枕小神经痛诊治及其解剖学基础

目的探讨枕小神经痛诊治的解剖学依据。方法收集门诊诊断为枕小神经痛的27例病例,采用强的松龙加局部麻药注射至神经穿出颈深筋膜的治疗方法。结果所有病例皆在注射后5~10 m in内完全止痛或仅有轻微疼痛。1周后22例痊愈,5例经第2次注射后痊愈。结论对于疑为枕小神经痛的病例,采用局部注射的治疗方法,不仅可以即时证实诊断,而且可以获得满意的治疗效果,不失为首选的治疗方法。     

枕大神经痛诊治的解剖学基础

目的 介绍枕大神经痛的诊断与局部注射的治疗方法。方法 选择门诊确诊为枕大神经痛的患者30余例，采用强的松龙混悬液加局部麻药的局部注射神经通过第二颈椎横突上方一段的治疗方法。结果 所有病例皆在注射后短时完全止痛，多数病例一周后痊愈，少数经2－3次注射后痊愈，少数病人失访。结论 对诊断明确的病例，采用强的松龙注射法，可以获得满意的效果。     

The course of the greater occipital nerve in the suboccipital region: a proposal for setting landmarks for local anesthesia in patients with occipital neuralgia

The anatomical relationships of the greater occipital nerve (GON) to the semispinalis capitis muscle (SCM) and the trapezius muscle aponeurosis (TMA) were examined to identify topographic landmarks for use in anesthetic blockade of the GON in occipital neuralgia. The course and the diameter of the GON were studied in 40 cadavers (29 females, 11 males), and the points where it pierced the SCM and the TMA were identified. The course of the GON did not differ between males and females. A left-right difference was detected in the site of the GON in the TMA region but not in the SCM region. The nerve became wider towards the periphery. This may be relevant to entrapment of the nerve in the development of occipital neuralgia. In three cases, the GON split into two branches before piercing the TMA and reunited after having passed the TMA, and it pierced the obliquus capitis inferior muscle in another three cases. The GON and the lesser occipital nerve reunited at the level of the occiput in 80% of the specimens. The occiput and the nuchal midline are useful topographic landmarks to guide anesthetic blockade of the GON for diagnosis and therapy of occipital neuralgia. The infiltration is probably best aimed at the site where the SCM is pierced by the GON.     

短时程脊髓电刺激治疗带状疱疹后遗神经痛合并爆发痛的疗效分析

目的探讨短时程脊髓电刺激(SCS)治疗带状疱疹后遗神经痛合并爆发痛的临床疗效分析。方法回顾性分析2016年4月至2019年4月我科收治的33例带状疱疹后遗神经痛合并爆发痛患者的临床资料,在治疗前、治疗后1 d、1周、2周、1个月、3个月分别采用MPQ疼痛询问量表、数字化疼痛评分(NRS)、爆发性疼痛(BTP)次数、匹兹堡睡眠质量指数(PSQI)对其进行疗效分析评估。结果MPQ量表评分显示,治疗后1 d、1周、2周与术前比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),治疗后1个月、3个月同治疗前比较,差异有极显著性统计学意义(P<0.01);治疗后1 d、1周、2周随访NRS、BTP次数及PSQI评分同治疗前比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),治疗后1个月、3个月与治疗前比较,差异有极显著性统计学意义(P<0.01),且随着随访时间的延长评分呈持续下降趋势。结论脊髓电刺激对带状疱疹后遗神经痛合并爆发痛有较好的临床镇痛疗效。     

Clinical and psychosocial correlates of post-herpetic neuralgia

Post-herpetic neuralgia is the most challenging and debilitating complication of herpes zoster in the immunocompetent host. Because the effect of treatment is disappointing once the syndrome has developed, it is important to know which factors predict post-herpetic neuralgia occurrence to facilitate selection of herpes zoster patients with a higher risk of developing neuralgia and undertake preventative strategies. The present study aimed at identifying demographic, clinical and psychosocial correlates of post-herpetic neuralgia in a sample of 219 immunocompetent patients, who were examined by dermatologists in private practice in Italy and who completed a questionnaire designed to evaluate their clinical and psychosocial profile at the time of clinical diagnosis of herpes zoster and at a follow-up visit 6 months later. In a univariate analysis, post-herpetic neuralgia was associated significantly with older age, longer duration of prodromal pain, greater acute pain intensity, greater extent of rash, presence of abnormal sensations and use of systemic antiviral therapy. Compared to the values at herpes zoster onset, at the follow-up visit patients with post-herpetic neuralgia presented with similar high mean scores of pain intensity, anxiety and depression and greatly reduced quality of life, whereas patients without neuralgia presented with improved scores. In a multivariate model, older age, greater acute pain intensity, greater extent of rash and longer duration of prodromal pain were independently associated with post-herpetic neuralgia. The results of this study may help physicians to identify patients with a higher risk of developing post-herpetic neuralgia and undertaking preventative strategies.     

Association of human leukocyte antigen with postherpetic neuralgia in Koreans

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most frequent complication of varicella‐zoster virus reactivation, is characterized by pain that persists for more than 3 months, often for years after healing of zoster rash. A few studies revealing the association of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) with PHN have been reported, but only in the Japanese. The aim of this study was to investigate the primary HLA locus associated with PHN susceptibility in Koreans. We compared HLA‐A, ‐B, ‐C, and DRB1 genotypes of 66 PHN patients with those of 54 herpes zoster (HZ) patients without developing PHN and 235 healthy controls. Frequencies of HLA‐B*13, B*44, B*15 (B75), DRB1*10:01, and DRB1*12:02 were increased, and those of HLA‐C*01, C*12, and DRB1*01:01 were decreased in PHN patients compared to those in controls (each, p < 0.05). Among these alleles, only the frequency of HLA‐B*44 was significantly increased in PHN patients compared to that in HZ patients and the change was due to HLA‐B*44:03 (PHN vs controls, p = 0.043; PHN vs HZ, p = 0.012). The results suggest that HLA‐B*44:03 or other closely linked gene of the major histocompatibility complex is associated with susceptibility to the development of PHN after HZ, but not with the onset of HZ.     

A comparative study of coping among women with fibromyalgia, neck/shoulder and back pain

Passive coping strategies for pain (e.g., eatastrophizing) have been implicated in the development and maintenance of chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia (FM). Catastrophizing may thus be independently associated with FM, controlling for pain parameters such as intensity and complexity. This cross-sectional study compared coping strategies for pain (Coping Strategies Questionnaire; CSQ) among women with FM (n = 81), neck/shoulder pain (re = 76), and back pain (re = 131). Soeiodemographics and pain parameters were also assessed. FM patients reported stronger pain intensity, higher consumption of analgesics and sedatives, and higher disability than the other patients did. They also reported higher scores for the CSQ subscales–diverting attention, eatastrophizing, praying/hoping, and pain behaviors–and lower scores for self-efficacy beliefs. Multivariate analyses controlling for relevant conifounders ruled out most differences in coping strategies between groups, with the exception of diverting attention and pain behaviors. The results indicate that passive coping is not independently related to FM, but is, rather, dependent on a more general dysfunction due to pain.     

Abnormal expression of voltage-gated sodium channels Nav1.7, Nav1.3 and Nav1.8 in trigeminal neuralgia

Voltage-gated sodium channels have been implicated in acute and chronic neuropathic pain. Among subtypes, Nav1.7 single mutations can cause congenital indifference to pain or chronic neuropathic pain syndromes, including paroxysmal ones. This channel is co-expressed with Nav1.8, which sustains the initial action potential; Nav1.3 is an embrionary channel which is expressed in neurons after injury, as in neuropathic conditions. Few studies are focused on the expression of these molecules in human tissues having chronic pain. Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is an idiopathic paroxysmal pain treated with sodium channel blockers. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of Nav1.3, Nav1.7 and Nav1.8 by RT-PCR in patients with TN, compared to controls. The gingival tissue was removed from the correspondent trigeminal area affected. We found that Nav1.7 was downregulated in TN (P=0.017) and Nav1.3 was upregulated in these patients (P=0.043). We propose a physiopathological mechanism for these findings. Besides vascular compression of TN, this disease might be also a channelopathy.     

Epileptiform activity in the somatosensory cortex of rats with trigeminal neuralgia

Laboratory of Pathophysiology of Pain, Research Institute of General Pathology and Pathological Physiology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow. Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 114, No. 8, pp. 126–128, August, 1992.     

Changes in the microcirculation in rats with experimental trigeminal neuralgia

Laboratory of Pathophysiology of Pain and Laboratory of General Pathology of the Microcirculation, Research Institute of General Pathology and Pathological Physiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 111, No. 1, pp. 9–11, January, 1991.     

Tricky typhus ticks two: A report of two sisters from North India presenting with acute respiratory distress syndrome due to scrub typhus

Scrub typhus is emerging as an important cause of acute febrile illness in Northern India. This is a report of two sisters presenting concurrently with acute respiratory distress syndrome. A diagnosis of scrub typhus was made in both the patients, and they were successfully treated with doxycycline.     

糖皮质激素注射治疗皮神经痛2332例分析

目的探讨全身各部位皮神经痛的发生率及糖皮质激素注射治疗的方法。方法回顾性分析2332例皮神经痛患者临床资料。总结各部位皮神经痛的发病率、诊断的理论基础,观察强的松龙混悬液加2%利多卡因局部注射的疗效。结果所有病例注射后数分钟完全止痛,经不完全追踪随访,1860例一周内痊愈;472例经第二次或第三次注射后痊愈。结论皮神经痛发病率高,其病因可能是在神经行程中受到相邻骨膜或穿过筋膜处受到刺激所致,可能与营养状况有关。糖皮质激素局部注射有良好疗效,其机理可能与抑制骨膜或筋膜的成纤维细胞增殖,减轻炎症卡压、消除病因有关。     

颈肩痛患者颈肩部肌肉的表面肌电图特征

背景：颈肩痛是由颈肩部软组织(主要是肌肉)的慢性劳损所引起的常见临床症状。表面肌电图是一种新型、无创的肌肉活动检查手段,能测量肌肉的活动和功能。 目的：评价颈肩疼痛患者颈肩部肌肉功能,为表面肌电图的应用和颈肩疼痛患者合理防治与康复提供理论依据。 方法：应用表面肌电图对32例单侧颈肩疼痛的办公室工作人员在站立下,进行低头、头后伸、双手上举时颈竖脊肌、斜方肌上支的表面肌电测试。在测试前,对患者的颈肩疼痛进行目测类比评分。然后根据收集的数据,比较受试者颈肩部疼痛侧与非疼痛侧测试肌肉的肌电活动。 结果与结论：测试前,受试者颈肩疼痛目测类比评分(平均分)为5.03分;受试者在低头、头后伸、双手上举过程中,其疼痛侧的颈竖脊肌、斜方肌上支的肌电原始信号较非疼痛侧的颈竖脊肌、斜方肌上支的肌电原始信号弱;疼痛侧颈竖脊肌、斜方肌上支肌电的平均振幅值与非疼痛侧相比差异有显著性意义(P < 0.05);疼痛侧颈竖脊肌、斜方肌上支肌电的平均频率斜率值与非疼痛侧相比差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05)。提示颈肩疼痛患者疼痛侧的颈肩肌肉的活动能力下降,长期坐位作业的办公室人员要定时进行颈肩部肌肉锻炼。 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：组织构建;骨细胞;软骨细胞;细胞培养;成纤维细胞;血管内皮细胞;骨质疏松;组织工程全文链接：     

An evaluation of a behavioral program for chronic pain

The current study evaluated a behavioral program for the management of chronic pain. One hundred twenty-one patients were treated. Primary pain complaints were predominantly in the low back or head/neck/face regions. Patients participated in a 4-week inpatient treatment package consisting of controlled medication reduction, physical therapy, behavioral group therapy, self-monitoring, contracting, and biofeedback/relaxation training. Several measures of verbal/nonverbal pain behavior and physical functioning were obtained over the baseline, treatment, and follow-up periods. Results showed significant reductions in analgesic medication use and verbal/nonverbal pain behavior and improvements in physical functioning, employment status, and pro-health behaviors which were maintained at 12-month follow-up.The authors wish to thank the following people for their assistance: D. Bugold, N. Flynn, A. Glavan, L. Graham, J. Henkel-Johnson, E. Martin, P. Panyan, B. Patric, K. Slack, J. Sommerfeld, K. Wahman, S. Wahman, B. Wilk, and M. Wipson. This research was supported in part by a grant from the Paul F. Dwan Foundation.     

Metformin use and the risks of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in patients with type 2 diabetes

Herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia cause substantial pain in patients. Persons with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are prone to zoster infection and postherpetic neuralgia due to compromised immunity. We conducted this study to evaluate the risks of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia between metformin users and nonusers. Propensity score matching was utilized to select 47 472 pairs of metformin users and nonusers from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2017. The Cox proportional hazards models were used for comparing the risks of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia between metformin users and nonusers in patients with T2D. Compared with no-use of metformin, the adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for metformin use in herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia were 0.70 (0.66, 0.75) and 0.510 (0.39, 0.68), respectively. A higher cumulative dose of metformin had further lower risks of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia than metformin no-use. This nationwide cohort study demonstrated that metformin use was associated with a significantly lower risk of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia than metformin no-use. Moreover, a higher cumulative dose of metformin was associated with further lower risks of these outcomes.     

No evidence of family history as a risk factor for herpes zoster in patients with post‐herpetic neuralgia

Little is known about reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus as herpes zoster in individuals with no underlying immunosuppression. Risk factors include age, sex, ethnicity, exogenous boosting of immunity from varicella contacts, underlying cell‐mediated immune disorders, mechanical trauma, psychological stress, and immunotoxin exposure. An association between herpes zoster and family history of zoster has been proposed. A case‐control study involving patients affected by post‐herpetic neuralgia, which usually follows more severe acute herpes zoster, was performed. The patients with post‐herpetic neuralgia were enrolled at the Pain Clinic of the Policlinico Tor Vergata in Rome, Italy, within 1 year from the onset of acute zoster. The controls matched for sex and age were chosen among healthy subjects without a history of herpes zoster presenting at the Internal Medicine Outpatient Clinic for hypertension in the same time period. All the participants in the study gave informed consent and were interviewed by medically trained and blinded investigators using a questionnaire. Similar proportions of the patients and the controls reported a family history of herpes zoster irrespective of the degree of relationship, i.e., 17.4% and 18.2%, respectively, by analyzing only the first‐degree relatives [RR 1.03 (CI 95%: 0.78–1.37)], and 28.4% and 29.6%, respectively, by analyzing the total number of relatives [RR 1.03 (CI 95%: 0.81–1.31)]. Further and larger prospective cohort studies are needed to ascertain whether a family history of herpes zoster is really an independent predictor of zoster in different geographical settings. J. Med. Virol. 82:1007–1011, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Clinical implications of nervus intermedius variants in patients with geniculate neuralgia: Let anatomy be the guide

Geniculate neuralgia (GN) is an uncommon, but severe, condition that is characterized by excruciating paroxysmal pain in the seventh cranial nerve's cutaneous distribution of general somatic afferent fibers carried through the nervus intermedius (NI). GN becomes a surgical disease in refractory cases of pain after exhaustive medical management. Surgical intervention in the form of microvascular decompression and nerve sectioning has been investigated with good patient outcomes. Despite this, there are limited guidelines on either technique's appropriateness in specific operative scenarios. In our 30-year experience in GNs surgical management, we have found that a detailed knowledge of the NIs anatomy, variants, and intraoperative surgical anatomic findings are the key to choosing the most appropriate intervention, and may provide the answer to why some patients fail to experience pain relief after surgery. These anatomic variants also may explain why many patients commonly do not experience side effects related to the visceral efferent and special afferent fibers after nerve sectioning.     

A case of recurrent toxocariasis presenting with urticaria

Human toxocariasis is the most prevalent helminthiasis in Korea and other industrialized countries. The clinical features of toxocariasis are diverse, according to the involved organ. Typically, Toxocara spp. infection is easily treated with 400 mg albendazole twice a day for 5 days. However, we experienced a case of recurrent toxocariasis that was refractory to this standard therapy and presented with urticaria, an uncommon symptom in toxocariasis. A 35-year-old male visited our emergency room because of abdominal pain. He had recently consumed raw cow liver (3 weeks prior to presentation). Laboratory analyses revealed eosinophilia (1,612 cells/μL) and increased total IgE (3,060 IU/mL). Chest X-ray showed multiple lung nodules in both lungs, and computed tomography revealed multiple ground-glass opacities in both lungs and multiple tiny liver abscesses. Liver biopsy revealed an eosinophilic abscess. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay findings for Toxocara antigens were positive (optical density, 2.140), leading to a diagnosis of toxocariasis. We initiated a 5-day treatment with albendazole and prednisolone; however, 6 days after completing the treatment, the patient again experienced urticaria and severe itching that could not be controlled by antihistamines or hydrocortisone cream. A second bout of eosinophilia suggested recurring toxocariasis, for which we prescribed a second round of albendazole. Despite an initial improvement in his symptoms, the patient returned after 6 weeks complaining of abdominal pain for 6 hours, which was reminiscent of his first attack; he also exhibited eosinophilia. Accordingly, albendazole was administered once more for an additional 3 weeks, and his symptoms resolved.     

Low grade intracranial meningioma presenting with pulmonary metastasis: Case report and literature review

Meningioma is a common neoplasm in the central nervous system. Even though most meningiomas tend to have a benign, indolent clinical course, metastasis can occur. We describe a case of a 59-year-old woman who presented with an incidental finding of multiple lung masses. The patient underwent a wedge lung excision, and a diagnosis of meningioma was rendered. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed an extra-axial mass with left transverse venous sinus involvement, supporting the diagnosis of metastatic meningioma to the lung. Metastatic meningioma can be a challenging diagnosis in a patient with no previous diagnosis of an intracranial lesion. Thus, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis when encountering a spindled cell proliferation with a whorled pattern and psammoma bodies. Positive immunohistochemical staining with epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and vimentin may be helpful in achieving the diagnosis.