Articles: hyperalgesia.
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The exchange proteins activated by cAMP (Epacs) have been shown to play important roles in producing inflammation-induced nociception. Transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) is a major receptor processing thermal and chemosensitive nociceptive information. The role of Epacs in modulating the activity of TRPV1 has yet to be determined. ⋯ In addition, CPT increased the expression of phosphorylated PKCα (pPKCα) and membrane TRPV1 expression in DRG. Studying the colocalization of TRPV1 and pPKCα or pPKCε in DRG slices prepared from CFA-treated rats, we found that pPKCα or pPKCε expressed with TRPV1 in different-sized neurons to exert differential influences on TRPV1 activity. Thus, Epac-PKC signaling is critically important in producing inflammation-induced potentiation of TRPV1 functions.
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J Abnorm Child Psychol · Nov 2018
Randomized Controlled TrialReduction of Pain Sensitivity after Somatosensory Therapy in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often present with somatosensory dysfunction including an abnormal reactivity to tactile stimuli and altered pain perception. A therapy based on somatosensory stimuli has shown effectiveness in reducing pain sensitivity among adults with cerebral palsy. The present study aims at exploring the influence of somatosensory therapy on somatosensory parameters in children with ASD. ⋯ No changes were observed for proprioception or stereognosis. The repetitive somatosensory stimulation therapy led to a decrease of pain sensitivity and an increase of tactile sensitivity. These findings may have important research and clinical implications, as promoting early tactile interventions in children with ASD may lead to a more adequate development of somatosensory processing and less somatosensory abnormalities upon adult life.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Nov 2018
The Amelioration of Pain-Related Behavior in Mice with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury Treated with Neural Stem/Progenitor Cell Transplantation Combined with Treadmill Training.
Progress in regenerative medicine is realizing the possibility of neural regeneration and functional recovery in spinal cord injury (SCI). Recently, rehabilitation has attracted much attention with respect to the synergistic promotion of functional recovery in combination with neural stem/progenitor cell (NS/PC) transplantation, even in the chronic refractory phase of SCI. Nevertheless, sensory disturbance is one of the most prominent sequelae, even though the effects of combination or single therapies have been investigated mostly in the context of motor recovery. ⋯ Although no remarkable histological recovery was found within the lesion epicenter, changes indicating amelioration of pain were observed in the lumbar enlargement of the combination therapy group. Our results suggest that amelioration of thermal allodynia and tactile hyperalgesia can be brought about by the additive effect of NS/PC transplantation and TMT. The degree of recovery seems dependent on the distribution of damage.
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Pain is significantly impacted by the increasing epidemic of obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Our understanding of how these features impact pain is only beginning to be developed. Herein, we have investigated how small genetic differences among C57BL/6 mice from 2 different commercial vendors lead to important differences in the development of high-fat diet-induced mechanical sensitivity. ⋯ PERSPECTIVE: Obesity and the metabolic syndrome play an important role in pain. This study identifies key differences in the response to a high-fat diet among substrains of C57BL/6 mice and differences in intrinsic physical activity that may influence pain sensitivity. The results emphasize physical activity as a powerful modulator of obesity-related pain sensitivity.
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Over 25% of Persian Gulf War (PGW) veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI) (chronic health symptoms of undetermined etiology) developed gastrointestinal (GI) (diarrhea and abdominal pain) and other somatic symptoms. ⋯ Our findings show that there is widespread somatic hypersensitivity in veterans with GWI/GI symptoms that is positively correlated with abdominal pain ratings. In addition, veterans with somatic hypersensitivity that overlap have the greatest number of extraintestinal symptoms. These findings may have a translational benefit: strategies for developing more effective therapeutic agents that can reduce and/or prevent somatic and GI symptoms in veterans deployed to future military conflicts.