European journal of pain : EJP
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This study examined the effects of rumination on attentional processes in relation to an acute experimental pain task. In keeping with recent theory and research, it was hypothesized that we would identify a pattern of attentional bias characterized by enhanced initial vigilance followed by avoidance of pain-related stimuli. ⋯ The rumination manipulation led to increased worry about pain and induced to an attentional pattern of vigilance-avoidance for affective pain words. The induction also led to more distress and pain. Rumination and worry appear to increase unhelpful patterns of attention and could be an appropriate focus of intervention.
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Lateral hypothalamus (LH) involves in modulation of tonic pain. Regarding the direct and indirect neural connections between the LH and nucleus accumbens (NAc), we aimed to examine the pain modulatory role of NAc dopamine receptors in modulation of LH-induced analgesia in the formalin test. ⋯ Blockade of accumbal dopamine receptors attenuated analgesia induced by carbachol injection into the lateral hypothalamus during both phases of formalin test. Effect of blockade of D1- and D2-like dopamine receptors on reduction in antinociception was more during the late phase. Contribution of D2-like dopamine receptors to mediation of antinociception during the late phase was greater than the early phase.
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This prospective study was designed to examine the associations of demographic, clinical, psychological and neuroendocrine factors with acute and chronic post-operative pain following partial mastectomy. ⋯ Although the associations between psychological stress/stress hormone levels and chronic post-operative pain remain to be determined, pre-operative psychological stress and perioperative cortisol levels are correlated with acute post-operative pain.
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The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of body fat percentage and its distribution on sensory detection and pain sensitivity responses to experimentally induced noxious stimuli in otherwise pain-free individuals. ⋯ This study provided evidence that body mass index and distribution of body fat can influence sensory detection and pain sensitivity. Obese individuals were more sensitive than normal range body mass index individuals to pressure pain but not to thermal pain. Pain response varied according to subcutaneous body fat at different body sites. These findings strengthen arguments that weight loss should be a significant aspect of a pain management programme for obese pain patients.