European journal of pain : EJP
-
Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) has an established role in managing postoperative pain and has been successfully used in-patients with cancer pain. The variation of opioid requirement over a 24h period for patients with cancer pain is debated with suggestions of reduced need over night. ⋯ PCA met individual patient's opioid needs in a safe and effective manner despite a large inter-individual variability in opioid consumption. Moreover, the study indicated a pattern of less opioid requirement at night.
-
Protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) is a G-protein-coupled receptor activated through proteolytic cleavage. It is localized on epithelial, endothelial and inflammatory cells, as well as on transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor-expressing neurones. It plays an important role in inflammatory/nociceptive processes. ⋯ The inactive peptide, LRGILS-NH(2), injected into either site did not induce any inflammatory or nociceptive changes. These data provide evidence for a significant role of TRPV1 receptors in secondary mechanical hyperalgesia/allodynia and spontaneous pain induced by PAR-2 receptor activation in the knee joint. Although intraplantar PAR-2 activation-induced oedema is also TRPV1 receptor-mediated, primary mechanical hyperalgesia, impaired weight distribution and IL-1beta production are independent of this channel.