Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Maria F. Bandres, Jefferson L. Gomes, Jacob G. McPherson
Summary: We found that motor-targeted spinal stimulation can modulate spinal nociceptive transmission, suggesting its potential for neuropathic pain-related applications and its ability to provide multi-modal therapeutic benefits for individuals living with SCI.
JOURNAL OF NEURAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hanns Ulrich Zeilhofer, Karolina Werynska, Jacinthe Gingras, Gonzalo E. Yevenes
Summary: Restoring proper synaptic inhibition in the spinal cord, particularly through targeting the alpha 3 subtype of glycine receptors, may help reduce deleterious side effects and increase tolerability in chronic pain states. This review provides an update on the physiological properties and functions of alpha 3 subtype GlyRs and related drug discovery programs.
Review
Anesthesiology
Lou Cathenaut, Remy Schlichter, Sylvain Hugel
Summary: Somatosensory information is efficiently processed in the spinal cord by frequency-tuned synapses, which display activity-dependent forms of short-term plasticity. These properties allow for powerful gain control in neuronal networks and contribute to the integration of nociceptive messages and the effectiveness of nonpharmacological analgesic procedures.
Article
Neurosciences
Jesse K. Niehaus, Bonnie Taylor-Blake, Lipin Loo, Jeremy M. Simon, Mark J. Zylka
Summary: Peripheral nerve injury leads to long-term pro-inflammatory responses in spinal cord glial cells, but the identity of endogenous cells that resolve spinal inflammation has not been determined. Our study demonstrates that MRC1(+) spinal cord macrophages actively restrain glia to limit neuroinflammation and resolve mechanical pain following superficial injury, suggesting that therapeutic modulation of spinal macrophages could promote long-lasting recovery of neuropathic pain.
Article
Neurosciences
Vincent Huynh, Robin Lutolf, Jan Rosner, Roger Luechinger, Armin Curt, Spyridon Kollias, Michele Hubli, Lars Michels
Summary: Neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury involves plastic changes along the whole neuroaxis, with current neuroimaging studies showing a relationship between pain intensity and grey matter volume and connectivity changes. The underlying neural processes related to pain extent in neuropathic pain are still unknown.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
L. Lopez-Gomez, Y. Lopez-Tofino, R. Abalo
Summary: This study analyzed the impact of sex and quality of intracolonic mechanical stimulus on the behavioral manifestations of visceral pain in a preclinical model. The results showed that sex, stimulus quality, and pressure had different effects on the responses to visceral pain in rats.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Zheng Ao, Hongwei Cai, Zhuhao Wu, Jonathan Krzesniak, Chunhui Tian, Yvonne Y. Lai, Ken Mackie, Feng Guo
Summary: The study introduces a human spinal organoid-on-a-chip device for modeling the biology and electrophysiology of human nociceptive neurons and dorsal horn interneurons. The device allows for testing nociceptive modulators and is cost-efficient, scalable, and easy to use. By integrating human sensory-spinal-cord organoids, the method shows promise for screening and validating novel therapeutics for human pain medicine discovery.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Mariantonella Colucci, Azzurra Stefanucci, Adriano Mollica, Anna Maria Aloisi, Francesco Maione, Stefano Pieretti
Summary: Formyl peptide receptor type 2 (FPR2/ALX) plays a crucial role in recognizing pathogen-associated molecular patterns and damage-associated molecular patterns. It is highly expressed in myeloid cells and various other cell types. Research suggests that FPR2/ALX may be involved in pain control in the spinal cord.
Article
Anesthesiology
Courtney Chow, Richard Rosenquist
Summary: Chronic pain affects over 100 million Americans and has significant economic and quality of life impacts. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has proven effective in managing chronic pain, and as more physicians are trained in SCS placement, there have been significant changes in its utilization, cost, and service locations.
REGIONAL ANESTHESIA AND PAIN MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Carmen Solanes, Jose L. Dura, M. Angeles Canos, Jose De Andres, Luis Marti-Bonmati, Javier Saiz
Summary: This study developed patient-specific 3D models from MRI images to optimize spinal cord stimulation therapy, showing that these models can help physicians choose the best stimulation parameters for improved neural activation and pain management.
JOURNAL OF NEURAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Rehabilitation
Mehul J. Desai, Ryan Aschenbrener, Eduardo J. Carrera, Nirguna Thalla
Summary: The evolution of SCS in the past decades has been remarkable, providing novel abilities to alleviate pain signals. However, indications for specific disease states are limited and robust, non-industry-sponsored studies are relatively minimal. Balanced clinician-industry collaboration is crucial for the development of these therapies. Existing data support SCS for studied disease states and show promise for further indication expansion.
PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION CLINICS OF NORTH AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Evan R. Rogers, Ehsan Mirzakhalili, Scott F. Lempka
Summary: This study investigated the neural response to different paresthesia-free spinal cord stimulation (SCS) waveforms using computational modeling. The results showed that the mechanisms of subthreshold SCS remain unclear, as none of the waveforms directly activate C-fibers and modulation of spike timing is unlikely at subthreshold amplitudes. The study suggested that potential subthreshold neuromodulatory effects of SCS on local cells are likely to be presynaptic in nature.
JOURNAL OF NEURAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ilknur Telkes, Amir Hadanny, Marisa DiMarzio, Girish Chitnis, Steven Paniccioli, Katherine O'Connor, Rachael Grey, Kevin McCarthy, Olga Khazen, Bryan McLaughlin, Julie G. Pilitsis
Summary: This study is the first to investigate the medio-lateral selectivity of a high-resolution spinal cord stimulation (HR-SCS) paddle in patients with chronic pain. The results suggest that HR-SCS may provide additional ipsilateral recruitment within the extremities, improving targeting of focal pain in the lower extremities. Additionally, this study supports the use of intraoperative neuromonitoring as a decision tool in thoracic SCS surgeries and provides a comprehensive methodological framework.
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Giusy Guzzi, Attilio Della Torre, Domenico La Torre, Giorgio Volpentesta, Carmelino Angelo Stroscio, Angelo Lavano, Federico Longhini
Summary: Chronic low-back pain is a common disease with negative impacts on patients' quality of life and healthcare costs. When conventional treatments fail, patients may consider Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS), which can effectively reduce symptoms in well-selected patients for up to eight years.
Article
Anesthesiology
Harsha Shanthanna, Sam Eldabe, David Anthony Provenzano, Benedicte Bouche, Eric Buchser, Raymond Chadwick, Tina L. Doshi, Rui Duarte, Christine Hunt, Frank J. P. M. Huygen, Judy Knight, Lynn Kohan, Richard North, Joshua Rosenow, Christopher J. Winfree, Samer Narouze
Summary: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has shown effectiveness for neuropathic pain, but some patients do not experience adequate long-term relief. Existing selection techniques, including SCS trials, have been questioned. A steering committee developed evidence-based guidelines for patient selection and the role of SCS trials, with 100% consensus from all members. These recommendations are intended to guide physicians and stakeholders, but individual patient considerations should still be taken into account.
REGIONAL ANESTHESIA AND PAIN MEDICINE
(2023)