Pain
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Sensory neuron-specific receptors (SNSRs) belong to a large family of GPCRs, known as Mrgs (Mas-related genes), many of which are preferentially expressed in primary afferent nociceptors. Selective SNSR agonists produce pain-like behaviors in rats, showing that SNSR activation is sufficient to produce pain. However, it is unknown whether SNSR activation is necessary for pain either in the normal condition or in pathological pain states. ⋯ In contrast, a selective TRPV1 antagonist abolished heat hyperalgesia produced by an SNSR agonist, suggesting that TRPV1 receptors mediate rSNSR1-evoked responses. We also found that rSNSR1-like immunoreactivity, like TRPV1, is localized in the superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord. We propose that rSNSR1 represents a new member of the receptors expressed on chemosensitive nociceptors responsible for detecting the "inflammatory soup" of mediators generated by tissue damage.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A randomized clinical trial of a brief hypnosis intervention to control venepuncture-related pain of paediatric cancer patients.
Venepuncture for blood sampling can be a distressing experience for a considerable number of children. A prospective controlled trial was conducted to compare the efficacy of a local anaesthetic (EMLA) with a combination of EMLA with self-hypnosis in the relief of venepuncture-induced pain and anxiety in 45 paediatric cancer outpatients (age 6-16years). A secondary aim of the trial was to test whether the intervention will have a beneficial effect on parents' anxiety levels during their child's procedure. ⋯ The therapeutic benefit of the brief hypnotic intervention was maintained in the follow-up. The present findings are particularly important in that this study was a randomized, controlled trial conducted in a naturalistic medical setting. In this context, convergence of subjective and objective outcomes was reached with large effect sizes that were consistently supportive of the beneficial effects of self-hypnosis, an intervention that can be easily taught to children, is noninvasive and poses minimal risk to young patients and their parents.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Cost effectiveness of two rehabilitation programmes for neck and back pain patients: A seven year follow-up.
The cost effectiveness of work-oriented rehabilitation for persons on long-term sick leave needs to be assessed. This prospective observational study presents a follow-up seven years after rehabilitation using two different evidence-based work-oriented regimens. Individuals on sick leave for neck and back pain were referred to two rehabilitation programmes in Sweden. ⋯ The results of this study show that MPD but not OMTP achieves the goal of working life-oriented rehabilitation. A direct comparison between the rehabilitation programmes strengthened the assumption that long-term sickness absence prior to rehabilitation is associated with more days on sick leave after rehabilitation. This analysis also indicated the importance of participants' pain self-efficacy beliefs and recovery beliefs on rehabilitation outcome.