Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gillian J. Bedwell, Caron Louw, Romy Parker, Emanuel van den Broeke, Johan W. Vlaeyen, G. Lorimer Moseley, Victoria J. Madden
Summary: This study investigates how threat influences experimentally-induced secondary hyperalgesia and manipulates threat in an experimental study. However, the results show no significant impact of threat on pain, anxiety, or threat ratings.
Article
Anesthesiology
Elke Meyers, Johan W. S. Vlaeyen, Emanuel N. van den Broeke, Andreas von Leupoldt, Andrew J. Palmer, Diana M. Torta
Summary: Limited attentional resources are thought to play a role in modulating pain perception. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cognitive load on the development of long-lasting secondary hypersensitivity. The results showed that cognitive load did not reduce hypersensitivity, but pain-related fear and non-pain-related sympathetic arousal were associated with hypersensitivity.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PAIN
(2023)
Review
Polymer Science
Yt Jun Cheah, Muhamad Ramdzan Buyong, Mohd Heikal Mohd Yunus
Summary: Electrical stimulation is a promising field in wound healing, offering various mechanisms and approaches to enhance wound repair. Understanding the effects of electrical stimulation on cellular and molecular levels can improve the speed and quality of wound healing. Exploring the application and integration of electroconductive biomaterials has opened up new possibilities for modern wound dressings.
Article
Biology
Batoul Darwish, Farah Chamaa, Bassel Awada, Nada Lawand, Nayef E. Saade, Antoine G. Abou Fayad, Wassim Abou-Kheir
Summary: Urinary tract infections are associated with cognitive decline and memory deficits. The study found that UTI affects cognitive functions in rodents and leads to decreased neurogenesis in the hippocampus. Treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics did not recover neural stem cell proliferation. This suggests that UTIs may have detrimental effects on cognition through alterations in hippocampal neurogenesis.
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Anna Slysz, Katarzyna Siennicka, Ewa Kijenska-Gawronska, Tomasz Debski, Aleksandra Zolocinska, Wojciech Swieszkowski, Zygmunt Pojda
Summary: This study developed an electroconductive scaffold and customized device for in vitro study. The experiments showed that electrical stimulation did not significantly affect the viability and chromosome stability of rat adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), but slightly altered cell proliferation. The combination of the scaffold, NGF, and ES resulted in changes in cell morphology and enhancement of ASCs neuronal differentiation.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Atieh Abedin-Do, Ze Zhang, Yvan Douville, Mirelle Methot, Julien Bernatchez, Mahmoud Rouabhia
Summary: The prevalence of diabetes is increasing worldwide. This study engineered a diabetic human skin equivalent (DHSE) using fibroblasts and keratinocytes extracted from the skin of diabetic patients and demonstrated that exposure to low-intensity electrical stimulation (ES) can promote diabetic cell activity.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joseph W. Song, Hanjun Ryu, Wubin Bai, Zhaoqian Xie, Abraham Vazquez-Guardado, Khizar Nandoliya, Raudel Avila, Geumbee Lee, Zhen Song, Jihye Kim, Min-Kyu Lee, Yugang Liu, Mirae Kim, Huifeng Wang, Yixin Wu, Hong-Joon Yoon, Sung Soo Kwak, Jaeho Shin, Kyeongha Kwon, Wei Lu, Xuexian Chen, Yonggang Huang, Guillermo A. Ameer, John A. Rogers
Summary: Chronic wounds, especially those related to diabetes, pose a growing threat to public health and have significant economic impacts. Inflammation in these wounds disrupts the natural electrical signals that aid in healing, leading to slow migration of keratinocytes. This study presents a wireless, battery-free bioresorbable electrotherapy system that successfully overcomes practical engineering challenges and lack of monitoring capabilities. The system promotes accelerated wound closure by guiding epithelial migration, modulating inflammation, and promoting vasculogenesis, as demonstrated in a diabetic mouse wound model. Changes in impedance provide a means to track the healing process.
Article
Neurosciences
Daiana C. Salm, Veronica V. Horewicz, Fernanda Tanaka, Julia K. Ferreira, Bruna H. de Oliveira, Julia Maria Batista Maio, Nathalia N. Donatello, Daniela D. Ludtke, Leidiane Mazzardo-Martins, Aline R. Dutra, Josiel M. Mack, Deborah de C. H. Kunzler, Eduardo Cargnin-Ferreira, Afonso S. I. Salgado, Edsel B. Bittencourt, Gianluca Bianco, Anna Paula Piovezan, Franciane Bobinski, Ari O. O. More, Daniel F. Martins
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of percutaneous vagus nerve electrical stimulation (pVNS) on persistent inflammatory hyperalgesia. Different protocols of time, ear laterality, and frequency were tested on mice. The results showed that pVNS with random frequency in the left ear for 10 minutes had a longer lasting antihyperalgesic effect compared to classical stimulation with alternating frequency. The involvement of the FPR2/ALX receptor was observed in this effect. The study concluded that pVNS with random frequency may be an important adjunctive treatment for persistent inflammatory pain.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Ziliang Zhou, Yicheng Yang, Jia Zeng, Xiaoxin Wang, Honghai Liu
Summary: This study focuses on exploring the parametric properties of electrotactile feedback using an electrical stimulation system and innovative measurement methods. The results show that the new bisection algorithm is more robust and achieves a 50% efficiency improvement, while individual differences and sensitivities can be quantified by the sensitivity index.
IEEE SENSORS JOURNAL
(2022)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anders Deichmann Springborg, Caitlin Rae Wessel, Lars Peter Kloster Andersen, Mads Utke Werner
Summary: The contact burn injury model, primarily applied in research of drug efficacy in humans, induces consistent levels of hyperalgesia but faces challenges due to methodological inconsistencies and limited testing sensitivity. Future research is needed to enhance the sensitivity of the model for improved efficacy in testing analgesic drug response.
Article
Anesthesiology
Timothee Cayrol, Emanuel N. van den Broeke, Eve Gerard, Mira Meeus, Andre Mouraux, Nathalie Roussel, Laurent Pitance
Summary: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is a group of musculoskeletal disorders that may involve increased responsiveness of nociceptive neurons in the central nervous system. This study found that patients with chronic TMD are more likely to develop secondary mechanical hyperalgesia attributed to central sensitization. This finding contributes to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of chronic TMD.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Ritopa Das, Thinh T. Le, Benjamin Schiff, Meysam T. Chorsi, Jinyoung Park, Priscilla Lam, Andrew Kemerley, Ajayan Mannoor Supran, Amit Eshed, Ngoc Luu, Nikhil G. Menon, Tannin A. Schmidt, Hanzhang Wang, Qian Wu, Mahesh Thirunavukkarasu, Nilanjana Maulik, Thanh D. Nguyen
Summary: Electrical stimulation combined with tissue engineering techniques using a biodegradable self-charged piezoelectric PLLA nanofiber matrix can effectively promote wound healing and prevent bacterial growth. This novel approach utilizes an external ultrasound to activate the piezoelectric scaffold, generating controlled surface charges with different polarities that suppress bacterial growth and promote skin regeneration simultaneously. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate the efficacy of this multi-tasking, battery-free electrical stimulator in facilitating cell proliferation, gene expression related to wound healing, and bacterial infection prevention.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matilde Forni, Palmi Thor Thorbergsson, Jonas Thelin, Jens Schouenborg
Summary: Developed a biocompatible microelectrode cluster to provide powerful and selective analgesia in awake rats without noticeable side effects. This method had minimal impact on gait, spontaneous cortical activity, and tactile responses, indicating a highly selective action.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Zhen-Rong Zhang, Yao Wu, Wen-Jing Wang, Fang-Yong Wang
Summary: The role of GABAergic cell transplantation in improving neuropathic pain is significant, showing statistically significant improvements in allodynia and hyperalgesia. Differentiated GABAergic cells and avoiding the use of antibiotics may have a better effect in improving neuropathic pain.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Clement Medrinal, Margaux Machefert, Bouchra Lamia, Tristan Bonnevie, Francis-Edouard Gravier, Roger Hilfiker, Guillaume Prieur, Yann Combret
Summary: This study aimed to assess the impact of daily active electrical stimulation versus sham stimulation on the prevention of diaphragm dysfunction during the weaning process from mechanical ventilation. The results showed that the use of electrical stimulation did not prevent diaphragm dysfunction or improve inspiratory muscle strength. This study is of importance for mechanically ventilated patients.
Article
Anesthesiology
Mark Schnakenberg, Christian Thomas, Martin Schmelz, Roman Rukwied
Summary: The study demonstrated that NGF-induced sensitization of human skin to electrical and mechanical stimuli is primarily driven by C-nociceptors with little contribution from A-delta fibers. The less pronounced accommodation during ongoing sinusoidal stimulation suggests that NGF could facilitate axonal spike generation and conduction in primary afferent nociceptors in humans. Further studies using this sinusoidal electrical stimulation profile may allow localized assessment of skin C-nociceptors and their putative excitability changes under pathologic conditions.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PAIN
(2021)
Editorial Material
Anesthesiology
Martin Schmelz
Article
Neurosciences
Fiona Werland, Michael Hirth, Roman Rukwied, Matthias Ringkamp, Brian Turnquist, Ellen Jorum, Barbara Namer, Martin Schmelz, Otilia Obreja
Summary: Through extracellular single-fibre recordings in pigs, it was found that nerve growth factor can increase the peak following frequency specifically in sensitized mechano-insensitive nociceptors, while having minimal impact on other types of nociceptors.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2021)
Article
Anesthesiology
Kiran Kumar Bali, Jagadeesh Gandla, Daniel Rojas Rangel, Laura Castaldi, Peter Mouritzen, Nitin Agarwal, Martin Schmelz, Paul Heppenstall, Rohini Kuner
Summary: The study suggests that epigenetic modulation in the form of microRNA (miRNA) expression triggered by metabolic imbalance and nerve damage may regulate the development of pain in painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy. miR-33 and miR-380 expressed in nociceptive neurons are identified as critical factors in diabetic pain, while miR-124-1 is implicated as a mediator of physiological nociception.
Article
Anesthesiology
Fiona Werland, Roberto de Col, Michael Hirth, Brian Turnquist, Martin Schmelz, Otilia Obreja
Summary: UVB irradiation induces mechanical sensitization of primary nociceptors, contributing to primary hyperalgesia, while different responses in nociceptors and mechanosensitive neurons suggest complex mechanisms underlying abnormal pain after sunburn.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Emanuel Fryk, Josefin Olausson, Karin Mossberg, Lena Strindberg, Martin Schmelz, Helen Brogren, Li-Ming Gan, Silvano Piazza, Alessandro Provenzani, Barbara Becattini, Lars Lind, Giovanni Solinas, Per-Anders Jansson
Summary: The study suggests that in obese individuals, hyperinsulinemia is mainly caused by elevated free fatty acids, which is a significant factor in the development of insulin resistance in obesity. Additionally, obese subjects with normal glycemia do not show significant differences in lipolysis compared to lean individuals.
Letter
Anesthesiology
Martin Schmelz
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Martin Schmelz
Summary: Recent research findings challenge the traditional view of itch mechanistic theories as mutually exclusive, suggesting that a combination of factors such as neuronal specificity, temporal patterns, and spatial aspects play a role in itch sensation. Understanding the blend of these factors could provide better insights into chronic itch and improve treatment options.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Lars Kristian Lunden, Inge Petter Kleggetveit, Martin Schmelz, Ellen Jorum
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the differences in pain characteristics among subgroups of CRPS patients based on quantitative sensory testing (QST) results. Three subgroups were identified based on thermal thresholds, and the presence of thermal allodynia was associated with a higher prevalence of paroxysmal pain. The study suggests that cold allodynia may be related to hyper-excitability of superficial skin nociceptors, and small fiber degeneration alone may not explain the pain mechanism in CRPS.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF PAIN
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Manuel Pedro Pereira, Martin Schmelz, Sonja Staender
Summary: Neuropathic pruritus conditions result from damage to the nervous system, and novel findings strengthen the specificity theory of pruritus transmission. Activation of nociceptors and specific discharge patterns of primary afferents also contribute to itch development. Interactions between excitatory and inhibitory interneurons, non-neuronal cells, and descending modulation from upper centers contribute to neuronal sensitization, leading to chronic itch and accompanying phenomena.
CURRENT OPINION IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Dermatology
M. Dehghan Nayyeri, M. Missler, R. Ritterbach, B. Sundermann, N. Wulms, A. Sueer, M. Dugas, M. P. Pereira, S. Staender, M. Schmelz, B. Pfleiderer
Summary: This study found decreased functional connectivity within the DMN in patients with BRP during rest. In contrast, there were no significant differences in functional connectivity at rest between AD patients and healthy controls.
JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY AND VENEREOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Dermatology
Konstantin Agelopoulos, Lina Renkhold, Henning Wiegmann, Martin Dugas, Aysenur Suer, Claudia Zeidler, Martin Schmelz, Manuel P. Pereira, Sonja Staender
Summary: This study aimed to link gene expression, DNA methylation, and neuroanatomy in different chronic pruritis conditions. Results showed that specific signatures of gene expression and DNA methylation distinguished pruritic lesional skin from nonpruritic skin and healthy skin. Neuroanatomy analysis revealed differential branching patterns among the different conditions, indicating that chronic itching conditions are primarily caused by nerve injury and subsequent sprouting, while genuine neuropathy is expected in brachioradial pruritus.
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Martin Schmelz
Summary: Quantitative sensory testing (QST) has been optimized for diagnosing small fiber neuropathy, but current sensory phenotypes cannot successfully stratify neuropathy patients with and without pain.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF PAIN
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael Neumaier, Sophie Giesler, Volker Ast, Mathis Roemer, Timo-Daniel Voss, Eileen Reinz, Victor Costina, Martin Schmelz, Elina Nuernberg, Stefanie Nittka, Aino-Maija Leppae, Ruediger Rudolf, Andreas Trumpp, Tina Fuchs
Summary: This report introduces a new class of innate immune cells, called VIREMs, which are myeloid cells unrelated to lymphocytes. The researchers found that B-VIREMs, a subtype of VIREMs, have the ability to genetically recombine and express antibody genes, similar to B lymphocytes. They also discovered that B-VIREMs circulate in the blood of healthy individuals and undergo clonal expansion in response to disease stimuli. Live-cell imaging models suggest that B-VIREMs load their own Fc receptors with endogenous antibodies during vesicle transport. The findings suggest that these innate immune cells have important antigen-specific tissue maintenance functions.
