Tapentadol results in less deterioration of gastrointestinal function and symptoms than standard opioid therapy in healthy male volunteers.

Background: Tapentadol is a combined opioid agonist and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor with fewer gastrointestinal side effects at equianalgesic doses compared with classical strong opioids. Previous studies on tapentadol have included multi-morbid patients in whom confounders exclude detailed assessment of the mechanistic effects and strict comparison with other opioids or placebo. This study aimed at investigating the effects of tapentadol and oxycodone on gastrointestinal motility and gastrointestinal side effects.

Peripheral, synaptic and central neuronal transmission is affected in type 1 diabetes.

Aims: We hypothesized that adults with type 1 diabetes and severe polyneuropathy have alterations in neuronal transmission at different anatomical levels. The aims were to investigate upstream sensory neuronal activation in terms of peripheral, spinal, precortical, and cortical transmission.

Methods: 48 participants with type-1 diabetes and polyneuropathy, and 21 age-matched healthy participants were included.

Diabetic Neuropathy Influences Control of Spinal Mechanisms.

Purpose: Comprehensive evaluation of the upstream sensory processing in diabetic symmetrical polyneuropathy (DSPN) is sparse. The authors investigated the spinal nociceptive withdrawal reflex and the related elicited somatosensory evoked cortical potentials. They hypothesized that DSPN induces alterations in spinal and supraspinal sensory-motor processing compared with age- and gender-matched healthy controls.

Effects of Vortioxetine and Escitalopram on Electroencephalographic Recordings - A Randomized, Crossover Trial in Healthy Males.

The antidepressant drug vortioxetine has a multimodal action modulating neurotransmission through inhibition of the serotonin transporter and modulation of serotonin receptors. Vortioxetine has also been shown to alleviate cognitive symptoms in preclinical studies and in patients with depression. However, it is largely unclear how vortioxetine affects the brain processing in humans.

Offset analgesia is not affected by cold pressor induced analgesia.

Background and aims Offset analgesia (OA) is a pain modulating mechanism described as a disproportionately large decrease in pain intensity evoked by a minor decrease in stimulus intensity. Precise mechanisms of OA are still not elucidated and studies are needed to evaluate factors modulating OA. The aim of this study was to investigate OA before and during tonic cold pain (thought to induce descending inhibition), in a group of healthy volunteers.

Pharmacological modulation of colorectal distension evoked potentials in conscious rats.

Background: Cerebral evoked potentials (CEP) induced by colorectal distension (CRD) in conscious rats provides a novel method in studies of visceral sensitivity. The aim of this study was to explore the pharmacological effect on CEP of compounds known to reduce the visceromotor response to CRD.

Methods: Epidural electrodes were chronically implanted in eight female Sprague-Dawley rats.

Offset Analgesia and The Impact of Treatment with Oxycodone and Venlafaxine: A Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Trial in Healthy Volunteers.

Offset analgesia (OA) is a pain-modulating mechanism described as a disproportionately large decrease in pain intensity evoked by a discrete decrease in stimulus temperature. The role of the opioidergic, serotonergic and noradrenergic systems on OA remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether OA is modulated by an opioid (oxycodone) and a serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (venlafaxine) in terms of psychophysical assessments.

Animal models of pancreatitis: can it be translated to human pain study?

Chronic pancreatitis affects many individuals around the world, and the study of the underlying mechanisms leading to better treatment possibilities are important tasks. Therefore, animal models are needed to illustrate the basic study of pancreatitis. Recently, animal models of acute and chronic pancreatitis have been thoroughly reviewed, but few reviews address the important aspect on the translation of animal studies to human studies.

Translational aspects of rectal evoked potentials: a comparative study in rats and humans.

Inconsistencies between species has stunted the progress of developing new analgesics. To increase the success of translating results between species, improved comparable models are required. Twelve rats received rectal balloon distensions on 2 different days separated by 24.