B-cell and plasma cell activation in a mouse model of chronic muscle pain.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex chronic musculoskeletal pain disorder with an elusive pathogenesis, with a strong implication of immune interactions. We recently found that IL-5 and the adaptive immune system mediates pain outcomes in fibromyalgia (FM) patients and preclinical models of FM-like chronic widespread pain (CWP). However, there is an active debate if FM/CWP has an autoimmune etiology.

Relationships Between Socioecological Factors and Self-Efficacy to Participate in Physical Activity for Adults With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: An Integrative Review.

Objective: Self-efficacy for leisure-time or health-promoting physical activity (SEPA) is a psychosocial determinant of physical activity. The socioecological model can provide a robust perspective of SEPA. The objective of this study was to synthesize the evidence on multilevel correlates of SEPA among individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Cohort profile: study design and baseline characteristics of an observational longitudinal weight loss cohort and biorepository of patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy in the USA.

Purpose: We developed a comprehensive sleeve gastrectomy (SG) weight loss study cohort and biorepository to uncover mechanisms, biomarkers and predictive factors of weight loss, weight maintenance and amelioration of obesity-related comorbidities. For this purpose, we collected psychosocial, anthropometric, clinical data and a variety of samples pre-surgery, intraoperatively and 1.5, 3, 12 and 24 months post-surgery.

Changes in Widespread Pain After Surgical Weight Loss in Racialized Adults: A Secondary Analysis From a 2-Year Longitudinal Study.

Widespread pain (WP) is associated with reduced function and disability. Importantly, three-fourths of the approximately 42% of U.S.

Hypoalgesia and Conditioned Pain Modulation in Blood Flow Restriction Resistance Exercise.

We compared the magnitude of exercise-induced hypoalgesia and conditioned pain modulation between blood-flow restriction (BFR) resistance exercise (RE) and moderate-intensity RE. Twenty-five asymptomatic participants performed unilateral leg press in two visits. For moderate-intensity RE, subjects exercised at 50% 1RM without BFR, whereas BFR RE exercised at 30% 1RM with a cuff inflated to 60% limb occlusion pressure.

Racism exposure and trauma accumulation perpetuate pain inequities-advocating for change (RESTORATIVE): A conceptual model.

Experiences of racism occur across a continuum from denial of services to more subtle forms of discrimination and exact a significant toll. These multilevel systems of oppression accumulate as chronic stressors that cause psychological injury conceptualized as racism-based traumatic stress (RBTS). RBTS has overlapping symptoms with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with the added burden that threats are constantly present.

Translating Outcomes from the Clinical Setting to Preclinical Models: Chronic Pain and Functionality in Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain disorder characterized by chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain (CWP), resting pain, movement-evoked pain (MEP), and other somatic symptoms that interfere with daily functioning and quality of life. In clinical studies, this symptomology is assessed, while preclinical models of CWP are limited to nociceptive assays. The aim of the study was to investigate the human-to-model translatability of clinical behavioral assessments for spontaneous (or resting) pain and MEP in a preclinical model of CWP.

Confronting Racism in All Forms of Pain Research: Reframing Study Designs.

This second paper in a 3-part series on antiracism in pain research across the translational spectrum focuses on study design factors. Although objectivity is a cornerstone value of science, subjectivity is embedded in every step of the research process as investigators make choices about who they collaborate with, which research questions they ask, how they recruit participants, which research tools they use, and how they analyze and interpret data. We present theory and evidence from disciplines such as sociology, medical anthropology, statistics, and public health to discuss 4 common study design factors, including 1) the dominant biomedical narrative of pain that restricts funding and exploration of social indicators of pain, 2) low diversity and inclusion in pain research enrollment that restricts generalizability to racialized groups, 3) the use of "race" or "ethnicity" as a statistical variable and proxy for lived experiences (eg, racism, resilience), and 4) limited modeling in preclinical research for the impact of social factors on pain physiology.

Confronting Racism in Pain Research: A Call to Action.

Racism is an established health determinant across the world. In this 3-part series, we argue that a disregard of how racism manifests in pain research practices perpetuates pain inequities and slows the progression of the field. Our goal in part-1 is to provide a historical and theoretical background of racism as a foundation for understanding how an antiracism pain research framework - which focuses on the impact of racism, rather than "race," on pain outcomes - can be incorporated across the continuum of pain research.

Confronting Racism in All Forms of Pain Research: A Shared Commitment for Engagement, Diversity, and Dissemination.

This third paper in the "Confronting Racism in All Forms of Pain Research" series discusses adopting an antiracism framework across all pain research disciplines and highlights the significant benefits of doing so. We build upon the previous call to action and the proposed reframing of study designs articulated in the other papers in the series and seek to confront and eradicate racism through a shared commitment to change current research practices. Specifically, we emphasize the systematic disadvantage created by racialization (ie, the Eurocentric social and political process of ascribing racialized identities to a relationship, social practice, or group) and discuss how engaging communities in partnership can increase the participation of racialized groups in research studies and enrich the knowledge gained.

Racial and weight discrimination associations with pain intensity and pain interference in an ethnically diverse sample of adults with obesity: a baseline analysis of the clustered randomized-controlled clinical trial the goals for eating and moving (GEM) study.

Background: Everyday experiences with racial (RD) and weight discrimination (WD) are risk factors for chronic pain in ethnically diverse adults with obesity. However, the individual or combined effects of RD and WD on pain in adults with obesity is not well understood. There are gender differences and sexual dimorphisms in nociception and pain, but the effect of gender on relationships between RD, WD, and pain outcomes in ethnically diverse adults with obesity is unclear.

IL-5 mediates monocyte phenotype and pain outcomes in fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by widespread chronic pain, fatigue, and somatic symptoms. The influence of phenotypic changes in monocytes on symptoms associated with FM is not fully understood. The primary aim of this study was to take a comprehensive whole-body to molecular approach in characterizing relationships between monocyte phenotype and FM symptoms in relevant clinical populations.

Local Anesthetic Injection Resolves Movement Pain, Motor Dysfunction, and Pain Catastrophizing in Individuals With Chronic Achilles Tendinopathy: A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial.

Objectives: Peripherally directed treatments (targeted exercise, surgery) can reduce, but not fully eliminate, pain for up to 40% of patients with Achilles tendinopathy. The objectives of the present study were (1) to identify indicators of altered central processing in participants with Achilles tendinopathy compared to controls, and (2) to determine which indicators of altered central processing would persist after a local anesthetic injection in patients with Achilles tendinopathy.

Design: Mechanistic clinical trial.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Reduces Movement-Evoked Pain and Fatigue: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.

Objective: Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by pain and fatigue, particularly during physical activity. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) activates endogenous pain inhibitory mechanisms. This study was undertaken to investigate if using TENS during activity would improve movement-evoked pain and other patient-reported outcomes in women with FM.

Development of a method to maximize the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation intensity in women with fibromyalgia.

Introduction: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-pharmacological intervention clinically used for pain relief. The importance of utilizing the adequate stimulation intensity is well documented; however, clinical methods to achieve the highest possible intensity are not established.

Objectives: Our primary aim was to determine if exposure to the full range of clinical levels of stimulation, from sensory threshold to noxious, would result in higher final stimulation intensities.

Physical activity is related to function and fatigue but not pain in women with fibromyalgia: baseline analyses from the Fibromyalgia Activity Study with TENS (FAST).

Background: Although exercise is an effective treatment for fibromyalgia, the relationships between lifestyle physical activity and multiple symptomology domains of fibromyalgia are not clear. Thus, the purpose of this study was to comprehensively examine the relationships between lifestyle physical activity with multiple outcome domains in women with fibromyalgia, including pain, fatigue, function, pain-related psychological constructs, and quality of life.

Methods: Women (N = 171), aged 20 to 70 years, diagnosed with fibromyalgia, recruited from an ongoing two-site clinical trial were included in this prespecified subgroup analysis of baseline data.

Somatic symptom presentations in women with fibromyalgia are differentially associated with elevated depression and anxiety.

This study examined whether depression and anxiety differentially relate to fatigue, sleep disturbance, pain catastrophizing, fear of movement, and pain severity in women with fibromyalgia. Baseline data from the Fibromyalgia Activity Study with Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation were analyzed. Of 191 participants, 50 percent reported high anxiety and/or depression (17% high anxiety, 9% high depression, and 24% both).

Impact of foot progression angle modification on plantar loading in individuals with diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy.

Aims: To determine if participants can reduce foot progression angle (FPA), and if FPA reduction decreases regional plantar stresses and forces in individuals with diabetes.

Methods: Three-group cross-sectional design with repeated measures. twenty-eight participants either with diabetes mellitus (DM), diabetes and peripheral neuropathy with (DMPN+NPU) or without a prior history of ulceration (DMPN-NPU) were studied.