Articles: neuralgia.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Offset analgesia in neuropathic pain patients and effect of treatment with morphine and ketamine.
Offset analgesia, in which a disproportionally large amount of analgesia becomes apparent upon a slight decrease in noxious heat stimulation, has not been described previously in patients with chronic pain. ⋯ These data indicate that offset analgesia is fully developed at the age of 6 yr and does not undergo additional maturation. The reduced or absent responses observed in patients with chronic neuropathic pain indicate the inability to modulate changes in pain stimulation, with perseverance of pain perception in situations in which healthy subjects display signs of strong analgesia. Both central and peripheral sites may be involved in the altered offset analgesia responses in these patients.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Randomized double-blind sham-controlled crossover study of short-term effect of percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in neuropathic pain.
Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) is an electrical neuromodulation technique that has shown its therapeutic potential in various chronic pain conditions over the past few years, but well-blinded controlled studies are lacking. ⋯ PENS therapy appears to be effective in providing short-term pain relief in chronic pain conditions. Studies, involving larger sample sizes and longer follow-up are recommended.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Immunogenicity and safety of ZOSTAVAX(®) approaching expiry potency in individuals aged ≥50 years.
Age is a major risk factor for herpes zoster (HZ) and its potential long-term complication post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). Due to the significant burden of HZ and PHN on patients' quality of life, it is vital that effective and well-tolerated vaccines are available to prevent HZ in older adults. ZOSTAVAX(®) vaccine was developed to prevent HZ and PHN in individuals ≥50 years (y) of age, and its clinical efficacy and safety have been demonstrated. ⋯ ZOSTAVAX elicits an acceptable immune response in immunocompetent individuals ≥50 y of age when stored as directed and administered during the 6 mo prior to expiration.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
[Observation of curative effect of herpes zoster treated with acupuncture based on syndrome differentiation combined with pricking and cupping].
To compare the differences of curative effects of herpes zoster treated with acupuncture based on syndrome differentiation combined with pricking and cupping and simple pricking and cupping. ⋯ For herpes zoster, acupoints selection based on syndrome differentiation combined with pricking and cupping therapy is high pertinent and effective, the postherpetic neuralgia can be reduced significantly and the curative effect is superior to that of simple pricking and cupping.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Efficacy of gabapentin enacarbil vs placebo in patients with postherpetic neuralgia and a pharmacokinetic comparison with oral gabapentin.
The efficacy of gabapentin in some patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) may be limited by suboptimal drug exposure from unpredictable and saturable absorption. Gabapentin enacarbil (GEn) was designed for absorption by high-capacity transporters expressed throughout the intestine and undergoes rapid postabsorption hydrolysis to gabapentin. GEn extended-release tablets provide sustained, dose-proportional gabapentin exposure. This study assessed the efficacy of GEn vs placebo and compared the pharmacokinetics of gabapentin after oral dosing of GEn or gabapentin in patients with PHN. ⋯ GEn was effective in providing PHN pain relief, improved gabapentin exposure compared with gabapentin capsules, and was generally safe and well tolerated in patients with PHN.