European journal of pain : EJP
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Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a common and intriguing condition, manifest by chronic pain and fatigue. Although the pathogenesis of FMS is not yet completely understood, predicting the future development of FMS and chronic pain is a major challenge with great potential advantages, both from an individual as well as an epidemiological standpoint. Current knowledge indicates a genetic underpinning for FMS, and as increasing data are accumulated regarding the genetics involved, the prospect of utilizing these data for prediction becomes ever more attractive. ⋯ Functional neuroimaging may help to elucidate the neural processes involved in central sensitization, and may ultimately also evolve into markers of predictive value. Last but not least, obesity and disturbed sleep are clinical (inter-related) features relevant for this spectrum. Future efforts will aim at integrating genetic, clinical and physiological data in the prediction of FMS and chronic pain.
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Accumulating evidence shows that manipulations of cortical body representation, for example, by simply viewing one's own body, can relieve pain in healthy subjects. Despite the widespread use of the rubber hand illusion (RHI) as an effective experimental tool for the manipulation of bodily awareness, previous studies examining the analgesic effect of the RHI have produced conflicting results. ⋯ The RHI increases heat pain threshold and the analgesic effect of the RHI is comparable with that of seeing one's own hand. The latter finding may have clinical implications.
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Inhibition of Src-family protein tyrosine kinases (SFKs) in spinal dorsal horn has been established as an effective strategy for the alleviation of chronic pathological pain. As one of the important SFKs members, Fyn kinase is critical for synaptic plasticity and many pathophysiological processes. However, whether Fyn is involved in spinal sensitization is far from being elucidated. ⋯ Fyn played a key role in the sustained sensitization of nociceptive behaviours by up-regulating the functions of ionotropic glutamate receptors in spinal dorsal horn.
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In patients with chronic non-malignant pain (CNMP), co-morbid physical or mental health disorders are common and may have a negative impact on health-related quality of life and treatment outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the occurrence of chronic psychiatric and somatic diseases in persistent opioid users with CNMP compared with the general population in Norway. ⋯ A higher occurrence of both somatic and psychiatric co-morbidities in disease stages warranting pharmacological treatment was found in persistent opioid users with CNMP compared with the general population of Norway.