European journal of pain : EJP
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Peripheral inflammation and nerve injury evoke pain behaviours in adult rodents mediated by sensitization, a process that involves the activation of microglia in the spinal cord. In neonates, however, peripheral inflammation, but not nerve injury, induces a lasting hyperalgesia. It is known that microglia does not activate after nerve injury in young pups; however, changes in microglia associated with inflammation in neonatal animals have not been studied. ⋯ Results suggest a key role for spinal microglia activation in the development of hyperalgesia following inflammation in neonatal animals.
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Identification of prognostic factors for surgery in patients with sciatica is important to be able to predict surgery in an early stage. Identification of prognostic factors predicting persistent pain, disability and recovery are important for better understanding of the clinical course, to inform patient and physician and support decision making. Consequently, we aimed to systematically review prognostic factors predicting outcome in non-surgically treated patients with sciatica. ⋯ Reported evidence regarding prognostic factors predicting the outcome in sciatica is limited. The majority of factors that have been evaluated, e.g., age, body mass index, smoking and sensory disturbance, showed no association with outcome. The only positive association with strong evidence was found for leg pain intensity at baseline as prognostic factor for subsequent surgery.