Pain
-
Neurotoxicity of chemotherapeutics involves peculiar alterations in the structure and function, including abnormal nerve signal transmission, of both the peripheral and central nervous system. The lack of effective pharmacological approaches to prevent chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity necessitates the identification of innovative therapies. Recent evidence suggests that repeated treatment with the pentacyclic pyridoindole derivative DDD-028 can exert both pain-relieving and glial modulatory effects in mice with paclitaxel-induced neuropathy. ⋯ Histopathology evidence indicated that DDD-028 was able to counteract effectively paclitaxel-induced peripheral neurotoxicity by protecting against the loss of intraepidermal nerve fibers, restoring physiological levels of neurofilament in nerve tissue and plasma, and preventing morphological alterations occurring in the sciatic nerves and dorsal root ganglia. Overall, DDD-028 is more effective than pregabalin in preventing chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity. Thus, based on its potent antihyperalgesic and neuroprotective efficacy, DDD-028 seems to be a viable prophylactic medication to limit the development of neuropathies consequent to chemotherapy.
-
Supporting its young members has been a key priority of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) for the past 5 decades. The IASP, along with its federations, chapters, and special interest groups, has provided benefits to its trainee and early career members for their career development. This article summarizes various key IASP initiatives and benefits offered to IASP members and how these benefits have positively impacted their careers, including examples from the authors of this article. Suggestions are made for future directions that the IASP could implement to enhance the value provided to its trainee and early career members, which will in turn contribute to IASP achieving its mission to stimulate and support the study of pain and to translate that knowledge into improved pain relief worldwide.