Citral: A monoterpene with prophylactic and therapeutic anti-nociceptive effects in experimental models of acute and chronic pain

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Assessment of postoperative pain after unilateral mastectomy using two different surgical techniques in dogs

Background: There are few studies reporting pain and postoperative analgesia associated with mastectomy in dogs. The aim of this study was to evaluate postoperative pain after unilateral mastectomy using two different surgical techniques in the dog.Findings: Twenty female dogs were assigned (n=10/group) to undergo unilateral mastectomy using either the combination of sharp and blunt dissection (SBD) or the modified SBD (mSBD) technique, in which the mammary chain is separated from the abdominal wall entirely by blunt (hand and finger) dissection except for a small area cranial to the first gland, in a prospective, randomized, clinical trial. All dogs were premedicated with intramuscular acepromazine (0.05 mg/kg) and morphine (0.3 mg/kg). Anesthesia was induced with intravenous ketamine (5 mg/kg) and diazepam (0.25 mg/kg), and maintained with isoflurane. Subcutaneous meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg) was administered before surgery. Postoperative pain was evaluated according to the University of Melbourne pain scale (UMPS) by an observer who was blinded to the surgical technique.. Rescue analgesia was provided by the administration of intramuscular morphine (0.5 mg/kg) if pain scores were > 14 according to the UMPS. Data were analyzed using t-tests and ANOVA (P>0.05). There were no significant differences between the groups for age, weight, extubation time, and duration of surgery and anesthesia (P>0.05). There were no significant differences for postoperative pain scores between groups. Rescue analgesia was required in one dog in each group.Conclusions: The two surgical techniques produced similar surgical times, incidence of perioperative complications and postoperative pain. Multimodal analgesia is recommended for treatment of postoperative pain in dogs undergoing unilateral mastectomy.

Patient Education and Self-Care for the Management of Jaw Pain upon Awakening: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Comparing the Effectiveness of Adding Pharmacologic Treatment with Cyclobenzaprine or Tizanidine

Aims: To compare the effectiveness of adding cyclobenzaprine, tizanidine, or placebo to patient education and a self-care management program for patients with myofascial pain and specifically presenting with jaw pain upon awakening. Methods: Forty-five patients with a diagnosis of myofascial pain based on the guidelines of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain participated in this 3-week study. The subjects were randomly assigned into one of three groups: placebo group, TZA group (tizanidine 4 mg), or CYC group (cyclobenzaprine 10 mg). Patients were evaluated for changes in pain intensity, frequency, and duration by using the modified Severity Symptoms Index and changes in sleep quality with the use of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and post-hoc or nonparametric statistical tests as appropriate. Results: All three groups had a reduction in pain symptoms and improvement of sleep quality based on a comparison of pretreatment and treatment scores. However, no significant differences among the groups were observed at the posttreatment evaluation. Conclusion: The use of tizanidine or cyclobenzaprine in addition to self-care management and patient education was not more effective than placebo for the management of patients with myofascial jaw pain upon awakening.

Do people with recurrent back pain constrain spinal motion during seated horizontal and downward reaching?

Background: Although the effect of symptomatic back pain on functional movement has been investigated, changes to spinal movement patterns in essentially pain-free people with a history of recurrent back pain are largely unreported. Reaching activities, important for everyday and occupational function, often present problems to such people, but have not been considered in this population. The purpose of this study was to compare the amplitude and timing of spinal and hip motions during two, seated reaching activities in people with and without a history of recurrent low back pain (RLBP).Methods: Spinal and hip motions during reaching downward and across the body, in both directions, were tracked using electromagnetic sensors. Analyses were conducted to explore the amplitudes, velocities and timings of 3D segmental movements and to compare controls with subjects with recurrent, but asymptomatic lumbar or lumbosacral pain.Findings: We detected significant differences in the amplitude and timing of movement in the lower thoracic region, with the RLBP group restricting movement and demonstrating compensatory increased motion at the hip. The lumbar region displayed no significant between-group differences. The order in which the spinal segments achieved peak velocity in cross-reaching was reversed in RLBP compared to controls, with lumbar motion leading in controls and lagging in RLBP.Interpretation: Subjects with a history of RLBP show a number of altered kinematic features during reaching activities which are not related to the presence or intensity of pain, but which suggest adaptive changes to movement control. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Strength gain through eccentric isotonic training without changes in clinical signs or blood markers

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

IB4(+) and TRPV1(+) sensory neurons mediate pain but not proliferation in a mouse model of squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Cancer pain severely limits function and significantly reduces quality of life. Subtypes of sensory neurons involved in cancer pain and proliferation are not clear.Methods: We produced a cancer model by inoculating human oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells into the hind paw of athymic mice. We quantified mechanical and thermal nociception using the paw withdrawal assays. Neurotoxins isolectin B4-saporin (IB4-SAP), or capsaicin was injected intrathecally to selectively ablate IB4(+) neurons or TRPV1(+) neurons, respectively. JNJ-17203212, a TRPV1 antagonist, was also injected intrathecally. TRPV1 protein expression in the spinal cord was quantified with western blot. Paw volume was measured by a plethysmometer and was used as an index for tumor size. Ki-67 immunostaining in mouse paw sections was performed to evaluate cancer proliferation in situ.Results: We showed that mice with SCC exhibited both mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity. Selective ablation of IB4(+) neurons by IB4-SAP decreased mechanical allodynia in mice with SCC. Selective ablation of TRPV1(+) neurons by intrathecal capsaicin injection, or TRPV1 antagonism by JNJ-17203212 in the IB4-SAP treated mice completely reversed SCC-induced thermal hyperalgesia, without affecting mechanical allodynia. Furthermore, TRPV1 protein expression was increased in the spinal cord of SCC mice compared to normal mice. Neither removal of IB4(+) or TRPV1(+) neurons affected SCC proliferation.Conclusions: We show in a mouse model that IB4(+) neurons play an important role in cancer-induced mechanical allodynia, while TRPV1 mediates cancer-induced thermal hyperalgesia. Characterization of the sensory fiber subtypes responsible for cancer pain could lead to the development of targeted therapeutics.

Adherence to statin treatment and associated factors in female users from the Unified Health System (SUS)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Comparison of pain threshold and duration of pain perception in men and women of different ages

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ganho de força e função em idosos por treino isométrico com e sem resposta visual

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Prevalence and severity of orofacial pain in pregnant women

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Envenomation by caterpillars (erucism): proposal for simple pain relief treatment

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Relação entre postura, queixa dolorosa e lesão em bailarinas clássicas

Introduction: Due to the high recurrence of pain complaints and the increasing incidence of musculoskeletal injuries and postural changes in dance practice, researches related to this issue gained greater importance in scientific community. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate complaints and pain threshold, postural misalignments and the incidence of injuries in dancers noting if there is a relationship between these variables. Method: Participants were 15 ballet dancers in Marília - SP. We used photogrammetry for postural analysis, the McGill Pain Questionnaire for pain location of the volunteer, algometry pressure for measuring the threshold of pain perception and Referred Morbidity to verify and characterize the incidence of injuries this population. In the data analysis we use to percentage to quantify the data from questionnaires and Pearson correlation test angles of photogrammetry correlating with the values of the threshold of pain perception. Results: 73.33% of dancers reported to have suffered some kind of injury in the last year. The area of greatest pain complaint checked at McGill, was the region of the foot (73.30%). Conclusion: There was an agreement between regions of injury and pain, however, there wasn’t a correlation between the threshold of pain tolerance and postural angles.

Influência do programa Escola da Coluna em agentes comunitários

Introduction: Low back pain is characterized as a musculoskeletal disorder responsible for loss of productivity and high absenteeism of the affected individuals. Objectives: To analyze the effects of short-and long-term program of health education and therapeutic exercise in relation to quality of life, flexibility and pain intensity of community agents in Marilia city, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Methods: A total of 17 women community workers (40.29+9.97 years) were analysed. Evaluations were made in relation to quality of life, flexibility and intensity of pain before, immediately and 30 weeks after the intervention. Results: We observe the positive results of programs in six domains of quality of life questionnaire and flexibility in the short-and long-term (p<0.005). The intensity of pain showed significant reduction only in the short-term. Conclusion: The methodology used was able to improve the quality of life, flexibility and reduce pain intensity of community agents.

Bruxismo do sono e disfunção temporomandibular: avaliação clínica e polissonográfica

O objetivo deste estudo foi buscar um melhor entendimento sobre a dor músculo-esquelética crônica da face e sua relação com o bruxismo do sono. Quarenta pacientes foram avaliados de acordo com o Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders: Grupo A - 20 pacientes com DTM, com média de idade de 32,7 anos e duração média da dor de 4,37 anos; Grupo B - 20 pacientes sem DTM, com média de idade de 30,8 anos. As variáveis do sono e do bruxismo foram avaliadas em exame polissonográfico. As características clínicas foram estatisticamente diferentes entre os dois grupos: o grupo A apresentou maior freqüência de auto-relato de dor matinal (p=0,0113) e estalido articular (p=0,0269), maior grau de sintomas físicos não específicos (p=0,001) e de limitações da função mandibular (p=0,001). Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa para as variáveis do bruxismo: número de episódios de bruxismo por hora, número de surtos por episódio e por hora, duração total, porcentagem em cada estágio do sono, tipo e amplitude dos episódios. A arquitetura do sono mostrou-se dentro dos parâmetros de normalidade, sem nenhuma diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os dois grupos. Conclusões: as características clínicas dos pacientes com bruxismo do sono, com e sem DTM, são diferentes, mas as características do sono e do bruxismo são similares. Mais estudos são necessários para esclarecer as razões pelas quais alguns pacientes com bruxismo do sono desenvolvem dor milfascial crônica e outros não.