pain. Drugs 2023; 83:1269-1292. [PMID: 37632671 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-023-01927-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
Orofacial pain is a category of complex disorders, including musculoskeletal, neuropathic and neurovascular disorders, that greatly affect the quality of life of the patient. These disorders are within the fields of dentistry and medicine and management can be challenging, requiring a referral to an orofacial pain specialist, essential for adequate evaluation, diagnosis, and care. Management is specific to the diagnosis and a treatment plan is developed with diverse pharmacological and non-pharmacological modalities. The pharmacological management of orofacial pain encompasses a vast array of medication classes and approaches. This includes anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and anesthetics. In addition, as adjunct therapy, different injections can be integrated into the management plan depending on the diagnosis and needs. These include trigger point injections, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) injections, and neurotoxin injections with botulinum toxin and nerve blocks. Multidisciplinary management is key for optimal care. New and safer therapeutic targets exclusively for the management of orofacial pain disorders are needed to offer better care for this patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Romero-Reyes
- Brotman Facial Pain Clinic, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, 650 W. Baltimore St, 1st Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
- Department of Pain and Neural Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, 650 W. Baltimore St, 8th Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
| | - Sherwin Arman
- Orofacial Pain Program, Section of Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Orofacial Pain, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Satish Kumar
- Department of Periodontics, Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health, A.T. Still University, Mesa, AZ, USA
| | - James Hawkins
- Naval Postgraduate Dental School, Naval Medical Leader and Professional Development Command, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Postgraduate Dental College, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Simon Akerman
- Department of Pain and Neural Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, 650 W. Baltimore St, 8th Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
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Rudolph KS, Cloutier M, Stackhouse S. Pain inhibition-the unintended benefit of electrically elicited muscle strengthening contractions. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2023; 24:131. [PMID: 36803339 PMCID: PMC9938574 DOI: 10.1186/s12891-023-06243-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is effective in muscle strengthening after orthopedic injury particularly when muscle activation failure is present, but the associated pain can be a barrier. Pain itself can produce a pain inhibitory response called Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM). CPM is often used in research studies to assess the state of the pain processing system. However, the inhibitory response of CPM could make NMES more tolerable to patients and could improve functional outcomes in people with pain. This study compares the pain-inhibitory effect of NMES compared to volitional contractions and noxious electrical stimulation (NxES). METHODS Healthy participants, 18-30 years of age experienced 3 conditions: 10 NMES contractions, 10 bursts of NxES on the patella, and 10 volitional contractions on the right knee. Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were measured before and after each condition in both knees and the middle finger. Pain was reported on an 11-point VAS. Repeated measures ANOVAs with 2 factors: site and time were performed for each condition followed by post-hoc paired t-tests, with Bonferroni correction. RESULTS Pain ratings were higher in the NxES condition compared to NMES (p = .000). No differences in PPTs prior to each condition were observed but PPTs were significantly higher in the right and left knees after the NMES contractions (p = .000, p = .013, respectively) and after the NxES (p = .006, P-.006, respectively). Pain during NMES and NxES did not correlate with pain inhibition (p > .05). Self-reported pain sensitivity correlated with pain during NxES. CONCLUSION NxES and NMES produced higher PPTs in both knees but not in the finger, suggesting that the mechanisms responsible for the reduction in pain are located in the spinal cord and local tissues. Pain reduction was elicited during the NxES and NMES conditions regardless of the self-reported pain ratings. When NMES is used for muscle strengthening significant pain reduction can also occur, which is an unintended benefit of the intervention that could improve functional outcomes in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine S. Rudolph
- grid.266826.e0000 0000 9216 5478Department of Physical Therapy, University of New England, 716 Stevens Ave., Portland, ME 04103 USA
| | - Matthew Cloutier
- grid.266826.e0000 0000 9216 5478College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, ME 04005 USA
| | - Scott Stackhouse
- grid.266826.e0000 0000 9216 5478Department of Physical Therapy, University of New England, 716 Stevens Ave., Portland, ME 04103 USA
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Nikolova S, Chong CD, Dumkrieger GM, Li J, Wu T, Schwedt TJ. Longitudinal differences in iron deposition in periaqueductal gray matter and anterior cingulate cortex are associated with response to erenumab in migraine. Cephalalgia 2023; 43:3331024221144783. [PMID: 36756979 DOI: 10.1177/03331024221144783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective of this longitudinal study was to determine whether brain iron accumulation, measured using magnetic resonance imaging magnetic transverse relaxation rates (T2*), is associated with response to erenumab for the treatment of migraine. METHODS Participants (n = 28) with migraine, diagnosed using international classification of headache disorders 3rd edition criteria, were eligible if they had six to 25 migraine days during a four-week headache diary run-in phase. Participants received two treatments with 140 mg erenumab, one immediately following the pre-treatment run-in phase and a second treatment four weeks later. T2* data were collected immediately following the pre-treatment phase, and at two weeks and eight weeks following the first erenumab treatment. Patients were classified as erenumab responders if their migraine-day frequency at five-to-eight weeks post-initial treatment was reduced by at least 50% compared to the pre-treatment run-in phase. A longitudinal Sandwich estimator approach was used to compare longitudinal group differences (responders vs non-responders) in T2* values, associated with iron accumulation. Group visit effects were calculated with a significance threshold of p = 0.005 and cluster forming threshold of 250 voxels. T2* values of 19 healthy controls were used for a reference. The average of each significant region was compared between groups and visits with Bonferroni corrections for multiple comparisons with significance defined as p < 0.05. RESULTS Pre- and post-treatment longitudinal imaging data were available from 28 participants with migraine for a total of 79 quantitative T2* images. Average subject age was 42 ± 13 years (25 female, three male). Of the 28 subjects studied, 53.6% were erenumab responders. Comparing longitudinal T2* between erenumab responders vs non-responders yielded two comparisons which survived the significance threshold of p < 0.05 after correction for multiple comparisons: the difference at eight weeks between the erenumab-responders and non-responders in the periaqueductal gray (mean ± standard error; responders 43 ± 1 ms vs non-responders 32.5 ± 1 ms, p = 0.002) and the anterior cingulate cortex (mean ± standard error; responders 50 ± 1 ms vs non-responders 40 ± 1 ms, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Erenumab response is associated with higher T2* in the periaqueductal gray and anterior cingulate cortex, regions that participate in pain processing and modulation. T2* differences between erenumab responders vs non-responders, a measure of brain iron accumulation, are seen at eight weeks post-treatment. Less iron accumulation in the periaqueductal gray and anterior cingulate cortex might play a role in the therapeutic mechanisms of migraine reduction associated with erenumab.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Catherine Daniela Chong
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, USA.,Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, USA.,ASU-Mayo Center for Innovative Imaging, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | | | - Jing Li
- Georgia Tech, School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia, USA
| | - Teresa Wu
- ASU-Mayo Center for Innovative Imaging, Tempe, AZ, USA.,School of Computing, Informatics, Decision Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ, USA
| | - Todd J Schwedt
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, USA.,ASU-Mayo Center for Innovative Imaging, Tempe, AZ, USA
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Adamo D, Canfora F, Calabria E, Coppola N, Sansone M, Spagnuolo G, Pecoraro G, Aria M, D’Aniello L, Mignogna MD, Leuci S. Burning Mouth Syndrome and Hypertension: Prevalence, Gender Differences and Association with Pain and Psycho-Social Characteristics-A Case Control Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2040. [PMID: 36767407 PMCID: PMC9916056 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To assess the prevalence of hypertension (HTN) in burning mouth syndrome (BMS) patients and to investigate its relationship with sociodemographic factors, pain and the psychological profile. METHODS A case-control study was conducted by enrolling 242 BMS patients and 242 controls matched for age and gender. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were recorded, and all participants completed numeric rating scale (NRS), the short-form of the McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ), the Hamilton rating scale for anxiety and depression (HAM-A, HAM-D), the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS). RESULTS The BMS patients presented with a statistically significant higher prevalence of HTN compared to that in the controls (55% versus 33.5%; p-value: <0.001) and higher median scores of the NRS, SF-MPQ, HAM-A, HAM-D, PSQI and ESS (p < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis in the BMS patients indicated positive correlations between HTN and age, systemic diseases, drug consumption and anxiety (p-value: <0.001) and these predictors were responsible for 11.3% of the HTN variance in the BMS patients, when considered together. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of HTN was significantly higher in the BMS patients, since ageing, the presence of comorbidities, drug consumption and anxiety were potential predictors. Further studies are needed to better investigate the relationship between BMS and HTN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Adamo
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Federica Canfora
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Elena Calabria
- Department of Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Noemi Coppola
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Mattia Sansone
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Gianrico Spagnuolo
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
- Therapeutic Dentistry Department, Institute for Dentistry, Sechenov University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Giuseppe Pecoraro
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Massimo Aria
- Department of Economics and Statistics, University Federico II of Naples, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Luca D’Aniello
- Department of Social Sciences, University Federico II of Naples, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Michele Davide Mignogna
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Stefania Leuci
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
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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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Sharvit G, Schweinhardt P. The influence of social signals on the self-experience of pain: A neuroimaging review. Front Neurol 2022; 13:856874. [PMID: 36090868 PMCID: PMC9459049 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.856874] [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: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Researchers in cognitive neuroscience have investigated extensively how psychological factors shape the processing and perception of pain using behavioral, physiological, and neuroimaging methods. However, social influences of pain, an essential part of biopsychosocial pain models, have received relatively little attention. This is particularly true for the neurobiological mechanisms underlying social modulations on pain. Therefore, this review discusses the findings of recent neuroimaging studies measuring the effects of social manipulations on pain perception (e.g., verbal and non-verbal social signals, social interaction style, conformity, social support, and sociocultural mediators). Finally, a schematic summary of the different social modulatory themes is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gil Sharvit
- Department of Chiropractic Medicine, Integrative Spinal Research, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich (ZNZ), University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Gil Sharvit
| | - Petra Schweinhardt
- Department of Chiropractic Medicine, Integrative Spinal Research, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich (ZNZ), University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
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Batallé G, Bai X, Pol O. The Interaction between Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen Sulfide during Chronic Joint Pain in Young Female Mice. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11071271. [PMID: 35883761 PMCID: PMC9312227 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11071271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
A relationship between carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been described in different pathological conditions, but their interaction in modulating joint pain has not yet been investigated. In young female mice with monosodium acetate-induced joint degeneration and pain, we assessed: (1) the effects of CORM-2 (tricarbonyldichlororuthenium(II)dimer), a CO-releasing molecule, and CoPP (cobalt protoporphyrin IX), an inducer of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), administered alone and combined with low doses of two slow-releasing H2S donors, DADS (diallyl disulfide) and GYY4137 (morpholin-4-ium 4-methoxyphenyl(morpholino) phosphinodithioate dichloromethane complex) on the mechanical allodynia and loss of grip strength provoked by joint degeneration; (2) the role of Nrf2, NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and HO-1 in the antinociceptive actions of H2S donors; (3) the impact of DADS and GYY4137 treatment on the expression of Nrf2 and several antioxidant proteins in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and periaqueductal gray matter (PAG). Our data showed that treatment with H2S donors inhibited allodynia and functional deficits, while CORM-2 and CoPP only prevented allodynia. The Nrf2 pathway is implicated in the analgesic actions of DADS and GYY4137 during joint degeneration. Moreover, the co-administration of low doses of CORM-2 or CoPP with DADS or GYY4137 produced higher antiallodynic effects and greater recovery of grip strength deficits than those produced by each of these compounds alone. The activation of the antioxidant system caused by H2S donors in DRG and/or PAG might explain the enhancement of antinociceptive effects. These data reveal a positive interaction between H2S and CO in modulating joint pain in female mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard Batallé
- Grup de Neurofarmacologia Molecular, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), 08041 Barcelona, Spain; (G.B.); (X.B.)
- Grup de Neurofarmacologia Molecular, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xue Bai
- Grup de Neurofarmacologia Molecular, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), 08041 Barcelona, Spain; (G.B.); (X.B.)
- Grup de Neurofarmacologia Molecular, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Olga Pol
- Grup de Neurofarmacologia Molecular, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), 08041 Barcelona, Spain; (G.B.); (X.B.)
- Grup de Neurofarmacologia Molecular, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-619-757-054
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Crawford LS, Boorman DC, Keay KA, Henderson LA. The pain conductor: brainstem modulation in acute and chronic pain. Curr Opin Support Palliat Care 2022; 16:71-77. [PMID: 35639572 DOI: 10.1097/spc.0000000000000598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW It is well established in experimental settings that brainstem circuits powerfully modulate the multidimensional experience of pain. This review summarizes current understanding of the roles of brainstem nuclei in modulating the intensity of pain, and how these circuits might be recruited therapeutically for pain relief in chronic and palliative settings. RECENT FINDINGS The development of ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging and more robust statistical analyses has led to a more integrated understanding of brainstem function during pain. It is clear that a number of brainstem nuclei and their overlapping pathways are recruited to either enhance or inhibit incoming nociceptive signals. This review reflects on early preclinical research, which identified in detail brainstem analgesic function, putting into context contemporary investigations in humans that have identified the role of specific brainstem circuits in modulating pain, their contribution to pain chronicity, and even the alleviation of palliative comorbidities. SUMMARY The brainstem is an integral component of the circuitry underpinning pain perception. Enhanced understanding of its circuitry in experimental studies in humans has, in recent years, increased the possibility for better optimized pain-relief strategies and the identification of vulnerabilities to postsurgical pain problems. When integrated into the clinical landscape, these experimental findings of brainstem modulation of pain signalling have the potential to contribute to the optimization of pain management and patient care from acute, to chronic, to palliative states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis S Crawford
- School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Interactions among Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase, Cardiovascular System, and Nociception during Physiological and Pathophysiological States. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27092835. [PMID: 35566185 PMCID: PMC9105107 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27092835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) plays important roles within the cardiovascular system in physiological states as well as in pathophysiologic and specific cardiovascular (CV) disease states, such as hypertension (HTN), arteriosclerosis, and cerebrovascular accidents. This review discusses the roles of the endothelial NOS (eNOS) and its effect on cardiovascular responses that are induced by nociceptive stimuli. The roles of eNOS enzyme in modulating CV functions while experiencing pain will be discussed. Nociception, otherwise known as the subjective experience of pain through sensory receptors, termed “nociceptors”, can be stimulated by various external or internal stimuli. In turn, events of various cascade pathways implicating eNOS contribute to a plethora of pathophysiological responses to the noxious pain stimuli. Nociception pathways involve various regions of the brain and spinal cord, including the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray matter (PAG), rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), caudal ventrolateral medulla, and intermediolateral column of the spinal cord. These pathways can interrelate in nociceptive responses to pain stimuli. The alterations in CV responses that affect GABAergic and glutamatergic pathways will be discussed in relation to mechanical and thermal (heat and cold) stimuli. Overall, this paper will discuss the aggregate recent and past data regarding pain pathways and the CV system.
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