Genetic Factors Explain the Association Between Pain Catastrophizing and Chronic Widespread Pain

This study aimed to clarify whether there are shared genetic and/or environmental factors explaining the strong link between pain catastrophizing (PC) and chronic widespread pain (CWP). Data were available for N = 1,109 female twins from TwinsUK. Information on self-reported CWP and PC was subject to variance component twin analysis. Heritabilities were 40% for PC and 77% for CWP. The genetic correlation between PC and CWP was .40%, whereas no evidence of an environmental correlation could be detected (.0). According to the best-fitting additive genetic, non-shared environmental (AE) Cholesky model, an additive genetic factor loading on PC as well as CWP, as well as an additive genetic factor loading on CWP alone was found. In terms of environmental influences, 2 individual environmental factors could be identified, loading separately on PC and CWP. Overall, the results add to the knowledge on the nature of CWP and the basis of its close relationship with PC by suggesting a shared genetic etiological structure. The findings highlight a potential avenue for future research and may provide useful insight for the clinical management of pain and pain coping.

Postoperative Pain in Children: Association Between Anxiety Sensitivity,Pain Catastrophizing,and Female Caregivers' Responses to Children's Pain

This study investigated the association between anxiety sensitivity and pain catastrophizing in children, caregivers' anxiety sensitivity and catastrophizing about children's pain and responses to children's pain, pain intensity reported by children, and pain intensity estimated by caregivers. The participants were 102 children scheduled for outpatient surgery and their female caregivers. Before the operation, caregivers' catastrophizing about children's pain, children's pain catastrophizing, and their anxiety sensitivity were assessed, as well as caregivers' responses to children's pain. Pain intensity reported by children and estimated by caregivers was evaluated after the operation and 24 hours afterward. Analyses were performed via path analysis. The results indicated that children and caregivers characterized by higher levels of anxiety sensitivity reported higher levels of pain catastrophizing and catastrophic thinking about children's pain, respectively. Caregivers with higher levels of catastrophic thinking about the children's pain reported higher levels of solicitousness and higher estimations of the children's pain intensity after the operation. Higher levels of children's pain catastrophizing were associated with more frequent responses of discouragement and higher pain intensity reported after the operation. These findings highlight the relevance of catastrophizing about children's pain and children's pain catastrophizing in the experience of postoperative pain in children.PerspectivePath analysis was used to test a hypothetical model of the associations between anxiety sensitivity, catastrophizing, parental responses, and postoperative pain in children. The results highlight the association between children's and parents' pain catastrophizing and discouragement and solicitous responses and the role of anxiety sensitivity as a traitlike factor associated with catastrophizing.     

Self-Efficacy for Pain Communication Moderates the Relation Between Ambivalence Over Emotional Expression and Pain Catastrophizing Among Patients With Osteoarthritis

Pain catastrophizing (ie, the tendency to focus on and magnify pain sensations and feel helpless in the face of pain) is one of the most important and consistent psychological predictors of the pain experience. The present study examined, in 60 patients with osteoarthritis pain who were married or partnered: 1) the degree to which ambivalence over emotional expression and negative network orientation were associated with pain catastrophizing, and 2) whether self-efficacy for pain communication moderated these relations. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses revealed a significant main effect for the association between ambivalence over emotional expression and pain catastrophizing; as ambivalence over emotional expression increased, the degree of pain catastrophizing increased. In addition, the interaction between ambivalence over emotional expression and self-efficacy for pain communication was significant, such that as self-efficacy for pain communication increased, the association between ambivalence over emotional expression and pain catastrophizing became weaker. Negative network orientation was not significantly associated with pain catastrophizing. Findings suggest that higher levels of self-efficacy for pain communication may help weaken the effects of ambivalence over emotional expression on pain catastrophizing. In light of these results, patients may benefit from interventions that target pain communication processes and emotion regulation.

Associations Between Catecholaminergic and Serotonergic Genes and Persistent Breast Pain Phenotypes After Breast Cancer Surgery

Genetic variations in the catecholaminergic and serotonergic pathways may contribute to the development and severity of persistent breast pain. However, investigations of these associations are limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate for associations between breast pain phenotypes and single nucleotide polymorphisms among 15 genes involved in catecholaminergic and serotonergic neurotransmission. Women rated the presence and intensity of breast pain monthly for 6 months after breast cancer surgery. Distinct latent classes of patients were identified using growth mixture modeling. Logistic regression analyses identified significant differences between genotype or haplotype frequencies and the breast pain classes (ie, no breast pain [n?=?96] vs mild breast pain [n?=?141], moderate breast pain [n?=?46], and severe breast pain [n?=?27]). Polymorphisms in 5 genes were associated with membership in the mild pain class: ** beta-2-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) rs2400707, beta adrenergic receptor kinase 2 (ADRBK2) HapA04, 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 3A (HTR3A) rs10160548, solute-like carrier (SLC) family 6 member 2–noradrenaline transporter (SLC6A2) rs1566652, and tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) rs11179000. Polymorphisms in 3 genes were associated with membership in the moderate pain class: 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A (HTR2A) rs2296972, SLC6A2 rs17841327, and SLC6A3 rs403636. Polymorphisms in 3 genes were associated with membership in the severe pain class: COMT HPS haplotype, SLC family 6 member 2–noradrenaline transporter (SLC6A2) HapD01, and SLC family 6 member 3–noradrenaline transporter (SLC6A3) rs464049. The identification of these associations suggest possible underlying mechanisms that play a role in the development and severity of persistent breast pain.

Pain Management: Association with Patient Satisfaction among Emergency Department Patients

Background

Patient satisfaction with emergency care is associated with timeliness of care, empathy, technical competence, and information delivery. Previous studies have demonstrated inconsistent findings regarding the association between pain management and patient satisfaction.

Objectives

This study was undertaken to determine the association between pain management and patient satisfaction among Emergency Department (ED) patients presenting with acute painful conditions.

Methods

In this survey study, a standardized interview was conducted at the Emergency Department at the University of Toledo Medical Center in May–July 2011. Participants were asked to answer 18 questions pertaining to patient satisfaction. Additional data collected included demographic information, pain scores, and clinical management.

Results

Among 328 eligible participants, 289 (88%) participated. The mean triage pain score on the verbal numeric rating scale was 8.2 and the mean discharge score was 6.0. The majority of patients (52%) experienced a reduction in pain of 2 or more points. Participants received one pain medication dose (44%), two medication doses (14%), three medication doses (5%), or four medication doses (2%). Reduction in pain scores of 2 or more points was associated with a higher number of medications administered. Reduction in pain scores was associated with higher satisfaction as scored on questions of patient perceptions of adequate assessment and response to pain, and treatment of pain.

Conclusions

There was a significant association between patient satisfaction and a reduction in pain of 2 or more points and number of medications administered. Effective pain management is associated with improved patient satisfaction among ED patients with painful conditions.     

老年单、双膝痛骨关节炎患者的平衡功能及其跌倒风险对比分析

目的比较单膝痛和双膝痛骨关节炎老年患者的平衡功能特点及其跌倒风险。方法对30例老年无膝痛骨关节炎患者、30例老年单膝痛骨关节炎患者和32例老年双膝痛骨关节炎患者进行计时起立-行走测试(TUG)、静态姿势稳定性测试(PS)、动态姿势稳定极限性测试(LOS)以及动态跌倒风险测试(DFI)。结果单膝痛组TUG时间长于无膝痛组(P<0.05),双膝痛组明显长于无膝痛组(P<0.01),单、双膝痛组之间无显著性差异(P>0.05)。双膝痛组PS得分高于无膝痛组与单膝痛组(P<0.05),无膝痛组与单膝痛组之间无显著性差异(P>0.05)。双膝痛组的LOS完成时间明显长于无膝痛组和单膝痛组(P<0.01),无膝痛组与单膝痛组之间无显著性差异(P>0.05)。单、双膝痛组的DFI得分高于无膝痛组(P<0.05),双膝痛组高于单膝痛组(P<0.05)。结论老年单膝痛骨关节炎患者动态平衡功能的下降,存在高跌倒风险;老年双膝痛骨关节炎患者静态和动态平衡功能均下降,跌倒风险更高。     

癌痛止痛与护理进展

综述癌痛止痛治疗中评估疼痛的原则及方法、药物镇痛的有关知识、麻醉和神经外科技术对癌痛控制的进展,以及护理技术在癌痛控制中的应用。提出在癌痛止痛中应改变传统止痛观念,运用综合手段达到控制癌痛的目的,以提高患的生存质量。     

颞下颌关节紊乱病的MRI表现与疼痛关系的研究

[目的]研究颞下颌关节紊乱病(TMD)的MRI表现与颞下颌关节疼痛的关系,探讨MRI在TMD诊断和治疗中的价值.[方法]对30例具有疼痛主诉的TMD患者的60侧颞下颌关节(TMJ)行开、闭口冠状位和矢状位T1加权、T2加权和质子加权扫描.[结果]MRI观察到37个疼痛关节中,发现关节盘移位34个(91.9%),关节盘变形33个(89.2%),关节渗液31个(83.8%);23个非疼痛关节中,关节盘移位12个(52.2%),关节盘变形3个(13%),关节渗液1个(4.5%).经统计学分析,疼痛与关节盘移位、变形和关节渗液的出现有关系(P＜0.01).[结论]MRI能清楚显示TMJ关节盘及周围组织变化,能反映TMJ的变化与疼痛的关系,在TMD的诊断和治疗方面均具有重要价值.     

Association Between Pretreatment Sleep Disturbance and Radiation Therapy-Induced Pain in 573 Women With Breast Cancer

ContextPain can be a debilitating side effect of radiation therapy (RT). Data from the general population have shown that sleep disturbance can influence pain incidence and severity; however, less is known about this relationship in patients with breast cancer receiving RT.ObjectivesThis secondary analysis examined the association of pretreatment moderate/severe levels of sleep disturbance with subsequent RT-induced pain after adjusting for pre-RT pain.MethodsWe report on 573 female patients with breast cancer undergoing RT from a previously completed Phase II clinical trial for radiation dermatitis. Sleep disturbance, total pain, and pain subdomains—sensory pain, affective pain, and perceived pain intensity were assessed at pre-RT and post-RT. At pre-RT, patients were dichotomized into two groups: those with moderate/severe sleep disturbance (N = 85) vs. those with no/mild sleep disturbance (control; N = 488).ResultsAt pre-RT, women with moderate/severe sleep disturbance were younger, less likely to be married, more likely to have had mastectomy and chemotherapy, and more likely to have depression/anxiety disorder and fatigue than the control group (all Ps < 0.05). Generalized estimating equations model, after controlling for pre-RT pain and other covariates (e.g., trial treatment condition and covariates that were significantly correlated with post-RT pain), showed that women with moderate/severe sleep disturbance at pre-RT vs. control group had significantly higher mean post-RT total pain as well as sensory, affective, and perceived pain (effect size = 0.62, 0.60, 0.69, and 0.52, respectively; all Ps < 0.05).ConclusionThese findings suggest that moderate/severe disturbed sleep before RT is associated with increased pain from pre-to-post-RT in patients with breast cancer.     

髌股关节疼痛综合征患者的疼痛治疗

髌骨关节的异常排列和过度使用导致髌骨轨迹的滑轨是引起髌股关节疼痛的重要因素，髌股关节疼痛综合征患者的疼痛治疗正日益引起关注。本文讨论了此类患者评定疼痛的常用方法；总结疼痛的治疗方案，讨论了不同训练方案的有效性。     

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia According to the 2016 Revised Fibromyalgia Criteria in Chronic Pain Patients Referred to Multidisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation: Influence on Clinical and Experimental Pain Sensitivity

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a condition with chronic widespread pain and signs of generalized pain hypersensitivity. FM has previously been classified according to the American College of Rheumatology-1990 criteria, where the presence of hypersensitivity is estimated by a tender point examination. Because of the limitations of these classification criteria, new diagnostic criteria have been proposed, abandoning this examination. This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of FM according to the revised 2016 FM criteria in a large cohort of chronic pain patients. Pain drawings, the FM Symptom Severity Scale, and questionnaires assessing manifestations of pain, pain-related disability, and psychological distress were collected from 1,343 patients with chronic nonmalignant pain referred to a multidisciplinary pain clinic. In addition, assessments of mechanical and thermal pain sensitivity were performed in 496 of the patients. Patients fulfilling the FM criteria (n?=?498, 37%) reported significantly higher levels of pain, pain-related disability, psychological distress, and sensitivity to mechanical and heat stimuli (P?<?.05). Moreover, the proportion using opioids were significantly higher compared with patients not fulfilling the criteria (P?=?.015). Significant associations were found between heat and mechanical pain sensitivity (P?<?.001) indicating that patients who showed higher pain sensitivity to mechanical stimulation also showed higher pain sensitivity to thermal stimulation.