scholarly journals Exposure to a Specific Pulsed Low-Frequency Magnetic Field: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study of Effects on Pain Ratings in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia Patients

2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naomi M Shupak ◽  
Julia C McKay ◽  
Warren R Nielson ◽  
Gary B Rollman ◽  
Frank S Prato ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Specific pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) have been shown to induce analgesia (antinociception) in snails, rodents and healthy human volunteers.OBJECTIVE: The effect of specific PEMF exposure on pain and anxiety ratings was investigated in two patient populations.DESIGN: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled parallel design was used.METHOD: The present study investigated the effects of an acute 30 min magnetic field exposure (less than or equal to 400 μTpk; less than 3 kHz) on pain (McGill Pain Questionnaire [MPQ], visual analogue scale [VAS]) and anxiety (VAS) ratings in female rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (n=13; mean age 52 years) and fibromyalgia (FM) patients (n=18; mean age 51 years) who received either the PEMF or sham exposure treatment.RESULTS: A repeated measures analysis revealed a significant pre-post-testing by condition interaction for the MPQ Pain Rating Index total for the RA patients, F(1,11)=5.09, P<0.05, estimate of effect size = 0.32, power = 0.54. A significant pre-post-effect for the same variable was present for the FM patients, F(1,15)=16.2, P<0.01, estimate of effect size = 0.52, power =0.96. Similar findings were found for MPQ subcomponents and the VAS (pain). There was no significant reduction in VAS anxiety ratings pre- to post-exposure for either the RA or FM patients.CONCLUSION: These findings provide some initial support for the use of PEMF exposure in reducing pain in chronic pain populations and warrants continued investigation into the use of PEMF exposure for short-term pain relief.

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A242-A242
Author(s):  
K M Sousa ◽  
R D Piovezan ◽  
L e Silva ◽  
C De melo ◽  
D Poyares ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Residual excessive sleepiness (RES) is presented by 6% of obstructive sleep apnea patients despite effective CPAP therapy. Few interventions have been tested for this condition and are focused on daytime stimulants. Recently, cholinergic activity decline was suggested as a potential mechanism in the pathophysiology of RES. This study aimed to investigate the effects of donepezil, an anticholinesterase inhibitor, in patients with RES. Methods This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study included participants with RES (35-65 years). Neuropsychiatric disorders, alcoholism, smoking, shiftwork, psychoactive drugs, other sleep disorders were exclusion criteria. Participants were assigned to one intervention arm (donepezil 5 mg for 15 days followed by donepezil 10mg for 15 days or placebo in the morning). After a 20-day wash-out, the same procedure was repeated following the crossover design. Somnolence measured by the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) and Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT) were the primary endpoints. PSG, cognitive (trail test, continuous performance test) and Beck’s depression scale parameters were secondary endpoints. General Linear Models for repeated measures compared interventions responses. Cohen’s d measured effect sizes. Adverse events (AEs) were assessed by questionnaire. Results The study enrolled eight individuals. ESS was lower in the donepezil arm than in the placebo arm (8.9±4.4 vs 15.7±4.1, p&lt;0.05). Effect size for ESS was high (d 1.61). Other endpoints were not different among study arms. Randomization order didn’t affect the results. No AEs were reported. Conclusion Donepezil improved subjective sleepiness in individuals with RES. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report the effects of a cholinergic intervention in patients with RES. Effect size was high for self-reported sleepiness, which may impact on quality of life and risk of disability in people with RES. Agents acting on the cholinergic system are potential targets for treating RES. Support Acknowledgements Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) This study is supported by AFIP (Associacao Fundo Incentivo a Pesquisa).


Author(s):  
Sataz Rahmania ◽  
Vanitha Shetty ◽  
Balakrishnan Ragavendrasamy

AbstractBackground & ObjectivesThe douche, one of the hydrotherapeutic treatment modality is commonly used by Naturopathy physicians as a treatment of choice in the management of several ailments. This study was done to assess the effect of full body neutral douche in the management of pain and systemic symptoms in adult females with primary dysmenorrhoea.Methods68 subjects of age 18-22 years with primary dysmenorrhoea were recruited for the study and were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group (n = 34) and the control group (n = 34). The experimental group received whole body neutral douche, whereas the control group followed the routine as usual. Assessments for the pain, systemic symptoms and menstrual cramps were done by using McGill Pain Questionnaire, Verbal multidimensional scoring system and analog scale for severity of pain and menstrual cramps respectively at baseline, day 30 and day 60 of intervention. Two- way repeated measures of ANOVA was performed to understand the between group changes, adjusted for the respective baseline values and age.ResultData was analyzed with SPSS (Version 21.0) package. Neutral douche resulted in significant improvement in pain [F(2,66) = 114.564, p < 0.0005, partial ?2 = 0.771], severity of pain [F(2,66) = 70.418, p < 0.0005, partial ?2 = 0.681], cramps [F(2,66) = 75.986, p < 0.0005, partial ?2 = 0.697] and systemic symptoms [F(2,66) = 14.64, p < 0.0005, partial ?2 = 0.307] as compared to the control group.ConclusionFindings suggest that neutral douche can be used as a non-pharmacological intervention in the management of pain and systemic symptoms in primary dysmenorrhea.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 954.1-954
Author(s):  
M. Movahedi ◽  
D. Weber ◽  
P. Akhavan ◽  
E. Keystone

Background:Progressive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is responsible for joint damage causing disabilities with no agreement on which disease measures best predict radiographic progressionObjectives:We aimed to determine which disease activity measures including disease activity score (DAS), modified (M) DAS28 (CRP), clinical disease activity index (CDAI), and health assessment questionnaire disability index (HAQ-DI) best predict rapid radiographic progression (RRP) in early RA patients at baseline (BL) and 3 months.Methods:PREMIER data, a 2-year, multicenter, double-blind active comparator–controlled study with methotrexate (MTX) naïve RA patients and active disease <3 years, were used. Only patients in the MTX arm were analyzed. RRP was defined as change in modified total Sharp (mTSS) > 3.5 at month 12. Logistic regression analysis assessed impact of measures at BL and 3 months on RRP at 12 months. Best cut-off points of M-DAS28(CRP) was also estimated using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.Results:149 patients were included: female (n=113; 75.8%), positive RF (n=127; 85.2%), mean (SD) age 52.9 (13.3) years, disease duration 0.8 (0.9) year, DAS28(CRP) 6.3 (0.9). After adjusting for potential confounders, only M-DAS28(CRP) at BL (adjOR=3.29; 95% CI: 1.70-6.36) and 3 months (adjOR=2.56; 95% CI: 1.43-4.56) strongly predicted RRP at 12 months. M-DAS28(CRP) 4.5 and 2.6 at BL and 3 months maximized sensitivity and specificity for prediction of RRP.Conclusion:M-DAS28(CRP) was a stronger predictor at BL and 3 months for RRP compared with other disease activity measures. Removing tender joint count and patient global assessment from DAS28(CRP) improves prediction of RRP.References:[1] Breedveld FC, Weisman MH, Kavanaugh AF, Cohen SB, Pavelka K, van Vollenhoven R, et al. The PREMIER study: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind clinical trial of combination therapy with adalimumab plus methotrexate versus methotrexate alone or adalimumab alone in patients with early, aggressive rheumatoid arthritis who had not had previous methotrexate treatment. Arthritis and rheumatism. 2006;54(1):26-37.Acknowledgments :The authors wish to knowledge AbbVie Canada Inc. for providing patients data.Disclosure of Interests:Mohammad Movahedi Consultant of: Allergan, Deborah Weber: None declared, Pooneh Akhavan: None declared, Edward Keystone Grant/research support from: AbbVie; Amgen; Gilead Sciences, Inc; Lilly Pharmaceuticals; Merck; Pfizer Pharmaceuticals; PuraPharm; Sanofi, Consultant of: AbbVie; Amgen; AstraZeneca Pharma; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; Celltrion; F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd.; Genentech, Inc; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; Janssen, Inc; Lilly Pharmaceuticals; Merck; Myriad Autoimmune; Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Sandoz, Sanofi-Genzyme, Samsung Bioepsis., Speakers bureau: AbbVie; Amgen; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Celltrion; F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd, Janssen, Inc; Merck; Pfizer Pharmaceuticals; Sanofi-Genzyme; UCB


1975 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 416-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
A J Dixon ◽  
J Davies ◽  
T L Dormandy ◽  
E B Hamilton ◽  
P J Holt ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Matheus Silva Norberto ◽  
Ricardo Augusto Barbieri ◽  
Danilo Rodrigues Bertucci ◽  
Ronaldo Bucken Gobbi ◽  
Eduardo Zapaterra Campos ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Investigations of β-alanine supplementation shows effects on metabolic (aerobic and anaerobic) participation and performance on swimming by a possible blood acidosis buffering. Considering this background, the objective of the present study was to analyze the effects of β-alanine supplementation on metabolic contribution and performance during 400-m swim. Methods Thirteen competitive swimmers underwent a 6-week, double-blind placebo-controlled study, ingesting 4.8 g.day− 1 of β-alanine or placebo. Before and after the supplementation period, the total anaerobic contribution (TAn) and 30-s all-out tethered swimming effort (30TS) were assessed. Anaerobic alactic (AnAl) and lactic energy (AnLa) was assumed as the fast component of excess post-exercise oxygen consumption and net blood lactate accumulation during exercise (∆[La−]), respectively. Aerobic contribution (Aer) was determined by the difference between total energy demand and TAn. In addition to conventional statistical analysis (Repeated measures ANOVA; p > 0.05), a Bayesian repeated measures ANOVA was used to evidence the effect probability (BFincl). Results No differences and effects were found between groups, indicating no supplementation effects. Repeated measures ANOVA, with confirmation of effect, was indicate reduce in ∆Lactate (p: 0.001; BFincl: 25.02); absolute AnLa (p: 0.002; BFincl: 12.61), fatigue index (p > 0.001; BFincl: 63.25) and total anaerobic participation (p: 0.008; BFincl: 4.89). Conclusions Thus, the results demonstrated that all changes presented were evidenced as a result of exposure to the training period and β-alanine supplementation doesn’t affect metabolic contribution and performance during 400-m freestyle.


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