Electroacupuncture analgesia is associated with increased serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor in chronic tension-type headache: a randomized, sham controlled, crossover trial.

Background: Chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) is characterized by almost daily headaches and central sensitization, for which electroacupuncture (EA) might be effective. The central nervous system (CNS) plasticity can be tracked in serum using the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neuroplasticity mediator. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that EA analgesia in CTTH is related to neuroplasticity indexed by serum BDNF.

Clinical Value of Serum Neuroplasticity Mediators in Identifying the Central Sensitivity Syndrome in Patients With Chronic Pain With and Without Structural Pathology.

Background And Objectives: Central sensitivity syndrome (CSS) encompasses disorders with overlapping symptoms in a spectrum of structural pathology from persistent somatic nociception (eg, osteoarthritis) to absence of tissue injury such as in fibromyalgia, chronic tension-type headache, and myofascial pain syndrome. Likewise, the spectrum of the neuroplasticity mediators associated with CSS might present a pattern of clinical utility.

Methods: We studied the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukins 6 (IL-6) and IL-10 in female patients with CSS absent of structural pathology (chronic tension-type headache [n=30], myofascial pain syndrome [n=29], fibromyalgia [n=22]); with CSS due to persistent somatic/visceral nociception (osteoarthritis [n=27] and endometriosis [n=32]); and in pain-free controls (n=37).

[Serotonin syndrome: review and case series from the Swiss pharmacovigilance system].

Serotonin syndrome is a potential adverse reaction to drugs increasing serotoninergic activity in the nervous system, some of them being frequently prescribed, such as antidepressant drugs. As clinical presentation is variable and often aspecific, diagnosing serotonin syndrome can be a challenge, particularly in mild cases. Serious forms can be lethal.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the profile of chronic pain: screen for a Brazilian population.

Objective: To translate the original English version of the Profile of Chronic Pain: Screen (PCP:S) into Brazilian Portuguese and examine basic psychometric properties of the translated version. We investigated ceiling and floor effects, internal consistency, factor structure, convergent validity, and the ability of the Brazilian PCP:S (B-PCP:S) to discriminate persons with pain who were either employed or not working, or in treatment or not in treatment.

Methods: The Brazilian Portuguese version of the Profile of Chronic Pain: Screen (B-PCP:S) was administered to a sample of 414 adults (men = 67).

[Monitoring hypoglycemia in elderly diabetic patients: a prospective study].

Hypoglycaemia is often underestimated in the elderly diabetic patient, as clinical manifestations of hypoglycaemia in these patients are frequently atypical. This prospective study, enrolling 100 elderly diabetic patients (age: 79.3 years) shows a great incidence of hypoglycaemic events (24%) during the first day of hospitalisation in a geriatric unit.