Articles: neuropathic-pain.
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Int J Clin Exp Patho · Jan 2013
Inhibition of GAP-43 by propentofylline in a rat model of neuropathic pain.
Neural plasticity within the spinal nociceptive network may be fundamental to the chronic nature of neuropathic pain. The relation of growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43), a protein involved in the nerve fiber growth and sprouting, to pain hypersensitivity has been investigated. Glial activation and inflammatory cytokines released by microglia and astrocytes are considered to be involved in the neural sprouting and plasticity. ⋯ Our results demonstrated that propentofylline could attenuate the CCI-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia and inhibit the astrocyte activation and production of IL-1β. GAP-43 expression was also down-regulated by intrathecal propentofylline. These findings suggest that astrocyte activation is involved in the regulation of GAP-43 expression and propentofylline might be used in the treatment of neuropathic pain.
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Background and purpose The UV-B model is an established pain model of different types of hyperalgesia in animal and human pain research. Beside the skin region of the sunburn in human volunteers pinprick hyperalgesia has been described in a large zone of non-inflamed skin adjacent to the sunburn. However, there are opposing results on the existence of pinprick hyperalgesia and most notably a controversial discussion is still on-going whether this mechanical hyperalgesia in the undamaged tissue adjacent to and at some distance from the site of inflammation is of peripheral or central origin. ⋯ Furthermore, these findings are in line with other pain models demonstrating comparable central hypersensitivity around the site of injury. Implications As for other pain models this finding provides further evidence that the UV-B model offers secondary mechanical hyperalgesia in addition to its known primary hyperalgesia. Consequently, this is a further validation for the utilisation of the UV-B model in human pain research.
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Patients with chronic pain often show disturbances in their body perception. Understanding the exact role played by pain is however complex, as confounding factors can contribute to the observed deficits in these clinical populations. To address this question, acute experimental pain was used to test the effect of lateralized pain on body perception in healthy subjects. ⋯ These opposite patterns suggest that the shift in SBM is likely to be specifically linked to the stimulation modality. It is concluded that acute experimental pain can induce an SBM shift toward the stimulated side, which might be functionally beneficial to protect the painful area of the body. Interestingly, it appears to be easier to bias SBM toward the right side, regardless of the modality and of the stimulated side.
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Background Neuropathic pain remains a significant challenge with unsatisfactory therapeutic options. Its pathogenesis may involve the neuropathic triad of neuronal, glial and immune cells. Communication between these cells is possibly perpetuated by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-signaling. ⋯ Conclusions/implications EGFR-inhibition resulted in dramatic relief of neuropathic pain. A plausible biological explanation involves the interruption of MAPK-signaling. The role of EGFR-inhibition as a target for the treatment of neuropathic pain appears promising and warrants investigation.
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Journal of pain research · Jan 2013
Economic and humanistic burden of post-trauma and post-surgical neuropathic pain among adults in the United States.
Neuropathic pain (NeP) can be chronic, debilitating, and can interfere with sleep, functioning, and emotional well being. While there are multiple causes of NeP, few studies have examined the disease burden and treatment patterns associated with post-traumatic/post-surgical (PTPS) NeP. ⋯ PTPS NeP subjects reported high pain scores, which were associated with poor health utility, sleep, mood, and function, as well as high health care resource utilization and costs. The quality of life impact and costs attributable to PTPS NeP suggest an unmet need for effective and comprehensive management.