Mol Pain
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An electrophysiological technique that can record nerve impulses from a single nerve fiber is indispensable for studying modality-specific sensory receptors such as low threshold mechanoreceptors, thermal receptors, and nociceptors. The teased-fiber single-unit recording technique has long been used to resolve impulses that are likely to be from a single nerve fiber. The teased-fiber single-unit recording technique involves tedious nerve separation procedures, causes nerve fiber impairment, and is not a true single-fiber recording method. ⋯ This new approach can record impulses from rapidly adapting mechanoreceptors (RA), slowly adapting type 1 mechanoreceptors (SA1), and slowly adapting type 2 mechanoreceptors (SA2) in these tissue preparations. We have also applied the pressure-clamped single-fiber recordings to record impulses on Aβ-fibers, Aδ-fibers, and C-fibers. The pressure-clamped single-fiber recording technique provides a new tool for sensory physiology and pain research.
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One out of seven women will develop a state of chronic postoperative pain following robot-assisted hysterectomy for endometrial cancer. Recently, metabolic studies have indicated that circulating lipids and lipoproteins could act as nociceptive modulators and thereby influence the induction and perpetuation of pain. The objectives of this explorative study were (1) to examine the preoperative serologic variations in concentrations of lipids, lipoproteins, and various low-molecular metabolites in patients with and without chronic postoperative pain after robot-assisted hysterectomy and (2) to explore if any of these serological biomarkers were predictive for development of chronic postoperative pain. ⋯ This explorative study substantiates the hypothesis that certain lipids, lipoproteins, and fatty acids are associated with chronic postoperative pain.
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Paclitaxel is an important chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of breast cancer. Paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN) is a major dose-limiting toxicity that can persist into survivorship. While not all survivors develop PIPN, for those who do, it has a substantial negative impact on their functional status and quality of life. No interventions are available to treat PIPN. In our previous studies, we identified that the HIF-1 signaling pathway (H1SP) was perturbed between breast cancer survivors with and without PIPN. Preclinical studies suggest that the H1SP is involved in the development of bortezomib-induced and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and sciatic nerve injury. The purpose of this study was to identify H1SP genes that have both differential methylation and differential gene expression between breast cancer survivors with and without PIPN. ⋯ This study is the first to evaluate for methylation in cancer survivors with chronic PIPN. The findings provide evidence that the expression of H1SP genes associated with chronic PIPN in cancer survivors may be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms and suggests genes for validation as potential therapeutic targets.