J Orofac Pain
-
To examine the associations between the ethnic backgrounds of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients in the Netherlands and the level of TMD pain complaints and psychological/behavioral factors and whether these associations are influenced by socioeconomic factors. ⋯ Ethnic background of TMD patients in the Netherlands is associated with psychological factors, regardless of socioeconomic status, but not with TMD pain complaints or oral parafunctions.
-
To evaluate possible effects of the intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of either O-Tricyclo [5.2.1.0(2,6)] dec-9-yl dithiocarbonate potassium salt (D609), a potent antioxidant and inhibitor of phosphatidylcholine specific phospholipase C (PtdCho-PLC) and acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase), or the spin trap/free radical scavenger N-tert-Butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone (PBN), on mechanical allodynia induced by facial carrageenan injection in mice. ⋯ The icv injections of D609 and PBN were effective in reducing mechanical allodynia after facial carrageenan injection-induced pain. Together, the results point to a possible role of central nervous system sphingolipids and/or free radicals in orofacial pain.
-
This article presents a comprehensive review of the topic of placebos, with a special focus on placebo analgesia. It includes a discussion of how placebos work (the placebo effect) and how patients react to them (the placebo response). A literature search was performed to identify relevant literature and publications related to the topic, and a qualitative assessment of papers was undertaken based on accepted rules for scientific evidence. ⋯ Acupuncture and splint therapy can be good examples of powerful placebos in the field of TMD, and both of these are discussed in detail. Present knowledge suggests that every treatment for pain contains a placebo component, which sometimes is as powerful as the so-called "active" counterpart. While the deceptive use of placebos must be considered unethical, every health provider who is treating pain patients must be aware of this important phenomenon in order to harness its huge potential.