Articles tagged with Pain
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.
Researchers found a significant decrease in opioid prescribing rates and improved pain control following hip and knee replacement surgeries in the US between 2014 and 2017.
A pilot study of a combination of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection and home-based exercise program showed encouraging results in reducing shoulder pain in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury. Participants reported decreased pain levels, with three describing their pain as 'much improved', after the treatment.
A study discovered that some people in Europe and South America carry a Neandertal variant of an ion channel gene, leading to increased pain sensitivity. The gene's variant is associated with a lower pain threshold compared to the modern human version.
A study found that women with a rare genetic variant in the KCNG4 gene have a higher pain threshold, allowing them to experience less pain during childbirth. The researchers believe this variant acts like a natural epidural, requiring stronger contractions to switch on pain signals.
A new study found that training doctors in anaesthetic skills using Lego bricks can improve their performance. The study used a simple task where participants copied shapes using bricks to see in a mirror, and found that this improved their ability to perform ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia tasks.
A study published in Neurology found that training with a brain-computer-interface can significantly reduce phantom-limb pain in amputees. After just three days of training, patients experienced a 30% reduction in pain intensity, and the effect lasted up to five days after training was complete.
A researcher at the University of Oklahoma is using a $1.3 million grant to study why women with irritable bowel syndrome experience more severe abdominal pain than men under stress. Her goal is to identify epigenetic changes in specific brain nuclei that make females more vulnerable to abdominal pain.
The NETOIMS method effectively alleviates postoperative pain by inserting a needle in the muscle and electrically eliciting twitch responses, targeting strained muscle fibers. This technique results in improved circulation, relaxing the muscle and reducing postoperative complications after open abdominal surgery.
A new study by Ben-Gurion University researchers found that interacting with a plush, seal-like social robot reduced pain and increased happiness. Lower oxytocin levels were observed in those who interacted with the robot compared to the control group.
Researchers found that 45% of patients had low levels of pain effectively managed by a non-opioid regimen, with no reported side effects. Patients who required opioids were more likely to have anxiety/depression and higher pain scores, highlighting the potential for reduced opioid use in surgical settings.
Using regional anaesthesia instead of general anaesthesia for hip and knee replacement procedures can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By eliminating volatile halogenated agents, regional anaesthesia decreases atmospheric pollution, contributing to a potential solution to global warming.
A new nonsurgical treatment decreases errant blood flow in the shoulder to quickly reduce pain and improve function in patients with adhesive capsulitis, also known as 'frozen shoulder'. The treatment was successfully completed in 16 patients whose symptoms had not responded to conservative treatment over 30 days.
Researchers discovered Plasmodium parasites use internal clocks to regulate gene expression and cell cycle activities in response to host signals. The finding of a genetic metronome and SR10 receptor protein could lead to novel drug targets for combating malaria.
Researchers are developing a patient-friendly smartphone sensor to measure tooth pain and provide accurate care. The grant aims to test a novel way to quantify tooth pain using a commercially available device and miniaturize it for smartphone use.
Research reveals that positive anticipation leads to impatience, while negative anticipation elicits dread, influencing task prioritization. The study's findings have practical applications for personal finance and long-term planning.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found that CBD significantly reduces inflammatory molecules and immune cells associated with arthritis in dogs. The study showed that CBD treatment improved quality of life in 90% of the dogs, supporting future scientific evaluation of CBD for human arthritis.
Research found that most people at high risk of overdose in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside who use cannabis do so for pain relief and other therapeutic reasons. Cannabis users in this group had lower odds of experiencing a recent non-fatal opioid overdose, indicating a possible reduction in opioid reliance.
A new study analyzed four years' worth of data from two million patients and found that those having dental procedures on Fridays or before holidays were more likely to fill opioid prescriptions. Non-opioid painkillers are equally effective at controlling pain with lower risks.
This study compared early postoperative pain in patients undergoing bilateral scheduled staged TKA, finding no significant differences between the first and second surgeries. The frequency and number of analgesic requests were also similar, but showed a positive correlation at 24 hours after the second surgery.