Neuroanatomical and neurochemical substrates mediating fear-induced antinociception: A systematic review of rodent preclinical studies.

Fear-induced antinociception (FIA), an instinctive defensive response producing pain suppression in stressful and/or dangerous situations, has been the subject of extensive research to elucidate the mechanisms involved in triggering and controlling pain during emotional disorders. In this systematic review, we synthesized pre-clinical studies that demonstrated the neural hodology and the neurochemical bases of FIA in laboratory animals. The literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Scopus, from inception up to July 2022, retrieved 797 articles from which 50 studies were included in this review.

Effects of multisession prefrontal cortex tDCS or taVNS on stress, perceived stress and sleep quality: a double-blind, randomized controlled study.

Introduction: Chronic stress is a condition characterized by prolonged stimulation, leading to mental and physical weakness. It can have detrimental effects on individuals' mental health and cognitive function, potentially causing various health issues. This article explores the potential of non-invasive neuromodulation techniques, specifically transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), in managing chronic stress and improving sleep quality.

Evaluating Dielectric Properties for Assessing Water Content at Acupuncture Points: New Methodology.

Importance: Understanding acupuncture point microenvironments is vital for optimizing treatment efficacy. Evaluating changes in water content at these points can provide further insights into the effects of acupuncture on tissues.

Objective: This study aimed to measure tissue dielectric constant (TDC) and assess changes in water content, specifically at stomach 36 (ST36, Zusanli) and spleen 6 (SP6, Sanyinjiao) acupuncture points.

A Preterm Rat Model for Pain Studies.

This research delves into the consequences of consistent pinprick stimulation on preterm offspring to ascertain its long-term implications for pain sensitivity. The primary objective of this protocol was to investigate the impact of neonatal pinprick stimuli on the pain threshold in the later stages of life using a preterm rat model. By establishing this model, we aim to advance the research on understanding and managing early postnatal pain associated with prematurity.

Effects of repetitive pinprick stimulation on preterm offspring: Alterations in nociceptive responses and inflammatory hypersensitivity in adulthood.

Introduction: This study investigates the effects of repetitive pinprick stimulation on preterm offspring and its impact on nociceptive responses and inflammatory hypersensitivity in adulthood.

Objectives: The objective is to shed light on the potential long-term consequences of neonatal pain and prematurity on sensory processing.

Methods: Term and preterm rats were subjected to repetitive pinprick (PP) stimulation or control (CC) during the neonatal period.

Participation of Potential Transient Receptors in the Antinociceptive Effect of Pharmacopuncture.

Background: Despite the widespread clinical use of acupuncture in painful situations, the use of this treatment should be further clarified. Nociception is mediated by the activation of nociceptors, such as transient receptor potentials (TRPs). The family of TRPs includes TRPV1, TRPM8, and TRPA1, which can be stimulated by substances such as capsaicin, menthol, and methyl salicylate, respectively.

Infralimbic medial prefrontal cortex alters electroacupuncture effect in animals with neuropathic chronic pain.

Introduction: Morphological reorganization in the neural networks of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) may be involved in the development of chronic neuropathic pain (NP).

Objectives: We investigated whether inactivation and neurostimulation of the infralimbic division (IFL) of the mPFC alter electroacupuncture-induced analgesia (EIA) at 2 Hz and 2/100 Hz in animals with chronic NP.

Methods: Wistar rats were submitted to chronic constrictor injury of the ischiadicus nerve (CCI).

Electroacupuncture modulates cortical excitability in a manner dependent on the parameters used.

Introduction: There is evidence that electroacupuncture (EA) acts through the modulation of brain activity, but little is known about its influence on corticospinal excitability of the primary motor cortex (M1).

Objective: To investigate the influence of EA parameters on the excitability of M1 in healthy individuals.

Methods: A parallel, double blind, randomized controlled trial in healthy subjects, evaluating the influence of an EA intervention on M1 excitability.

Repeated neonatal needle-prick stimulation increases inflammatory mechanical hypersensitivity in adult rats.

Background And Aims: Newborn infants are vulnerable to procedural stress and pain exposure on the first weeks of life that represents a critical period for the development of nociceptive, sensory, emotional, and social functions. We evaluated the nociceptive behavior of adult male and female rats that were submitted to nociceptive experience in the neonatal period and the maternal behavior in the postnatal period.

Methods: The animals were submitted to repetitive needle pricking from the second to the fifteenth postnatal day (PND 2-15).

Lower limb auriculotherapy points improves balance in young healthy subjects-assessed by computerized baropodometry.

Objective: To analyze the effects of Lower Limb (LL) auricular stimulation points on the static equilibrium of healthy subjects, assessed by computerized baropodometry.

Methods And Materials: Forty volunteers were assigned to one of two groups: Auriculotherapy (AT) who received unilateral needle stimulation of the coxofemoral, knee, and ankle points. Control (C) who did not receive any stimulation.

Experiencing early life maternal separation increases pain sensitivity in adult offspring.

Maternal separation is a widely accepted model for studying long-term behavioral changes produced by events during early life and its association with changes in pain sensitivity. Thus, our objective was to evaluate sensitivity to pain, under different stimuli in adult male and female rats that had undergone early life maternal separation. Animals were subjected to maternal separation from postnatal day (PND) 2-15.

Electroacupuncture at 2/100 hz activates antinociceptive spinal mechanisms different from those activated by electroacupuncture at 2 and 100 hz in responder rats.

We examined the effects of intrathecal injection of desipramine and fluoxetine (selective inhibitors of norepinephrine and 5-HT uptake, resp.), thiorphan and neostigmine (inhibitors of enkephalinase and acetylcholinesterase, resp.), gabapentin (a GABA releaser), and vigabatrin (an inhibitor of GABA-transaminase) on the antinociception induced by 2 Hz, 100 Hz, or 2/100 Hz electroacupuncture (EA) applied bilaterally to the Zusanli (ST36) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) acupoints using the rat tail-flick test.