International journal of physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology
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Int J Physiol Pathophysiol Pharmacol · Jan 2013
The effect of topical capsaicin-induced sensitization on heat-evoked cutaneous vasomotor responses.
Brief, localized, cutaneous, non-painful thermal stimuli can evoke a transient vasomotor response, causing increased cutaneous blood flow and elevated skin temperature. The aims of this study were to investigate 1) if cutaneous sensitization by topical application of capsaicin (TRPV1 receptor agonist) can facilitate the size, duration and spatial extent of this vasomotor response and 2) if males and females respond differently. Thermal pulses (43°C for 60 seconds) were applied on left/right volar forearms of 15 age-matched males and females. ⋯ This increased blood flow extended outside the treated area up to 10 min after stimulation. After sensitization, the area under the blood flow response curves showed significantly stronger responses in females, spreading 4 cm outside the stimulation site. Cutaneous sensitizing caused prolonged and spatially expanded vasomotor responses to standardized thermal stimulation with sex specific differences.
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Int J Physiol Pathophysiol Pharmacol · Jan 2013
The UVB cutaneous inflammatory pain model: a reproducibility study in healthy volunteers.
The human ultraviolet-B (UVB) experimental pain model induces cutaneous neurogenic inflammation, involves hyperalgesia, and is widely used as a pharmacological screening pain model. ⋯ Based on sample size calculations, it is recommended to use the erythema index to assess neurogenic inflammation, and pin-prick stimulation for primary hyperalgesia for both parallel and crossover pharmacological screening studies.
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More and more cancer patients receive surgery and chronic pain control. Cell-mediated immunosuppression from surgical stress renders perioperative period a vulnerable period for tumor metastasis. Retrospective studies suggest that regional anesthesia reduces the risk of tumor metastasis and recurrence. ⋯ It will be interesting to examine the therapeutic potential of peripheral opioid antagonists against malignancy. Volatile anesthetics are organ-protective against hypoxia, however; this very protective mechanism may lead to tumor growth and poor prognosis. In this review, we examine the direct effects of anesthetics in tumor progression in hope that a thorough understanding will help to select the optimal anesthetic regimens for better outcomes in cancer patients.