Progress in pain medicine: where are we now?

Abstract

g-Aminobutyric acid type A (GABA A) receptors, ligand-gated ion channel receptors for the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, mediate neuronal inhibition in the CNS, including the spinal cord. Based on their subunit compositions (more specifically the a subunit isoform included in the pentameric receptor complex), they can be subdivided into six major subtypes (from a1 to a6). GABA A receptors containing a1, a2, a3, or a5 subunits are sensitive to modulation by classical benzodiazepines, whereas those containing a4 or a6 subunits instead of a1, a2, a3, or a5 subunits are insensitive. The compound PF-06372865, the subject of a study by Nickolls and colleagues 1 in a recent issue of the British Journal of Anaesthesia, was developed by Pfizer Inc (Cambridge, UK) as a partial

Acupuncture Emergency Service in Brazilian Public Health System: Quantitative Analysis of Cases Attended in a Semester

“…According to the Global Burden of Disease Study in 2016, low back pain and neck pain are the main causes related to disability worldwide [22]. Another study highlights low back pain as the main cause of disability globally [23]. The present study is in agreement with this worldwide incidence since the most frequent complaint was low back pain.…”

The Pain Medicine Curriculum Framework-structured integration of pain medicine education into the medical curriculum

“…Pain medicine is a relatively new healthcare field, but is rapidly evolving ( 63 ). In particular, the understanding of transition from acute to chronic pain, and translation of promising scientific advances into effective diagnostic, preventative and therapeutic strategies for patients have dramatically improved in the past three decades ( 189 , 190 ). Identification of peripheral and central nociceptive processes, discovery of endogenous neurochemicals and recognition of the role of the immune system in the maintenance of pain have furthered the understanding of pain mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment ( 132 ).…”

“…Identification of peripheral and central nociceptive processes, discovery of endogenous neurochemicals and recognition of the role of the immune system in the maintenance of pain have furthered the understanding of pain mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment ( 132 ). Internationally, there is a continuing gap between what is known about pain medicine and the translation of this into clinical practice ( 62 , 190 ). In general, despite robust evidence for a biopsychosocial model of pain, many medical practitioners continue to focus on a purely biomedical approach to pain ( 191 ).…”

Patient Satisfaction With a Nurse-Led Pain Management Program: A Quasi-Experimental Study in Ethiopia

“…Despite progress in pain care modalities, the most successful pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies are not widely used. Hence, the solution to inadequate pain care does not lie so much in developing new analgesics or techniques, but in establishing a new pain care system to enhance the use of existing approaches ( Colvin & Rice, 2019 ; Stamer et al, 2019 ). Nurse-led in-hospital pain management thus has a significant practical implication since it considers the nurses’ competency and anticipation of patients’ needs ahead of time through rounding.…”