Multivariate Pattern Analysis in Identifying Neuropathic Pain Following Brachial Plexus Avulsion Injury: A PET/CT Study.

Background: Neuropathic pain following brachial plexus avulsion injury (BPAI) induces plastic changes in multiple brain regions associated with somatosensory function, pain, or cognition at the group level. The alternation of the whole pattern of resting-state brain activity and the feasibility of a brain imaging, information-based diagnosis of pain following BPAI is poorly investigated.

Objectives: To investigate whether brain pattern alternation can  identify neuropathic pain from healthy controls at an individual level and the specific regions that can be used as diagnostic neuroimaging biomarkers.

Electroacupuncture-Related Metabolic Brain Connectivity in Neuropathic Pain due to Brachial Plexus Avulsion Injury in Rats.

: The present study aimed to investigate the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) in neuropathic pain due to brachial plexus avulsion injury (BPAI) and related changes in the metabolic brain connectivity. : Neuropathic pain model due to BPAI was established in adult female Sprague-Dawley rats. EA stimulations (2/15 Hz, 30 min/day, 5-day intervention followed by 2-day rest in each session) were applied to the fifth-seventh cervical "Jiaji" acupoints on the noninjured side from 1st to 12th weeks following BPAI (EA group, = 8).

Super-Toughened Poly(lactic Acid) with Poly(ε-caprolactone) and Ethylene-Methyl Acrylate-Glycidyl Methacrylate by Reactive Melt Blending.

In recent years, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) has attracted more and more attention as one of the most promising biobased and biodegradable polymers. However, the inherent brittleness significantly limits its wide application. Here, ternary blends of PLA, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with various amounts of ethylene-methyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate (EMA-GMA) terpolymer were fabricated through reactive melt blending in order to improve the toughness of PLA.

A model of neuropathic pain in brachial plexus avulsion injury and associated spinal glial cell activation.

Background: Neuropathic pain is a common and intractable sequel of brachial plexus injury.

Materials And Methods: To investigate the underlying mechanisms, we established a unique model of neuropathic pain in rats by creating brachial plexus avulsion injury.

Results: Behavioral test of mechanical stimulation suggested that all rats developed neuropathic pain, and the pain thresholds of bilateral hind limbs significantly decreased.

Cortical Reorganization in Dual Innervation by Single Peripheral Nerve.

Background: Functional recovery after peripheral nerve injury and repair is related with cortical reorganization. However, the mechanism of innervating dual targets by 1 donor nerve is largely unknown.

Objective: To investigate the cortical reorganization when the phrenic nerve simultaneously innervates the diaphragm and biceps.