Although more studies are needed to find out the clinical relevance of aromatherapy for anxiety disorders, the present results indicate an acute anxiolytic activity of sweet orange aroma, giving some scientific support to its use as a tranquilizer by aromatherapists.

Experimental evidence indicates that enriched environment (EE) induces neurobiological and behavioural alterations. EE in early life improves learning and memory and reduces trait and state anxiety. However, the effect of EE established in adulthood has rarely been investigated. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of modifying the levels of trait and/or state anxiety of adult rats exposed to EE. Seventy adult Wistar male rats were first tested in the free-exploratory paradigm (FEP) and were categorized according to their levels of trait anxiety (high, medium and low). Subsequently, half of the animals from each category returned to their home cages (standard condition: SC) and the other half was transferred to an enriched environment (enriched condition: EC). After three weeks, all animals were again tested in FEP. Seven to 10 days later, fifty of the seventy animals were tested on the elevated plus-maze test (EPM). In FEP, EE reduced locomotor activity in the second exposition independently of the anxiety category and, it decreased the levels of trait anxiety of highly anxious rats. No effect of EE was observed on EPM. In conclusion, EE established in adulthood was able to reduce high trait anxiety, a major risk factor for anxiety disorders.

Chronic pain conditions are little studied and may be underestimated in sickle cell disease (SCD). The aim of this study was to identify the occurrence and characteristics of neuropathic pain (NP) in SCD patients. A sample of 56 patients was chosen from a total of 554 patients submitted to the inclusion criteria between 2015 and 2016. The Leeds assessment of neuropathic symptoms and signs scale was used for detecting NP. The groups with and without NP were compared by sex, age, use of hydroxyurea, and sensory changes through Chi-square, Fisher's exact, ANOVA, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. The average age was 20.6 years (SD ± 4.6), 51.8% of the patients were male, and 14 patients (25%) suffered from NP. Most commonly, the pain was reported to be in the lower back area (53.6%). Age was positively related to NP: the average age in the group with NP was 22.7 years (SD ± 4.1) and in the group without NP was 19.8 years (SD ± 4.5), p < 0.05. Higher rates of NP occurred in patients aged 19 years or older, compared with that in teens (p < 0.01). There was a positive association between NP and the use of hydroxyurea (p < 0.05). An association was found between NP and sensitive neurological changes (p < 0.01). Therefore, screening for NP may result in faster and more effective diagnoses and consequently initiate appropriate treatment.

Background The objectives of this study were to delineate the clinical-epidemiological profile of patients with neuropathic pain (NP) in the groups of SCD patients, from each of the three questionnaires used DN-4, painDETECT - PDQ, LANSS and to compare these three questionnaires in NP evaluation in SCD carriers. This cross-sectional study evaluated 83 patients with symptomatic SCD, aged 14 years or older. Clinical and laboratory data were extracted from the patients’ charts and from information obtained from the patients during the interview before the application of the questionnaire. The calculations were performed using the statistical software Epi InfoTM 7. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to compare the neuropathic pain evaluation scales with the software BioEstat 5.3. Results The use of two or more questionnaires may increase the suspicion of NP in patients with SCD and, with a confirmed diagnosis, adequate treatments will benefit patients.

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