European journal of pain : EJP
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African Americans are reported to be more sensitive to pain than European Americans. Pain sensitivity has been shown to be genetically linked in animal models and is likely to be in humans. ⋯ Greater African ancestry was associated with higher levels of self-reported pain, although this accounted for only a minor fraction of the overall variation in the Pain Construct.
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Neuropathic pain (NP) is common in the adult population but is difficult to study in electronic health record (EHR) databases because it is a symptom rather than a pathologic diagnosis. The first step in studying NP in EHR databases is to develop methods for identifying patients with NP. The objectives of this study were to develop estimates of the prevalence of NP among patients in a primary care EHR database and describe these patients' demographic characteristics and health-care utilization. ⋯ This study represents a step towards being able to utilize EHR databases to study NP by proposing methods to identify patients with certain and probable NP in a primary care EHR database. Validation against a gold standard is the next step.
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Committed action is a relatively understudied facet of the psychological flexibility model but a potentially important process of overt behaviour in relation to chronic pain. In this study, we take a previously developed measure of committed action, the Committed Action Questionnaire (CAQ), and validate a shorter version. ⋯ The CAQ-8 appears equally adequate as the CAQ as a measure of committed action. Its development ought to facilitate further study of this process of engagement in activity and of the wider psychological flexibility model in relation to chronic pain.
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Approximately 20% of patients experience chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP) after total knee replacement (TKR). There is scope to improve assessment of CPSP after TKR, and this study aimed to develop a core outcome set. ⋯ This core outcome set serves to guide assessment of CPSP after TKR. Consistency in assessment can promote standardized reporting and facilitate comparability between studies that address a common but understudied type of CPSP.
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Synovial fluid in inflamed joint shows a drop in pH, which activates proton-gated ion channels in nociceptors. No studies have ever tried to develop and characterize acid-induced joint pain. ⋯ We developed and characterized a model of acid-induced long-lasting bilateral joint pain. Peripheral ASIC3 and spinal p-CREB played important roles for the development of hyperalgesia. This animal model gives insights into the mechanisms of joint pain, which is helpful in developing better pain treatments.