European journal of pain : EJP
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Involvement of α2 -adrenoceptors in inhibitory and facilitatory pain modulation processes.
In healthy humans, high-frequency electrical stimulation (HFS) of the forearm not only produces hyperalgesia at the site of stimulation but also reduces sensitivity to pressure-pain on the ipsilateral side of the forehead. In addition, HFS augments the ipsilateral trigeminal nociceptive blink reflex and intensifies the ipsilateral component of conditioned pain modulation. The aim of this study was to determine whether α2-adrenoceptors mediate these ipsilateral nociceptive influences. ⋯ These findings imply involvement of α2-adrenoceptors both in ipsilateral antinociceptive and pronociceptive pain modulation processes. However, a mechanism not involving α2-adrenoceptors appears to mediate analgesia in the ipsilateral forehead after HFS.
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Review Meta Analysis
What outcome measures are commonly used for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome clinical trials? A systematic review of the literature.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition, often triggered by trauma to a limb and characterized by sensory, motor, autonomic and trophic changes within the affected limb. Due to the multi-faceted nature of the condition there are a wide range of potential health outcome measures for use within CRPS related clinical trials. This aim of this systematic literature review was to identify which patient or health professional questionnaire format outcome measures have been used in CRPS specific clinical trials, and which of these have been developed specifically for use in CRPS populations. Information gained from this review will inform an international consortium project to define a Core Outcome measurement set for CRPS Clinical trials. ⋯ Currently, CRPS clinical trials use a wide range of outcome measures making the potential to synthesize evidence problematic. There is no internationally agreed core measurement set. This diversity of outcome measures demonstrates a clear need for the development of a core measurement set to be used in CRPS clinical trials.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Are there different predictors of analgesic response between antidepressants and anticonvulsants in painful diabetic neuropathy?
To investigate baseline demographics and disease characteristics as predictors of the analgesic effect of duloxetine and pregabalin on diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP). ⋯ Our analyses suggest that the efficacy of duloxetine and pregabalin for initial 8-week treatment in DPNP was consistent across examined subgroups based on demographics and disease characteristics at baseline except for the presence of mood symptoms. Duloxetine treatment appeared to be particularly beneficial in DPNP patients having no mood symptoms.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Conditioned pain modulation is not decreased after partial sleep restriction.
Sleep problems have been identified as a risk factor for several chronic pain conditions. Reduced sleep has been related to increased pain perception and it has been hypothesized that reduced pain inhibition may explain this. The aim of this study was to determine if sleep restriction (SR) affects heat pain perception and conditioned pain modulation (CPM). ⋯ The results indicate that SR leads to increased heat pain perception, but not reduced inhibitory CPM. This contradicts general assumptions on the relation between SR and the CPM effect.
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There is a predominance of chronic widespread musculoskeletal complaints (WMSC) among women. Previous studies suggest an association between hormonal factors and pain. However, it is not known whether earlier age at menarche is associated with higher prevalence of chronic WMSC. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between age at menarche and chronic WMSC. ⋯ In this cross-sectional study, there was an association between early age at menarche and chronic WMSC later in life, but the difference in absolute risk was low (3%).