Transdermal electroneurostimulation in patients with diabetic neuropathy

BACKGROUND: The dynamics of pain syndrome determined using various algic tests in the treatment of patients with diabetic neuropathic pain syndrome using tansdermal electroneurostimulation has been little studied. AIMS: To study the dynamics of projection zones of neuropathic pain syndrome in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy while using TENS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 75 patients with diabetic polyneuropathy were examined. The control group (n=25; 33.3%) received a course of standard pharmacotherapy. The main group consisted of 2 groups. The first group (n=25; 33.3%) underwent a course of high-frequency low-amplitude (HL TENS) transdermal electroneurostimulation, and the second group (n=25; 33.3%) underwent a course of low-frequency high-amplitude (LH TENS) therapy. Pain syndrome was determined using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and a body diagram before, after treatment and in the long-term period. RESULTS: Using a visual analogue scale (VAS), the dynamics of pain syndrome after the use of LF TENS was lower than after the use of HFTENS by an average of 35% (p 0.05). The data obtained indicate that the regression of pain syndrome after physiotherapeutic treatment of TENS in patients from the main comparison groups exceeds similar indicators in patients from the control group by an average of 63% (p 0.05) both immediately after the course of exposure and in the distant the observation period by 23%. Against the background of TENS, the area of pain syndrome according to the body pattern significantly decreased by 53% after treatment (p 0.05) and by 65.6% in the long-term period (p 0.05), compared with a decrease in the area of pain syndrome in the control group. CONCLUSION: There were revealed significant differences between the quantitative and projection forms of pain measurement. The use of TENS enhances the analgesic effect of drug therapy in the treatment of diabetic neuropathic pain syndrome by 1.37 times while maintaining this effect without negative dynamics for 2 months after the end of the course of non-drug therapy. The developed technique for assessing pain syndrome using a body diagram in combination with a visual analogue scale (VAS) in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy provides a more reliable assessment of pain syndrome.

Pros and Cons of Early and Very Early Surgery for Traumatic Central Cord Syndrome with Spinal Stenosis: Literature Review and Case Report

Background The case of a 69-year-old patient with an acute traumatic central cord syndrome (ATCCS) with preexisting spinal stenosis raised a discussion over the question of conservative versus surgical treatment in the acute setting. We provide a literature overview on the management (conservative vs. surgical treatment) of ATCCS with preexisting spinal stenosis. Methods We reviewed the literature concerning essential concepts for the management of ATCCS with spinal stenosis and cervical spinal cord injury. The data retrieved from these studies were applied to the potential management of an illustrative case report. Results Not rarely has ATCCS an unpredictable neurologic course because of its dynamic character with secondary injury mechanisms within the cervical spinal cord in the early phase, the possibility of functional deterioration, and the appearance of a neuropathic pain syndrome during late follow-up. The result of the literature review favors early surgical treatment in ATCCS patients with preexisting cervical stenosis. Conclusion Reluctance toward aggressive and timely surgical treatment of ATCCS should at least be questioned in patients with preexisting spinal stenosis.

Dexmedetomidine attenuates haemorrhage-induced thalamic pain by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB/ERK1/2 pathway in mice

Background Thalamic pain, a neuropathic pain syndrome, frequently occurs after stroke. This research aimed to investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on thalamic pain. Methods The cellular localization of the TLR4 protein was determined by immunostaining. The expression of Iba1, GFAP and protein associated with the TLR4/NF-κB/ERK1/2 pathway was measured by Western blotting. Continuous pain hypersensitivity was evaluated by behavioural tests. The results were analysed by one-way ANOVA, two-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test. Results The results demonstrated that DEX obviously alleviated thalamic pain induced by haemorrhage on the ipsilateral side and delayed the development of pain hypersensitivity. Furthermore, the expression levels of Iba1, GFAP and proteins associated with the TLR4/NF-κB/ERK1/2 signalling pathway were greatly increased in mice with thalamic pain, but these effects were reversed by DEX. Conclusion Our findings suggest that DEX alleviates the inflammatory response during thalamic pain through the TLR4/NF-κB/ERK1/2 signalling pathway and might be a potential therapeutic agent for thalamic pain.

Diffculties and ways to overcome them in selection of therapy for pain syndromes in patients with diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) causes damage to various body systems, including the peripheral nervous system. The main variants of peripheral nerve damage in diabetes mellitus are considered. Information on the development of this kind of lesion, in particular, on the formation of neuropathic pain syndrome, is given. The therapeutic possibilities of drugs from various pharmacological groups for the treatment of patients with neurological complications of diabetes are analyzed.

EETs/sEHi alleviates nociception by blocking the crosslink between endoplasmic reticulum stress and neuroinflammation in a central poststroke pain model

Background Central post-stroke pain (CPSP) is a chronic and intolerable neuropathic pain syndrome following a cerebral vascular insult, which negatively impacts the quality of life of stroke survivors but currently lacks efficacious treatments. Though its underlying mechanism remains unclear, clinical features of hyperalgesia and allodynia indicate central sensitization due to excessive neuroinflammation. Recently, the crosslink between neuroinflammation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been identified in diverse types of diseases. Nevertheless, whether this interaction contributes to pain development remains unanswered. Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs)/soluble epoxy hydrolase inhibitors (sEHi) are emerging targets that play a significant role in pain and neuroinflammatory regulation. Moreover, recent studies have revealed that EETs are effective in attenuating ER stress. In this study, we hypothesized that ER stress around the stroke site may activate glial cells and lead to further inflammatory cascades, which constitute a positive feedback loop resulting in central sensitization and CPSP. Additionally, we tested whether EETs/sEHi could attenuate CPSP by suppressing ER stress and neuroinflammation, as well as their vicious cycle, in a rat model of CPSP. Methods Young male SD rats were used to induce CPSP using a model of thalamic hemorrhage and were then treated with TPPU (sEHi) alone or in combination with 14,15-EET or 14,15-epoxyeicosa-5(Z)-enoic acid (14,15-EEZE, the EET antagonist), tunicamycin (Tm, ER stress inducer), or 4-PBA (ER stress inhibitor). Nociceptive behaviors, ER stress markers, JNK and p38 (two well-recognized inflammatory kinases of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling) expression, and glial cell activation were assessed. In addition, some healthy rats were intrathalamically microinjected with Tm or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to test the interaction between ER stress and neuroinflammation in central pain. Results Analysis of the perithalamic lesion tissue from the brain of CPSP rats demonstrated decreased soluble epoxy hydrolase (sEH) expression, which was accompanied by increased expression of ER stress markers, including BIP, p-IRE, p-PERK, and ATF6. In addition, inflammatory kinases (p-p38 and p-JNK) were upregulated and glial cells were activated. Intrathalamic injection of sEHi (TPPU) increased the paw withdrawal mechanical threshold (PWMT), reduced hallmarks of ER stress and MAPK signaling, and restrained the activation of microglia and astrocytes around the lesion site. However, the analgesic effect of TPPU was completely abolished by 14,15-EEZE. Moreover, microinjection of Tm into the thalamic ventral posterior lateral (VPL) nucleus of healthy rats induced mechanical allodynia and activated MAPK-mediated neuroinflammatory signaling; lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration led to activation of ER stress along the injected site in healthy rats. Conclusions The present study provides evidence that the interaction between ER stress and neuroinflammation is involved in the mechanism of CPSP. Combined with the previously reported EET/sEHi effects on antinociception and neuroprotection, therapy with agents that target EET signaling may serve as a multi-functional approach in central neuropathic pain by attenuating ER stress, excessive neuroinflammation, and subsequent central sensitization. The use of these agents within a proper time window could not only curtail further nerve injury but also produce an analgesic effect.

First experience with chronic epidural spinal cord stimulation in Khanty-Mansi autonomous okrug — clinical observations

Purpose of the work. The article is devoted to the first experience of epidural stimulation in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug at the budgetary institution Surgut Clinical Trauma Hospital. Clinical examples are presented for two main indications for the application of this technique (disease of the operated spine, a consequence of spinal cord injury in combination with chronic neuropathic pain syndrome). Research methods. An assessment of the intensity of pain syndrome was given according to a visual analogue scale, the Pain Detect questionnaire; indicators of anxiety, depression on the HADS scale; quality of life according to the Oswestry questionnaire for a follow-up period of 6-12 months in patients with chronic epidural stimulation. Results. A positive assessment of the action during test neurostimulation was 63.3% (38 patients). Of the established permanent systems, a good result was achieved and persisted for 12 months or more in 96% (24 patients). It was necessary to change the stimulation parameters in 13% (3 patients). Revision of permanent systems was performed in 20% (5 patients), due to the progression of the degenerative-dystrophic process of the spine, damage and migration of system elements. Conclusions. Chronic epidural spinal cord stimulation has established itself as a personalized, highly effective, minimally invasive and safe method of treating chronic neuropathic pain syndromes. Multicomponent corrective action is of scientific interest and requires further study.

Optimization of the method for diagnostics of cardial autonomic neuropathy in diabetes mellitus 2 types

Introduction. Early diagnosis of cardiac autonomic neuropathy is the basis for the risk of heart disease and premature death in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 diabetes). All patients with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes should undergo annual screening, including history taking and neurophysiologic evaluation, for early diabetic autonomic neuropathy. This article describes a modern diagnostic technique based on changes in heart rate variability, which allows early detection of damage to the parasympathetic nervous system and timely prescribing disease-modifying treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes.Materials and methods. The study included 50 patients with type 2 diabetes (cf. Age 56.5 ± 13.5 years) and 30 healthy subjects (cf. Age 58 ± 10 years), matched by sex and age. according to the NSC questionnaire, the severity of neurological deficit - according to the NIS-LL scale, neuropathic pain syndrome - according to the TSS scale.Results. In the study group of patients with type 2 diabetes, severe CAN was detected in 13.3%, moderate CAN in 40% of patients, in 46.6% of patients, CAN was not detected. In the group of healthy volunteers, disorders of the autonomic nervous system of moderate were detected in 3.3%, in the remaining 96.7% of autonomic disorders were not accepted.Conclusion. The results of pulse oximetric tests with deep breathing are comparable to the results of the QAT device Case-4 (p < 0.001). The method of pulse oximetric diagnostics is more practical to use in comparison with the hardware QAT.

Comparative analysis of labile and stable high-frequency TENS in the treatment of neuropathic pain syndrome

Introduction: There have been many works devoted to the comparative analysis of high-frequency and low-frequency TENS in the treatment of neuropathic pain syndrome. Meanwhile, the comparative analysis of the methods of labile and stable TENS has not been sufficiently studied to date. Purpose: To make a comparative analysis of labile and stable high-frequency TENS in the treatment of neuropathic pain syndrome in patients with distal polyneuropathy of the lower extremities (DPLE). Materials and methods: 64 patients (F: 34, M: 30) with severe neuropathic pain syndrome on the background of diabetic DPLE were studied. Depending on the method of high-frequency TENS, all patients were divided into 2groups: stable high-frequency TENS (n=31) and labile high-frequency TENS (n=33). TENS was carried out every other day for a month. The severity of pain was determined by the VAS before each procedure. Results: The reduction of pain syndrome with the use of labile stimulation was 76.9%, compared to stable stimulation — 41,6%. With daily registration of pain syndrome, a significant increase in pain syndrome was revealed in patients who underwent stable high-frequency TENS after the 7th procedure to 4,5±0,3points in comparison with the indicators of pain syndrome obtained after the 3rd procedure (3,2±0,14). Conclusions: The analgesic effect of the labile high-frequency TENS significantly exceeds the analgesic effect of the stable high-frequency TENS by 85.1%. Partial tolerance to high-frequency TENS is observed when applying stable stimulation, which develops after the 7th procedure and is not observed after labile TENS.

Modern Views on the Clinical Anatomy of the Medial Cutaneous Nerve of Arm and the Prospects for its Use in Reconstructive Surgery

In the modern aspect, the relevance of damage to the medial cutaneous nerve of the arm during surgical interventions in the axilla and brachial region is displayed. Due to the superficial location in the subcutaneous layer, the nerve is most often subject to accidental damage, including in brachioplasty, axillary lymphodissection, breast cancer surgeries and breast augmentation. The material on variant anatomy, macroscopic structure and topography of the nerve is presented. The medial cutaneous nerve of the arm is formed from the medial cord of the brachial plexus, in some cases - from the posterior cord; isolated cases of the absence of the nerve are described. When exiting the axilla at arm level, the nerve penetrates into the deep brachial fascia, passes in the subcutaneous layer medially from the basilic vein of the arm and provides sensitive innervation to the skin of the medial surface of the arm, the skin of the medial epicondyle and the olecranon of the ulna. The medial cutaneous nerve of the arm has an average of 7-8 cutaneous branches, which are characterized by significant variability in the location under the skin. The significance of the medial cutaneous nerve of the arm in clinical practice, namely, in surgical interventions in the arm region, the development of neuropathic pain syndrome, brachial plexus blockages and the diagnosis of nerve damage, medial cord and inferior trunk of the brachial plexus. This review summarizes recent data, which allow to form a more complete picture of the clinical anatomy of the medial cutaneous nerve of arm and the possibilities of its use in reconstructive surgery. An especially relevant area is the possibility of using a medial skin flap of the arm with directed innervation by the medial cutaneous nerve of the arm for reconstruction and restoration of the sensitivity of the nipple-areola complex.

Thyroid Lesion as a Manifestation of Comorbidity in Patients with Diabetic Polyneyropathy

The study of clinical and anamnestic and paraclinical characteristics, highlighting their dominant features in patients with DP and existing thyroid diseases occupies an important place in modern neuroendocrinology and requires more focused attention of clinicians. The objective: to determine the leading clinical and laboratory-instrumental parameters in patients with DP and thyroid pathology, to analyze the mutual influence of neuroendocrine pathology on the patient’s somatoneurological condition. Materials and methods. Was done a clinical examination of 64 patients with DP , in 27 (42 %) of them was diagnosed the comorbid thyroid pathology, in 37 (58 %) it was absent. All patients were divided into two groups: with DP in the background of type I, II DM and thyroid pathology (A) and with DP in the background of type I, II DM without thyroid pathology (B). During the examination of patients were used clinical-anamnestic, clinical-neurological, laboratory-instrumental, neurophysiological methods of examination. Pain characteristics were assessed using the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ). Statistic calculation was done in MS Excel 2003 and using the package for statistical analysis STATISTICA 10. Results. In patients of both groups comorbidly were dominated diseases of the cardiovascular system, in group A, increasingly was revealed gastrointestinal pathology. Polyneuritic disorders of sensitivity and autonomic-trophic disorders are more common in persons of group B, they have a higher frequency of comorbid pathology and longer duration of DM. In group A lack of Achilles and knee reflexes was recorded more often than in comparison group. In 18 (65 %) of the examined persons of group A was detected a fatty liver dystrophy by ultrasound scanning of the abdominal organs, which exceeds the number in group B – 13 (35 %). There is an inverse average dependence between the level of TSH and BMI (correlation coefficient = –0,65). The general index of pain rating (Pain Rating Index – PRI) in group A is higher (30,62±2,64 scores). Conclusions. Among the thyroid diseases in the examined patients of group A hypothyroidism was most often detected, so 30 % of patients had a pronounced violation of lipid metabolism in the form of obesity, besides, in this group the number of people with type II DM was prevailed. The influence of thyroid pathology on the manifestations of DP is reflected in the intensification of neuropathic pain syndrome. There is also a significant effect on the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates, which aggravate and sometimes deepen the somatic condition of the patient.