European journal of pain : EJP
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The angiotensin II (AngII) receptor subtype 2 (AT2 R) is expressed in sensory neurons and may play a role in nociception and neuronal regeneration. ⋯ AT2 R antagonists could be particularly useful in the treatment of chronic pain and hypersensitivity associated with abnormal nerve sprouting.
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Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are clinical problems involving the masticatory muscles and temporomandibular joints (TMJs). Aspects of the aetiology of TMD are controversial. Many studies have identified an association between depression and TMD. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between both maternal antenatal depression and parental depression during the offspring's childhood with TMD symptoms of the offspring during adulthood and to evaluate the effect of the offspring's own depression on this association. ⋯ The risk for TMD symptoms is not elevated in the offspring of antenatally depressed mothers. Parental depression during an offspring's childhood increases the risk of pain-related TMD symptoms in their early adulthood.
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Elevated depressive symptoms are common in youth with chronic pain, and pain symptoms are frequent in adolescents with depressive disorders. While studies have identified concurrent associations between pain and depression over time in youth, it is unclear how change in one symptom impacts change in the other symptom. ⋯ Findings extend previous adult research to an adolescent sample showing changes in pain intensity are predictive of subsequent depressive symptoms. In comparison to adult data, changes in depressive symptoms had less impact on subsequent pain in youth. Future research can examine how targeting persistent pain may also aid the treatment of depressive symptoms in adolescents.
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Persistent pain resulting from peripheral injury/inflammation is associated with altered sensitivity to cutaneous stimuli, which can manifest as hyperalgesia. The role of oxidant stress in the development, progression and maintenance of hyperalgesia is still not understood. Furthermore, there appears to be a relationship between c-Src kinase in the pain pathway and oxidative stress. ⋯ These results confirm that prooxidant-activated c-Src plays a role in initiating and maintaining hyperalgesia by regulating a stimulus-response coupling between the inflamed tissue and the DRG in the pain pathway. Our data also suggest that oxidant-induced dysregulation of c-Src/nuclear factor kappa B coupling may contribute to our understanding of the transition from acute to chronic dysfunctional pain state seen in many human diseases.
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A functional integration between the jaw and neck regions has been demonstrated during normal jaw function. The effect of masseter muscle pain on this integrated motor behaviour in man is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of induced masseter muscle pain on jaw-neck movements during a continuous jaw opening-closing task. ⋯ Experimental masseter muscle pain in humans affected integrated jaw-neck movements by increasing the neck component during continuous jaw opening-closing tasks. The findings indicate that pain can alter the strategy for jaw-neck motor control, which further underlines the functional integration between the jaw and neck regions. This altered strategy may have consequences for development of musculoskeletal pain in the jaw and neck regions.