Articles tagged with Pain
KU Leuven researchers discovered a biological mechanism connecting food antigens to mast cell activation and digestive intolerance in people with IBS. The study found that certain foods like gluten, wheat, and soy can trigger local immune reactions in the gut, leading to abdominal pain.
The American College of Physicians (ACP) has released a comprehensive framework to address disparities and discrimination in healthcare, proposing policy recommendations to enhance quality and effectiveness for all patients. The framework also discusses specific contributors to health disparities and steps to improve them.
A study aims to reduce return visits to ED by low-risk patients with anxiety-caused chest pain. Researchers will explore online and telehealth care delivery options for anxious patients.
Researchers discover pain and fear are transmitted through different brain regions in mice, with pain mediated by the anterior cingulate cortex to the nucleus accumbens and fear mediated by the ACC to the basolateral amygdala. This study provides insights into empathy and may offer a model for socially-induced pain relief among humans.
Researchers analyzed over 6 million video clips from 144 countries to discover universal human emotional expression across cultures. The study found that people share about 70% of facial expressions in response to different social and emotional situations.
A study found that under-recognition of symptoms is common among breast cancer patients receiving radiation, with younger patients and Black patients being more likely to experience this. The researchers identified several factors associated with symptom under-recognition, including age, race, and treatment regimen.
A study by Cornell University researchers found that older adults in NYC are more likely to report fatigue and pain when encountering stressful social environments. The study used smartphone-based data collection to track participants' movements, activities, and emotions.
A new research study found a connection between repetitive behaviors and gastrointestinal problems in children with autism. The study also found that increased severity of other autism symptoms was associated with more severe constipation, stomach pain and other gut difficulties.
A recent study by Morgan Gianola and colleagues found that bilingual Hispanic/Latino participants experienced more intense pain when speaking the language of their stronger cultural identity. Physiological responses to pain also played a larger role in determining pain ratings among more Hispanic-oriented bilinguals.
A study found that pediatric CT use for abdominal pain decreased from 1.2% to 0.6% between 1997 and 2016, while adult CT use increased from 3.9% to 37.8% during the same period., Children evaluated in pediatric EDs were at lower odds of receiving CT than those in general EDs for abdominal pain with appendicitis diagnosis.
A new outpatient procedure has been shown to provide significant pain relief for patients with moderate to severe osteoarthritis in their hip and shoulder joints. Treatment involves the placement of needles where sensory nerves exist, followed by a low-grade current that 'stuns' them, slowing pain transmission to the brain.
A Tel Aviv University study found that 50% of Israeli women experience excessive teeth grinding and/or facial muscle pain due to coronavirus stress and anxiety. The study also revealed a higher prevalence of these symptoms among middle-aged women, with 35-55-year-olds suffering most.
A diet high in ultra-processed fats and sugars is associated with increased inflammatory molecules, excitability of muscle nerves, and musculoskeletal neurotransmission. This study found that a six-week hypercaloric diet in mice increased neuromuscular transmission, leading to muscle pain.
A new study published in BMJ Quality & Safety shows significant reductions in opioid prescribing and consumption after surgery, with no increase in patient pain or satisfaction. The study's findings suggest that team-based approaches to reducing opioid use can lead to sustained success and improved patient outcomes.
A study published in CMAJ found that while life expectancy for people with IBD has increased, those with the condition generally die sooner than those without it. This disparity is largely due to pain and its impact on daily functioning and overall health-adjusted life expectancy.
A study by Hospital for Special Surgery found that children with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) from less affluent families were twice as likely to report over an hour of morning joint stiffness. This may indicate early disease symptoms and the importance of timely referrals for expert diagnosis and treatment.
Researchers analyzed data from 665 older adults to find trends in end-of-life symptoms. The study found that rates decreased for certain symptoms, such as difficulty sleeping and shortness of breath, while others increased or remained stable.
Researchers will investigate acupuncture's effectiveness in managing pain in emergency departments across the US, with a goal of reducing opioid prescriptions. The three-year study involves 150 participants and aims to provide evidence for non-pharmacologic pain management methods.
A new study published in The Journal of Physiology found that administering a low dose of ketamine to healthy individuals does not alter their ability to tolerate simulated major blood loss. This study provides valuable insights for medical personnel when choosing pain medication for serious injuries with accompanying blood loss.
Researchers call for increased palliative care in China to address non-malignant disease management and family involvement. A systematic review highlights the need for better pain control, truth-telling, and emotional support.
Researchers used a novel MRI-based approach to study the interaction between patients and clinicians, finding that mirroring in facial expressions and brain activity can affect the patient-clinician bond and treatment. This study suggests that the clinical encounter has a measurable impact on the brain, emotions, and clinical outcomes.
A study by researchers at the University of Geneva suggests that unhealthy behaviors trigger brain responses similar to those prompted by bad smells. Disgust is identified as a biomarker in the brain for this phenomenon, which has implications for our understanding of moral judgments and survival reflexes.
A new study found that our brains use different approaches to avoid harm to ourselves versus others. When learning to avoid harm to others, decisions are automatic and efficient, but when avoiding harm to oneself, choices become more deliberative and future-focused.
Researchers at NTU Singapore have developed a system that enables robots to recognize pain and self-repair with minimal wiring and circuits. The 'mini-brain' approach allows the robot to process information efficiently and adapt to its environment, making it more interactive with humans.
A new study in Japan found that caring for a loved one facilitates necessary end-of-life discussions, while experiencing a loved one's death does not. The experience of caregiving appears to be a key predictor of having end-of-life discussions, regardless of the caregiver's age.
A 10-year study from Flinders University has found that removing only a portion of the tonsil can significantly reduce pain and bleeding after surgery. Children who underwent this partial removal procedure returned to normal activities in under half the time compared to those who had their entire tonsil removed.
A new study from the University of Eastern Finland found that over 40% of women experience constipation during pregnancy and right after childbirth. Daily exercise, balanced diet, and hydration can help prevent constipation. Lifestyle changes may not be enough to alleviate symptoms, with laxatives needed in some cases.
A recent study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health found that cannabis use is not a substitute for non-medical opioids among adults with opioid use disorder. The research examined 13,271 days of observation and found that opioid use remained prevalent on days when cannabis was used.
A new study published in Addiction suggests that cannabis use does not substitute for non-medical opioids among adults with problem substance use. The longitudinal study of 211 participants found that opioid use was at least as high on days when cannabis was used as on days when it was not.
Experts warn that opioids prescribed after surgery can lead to persistent use, addiction, and harm, including respiratory impairment and driving accidents. To mitigate these risks, hospitals must adopt strict opioid stewardship programs involving multidisciplinary teams.
Research at NYU College of Dentistry identifies genes highly expressed in painful, metastatic oral cancers, revealing a mechanism for cancer pain. The study's findings may lead to the development of biomarkers and objective molecular tests to diagnose risk of metastasis.
A new approach helps paramedics identify patients at high risk for adverse cardiac events using a modified HEART Pathway, which includes measurement of troponin levels. This allows for faster and more focused care for patients who need specific cardiac treatment.
A randomized controlled study found that acupuncture before surgery significantly reduced pain and opioid consumption in veterans. Researchers used both traditional and battlefield acupuncture techniques, with the latter showing promising results in reducing opioid use and improving patient satisfaction.
Researchers created machine learning models to predict patients' post-surgical pain and opioid needs. The models accurately identified high-risk patients 80% of the time, suggesting more effective pain management strategies with non-opioid alternatives.
Research shows that evidence-based guidelines have successfully reduced opioid prescriptions, but a small group of surgical patients may still need more pain control. The study suggests that these patients require a combination of opioids with non-opioid pain relievers to achieve optimal pain management.
Researchers found that SARS-CoV-2's spike protein can suppress pain signaling pathways, leading to reduced pain relief in COVID-19 patients. This discovery may help explain why many people with COVID-19 experience few or no symptoms despite being contagious.
A double-blind, randomized clinical trial found antacid monotherapy to be the most palatable solution and had fewer side effects compared to antacid/lidocaine combinations. Antacid monotherapy was also found to be equally efficacious in relieving epigastric pain as lidocaine/antacid combination therapy.
A new app called Close2U has been developed to monitor the physical and mental health of cancer patients using gamification. The app rewards users with advice or songs for answering daily questions about their mood and pain levels, promoting motivation and continuous monitoring.
A recent study published in the European Journal of Pain found that holding a newborn baby against their parent's skin dampens brain activity in response to painful stimuli. This suggests that touch between parents and their newborns plays an important role in pain processing and development.
Researchers at HSS are using magnetic resonance neurography to study Parsonage-Turner Syndrome, a painful nerve disorder that can cause sudden weakness. High-resolution images of peripheral nerves will be obtained to discover biomarkers for detection and monitoring, as well as aid in surgical planning.
A new study found that middle-aged Americans without a college degree report higher levels of pain than older Americans. The research team analyzed data from over 2.5 million adults and found that each generation of less-educated Americans experiences more pain throughout their lives.
A US study found that middle-aged individuals without a bachelor's degree reported more pain than elderly individuals, unlike in other wealthy countries where pain rises with age. The finding suggests that pain prevalence will continue to increase for less-educated adults in the US, with significant implications for healthcare.
Researchers from the University of Queensland have discovered two pain-blocking peptides in the Venezuelan Pinkfoot Goliath tarantula's venom, showing great potential as treatments for chronic intestinal pain. The peptides inhibit the most important ion channels underlying pain and nearly stopped chronic visceral pain in a model of IBS.
Future healthcare professionals lack training to address opioid use disorder and pain; a new 14-week course aims to bridge this gap. The course, 'Opioids: From Receptors to Epidemic,' provides a clinical understanding of pain and substance use disorders, as well as knowledge about public health and opioid policy interventions.
Researchers at the University of Queensland have found a new family of toxins, gympietides, in the Gympie-Gympie stinging tree that can cause long-lasting pain similar to spider and cone snail venom. The toxins permanently change sodium channels in sensory neurons, suggesting potential for developing new painkillers.
A randomized, double-blind trial found that turmeric supplements were more effective in reducing knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis compared to a placebo. The study also showed no adverse events and reduced medication usage, but highlighted the need for larger, longer-term trials.
A study analyzing opioid prescriptions after outpatient knee surgeries found significant variation in prescription strength and number of tablets across the US. States like Oklahoma prescribed more opioids than necessary, while others like Vermont had lower rates.
Researchers investigate transvaginal ultrasound as an alternative to invasive laparoscopic surgery for diagnosing deep infiltrating endometriosis. The study finds TVUS to be highly accurate in detecting the condition, reducing diagnostic delays and improving patient outcomes.
Researchers identified a potential underlying mechanism in the nervous system responsible for varying pain patterns with knee osteoarthritis. People with more pain sensitization were more likely to suffer from constant and unpredictable pain.
Researchers at RMIT University have developed electronic artificial skin that senses pain instantly, mimicking the body's near-instant feedback response. The prototype device combines three technologies to deliver key features of the skin's sensing capability in electronic form.
Researchers from Arizona State University have made significant progress in understanding TRPV1's thermosensing mechanism. The study provides a framework for distinguishing specific activation mechanisms that can be targeted to develop new non-addictive pain therapies.
New research suggests that Black patients experience less pain and anxiety when treated by a physician of their own race. Racial/ethnic concordance between doctor and patient influences physical responses to pain, with Black patients showing reduced bodily responses when paired with same-race doctors.
A study by Mayo Clinic researchers found that online searches for 'chest pain' increased by at least 34% during the COVID-19 pandemic, while emergency visits for heart attacks dropped. This suggests that people may be misconstruing chest pain as an infectious symptom or avoiding medical care due to pandemic concerns.
A new study found that follow-up calls made the evening after Mohs micrographic surgery best identified patients with active pain. However, no single group was able to identify bleeding complications or highest pain levels. The study suggests that standard phone calls may not strongly contribute to overall patient satisfaction.
Researchers found that patients who received daily text messages from an automated chatbot experienced a significant decrease in opioid use, averaging 26 pills compared to 41 for non-participants. This low-effort approach aims to reduce opioid dependence and is potentially transferable to other patient populations.
A new study from Lund University in Sweden found that app-based osteoarthritis treatment can halve patients' pain levels within six months and improve physical mobility. The digital program costs approximately 25% of conventional treatment, making it a cost-effective option.
A new molecule called TPPU has been shown to suppress the inflammatory process, reducing inflammation and joint tissue wear and tear in mice with genetically induced arthritis. Arthritic mice treated with TPPU displayed less pain and swelling and had lower clinical scores.
The new guidelines offer additional recommendations for photobiomodulation therapy and benzydamine, as well as a stronger guideline statement for cryotherapy. Researchers also found that natural honey may help prevent mucositis in head and neck cancer patients, although long-term effects are unclear.
A new study from Harvard Medical School found that Black former NFL players experience significant health disparities, including more pain, physical impairment, mood disorders, and cognitive problems compared to white peers. Other nonwhite athletes also face similar challenges.
A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that young adults and adolescents prescribed opioids for the first time are at a slightly greater risk of developing a substance-related problem, but not as high as previously thought. The risk was found to be around 1-2% higher than those who were not prescribed an opioid.