Nickolaj Risbo, Vera Ehrenstein, Per Hviid Gundtoft, Jan-Erik Gjertsen, Alma Becic Pedersen
{"title":"Socioeconomic Position and Chronic Opioid Use After Hip Fracture Surgery: A Danish Population-Based Cohort Study","authors":"Nickolaj Risbo, Vera Ehrenstein, Per Hviid Gundtoft, Jan-Erik Gjertsen, Alma Becic Pedersen","doi":"10.1002/ejp.70063","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70063","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Chronic opioid use is a common and serious consequence of hip fracture. We examined the association between socioeconomic position (SEP) and chronic opioid use after hip fracture surgery.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using nationwide Danish registries, we included patients aged ≥ 65 years undergoing hip fracture surgery in 2012–2021 (<i>n</i> = 52,801). Cohabitation, liquid assets, and education were markers of SEP. Chronic opioid use was defined as ≥ 2 prescriptions of opioids 31–365 days post-surgery. For the same period, all opioid doses were converted to morphine milligram equivalents (MME), mg/day. We used log-binomial regression to estimate adjusted risk ratios (aRR) with 95%-confidence intervals (CI) comparing patients within each SEP marker, adjusting for relevant confounding.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The 1-year risks of chronic opioid use were 33% for patients living alone versus 30% for patients cohabiting (aRR 1.05 [CI 1.02–1.09]), 37% for low versus 28% for high levels of liquid assets (aRR 1.28 [CI 1.23–1.34]), and 33% for low versus 28% for high education (aRR 1.19 [CI 1.14–1.25]). Patients living alone used 11.5 MME mg/day versus 9.8 mg/day in patients cohabiting, patients with low liquid assets used 14.8 versus 7.9 mg/day in patients with high liquid assets, and patients with low education used 11.8 versus 7.9 mg/day in patients with high education.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>About a third of hip fracture patients are using opioids continuously in the year after surgery. Living alone, less liquid assets, and low education were associated with a higher risk of opioid use and dosage of use, both in preoperative opioid users and non-users.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Significance Statement</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study shows that among patients undergoing hip fracture surgery, low socioeconomic position measured by living alone, having less liquid assets or low education is associated with a higher risk of chronic opioid use and higher dosage of use in the first year postoperatively. Clinicians should consider socioeconomic position when prescribing opioids after hip fracture. The integration of less addictive opioids and non-pharmacological approaches in the pain management may reduce opioid use and improve patient safety.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12021,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Pain","volume":"29 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejp.70063","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144315299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Correction to “Role of Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor as a Biomarker of Chronic Pain in Older Adults”","authors":"","doi":"10.1002/ejp.70065","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70065","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Ortolá R, Sotos-Prieto M, Carballo-Casla A, Cabello-Plan S, Koni A, Mustieles V, García-Segura LM, Artalejo AR, Rodríguez-Artalejo F, García-Esquinas E. Role of Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor as a Biomarker of Chronic Pain in Older Adults. Eur J Pain. 2025 May;29(5):e70014.</p><p>In the list of authors, the name/surname “Adrián Carballo” was incomplete. It should have read: “Adrián Carballo-Casla”.</p><p>We apologise for this error.</p>","PeriodicalId":12021,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Pain","volume":"29 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejp.70065","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144315248","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Catherine Andrews, Marie-Louise Bird, Kim Jose, Leesa Van Niekerk
{"title":"A Scoping Review of Interdisciplinary Care Programs for Women With Persistent Pelvic Pain","authors":"Catherine Andrews, Marie-Louise Bird, Kim Jose, Leesa Van Niekerk","doi":"10.1002/ejp.70060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70060","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background and Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Persistent pelvic pain affects one in four women, with international guidelines recommending interdisciplinary care. However, much of the literature describing treatments for pelvic pain focus on the perspective of individual professions. This narrative scoping review aimed to increase understanding of interdisciplinary pelvic pain care in terms of the professions and treatment components included, coordination of care and the inclusion of people with lived experience (PWLE) in program development.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Databases and Data Treatment</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Guided by PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews, systematic database searches were conducted in CINAHL, Scopus, Medline and PsychINFO to identify interdisciplinary programs for women with persistent pelvic pain, including pelvic pain diagnoses such as endometriosis, vulvodynia and painful bladder syndrome. Data were charted on number and type of professions (disciplines) included, treatment components, care organisation and coordination, and PWLE involvement.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The search yielded 1068 records; 69 full-text articles were reviewed, and 16 studies were eligible for inclusion. Commonly included professions were physiotherapy, psychology and gynaecology. Treatment components included assessment, education and pain management strategies. Information pertaining to the coordination of care between professions and the engagement of PWLE in program development was limited.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This review found significant variation in the structure and components of interdisciplinary pelvic pain care programs, emphasising the need for greater consistency in their development and implementation. Further empirical research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of specific program components. Enhanced coordination among professions and increased involvement of PWLE in program design are also recommended.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Significance Statement</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This scoping review found wide variability in the processes of interdisciplinary pelvic pain care for women. Professions most frequently included were pelvic physiotherapy, psychology and gynaecology, and components most consistently included were assessment, education and pain management strategies. Coordination of care was poorly described, and people with lived experience (PWLE) were rarely involved in program d","PeriodicalId":12021,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Pain","volume":"29 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejp.70060","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144273451","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
D. Oudin Doglioni, M. Couette, S. Forté, F. Galacteros, M.-C. Gay
{"title":"Deciphering Pain Experience in Adult Patients With Sickle Cell Disease: A Network Analysis of Pain-Related Factors in a Single French Sickle Cell Centre","authors":"D. Oudin Doglioni, M. Couette, S. Forté, F. Galacteros, M.-C. Gay","doi":"10.1002/ejp.70059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70059","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most prevalent inherited haemoglobinopathy characterised by chronic pain with acute painful episodes due to vaso-occlusion. The effective management of pain by adults with SCD influences their health outcomes. Opioids remain essential for most pain syndromes, but non-pharmacological interventions are preferred for daily pain due to the risk of addiction. However, their effectiveness is variable. Understanding the underlying processes associated with pain is crucial for developing more effective non-pharmacological strategies. This study aimed to enhance comprehension of the pain mechanisms in SCD to identify potential areas of action for effective non-pharmacological interventions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>An evaluation was conducted on the severity and interference of pain, pain-related cognitions and emotions. We used network analysis to simultaneously examine the intricate relationships between these variables.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A pain intensity exceeding 4 at a steady state distinguishes a subgroup at elevated risk of negative pain-related emotions and cognitions. The network analysis revealed intricate interconnections, with three distinct subgroups of variables mimicking the Neuromatrix model (cognitive-evaluative, motivational-affective and sensory-discriminative subgroups). The derived directed acyclic graph suggests potential mechanisms between these three subgroups, with catastrophising having a pivotal role.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study extends previous research by providing a comprehensive network analysis of pain-related variables in SCD, offering novel insights into the complex interplay between pain experience, cognitions and emotions. These findings have important clinical implications, as they suggest that targeting dysfunctional pain cognitions and/or negative emotions may be beneficial for improving pain management and quality of life in SCD.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Significance Statement</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study was the first to use network analyses to understand simultaneously multiple relationships between variables referring to pain, and pain-related negative emotions and cognitions in adults with SCD. Findings, providing support to the Neuromatrix model, offer novel insight to better understand pain and the associated negative emotions and cognition in SCD. The derived direct","PeriodicalId":12021,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Pain","volume":"29 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejp.70059","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144273450","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anton Pashkov, Elena Filimonova, Azniv Martirosyan, Galina Moisak, Jamil Rzaev
{"title":"Cognitive and Personality Profiles of Patients With Chronic Trigeminal Neuralgia","authors":"Anton Pashkov, Elena Filimonova, Azniv Martirosyan, Galina Moisak, Jamil Rzaev","doi":"10.1002/ejp.70054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70054","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Patients suffering from chronic pain are known to exhibit distinctive personality traits and impaired neuropsychological performance across various cognitive domains. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive evidence regarding cognitive and behavioural functioning patterns in patients with trigeminal neuralgia.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In this study, we aimed to thoroughly characterise a range of psychological and neuropsychological variables in a sample of 73 patients and 34 healthy controls, and to assess their relationship with pain intensity and duration.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our findings revealed that patients with trigeminal pain scored significantly higher on measures of anxiety, depression, perceived stress, alexithymia, pain catastrophizing, harm avoidance and lower on the Self-transcendence subscale compared to healthy controls. Additionally, these patients demonstrated lower performance scores on tasks assessing working memory and verbal fluency. The regression model with Rey complex figure copy, backward digit span and perceived stress scores taken as predictors accounted for 32% of the pain intensity variance.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These findings may provide valuable insights for the development of personalised treatment plans for patients with trigeminal neuralgia, specifically targeting their unique personality traits and cognitive impairments.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Significance</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our work expands the current understanding of cognitive deficits and personality traits in patients with chronic facial pain. Furthermore, this study provides additional evidence that psychological and neuropsychological factors significantly contribute to the patients' perception of pain.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12021,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Pain","volume":"29 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144256096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Chronic Kidney Disease as a Relevant Comorbidity in the Association Between Chronic Postsurgical Pain and Dementia Risk","authors":"Amir Reza Akbari, Benyamin Alam","doi":"10.1002/ejp.70053","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70053","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12021,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Pain","volume":"29 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144244824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Majd Al-Sagheer, Niina Karttunen, Anne Paakinaho, Marjaana Koponen, Valtteri Kaasinen, Sirpa Hartikainen, Miia Tiihonen, Anna-Maija Tolppanen
{"title":"Incidence of Opioid Use Before and After Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis","authors":"Majd Al-Sagheer, Niina Karttunen, Anne Paakinaho, Marjaana Koponen, Valtteri Kaasinen, Sirpa Hartikainen, Miia Tiihonen, Anna-Maija Tolppanen","doi":"10.1002/ejp.70056","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70056","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Pain is a common symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD). It occurs also as a prodromal sign of PD. It has not yet been described how the use of analgesics changes over time in persons with PD. We investigated the incidence of opioid use from 5 years before to 5 years after PD diagnosis and compared the incidence to a matched cohort.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study included 15,763 people diagnosed with incident PD in 2001–2014 and 62,907 matched comparison persons without PD from the Finnish nationwide register-based study on Parkinson's disease (FINPARK). Initiation rates of opioid use during the follow-up were calculated in 6-month time windows, and the difference between persons with and without PD was described using incidence rate ratios (IRRs).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Opioid initiation was more common among persons with PD (37.0%) compared to people without PD (31.2%). The difference between the groups emerged 3 years before the PD diagnosis IRR 1.33 (1.16–1.53), and remained until the end of the follow-up. Mild opioids, such as tramadol and codeine, were the most commonly initiated opioids, and the largest difference in their use was observed 6 months prior to the diagnosis date, while differences in strong opioids emerged after the PD diagnosis. Initiation rates increased over time and remained above those of the comparison group after the PD diagnosis for all opioid classes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The findings demonstrate the incidence of moderate/severe pain in PD, which requires treatment with opioid-class analgesics. Further studies are needed to understand the long-term impact of opioid use in persons with PD.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Significance Statement</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Initiation rate of opioids is increased in persons with Parkinson's disease already at premotor or early motor stage, before the diagnosis is confirmed. Shift towards stronger opioids is observed over the disease progress. Further studies are needed to investigate optimized pain management strategies in Parkinson's disease.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12021,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Pain","volume":"29 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejp.70056","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144244792","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maria Lalouni, Jens Fust, Johan Bjureberg, Sebastian Blomé, William H. Thompson, Nitya Jayaram-Lindström, Eva Kosek, Clara Hellner, H. Henrik Ehrsson, Konstantina Kilteni, Karin B. Jensen
{"title":"Attenuation of Self-Induced Pain in Women With Nonsuicidal Self-Injury and Healthy Controls","authors":"Maria Lalouni, Jens Fust, Johan Bjureberg, Sebastian Blomé, William H. Thompson, Nitya Jayaram-Lindström, Eva Kosek, Clara Hellner, H. Henrik Ehrsson, Konstantina Kilteni, Karin B. Jensen","doi":"10.1002/ejp.70057","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70057","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Individuals who engage in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) have a reduced pain sensitivity. Self-induced pain is attenuated compared with externally induced pain, and this phenomenon, sensory attenuation, could partly explain the insensitivity to pain in individuals with NSSI.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The objective was to assess sensory attenuation in women with NSSI compared to controls. In total, 81 women aged 18–35 years, mean age 23.4 (SD = 3.9), with NSSI (<i>n</i> = 41) or controls (<i>n</i> = 40) were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Self-induced and experimenter-induced pressure pain thresholds were assessed. Correlation tests assessed possible associations between sensory attenuation and NSSI frequency, NSSI duration and conditioned pain modulation.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Across groups, the average self-induced pressure pain was 164.8 kPa (SE = 25.2, 95% CI = 114.8–214.7) higher than the average experimenter-induced pressure pain (<i>d</i> = 0.66). On average, NSSI participants displayed 106.7 kPa (SE = 42.9, 95% CI = 21.7–191.8) higher pressure pain thresholds than controls (<i>d</i> = 0.42), but there was no significant interaction effect for group (NSSI vs. controls) and condition (self-induced vs. experimenter-induced pain) (<i>p</i> = 0.102). However, a greater number of NSSI participants than controls were identified as exhibiting sensory attenuation (<i>p</i> = 0.022) when applying a threshold of ≥ 10% for sensory attenuation. Sensory attenuation correlated with conditioned pain modulation (tau = 0.17; <i>p</i> = 0.025), but not with NSSI frequency or duration.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Sensory attenuation of self-induced pressure was more prevalent in participants with NSSI than in controls, but there was no evidence that sensory attenuation was related to NSSI frequency or duration. The correlation between the sensory attenuation and conditioned pain modulation may be an indication of mutual anti-nociceptive mechanisms.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Significance Statement</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Sensory attenuation of self-induced pain was present in both participants with NSSI and controls, but a greater number of NSSI participants were identified as exhibiting sensory attenuation, applying a threshold of ≥ 10% for sensory attenuation. Sensory attenuation may facilitate NSSI behaviour because when pain is attenuated, the pain barrier ","PeriodicalId":12021,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Pain","volume":"29 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejp.70057","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144244147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Intermittent Hypoxia Triggers Glial Cell Activation, GluN2B Receptor Upregulation and Hyperalgesia in a Mouse Model of Sleep Apnea","authors":"Yen-Chin Liu, Bo-Ya Chiu, Kuan-Yi Tu, I-Chen Liu, Shiou-Lan Chen","doi":"10.1002/ejp.70039","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70039","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Sleep apnea is a condition that disrupts physiological homeostasis, leading to neuronal dysfunction and triggering a cascade of neurobiological effects. Individuals with sleep apnea and related disturbances may experience increased anxiety and sensory dysfunction, though these phenomena remain underexplored.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In this study, we used a mouse model to examine the effects of sleep apnea-induced intermittent hypoxia (IH) on sensory function and the mechanisms underlying chronic IH. Mice were exposed to chronic IH for 10 days to assess neuronal inflammation and neuronal plasticity changes in key areas such as the spinal cord and periaqueductal grey (PAG) to understand how IH alters sensory conduction pathways.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our analysis revealed that in mice exposed to IH, astrocytes and microglia were significantly upregulated in the dorsal and ventral horns of the lower spinal cord, accompanied by elevated cytokine levels (IL-1β and TNF-α), suggesting an inflammatory response. Moreover, a significant increase in astrocyte cells within the PAG was also found. Furthermore, chronic IH was associated with increased glutamate receptor subunit GluN2B expression in the spinal cord.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These findings collectively suggest that neuronal inflammation and alterations in synaptic plasticity are central to the development of hyperalgesia in IH-exposed mice. Our results provide crucial mechanistic insights into how IH can induce heightened pain sensitivity and underscore the importance of early therapeutic intervention to address sensory complications in patients with chronic sleep apnoea.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Significance Statement</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our study is the first to demonstrate that increased glial cells and elevated NMDA GluN2B expression in the spinal cord and PAG may drive sleep-related IH-induced hyperalgesia, linking sleep apnea to heightened pain sensitivity. Targeting central nervous system inflammation or GluN2B receptors could be crucial for mitigating the health impacts of sleep apnea.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12021,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Pain","volume":"29 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144244793","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Luiz Luciano Falconi-Sobrinho, Diana Fonseca-Rodrigues, Ana Laura Silva, Josie Resende Torres da Silva, Norberto Cysne Coimbra, Filipa Pinto-Ribeiro
{"title":"Activation of NMDA Receptors in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex Enhances Anxiety-Induced Behaviour and Antinociception, and Contributes to the Modulation of Pain-Facilitatory Descending Pathways","authors":"Luiz Luciano Falconi-Sobrinho, Diana Fonseca-Rodrigues, Ana Laura Silva, Josie Resende Torres da Silva, Norberto Cysne Coimbra, Filipa Pinto-Ribeiro","doi":"10.1002/ejp.70055","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70055","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is known to modulate glutamate-mediated fear-related defensive behaviours and nociceptive responses. However, its role in acute anxiety-related behaviours and associated antinociception remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the involvement of the ACC in anxiety-induced responses and its potential descending pathways influencing spinal nociceptive processing.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Male and female Wistar rats received microinjections of either vehicle or the NMDA receptor agonist N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA; 1 nmol) into area 24b (Cg1) of the ACC. Rats were then tested in the elevated plus maze (EPM) or open field (OF) tests, followed by the tail-flick test. In a separate experiment, anaesthetised rats were exposed to a thermal tail stimulus while undergoing electrophysiological recordings in the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) after ACC activation with NMDA. In some cases, NMDA administration was preceded by microinjections of vehicle or the NMDA receptor antagonist AP-5 (1 nmol) into the dorsal periaqueductal grey (dPAG), a midbrain site involved in descending pain modulation.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>NMDA-induced activation of ACC area 24b increased anxiety-related behaviours and antinociception in males during both EPM and OF testing. In females, this effect was observed only in the EPM test. In anaesthetised rats, ACC activation facilitated spinal nociception, an effect abolished by dPAG NMDA receptor blockade, suggesting a relay through this midbrain region.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>ACC activation enhances anxiety-related behaviour. While it promotes pronociception under anaesthesia, it induces antinociceptive effects in awake animals exposed to anxiogenic contexts.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12021,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Pain","volume":"29 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144244148","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}