Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Silvia Castany, Anna Bago-Mas, Jose Miguel Vela, Enrique Verdu, Karolina Bretova, Viktorie Svobodova, Petr Dubovy, Pere Boadas-Vaello
Summary: This study aimed to determine whether neuroinflammatory factor over-expression in the spinal cord and supraspinal structures may be associated with reflexive and nonreflexive pain response development from acute spinal cord injury (SCI) phase to 12 weeks post-injury in female mice. The results show that transient reflexive responses were observed during the SCI acute phase associated with transient cytokine overexpression in the spinal cord. In contrast, increased nonreflexive pain responses were observed in the chronic phase associated with cytokine overexpression in supraspinal structures, especially in mPFC. In addition, results revealed the contribution of neuron-glia crosstalk in the development of nonreflexive pain responses in the chronic spinal cord injury phase, as indicated by increased glial activation and CX3CL1/CX3CR1 upregulation in the neurons in the mPFC.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vinicius Tieppo Francio, Keith F. Polston, Micheal T. Murphy, Jonathan M. Hagedorn, Dawood Sayed
Summary: Since 1967, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) technology has evolved significantly, with the introduction of the 10 kHz SCS system that selectively activates inhibitory interneurons in the dorsal horn. This high-frequency stimulation pattern has demonstrated significant pain control superiority in patients with chronic back pain and neuropathic pain.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giuseppe Forte, Valentina Giuffrida, Angelica Scuderi, Mariella Pazzaglia
Summary: Neuropathic pain is a common chronic condition that severely affects patients with spinal cord injuries. Current treatment options are limited, but nanomedicine shows potential for improving therapeutic efficacy. However, its application in treating neuropathic pain following spinal cord injuries still needs further improvement.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Simona Capossela, Gunther Landmann, Mario Ernst, Lenka Stockinger, Jivko Stoyanov
Summary: This study evaluates the feasibility of using a multimodal pain assessment protocol for patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) during rehabilitation. The protocol combines clinical workup, quantitative sensory testing, and psychosocial factors, along with molecular blood biomarkers. The findings reveal different pain trajectories, inflammatory responses, and potential biomarkers associated with SCI. The study also highlights the importance of considering recruitment settings and protocol adjustments to improve the feasibility of multimodal pain evaluation studies in SCI patients. It provides insights into early adaptive mechanisms in SCI pathophysiology and the need for further exploration of prognostic and preventive strategies for chronic pain in the SCI population.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mengnan Zhao, Xiaojiao Zhang, Xueshu Tao, Bohan Zhang, Cong Sun, Pinying Wang, Tao Song
Summary: The study showed that downregulation of Sirt2 in the central nervous system due to peripheral nerve injury inhibits Nrf2 activity, leading to increased oxidative stress and the development of chronic neuropathic pain.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Eva Widerstrom-Noga, Kimberly D. Anderson, Linda E. Robayo, Salome Perez, Alberto Martinez-Arizala, Lindsey Calle-Coule, Nicholas P. Cherup, Gabriel E. Fernandez
Summary: Many people with spinal cord injury (SCI) suffer from chronic pain, including neuropathic pain, which is often difficult to treat due to its complex nature. A multimodal approach, involving pharmacological treatments, physical rehabilitation, cognitive training, and pain education, may be the most effective strategy for managing pain in this population. This study developed an educational resource called SeePain, which was evaluated and modified based on stakeholder input, including SCI patients, their loved ones, and healthcare providers. The final resource is a comprehensive guide intended to improve health literacy and enhance communication between SCI patients and their healthcare providers. Future research will validate the effectiveness of SeePain using a large sample of SCI patients.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Fangliang Guo, Xiaolong Zheng, Ziyu He, Ruoying Zhang, Song Zhang, Minghuan Wang, Hong Chen, Wei Wang
Summary: The study found that long-term treatment with NMD helps to improve locomotion, pain-related behaviors, and spasticity-like symptoms in rats with SCI, but has less effect on open-field activity, hind limb grip strength, and bladder function. Additionally, NMD-treated rats showed greater tissue preservation, reduced lesion areas, and increased perilesional neuronal sparing, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for SCI treatment.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Lei Wang, Mehmet A. Gunduz, Ana T. Semeano, Enis C. Yilmaz, Feras A. H. Alanazi, Ozan B. Imir, Ulas Yener, Christian A. Arbelaez, Esteban Usuga, Yang D. Teng
Summary: This study found that neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury is associated with multilocus neuroinflammation, neurotransmission, neuromodulation, and neuroplasticity. Understanding these associations could provide new therapeutic strategies for treating neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
You-You Lv, Han Wang, Hai-Ting Fan, Ting Xu, Wen-Jun Xin, Rui-Xian Guo
Summary: The present study found that SUMOylation of spinal Kir7.1 may contribute to the development of mechanical allodynia in neuropathic pain by decreasing the surface expression of Kir7.1.
CNS NEUROSCIENCE & THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Luciana Mendonca Barbosa, Fernanda da Valerio, Samira Luisa Apostolos Pereira, Valquiria Aparecida da Silva, Antonia Lilian de Lima Rodrigues, Ricardo Galhardoni, Lin Tchia Yeng, Jefferson Rosi Jr, Adriana Bastos Conforto, Leandro Tavares Lucato, Marcelo Delboni Lemos, Manoel Jacobsen Teixeira, Daniel Ciampi de Andrade
Summary: This study examined the relationships between symptoms and somatosensory profiles in patients with central neuropathic pain (CNP) caused by different types of lesions to the central nervous system. The results suggest that CNP of different etiologies may have different pain descriptors and somatosensory profiles, likely due to differences in lesion locations.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Tyler S. Nelson, Bradley K. Taylor
Summary: In summary, the accelerating basic science literature reveals that spinal neuropeptide Y inhibits chronic pain by targeting the Y1 receptor, primarily located in key sites of pain transmission in the dorsal horn. Selective ablation of spinal Y1-INs attenuates hypersensitivity, while pharmacological activation of Y1 inhibits both pain and itch, suggesting Y1-INs as a promising therapeutic target for chronic pain and itch.
PROGRESS IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Mustafa Umut Etli, Caner Sarikaya, Mehmet Resid Onen, Sait Naderi
Summary: This study found that neuropathic pain (NP) may occur in both pre-and postoperative periods in patients with spinal hemangioblastomas. The main factors affecting NP include the proximity of the tumor to the dorsal root entry zone, especially the presence of rostral syrinx.
WORLD NEUROSURGERY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Steffen Franz, Laura Heutehaus, Anke Tappe-Theodor, Norbert Weidner, Rolf-Detlef Treede, Sigrid Schuh-Hofer
Summary: Investigating the response of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) to noxious heat stimuli, this study found that SCI patients had significantly higher response rates and reflex magnitude compared to non-disabled controls. The motor hyperresponsiveness to heat was correlated with spasticity, but not neuropathic pain.
FRONTIERS IN HUMAN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
David Ramos, Celia Duarte Cruz
Summary: In recent years, microglia have been recognized as playing a key role in the development of chronic neuropathic pain following peripheral nervous system injury. This review focuses on post-spinal cord injury (SCI) microglial activation and its connection to the emergence and maintenance of chronic neuropathic pain after SCI. While the number of studies investigating microglial activity in SCI models is relatively small compared to those using peripheral nerve injury models, there is evidence supporting microglial involvement in central neuropathic pain. Changes in microglial activity are accompanied by molecular changes, including receptor expression and signaling pathway activation. Microglia may be important players and potential therapeutic targets for neuropathic pain.
REVIEWS IN THE NEUROSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Gilles Merminod, Orest Weber, Carla Vaucher, Imane Semlali, Anamaria Terrier, Isabelle Decosterd, Eve Rubli Truchard, Pascal Singy
Summary: A lack of social relations can impact the health and life expectancy of older individuals, including those suffering from chronic pain. Effective communication is essential for improving relationships within the social network of older people and can aid in the management of chronic pain.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)