Articles tagged with Nociceptors
Scientists have discovered the molecular characteristics of human sleeping nociceptors, which are key culprits in neuropathic pain. The findings provide a new framework for understanding the emergence of neuropathic pain at the molecular level and offer potential targets for developing targeted therapies.
Salk scientists pinpoint gracile nucleus as brain area responsible for differentiating between painful and non-painful touch, with dysfunction leading to chronic pain. Altered neuronal activity in the dorsal column nuclei drives mechanical allodynia, causing the brain to misinterpret innocuous light touch as painful.
Researchers at University of Arizona Health Sciences identified a potential way to reduce female post-operative pain by inhibiting pituitary prolactin. Stress can increase circulating levels of prolactin, leading to worsened post-operative pain in women.
Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum discovered that the rubber hand illusion reduces perceived pain intensity when a heat stimulus is applied to one hand while simultaneously illuminating a rubber hand. This phenomenon, known as visual analgesia, could potentially be used in treating complex regional pain syndrome.
Researchers analyzed mice infected with herpes virus and found that removing STING from nociceptors resulted in significant reduction of pain without affecting inflammation or viral load. The discovery may apply to other viral and bacterial infections, including COVID-19.
Researchers at MIT and MGH developed statistical models based on rigorous physiological data from over 100 surgeries, providing accurate measures of nociception. The new models aim to help anesthesiologists optimize drug doses and minimize post-operative pain and side effects.
A team of researchers has identified the PIEZO2 protein as a critical mediator of sensory signals that maintain chronic pain. The study found that gain-of-function mutations in the PIEZO2 gene can mimic the effects of chronic pain in C-fibers, suggesting a new target for pain medication.
A recent study published in BRAIN found that males and females differ in their experience of pain due to functional sex differences in nociceptors. The findings support the implementation of a precision medicine-based approach considering patient sex as fundamental to treatment choices.
Researchers have discovered that Schwann cells, previously thought to be solely responsible for protecting nerve fibers, also detect sensory stimuli such as touch, heat, and cold. The findings open new avenues for understanding and treating pain and impaired touch perception.
A new study shows that Medasense's NOL monitoring during major abdominal surgery can significantly reduce the proportion of patients with severe post-operative pain. The study found that intraoperative opioid dosing based on the NOL index reduced PACU pain scores by a median of 1.5 points at 90 minutes post-surgery. This technology use...
Dr. Ted Price is leading a $11.3 million NIH multicenter project to elucidate the origins of pain, focusing on human nociceptor and spinal cord molecular signatures. Researchers will study DRG tissue from organ donors to understand how neurons communicate signals along the human pain pathway.
A new animal study has identified a pain-associated gene expression signature in COVID-19 patients that remains even after the virus clears. The findings, which could lead to new pain treatments for long COVID patients, were published in Experimental Biology.
A UT Dallas team analyzes how pain is generated by nociceptors in human dorsal root ganglia neurons using spatial transcriptomics. This provides neuroscientists with a better understanding of which genes are expressed in DRG neurons, helping to clarify why proposed treatments struggle to produce results in humans.
The UArizona Health Sciences Center is developing a Center of Excellence for Addiction Studies to advance addiction research and develop therapies for the opioid epidemic. The center will facilitate national collaborations, employ cutting-edge genetic techniques, and provide advanced methods for measuring neurotransmitters.
A new study published in European Journal of Anaesthesiology found that NOL pain monitoring technology can detect the effect of dexmedetomidine on patients' pain response, enabling administration of less intraoperative opioids. The study demonstrated the potential for significant opioid sparing during surgery.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas identified a molecule that induces coughing in tuberculosis patients, providing a potential target for treatment and prevention. The discovery could help reduce the spread of TB, which kills over 1.3 million people worldwide annually.
Pre-clinical studies reveal that cortical spreading depression and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) play significant roles in migraine. Botox, CGRP, and PACAP-38 show promise as potential treatments.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute argue that targeting nociception can lead to improved anesthesia outcomes, including reduced medication use and faster patient recovery. By combining drugs to affect nociception, anesthesiologists can achieve a more desirable anesthetic state with better pain control.
Researchers found Dectin-1 critical for onset of pain in fungal infection, with inhibition blocking pain and resolving inflammation. A novel signaling mechanism was identified, from Dectin-1 to TRP channels, which could lead to new treatments for severe fungal pain.
A research team at the University of Colorado School of Medicine has identified a potential target for treating pain during surgery, aiming to reduce the use of narcotics. By understanding how nociceptors work, researchers hope to develop new therapies and decrease post-surgical pain duration and intensity.
Researchers used fruit flies to investigate the genetic and neural bases of detecting painful or harmful cold stimuli. The study found that cold-sensing neurons activate specific aversive behaviors and are linked to a gene implicated in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.
Researchers found that mice lacking orexin neurons are more sensitive to pain, while activating these neurons decreases pain-related behaviors. This suggests a link between wakefulness and the inability to feel pain.
A team of FAU researchers has discovered a substance called capsazepine that activates the mustard oil receptor, leading to reduced inflammation and sensitivity in nociceptors. This breakthrough could lead to the development of highly effective painkillers for diseases such as joint arthrosis and chronic pancreatitis.
A study by Indiana University researchers has identified 36 genes, including the 'smoke alarm' gene, that contribute to nerve sensitivity in both humans and fruit flies. These genes may represent potential targets for new drug treatments in human pain management.
Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital develop a new treatment strategy targeting nerve endings to combat allergic asthma. By selectively silencing sensory neurons called nociceptors, the approach reduces inflammation and bronchial twitchiness in mouse models of acute and chronic asthma.
Scientists have identified a 'brake' ion channel TREK2 in sensory neurons that limits spontaneous pain by stabilizing membrane potential. This discovery may lead to new pain relief treatments for conditions like neuropathic pain.
A study found that common shore crabs are willing to trade a valued shelter to avoid future electric shock, suggesting they experience pain. The research highlights the need for better treatment of crustaceans in food industries like aquaculture.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center discovered naturally occurring variations of the TRPA1 gene that allows fruit flies to sense potentially dangerous discomforts, including heat and pain. The findings may have implications for understanding temperature sensitivity in humans and developing new treatments for conditions such a...
University at Buffalo researchers discover that removing a class of potassium channels from nociceptors during inflammation reduces hyperalgesia, providing a potential therapeutic target for pain relief. This breakthrough could lead to the development of non-addictive, less-toxic painkillers.
Dr. Edward R. Perl, a renowned UNC neuroscientist, has been awarded the longest-running federal grant for pain research since 1957. His federally supported exploration of pain sensation's biological basis helped him become the first to document the existence of nociceptors.
A study by Shinya Ugawa and colleagues found that acid sensing ion channels (ASICs) function as acid sensors within a specific pH range, while VR1 receptors are not involved. The ASICs inhibitor amiloride may be a useful analgesic for treating localized pain within this range.