Adenosine increases the cutaneous heat pain threshold in healthy volunteers

BACKGROUND Virtual reality hypnosis (VRH) is a promising tool to reduce pain. However, VRH benefits on pain perception and on the physiological expression of pain still require further investigation. OBJECTIVE In this study, we characterized the effects of VRH on heat pain threshold in adult healthy volunteers and simultaneously monitored several physiological and autonomic functions. METHODS 60 healthy volunteers were prospectively included to receive nociceptive stimulations. The first series of thermal stimuli consisted of 20 stimulations at 60°C (duration: 500 ms) to trigger contact heat evoked potentials (CHEPs). The second series of thermal stimuli consisted of temperature ramps (1°C/sec) to determine the thermal pain thresholds of the participants. Electrocardiogram, electrodermal conduction, respiration rate as well as the analgesia nociception index were also recorded throughout the experiment. RESULTS Data from 58 participants were analysed. There was a significant increase in pain threshold in VRH compared to NoVRH (p<0.001, Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed ranks). No significant effect of VRH on CHEPs and heart rate parameters was observed. Compared to control, VRH subjects display a clear reduction in their autonomic sympathetic tone as seen by the low number of non-specific skin conductance peak responses (p = 0.0007, 2-way ANOVA) and the analgesia nociception index increase (p = 0.0005; paired t-test). CONCLUSIONS The results obtained in this study support the idea that VRH administration to healthy volunteers is effective at increasing heat pain thresholds and impacts autonomic functions. As a non-pharmacological intervention, VRH has beneficial action on acute experimental heat pain. This beneficial action will now need to be evaluated for the treatment of other types of pain including chronic pain.

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The association between selected genetic variants and individual differences in experimental pain

Scandinavian Journal of Pain ◽

10.1515/sjpain-2020-0091 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Marie Udnesseter Lie ◽

Bendik Winsvold ◽

Johannes Gjerstad ◽

Dagfinn Matre ◽

Linda M. Pedersen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Genetic Variants ◽

Pain Threshold ◽

Experimental Pain ◽

Pain Tolerance ◽

Heat Pain ◽

Low Back ◽

Secondary Hyperalgesia ◽

Heat Pain Threshold ◽

Pain Patients

AbstractObjectivesThe underlying mechanisms for individual differences in experimental pain are not fully understood, but genetic susceptibility is hypothesized to explain some of these differences. In the present study we focus on three genetic variants important for modulating experimental pain related to serotonin (SLC6A4 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 A>G), catecholamine (COMT rs4680 Val158Met) and opioid (OPRM1 rs1799971 A118G) signaling. We aimed to investigate associations between each of the selected genetic variants and individual differences in experimental pain.MethodsIn total 356 subjects (232 low back pain patients and 124 healthy volunteers) were genotyped and assessed with tests of heat pain threshold, pressure pain thresholds, heat pain tolerance, conditioned pain modulation (CPM), offset analgesia, temporal summation and secondary hyperalgesia. Low back pain patients and healthy volunteers did not differ in regards to experimental test results or allelic frequencies, and were therefore analyzed as one group. The associations were tested using analysis of variance and the Kruskal-Wallis test.ResultsNo significant associations were observed between the genetic variants (SLC6A4 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 A>G, COMT rs4680 Val158Met and OPRM1 rs1799971 A118G) and individual differences in experimental pain (heat pain threshold, pressure pain threshold, heat pain tolerance, CPM, offset analgesia, temporal summation and secondary hyperalgesia).ConclusionsThe selected pain-associated genetic variants were not associated with individual differences in experimental pain. Genetic variants well known for playing central roles in pain perception failed to explain individual differences in experimental pain in 356 subjects. The finding is an important contribution to the literature, which often consists of studies with lower sample size and one or few experimental pain assessments.

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Intradermal recombinant human nerve growth factor induces pressure allodynia and lowered heat-pain threshold in humans

Neurology ◽

10.1212/wnl.48.2.501 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 501-505 ◽

Cited By ~ 172

Author(s):

P. J. Dyck ◽

S. Peroutka ◽

C. Rask ◽

E. Burton ◽

M. K. Baker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nerve Growth Factor ◽

Growth Factor ◽

Pain Threshold ◽

Heat Pain ◽

Nerve Growth ◽

Heat Pain Threshold ◽

Human Nerve

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Sodium Channel Nav1.7 Is Essential for Lowering Heat Pain Threshold after Burn Injury

Journal of Neuroscience ◽

10.1523/jneurosci.0304-12.2012 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 32 (32) ◽

pp. 10819-10832 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

S. D. Shields ◽

X. Cheng ◽

N. Uceyler ◽

C. Sommer ◽

S. D. Dib-Hajj ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sodium Channel ◽

Pain Threshold ◽

Burn Injury ◽

Heat Pain ◽

Heat Pain Threshold

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P224 Heat Pain Threshold increases after dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DL) rTMS, but not after stimulation at other sites

Clinical Neurophysiology ◽

10.1016/j.clinph.2016.10.341 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 128 (3) ◽

pp. e124

Author(s):

A.-C. Schmid ◽

J.-H. Chien ◽

C.-C. Liu ◽

J.D. Greenspan ◽

F.A. Lenz

Keyword(s):

Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Pain Threshold ◽

Heat Pain ◽

Heat Pain Threshold ◽

Dorsolateral Prefrontal

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High-Frequency Transcutaneous Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Induces a Higher Increase of Heat Pain Threshold in the Cutaneous Area of the Stimulated Nerve When Confronted to the Neighbouring Areas

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2013/464207 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

M. Buonocore ◽

N. Camuzzini ◽

M. Cecini ◽

E. Dalla Toffola

Keyword(s):

Electrical Stimulation ◽

Pain Relief ◽

Peripheral Nerve ◽

Nerve Stimulation ◽

Radial Nerve ◽

Pain Threshold ◽

Heat Pain ◽

Electrical Nerve Stimulation ◽

Heat Pain Threshold ◽

Painful Area

Background. TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) is probably the most diffused physical therapy used for antalgic purposes. Although it continues to be used by trial and error, correct targeting of paresthesias evoked by the electrical stimulation on the painful area is diffusely considered very important for pain relief.Aim. To investigate if TENS antalgic effect is higher in the cutaneous area of the stimulated nerve when confronted to neighbouring areas.Methods. 10 volunteers (4 males, 6 females) underwent three different sessions: in two, heat pain thresholds (HPTs) were measured on the dorsal hand skin before, during and after electrical stimulation (100 Hz, 0.1 msec) of superficial radial nerve; in the third session HPTs, were measured without any stimulation.Results. Radial nerve stimulation induced an increase of HPT significantly higher in its cutaneous territory when confronted to the neighbouring ulnar nerve territory, and antalgic effect persisted beyond the stimulation time.Conclusions. The location of TENS electrodes is crucial for obtaining the strongest pain relief, and peripheral nerve trunk stimulation is advised whenever possible. Moreover, the present study indicates that continuous stimulation could be unnecessary, suggesting a strategy for avoiding the well-known tolerance-like effect of prolonged TENS application.

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Influence of skin temperature on heat pain threshold in humans

Experimental Brain Research ◽

10.1007/bf00230429 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 107 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

Antti Pertovaara ◽

Timo Kauppila ◽

MinnaM. H�m�l�inen

Keyword(s):

Skin Temperature ◽

Pain Threshold ◽

Heat Pain ◽

Heat Pain Threshold

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Shorter Articles and Notes an Optimum Interval in the Assessment of Pain Threshold

Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology ◽

10.1080/14640746708400068 ◽

1967 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 54-58 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Dian R. Hasalam ◽

E. A. C. Thomas

Keyword(s):

Statistical Analysis ◽

Theoretical Model ◽

Pain Threshold ◽

Heat Pain ◽

Heat Pain Threshold ◽

Optimum Interval

When the Limiting Method is used to measure heat-pain threshold, the observed threshod has been shown to depend on the size of the stimulus increment used (Haslam, 1965). An experiment is reported here which repeats a finding of the experiment referred to above that the variability of threshold is relatively large when the stimulus increment is small. A statistical analysis of the data shows that the previously untested hypothesis that pain threshold is uniform over the population (Hardy, Wolff and Goodell, 1952) is a reasonable one. The psychological implications of threshold variability are discussed in the light of a theoretical model, and a criterion for an optimum interval in the assessment of heat-pain threshold is discussed.

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Visuo–tactile stimulation, but not type of movement, modulates pain during the vision of a moving virtual limb

Pain Management ◽

10.2217/pmt-2019-0019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 449-460 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Calum Gordon ◽

Alba Barbullushi ◽

Stefano Tombolini ◽

Federica Margiotta ◽

Alessia Ciacci ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Tactile Stimulation ◽

Pain Threshold ◽

Pain Modulation ◽

Heat Pain ◽

Immersive Virtual Reality ◽

Pain Thresholds ◽

Heat Pain Threshold ◽

Different Types ◽

Healthy Participants

Aim: Evidence has revealed a relationship between pain and the observation of limb movement, but it is unknown whether different types of movements have diverse modulating effects. In this immersive virtual reality study, we explored the effect of the vision of different virtual arm movements (arm vs wrist) on heat pain threshold of healthy participants. Patients & methods: 40 healthy participants underwent four conditions in virtual reality, while heat pain thresholds were measured. Visuo–tactile stimulation was used to attempt to modulate the feeling of virtual limb ownership while the participants kept their arms still. Results: Effects on pain threshold were present for type of stimulation but not type of movement. Conclusion: The type of observed movement does not appear to influence pain modulation, at least not during acute pain states.

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