Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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Diabetic neuropathic pain is associated with small fiber neuropathy. We aimed to assess the functionality of small fibers in patients with diabetes by using a practical method. ⋯ There is an unmet need to practically assess the functionality of small fibers in patients with pain. In this study, a practical and objective method that does not need special expertise for the measurement of the functional properties of small fibers by using axon-flare responses is presented. The LASCA method could potentially facilitate a practical, quick (within 5 minutes), and very early diagnosis of small fiber hypo-functionality in both patients with IGT and DNP.
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Observational Study
Opioid Overdose Risk in Patients Returning to the Emergency Department for Pain.
Using the Risk Index for Overdose or Serious Opioid-induced Respiratory Depression (CIP-RIOSORD) in patients returning to the emergency department (ED) for pain and discharged with an opioid prescription, we assessed overall opioid overdose risk and compared risk in opioid naive patients to those who are non-opioid naive. ⋯ A substantial proportion of patients (25%) were high risk for opioid overdose. CIP-RIOSORD may prove beneficial in risk stratification of patients discharged with prescription opioids from the ED.
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Endogenous pain modulation can be quantified through the use of various paradigms. Commonly used paradigms include conditioned pain modulation (CPM), offset analgesia (OA), spatial summation of pain (SSP), and temporal summation of pain (TSP), which reflect spatial and temporal aspects of pro- and antinociceptive processing. Although these paradigms are regularly used and are of high clinical relevance, the underlying physiological mechanisms are not fully understood. ⋯ A limited association between pain modulation paradigms suggests that CPM, OA, SSP, and TSP assess distinct aspects of endogenous analgesia with different underlying physiological mechanisms.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Role of VVZ-149, a Novel Analgesic Molecule, in the Affective Component of Pain: Results from an Exploratory Proof-of-Concept Study of Postoperative Pain following Laparoscopic and Robotic-Laparoscopic Gastrectomy.
VVZ-149 is a small molecule that both inhibits the glycine transporter type 2 and the serotonin receptor 5 hydroxytryptamine 2 A. In a randomized, parallel-group, and double-blind trial (NCT02844725), we investigated the analgesic efficacy and safety of VVZ-149 Injections, which is under clinical development as a single-use injectable product for treating moderate to severe postoperative pain. ⋯ VVZ-149 demonstrated effective analgesia with reduced postoperative pain and opioid requirements. Consistent with the results from the previous Phase 2 study, patients with early rescue requirement had greater benefit from VVZ-149, supporting the hypothesis that VVZ-149 may alleviate the affective component of pain and mitigate excessive use of opioids postoperatively.
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To describe differences between patients with chronic, non-cancer pain (CNCP) who were successfully able to cease full mu agonist chronic opioid analgesic therapy (COAT), and those who exhibited refractory COAT reliance, among those who participated in a multidisciplinary program designed for COAT cessation. ⋯ Results suggest that fear avoidance beliefs and behavior, as measured by the FAB, play a significant role in refractory COAT reliance for patients with CNCP.