{"title":"Microglia-neuronal communication mediated by P2X4R-BDNF-TrkB promotes synaptic plasticity and anterior cingulate cortex hyperactivity in muscle pain chronicity.","authors":"Yanan Liang,Meiling Luo,Qianxi Xu,Siqi Zhang,Shuangyang Niu,Xiaohe Li,Weizhen Sun,Menghan Song,Likai Wang,Xiangxin Xing,Jie Wang,Mengqi Feng,Linlin Zhao,Handong Chen,Run Sheng,Yonghui Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.bja.2025.04.048","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2025.04.048","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUNDMicroglia-neuronal communication is crucial for the development and maintenance of pain. However, the exact mechanisms underlying this interaction and its role in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) circuitry in pain regulation are under exploration.METHODSWe explored the role of P2X4R-brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-TrkB signalling of ACC in regulating muscle pain (MP). Mechanical and thermal pain thresholds along with open field tests were used to assess pain and anxiety-like behaviours. Golgi staining, transmission electron microscopy, and patch-clamp recordings were performed to evaluate synaptic plasticity changes. Meanwhile, cFos staining and calcium imaging substantiate the neuronal excitability. In addition, we used chemogenetic and optogenetic approaches to manipulate ACC neuronal activity.RESULTSThe ACC exhibited increased excitability, together with enhanced synaptic plasticity in rats with chronic MP. Microglial inhibition alleviated pain and anxiety-like behaviours. Furthermore, microglial P2X4R promoted BDNF expression, which acted on TrkB to regulate neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity in ACC; these effects were reversed by P2X4R knockdown and TrkB inhibition in MP. Chemogenetic and optogenetic suppression of ACC hyperactivity relieved chronic MP and anxiety-like behaviours.CONCLUSIONSOur findings highlight a critical microglia-neuronal communication via the P2X4R-BDNF-TrkB signalling, which enhances synaptic plasticity and cortical excitability in the anterior cingulate cortex, thereby participating in the regulation of muscle pain. Understanding how to assess and modulate microglia-neuronal communication and abnormal cortical activity will be key to developing novel therapies for MP disorders.","PeriodicalId":9250,"journal":{"name":"British journal of anaesthesia","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144701065","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Preet Mohinder Singh,David T Monks,Adithya D Bhat,Anuradha Borle,Manpreet Kaur,Phillip Yang,Muthuraj Kanakaraj
{"title":"Corrigendum to 'Epidural analgesia versus dural puncture epidural analgesia in labouring parturients: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials'(Br J Anaesth 2025; 134: 1402-14).","authors":"Preet Mohinder Singh,David T Monks,Adithya D Bhat,Anuradha Borle,Manpreet Kaur,Phillip Yang,Muthuraj Kanakaraj","doi":"10.1016/j.bja.2025.07.032","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2025.07.032","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9250,"journal":{"name":"British journal of anaesthesia","volume":"54 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144701066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Technology, evidence, and continuing clinical education: a role for self-directed learning?","authors":"Craig S Webster,Jennifer M Weller","doi":"10.1016/j.bja.2025.07.004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2025.07.004","url":null,"abstract":"Clinical technology in anaesthesia is rapidly advancing, challenging clinicians to find the time for the vital task of keeping up-to-date with new equipment. Self-directed learning using video has been shown to be an effective and flexible method to meet this training challenge, but this mode of learning seems unlikely to entirely replace instructor-led learning.","PeriodicalId":9250,"journal":{"name":"British journal of anaesthesia","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144701063","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Adam W Kaplon,Sebastian Gallo,Christian S Guay,Keith H Baker
{"title":"A black swan spotted during emergence from general anaesthesia: alpha and delta oscillations present in a conversing patient.","authors":"Adam W Kaplon,Sebastian Gallo,Christian S Guay,Keith H Baker","doi":"10.1016/j.bja.2025.06.029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2025.06.029","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9250,"journal":{"name":"British journal of anaesthesia","volume":"704 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144701064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lynn A Miggelbrink,Wilton A van Klei,Marianne C Verhaar,Folkert W Asselbergs,Wilko Spiering,Wolfgang F F A Buhre,Markus W Hollmann,Felix van Lier,Eric H P A van Dongen,Patrick Schober,Thijs C D Rettig,Hans J B Reitsma,Eva P C van Schaik,Lisette M Vernooij,Judith A R van Waes
{"title":"Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers in the perioperative period: withdraw or continue? A multicentre randomised controlled trial.","authors":"Lynn A Miggelbrink,Wilton A van Klei,Marianne C Verhaar,Folkert W Asselbergs,Wilko Spiering,Wolfgang F F A Buhre,Markus W Hollmann,Felix van Lier,Eric H P A van Dongen,Patrick Schober,Thijs C D Rettig,Hans J B Reitsma,Eva P C van Schaik,Lisette M Vernooij,Judith A R van Waes","doi":"10.1016/j.bja.2025.05.056","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2025.05.056","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9250,"journal":{"name":"British journal of anaesthesia","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144693499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Factors associated with a reduction in the preventive effect of intravenous dexamethasone on rebound pain after axillary brachial plexus block.","authors":"Nassim Touil,Athanasia Pavlopoulou,Olivier Barbier,Xavier Libouton,Damien Gruson,Jean-Luc Gala,Patricia Lavand'homme","doi":"10.1016/j.bja.2025.05.055","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2025.05.055","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUNDRebound pain after regional anaesthesia remains a significant clinical problem. Intravenous dexamethasone is commonly used as an adjuvant to prevent rebound pain although its effectiveness varies among patients. We aimed to identify phenotypic and biological factors influencing glucocorticoid sensitivity contributing to dexamethasone resistance in the prevention of rebound pain.METHODSPatients undergoing ambulatory upper limb surgery with an axillary brachial plexus block were enrolled prospectively to receive dexamethasone (0.1 mg kg-1 i.v.) before surgery. Preoperative factors analysed encompassed clinical aspects (central sensitivity, anxiety, and pain scores) and biological parameters (salivary cortisol, annexin-A1, and blood inflammatory markers). Postoperative outcomes comprised rebound pain incidence (numerical rating scale >7 within the first 24 h) and persistent pain at 3 months.RESULTSOf the 104 patients included, 36 (34.6%) developed rebound pain. Preoperative nocturnal awakening pain (odds ratio [OR]=3.09, P=0.03), severe anxiety (OR=3.54, P=0.01), high catastrophising score (OR=4.14, P=0.01), and low salivary cortisol levels (<1147 pg ml-1) (OR=3.33, P=0.02) were associated with an increased risk of rebound pain. Persistent pain at 3 months (27%) was associated with the presence of postoperative rebound pain (P=0.04).CONCLUSIONSPreoperative nocturnal pain, severe anxiety, high catastrophising, and low salivary cortisol levels are factors that might reduce the efficacy of dexamethasone in preventing rebound pain. These findings support the development of personalised preventive strategies.CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATIONNCT05763433.","PeriodicalId":9250,"journal":{"name":"British journal of anaesthesia","volume":"98 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144693498","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Predicting arterial pressure without prejudice: towards effective hypotension prediction models","authors":"Simon Tilma Vistisen, Paul Elbers","doi":"10.1016/j.bja.2025.06.016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2025.06.016","url":null,"abstract":"Selection bias has been identified in hypotension prediction models, but its impact on an algorithm’s ability to learn relevant information from the arterial waveform remains unclear. The recent study by Yang and colleagues sheds considerable light on this by training and evaluating a deep learning prediction model with biased and unbiased data selections. Unbiased training data allowed an algorithm to learn modestly more than just current blood pressure and the bias significantly distorted and inflated the positive predictive value. We discuss these findings and offer suggestions for further developing effective hypotension prediction algorithms.","PeriodicalId":9250,"journal":{"name":"British journal of anaesthesia","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144664992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Solving the enigma of burst suppression. Response to Br J Anaesth 2025.","authors":"Jyun-You Liou,M Bruce Maciver,Jamie W Sleigh","doi":"10.1016/j.bja.2025.06.019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2025.06.019","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9250,"journal":{"name":"British journal of anaesthesia","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144664261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Response of the Conox quantitative electroencephalographic monitor to neuromuscular block in awake volunteers.","authors":"Peter J Schuller,Jan P G Pretorius,Kym B Newbery","doi":"10.1016/j.bja.2025.05.023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2025.05.023","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUNDThe Conox monitor analyses the frontal EEG to generate two indices of anaesthetic effects: qCON, intended to indicate the level of consciousness, and qNOX, designed to reflect responsiveness to noxious stimuli. Two similar quantitative EEG devices, BIS and Entropy, have been shown to require muscle activity (EMG) to generate accurate index values in awake individuals. Without EMG, these devices produce misleadingly low values and incorrectly suggest sedation or anaesthesia despite the cortical EEG showing the subjects are awake. As EMG affects frequency bands used by Conox, it too could be incorporating muscle activity to generate high values in awake individuals.METHODSWe replayed EEGs recorded during awake paralysis to the Conox monitor via an electronic playback system to test whether it requires EMG to generate accurate values in awake subjects.RESULTSBoth qCON and qNOX decreased after neuromuscular block to values consistent with sedation or anaesthesia, despite subjects being fully awake. qCON decreased below 60 in 15 of 19 trials, and qNOX decreased below 60 in 11 of 19 trials. Overall, 42% of qCON values during paralysis were <60, the level supposedly indicating anaesthesia.CONCLUSIONSConox requires muscle activity to generate accurate values in awake individuals. Consequently, it might be an unreliable indicator of awareness in patients who have received neuromuscular blocking drugs. Studies conducted without neuromuscular block can provide misleading guidance when applied to Conox use in paralysed patients. Clinicians should approach manufacturer guidelines with caution and not rely solely on index values to guide dosing of anaesthetic drugs.","PeriodicalId":9250,"journal":{"name":"British journal of anaesthesia","volume":"672 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144664260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}