Articles: neuropathic-pain.
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Review Meta Analysis
A systematic review and metanalysis of neuropathic pain associated with coronavirus disease 2019.
Neuropathic pain is an occasionally reported complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that has received increased attention in scientific literature. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to provide information on the frequency of neuropathic pain associated with COVID-19. ⋯ Emerging evidence supports the development of neuropathic pain as a complication of COVID-19. However, longitudinal studies enrolling consecutive patients with COVID-19 that detail the diagnostic criteria for neuropathic pain are needed to better assess the frequency of this condition.
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Review
Single-cell RNA sequencing in the context of neuropathic pain: Progress, challenges, and prospects.
Neuropathic pain, characterized by persistent or intermittent spontaneous pain as well as some unpleasant abnormal sensations, is one of the most prevalent health problems in the world. Ectopic nerve activity, central and peripheral nociceptive sensitization and many other potential mechanisms may participate in neuropathic pain. The complexity and ambiguity of neuropathic pain mechanisms result in difficulties in pain management, and existing treatment plans provide less-than-satisfactory relief. ⋯ Although scRNA-seq is a relatively new technique in the neuropathic pain field, there have been several studies based on animal models. However, because of the various differences between animals and humans, more attention should be given to translational medicine research. With the aid of scRNA-seq, researchers can further explore the mechanism of neuropathic pain to improve the clinical understanding of the diagnosis, treatment and management of neuropathic pain.
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Given that the incidence of cancer is dramatically increasing nowadays, cancer-related neuropathic pain including tumor-related and therapy-related pain gradually attracts more attention from researchers, which basically behaves as a metabolic-neuro-immune disorder with worse clinical outcomes and prognosis. Among various mechanisms of neuropathic pain, the common underlying one is the activation of inflammatory responses around the injured or affected nerve(s). Innate and adaptive immune reactions following nerve injury together contribute to the regulation of pain. ⋯ Of interest, these immune cells in tumor microenvironment exert potent functions in promoting neuropathic pain through different signaling pathways. To this end, this review mainly focuses on the contribution of different types of immune cells to cancer-related neuropathic pain, aims to provide a comprehensive summary of how these immune cells derived from the certain tumor microenvironment participate in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain. Furthermore, the clarification of roles of various immune cells in different tumor immune microenvironments associated with certain cancers under neuropathic pain states constitutes innovative biology that takes the pain field in a different direction, and thereby provides more opportunities for novel approaches for the prevention and treatment of cancer-related neuropathic pain.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Allodynia, Hyperalgesia, (Quantitative) Sensory Testing and Conditioned Pain Modulation in Patients With Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Before and After Spinal Cord Stimulation Therapy.
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic debilitating disease characterized by sensory abnormalities. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an effective therapy for CRPS, but few studies have investigated the effects of SCS therapy on sensory characteristics. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of SCS on allodynia, hyperalgesia, electrical quantitative sensory testing (QST) parameters, and conditioned pain modulation (CPM) effect. ⋯ Standard 40-Hz tonic SCS significantly reduces pain, hyperalgesia, and allodynia in patients with CRPS. These findings suggest that SCS therapy should not be withheld from patients who suffer from allodynia and hyperalgesia, which contradicts previous findings derived from retrospective analysis and animal research. ISRCTN Registry: The ISRCTN registration number for the study is ISRCTN 36655259.
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Nerve injury can induce aberrant changes in ion channels, enzymes, and cytokines/chemokines in the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs); these changes are due to or at least partly governed by transcription factors that contribute to the genesis of neuropathic pain. However, the involvement of transcription factors in neuropathic pain is poorly understood. In this study, we report that transcription factor (TF) ETS proto-oncogene 1 (ETS1) is required for the initiation and development of neuropathic pain. ⋯ Blocking this upregulation alleviated CCI-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia, with no apparent effect on locomotor function. Mimicking this upregulation results in the genesis of nociception hypersensitivity; mechanistically, nerve injury-induced ETS1 upregulation promotes the expression of histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1, a key initiator of pain) via enhancing its binding activity to the HDAC1 promotor, leading to the elevation of spinal central sensitization, as evidenced by increased expression of p-ERK1/2 and GFAP in the dorsal spinal horn. It appears that the ETS1/HDAC1 axis in DRG may have a critical role in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain, and ETS1 is a potential therapeutic target in neuropathic pain.