Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea: Preliminary Results of a Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial.
The aim of this trial was to investigate the effects of five consecutive sessions of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the motor cortex (M1) on pain, mood, and physical performance in patients with primary dysmenorrhea (PDM). ⋯ tDCS could provide pain relief in subjects with PDM. These results provide some preliminary evidence for the potential role of tDCS as a contributor to the management of symptoms of PDM.
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Electroencephalography During Nociceptive Stimulation in Chronic Pain Patients: A Systematic Review.
With its high temporal resolution, electroencephalography (EEG), a technique that records electrical activity of cortical neuronal cells, is a potentially suitable technique to investigate human somatosensory processing. By using EEG, the processing of (nociceptive) stimuli can be investigated, along with the functionality of the nociceptive pathway. Therefore, it can be applied in chronic pain patients to objectify whether changes have occurred in nociceptive processing. Typically, so-called event-related potential (ERP) recordings are used, where EEG signals are recorded in response to specific stimuli and characterized by latency and amplitude. ⋯ Differences in ERPs with healthy controls can mostly be found in chronic pain populations that suffer from neuropathic pain or where fiber dysfunction is present. In chronic pain populations with other etiological mechanisms, limited differences were found or agreed upon across studies.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Intravenous Paracetamol vs Intranasal Desmopressin for Renal Colic in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
To evaluate the analgesic efficacy of intranasal desmopressin alone vs intravenous paracetamol in patients referred to the emergency department with renal colic. ⋯ Our study showed that intranasal desmopressin is as effective as intravenous paracetamol for renal colic pain management; however, significant clinical reduction in pain score occurred faster with intranasal desmopressin.
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Meta Analysis
Gender Differences in Preoperative Opioid Use in Spine Surgery Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Opioids are frequently used in spine surgeries despite their adverse effects, including physical dependence and addiction. Gender difference is an important consideration for personalized treatment. There is no review assessing the prevalence of opioid use between men and women before spine surgeries. ⋯ The prevalence of opioid use before spine surgery was similar between men and women, irrespective of surgery location or study duration. More studies characterizing the pattern of opioid use between genders are still needed.
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Meta Analysis
Effectiveness of Invasive Techniques in Patients with Fibromyalgia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
To attain a synthesis of the evidence on the effectiveness of invasive techniques in patients with fibromyalgia, through systematic review and meta-analysis and by assessing the methodological quality of the studies considered. ⋯ Invasive techniques are considered effective for pain relief, as well as for producing a short-term increase in the pain pressure threshold, an improvement in quality of life, and a decrease in the impact of fibromyalgia.