The Clinical journal of pain
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Cluster headache (CH) is characterized by severe, recurrent, unilateral attacks of extreme intensity and brief duration. Variants in a myriad of genes were studied in sporadic CH patients, often with conflicting results. ⋯ Our data (although obtained on a small number of cases) confirm the genetic heterogeneity of CH, suggesting that mutations in the ADH4 gene and a novel rearrangement involving NRXN3 gene might be related to CH in a subset of cases.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Results of a Pilot Multi-center Genotype-based Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial of Propranolol to Reduce Pain After Major Thermal Burn Injury.
Results of previous studies suggest that β-adrenoreceptor activation may augment pain, and that β-adrenoreceptor antagonists may be effective in reducing pain, particularly in individuals not homozygous for the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) high-activity haplotype. ⋯ Genotype-specific pain medication interventions are feasible in hospitalized burn patients. Propranolol is unlikely to be a useful analgesic during the first few weeks after burn injury.
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Multicenter Study
The Role of Illness Perceptions in Predicting Outcome Following Acute Whiplash Trauma - A Multicenter 12-month Follow-up Study.
To examine (1) whether the patients' perceptions of their symptoms immediately after the accident and at 3-month follow-up predict working ability and neck pain at 12-month follow-up and (2) the possible changes in patients' illness perceptions during the follow-up period. ⋯ The findings are in line with the common-sense model of illness and previous research demonstrating that patient's expectations for recovery and illness perceptions might influence the course after whiplash injury. Illness perceptions and expectations may provide a useful starting point for future interventions and be targeted in the prevention of chronicity.
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Predictors of outcome in lateral epicondylalgia, which is mainly characterized as a mechanical hyperalgesia, are largely limited to sociodemographic and symptomatic factors. Quantitative sensory testing is used to study altered pain processing in various chronic pain conditions and may be of prognostic relevance. ⋯ Early assessment of cold pain threshold could be a useful clinical tool to help identify patients at risk of poorer outcomes and might provide direction for future research into mechanism-based treatment approaches for these patients.
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To determine the persistence of chronic pain among community-dwelling older persons and to identify factors related to persistent chronic pain. ⋯ Chronic musculoskeletal pain is a highly persistent condition among community-dwelling older persons and it is related to poor health and mobility difficulties. In addition, the use of daily analgesic is low despite the continuous nature of chronic pain.