Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Hepatology 2022 May 21. Epub 2022 May 21.

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Background: Cholestasis is associated with disease severity and worse outcome in coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). Cases of secondary sclerosing cholangitis (SSC) after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection have been described.

Methods: Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 between 03/2020 and 07/2021 were included. Read More

Cureus 2022 Apr 16;14(4):e24187. Epub 2022 Apr 16.

Radiology and Interventional Radiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, IND.

Mirizzi and Bouveret syndromes are uncommon but important complications of calculous cholecystitis. Mirizzi syndrome commonly presents with jaundice due to extrinsic compression on the common bile duct by an impacted stone at the gall bladder infundibulum, whereas Bouveret syndrome presents with gastric outlet obstruction due to a large stone in the duodenum. Our case is a 65-year-old lady who presented with pain in the right upper abdomen associated with nausea and vomiting. Read More

J Orthop Translat 2022 Jan 12;32:12-20. Epub 2021 Jun 12.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong.

Objective: Literature examining the relationship between elevated blood pressure and osteoarthritis (OA) has yielded conflicting results. This study aimed to systematically review the relationship between hypertension and OA in both load-bearing and non-load-bearing joints.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed on Embase, Emcare, MEDLINE and Ovid Nursing Database. Read More

Brain Nerve 2022 May;74(5):652-659

Department of Immunology, Multiple Sclerosis Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, National Institute of Neuroscience.

Myalgic encephalitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is an acquired intractable disease characterized by profound fatigue, post-exertional malaise, sleep disturbance, cognitive impairment, and orthostatic intolerance, among other features. The onset often follows an infectious episode. Importantly, the various types of autonomic dysfunctions, pain, and intolerance to various stimuli in ME/CFS patients are intrinsically different from the "fatigue" of healthy individuals. Read More

Oncologist 2022 May 19. Epub 2022 May 19.

Section of Digestive Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.

Background: Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome that has been reported in patients with gastric signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC). Clinical and prognostic features of MAHA in this setting have been poorly described.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a systematic review in 8 databases of gastric SRCC complicated by MAHA and performed a case-control study assessing factors associated with survival in patients with gastric SRCC and MAHA in our pooled cohort compared with age-, sex-, and stage-matched cases of gastric SRCC from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Read More

Int J Psychophysiol 2022 May 16. Epub 2022 May 16.

UMIT Tirol, University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall in Tirol, Austria. Electronic address:

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic condition of widespread pain accompanied by symptoms like depression, fatigue and cognitive impairments. In addition to central nervous pain sensitization, emotional dysregulation may be involved in FMS pathogenesis. This study investigated emotional influences on cognitive processing in FMS. Read More

Pain Med 2022 May 19. Epub 2022 May 19.

Lecturer of Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuro diagnostic research center, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt.

Objectives: The aim of this work was to explore the expression of miR-320a level in fibromyalgia patients in comparison to healthy controls, and to clarify its impact on the severity of symptoms and the cerebral processing of pain assessed by middle latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs).

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: Rheumatology and Neurology outpatient clinics. Read More

Front Pediatr 2022 2;10:886334. Epub 2022 May 2.

Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Pulmonology and Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.

Background And Significance: Advances in pediatric intensive care have led to markedly improved survival rates in critically ill children. Approximately 70% of those children survive with varying forms of complex chronic diseases or impairment/disabilities. Length of stay, length of mechanical ventilation and number of interventions per patient are increasing with rising complexity of underlying diseases, leading to increasing pain, agitation, withdrawal symptoms, delirium, immobility, and sleep disruption. Read More

Sci Rep 2022 May 18;12(1):8289. Epub 2022 May 18.

Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA.

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a chronic and debilitating pain disorder of the bladder and urinary tract with poorly understood etiology. A definitive diagnosis of IC/BPS can be challenging because many symptoms are shared with other urological disorders. An analysis of urine presents an attractive and non-invasive resource for monitoring and diagnosing IC/BPS. Read More

J Clin Pathol 2022 May 18. Epub 2022 May 18.

Medical Biochemistry and Immunology, University Hospital of Wales Healthcare NHS Trust, Cardiff, UK.

The autosomal dominant acute hepatic porphyrias (AHPs), acute intermittent porphyria, hereditary coproporphyria (HCP) and variegate porphyria (VP), are low penetrance adult onset disorders caused by partial deficiency of enzymes of haem biosynthesis. All are associated with acute neurovisceral attacks, which are a consequence of the increased hepatic demand for haem triggered by hormones, stress, drugs or systemic infections which leads to upregulation of the pathway and overproduction of haem precursors 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) and porphobilinogen (PBG). Acute episodes are characterised by severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, hyponatraemia, hypertension and tachycardia, behavioural disturbance and can progress to include seizures, peripheral motor neuropathy and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome if undiagnosed and untreated. Read More

World J Orthop 2022 Apr 18;13(4):354-364. Epub 2022 Apr 18.

Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University Hospital Queen Giovanna-ISUL, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia 1527, Bulgaria.

Lateral epicondylitis (LE) is a chronic aseptic inflammatory condition caused by repetitive microtrauma and excessive overload of the extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle. This is the most common cause of musculoskeletal pain syndrome in the elbow, inducing significant pain and limitation of the function of the upper limb. It affects approximately 1-3% of the population and is frequently seen in racquet sports and sports associated with functional overload of the elbow, such as tennis, squash, gymnastics, acrobatics, fitness, and weight lifting. Read More

Undersea Hyperb Med 2022 Second Quarter;49(2):563-568

Duke University, Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Hyperbaric Medicine and Environmental Physiology, Durham, North Carolina U.S.

Introduction: This case report describes an initially overlooked Type II decompression sickness (DCS) occurrence that was confused with a cerebral vascular accident in a patient with chronic atrial fibrillation (AF). The purpose of this case report is to reinforce the maxim that DCS needs to be suspected anytime a scuba diver experiences signs or symptoms compatible with DCS after completing a scuba dive.

Methods: A 71-year-old scuba diver with a history of AF and who was taking warfarin made four dives, all with maximum depths less than 60 fsw (20 msw) over a 10-hour interval. Read More

Pain 2022 May 17. Epub 2022 May 17.

Genesis Research Services, Broadmeadow, NSW, Australia.

Abstract: Ambroxol is a multifaceted drug with primarily mucoactive and secretolytic actions, along with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and local anaesthetic properties. It has a long history of use in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases and has shown to be efficacious in relieving sore throat. In more recent years, ambroxol has gained interest for its potential usefulness in treating neuropathic pain. Read More

Neuromodulation 2022 May 13. Epub 2022 May 13.

Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Pain Therapy, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium; Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, University Medical Centre Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address:

Study Design: This is a retrospective, observational study.

Introduction: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has found its application in chronic pain treatment, with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) as one of the most important indications. However, to date, little is known about the long-term effectiveness of the treatment. Read More

Phys Ther 2022 May 14. Epub 2022 May 14.

Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.

Objective: Excessive pelvic floor muscle activity has been suggested as a source of pain in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). Our objective was to determine whether men with CP/CPPS have changes in neural drive that impair their ability to relax pelvic floor muscles.

Methods: We recruited 90 men (42 with CP/CPPS and 48 in the control group [without a history of pelvic pain]). Read More

Pain Res Manag 2022 4;2022:9448620. Epub 2022 May 4.

TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, China.

Evidence shows that chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome hugely impacts the body and mind. The central mechanisms in patients with CP/CPPS resulted in increased attention as neuroimaging techniques developed. This review investigated the study design and major neuroimaging findings in CP/CPPS patients to provide comprehensive evidence. Read More

Front Cardiovasc Med 2022 27;9:880717. Epub 2022 Apr 27.

First Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, University Medical Center Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.

Background: Acute myocarditis is commonly associated with viral infections, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Myocarditis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination has also been reported, however this is rare and usually resolves within days or weeks. We present a case of acute myocarditis reported after vaccination with mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna) diagnosed using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). Read More

Front Pharmacol 2022 28;13:854238. Epub 2022 Apr 28.

Research and Early Development, Dompé Farmaceutici S.p.A., L'Aquila, Italy.

Interstitial cystitis (IC)/bladder pain syndrome (BPS) is a chronic bladder disease of unknown etiology characterized by urinary frequency and episodic and chronic pain. Analgesic treatments for IC/BPS are limited, especially for patients with non-Hunner (non-ulcerative) type IC who usually have poor overall outcomes. Here, we demonstrate that oral treatment with DF2755A, a potent and selective inhibitor of chemokine receptors CXCR1/2, can prevent and reverse peripheral neuropathy associated to non-Hunner IC/BPS by directly inhibiting chemokine-induced excitation of sensory neurons. Read More

Psychiatr Pol 2022 Feb 27;56(1):63-75. Epub 2022 Feb 27.

Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Katedra i Klinika Psychiatryczna.

Ganser syndrome (GS) is one of afew eponyms that have survived in psychiatry until the present day. GS is a little-known and rare disorder. It is most often described as a response to a stressor (e. Read More

J Clin Med 2022 May 5;11(9). Epub 2022 May 5.

Department of General Surgery and Organ Transplantation Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Policlinico Umberto I, 00161 Rome, Italy.

(1) Background: the aim of this study was to create a score to predict the incidence of CPAP failure in COVID-19 patients early. (2) Methods: in this retrospective observational study, we included all consecutive adult patients admitted between February and April 2021. The main outcome was the failure of CPAP support (intubation or death). Read More

Nutrients 2022 May 6;14(9). Epub 2022 May 6.

Division Gastroenterology-Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center+, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) share common culprit foods and potential pathophysiological factors. However, how diet may contribute to disease course and whether this differs between both entities is unclear. We therefore investigated the association of dietary indices with intestinal inflammation and gastrointestinal symptoms in both IBD and IBS patients. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2022 Apr 25;23(9). Epub 2022 Apr 25.

Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan.

Neurogenic inflammation and central sensitization play a role in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. We explore the molecular effects of low-intensity shock wave therapy (Li-ESWT) on central sensitization in a capsaicin-induced prostatitis rat model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent intraprostatic capsaicin (10 mM, 0. Read More

Andrologia 2022 May 12:e14455. Epub 2022 May 12.

Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a poorly understood disease. Accumulating evidence suggests that autoimmune dysfunction is involved in the development of CP/CPPS. Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is associated with the occurrence and development of several chronic autoimmune inflammatory diseases. Read More

Pain 2022 May 13. Epub 2022 May 13.

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.

Abstract: Previous studies have reported sex differences in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, including differences in visceral pain perception. Despite this, sex differences in behavioral manifestations of visceral pain and underlying pathology of the gastrointestinal tract have been largely understudied in preclinical research. In this study, we evaluated potential sex differences in spontaneous nociceptive responses, referred abdominal hypersensitivity, disease progression and bowel pathology in mouse models of acute and persistent colon inflammation. Read More

Mod Rheumatol 2022 May 12. Epub 2022 May 12.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.

Objectives: The concept of locomotive syndrome was proposed to highlight older adults who require nursing care services due to the malfunctioning of their locomotive organs. With the coming of a super-aging society, there is a growing need to understand relation between systemic chronic diseases and locomotive syndrome.

Methods: We analyzed the second-visit dataset of the Nagahama Study. Read More

J Ethnopharmacol 2022 May 9:115341. Epub 2022 May 9.

Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hubei, 430060, PR China. Electronic address:

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: QiruiWeishu capsule is an herbal preparation from a herbal formula prescribed by an experienced doctor at Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. It has been used clinically for more than 30 years. Abdominal pain, distension, and nausea are common symptoms of chronic non-atrophic gastritis with erosion dampness and heat stasis syndrome, and this herbal medicine has been used to treat them. Read More

Exp Neurol 2022 May 9:114108. Epub 2022 May 9.

Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany.

Chronic pain syndrome is a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by several pathological mechanisms. One in five adults in Europe may experience chronic pain. In addition to the individual burden, chronic pain has a significant societal impact because of work and school absences, loss of work, early retirement, and high social and healthcare costs. Read More

J Med Case Rep 2022 May 12;16(1):201. Epub 2022 May 12.

Laboratoire de Neurobiologie Orofaciale-LabNOF (EA7543), UFR. d'Odontologie, Université Paris Cité, 5 rue Garancière, 75006, Paris, France.

Background: Elongation of the styloid process associated with oropharyngeal pain and dysphagia is known as Eagle's syndrome, a condition whose pathophysiology is still a matter of debate. Given its low prevalence and complex symptomatology, this syndrome is often misdiagnosed, leading to chronic pain and medical nomadism. A 51-year-old woman of African origin with 3-year history of left-side oropharyngeal pain and worsening dysphagia consulted several health professionals. Read More

Paediatr Neonatal Pain 2021 Dec 14;3(4):163-169. Epub 2021 Nov 14.

Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine Lund University Lund Sweden.

Pediatric complex regional pain syndrome (pCRPS) is a rare, painful state that often occurs as a complication following physical trauma. Diagnosis and treatment require specialist expertise in a multidisciplinary setting. Treatment is focused on pain reduction and improvement in function, which differs from the treatment of adult CRPS. Read More

Int Urogynecol J 2022 May 11. Epub 2022 May 11.

Menopause and Osteoporosis Unit, San Rossore Clinical Center, Pisa, Italy.

Introduction And Hypothesis: The Vaginal Health Index Score (VHIS) and vulvodynia swab tests are used to assess vaginal health and vulvodynia. However, few studies have used these tests in patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). IC/BPS is a chronic, debilitating disorder, characterised by urinary frequency, urinary urgency and pelvic pain. Read More