The Clinical journal of pain
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The peer-reviewed literature yields a plethora of examples of variability in patient's responses to medications. The rapidly progressing field of pharmacogenetics offers insight into the variation in responses observed clinically, and in particular for the variability observed among patients administered mu opioid analgesics. Genetic variation leads to interperson variability in drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, processes that have an important impact on the observed efficacy and toxicity of a drug. ⋯ In the near future, pharmacogenetic approaches may be implemented to best predict which medicine from the outset may be most appropriate for an individual-the therapy with the most sustained efficacy and the best side effect profile. In the meantime, pharmacogenetic studies on mu opioid analgesics have provided a molecular foundation supporting opioid rotation in cases in which opioid therapy loses efficacy or becomes associated with intolerable side effects. As more pharmacogenetic research links specific polymorphisms to the pharmacologic effects of specific opioid analgesics, clinicians will continue to improve their understanding of how to prescribe these medications more effectively.
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To examine the relationship between level of opioid use and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) findings among chronic pain patients who were about to begin a functional restoration program. ⋯ The results of this study support the hypothesis that increasing levels of pretreatment opioid use is associated with less desirable MMPI profiles, specifically the Disability Profile and, thus, greater levels of pretreatment psychopathology.
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To investigate whether patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) show "guarded" movements during walking. It is hypothesized that guarding will be reflected by increased lumbar muscle activity during all periods of stride and secondary, relatively lesser relaxation during periods of swing compared with double support. Furthermore, it is hypothesized that higher levels of perceived fear and disability are related to increased muscle activity and less relative relaxation. ⋯ In patients with CLBP, increased lumbar muscle activity during all periods of stride, with comparable alteration between swing and double support, suggests difficulties with total muscle relaxation. On the basis of this evaluation, it is concluded that patients with CLBP show a guarding mechanism during walking. No relationship is found between perceived fear, disability, and muscle activity.
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Clinical Trial
Time course of pain relief in patients treated with radiotherapy for cancer pain: a prospective study.
The purpose of this prospective study was to analyze time course of pain relief by radiotherapy for cancer pain. ⋯ Telling approximate time course of pain relief seems to reduce patients' anxiety, and knowing time course of pain relief seems to be useful to determine optimal dose of analgesics that changes according to the course.