European journal of pain : EJP
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Comparative Study
Antinociceptive activity of the new triple reuptake inhibitor NS18283 in a mouse model of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain.
Chronic neuropathic pain can lead to anxiety and depression. Drugs that block reuptake of serotonin, norepinephrine and/or dopamine are widely used to treat depression, and have emerged as useful drugs in the treatment of neuropathic pain. This study compared the acute antinociceptive effects of NS18283, a novel triple monoamine reuptake inhibitor (MRI) with indatraline, venlafaxine and escitalopram in a mouse model of neuropathic pain. ⋯ Acute administration of drugs that enhance the activity of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine neurotransmission within nociceptive pathways may provide a broader spectrum of antinociception than dual or selective reuptake inhibitors in animal models of neuropathic pain. Whether similar observations would occur after repeated administration of such compounds in an attempt to simulate dosing in humans, or be compromised by dopaminergic-mediated adverse effects warrants further investigation.
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Maternal kangaroo care (MKC) is a naturalistic intervention that alleviates neonatal pain, and mothers are assumed to play a stress regulatory role in MKC. Yet, no MKC infant pain study has examined relationship between maternal and infant stress reactivity concurrently, or whether post-partum depression and/or anxiety (PPDA) alters maternal and neonatal stress response and the regulatory effects of MKC. ⋯ Concordance between mother and infant salivary cortisol supports the maternal stress regulatory role in MKC. MKC may have stress regulatory benefits for mothers and their preterm infants during HL independent of PPDA. Future MKC studies that target mothers with altered mood will help to build on these findings.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
A randomized controlled trial and novel mathematical analysis of the analgesic effect of oxycodone versus paracetamol orodispersible tablets.
For effective treatment of acute pain, a rapid onset of action is important. Here we quantify the antinociceptive profile of an orodispersible oxycodone tablet (OOT) in a randomized, double-blind, active comparator (paracetamol orodispersible tablet, POT), crossover study design in a population of healthy volunteers. ⋯ The analgesic effect of orodispersible oxycodone was successfully quantified using a mathematical model of analgesia evolution. This method allows quantification of a variety of responses times from sparse data sets. Response times as defined by a 30% increase in response thresholds varied significantly among end points: EPTol 15 min, PPTh 18 min and EPTh 41 min.
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Primary dysmenorrhoea (PD) is highly prevalent among women of reproductive age and it can have significant short- and long-term consequences for both women and society as a whole. Validated symptom measures are fundamental for researchers to understand women's symptom experience of PD and to test symptom interventions. The objective of this paper was to critically review the content and psychometric properties of self-report tools to measure symptoms of PD. ⋯ No single measure was found to be optimal for use, but some dysmenorrhoea-specific measures could be recommended if revised and further tested. Key issues in symptom measurement for PD are discussed. Future research needs to strengthen dysmenorrhoea-specific symptom measures by including a comprehensive list of symptoms based on the pathogenesis of PD, exploring relevant symptom dimensions beyond symptom severity (e.g., frequency, duration, symptom distress), and testing psychometric properties of the adapted tools using sound methodology and diverse samples.
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Pain catastrophizing has emerged as a highly important construct in pain research. The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) is a widely used self-report measure used to determine a person's level of pain catastrophizing, assumed to be associated with an ongoing, recalled or anticipated pain experience. In practice, instructions for self-reporting catastrophizing typically do not provide a specific pain referent, even when assessing patients with chronic pain. Researchers have noted that it is not known what type of pain participants are referring to when responding to a catastrophizing questionnaire. ⋯ The examination of pain referents while responding to a catastrophizing measure would add to our understanding of a person's pain experience and related catastrophic cognitions.