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An important objective of pain research is to identify novel drug targets for the treatment of pathological persistent pain states, such as inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Mas-related G-protein--coupled receptors (Mrgprs) represent a large family of orphan receptors specifically expressed in small-diameter nociceptive primary sensory neurons. To determine the roles of Mrgprs in persistent pathological pain states, we exploited a mouse line in which a chromosomal locus spanning 12 Mrgpr genes was deleted (KO). Initial studies indicated that these KO mice show prolonged mechanical- and thermal-pain hypersensitivity after hind-paw inflammation compared with wild-type littermates. Here, we show that this mutation also enhances the windup response of dorsal-horn wide dynamic-range neurons, an electrophysiological model for the triggering of central pain sensitization. Deletion of the Mrgpr cluster also blocked the analgesic effect of intrathecally applied bovine adrenal medulla peptide 8-22 (BAM 822), an MrgprC11 agonist, on both inflammatory heat hyperalgesia and neuropathic mechanical allodynia. Spinal application of bovine adrenal medulla peptide 8-22 also significantly attenuated windup in wild-type mice, an effect eliminated in KO mice. These data suggest that members of the Mrgpr family, in particular MrgprC11, may constitute an endogenous inhibitory mechanism for regulating persistent pain in mice. Agonists for these receptors may, therefore, represent a class of antihyperalgesics for treating persistent pain with minimal side effects because of the highly specific expression of their targets. inflammation | neuropeptides | sensory neurons | Mrgpr doi/ 10.1073/pnas.1011221107

The role of Erlebnistypus personality features were investigated in 40 healthy subjects, as defined by the Rorschach Comprehensive System by Exner, in determining accuracy in recollecting acute tonic experimental pain, induced by the Cold Water Pressor Test. Multiple-regression analysis revealed that the difference between the number of movement answers and the number of chromatic answers in the Rorschach test, an index of general Extroversion, predicted accuracy in recollecting the qualitative features of pain, defined as affective and evaluative pain scores on the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Also, Extratensive subjects were less accurate than Introversive and Ambitent participants at recollecting sensory scores. The data suggest that general extroversion may have a role in individual differences in the higher cognitive processing of pain comprising pain memory. DOI 10.2466/02.09.15.20.PMS.111.4.91-104

The authors tested whether coping styles and fear of pain mediate the relationship between positive affect and negative affect on one hand and pain-related distress (PD) on the other. Among African American and Caucasian female college students, negative affect, fear of pain, and emotion-oriented coping together accounted for 34% of the variance in PD among African American women and 40% of the variance in PD among Caucasian women. Emotion-oriented coping and fear of pain fully mediated the relationship between negative affect and PD among Caucasian women and partly mediated the relationship between negative affect and PD among African American women. Results suggest that reducing college women's reliance on emotion-oriented coping and their fears of pain may help reduce PD.

In research with animals as well as samples of chronic pain patients and elderly persons, pain has been positively correlated with measures of irritability, hostility, and aggression. The present investigation examined the relationship of pain tolerance with aggression. 72 men participated in the Response Choice Aggression Paradigm, described previously by Zeichner and colleagues, in which aggressive response to provocation was possible but not required of participants. Subjective pain tolerance, defined as maximal electrical shock willingly tolerated by participants, was assessed. Significant but small Pearson product-moment correlations between pain tolerance and aggression ranged between .21 and .32, with the largest accounting for 9% of variance.

To determine the effectiveness of postoperative local infiltration of Bupivacaine in decreasing post tonsillectomy pain. A double blind randomized clinical trail was conducted. Treatment group was administered 3-10 ml 0.5% Bupivacaine + 1/200000 Epinephrine solution and control group was received 3-10 ml normal saline, locally. Outcome was post surgical pain, which measured by visual analogue scale (VAS), after 6, 12, 18 hours post surgical. The mean scores of pain after surgery were lower grade in treatment group than placebo group. Post tonsillectomy pain suffered patients and required to reduce; hence pharmacotherapy seems necessary for it. Current finding was shown local 0.5% Bupivacaine + 1/200000 Epinephrine injection is good for pain relief. Key words: Tonsillectomy pain, infiltration of bupivacaine, effectiveness, INTRODUCTION Tonsillectomy is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures and is often associated with significant postoperative pain [1]. Multiple techniques have been tried to reduce associated pain tonsillectomy. [...]

Purpose. Pain is a worldwide health concern leading to cognitive impairments, depression, and decline in activities of daily living when poorly controlled. Self-neglect is also a serious public health issue being the most common allegation reported to Adult Protective Services (APS). The purpose of this analysis is to determine whether self-reported pain is associated with validated cases of self-neglect compared with matched controls. Methods. This is a cross-sectional study of 80 (APS) validated cases of self-neglect aged 65 years and older and 80 control participants recruited from a geriatric clinic at Harris County Hospital District. Control participants were matched for age, race, gender, and zip code. Both groups were administered the Wong-Baker FACES rating scale and the Mini-Mental State Examination in their homes by a geriatric nurse practitioner and a research assistant. Summary of Results. Self-reported pain was noted in 43% of the self-neglect group compared with only 28% in the control group ([chi square] = 3.85, df= 1, p = .05). This difference became non-significant after stratifying for MMSE scores of 19 or greater ([chi square] = 3.38, df = 1, p = .066). The self-neglecting elderly also reported significantly higher levels of pain compared with the matched controls (t = 2.5, df = 143, p = .014). This mean difference remained significant after stratifying by MMSE scores of 19 or greater (t = 2.6, df = 124, p = .009). Conclusion. The data provide preliminary support for the relationship between self-reported pain and elder self-neglect. Research is needed to determine whether pain is a causal or associated factor in self-neglect and whether therapeutic intervention can improve the syndrome of self-neglect. doi: 10.1300/J084v18n04_06 KEYWORDS. Pain, elderly, self-neglect

A key moment in the modern history of aesthetics, Edmund Burke's 'Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful' is examined. This would contribute new critical insights into the diverse cultural and political functions of an aesthetic category, the sublime that is still regarded as a single artistic sensibility to characterize the Modern.

The conflict between the two health care paradigms, the traditional doctor centered and the emerging patient centered, has certain social, political and economic consequences, which lead to under treatment of pain. It is imperative to promote true cultural education about the pain care issues to facilitate the movement towards the new paradigm.

Several systems for measuring pain behaviour have been developed for clinical settings. The present study reports on a real-time system for coding five categories of pain behaviour for low-back pain patients: guarding, touching, sounds, words, and facial expression. Unique features of the system are the use of refined measures of facial expression and integration of the measurements with a standardized physical examination. 176 sub-acute and chronic low-back pain patients underwent a physical examination while their pain behaviour was coded. Concurrent measures of subjective pain, medically-incongruent signs, and independent global ratings of pain behaviour were taken. Analyses indicated that the pain behaviours, particularly guarding and facial expression, varied systematically with the alternative measures, supporting the concurrent validity of the behaviour observation system. While pain behaviours, especially use of words and facial expressions, were significantly associated with the examiners' independent ratings, the strength of the associations suggested that, in the absence of direct training, examiners' performance was relatively poor. Implications for training of clinicians in detecting pain behaviour are discussed. Keywords: Pain; Behaviour; Facial expression; Guarding; Low-back pain; Patients; Validity

Dental patients who undergo treatment with a laser may experience little or no pain during or after the procedure. Many patients are afraid to visit the dentist because they fear pain. Among 78 dental patients who underwent treatment with a laser, 91% experienced no pain or mild or weak pain during treatment and nine percent experienced strong or intense pain. Eighty-five percent of the patients experienced less pain with the laser procedure, but 15% experienced significant discomfort. Some patients could smell flesh burning during laser surgery, and others did not like certain types of sensations associated with the procedure. After the procedure, none of the patients experienced strong or intense pain and the majority did not experience any type of pain. Laser surgery may be less expensive than other types of dental surgery.

The construction of the Pain-Related Self Statements Scale (PRSS) and the Pain-Related Control Scale (PRCS) is described. The PRSS assesses situation-specific aspects of patients' cognitive coping with pain, while the PRCS measures general attitudes towards pain. The reliability and validity of these scales were determined in a sample of 120 chronic pain patients suffering from various rheumatic disorders, 213 patients who suffered from chronic back pain, 44 patients with temporomandibular pain and dysfunction and 38 healthy controls. The analysis of the PRSS yielded two scales termed 'Catastrophizing' and 'Coping'; the PRSC consists of the subscales 'Helplessness' and 'Resourcefulness'. All four subscales were demonstrated to be valid and sensitive to change, and they are closely related to pain intensity and interference from pain experiences.

Research determined the effects of pain and work limitation from an occupational injury on one's self-concepts and on the incidence of depression. Findings show that self-esteem, self-efficacy and work limitation are significantly associated with depression. It was also found that both pain and work limitations directly influence depression which in turn is mediated by theeffects of self-esteem and self-efficacy. Such findings support the hypothesis that self-concept has mediating effects on injury and depression.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a condition characterized by narrowing of the arteries supplying blood to the heart. This is usually caused by deposition of fatty, cholesterol-containing atherosclerotic plaque on the interior surface of the arteries, causing a restriction of cardiac blood flow (myocardial ischemia). Myocardial ischemia can be induced (or made worse) by exercise testing, which leads to angina pectoris (chest pain). The delay between the onset of myocardial ischemia and the perception of chest pain is referred to as the anginal perceptual threshold. In diabetic patients, who suffer from dysfunction of the sensory nerves from the heart (among other maladies), the anginal perceptual threshold is increased, indicating a relative insensitivity to this type of pain. Whether or not this phenomenon is simply a variation on the same physiological events underlying the occurrence of 'silent' (painless) ischemia is not known; this would be implied by the fact that silent ischemia is also more prevalent among diabetics. A study was carried out to determine whether diabetic patients with increased anginal perceptual thresholds were less sensitive to other painful stimuli. The study included 19 diabetes along with 25 nondiabetics; all subjects experienced angina upon exertion. Subjects underwent exercise stress to induce myocardial ischemia, and the anginal perceptual threshold was determined; inflation of a rubber cuff around the calf of the leg allowed determination of somatic pain threshold. There was a positive correlation between both measures of pain sensitivity; patients with increased anginal perceptual thresholds were also less sensitive to leg pain. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)