Articles: chronic.
-
Meta Analysis
Cognitive biases among those with frequent or chronic headaches or migraines: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the pattern of cognitive processing biases (ie, attentional, interpretation, and memory bias) towards headache and pain information observed in individuals with frequent or chronic headaches or migraines, compared with individuals without. We identified 11 studies (total N = 841). Most studies (10 of 11) assessed attentional bias. ⋯ Overall, the findings confirm an attentional bias for headache-related stimuli among people with headache, with some evidence for interpretation bias but equivocal evidence for a memory bias. For attentional biases, eye-tracking studies found evidence for biases in initial orienting. We provide suggestions for how to extend the current research to better understand cognitive biases in chronic headache.
-
The nociceptive flexion reflex (NFR) is a spinally mediated withdrawal response and is used as an electrophysiological marker of descending modulation of spinal nociception. Chemical and pharmacological modulation of nociceptive neurotransmission at the spinal level has been evidenced by direct effects of neurotransmitters and pharmacological agents on the NFR. Largely unexplored are, however, the effects of nonpharmacological noninvasive conservative interventions on the NFR. ⋯ Such interventions may help prevent and treat chronic pain characterized by enhanced spinal nociception. Furthermore, given the responsiveness of the NFR to conservative interventions, the NFR assessment seems to be an appropriate tool in empirical evaluations of treatment strategies. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020164495.
-
Review Meta Analysis
Long-term observational studies with cannabis-based medicines for chronic non-cancer pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis of effectiveness and safety.
This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness, tolerability and safety of cannabis-based medicines (CbMs) for chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) in long-term observational studies. ⋯ There is very low quality evidence for the long-term effectiveness (pain, sleep, mood, health-related quality of life), tolerability and safety of medical cannabis for chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) according to reports of prospective observational studies. Predefined criteria of a large magnitude of effect size in these types of studies were not met. Nevertheless, long-term medical cannabis therapy can be considered in some carefully selected and monitored patients with CNCP.
-
Meta Analysis
Potential role of blood biomarkers in patients with fibromyalgia: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex chronic pain condition. Its symptoms are nonspecific, and to date, no objective test exists to confirm FM diagnosis. Potential objective measures include the circulating levels of blood biomarkers. ⋯ Nevertheless, this systematic literature review and meta-analysis could not support the notion that these blood biomarkers are specific biomarkers of FM. Our literature review, however, revealed that these same individual biomarkers may have the potential role of identifying underlying pathologies or other conditions that often coexist with FM. Future research is needed to evaluate the potential clinical value for these biomarkers while controlling for the various confounding variables.
-
Meta Analysis
Association of Non-Obstructive Chronic Bronchitis with All-Cause Mortality: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.
The effect of nonobstructive chronic bronchitis (CB) on mortality is unclear. ⋯ Nonobstructive CB is associated with increased all-cause mortality, and this association seems to be present only in current and former smokers. Further research should investigate whether this high-risk population may benefit from early therapeutic intervention.