Journal of dental research
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Comparative Study
Astrocytes are involved in trigeminal dynamic mechanical allodynia: potential role of D-serine.
Trigeminal neuropathic pain affects millions of people worldwide. Despite decades of study on the neuronal processing of pain, mechanisms underlying enhanced pain states after injury remain unclear. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-dependent changes play a critical role in triggering central sensitization in neuropathic pain. ⋯ Blocking astrocyte metabolism by intracisternal delivery of fluorocitrate alleviated DMA. Furthermore, the administration of D-amino-acid oxidase (DAAO), a D-serine-degrading enzyme, or that of L-serine O-sulfate (LSOS), a serine racemase inhibitor, significantly decreased pain behavior in allodynic rats. These results demonstrate that astrocytes are involved in the modulation of orofacial post-traumatic neuropathic pain via the release of the gliotransmitter D-serine.
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Comparative Study
Headache and co-morbid pains associated with TMD pain in adolescents.
This case-control study evaluated the association of headache and other co-morbid pain with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain in adolescents and explored the temporal co-variance of headache and TMD pain. In a population-based sample of 12- to 19-year-olds, 350 patients with self-reported TMD pain and 350 healthy age- and sex-matched individuals were mailed questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, 95% CI, and OR analyses--logistic regression models with TMD pain as the outcome variable and adjusted for age and gender--were used for the analysis of individuals' responses. ⋯ In conclusion, headache appears to be independently and highly associated with TMD pain in adolescents. Neck pain and somatic complaints were also significantly associated with TMD pain. Headache seems to precede TMD pain in many adolescents with pain.