European journal of pain : EJP
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Patients with non-dental orofacial pain syndromes will often primarily consult general dentists and other dental specialists. Early and correct diagnosis and therapy is crucial to prevent chronification. ⋯ Interdisciplinary pain treatment seems to be well acknowledged, however, with a focus on referral within the community of dental specialists. Dental curricula and post-graduate trainings need to implement the diagnosis and treatment options of non-dental orofacial pain.
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Pain location and widespread pain are important but underexamined dimensions of paediatric pain. Body map tools to assess pain location in youth have been used for several decades, but few studies have established reliability and validity of these measures. The purpose of this study was to explore the reliability and validity of a pain body map among youth with orthopaedic conditions before surgery. ⋯ These results contribute to the limited information regarding psychometric properties of paediatric pain body maps, provide novel information about widespread pain among youth undergoing orthopaedic surgeries, and pave the way for improved assessment and treatment of paediatric pain.
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A combination of analgesic agents with different mechanisms can induce additive or synergistic analgesia. The N-type voltage-dependent calcium channel (N-VDCC) is a novel therapeutic target for pain control. In addition to providing effective pain relief when used alone, N-VDCC blockers produce synergistic analgesia when used in combination with opiates. However, the interaction between N-VDCC blockers and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) remains unclear. ⋯ Because ZC88 + ibuprofen achieves the same antinociceptive effect at lower doses, the use of this combination could result in fewer dose-related untoward effects. The potentiation of ZC88 on ibuprofen-induced antinociception indicates that N-VDCC blocker has potential benefit to treat severe inflammatory pain.
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Chronic pain conditions, especially osteoarthritis (OA), are as common in individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) as in the general elderly population, which results in detrimental impact on patient's quality of life. However, alteration in perception of pain in AD coupled with deteriorating ability to communicate pain sensations often result in under-diagnosis and inappropriate management of pain. Therefore, a better understanding of mechanisms in chronic pain processing in AD is needed. Here, we explored the development and progression of OA pain and the effect of analgesics in a transgenic mouse model of AD. ⋯ This study shows attenuated pain-like behaviour in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease due to alterations in the opioidergic system and central plasticity mechanisms of persistent pain.
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Irritable bowel and sensitive skin syndromes are common painful conditions that are poorly understood, with alterations of the peripheral (and possibly central) nervous system that lead to a lowering of perception thresholds as the main pathophysiological mechanism. ⋯ The demonstration of the association between these two syndromes can open new pathophysiological or even therapeutic pathways, since dysfunctional nerve endings and/or increased release of some neurotransmitters are likely involved.