Selective Inhibition of Na1.8 with VX-548 for Acute Pain.

Background: The Na1.8 voltage-gated sodium channel, expressed in peripheral nociceptive neurons, plays a role in transmitting nociceptive signals. The effect of VX-548, an oral, highly selective inhibitor of Na1.

Self-expansion is positively associated with Fitbit-measured daily steps across 4-weeks.

The growth of the self-concept through increasing perspectives, identities, resources, and efficacy is known as self-expansion and typically involves novelty, challenge, interest, and/or excitement. Self-expansion is positively associated with health factors including self-reported physical activity (PA). This study is the first to investigate self-expansion and daily PA, and with a PA monitor.

Education based on publicly-available keyword data is associated with decreased stress and improved trajectory of in-training exam performance.

Study Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of data-driven didactic sessions on metrics including fund of knowledge, resident confidence in clinical topics, and stress in addition to American Board of Anesthesiology In-Training Examination (ITE) percentiles.

Design: Observational mixed-methods study.

Setting: Classroom, video-recorded e-learning.

Exploratory study of VVZ-149, a novel analgesic molecule, in the affective component of acute postoperative pain after laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Study Objective: VVZ-149 is a small molecule that inhibits the glycine transporter type 2 and the serotonin receptor 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy and safety of VVZ-149 as a single-use injectable analgesic for treating moderate to severe postoperative pain after colorectal surgery.

Design: Randomized, parallel group, double-blind Phase 2 clinical trial (NCT02489526).

Preoperative Management of Opioid and Nonopioid Analgesics: Society for Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement (SPAQI) Consensus Statement.

There is a lack of guidelines for preoperative dosing of opioid and nonopioid pain medications for surgical patients, which can lead to suboptimal preoperative pain control. The Society for Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement identified preoperative dosing of opioid and nonopioid analgesics as an area in which consensus could improve patient care. The aim of this guideline is to provide consensus that will allow perioperative physicians to make optimal recommendations regarding preoperative pain medication dosing.

The effects of eszopiclone on sleep spindles and memory consolidation in schizophrenia: a randomized clinical trial.

Sleep spindles, defining oscillations of stage 2 non-rapid eye movement sleep (N2), mediate memory consolidation. Schizophrenia is characterized by reduced spindle activity that correlates with impaired sleep-dependent memory consolidation. In a small, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study of schizophrenia, eszopiclone (Lunesta®), a nonbenzodiazepine sedative hypnotic, increased N2 spindle density (number/minute) but did not significantly improve memory.

Academic Interest in Pain: Comparison of Four Specialties With Long-Standing Involvement in Pain Medicine.

Purpose: One of the most interesting signs of growth in a medical specialty is the addition of pain medicine as a clinical subspecialty to it. The aim of this study was to analyze publication-based academic interest in pain medicine among clinical specialties with long-standing involvement in pain management.

Methods: We assessed the activity within several specialties in the development of an academic foundation for pain medicine by measuring the frequency of the most common pain topics (1998-2017) in academic journals representing such specialties.

Somatic burden and perceived cognitive problems in trauma-exposed adults with posttraumatic stress symptoms or pain.

Objective: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with somatic and cognitive changes, which may be magnified when accompanied by persistent pain. The mechanisms of somatic sensation processing may extend to cognitive symptoms, revealing a potential generalization of impairment across cognitive and somatic domains in PTSD. We hypothesized that somatic burden would mediate relationships between PTSD, pain, and perceived cognitive impairment.

Problems with Developments of Breakthrough Analgesics: Recent History via Scientometric Analysis.

This study evaluated 13 specific topics representing molecular targets for pain during the period 1982-2016. The evaluation was performed by measuring research efforts via a scientometric approach on one hand and by assessing successful outcomes of these efforts, as indicated by the development of FDA-approved analgesics, on the other. A number of new analgesics were developed during this period, some of them with a completely novel mechanism of action.

Predictors of Prolonged Opioid Use Following Colectomy.

Background: The United States is in the middle of an opioid epidemic. Gastrointestinal surgery has been ranked in the top 3 surgical subspecialties for highest opioid prescribing.

Objective: The goal of this study is to determine the rate of and risk factors for prolonged opioid use following colectomy.

Successful adherence and retention to daily monitoring of physical activity: Lessons learned.

Research utilizing repeated-measures such as daily assessments with self-report and/or objective measures [e.g., physical activity (PA) monitors] are important in understanding health behaviors and informing practice and policy.

Evaluation of the Determinants of Satisfaction With Postoperative Pain Control After Thoracoscopic Surgery: A Single-Center, Survey-Based Study.

Background: The need to measure, compare, and improve the quality of pain management is important to patients, payers, and health care providers. Pain after thoracic surgery can be severe, and thoracoscopic approaches have not had the favorable impact on pain as anticipated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the determinants of patient satisfaction with acute pain management and the effectiveness of pain control after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery using a modified version of the Revised American Pain Society Patient Outcome Questionnaire.

Recent History of Publication-Based Academic Interest in General Anesthetics.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine how interest in various general anesthetics among the authors of academic publications changed over the past 50 years.

Methods: Publication-based academic interest were analyzed using specific scientometric indices: popularity index (PI), top journal selectivity index (TJSI), and index of change (IC). Terms used for searches were the names of drugs belonging to two pharmacological classes of general anesthetics - inhaled and intravenous.

Spared and impaired sleep-dependent memory consolidation in schizophrenia.

Objective: Cognitive deficits in schizophrenia are the strongest predictor of disability and effective treatment is lacking. This reflects our limited mechanistic understanding and consequent lack of treatment targets. In schizophrenia, impaired sleep-dependent memory consolidation correlates with reduced sleep spindle activity, suggesting sleep spindles as a potentially treatable mechanism.

Publication-Based Academic Interest in Drugs and Techniques for Treatment of Postoperative Pain, 1975-2015.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine how drugs and their administration techniques, introduced over the past 40 years and still popular now, influenced publication-based academic interest in the treatment of postoperative pain.

Methods: Specific scientometric indices-popularity index (PI), top journal selectivity index (TJSI), and index of change (IC)-were used. Of the 61 terms searched, only those that had a PI value ≥1.

Chronic postoperative pain: recent findings in understanding and management.

Chronic postoperative pain is a poorly recognized potential outcome from surgery. It affects millions of patients every year, with pain lasting for months to years, resulting in patient suffering and ensuing economic consequences. The operations with the highest incidence of chronic postoperative pain are amputations, thoracotomies, cardiac surgery, and breast surgery.

Randomised, double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the analgesic efficacy and safety of VVZ-149 injections for postoperative pain following laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Introduction: In spite of advances in understanding and technology, postoperative pain remains poorly treated for a significant number of patients. In colorectal surgery, the need for developing novel analgesics is especially important. Patients after bowel surgery are assessed for rapid return of bowel function and opioids worsen ileus, nausea and constipation.

A survey of patients' understanding and expectations of persistent postsurgical pain in a preoperative testing center.

Study Objective: Acute postoperative pain may transition to persistent/chronic pain in up to 50% or more of patients after certain surgeries. Despite this concern, it is unclear that patients' preprocedure understanding and expectations are aligned with these potential outcomes. This study was designed to evaluate the extent of this alignment and the potential impact on the quality of risk/benefit discussions before procedures.

Assessment of low-dose i.v. ketamine infusions for adjunctive analgesia.

Purpose: The results of a study evaluating all patients treated with adjunctive low-dose ketamine for analgesia over a three-year period are presented.

Methods: A retrospective single-center analysis evaluated all adult patients who received adjunctive low-dose i.v.

Increasing patient knowledge on the proper usage of a PCA machine with the use of a post-operative instructional card.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to see if an instructional card, attached to the PCA machine following total hip arthroplasty describing proper use of the device, would positively affect subjects' understanding of device usage, pain scores, pain medication consumption and satisfaction.

Methods: Eighty adults undergoing total hip replacements who had been prescribed PCA were randomized into two study groups. Forty participants received the standard post-operative instruction on PCA device usage at our institution.

Avoiding Adverse Events Secondary to Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression: Implications for Nurse Executives and Patient Safety.

Background: Guidelines with recommendations for monitoring type and timing of hospitalized patients for opioid-induced respiratory depression have been published, yet adverse events continue to occur.

Objective: This study reports on the monitoring practices of 8 hospitals that volunteered to pilot test a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services e-quality measure that was under development. Recommendations for nurse executives are provided to support patient safety.

Allergic Fungal Sinusitis.

A 42 year old male presents with worsening pain and an increase in thick chronic drainage of the left sinus. Image studies show complete opacification of the left frontal sinus, left sphenoid sinus, and the left maxillary sinus. The patient was taken to the operating room and tissue for microscopic evaluation was obtained.