European journal of pain : EJP
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Obese individuals report a higher susceptibility to chronic pain. Females are more likely to have chronic pain and excess adipose tissue. Chronic pain is associated with dysfunctional pain-modulatory mechanisms. Body composition differences may be associated with pain modulation differences in males and females. The purpose of this study was to investigate body composition (lean vs fat mass) differences and pain-modulatory functioning in healthy males and females. ⋯ Men and women exhibited similar CPM and EIH despite marked differences in body composition. Our findings suggest whole-body and limb-specific lean tissue mass and fat mass do not influence CPM and EIH in adults without chronic pain.
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Dysmenorrhoea is a prevalent pain condition that affects women of reproductive age, who are monthly exposed to this pain, usually until they reach adult age, or even after that, which can predispose them to Central Sensitization. The present study aimed to observe the association between menstrual characteristics and central sensitivity symptoms in women. ⋯ Women that suffer from dysmenorrhoea and are of higher socio-economic and educational levels may have been more propense to respond to the invitation; as such, the findings of the present study should be carefully interpreted.
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We previously established a macaque model of central post-stroke pain (CPSP) and confirmed the involvement of increased activity of the posterior insular cortex (PIC) and secondary somatosensory cortex (SII) to somatosensory stimuli in mechanical allodynia by a combination of imaging techniques with local pharmacological inactivation. However, it is unclear whether the same intervention would be effective for thermal hyperalgesia. Therefore, using the macaque model, we examined behavioural responses to thermal stimuli following pharmacological inactivation of the PIC/SII. ⋯ CPSP is caused by stroke lesions in the sensory system and characterized by mechanical allodynia or thermal hyperalgesia. Inactivation of the PIC/SII has an analgesic effect on mechanical allodynia; however, it is not clear whether the same intervention could reduce thermal hyperalgesia. Here, using the macaque model, we demonstrated that inactivation of these cortices reduces hypersensitivity to thermal stimuli. This result emphasizes that increased PIC/SII activity can contribute to abnormal pain of multiple modalities.
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Review Meta Analysis
A Meta-analysis of the Associations of Elements of the Fear-Avoidance Model of Chronic Pain with Negative Affect, Depression, Anxiety, Pain-related Disability and Pain Intensity.
Biopsychosocial conceptualizations of clinical pain conditions recognize the multi-faceted nature of pain experience and its intersection with mental health. A primary cognitive-behavioural framework is the Fear-Avoidance Model, which posits that pain catastrophizing and fear of pain (including avoidance, cognitions and physiological reactivity) are key antecedents to, and drivers of, pain intensity and disability, in addition to pain-related psychological distress. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of the magnitude of the cross-sectional association between the primary components of the Fear-Avoidance Model (pain catastrophizing, fear of pain, pain vigilance) with negative affect, anxiety, depression, pain intensity and disabilities in studies of clinical pain. ⋯ This meta-analysis reveals that, among individuals with various pain conditions, pain catastrophizing, fear of pain, and pain vigilance have medium to large associations with pain- related negative affect, anxiety, and depression, pain intensity and disability. Differences in the strength of the associations depend on the type of self-report tool used to assess fear of pain.