Articles: pain-measurement.
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Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) is a major cause of neuropathic pain and a frequent target condition in analgesic treatment trials. Differences in the clinical symptoms and signs associated with DPN suggest distinct pathophysiological mechanisms underlying nerve damage and dysfunction that are likely to have therapeutic relevance. The aim of this study was to develop a tool for the bedside assessment of painful neuropathies such as DPN that captures the diversity of phenotypes. ⋯ We combined interview questions and physical tests identifying these differences in a shortened assessment protocol that we named Standardized Evaluation of Pain and Somatosensory Function (StEPS). The protocol StEPS generates a phenotypic profile of patients with neuropathy. Separate intensity ratings for spontaneous painful symptoms and pain evoked by standard stimuli support a detailed documentation of neuropathic pain and its response to analgesic treatment.
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Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) derived from bone marrow are associated with the repair of vascular injury by accelerating re-endothelisation, and represent a potential therapeutic target for ischaemic disease. Danhong injection (DHI), a Chinese Materia Medica standardised product extracted from Radix Salvia miltiorrhiza and Flos Carthamus tinctorius L, is effective in the treatment of ischaemic heart disease. We assessed the effect of DHI on the mobilisation of EPCs and vascular repair mediated by EPCs after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). ⋯ China National Basic Research Program (973 programme, number 2012CB518404).
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2016
Review Meta Analysis Comparative StudyDoes Propofol Anesthesia Lead to Less Postoperative Pain Compared With Inhalational Anesthesia?: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Many studies have compared propofol-based anesthesia with inhalational anesthesia. Results from several studies have shown improved postoperative analgesia after propofol anesthesia, but other studies showed contradictory results. There are no large prospective studies that compare postoperative pain after propofol versus inhalational anesthesia. This meta-analysis was designed to focus on this question. ⋯ The current results are affected by substantial heterogeneity, which makes it difficult to predict significant differences in postoperative pain control between propofol anesthesia and inhalational anesthesia. Further large, randomized controlled trials are needed to corroborate these results and to detect differences (if any) between propofol and inhalational anesthesia on postoperative pain.
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Test a miniaturized neurostimulator transforaminally placed at the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and evaluate the device's safety and efficacy in treating failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) low back pain. ⋯ The pain reduction results indicate that the Freedom-4 spinal cord stimulation (SCS) Wireless System is a viable treatment of low back pain through stimulation of the DRG, and better overall pain reduction may be achieved by implanting multiple devices. With short percutaneous implant times and excellent safety profile, this new system may offer health cost savings.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Distal Peripheral Nerve Blocks in the Forearm as an Alternative to Proximal Brachial Plexus Blockade in Patients Undergoing Hand Surgery: A Prospective and Randomized Pilot Study.
Limited data exist regarding the role of perineural blockade of the distal median, ulnar, and radial nerves as a primary anesthetic in patients undergoing hand surgery. We conducted a prospective and randomized pilot study to compare these techniques to brachial plexus blocks as a primary anesthetic in this patient population. ⋯ Therapeutic II.