Articles: function.
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Pain interventionists can interrupt pain through anesthetic blockade of neural transmission to virtually any part of the body. Temporary pain relief can be achieved by the direct application of targeted anesthetic. Diagnostically, nerve blocks help identify specific pain generators, refine differential diagnosis, and disrupt the neural transmission mechanisms to stop pain generation peripherally. ⋯ This study's results support the hypothesis that a combined interventional and cognitive motivational counseling treatment program can be effective in decreasing spine pain, reducing prescription pain medication use, and improving overall quality of life in chronic spine pain patients.
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Resting-state (RS) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a relatively novel tool which explores connectivity between functionally linked, but anatomically separated, brain regions. The use of this technique has allowed the identification, at rest, of the main brain functional networks without requiring subjects to perform specific active tasks. Methodologically, several approaches can be applied for the analysis of RS fMRI, including seed-based, independent component analysis-based and/or cluster-based methods. ⋯ RS functional connectivity is generally increased in pain-processing network, whereas is decreased in pain modulatory circuits. Significant abnormalities of RS functional connectivity occur also in affective networks, the default mode network and the executive control network. These results provide a strong characterization of migraine as a brain dysfunction affecting intrinsic connectivity of brain networks, possibly reflecting the impact of long lasting pain on brain function.
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Due to a huge increase in the implantation of ventricular assist devices (VAD) over the last few years and the enormous technical advances in functional safety, a growing number of patients with VAD are discharged from hospital, who are still considered to be severely ill. This results in an increased probability of these patients interacting with emergency services where personnel are unaware of the presence of a VAD, creating anxiety and uncertainty regarding how to treat these patients. This article presents an overview of the most common problems and pitfalls regarding VADs. It also presents an algorithm for dealing with emergencies involving these patients including the diagnostics, treatment and primary transport.
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Small-fiber neuropathy (SFN) is hallmarked by degeneration of small unmyelinated peripheral nerve fibers in the skin. Traditionally, it has been considered as a pure disorder of the peripheral nervous system. Nevertheless, previous work found that dysfunction of skin nerves led to abnormal recruitment of pain-related regions, suggesting that the brain may be affected in SFN. ⋯ Moreover, the degree of reduction in functional connectivity for the ACC to the amygdala and the precuneus was linearly correlated with the severity of intraepidermal nerve fiber depletion. Our findings suggest that SFN is not a pure peripheral nervous system disorder. The pain-related brain networks tend to break into functionally independent components, with severity linked to the degree of skin nerve degeneration.
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To examine whether men and women with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) differ with respect to pain severity and functioning, pain-related beliefs, or pain-related coping. We hypothesized no significant sex differences in measures of pain and functioning, but that we would observe differences between men and women in how they view and how they cope with FMS-related pain. ⋯ The study findings suggest that women and men with FMS may think about and cope with pain somewhat differently, and may therefore benefit from different types of psychosocial pain intervention.