European journal of pain : EJP
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The public release of ChatGPT in November 2022 sparked a boom and public interest in generative artificial intelligence (AI) that has led to journals and journal families hastily releasing generative AI policies, ranging from asking authors for acknowledgement or declaration to the outright banning of use. ⋯ We discuss the history and current state of AI and highlight its relevance for medical publishing and pain research. We provide guidance on how to act now to increase good scientific practice in the world of ChatGPT and call for a task force focusing on improving publishing pain research with use of generative AI.
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This experiment aimed at confirming our incidental observation that, when capsaicin is applied on the volar forearm, raising the arm to a vertical position leads to a dramatic increase in capsaicin-evoked pain and to explore possible underlying mechanisms. ⋯ Capsaicin-evoked pain can be strongly modulated by limb posture and this effect may be caused by an interplay between vascular and nociceptive systems.
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Insomnia is a highly prevalent condition that predisposes individuals to many chronic pain disorders, with most of them showing pronounced sexual dimorphism. We investigated whether experimental insomnia-like sleep disturbances (ESD) affect spontaneous pain and pain sensitivity, and whether sex modulates pain responses. ⋯ Exploration of sex as a modulator suggest that sleep disturbances amplify spontaneous pain and pressure pain sensitivity to a greater extent in females than in males, and this may contribute to females' overrepresentation and disproportionate symptom burden observed for many pain-related disorders for which insomnia is comorbid or a risk factor.
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Persistent postsurgical pain (PPSP) following thoracic surgery affects 40%-60% of patients undergoing lung resection due to malignancies. Postoperative pain-related symptoms are common, leading to limitations in activities of daily living (ADL) and deterioration in physical function, which significantly impacts quality of life. Pain-related limitations are of interest, as postsurgical pain may present as a target for intervention to improve postoperative rehabilitation. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PPSP and ADL limitations during the first 12 postoperative months after surgery for lung cancer. ⋯ Surgery remains a cornerstone in the treatment of early-stage lung cancer. Despite advances in minimally invasive techniques and rehabilitation, persisting postsurgical pain and pain-related limitations in daily activities may endure. This study investigated specifically the pain-related limitations in activities of daily living and described recovery trajectories during the first 12 postoperative months. Patients with persistent postsurgical pain experienced multiple limitations compared to pain-free patients. Although partial recovery was observed, impairments remained significant for up to 12 months after surgery.
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Geographic origin may represent a variable capable of influencing health status. This study aims to investigate the presence of differences of disease severity in Italian patients with fibromyalgia from different macro-regions. ⋯ This is the first study to demonstrate geographical origin-dependent intra-national differences in the severity of fibromyalgia. The results confirm the necessity of considering fibromyalgia within the context of the biopsychosocial model and of implementing healthcare policies targeted towards the most underserved regions.