European journal of pain : EJP
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To study the associations of sociodemographic factors, working conditions, lifestyle and previous pain in the spine with new onset chronic neck pain (NP). ⋯ We found potentially modifiable predictors of chronic NP among employees: workplace bullying, sleep problems, and high body mass index in women, and work-related emotional exhaustion in men. In both genders, previous acute NP and chronic LBP were predictive of chronic NP.
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Pain markedly activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and increases plasma corticosterone release interfering significantly with nociceptive behaviour as well as the mechanism of action of analgesic drugs. ⋯ Our data indicate that HPA axis activation in acute and chronic pain models is time dependent and may be dissociated from evoked hyperalgesia. Therefore, HPA-axis activation represents an important variable to be considered when designing experimental assays of persistent pain as well as for interpretation of data.
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The effect of catechol-O-methyltransferase polymorphisms on pain is modified by depressive symptoms.
Variations within the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene have been associated with pain severity in temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). Psychological factors such as personal conflicts, life stress and depression, are well known to be associated with onset, severity and chronicity of pain disorders. ⋯ Our results indicate that variants within the COMT gene are associated with pain perception. However, this association is highly moderated by the absence or presence of lifetime depressive symptoms.
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Comparative Study
Assessing carrageenan-induced locomotor activity impairment in rats: comparison with evoked endpoint of acute inflammatory pain.
Most animal models currently used to evaluate antinociceptive efficacy of analgesics rely on the assessment of evoked pain behaviours as primary endpoints. ⋯ The results presented here demonstrate that CLAIM provides an objective assessment of non-evoked pain behaviours for acute inflammatory pain. The pharmacological profile of standard analgesics supports that CLAIM model can be used to identify agents to treat acute inflammatory pain in the clinic.