Article
Biology
Sydney Trask, Jeffrey S. Mogil, Fred J. Helmstetter, Cheryl L. Stucky, Katelyn E. Sadler
Summary: The mechanisms underlying the transition from acute to chronic pain are still unclear, but it may involve the persistence or strengthening of pain memories acquired through associative learning. Recent studies have shown that contextual cues play a critical role in regulating pain memory. Animals and humans exhibit increased pain sensitivity in environments associated with painful experiences. This study suggests that pain perception and activation of endogenous opioid systems can be modified through psychological association with environmental cues.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Adrian Martyniak, Andrzej Wedrychowicz, Przemyslaw J. Tomasik
Summary: Caring for patients with Crohn's disease is a serious challenge, and new methods of diagnosis and therapy are needed. Endogenous opioids, such as β-endorphin and proenkephalin (A), may have beneficial effects on the disease. This study found that the concentrations of these endo-opioids were reduced in CD patients, suggesting modulation of the endogenous opioid system as a promising future treatment for CD.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Alexandra Wu
Summary: Research on the impact of sociality on stress has shown that the presence of conspecifics can reduce an animal's stress through a phenomenon called 'social buffering'. This buffering process involves the animal recognizing the presence of a conspecific and transducing it into a physiological result through the oxytocin pathway. Understanding the mechanisms and functions of social buffering can help enhance animal health, fitness, and welfare.
APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Substance Abuse
Bryce Pardo, Jirka Taylor, Jon Caulkins, Peter Reuter, Beau Kilmer
Summary: The influx of illegally manufactured synthetic opioids into street drugs is increasing the risk of fatal overdoses. In some areas, synthetic opioids like fentanyl have virtually replaced traditional drugs like heroin. The concealment of synthetic opioids in substances sold as heroin or counterfeit medications is causing significant harm and poses unprecedented challenges to drug policy.
Article
Biology
Simon Desch, Petra Schweinhardt, Ben Seymour, Herta Flor, Susanne Becker, Markus Ploner
Summary: Active decision-making and unpredictability enhance the perception of pain relief, and this effect is more pronounced in individuals with high novelty-seeking traits. Dopaminergic signaling plays a key role in modulating the perception of pain relief, while the effect of opioidergic manipulation is not significant.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Laura Maxi Stange, Thore Wilder, David Siebler, Joachim Krieter, Irena Czycholl
Summary: Equine headshaking syndrome (EHS) is a condition where horses exhibit severe headshaking without any external stimulus, causing welfare and rideability issues. A study was conducted to compare the effects of riding on horses with EHS and control horses. The study found no significant connection between headshaking and heart rate, saliva samples, thermographic images, and rein tension. Wearing a nose cover reduced the frequency of headshaking movements.
APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Allison M. Cleymaet, Casey-Tyler Berezin, Jozsef Vigh
Summary: Opioids, both endogenous and exogenous, have been shown to modulate the pupillary light reflex (PLR) through mu-opioid receptors (MORs) expressed by melanopsin-expressing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). This study suggests that endogenous opioid signaling in the retina contributes to the regulation of PLR, with DAMGO slowing down bright light-evoked PLR.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Patrick Jern, Jinglu Chen, Jouni Tuisku, Tiina Saanijoki, Jussi Hirvonen, Lasse Lukkarinen, Sandra Manninen, Semi Helin, Vesa Putkinen, Lauri Nummenmaa
Summary: This study used PET and functional MRI to investigate the release of endogenous opioids after orgasm. The results showed significant release of opioids in the hippocampus, suggesting its crucial involvement in sexual arousal.
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Psychiatry
Ardavan Mohammad Aghaei, Alexandra Saali, Maria Alejandra Canas, Jeremy Weleff, Deepak Cyril D'Souza, Gustavo A. Angarita, Anahita Bassir Nia
Summary: This paper reviews the clinical and preclinical literature on the dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) after exposure to opioids. The results show that opioids disrupt various ECS components in specific brain regions. However, the literature results are heterogeneous and contradictory, suggesting the need for further research to determine the effects of opioids on ECS components in different brain regions.
PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Xavier Mas-Orea, Lilian Basso, Catherine Blanpied, Claire Gaveriaux-Ruff, Nicolas Cenac, Gilles Dietrich
Summary: This study identifies the important role of the delta opioid receptor (DOR) in relieving intestinal inflammatory pain and suggests the potential of developing peripherally restricted DOR analgesics for intestinal disorders, which could avoid the side effects associated with drugs targeting the mu opioid receptor (MOR).
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Agata Szymaszkiewicz, Marcin Talar, Jakub Wlodarczyk, Mikolaj Swierczynski, Adrian Bartoszek, Julia Krajewska, Anna Mokrowiecka, Ewa Malecka-Wojciesko, Jakub Fichna, Marta Zielinska
Summary: Nearly 20% of elderly patients suffer from constipation, but the age-related changes in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract remain insufficiently elucidated. This study evaluated the alterations within the endogenous opioid system (EOS) as a potential cause of constipation in the elderly. The results showed that the age-related impairment of GI peristalsis may result from reduced MOP and DOP response to opioid agonists or alterations in EOS expression.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Anesthesiology
Laura Sirucek, Rebecca Christine Price, Wiebke Gandhi, Marie-Eve Hoeppli, Emma Fahey, Annie Qu, Susanne Becker, Petra Schweinhardt
Summary: Endogenous opioids mediate the pleasurable responses to positively reinforcing stimuli such as palatable food, and are also involved in the pleasant feeling evoked by pain relief. The use of an endogenous opioid antagonist, naltrexone, decreases the pleasantness of pain relief, indicating that endogenous opioids play a role in mediating the rewarding nature of pain relief in humans.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Daphna Emanuel, Sabine B. R. Kaestner, Julien Delarocque, Anne J. Grob, Astrid Bienert-Zeit
Summary: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of butorphanol, buprenorphine, and levomethadone on sedation quality and postoperative analgesia in horses undergoing cheek tooth extraction. The results showed that levomethadone and buprenorphine had better analgesic effects, with buprenorphine also increasing locomotor activity. However, it is important to note that serum cortisol levels may be influenced by other factors.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Hong Zhang, Austin A. Lipinski, Erika Liktor-Busa, Angela F. Smith, Aubin Moutal, Rajesh Khanna, Paul R. Langlais, Tally M. Largent-Milnes, Todd W. Vanderah
Summary: The study found that there are 32 proteins or genes related to the endogenous cannabinoid system in the VTA, some of which are significantly affected by repeated morphine exposure. Repeated morphine treatment does not alter levels of anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol in the VTA, but may lead to diminished levels of anandamide production after a single morphine injection.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Family Studies
Nicolette Joh-Carnella, Barbara Fallon, Rachael Lefebvre, Daniel Lindberg, Laura Davidson
Summary: Research shows that primary caregiver drug abuse concerns increase household and family risks, leading to more intrusive forms of child welfare involvement. Investigations involving caregivers who abuse opioids are significantly more likely to result in out-of-home placements.
CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT
(2021)