Inhibitory effect on acute herpes and prevention of postherpetic neuralgia in herpes simplex virus-1-infected mice using a plant extract Ricinus communis.

The present study aimed to examine the impact of Ricinus communis and valacyclovir (VACV) on the progression of skin lesions and pain responses in mice infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Mice were infected with HSV-1 and treated with R. communis (8, 16, or 48 mg/kg) or VACV (8, 25, or 90 mg/kg) twice daily on days 2-8 post-infection.

Roseburia intestinalis-derived butyrate alleviates neuropathic pain.

Approximately 20% of patients with shingles develop postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). We investigated the role of gut microbiota in shingle- and PHN-related pain. Patients with shingles or PHN exhibited significant alterations in their gut microbiota with microbial markers predicting PHN development among patients with shingles.

Clinical study of short-term spinal cord stimulation for herpes zoster-associated pain.

Background: Zoster-associated neuralgia refers to neuropathic pain from herpes zoster, which can persist as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Preventing the progression to chronic PHN is crucial, yet optimal interventions is still not clear.

Objectives: This study evaluates the efficacy of short-term spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) in patients with subacute and chronic PHN.

[Herpes zoster : vaccination and management of satellite lesions in immunocompromised patients].

Shingles, also termed herpes zoster (HZ), is due to the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (VZV) in a dorsal root nerve ganglion with an intra-axonal passage of the virus to a predetermined dermatome. The risk of HZ increases with age, as well as the morbidity risks. The most feared complication is post-herpetic neuralgia, defined as persisting pain sensations three months after the resolution of the skin lesions.

Efficacy of Higher-Voltage Long-Duration Pulsed Radiofrequency for Spinal Zoster-Associated Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: High-voltage (65 V) long-duration pulsed radiofrequency (HL-PRF) is an effective method for managing zoster-associated pain (ZAP), though the limited efficacy of and high recurrence rates associated with the procedure present concerns.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the safety and effectiveness of a higher-voltage HL-PRF treatment based on the original procedure for ZAP in the spinal area.

Study Design: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

Combining fire needle plus cupping with famciclovir and gabapentin in the treatment of acute herpes zoster: a revised intervention approach.

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of fire needle plus cupping (FC) combined with oral famciclovir and gabapentin for the treatment of acute-phase herpes zoster (AHZ). This study was conducted as a superiority, randomized controlled trial in which 84 patients with AHZ who met the diagnostic criteria were selected and randomly assigned to three groups on a 1:1 basis. Group A: received oral famciclovir with gabapentin treatment (FG); Group B: received fire needle plus cupping (FC) with FG.

Ultrasound-Guided Thoracic Paravertebral Injection of Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Thoracic Herpes Zoster-Related Pain: A Study Protocol.

Background: Herpes zoster (HZ), triggered by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, manifests as a painful rash known as zoster-associated pain (ZAP), which can progress to postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral injections of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in managing acute ZAP and preventing PHN.

Methods: This is a prospective, randomized, controlled, open-label, endpoint-blinded, single-center trial involving 128 participants suffering from zoster-associated pain.

Causal relationship between hypothyroidism and peripheral neuropathy: a Mendelian randomization study of European ancestry.

Background: Metabolic disorders are significant risk factors for peripheral neuropathy (PN) diseases. However, current clinical observational studies cannot fully determine the causal relationships between hypothyroidism (HT) and PN diseases.

Methods: We performed univariate Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with hypothyroidism and two diseases clinically presented as HT (autoimmune thyroid disease and benign neoplasm of the pituitary gland and craniopharyngeal duct) as instrumental variables.

Non-oral pharmacological interventions in the management of herpes zoster-related pain: a review of current research.

Herpes zoster-associated pain is a difficult-to-treat pathologic pain that seriously affects patients' quality of life. In recent years, emerging therapeutic techniques such as autologous platelet-rich plasma, sympathetic nerve block and pulsed radiofrequency have been gradually applied in the field of pain with the advantages of less trauma, quicker recovery and significant efficacy. These therapeutic options have become a new hope for the treatment of herpes zoster-associated pain.

Investigating the causal effect of various metabolites on postherpetic neuralgia: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Common side effect of Herpes Zoster, postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), causes persistent pain that seriously affects quality of life. Lack of dependable biomarkers makes the clinical diagnosis and treatment of PHN difficult, so complicating the assessment of therapeutic efficacy. Blood metabolites are becoming more and more well known as significant disease markers.

Mirogabalin as a novel calcium channel αδ ligand for the treatment of neuropathic pain: a review of clinical update.

Neuropathic pain (NP) is often caused by diabetic neuropathy, chemotherapy, or spinal cord lesions and is associated with significant economic burden and poor quality of life. Sophisticated etiology and pathology recognized different pharmacologic interventions, and hitherto, the reported analgesic efficacy and safety of guideline-recommended drugs are not satisfactory. Overall, this article reviews the mechanism of αδ ligand, the clinical pharmacokinetics, efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of mirogabalin for the treatment of NP, offering clinical perspectives into potential benefits of NP-related syndrome or comorbidities.

Quantification of crisugabalin (HSK16149) in biological matrix by LC-MS/MS method: An application to rat pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution studies.

Crisugabalin (HSK16149), a novel VGCC α2δ ligand, has been approved for the treatment of adult diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). In this study, an LC-MS/MS method was developed for the determination of crisugabalin in rat plasma and tissues homogenate. Samples were extracted by protein precipitation and separated on a Hypersil GOLD aQ column with methanol and 2 mM ammonium acetate in water containing 0.

Possible Role of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Patients with Postherpetic Neuralgia: A Prospective, Single-Arm, Open-Label Clinical Study.

Background: Currently, no treatment can fully and finally treat postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

Aim And Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the possible efficacy of autologous intralesional platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in treating patients with PHN.

Materials And Methods: A prospective, single-arm, open-label clinical study was conducted on 45 patients with PHN attending the Dermatology Outpatient Clinics of Sohag University Hospital, Egypt, between November 2019 and November 2021.

Erratum: Comprehensive Bibliometric Analysis of Research Articles on Post-Herpetic Neuralgia and Varicella-Zoster Virus: A 20-Year Review (2003-2022) [Corrigendum].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S432485.

Modelled Public Health Impact of Introducing Adjuvanted Recombinant Zoster Vaccine into the UK National Immunisation Programme.

Introduction: In 2023, recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) replaced zoster vaccine live (ZVL) vaccine in the UK National Immunisation Programme (NIP) for prevention of herpes zoster (HZ). The vaccination age was reduced from 70 to 65 years, with a subsequent planned reduction to 60 years. This modelling study aimed to evaluate the public health impact (PHI) of RZV vaccination in the 70 years of age (YOA) population and in younger individuals 65 and 60 YOA.

Analysis of Risk Factors and Development and Validation of a Dynamic Nomogram for Postherpetic Neuralgia: A Retrospective Study.

Purpose: Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN), recognized as the most common complication of Herpes Zoster, is experiencing an increasing trend in its occurrence. The goal of this study was to identify the independent risk factors for PHN and create a dynamic nomogram using routine clinical characteristics to predict PHN in patients with herpes zoster, for early identification and prevention of PHN.

Patients And Methods: A total of 2420 patients were retrospectively reviewed and divided into training (n=1696) and validation (n=724) cohort using a 7:3 random allocation.

The Role of Moist Dressings in the Management of Herpes Zoster With Scalp Involvement: A Case Report.

Comprehensive management, including antivirals and pain control, is crucial for mitigating complications and improving patient outcomes in herpes zoster. Moist wound dressings, specifically hydrocoll, effectively reduce pain, and promote healing in herpes zoster with scalp involvement, as demonstrated in the case of a 76-year-old male.

Neuropathic pain - A clinical primer.

Neuropathic pain is used both as a mechanistic descriptor and a classification category of pain caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory nervous system and encompasses a vast array of possible diagnoses. The identification of neuropathic pain and diagnosis of specific syndromes relies on a detailed patient history. Standardized pain questionnaires can capture the patient`s symptoms, while the anatomical distribution of pain is often documented using pain drawings.

The relationship between pain duration characteristics and pain intensity in herpes zoster-related pain: a single-center retrospective study.

Background: The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) can cause herpes zoster (HZ), which may progress to postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), leading to severe inflammatory responses and pain.

Objective: This study investigates the relationship between pain duration characteristics and pain intensity in patients with herpes zoster-related pain, hypothesizing that persistent pain correlates with higher pain intensity compared to intermittent pain.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, China.

Long-Term Effects of Spinal Cord Stimulation on Pain in Postherpetic Neuralgia.

Introduction: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a pain syndrome that develops within few months after the acute herpetic outbreak. The pain may be accompanied by specific cutaneous signs in the distribution of affected dermatomes and feel unbearable reaching up to 9-10/10 on visual analog scale (VAS). Despite the introduction of new medications, drug resistance develops in at least 50% of cases.

Chemical profiling and anti-inflammatory effect of phenolic extract of Gentiana rigescens Franch.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Gentiana rigescens Franch. (G. rigescens), known as "Dian Long Dan" in Southern Yunnan Herbal, has a long history in traditional Chinese medicine for treating hepatitis, allergies, postherpetic neuralgia, cholecystitis and rheumatism.