The Clinical journal of pain
-
Important scientific principles of pain medicine pharmacology affect urine drug testing (UDT). This paper reviews sources of variability in pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacogenetics, and issues relating to the collection, handling, and assay of urine and how these factors may affect test interpretation and application. ⋯ UDT, when used with an understanding of the principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacogenetics of opioids, can be a useful tool in chronic pain management. Clinicians must keep in mind the limitations, purpose, and value of UDT, and the inability to predict patient compliance with a drug dosage using commercial algorithms.
-
In this prospective longitudinal clinical study, we evaluated the role of proinflammatory cytokine IL-8 and its clinical relevance in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) who fulfilled clearly defined inclusion and exclusion criteria and underwent a 3-week inpatients multidisciplinary pain therapy. ⋯ Our results suggest that IL-8 level contributes in patients with FM whose pain intensity and back function can be improved under influence of multidisciplinary pain therapy without need of an anti-IL-8 therapy.
-
This study aimed to provide a comprehensive profile of a representative sample of patients with acute low back pain drawn from the primary care setting. A secondary aim was to determine whether patient characteristics are associated with pain intensity or disability at the initial consultation. ⋯ In a representative sample of acute low back pain patients in primary care, we found that the profile included only a small proportion of patients with compensable low back pain. Those without compensation were more likely to remain at work despite low back pain. Psychologic and other patient characteristics were associated with pain intensity and level of disability at the initial consultation.
-
This study examined the relationship between the severity of fibromyalgia symptoms and current tobacco use in patients evaluated at a specialized fibromyalgia treatment program. ⋯ Current tobacco use was associated with more severe fibromyalgia symptoms in patients presenting to a specialized fibromyalgia treatment program.
-
To determine if country (Australia, Taiwan, Singapore), undergraduate healthcare course (physiotherapy, nursing), low back pain (LBP) history, and year of course influenced various back pain beliefs in undergraduate female healthcare students. ⋯ Findings of this study highlight the importance of country, education, and LBP experience on back pain beliefs. The more negative back pain beliefs found in Taiwan and Singapore may reflect current pain beliefs and management attitudes.