Identification of complex regional pain syndrome in the upper limb: Skin temperature asymmetry after cold pressor test.

Background: Skin temperature asymmetry (SkTA) may assist in early identification of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), but previous work has been limited by methodological shortcomings including failure to account for the cutaneous nerve distribution where temperature is measured and reliance on laboratory equipment not clinically available. Pilot work suggested that a cold pressor test (CPT) provided a consistent thermoregulatory stress and might increase sensitivity/specificity of SkTA measurements generated reliably by handheld infrared (IR) thermometers.

Aims: This study investigated the sensitivity, specificity, and validity of SkTA in the upper limb to identify CRPS.

A cross-sectional study of the reporting quality of pilot or feasibility trials in high-impact anesthesia journals.

Purpose: Pilot trials inform the design and conduct of larger scale trials. Using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) pilot extension guidelines, we assessed reporting quality in five high-impact anesthesia journals and explored factors associated with reporting quality.

Methods: The five highest-impact anesthesia journals were screened for randomized-controlled trials published as pilot or feasibility trials between 2006 and 2016.

Researching what matters to improve chronic pain care in Canada: A priority-setting partnership process to support patient-oriented research.

Background: Chronic pain affects more than 6 million Canadians. Patients need to be involved in setting research priorities to ensure a focus on areas important to those who will be most impacted by the results.

Aims: The aim of this study was to leverage patient experiences to identify chronic pain research priorities in Canada.

Human and Bovine Colostrum for Prevention of Necrotizing Enterocolitis: A Meta-analysis.

Context: Human and bovine colostrum (HBC) administration has been linked to beneficial effects on morbidity and mortality associated with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness and safety of HBC for reducing NEC, mortality, sepsis, time to full-feed and feeding intolerance in preterm infants.

Data Sources: We conducted searches through Medline, Embase, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and gray literature.

Factors involved in patients' perceptions of self-improvement after chronic pain treatment.

Background: Patients' self-reported levels of improvement after having attended a chronic pain management program can provide a subjective rating of how successful they perceive they were at accomplishing their goals in the program. Past studies have demonstrated that successful patients differ from less successful ones on several cognitive-behavioral factors such as coping strategies over physical characteristics such as pain intensity.

Aims: This study explored factors that determine patients' perceptions of self-improvement after undergoing chronic pain treatment in a pain management program.

Perioperative psychotherapy for persistent post-surgical pain and physical impairment: a meta-analysis of randomised trials.

Background: Persistent post-surgical pain affects 10-80% of individuals after common operations, and is more common among patients with psychological factors such as depression, anxiety, or catastrophising.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised, controlled trials to evaluate the efficacy of perioperative psychotherapy for persistent post-surgical pain and physical impairment. Paired independent reviewers identified studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias.

Functional effects of TrkA inhibition on system x-mediated glutamate release and cancer-induced bone pain.

Breast cancer cells release the signalling molecule glutamate via the system x antiporter, which is upregulated to exchange extracellular cystine for intracellular glutamate to protect against oxidative stress. Here, we demonstrate that this antiporter is functionally influenced by the actions of the neurotrophin nerve growth factor on its cognate receptor tyrosine kinase, TrkA, and that inhibiting this complex may reduce cancer-induced bone pain via its downstream actions on xCT, the functional subunit of system x. We have characterized the effects of the selective TrkA inhibitor AG879 on system x activity in murine 4T1 and human MDA-MB-231 mammary carcinoma cells, as well as its effects on nociception in our validated immunocompetent mouse model of cancer-induced bone pain, in which BALB/c mice are intrafemorally inoculated with 4T1 murine carcinoma cells.

Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality among Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: There is uncertainty regarding which factors are associated with in-hospital mortality among patients with pulmonary TB (PTB). The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to identify predictors of in-hospital mortality among patients with PTB.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Global Health, for cohort and case-control studies that reported risk factors for in-hospital mortality in PTB.

Hormone Replacement Therapy and Opioid Tapering for Opioid-Induced Hypogonadism Among Patients with Chronic Noncancer Pain: A Systematic Review.

Objective: To systematically review evidence addressing the efficacy of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and opioid tapering for opioid-induced hypogonadism among patients with chronic noncancer pain.

Study Design: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, AMED, CENTRAL, CINAHL, DARE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO through August 2017.

Quality of abstracts of randomized control trials in five top pain journals: A systematic survey.

Background: The reporting quality of abstracts of randomized control trials (RCTs) is inadequate despite the publication of consolidated standards of reporting trials extension for abstracts (CONSORT-A). We compared the reporting quality of abstracts in pain journals before and after the publication of CONSORT-A.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE in April-2016 for RCTs published in five pain journals: Pain, Pain Physician, European Journal of Pain, Clinical Journal of Pain and Pain Practice for pre- and post-CONSORT-A period (2005-2007 and 2013-2015).

Association of Placebo, Indomethacin, Ibuprofen, and Acetaminophen With Closure of Hemodynamically Significant Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: Despite increasing emphasis on conservative management of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants, different pharmacotherapeutic interventions are used to treat those developing a hemodynamically significant PDA.

Objectives: To estimate the relative likelihood of hemodynamically significant PDA closure with common pharmacotherapeutic interventions and to compare adverse event rates.

Data Sources And Study Selection: The databases of MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from inception until August 15, 2015, and updated on December 31, 2017, along with conference proceedings up to December 2017.

Systematic reviews do not adequately report or address missing outcome data in their analyses: a methodological survey.

Objectives: To describe how systematic review authors report and address categories of participants with potential missing outcome data of trial participants.

Study Design And Setting: Methodological survey of systematic reviews reporting a group-level meta-analysis.

Results: We included a random sample of 50 Cochrane and 50 non-Cochrane systematic reviews.

Airway management in the presence of cervical spine instability: A cross-sectional survey of the members of the Indian Society of Neuroanaesthesiology and Critical Care.

Background And Aims: There is a paucity of clinical practice guidelines for the ideal approach to airway management in patients with cervical spine instability (CSI). The aim of this survey was to evaluate preferences, perceptions and practices regarding airway management in patients with CSI among neuroanaesthesiologists practicing in India.

Methods: A 25-item questionnaire was circulated for cross-sectional survey to 378 members of the Indian Society of Neuroanaesthesiology and Critical Care (ISNACC) by E-mail.

Mechanism-specific rehabilitation management of complex regional pain syndrome: Proposed recommendations from evidence synthesis.

Study Design: Narrative review.

Introduction: There are a variety of treatments with demonstrated effectiveness for the management of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). However given the variability in symptom presentation in this population, therapists may be unsure what treatments would be most effective for individual clients.

Rat model of cancer-induced bone pain: changes in nonnociceptive sensory neurons in vivo.

Introduction: Clinical data on cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) suggest extensive changes in sensory function. In a previous investigation of an animal model of CIBP, we have observed that changes in intrinsic membrane properties and excitability of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) nociceptive neurons correspond to mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia.

Objectives: To investigate the mechanisms underlying changes in nonnociceptive sensory neurons in this model, we have compared the electrophysiological properties of primary nonnociceptive sensory neurons at <1 and >2 weeks after CIBP model induction with properties in sham control animals.

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound for treatment of tibial fractures: an economic evaluation of the TRUST study.

Aims: This 501-patient, multi-centre, randomised controlled trial sought to establish the effect of low-intensity, pulsed, ultrasound (LIPUS) on tibial shaft fractures managed with intramedullary nailing. We conducted an economic evaluation as part of this trial.

Patients And Methods: Data for patients' use of post-operative healthcare resources and time taken to return to work were collected and costed using publicly available sources.

Preoperative pregabalin or gabapentin for acute and chronic postoperative pain among patients undergoing breast cancer surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background And Objective: Breast cancer surgery is associated with acute and chronic pain. We sought to systematically evaluate the effects of gabapentin and pregabalin on postoperative pain among patients undergoing breast cancer surgery.

Databases And Data Treatment: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Web of Science, and ProQuest from the inception of each database to November 2015.

Reliability and validity of clinical tests to assess the anatomical integrity of the cervical spine in adults with neck pain and its associated disorders: Part 1-A systematic review from the Cervical Assessment and Diagnosis Research Evaluation (CADRE) Collaboration.

Objective: To determine the reliability and validity of clinical tests to assess the anatomical integrity of the cervical spine in adults with neck pain and its associated disorders.

Methods: We updated the systematic review of the 2000-2010 Bone and Joint Decade Task Force on Neck Pain and its Associated Disorders. We also searched the literature to identify studies on the reliability and validity of Doppler velocimetry for the evaluation of cervical arteries.

Incretin based treatments and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes: systematic review and meta-analysis.

 To assess the impact of incretin based treatment on all cause mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials. Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and ClinicalTrials.