Neuroimaging the pain network – Implications for treatment

In this chapter, we provide an overview of neuroimaging studies in chronic pain. We start with an introduction about the phenomenology of pain. In the following section, the application of functional and structural imaging techniques is shown in selected chronic pain syndromes (chronic back pain, fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), phantom limb pain, and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)), and commonalities and peculiarities of imaging correlates across different types of chronic pain are discussed. We conclude this chapter with implications for treatments, with focus on behavioral interventions, sensory and motor trainings, and mirror and motor imagery trainings.     

紫萁贯众单体成分对小鼠SIRS模型的保护作用

目的:建立小鼠全身炎症反应综合征(SIRS)模型,探索紫萁贯众醇提取物中单体成分对羟基苄叉丙酮(4-hydroxybenzylideneacetone,HBAc),3,4-二羟基苄叉丙酮(3,4-dihydroxybenzylideneacetone,DHBAc)对SIRS模型小鼠的保护作用及机制。方法:BALB/c小鼠随机分为正常组,模型组,HBAc,DHBAc低、中、高剂量(25,50,100μg·kg~(-1))组。预防给药7 d后腹腔注射脂多糖(LPS),造模5 h后检测小鼠肛温、呼吸频率、白细胞、血小板计数、白细胞分类、糖脂代谢以及肺组织炎症因子和炎症相关蛋白磷酸化情况。结果:与正常组比较,模型组小鼠腹腔注射LPS(6 mg·kg~(-1))可致小鼠呼吸频率降低(P0.05),体温明显降低(P0.01),外周血白细胞数和单核细胞百分比增加(P0.01),血小板减少(P0.01),血糖水平降低(P0.05),肺组织中白细胞介素-1β分泌增多(P0.01)。与模型组比较,HBAc,DHBAc均明显增加动物呼吸频率,升高动物体温,降低外周白细胞水平以及单核细胞百分比(P0.05,P0.01),并显著升高血糖水平(P0.05,P0.01),减少肺组织中白细胞介素-1β的分泌(P0.01)。结论:腹腔注射LPS致小鼠SIRS模型成立,HBAc,DHBAc对LPS致小鼠SIRS模型有一定的保护作用,可能通过IκB,c-JUN通路发挥抗炎作用。     

Assessment of proadrenomedullin as diagnostic or prognostic biomarker of acute appendicitis in children with acute abdominal pain

BackgroundAcute appendicitis (AA) is one of the most frequent surgical pathologies in pediatrics.ObjectivesTo investigate the utility of proadrenomedullin (pro-ADM) for the diagnosis of AA.MethodsProspective, analytical, observational, and multicenter study conducted in 6 pediatric emergency departments. Children up to 18 years of age with suspected AA were included. Clinical, epidemiological, and analytical data were collected.ResultsWe studied 285 children with an average age of 9.5 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.1–9.9). AA was diagnosed in 103 children (36.1%), with complications in 10 of them (9.7%). The mean concentration of pro-ADM (nmol/L) was higher in children with AA (0.51 nmol/L, SD 0.16) than in children with acute abdominal pain (AAP) of another etiology (0.44 nmol/L, SD 0.14; p < 0.001). This difference was greater in complicated cases compared with uncomplicated AA (0.64 nmol/L, SD 0.17 and 0.50 nmol/L, SD 0.15, respectively; p = 0.005). The areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curves were 0.66 (95% CI, 0.59–0.72) for pro-ADM, 0.70 (95% CI, 0.63–0.76) for C-reactive protein (CRP), 0.84 (95% CI, 0.79–0.89) for neutrophils, and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.79–0.89) for total leukocytes. The most reliable combination to rule out AA was CRP ≤1.25 mg/dL and pro-ADM ≤0.35 nmol/L with a sensitivity of 96% and a negative predictive value of 93%.ConclusionChildren with AA presented higher pro-ADM values than children with AAP of other etiologies, especially in cases of complicated AA. The combination of low values of pro-ADM and CRP can help to select children with low risk of AA.     

Alterations in energy consumption and plantar pressure distribution during walking in young adults with patellofemoral pain syndrome

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the alterations of walking energy expenditure and plantar pressure distribution in young adults with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS).