The Clinical journal of pain
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Understanding the psychological processes that underlie the development of a chronic pain problem is important to improve prevention and treatment. The aim of this study was to test whether distinct profiles of variables within the fear-avoidance model could be identified and could be related to disability in a meaningful way. ⋯ Distinct profiles of psychological functioning could be extracted and meaningfully related to future disability. These profiles give support to the fear-avoidance model and underscore the need to address the psychological aspects of the pain experience early on.
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To identify the sites and intensity of pain in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome. ⋯ In these patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome, the major source of pain was the patella subchondral bone.
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The purposes of this study were to investigate the association among measures of fear-avoidance beliefs, pain intensity, and lumbar flexion and to determine if changes in these measures were predictive of treatment outcome following physical therapy for acute low back pain. It was hypothesized that items of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire would be correlated with concurrent measures of pain intensity and lumbar flexion. In addition, it was hypothesized that changes in fear-avoidance beliefs would be predictive of changes in self-report of pain intensity and disability. ⋯ These results suggest that fear-avoidance beliefs have a similar association with pain intensity, physical impairment, and disability for patients with acute and chronic low back pain. This study provides preliminary support for the use of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire as an outcome measure for patients with acute low back pain.
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In the pituitary of lower species, pro-opiomelanocortin is expressed in corticotroph cells of the anterior and in melanotroph cells of the neurointermediate lobe; enzymatic processing in the corticotrophs results in the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone, beta-lipotropin, or beta-endorphin. In the melanotrophs, these fragments are further modified, eg, by N-terminal acetylation. In the human pituitary, these enzyme systems are located within the same cells in the anterior lobe. We studied the reactions of the pro-opiomelanocortin system under preoperative conditions as well as under postoperative pain. ⋯ We conclude that the melanotroph-type pro-opiomelanocortin system is not activated under postoperative pain; the increase of corticotroph-type pro-opiomelanocortin fragment levels is different in quantity and proportion under preoperative conditions or postoperative pain, respectively.
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Comparative Study
Content comparison of low back pain-specific measures based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).
The objective of this study was to compare the content covered by the North American Spine Society Lumbar Spine Outcome Assessment Instrument, the Oswestry Low Back Disability Questionnaire, and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). ⋯ Comparison based on the ICF provides insight into both the breadth of health dimensions measured as well as the thoroughness and depth of measurement. Therefore, it can be a useful tool when selecting specific measures for a study. Compared with other types of qualitative review, the most important advantage of the content comparison of measures based on the ICF is the use of an external and independent reference to which all the instruments can be linked and by which all the instruments can be compared. The three back-specific measures are comparable, with their common focus on physical aspects of body functions and activities and participation.