Article
Biology
Ximena Delgado-Ramirez, Nara S. Alvarado-Cervantes, Natalie Jimenez-Barrios, Guadalupe Raya-Tafolla, Ricardo Felix, Vladimir A. Martinez-Rojas, Rodolfo Delgado-Lezama
Summary: Motoneurons receive excitatory and inhibitory synapses from descending tracts and primary afferent fibers, and the regulation of their excitability is important for environmental responsiveness. GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptors play a role in regulating motoneuron synaptic strength. The activation of GABA(B) receptors by GABA released from astrocytes and interneurons may modulate synaptic strength between afferent fibers and motoneurons.
Review
Neurosciences
Lonne Heijmans, Martijn R. Mons, Elbert A. Joosten
Summary: This systematic review explores the involvement of the serotonergic system in modulating pain signaling, with a focus on both healthy adult rodents and those with chronic neuropathic pain. It highlights the role of specific serotonin receptors in inhibiting or facilitating pain modulation, and suggests that targeting these receptors could lead to improved pharmacological or neuromodulatory treatments for neuropathic pain. Additionally, the study identifies the descending serotonergic system as a key target for mechanism-based pain relief, particularly in the context of spinal cord stimulation.
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
Clinical Neurology
C. Leone, G. Di Pietro, Y. Salman, E. Galosi, G. Di Stefano, O. Caspani, L. Garcia-Larrea, A. Mouraux, R. -d. Treede, A. Truini
Summary: This study aimed to verify if the sensitivity of N13 SEP in detecting central sensitization is consistent across different experimental pain models. The results showed that while both HFS and LFS successfully induced secondary hyperalgesia, only LFS increased the amplitude of N13 SEP. These findings suggest that the sensitivity of N13 SEP for detecting dorsal horn excitability changes may critically depend on the different experimental pain models.
CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Anesthesiology
Volodymyr Krotov, Kirill Agashkov, Marharyta Krasniakova, Boris Safronov, Pavel Belan, Nana Voitenko
Summary: This study reveals the input sources and regulation mechanisms of spinal lamina X neurons, demonstrating that primary afferent fibers are regulated by both spinal and supraspinal control through at least 5 distinct pathways.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Tomas Hoikkanen, Mette Nissen, Tiina-Mari Ikaheimo, Henna-Kaisa Jyrkkanen, Jukka Huttunen, Mikael von Und Zu Fraunberg
Summary: A retrospective study on 35 consecutive CRPS patients undergoing SCS treatment found that 70% continued using the SCS device over an 8-year follow-up period, but some patients experienced device explantation or complications, with no significant change in medication use.
Article
Clinical Neurology
G. S. Piedade, S. Gillner, P. J. Slotty, J. Vesper
Summary: This study investigated the preference of patients for different waveforms in long-term follow-up of spinal cord stimulation therapy. The study found that tonic stimulation remained the preferred therapy for patients, and the use of microburst stimulation increased over time. Whisper and Contour waveforms were used as salvage options in complex cases.
ACTA NEUROCHIRURGICA
(2022)
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.
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Thomas J. de Geus, Glenn Franken, Elbert A. J. Joosten
Summary: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a last-resort treatment for chronic neuropathic pain, but its mechanism and pain relief effects are not fully understood. This systematic review aims to summarize the effects of different SCS paradigms on the central inflammatory balance in the spinal cord. The findings suggest that there is a distinct SCS paradigm-related effect in modulating the central inflammatory balance.
Article
Clinical Neurology
John E. Gilbert, Tianhe Zhang, Rosana Esteller, Warren M. Grill
Summary: Temporal patterns of spinal cord stimulation designed using a computational model could effectively inhibit pain-related neuronal activity and potentially increase the efficacy of spinal cord stimulation.
Article
Neurosciences
Jun Li, Xue Zhang, Chu Xu, Yun-Xin Liu, Chun Ge, Zheng Zhao, Yu-Bing Zhu, Hong-Guang Bao
Summary: By enhancing inhibitory synaptic transmission, pizotifen exerts an antinociceptive effect on both neuropathic pain and inflammatory pain in the spinal cord, potentially serving as a promising remedy for chronic pain.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Rezvan Ahmadi, Mohammad Mehdi Hajiabadi, Andreas Unterberg, Christiane Geist, Benito Campos
Summary: The new wireless spinal cord stimulation (SCS) technology introduced promises minimal invasive SCS with a wide range of stimulation paradigms and MRI conditionality. Evaluation of 12 patients with therapy-resistant neuropathic pain showed that wireless SCS systems were feasible and safe, with most patients achieving 50% or more pain relief.
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.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Christian Saleh, Tatiani Soultana Ilia, Phillip Jaszczuk, Margret Hund-Georgiadis, Anna Walter
Summary: This systematic review suggests that high-frequency rTMS applied to the primary motor cortex and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex may be promising stimulation targets for neuropathic pain in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).
NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
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)
Review
Neurosciences
Hisham Bahmad, Ola Hadadeh, Farah Chamaa, Katia Cheaito, Batoul Darwish, Ahmad-Kareem Makkawi, Wassim Abou-Kheir
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2017)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Hussein Ghazale, Naify Ramadan, Sara Mantash, Kazem Zibara, Sally El-Sitt, Hala Darwish, Farah Chamaa, Rose Mary Boustany, Stefania Mondello, Wassim Abou-Kheir, Jihane Soueid, Firas Kobeissy
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2018)
Article
Immunology
Farah Chamaa, Lynn Bitar, Batoul Darwish, Nayef E. Saade, Wassim Abou-Kheir
JOURNAL OF NEUROIMMUNOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Neurosciences
Farah Chamaa, Hisham F. Bahmad, Ahmad-Kareem Makkawi, Reda M. Chalhoub, Elie D. Al-Chaer, George B. Bikhazi, Ziad Nahas, Wassim Abou-Kheir
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2018)
Article
Biology
Jad Barchini, Xuefeng Shi, Hui Chen, Jianhua Cang
Review
Neurosciences
Jianhua Cang, Elise Savier, Jad Barchini, Xiaorong Liu
ANNUAL REVIEW OF VISION SCIENCE, VOL 4
(2018)
Review
Neurosciences
Hisham F. Bahmad, Farah Chamaa, Sahar Assi, Reda M. Chalhoub, Tamara Abou-Antoun, Wassim Abou-Kheir
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2019)
Article
Neurosciences
Batoul Darwish, Farah Chamaa, Elie D. Al-Chaer, Nayef E. Saade, Wassim Abou-Kheir
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2019)
Review
Neurosciences
Hisham F. Bahmad, Batoul Darwish, Karem Bou Dargham, Rabih Machmouchi, Bahaa Bou Dargham, Maarouf Osman, Zonaida Al Khechen, Nour El Housheimi, Wassim Abou-Kheir, Farah Chamaa
NEUROTOXICITY RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Hisham F. Bahmad, Reda M. Chalhoub, Hayat Harati, Jolie Bou-Gharios, Sahar Assi, Farah Ballout, Alissar Monzer, Hiba Msheik, Tarek Araji, Mohamad K. Elajami, Paola Ghanem, Farah Chamaa, Humam Kadara, Tamara Abou-Antoun, Georges Daoud, Youssef Fares, Wassim Abou-Kheir
Summary: The study evaluated the potential anti-tumor effect of Tideglusib (TDG), an irreversible GSK-3 beta inhibitor drug, on three human NB cell lines. Results showed that TDG significantly reduced cell proliferation, viability, and migration of the NB cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, while also hindering the formation of neurospheres. Additionally, TDG reduced CD133 cancer stem cell marker expression and inhibited NB tumor growth and progression in vivo, indicating its potential as an effective treatment targeting NB CSCs and overcoming therapy resistance.
PHARMACOLOGICAL REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Hisham F. Bahmad, Mohamad K. Elajami, Reem Daouk, Hiba Jalloul, Batoul Darwish, Reda M. Chalhoub, Sahar Assi, Farah Chamaa, Wassim Abou-Kheir
Summary: Stem cells are a versatile type of cell that play important roles in different diseases treatments. Neural stem cells are crucial in neurogenesis, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) techniques have great potential in medicine, and Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) may be responsible for therapy resistance and tumor recurrence.
CURRENT STEM CELL RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Farah Chamaa, Hisham F. Bahmad, Batoul Darwish, Jana M. Kobeissi, Malak Hoballah, Sibell Bou Nassif, Yara Ghandour, Jean-Paul Saliba, Nada Lawand, Wassim Abou-Kheir
Summary: This review discusses the traumatic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological well-being of the public, especially highlighting the difficulties faced by COVID-19 survivors, older adults, and healthcare workers in coping with new realities and uncertainties. Government precautionary measures and restrictions have not only caused economic losses, but also contributed to a rise in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the population.
CURRENT NEUROPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Farah Chamaa, Batoul Darwish, Ziad Nahas, Elie D. Al-Chaer, Nayef E. Saade, Wassim Abou-Kheir
Summary: This study demonstrates that sustained activation of the anteromedial thalamic nucleus boosts neurogenesis and improves spatial reference memory. Both single and multiple sessions of deep brain stimulation prompt an increase in novel arm exploration, with multiple sessions having a greater effect starting from week 1.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2021)
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
Cell Biology
Farah Chamaa, Batoul Darwish, Rami Arnaout, Ziad Nahas, Elie D. Al-Chaer, Nayef E. Saade, Wassim Abou-Kheir
Summary: The study demonstrates that stimulating the anterior nucleus of the thalamus can enhance adult hippocampal neurogenesis and improve spatial memory in rats. However, administering dexamethasone prior to and simultaneously with the stimulation can diminish these effects.