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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Randomized Controlled Trial
Fulranumab in Patients with Pain Associated with Postherpetic Neuralgia and Postraumatic Neuropathy: Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability Results from a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Phase-2 Study.
Fulranumab is an antibody that specifically neutralizes the biological activity of human nerve growth factor. This multicenter, phase-2, randomized, double-blind (DB), placebo-controlled study evaluated the analgesic efficacy and safety of fulranumab in postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and posttraumatic neuropathy (PTN) patients. ⋯ Fulranumab did not demonstrate efficacy in either PHN or PTN patients, but was generally well-tolerated in this small underpowered and abbreviated study.
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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.