European journal of pain : EJP
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This systematic review synthesized evidence from European neck and low back pain (NLBP) clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) to identify recommended treatment options for use across Europe. ⋯ Consensus regarding evidence-based treatment recommendations for patients with neck and low back pain (NLBP) from recent European clinical practice guidelines identifies a wide range of predominantly non-pharmacological treatment options. This includes options potentially applicable to all patients with NLBP and those applicable to only specific patient subgroups. Future work within our Back-UP research team will transfer these evidence-based treatment options to an accessible clinician decision support tool for first contact clinicians.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Dexmedetomidine versus Clonidine Adjuvants to Levobupivacaine for Ultrasound-Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Pediatric Laparoscopic Orchiopexy: Randomized, Double-Blind Study.
Laparoscopic surgeries are associated with less postoperative pain and adverse events compared to open procedures. But, it still reduces the quality of life in children. Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is used to reduce pain. We hypothesized that dexmedetomidine or clonidine could improve the analgesic profile of levobupivacaine to the same extent during TAP block in children. ⋯ Clonidine can alternate dexmedetomidine during TAP block with local anesthetics for pediatrics laparoscopies. Both can lead to better postoperative analgesic profiles. Clonidine may be preferred, especially in our developing regions, because of its easy availability and lower cost than that of dexmedetomidine.
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Throughout the last decade, research has uncovered associations between pain and epigenetic alterations caused by environmental factors. Specifically, studies have demonstrated correlations between pain conditions and altered DNA methylation patterns. Thus, DNA methylation has been revealed as a possible modulator or contributor to pain conditions, providing a potential therapeutic target for treatment by DNA methylation modification. To develop such treatments, it is necessary to clarify a wide number of aspects on how DNA methylation affects pain perception; first and foremost, the temporal dynamics. The objective of the present review is to provide an overview of current knowledge on temporal dynamics of DNA methylation in response to pain, and to investigate if a timeframe can be established based on the data of currently published studies. ⋯ No timeframe can currently be made for the DNA methylation response to pain in any of the reviewed conditions, highlighting an important focus area for future research.
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Although studied in a few randomized controlled trials, the efficacy of medical cannabis (MC) for chronic pain remains controversial. Using an alternative approach, this multicentre, questionnaire-based prospective cohort was aimed to assess the long-term effects of MC on chronic pain of various aetiologies and to identify predictors for MC treatment success. ⋯ This prospective study provides further evidence for the effects of MC on chronic pain and related symptoms, demonstrating an overall mild-to-modest long-term improvement of the tested measures and identifying possible predictors for treatment success.
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Intradermal injection of 1 µg nerve growth factor (NGF) causes sustained nociceptor sensitization. Slowly depolarizing electrical current preferentially activates C-nociceptors. ⋯ The application of novel slowly depolarizing electrical stimuli demonstrated a predominant C-nociceptor sensitization in NGF-treated skin. Increased pain ratings, larger axon reflex erythema and less accommodation of C-fibres to ongoing sinusoidal stimulation all indicated an enhanced nociceptor discharge after NGF. A-fibre conduction block had little effect on electrical and mechanical hyperalgesia skin in NGF-treated compared to NaCl-treated skin. This electrical stimulus profile may be applicable for patients with chronic inflammatory pain, allowing localized assessment of skin C-nociceptors and their putative excitability changes under pathologic conditions.