Objectives: This study aimed at devising an objective method for quantifying pain in the low back region using pressure pain threshold (PPT) and demographic factors as predictive variables.
Methods: The research was conducted in two phases. Phase I was a longitudinal exploratory study conducted on 49 men aged 18-50 years with chronic low back pain (CLBP) recruited using non-probability purposive sampling. We used Visual Analogue Scale to record pain intensity and pain affect, and Disability Rating Index to record associated disability. PPT was measured on 12 different locations on the lower back using a manual algometer. These measurements were taken from each participant in 1 to 6-follow-up visits, depending on improvement in the individual's symptoms. In phase II additional 33 subjects, both men and women with varying durations of low back pain were recruited using non-probability convenience sampling. Repeated measures ordinal regression and receiver's operating characteristic curve analyses were performed to develop predictive models using STATA V.16.0 and R V.3.5.2 software. These models were given an interface using Microsoft Excel. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Higher PPT scores, increased lean body mass, lean physique and a longer duration of CLBP were associated with a reduction in CLBP intensity, affect and disability. Advancing age was associated with an increase in these outcomes. Collectively, these factors were found to predict pain intensity, affect, and disability with 63%-65% diagnostic accuracy in phase I, however, this diagnostic accuracy increased to 65%-78% in phase II.
Conclusion: We developed a new outcome tool 'Pain Calculator' that can objectively measure low back pain with sufficient statistical accuracy. With further refinement, this tool in the future can be configured to measure somatic pain in different regions as well, affording clinicians and researchers much-needed objectivity while recording pain levels.
Trial Registration Number: NCT04482075.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067129 | DOI Listing |
Obstet Gynecol
January 2025
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas.
Objective: To describe the presentation, outcomes, and management strategies for cases of subcapsular liver hematoma associated with preeclampsia, eclampsia, or HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count) syndrome.
Methods: This was a case series of individuals with subcapsular liver hematoma managed at a single level IV center over a 10-year period, from 2013 to 2024. Presenting signs and symptoms, laboratory findings, time of onset, management strategies, acute perinatal and maternal outcomes, and long-term outcomes such as subsequent pregnancies were reviewed in the medical record and recorded.
Noise Health
January 2025
Department of Pediatrics, Huoqiu First People's Hospital, Lu'an, Anhui 237400, China.
Purpose: Noise levels may have an impact on the level of fear and anxiety in hospitalized children, which, in turn, may affect the effectiveness of treatment. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the impact of noise levels on medical anxiety in hospitalized children with pneumonia.
Methods: Children hospitalized for pneumonia in our hospital from January 2020 to December 2023 were consecutively enrolled in this study.
Med Sci Sports Exerc
December 2024
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, BELGIUM.
Purpose: Eccentric calf training for Achilles tendinopathy shows variable success in athletes. Recent insights suggest a role for tendon fluid flow (exudation or redistribution) during exercise, which explains post-exercise reductions in thickness and increases in stiffness of the tendon. This fluid flow is thought to be beneficial as it may promote tendon remodeling, reduce intratendinous pressure, and alleviate pain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFScand J Pain
January 2025
Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar.
Objectives: The association between baseline laboratory parameters and experienced well-being in healthy individuals remains uncertain. This study explored the relationship between clinical laboratory profiles and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores for pain, stiffness, and physical functional limitation in healthy individuals in Qatar.
Methods: Clinical laboratory data were collected from 1,764 Qatar Biobank participants who also completed the WOMAC questionnaire: lipid profiles (high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, cholesterol, and triglycerides), endocrine markers (TSH, T3, T4, estradiol, and testosterone), and two inflammatory markers (CRP and fibrinogen).
J Addict Med
December 2024
From the Integrated Psychiatry, Pain, and Addiction Service, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (PA, JSHW, JM, MN, VWL, MJI, NM); Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (PA, MN, VWL, MJI, NM); Addictions and Concurrent Disorders Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (JSHW, RMK); Substance Use Response and Facilitation Service, BC Children's Hospital, Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (MJI); BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services, Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (NM); Bridge, Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA (AAH); Department of Emergency Medicine, Highland General Hospital-Alameda Health System, Oakland, CA (AAH); Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA (AAH); The C4 Foundation, Coronado, CA (RM); British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (JSGM); Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (JSGM); and Pharmacokinetics Modeling and Simulation Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (ARM).
Buprenorphine has superior safety in opioid use disorder compared with alternatives due to its action as a partial opioid agonist, which limits its ability to cause respiratory depression. There is a risk of precipitated opioid withdrawal after buprenorphine exposure in someone using full opioid agonists. Buprenorphine induction strategies that avoid precipitated withdrawal remain a crucial component for starting buprenorphine in individuals actively using opioids.
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