European journal of pain : EJP
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Crossing the hands over the midline can reduce the perceived intensity of nociceptive stimuli applied onto the hands. It remains unclear to what extent intact representation of peripersonal space influences this effect. Here we used the crossed-hands paradigm in patients with unilateral spatial neglect, a neuropsychological condition characterized by the inability to detect, attend and respond to contralesional (most often left) stimuli, and spared ability to process stimuli in the non-affected space. ⋯ We show that deficits in space representation can influence the processing of mechanical pinprick stimuli. Our results raise several questions on the mechanisms underlying these effects, which are relevant for the clinical practice.
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The aim of this study was to predict acute postsurgical pain and coping with pain following surgery based on preoperative time perspectives. Time perspective is a basic dimension of psychological time. It is a tendency to focus on a particular time area: the past, the present and the future. ⋯ Our research indicates that a preoperative past-negative time perspective is a significant predictor of acute postsurgical pain intensity and the strongest predictor of pain catastrophizing.
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Following neuropathy α2-adrenoceptor-mediated diffuse noxious inhibitory controls (DNIC), whereby a noxious conditioning stimulus inhibits the activity of spinal wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons, are abolished, and spinal 5-HT7 receptor densities are increased. Here, we manipulate spinal 5-HT content in spinal nerve ligated (SNL) animals and investigate which 5-HT receptor mediated actions predominate. ⋯ Following neuropathy enhanced spinal serotonin availability switches the predominant spinal 5-HT receptor-mediated actions but also alters noradrenergic signalling. We highlight the therapeutic complexity of SSRIs and monoamine modulators for the treatment of neuropathic pain.