Articles: neuropathic-pain.
-
Up to 50% of patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) present with neuropathic pain (NP) features. We assessed the impact of NP according to DN4 (Douleurs Neuropathiques 4 questions) score on the response to intra-articular (IA) hyaluronic acid (HA) injections and the effects of HA injections on NP. ⋯ In our study, NP was associated with pain severity, but did not influence the response to IA HA. On the other hand, HA injections reduced some NP features, especially itching, sting hypoesthesia, and burning.
-
Neuropathic pain is more complex and severely affects the quality of patients' life. However, the therapeutic strategy for neuropathic pain in the clinic is still limited. Previously we have reported that electroacupuncture (EA) has an attenuating effect on neuropathic pain induced by spared nerve injury (SNI), but its potential mechanisms remain to be further elucidated. ⋯ Moreover, 2 Hz EA obviously reduced the increase of C-fiber-evoked discharges of dorsal horn WDR neurons by SNI, but exogenous BDNF (100 ng) effectively reversed the inhibitory effect of 2 Hz EA on SNI rats, resulting in a remarkable improvement of excitability of dorsal horn WDR neurons in SNI rats. Taken together, these data suggested that 2 Hz EA alleviates mechanical hypersensitivity by blocking the spinal BDNF/TrκB signaling pathway-mediated central sensitization in SNI rats. Therefore, targeting BDNF/TrκB cascade in the spinal cord may be a potential mechanism of EA against neuropathic pain.
-
Secondary analysis of health administrative databases is indispensable to enriching our understanding of health trajectories, health care utilization, and real-world risks and benefits of drugs among large populations. ⋯ In summary, the present investigation informs us about the limited amount of literature available to guide and support the use of administrative databases as valid sources of data for research on CNCP. Considering the added value of such data sources, the important research gaps identified in this innovative review provide important directions for future research. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018086402).
-
Clinical Trial
Computed Tomography-Guided Percutaneous Coblation of the Thoracic Nerve Root for Treatment of Postherpetic Neuralgia.
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is one of the most intractable pain disorders and often does not respond to medication, physical, and interventional procedures. Coblation technology has been demonstrated to have potential for neuralgia, but there are rare reports of the efficacy and security of coblation for PHN. The thoracic segment is the most common predilection part of PHN, so we conducted this long-term study to investigate the results of coblation for the treatment of thoracic PHN. ⋯ CT-guided percutaneous thoracic nerve root coblation is an effective and safe method for the treatment of thoracic PHN, and the procedure can also significantly improve the QoL in patients with PHN.