Article
Clinical Neurology
Howard J. M. Warren, Gabriela Ioachim, Jocelyn M. Powers, Patrick W. Stroman
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the utility of data-driven analyses of fMRT data in examining pain processing in FM patients, compared to conventional model-driven approaches. The results showed that data-driven analyses identified significant group differences in pain processing that traditional model-driven analyses did not, suggesting that data-driven approaches can enhance the understanding of pain processing in both healthy controls and clinical populations.
JOURNAL OF PAIN RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Dries S. Martens, Charlotte Van der Stukken, Catherine Derom, Evert Thiery, Esm Ee M. Bijnens, Tim S. Nawrot
Summary: The study found that there is a correlation between telomere length at birth and later in life in both children and adults. The ranking of telomere length tends to be stable over time, indicating the importance of understanding the initial setting of newborn telomere length and its significance for later life. Additionally, longer maternal telomere length is associated with lower telomere attrition in the next generation.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tina Levstek, Katarina Trebusak Podkrajsek
Summary: Telomeres are dynamic DNA nucleoprotein structures located at the end of chromosomes that maintain genomic stability. Shortened telomeres contribute to cellular senescence and degenerative diseases such as chronic kidney diseases (CKDs). Oxidative stress also accelerates telomere shortening. This review examines the association between telomere length and CKDs, particularly in patients receiving kidney replacement therapy. Understanding the relationship between telomere attrition and kidney disease can contribute to new strategies for managing CKDs.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Justyna Swidrak, Ana Arias, Edgar Rodriguez de la Calle, Antonio Collado Cruz, Maria V. Sanchez-Vives
Summary: Chronic pain alters bodily perception and affects the ownership of a body. The study examined whether women with fibromyalgia are receptive to virtual bodily illusions and what factors influence this experience. The findings showed that patients with FM can experience virtual embodiment and their reactions vary depending on affective responses, cognitive body distortions, and symptom intensity. It is important to consider individual differences among patients in future VR-based interventions.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Jessica A. Bernard
Summary: With the growing population of older adults, understanding brain and cognitive aging, especially the role of the cerebellum, is crucial. Integrating the cerebellum into models of cognitive aging is a significant step forward and could enhance our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Jessica A. Peterson, Alisa Johnson, Chavier Laffitte Nordarse, Zhiguang Huo, James Cole, Roger B. Fillingim, Yenisel Cruz-Almeida
Summary: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between physical performance and brain aging in individuals with knee pain and investigate whether pain and physical performance are mediated by brain aging. The results showed that brain aging significantly mediated the relationships between walking and knee pain impact, walking and pain-severity, total SPPB score and knee pain impact, and total SPPB scores and pain-severity. The study suggests that brain aging prediction can be calculated from shorter MRI sequences and potentially used to identify knee pain patients at risk for accelerated brain atrophy and increased disability.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hannah Froy, Sarah L. Underwood, Jennifer Dorrens, Luise A. Seeker, Kathryn Watt, Rachael V. Wilbourn, Jill G. Pilkington, Lea Harrington, Josephine M. Pemberton, Daniel H. Nussey
Summary: The study found that in wild Soay sheep, there was no significant association between telomere length and subsequent survival, suggesting that telomere length is not an important marker of biological aging or exposure to environmental stress in this study system. Instead, individual differences in average telomere length were associated with increased lifespan, indicating a genetic basis for this correlation.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anthony Lagnado, Jack Leslie, Marie-Helene Ruchaud-Sparagano, Stella Victorelli, Petra Hirsova, Mikolaj Ogrodnik, Amy L. Collins, Maria Grazia Vizioli, Leena Habiballa, Gabriele Saretzki, Shane A. Evans, Hanna Salmonowicz, Adam Hruby, Daniel Geh, Kevin D. Pavelko, David Dolan, Helen L. Reeves, Sushma Grellscheid, Colin H. Wilson, Sanjay Pandanaboyana, Madison Doolittle, Thomas von Zglinicki, Fiona Oakley, Suchira Gallage, Caroline L. Wilson, Jodie Birch, Bernadette Carroll, James Chapman, Mathias Heikenwalder, Nicola Neretti, Sundeep Khosla, Claudio Akio Masuda, Tamar Tchkonia, James L. Kirkland, Diana Jurk, Derek A. Mann, Joao F. Passos
Summary: The research shows that neutrophils cause oxidative damage to telomeres in non-immune cells, promoting cellular senescence. In aged liver, senescent cells recruit neutrophils, potentially leading to the spread of senescence.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Li Ping Wong, Haridah Alias, Kit Mun Tan, Pooi Fong Wong, Dharmani Devi Murugan, Zhijian Hu, Yulan Lin
Summary: Targeting cellular senescence with drug candidates for age-related comorbidities has attracted widespread interest. This study aimed to gather insights from experts in the pharmaceutical and healthcare field regarding the potential and challenges of translating senolytic drugs for treatment of vascular aging-related disorders.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Gary Z. Yu, Maria Ly, Helmet T. Karim, Nishita Muppidi, Howard J. Aizenstein, James W. Ibinson
Summary: Chronic low back pain is associated with accelerated aging in the brain, leading to cognitive impairments. This study used machine-learning estimated brain age as a metric to assess morphometric changes in CLBP patients. The results indicated that CLBP individuals had a brain age closer to older individuals, with lower gray matter density in various brain regions, and a stronger association between brain age and aging, particularly in later life.
Article
Cell Biology
Abraham Aviv
Summary: Approximately 25 trillion erythrocytes circulate in the bloodstream of an adult human, outnumbering leukocytes by a factor of about 1000. The turnover rate of erythrocytes accounts for approximately 76% of the turnover rate of all circulating blood cells. Therefore, erythropoiesis is the main factor causing telomere shortening in hematopoietic cells, which has significant implications for understanding the relationship between telomere length dynamics, health, and lifespan in modern humans.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Anastasis Georgoulas, Laura Jones, Maria Pureza Laudiano-Dray, Judith Meek, Lorenzo Fabrizi, Kimberley Whitehead
Summary: In this study of 175 infants, unique regulation of sleep-wake states was observed, with particularly long durations of active sleep. Stress and nociception were found to impact sleep durations, especially in preterm infants, highlighting the importance of environmental interventions in promoting healthy sleep patterns.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lingxia Wang, Xixi Zhang, Haiwei Zhang, Kaili Lu, Ming Li, Xiaoming Li, Yangjing Ou, Xiaoming Zhao, Xiaoxia Wu, Xuanhui Wu, Jianling Liu, Mingyan Xing, Han Liu, Yue Zhang, Yongchang Tan, Fang Li, Xiaoxue Deng, Jiangshan Deng, Xiaojie Zhang, Jinbao Li, Yuwu Zhao, Qiurong Ding, Haikun Wang, Xiuzhe Wang, Yan Luo, Ben Zhou, Haibing Zhang
Summary: This study found that T-cell-specific Rip1 KO mice show age-related T cell changes and accelerated aging-like phenotypes. Rip1-deficient T cells undergo excessive apoptosis and promote chronic inflammation. Blocking apoptosis rescues T cell imbalance and aging-like phenotypes, prolonging lifespan.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Natalie H. Strand, Jillian Maloney, Molly Kraus, Christopher Wie, Michal Turkiewicz, Diego A. Gomez, Olufunmilola Adeleye, Monica W. Harbell
Summary: Fibromyalgia is a common disease characterized by chronic pain and fatigue along with cognitive dysfunction. This review examines the current clinical evidence on the use of cannabis for treating fibromyalgia, and finds that it may be an effective treatment option.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alla Kalmykova
Summary: The stability of telomeres plays a crucial role in maintaining genome integrity across generations. Telomere dysfunction can lead to changes in cell fate, regardless of telomere length. The multiple tandem repeats in telomeres have the potential for recombination. Telomere stability requires heterochromatin formation, transcriptional repression, suppression of homologous recombination, and chromosome end protection. Genetic and epigenetic defects affecting telomere homeostasis can cause length-independent internal telomeric DNA damage. Telomeres, regardless of their length, serve as primary sensors of genome instability and can trigger cell death or developmental arrest. Telomeric RNAs have been found to play a signaling role in cell fate and early development. The telomere checkpoint mechanism ensures genome stability but accelerates the aging process.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Anesthesiology
Andrew Schrepf, Kevin M. Hellman, Amy M. Bohnert, David A. Williams, Frank F. Tu
Summary: In this study, it was found that symptoms associated with nociplastic pain can be described using generalized sensory sensitivity (GSS) and SPACE symptom groups. Generalized sensory sensitivity was associated with the severity of bladder, bowel, and overall pain, while SPACE was associated with menstrual pain during nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use.
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Alexis Holman, Neehar Parikh, Dan J. Clauw, David A. Williams, Elliot B. Tapper
Summary: Chronic pain is common in patients with cirrhosis and has a negative impact on their health-related quality of life and functional status. However, there is limited guidance on appropriate pain management in this population and pharmacologic treatment may lead to harmful outcomes. By categorizing chronic pain into different mechanistic types and discussing the identification, etiology, and treatment of these types, including nonpharmacologic therapies, we provide a framework for tailoring treatments to the specific challenges faced by patients with cirrhosis.
Article
Anesthesiology
Andrew Schrepf, Chelsea Kaplan, Richard E. Harris, David A. Williams, Daniel J. Clauw, Sawsan As-Sanie, Sara Till, J. Quentin Clemens, Larissa V. Rodriguez, Adrie Van Bokhoven, Richard Landis, Robert Gallop, Catherine Bradley, Bruce Naliboff, Mike Pontari, Michael O'Donnell, Yi Luo, Karl Kreder, Susan K. Lutgendorf, Steven E. Harte
Summary: Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a common and debilitating disease with poor treatment outcomes. IC/BPS patients with chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs) experience poorer quality of life and more severe symptoms. The neurobiological correlates of this subtype are largely unknown.
Article
Anesthesiology
Afton L. Hassett, David A. Williams, Richard E. Harris, Steven E. Harte, Chelsea M. Kaplan, Andrew Schrepf, Anna L. Kratz, Chad M. Brummett, Kelley M. Kidwell, Alexander Tsodikov, Sana Shaikh, Susan L. Murphy, Remy Lobo, Anthony King, Todd Favorite, Laura Fisher, Goodarz M. Golmirzaie, David J. Kohns, Jill R. Schneiderhan, Ishtiaq Mawla, Eric Ichesco, Jenna McAfee, Ronald A. Wasserman, Elizabeth Banner, Kathy A. Scott, Courtney Cole, Daniel J. Clauw
Summary: This study aims to identify different underlying mechanisms of chronic low back pain (cLBP) and determine the appropriate treatment for each mechanism. A cohort of 400 cLBP patients will receive a sequence of interventions, and their responses will be observed to identify subsets of patients that respond to each treatment. Clinically derived measures and deeper phenotyping will be used to predict responsiveness and infer mechanisms of action.
Article
Anesthesiology
Anna Batorsky, Anton E. Bowden, Jessa Darwin, Aaron J. Fields, Carol M. Greco, Richard E. Harris, Trisha F. Hue, Joseph Kakyomya, Wolf Mehling, Conor O'Neill, Charity G. Patterson, Sara R. Piva, Nico Sollmann, Vincent Toups, Ajay D. Wasan, Ronald Wasserman, David A. Williams, Nam V. Vo, Matthew A. Psioda, Micah McCumber
Summary: The Back Pain Consortium (BACPAC) Research Program aims to develop an integrated model of chronic low back pain using combined data from translational research and clinical trials. They have made efforts to maximize data harmonization and accessibility for Consortium-wide analyses.
Article
Nursing
Rachel S. Bergmans, Keiyana Chambers-Peeple, Christine Yu, Lillian Z. Xiao, Riley Wegryn-Jones, Allie Martin, Samantha Dell'Imperio, Deena Aboul-Hassan, David A. Williams, Daniel J. Clauw, Melissa DeJonckheere
Summary: This study aims to understand the impact of long COVID on the quality of life of Black American adults and their approaches to symptom management. Qualitative evidence on long COVID symptoms and their impact on quality of life can help improve diagnostic criteria and care plans. However, the underrepresentation of Black Americans in long COVID research hinders equitable care for all long COVID patients.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Hector Bonilla, Michael J. Peluso, Kathleen Rodgers, Judith A. Aberg, Thomas F. Patterson, Robert Tamburro, Lawrence Baizer, Jason D. Goldman, Nadine Rouphael, Amelia Deitchman, Jeffrey Fine, Paul Fontelo, Arthur Y. Kim, Gwendolyn Shaw, Jeran Stratford, Patricia Ceger, Maged M. Costantine, Liza Fisher, Lisa O'Brien, Christine Maughan, John G. Quigley, Vilma Gabbay, Sindhu Mohandas, David Williams, Grace A. McComsey
Summary: Although most individuals recover from acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, a significant number continue to suffer from long-term symptoms known as long COVID. Ongoing pathobiology studies have provided clues to potential mechanisms contributing to this condition, including persistent viral material, immune dysregulation, and gut dysbiosis. Therapeutic trials targeting these biological pathways are needed, but off-label experimentation in uncontrolled settings should be discouraged.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Alexis Holman, Neehar D. Parikh, Zhe Zhao, Samantha Nikirk, Daniel J. Clauw, David A. Williams, Elliot B. Tapper
Summary: This study investigates chronic pain in patients with cirrhosis and finds that pain is associated with mood and cognitive disturbances, fatigue, sleep difficulty, and physical and social functioning. Patient-reported outcomes, such as body maps, can be useful for classifying pain mechanisms.
HEPATOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Stephanie Catella, R. Michael Gendreau, Allison C. C. Kraus, Nicolette Vega, Michael J. J. Rosenbluth, Sherry Soefje, Shishuka Malhotra, Juan V. V. Luciano, Lance M. M. McCracken, David A. A. Williams, Lesley M. M. Arnold
Summary: Empirically validated cognitive and behavioral therapies, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), are not accessible to many fibromyalgia (FM) patients. A self-guided, smartphone-based ACT program has the potential to greatly improve accessibility. The SMART-FM study assessed the feasibility of a predominantly virtual clinical trial for FM and evaluated the safety and efficacy of a digital ACT program for FM.
JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Substance Abuse
O. Trent Hall, Parker Entrup, Anthony King, Michael Vilensky, Craig J. Bryan, Julie Teater, Julie Niedermier, Chelsea M. Kaplan, Jessica A. Turner, Stephanie Gorka, Steven E. Harte, David A. Williams, Daniel J. Clauw
Summary: This study is the first to use a validated surrogate measure to describe central sensitization in a clinical sample with alcohol use disorder (AUD). It found that greater central sensitization was associated with worse health-related quality of life. Participants with higher central sensitization expressed greater endorsement of pain as a reason for AUD onset, maintenance, escalation, treatment delay, and relapse.
JOURNAL OF ADDICTIVE DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Kevin F. Boehnke, Marc O. Martel, Tristin Smith, Ying He, Rachel S. Bergmans, Daniel J. Kruger, Michele Andwele, Sian Bevan, David A. Williams, Mary-Ann Fitzcharles
Summary: Understanding the integration of medical cannabis into rheumatic disease management is crucial. This study investigated the reasons for medical cannabis use, patient-physician interactions, and usage patterns among individuals with rheumatic conditions in the US and Canada. The results showed that compared to Canada, fewer US participants had medical cannabis licenses, disclosed their use to healthcare providers, or sought advice. Evaluation: 7 points.
ACR OPEN RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Anesthesiology
Clare Kuisell, Robert Ploutz-Snyder, David A. Williams, Terri Voepel-Lewis, Raymond J. Hutchinson, Katherine M. Dudding, Celia Bridges, Ellen M. Lavoie M. Smith
Summary: The objective of this study was to characterize nociceptive pain and pain catastrophizing among adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease (SCD), and to determine whether these characterizations are associated with subsequent opioid consumption and pain interference. The results showed that nociceptive pain features increased the likelihood of opioid consumption and pain interference. Therefore, it is important to consider the impact of nociceptive pain features in managing pain in SCD patients.
CLINICAL JOURNAL OF PAIN
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Oncology
Youmin Cho, Yun Jiang, Denise Saint Arnault, David A. Williams, David Zahrieh, David Zahrieh, Ellen Lavoie Smith
ONCOLOGY NURSING FORUM
(2023)
Article
Anesthesiology
Lucy Abraham, Robert H. Dworkin, Dennis C. Turk, John D. Markman, David A. Williams, Andrew G. Bushmakin, Jerry A. Hall, David C. Semel, Joseph C. Cappelleri, Ruoyong Yang
Summary: Through analyzing data from two published clinical trials, it was found that pain acted as a mediator between treatment and physical function, and at least 75% of the treatment effect can be explained by the improvement in pain.
CLINICAL JOURNAL OF PAIN
(2023)
Article
Anesthesiology
Chelsea M. Kaplan, Andrew Schrepf, Kevin F. Boehnke, Ying He, Tristin Smith, David A. Williams, Rachel Bergmans, Terri Voepel-Lewis, Afton L. Hassett, Richard E. Harris, Daniel J. Clauw, Adriene M. Beltz, Steven E. Harte
Summary: Identifying symptom-based risk factors for multisite pain in children is critical for early prevention. Somatic awareness, sleep and attention problems represent actionable targets for early detection, treatment, and possible prevention of multisite pain in youth.
CLINICAL JOURNAL OF PAIN
(2023)