Articles: neuralgia.
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Comparative Study
Comparing serum microRNA levels of acute herpes zoster patients with those of postherpetic neuralgia patients.
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is commonly defined as pain persisting for at least 3 months after acute herpes zoster (AHZ) rash presentation. About one-tenth of all acute herpes zoster patients develop PHN. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are promising biomarkers for infectious diseases; however, there has been no relationship established between circulating miRNAs and PHN to date; the aim of the present investigation was to elucidate this relationship. ⋯ A few likely participate in the nervous system and inflammatory reactions. This study is the first to show that the expression profiles of numerous miRNAs vary in the PHN process. Among these, 5 types of serum miRNAs are very likely related to PHN development.
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Biomed. Pharmacother. · Feb 2017
Diosgenin ameliorates development of neuropathic pain in diabetic rats: Involvement of oxidative stress and inflammation.
Neuropathic pain is one of the prevalent complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). Oxidative stress and inflammation are the principal determinants for its development. Pharmacological interventions targeted at alleviating or suppressing these pathways are clinically promising. ⋯ Biochemical analysis of serum samples and sciatic nerve and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) lysates showed restoration or improvement of nuclear factor-
B (NF-κB), malondialdehyde (MDA) level, activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) upon diosgenin treatment of diabetic rats. The obtained results exhibited antinociceptive potential of diosgenin in diabetic rats through lowering oxidative stress and inflammation and improving antioxidant defense system. This suggests possible therapeutic potential of diosgenin for alleviation and management of diabetic neuropathic pain. -
Clinical Trial
Change in pulse transit time in the lower extremity after lumbar sympathetic ganglion block: an early indicator of successful block.
Objective To investigate the change in pulse transit time (PTT)-time between the electrocardiographic R wave and the highest point of the corresponding plethysmographic wave-after lumbar sympathetic ganglion block (LSGB) and evaluate PTT as an indicator of successful LSGB. Methods Sixteen cases of sympathetically mediated lower extremity neuropathic pain treated with LSGB were studied. Correlations between the changes in PTT and temperature were used to identify the cutoff point indicating successful LSGB. ⋯ The dPTT5/PTT0 ratios of the Success and Failure groups were 6.46 ± 2.81% and 2.77 ± 1.72%, respectively. The dPTT5/PTT0 cutoff indicating successful LSGB, based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, was 4.23%. Conclusion PTT measurement 5 min after local anesthetic injection was an early, objective indicator of successful or failed LSGB.
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To study chronic pain and mental health profiles in patients with dry eye (DE) symptoms, comparing those with high and low levels of neuropathic ocular pain (NOP) complaints. ⋯ Consistent with a chronic overlapping pain condition, patients with DE disease with more severe NOP symptoms report more frequent and severe non-ocular functional comorbid pain disorders.
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Review Meta Analysis
Different doses of gabapentin formulations for postherpetic neuralgia: A systematical review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Gabapentin, extended-release gabapentin (gabapentin ER), and gabapentin enacarbil (GEn), play an important role in relieving pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Although previous systematic reviews have assessed the efficacy and safety of gabapentin formulations for PHN, they have failed to take formulation differences and dose differences into account. Aiming at assessing the efficacy and safety of different doses of gabapentin formulations for PHN, this study performed a systematical review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). ⋯ An increasing gabapentin dose may not provide a good pharmacological therapy, whereas it can increase the risk of adverse events. Gabapentin ER, 1800 mg/day once daily treatment is significantly effective in pain relief, following high incidence of adverse events, but twice daily treatment shows no significant differences in both efficacy and safety compared with placebo. GEn 1200 mg/day and 2400 mg/day doses are more effective and safe in treating PHN. The long-term efficacy and safety of different doses of gabapentin formulations remain to be determined.