scholarly journals Opioid Analgesics in the Management of Neuropathic Pain

2000 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dwight Moulin
Keyword(s):  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Opioid Analgesic ◽  
Opioid Analgesics ◽  
Difficult Problem ◽  
Physiochemical Properties ◽  
Control Failure ◽  
Unbearable Pain ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Higher Doses

The role of antidepressants and anticonvulsants in the management of neuropathic pain has been well established. However, up to 50% of patients obtain inadequate pain relief with the use of either or both of these agents; in this subpopulation, an opioid analgesic may be beneficial. There is clear evidence that opioid analgesics are efficacious in the management of neuropathic pain, but there is controversy as to the balance between analgesia and adverse effects. Opioid treatment may require higher doses than other kinds of drug therapies, thereby increasing the risk of opioid-related side effects. Psychological dependence or addiction, however, is not usually an issue in pain management with opioid analgesics. The extant literature strongly suggests the trial of an opioid analgesic in the management of neuropathic pain if adjuvant analgesics fail to provide adequate pain control. Failure of one opioid warrants a trial of another opioid because their effectiveness can vary among patients; the results are based on physiochemical properties of the drug and idiosyncratic reactions of the patient. Neuropathic pain can be a difficult problem to manage, and sometimes the use of an opioid analgesic can make the difference between bearable and unbearable pain so that patients can get on with their lives.

scholarly journals Information in the Nonstationary Case

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 688-703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Q. Vu ◽  
Bin Yu ◽  
Robert E. Kass
Keyword(s):  
Mutual Information ◽  
Conditional Distribution ◽  
Direct Method ◽  
Conditional Entropy ◽  
Difficult Problem ◽  
Response Distribution ◽  
Direct Estimate ◽  
Estimation Strategy ◽  
The Difference

Information estimates such as the direct method of Strong, Koberle, de Ruyter van Steveninck, and Bialek (1998) sidestep the difficult problem of estimating the joint distribution of response and stimulus by instead estimating the difference between the marginal and conditional entropies of the response. While this is an effective estimation strategy, it tempts the practitioner to ignore the role of the stimulus and the meaning of mutual information. We show here that as the number of trials increases indefinitely, the direct (or plug-in) estimate of marginal entropy converges (with probability 1) to the entropy of the time-averaged conditional distribution of the response, and the direct estimate of the conditional entropy converges to the time-averaged entropy of the conditional distribution of the response. Under joint stationarity and ergodicity of the response and stimulus, the difference of these quantities converges to the mutual information. When the stimulus is deterministic or nonstationary the direct estimate of information no longer estimates mutual information, which is no longer meaningful, but it remains a measure of variability of the response distribution across time.

scholarly journals Blockade of CC Chemokine Receptor Type 3 Diminishes Pain and Enhances Opioid Analgesic Potency in a Model of Neuropathic Pain

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Pawlik ◽  
Agata Ciechanowska ◽  
Katarzyna Ciapała ◽  
Ewelina Rojewska ◽  
Wioletta Makuch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Chemokine Receptor ◽  
Pain Treatment ◽  
Opioid Analgesic ◽  
Receptor Type ◽  
Clinical Issue ◽  
Cc Chemokine ◽  
Type 3

Neuropathic pain is a serious clinical issue, and its treatment remains a challenge in contemporary medicine. Thus, dynamic development in the area of animal and clinical studies has been observed. The mechanisms of neuropathic pain are still not fully understood; therefore, studies investigating these mechanisms are extremely important. However, much evidence indicates that changes in the activation and infiltration of immune cells cause the release of pronociceptive cytokines and contribute to neuropathic pain development and maintenance. Moreover, these changes are associated with low efficacy of opioids used to treat neuropathy. To date, the role of CC chemokine receptor type 3 (CCR3) in nociception has not been studied. Similarly, little is known about its endogenous ligands (C-C motif ligand; CCL), namely, CCL5, CCL7, CCL11, CCL24, CCL26, and CCL28. Our research showed that the development of hypersensitivity in rats following chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve is associated with upregulation of CCL7 and CCL11 in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Moreover, our results provide the first evidence that single and repeated intrathecal administration of the CCR3 antagonist SB328437 diminishes mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity. Additionally, repeated administration enhances the analgesic properties of morphine and buprenorphine following nerve injury. Simultaneously, the injection of SB328437 reduces the protein levels of some pronociceptive cytokines, such as IL-6, CCL7, and CCL11, in parallel with a reduction in the activation and influx of GFAP-, CD4- and MPO-positive cells in the spinal cord and/or DRG. Moreover, we have shown for the first time that an inhibitor of myeloperoxidase-4-aminobenzoic hydrazide may relieve pain and simultaneously enhance morphine and buprenorphine efficacy. The obtained results indicate the important role of CCR3 and its modulation in neuropathic pain treatment and suggest that it represents an interesting target for future investigations.

scholarly journals On the Role of Peripheral Sensory and Gut Mu Opioid Receptors: Peripheral Analgesia and Tolerance

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 2473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanna Fürst ◽  
Zoltán S. Zádori ◽  
Ferenc Zádor ◽  
Kornél Király ◽  
Mihály Balogh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Opioid Receptors ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Opioid Analgesic ◽  
Analgesic Efficacy ◽  
Opioid Analgesics ◽  
Analgesic Tolerance ◽  
Peripheral Analgesia ◽  
Peripheral Opioid Receptors ◽  
Peripheral Sensory

There is growing evidence on the role of peripheral µ-opioid receptors (MORs) in analgesia and analgesic tolerance. Opioid analgesics are the mainstay in the management of moderate to severe pain, and their efficacy in the alleviation of pain is well recognized. Unfortunately, chronic treatment with opioid analgesics induces central analgesic tolerance, thus limiting their clinical usefulness. Numerous molecular mechanisms, including receptor desensitization, G-protein decoupling, β-arrestin recruitment, and alterations in the expression of peripheral MORs and microbiota have been postulated to contribute to the development of opioid analgesic tolerance. However, these studies are largely focused on central opioid analgesia and tolerance. Accumulated literature supports that peripheral MORs mediate analgesia, but controversial results on the development of peripheral opioid receptors-mediated analgesic tolerance are reported. In this review, we offer evidence on the consequence of the activation of peripheral MORs in analgesia and analgesic tolerance, as well as approaches that enhance analgesic efficacy and decrease the development of tolerance to opioids at the peripheral sites. We have also addressed the advantages and drawbacks of the activation of peripheral MORs on the sensory neurons and gut (leading to dysbiosis) on the development of central and peripheral analgesic tolerance.

The role of differential phase contrast in electron microscopy

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 176-177
Author(s):  
E.M. Waddell ◽  
J.N. Chapman ◽  
R.P. Ferrier
Keyword(s):  
Phase Contrast ◽  
Practical Method ◽  
Position Vector ◽  
Differential Phase ◽  
Pure Phase ◽  
Differential Phase Contrast ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Image Position ◽  
First Moment

Dekkers and de Lang (1977) have discussed a practical method of realising differential phase contrast in a STEM. The method involves taking the difference signal from two semi-circular detectors placed symmetrically about the optic axis and subtending the same angle (2α) at the specimen as that of the cone of illumination. Such a system, or an obvious generalisation of it, namely a quadrant detector, has the characteristic of responding to the gradient of the phase of the specimen transmittance. In this paper we shall compare the performance of this type of system with that of a first moment detector (Waddell et al.1977).For a first moment detector the response function R(k) is of the form R(k) = ck where c is a constant, k is a position vector in the detector plane and the vector nature of R(k)indicates that two signals are produced. This type of system would produce an image signal given bywhere the specimen transmittance is given by a (r) exp (iϕ (r), r is a position vector in object space, ro the position of the probe, ⊛ represents a convolution integral and it has been assumed that we have a coherent probe, with a complex disturbance of the form b(r-ro) exp (iζ (r-ro)). Thus the image signal for a pure phase object imaged in a STEM using a first moment detector is b2 ⊛ ▽ø. Note that this puts no restrictions on the magnitude of the variation of the phase function, but does assume an infinite detector.

On the Role of Transferrin in 67Ga Uptake by Tumor Cells

1988 ◽  
Vol 27 (04) ◽  
pp. 151-153
Author(s):  
P. Thouvenot ◽  
F. Brunotte ◽  
J. Robert ◽  
L. J. Anghileri
Keyword(s):  
Specific Binding ◽  
Subcellular Fractionation ◽  
Animal Blood ◽  
Tumor Bearing ◽  
Cell Structures ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Sarcoma Cells ◽  
In Vitro Uptake

In vitro uptake of 67Ga-citrate and 59Fe-citrate by DS sarcoma cells in the presence of tumor-bearing animal blood plasma showed a dramatic inhibition of both 67Ga and 59Fe uptakes: about ii/io of 67Ga and 1/5o of the 59Fe are taken up by the cells. Subcellular fractionation appears to indicate no specific binding to cell structures, and the difference of binding seems to be related to the transferrin chelation and transmembrane transport differences

REFLECTION COEFFICIENT OF AN ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE IN CONDUCTIVE MEDIA

2018 ◽  
pp. 100-106
Author(s):  
M. S. Sudakova ◽  
M. L. Vladov ◽  
M. R. Sadurtdinov
Keyword(s):  
Reflection Coefficient ◽  
Ground Penetrating Radar ◽  
Electromagnetic Waves ◽  
Water Contamination ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Direct And Inverse Problems ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Ground Penetrating ◽  
Ideal Dielectric

Within the ground penetrating radar bandwidth the medium is considered to be an ideal dielectric, which is not always true. Electromagnetic waves reflection coefficient conductivity dependence showed a significant role of the difference in conductivity in reflection strength. It was confirmed by physical modeling. Conductivity of geological media should be taken into account when solving direct and inverse problems, survey design planning, etc. Ground penetrating radar can be used to solve the problem of mapping of halocline or determine water contamination.

Speculative Realism and Science Fiction

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Willems
Keyword(s):  
Science Fiction ◽  
Identity Formation ◽  
Cormac Mccarthy ◽  
Doris Lessing ◽  
Speculative Realism ◽  
Neil Gaiman ◽  
The World ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Quentin Meillassoux

A human-centred approach to the environment is leading to ecological collapse. One of the ways that speculative realism challenges anthropomorphism is by taking non-human things to be as valid objects of investivation as humans, allowing a more responsible and truthful view of the world to take place. Brian Willems uses a range of science fiction literature that questions anthropomorphism both to develop and challenge this philosophical position. He looks at how nonsense and sense exist together in science fiction, the way in which language is not a guarantee of personhood, the role of vision in relation to identity formation, the difference between metamorphosis and modulation, representations of non-human deaths and the function of plasticity within the Anthropocene. Willems considers the works of Cormac McCarthy, Paolo Bacigalupi, Neil Gaiman, China Miéville, Doris Lessing and Kim Stanley Robinson are considered alongside some of the main figures of speculative materialism including Graham Harman, Quentin Meillassoux and Jane Bennett.

FEEDBACK CONTROL OF FSH IN THE MALE: ROLE OF OESTROGEN

1973 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick C. Walsh ◽  
Ronald S. Swerdloff ◽  
William D. Odell
Keyword(s):  
Luteinizing Hormone ◽  
Follicle Stimulating Hormone ◽  
Oestrogen Therapy ◽  
Serum Concentrations ◽  
Elderly Men ◽  
Normal Range ◽  
Oestrogen Treatment ◽  
Serum Lh ◽  
Higher Doses

ABSTRACT Serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured by radioimmunoassay in a group of elderly men following castration and oestrogen therapy. Prior to orchiectomy, mean serum concentrations of LH and FSH were within the normal range. Two days following castration, serum LH concentrations increased in all eight patients; higher levels of LH were subsequently measured in all but one patient after periods of time ranging from 49 to 210 days. Serum FSH levels, measured in three patients following castration, increased in a pattern parallel to LH changes. Ethinyl oestradiol (EOe) in doses ranging from 5 to 300 μg/day was administered to ten men who had been castrated 3 to 72 months earlier. Oestrogen treatment suppressed both LH and FSH in a parellel manner in nine of ten patients. LH was first suppressed to intact levels in one of eight patients treated with 20 μg/day of EOe, in two of six patients treated with 50 μg/day, and in one patient by 80 μg/day. FSH was not suppressed to precastration levels until 50 μg/day of EOe was administered; this dose suppressed three of six patients. Higher doses of EOe (150–300 μg/day) suppressed both LH and FSH to levels below the sensitivity of the assay. These data fail to demonstrate any differential effect of oestrogen on LH and FSH release.

On the Use of Quantum Thermal Bath in Unimolecular Fragmentation Simulations

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riccardo Spezia ◽  
Hichem Dammak
Keyword(s):  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Molecular Simulations ◽  
Zero Point ◽  
Thermal Bath ◽  
Unimolecular Dissociation ◽  
Point Energy ◽  
Rotational Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Nuclear Effects

<div> <div> <div> <p>In the present work we have investigated the possibility of using the Quantum Thermal Bath (QTB) method in molecular simulations of unimolecular dissociation processes. Notably, QTB is aimed in introducing quantum nuclear effects with a com- putational time which is basically the same as in newtonian simulations. At this end we have considered the model fragmentation of CH4 for which an analytical function is present in the literature. Moreover, based on the same model a microcanonical algorithm which monitor zero-point energy of products, and eventually modifies tra- jectories, was recently proposed. We have thus compared classical and quantum rate constant with these different models. QTB seems to correctly reproduce some quantum features, in particular the difference between classical and quantum activation energies, making it a promising method to study unimolecular fragmentation of much complex systems with molecular simulations. The role of QTB thermostat on rotational degrees of freedom is also analyzed and discussed. </p> </div> </div> </div>

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