Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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The aim of this work was to explore the expression of miR-320a level in fibromyalgia patients in comparison to healthy controls, and to clarify its impact on the severity of symptoms and the cerebral processing of pain assessed by middle latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs). ⋯ Micro-RNA-320a level is significantly upregulated in fibromyalgia patient. It has a crucial impact on the severity of symptoms but not related to the cerebral processing of pain.
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Although neuroanatomical studies correlated to fibromyalgia (FM) are gaining increasing interest, the cortical morphology of patients are largely unknown, and data on cortical gyrification are scarce. The objective of the present study is to assess the cortical morphology in female patients with FM compared with healthy controls (HC) using surface-based morphometry (SBM) analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). ⋯ Our findings provide evidence of neuroanatomical aberrations in FM patients, which may provide insight into the neuropathology of FM.
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Although there has been increasing interest in the role of systemic cytokines in chronic spinal pain (CSP), the evidence on their potential contribution is still unclear. Therefore, the current study systematically reviewed the evidence on systemic cytokine level differences between people with CSP compared to healthy controls (HCs) and the potential associations with pain severity. ⋯ Moderate evidence indicates the presence of systemic inflammation in CSP. Evidence regarding the association between pain severity and systemic cytokines is inconclusive and limited.
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Metaphor, frequently used in chronic pain, can function as a communicative tool, facilitating understanding and empathy from others. Previous research has demonstrated that specific linguistic markers exist for areas such as pain catastrophizing, mood, as well as diagnostic categories. The current study sought to examine potential associations between the types of pain metaphors used and diagnostic category, disability, and mood. ⋯ There may be specific linguistic metaphorical markers to indicate pain interference and for particular diagnoses. Appreciation of pain metaphors has potential to facilitate communication and enhance understanding in interactions between clinicians and people with chronic pain.
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Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic widespread pain condition with mixed peripheral and central contributions. Patients display hypersensitivities to a spectrum of stimuli. Patients' blunt pressure pain thresholds are typically reduced, and sometimes (∼15%) gentle brushstroke induces allodynia. However, aftersensations after these stimuli have not, to our knowledge, been reported. ⋯ Pain after blunt pressure assessment typically lingers for several days. Aftersensations after brushstroke stimulation are a previously unreported FMS phenomenon. They are associated with tactile anhedonia and might identify a clinically distinct subgroup.