Web Axillary Pain Syndrome-Literature Evidence and Novel Rehabilitative Suggestions: A Narrative Review.

Axillary web syndrome (AWS) is defined as a visible and palpable network of cords in the skin of the axillary cavity that are tensed by shoulder abduction following surgery for breast cancer, causing significant functional limits of the ipsilateral upper limb (UL) and pain. The purpose of this narrative review is to discuss rehabilitation approaches for greater efficacy with respect to pain and novel suggestions. AWS is a frequent complication of axillary lymphadenectomy that necessitates a thorough follow-up in the medium to long term.

Multidimensional Statistical Technique for Interpreting the Spontaneous Breakthrough Cancer Pain Phenomenon. A Secondary Analysis from the IOPS-MS Study.

Breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) is a temporary exacerbation of pain that "breaks through" a phase of adequate pain control by an opioid-based therapy. The non-predictable BTcP (NP-BTcP) is a subtype of BTcP that occurs in the absence of any specific activity. Since NP-BTcP has an important clinical impact, this analysis is aimed at characterizing the NP-BTcP phenomenon through a multidimensional statistical technique.

A Call to Action by the Italian Mesotherapy Society on Scientific Research.

Mesotherapy (local intradermal therapy, LIT) is a technique used to slowly spread drugs in tissues underlying the site of injection to prolong the pharmacological effect with respect to intramuscular injection. Recommendations for proper medical use of this technique have been made for pain medicine and rehabilitation, chronic venous disease, sport medicine, musculoskeletal disorders, several dermatological conditions, skin ageing, and immune-prophylaxis. Although mesotherapy is considered a valid technique, unresolved questions remain, which should be answered to standardize methodology and dosing regimen as well as to define the right indications in clinical practice.

A Longitudinal Study of Breakthrough Cancer Pain: An Extension of IOPS-MS Study.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to longitudinally assess the characteristics of background pain and breakthrough pain (BTcP), analgesic treatment, and satisfaction with treatment four weeks after the first assessment.

Methods: Adult cancer patients with a diagnosis of BTcP were included. At T0, age, gender, visit setting, cancer diagnosis, the extent of the disease, ongoing anticancer treatments, and Karnofsky level were recorded.

Intradermal Vaccination: A Potential Tool in the Battle Against the COVID-19 Pandemic?

This narrative review is the final output of an initiative of the SIM (Italian Society of Mesotherapy). A narrative review of scientific literature on the efficacy of fractional intradermal vaccination in comparison with full doses has been conducted for the following pathogens: influenza virus, rabies virus, poliovirus (PV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis A virus (HAV), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis bacterias (DTP), human papillomavirus (HPV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JE), meningococcus, varicella zoster virus (VZV) and yellow fever virus. The findings suggest that the use of the intradermal route represents a valid strategy in terms of efficacy and efficiency for influenza, rabies and HBV vaccines.

Oxycodone/Acetaminophen: The Tailoring Combination Treatment for Specific Clinical Profile of Opioid Well-Responsive Cancer Pain.

Background: International guidelines recommend moderate-to-severe cancer pain to be treated with strong opioids. However, pain management remains an unsolved matter, at least in the demanding oncology and palliative care setting. Although cancer pain consists of multiple components, which interact in complex ways where combination therapy can better intercept multiple pain characteristics, few studies have used a non-opioid/opioid association to exploit possible synergistic actions.

Breakthrough Cancer Pain Clinical Features and Differential Opioids Response: A Machine Learning Approach in Patients With Cancer From the IOPS-MS Study.

Purpose: A large proportion of patients with cancer suffer from breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP). Several unmet clinical needs concerning BTcP treatment, such as optimal opioid dosages, are being investigated. In this analysis the hypothesis, we explore with an unsupervised learning algorithm whether distinct subtypes of BTcP exist and whether they can provide new insights into clinical practice.

Mesotherapy: From Historical Notes to Scientific Evidence and Future Prospects.

Intradermal therapy, known as mesotherapy, is a technique used to inject a drug into the surface layer of the skin. In particular, it involves the use of a short needle to deposit the drug in the dermis. The intradermal microdeposit modulates the drug's kinetics, slowing absorption and prolonging the local mechanism of action.

Doctors and Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Pediatric Pain Management: An Exploratory Survey in a Children's Hospital.

Despite the existence of protocols for effective pain control, pediatric pain is still high, due to scarce knowledge of its treatment, especially regarding opioids. This study aimed to evaluate doctors and nurses' knowledge of pain treatment and the use of opioids in children, before and after the implementation of Law 38/2010, that represented an important step in guaranteeing patients' rights to gain access to appropriate services for pain control and palliative care in Italy and in establishing the obligation of specific training programs in this matter for health professionals. An questionnaire was developed and administered before (investigation A) and after (investigation B) the issuance of the Law.

Factors Influencing the Clinical Presentation of Breakthrough Pain in Cancer Patients.

The aim of this study was to identify potential variables influencing the clinical presentation of breakthrough cancer pain (BTP). Cancer patients with a diagnosis of BTP were enrolled. Demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as background pain and BTP characteristics were collected.

Assessment and treatment of breakthrough cancer pain: from theory to clinical practice.

Breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) is a common condition in oncological patients. However, its management is still suboptimal. Improved knowledge of BTcP and its management in clinical practice may have immediate importance for all physicians involved in the supportive care of cancer patients.

Breakthrough Cancer Pain: Preliminary Data of The Italian Oncologic Pain Multisetting Multicentric Survey (IOPS-MS).

Introduction: An ongoing national multicenter survey [Italian Oncologic Pain multiSetting Multicentric Survey (IOPS-MS)] is evaluating the characteristics of breakthrough cancer pain (BTP) in different clinical settings. Preliminary data from the first 1500 cancer patients with BTP enrolled in this study are presented here.

Methods: Thirty-two clinical centers are involved in the survey.

Should the General Practitioner Consider Mesotherapy (Intradermal Therapy) to Manage Localized Pain?

Wide variations in the types of pain and response to analgesic pharmacotherapy mean that a variety of treatment strategies are needed. One approach is mesotherapy (intradermal therapy). This consists of microinjections into the skin and is ideally suited to the management of localized pain.

Retrospective Evaluation of a Fixed-Dose Combination of Oxycodone and Acetaminophen to Manage Moderate Pain: The Lower the Better.

Introduction: Oxycodone is one of the most commonly used opioid analgesics in the clinical management of pain. The present retrospective analysis aimed to determine the dose of oxycodone that could achieve effective control of moderate pain when combined with a fixed dose of acetaminophen, and the time required to reach a clinically relevant reduction in intensity of pain.

Methods: Data of patients treated with a combination of oxycodone (5, 10, and 20 mg) and acetaminophen (325 mg) were evaluated for gender, current disease condition, basal pain intensity, total daily dose, days of controlled pain at the initial low dose, and pain intensity after treatment using a numeric pain rating scale.

The management of chronic osteoarticular pain in the outpatient setting: results of an ASON audit.

Unlabelled: The management of patients with chronic osteoarticular pain requires a comprehensive clinical evaluation and a multidisciplinary approach. Thirty specialists (orthopedic specialists, rheumatologists, physiatrists), members of the National Association of Osteoarticular Specialists (ASON), attended a specific training course in the use of a standardized medical record designed for the management of osteoarticular pain in outpatients. An audit on 888 medical records was later conducted and it showed that use of this instrument led to an improvement in the diagnostic-therapeutic approach.

Breakthrough pain and its treatment: critical review and recommendations of IOPS (Italian Oncologic Pain Survey) expert group.

Controversies exist about the definition and epidemiology of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP), the pharmacological treatment options, drug dosing, and how to select the medications for BTcP among the new fentanyl products. Existing data were critically evaluated to provide recommendations by an expert group. An algorithm to diagnose BTcP should be used followed by a careful assessment.

[Multidisciplinary care pathway to manage osteoarticular chronic pain. ASON proposal].

As recognized by law no. 38 of March 15, 2010 patients with chronic pain should have access to an appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic path with continuity of care. In addition to clinical guidelines it is necessary to implement a multidisciplinary care to manage patients with osteoarticular chronic pain to start an early analgesic treatment and to optimize the health system resources.

Italian Oncological Pain Survey (IOPS): a multicentre Italian study of breakthrough pain performed in different settings.

Objective: A survey of breakthrough pain (BTP) was performed in five palliative care units (PCU), seven oncology departments (ONC), and nine pain clinics (OPC).

Methods: A standard algorithm was used to confirm the diagnosis of BTP of patients refereed to different settings.

Results: 1,412 evaluable cancer patients were enrolled.

[Role of intensive medical training on Law 38 to improve pain management in primary care].

The Italian Law no. 38/2010 requires that the physician reports in the medical record the type and the intensity of pain, analgesic therapies and clinical results. We developed a training model for 256 primary care physicians (GPs).

Management of painful bone metastases: our experience according to scientific evidence on palliative radiotherapy.

Aim: Our aim was to evaluate retrospectively the role of the radiotherapy in the multi-disciplinary management of pain due to bone metastases.

Patients And Methods: A total of 305 patients received radiotherapy with or without bisphosphonate and antalgic drugs. Tolerability and efficacy were evaluated using a Numerical Rating Scale, Pain Intensity Difference evaluation scale related to administration of the drug, a 5-point verbal scale of the patients' general impression.