Articles: neuralgia.
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Diabetic peripheral neuropathy affects up to half of diabetic patients. This neuronal damage leads to sensory disturbances, including allodynia and hyperalgesia. Many growth factors have been suggested as useful treatments for prevention of neurodegeneration, including the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family. ⋯ Increased transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channel activity is associated with the onset of diabetic neuropathy. VEGF-A165b also prevented hyperglycaemia-enhanced TRPA1 activity in an in vitro sensory neuronal cell line indicating a novel direct neuronal mechanism that could underlie the anti-nociceptive effect observed in vivo. These results demonstrate that in a model of Type I diabetes VEGF-A165b attenuates altered pain behaviour and prevents neuronal stress, possibly through an effect on TRPA1 activity.
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Acupuncture is being used for treatment of cancer-related symptoms in numerous settings, yet empirical evidence supporting the effects of acupuncture in this setting is lacking. Group acupuncture is an economical way to provide acupuncture to patients at a reduced cost. ⋯ The results of this study provide evidence to support the efficacy of group acupuncture for pain, neuropathy, and digestive problems in persons with cancer. A minimum of four weekly treatments may be necessary before improvements are noted. Limitations include a retrospective design, incomplete symptom evaluation, and possible response bias. Future studies of group acupuncture for cancer-related symptoms should utilize a prospective, controlled design, use validated measures to thoroughly evaluate targeted symptoms, and include a more racially and ethnically diverse sample.
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Neuropathic pain (NP) is characterized by persistent pain, tactile allodynia, or hyperalgesia. Peripheral nerve injury contributes to rapid progress of inflammatory response and simultaneously generates neuropathic pain. Hydrogen (H2) has anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis, and anti-oxidative stress effects. ⋯ H2 improved HO-1 mRNA and protein expression and activities in the process of pain. SnPP-IX reversed the inhibitory effect of H2 on hyperalgesia and allodynia and on pro-inflammatory cytokines in DRG and the spinal cord. The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of H2 were involved in the activation of HO-1/CO signaling during neuropathic pain in rats.
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Korean J Neurotrauma · Oct 2015
Case ReportsSpinal Cord Stimulation for Refractory Neuropathic Pain of Neuralgic Amyotrophy.
The aim of this paper was to report the effect of temporary and chronic spinal cord stimulation for refractory neuropathic pain in neuralgic amyotrophy (NA). A 35-year-old female presented with two-months history of a severe, relentless neuropathic pain of the left shoulder, forearm, palm, and fingers. The neuropathic pain was refractory to various medical treatments, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opiates, epidural and stellate ganglion blocks, and typically unrelenting. ⋯ Permanent stimulation was given with paddle lead. The neuropathic pain in her NA persisted and she continued using the spinal cord stimulation with 12 months after development of NA. The temporary spinal cord stimulation was effective in a patient with an extraordinary prolonged, acute painful phase of NA attack, and the subsequent chronic stimulation was also useful in achieving an adequate analgesia during the chronic phase of NA.
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To investigate the effect of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) applied proximal to the injured peripheral nerve on the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in a neuropathic pain rat model. ⋯ PRF applied proximal to the peripheral nerve injury is potentially helpful for the reduction of neuropathic pain by neuromodulation of inflammatory markers.