Articles: function.
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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.
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Critical care medicine · May 2015
Enhanced Perfusion During Advanced Life Support Improves Survival With Favorable Neurologic Function in a Porcine Model of Refractory Cardiac Arrest.
To improve the likelihood for survival with favorable neurologic function after cardiac arrest, we assessed a new advanced life support approach using active compression-decompression cardiopulmonary resuscitation plus an intrathoracic pressure regulator. ⋯ Advanced life support with active compression-decompression plus intrathoracic pressure regulator significantly improved cerebral perfusion and 24-hour survival with favorable neurologic function. These findings support further evaluation of this new advanced life support methodology in humans.
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The aim of the present study was to explore the effectiveness of an alternative method to manage pain based on a time-limited intrathecal (IT) infusion of an analgesic medication mixture. Three patients (69, 64 and 94 years of age) with intractable and poorly controlled pain due to bed sores, pelvic metastatic mass, and thoracic vertebra and rib fractures, respectively, were treated. Daily doses of opioids could not be increased due to side effects. ⋯ One patient experienced a urinary tract infection followed by sepsis and meningitis, which was cured by antibiotics. The catheter was removed in this patient. IT infusion with a low-concentration multidrug mixture could be considered as an alternative modality for intractable pain relief in older adults or in malignancies.
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Anasthesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther · May 2015
[Perioperative heart failure - Acute intraoperative heart failure].
With respect to the fact that - with the notable exception of patients undergoing cardiac surgery - only sparse data and limited guideline recommendations on optimal treatment strategies in patients with intraoperative acute heart failure are available. Consecutively it is rather difficult to make clear suggestions for the optimal treatment of this complication. ⋯ Importantly, one has to to take into account that the use of beta-mimetic drugs for the treatment of acute heart failure is increasingly recognized as an isolated mortality factor. This suggests to use inotropes as restrictive as possible, and if inotropic treatment becomes inevitable, to use levosimendan as the only inotrope that has been shown to improve mortality in several meta-analyses.