Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Sleep Med 2021 Apr 24;83. Epub 2021 Apr 24.

University of Parma, Italy. Electronic address:

Arthritis Rheumatol 2021 May 13. Epub 2021 May 13.

Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.

Objective: There is increasing demand for prediction of chronic pain treatment outcomes using machine-learning models, in order to improve suboptimal pain management. In this exploratory study, we used baseline brain functional connectivity patterns from chronic pain patients suffering from Fibromyalgia (FM) to predict whether a patient would respond differentially to either milnacipran or pregabalin, two FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of FM.

Methods: FM patients participated in two separate double-blind placebo controlled crossover studies of milnacipran (N=15) and pregabalin (N=13), respectively. Read More

J Dual Diagn 2021 May 13:1-11. Epub 2021 May 13.

Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

Objective: Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a significant problem among US veterans with increasing rates of OUD and overdose, and thus has substantial importance for service delivery within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Among individuals with OUD, several sex- specific differences have begun to emerge regarding co-occurring medical, psychiatric and pain-related diagnoses. The rates of such multimorbidities are likely to vary between men and women with OUD and may have important implications for treatment within the VHA but have not yet been studied. Read More

Mol Brain 2021 May 12;14(1):81. Epub 2021 May 12.

Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Insitutet, Nobels väg 9, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden.

The neurotransmitter serotonin, involved in the regulation of pain and emotion, is critically regulated by the 5-HT autoreceptor and the serotonin transporter (5-HTT). Polymorphisms of these genes affect mood and endogenous pain modulation, both demonstrated to be altered in fibromyalgia subjects (FMS). Here, we tested the effects of genetic variants of the 5-HT receptor (CC/G-carriers) and 5-HTT (high/intermediate/low expression) on mood, pain sensitivity, cerebral processing of evoked pain (functional MRI) and concentrations of GABA and glutamate (MR spectroscopy) in rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) and thalamus in FMS and healthy controls (HC). Read More

Eur Neurol 2021 May 11:1-11. Epub 2021 May 11.

Departments of Neurology (Sleep Disorder), The Affiliated Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic widespread pain disorder associated with fatigue, tender points, sleep disturbances, and mood disorders. Symptoms associated with FM also include decreased cognitive function in which the neural basis is poorly understood. Neuroendocrine hormones may be correlated with cognitive performance under some ill conditions. Read More

BMC Rheumatol 2021 May 10;5(1):14. Epub 2021 May 10.

Faculty of Health Science, Osaka Yukioka College of Health Science, Osaka, Japan.

Background: Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic widespread pain, and more than half of patients with fibromyalgia report that weather-related variables aggravate their symptoms. However, the differences in actual symptoms have not been measured between those with and without weather sensitivity. The present study aimed to investigate whether weather sensitivity associated with the minimal clinically important difference values of quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia, between those with and without weather sensitivity. Read More

Adv Exp Med Biol 2021 ;1269:83-86

Department of Neurosurgery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.

Continuous noninvasive monitoring of muscle oxygenation has important clinical applications for muscle disorders such as compartmentation syndrome, fibromyalgia, deep vein thrombosis, malignant hyperthermia, and the assessment of training in athletic performance. NIRS has precisely such potential and has been used to detect deep venous thrombosis, evaluate athletic performance, and assess limb reperfusion and revascularization. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between muscle hemoglobin oxygen (HbO) and myoglobin (MbO) desaturation using NIRS combined with venous blood sampling and HbO desaturation during forearm muscle exercise. Read More

Joint Bone Spine 2021 May 4:105202. Epub 2021 May 4.

Centre Multidisciplinaire de Douleur Chronique - CHU UCL Namur - site Godinne, Belgique.

International treatment recommendations for fibromyalgia (FM) highlight the importance of adapted physical activity (APA) combined with patient education. Cognitive and behavioral therapies as well as an interdisciplinary approach can be proposed for more complex or severe clinical situations, with a biopsychosocial vision of rehabilitation. To personalize the rehabilitation's therapeutic approach, a clinician can use simple and validated instruments for measuring physical performance that will highlight levels of physical conditioning, which range from low to very low in FM patients. Read More

Life Sci 2021 May 4:119571. Epub 2021 May 4.

Laboratory of Cardiovascular Biology and Department of Pharmacology, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88049-970 Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Electronic address:

Aims: Post-occlusive reactive hyperemia (PORH) remains poorly understood in the skeletal muscle system. This study was designed to validate an alternative strategy of PORH detection in rodents. Additionally, we explored the hypothesis that PORH is influenced by experimental models associated with impaired function of the skeletal muscle. Read More

Psychopathology 2021 May 5:1-6. Epub 2021 May 5.

Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.

Introduction: People suffering from fibromyalgia syndrome report various difficulties in emotional processing, possibly resulting from changes in bodily perception (interoception). In our study, we investigated the relationships between interoceptive sensibility (IS) and two disease-relevant emotional components (alexithymia and emotion regulation) in fibromyalgia sufferers compared to healthy individuals.

Methods: Fifty-five fibromyalgia sufferers and 55 healthy individuals, matched with regard to age and gender, participated in our cross-sectional study. Read More

Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis 2021 16;13:1759720X211009017. Epub 2021 Apr 16.

Pain Center, Cochin Hospital, Paris University, Paris, France.

Background: Patients with fibromyalgia (FM) frequently resort to osteopathic or chiropractic treatment, despite very weak supporting evidence. We aimed to assess the efficacy of osteopathic manipulation in FM in a properly controlled and powered randomized clinical trial.

Methods: Patients were randomized to osteopathic or sham treatment. Read More

Neuroscience 2021 May 1;465:46-59. Epub 2021 May 1.

Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Immunopharmacology (LAIF), Department of Health Sciences, Campus Araranguá, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88906-072 Araranguá, Brazil; Post-Graduate Program of Neuroscience, Center of Biological Science, Campus Florianópolis, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-900 Florianópolis, Brazil. Electronic address:

Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by chronic pain and associated comorbidities such as fatigue, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. There is a large amount of evidence regarding the benefits of physical exercise in controlling chronic pain. However, there is no consensus on which exercise modality is most suitable and the real benefits of this intervention to treat FM symptoms. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2021 May 3. Epub 2021 May 3.

Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, 11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing, 100044, China.

Objective: To explore the characteristics of refractory RA and its contributory factors based on the understanding of the rheumatologists of China.

Methods: A national cross-sectional survey was performed in 32 provinces across China, and 1381 rheumatologists were recruited. Information about the sociodemographic background, refractory RA characteristics, and contributory factors was collected using a pre-made questionnaire including fourteen single-choice and four multiple-choice questions, respectively. Read More

Pain 2021 May 1. Epub 2021 May 1.

School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD. Anaesthesia, Pain & Critical Care Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University Hospitals Bristol, Bristol, BS2 8HW. School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TU. University of East Anglia Brain Imaging Centre, School of Psychology, Lawrence Stenhouse Building, Chancellors Drive, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom.

Abstract: Fibromyalgia is a prevalent pain condition that is associated with cognitive impairments including in attention, memory, and executive processing. It has been proposed that fibromyalgia may be caused by altered central pain processing characterised by a loss of endogenous pain modulation. We tested whether attentional analgesia, where cognitive engagement diminishes pain percept, was attenuated in fibromyalgia patients (n=20) compared to matched healthy controls (n=20). Read More

Mol Pain 2021 Jan-Dec;17:17448069211012833

Seoul Chung Psychiatry Clinic, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

This study aimed to investigate the levels of creatine (Cr) metabolites in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), thalamus, and insula of patients with fibromyalgia (FM) using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The levels of Cr and phosphocreatine (PCr) relative to total Cr (tCr), which includes Cr and PCr, in the ACC, thalamus, and insula were determined using MRS in 12 patients with FM and in 13 healthy controls. The FM group had lower levels of PCr/tCr in the ACC and right insula compared to healthy controls. Read More

Pain Med 2021 May 3. Epub 2021 May 3.

Biomed Pharmacother 2021 Apr 30;139:111647. Epub 2021 Apr 30.

Specialty Medicine Research Laboratories I, Daiichi-Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58, Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan. Electronic address:

Mirogabalin is a novel potent and selective ligand for the αδ subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels, and shows potent and sustained analgesic effects in neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia models. Fibromyalgia is often associated with multiple comorbid symptoms, such as anxiety, depression and cognitive impairment. In the present study, we investigated the effects of mirogabalin on cognitive impairments in an experimental animal model for fibromyalgia, repeated intramuscular acidic saline injection model (Sluka model) rats. Read More

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2021 Apr 29. Epub 2021 Apr 29.

Department Internal Medicine I, Klinikum Saarbrücken, and Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität München, Germany.

Objectives: Medications have only small to moderate effects on symptoms in fibromyalgia (FM). Cannabinoids, including medical cannabis (MC) may have potential to fill this gap. Since recreational legalisation of cannabis in Canada, patients have easier access and may be self-medicating with cannabis. Read More

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2021 Apr 27. Epub 2021 Apr 27.

National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases, Wichita, USA.

Objectives: The definition of the 2016 diagnostic criteria of fibromyalgia (FM) syndrome and of FM severities was based on studies with clinical samples. We tested if somatic symptom profiles consistent with the symptom pattern of the FM 2016 diagnostic criteria and of severities of FM can be found in the general population.

Methods: Somatic symptom burden was measured by the Somatic Symptom Scale - 8 in 2,531 persons aged ≥14 years representative for the general German population. Read More

J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil 2021 Apr 27. Epub 2021 Apr 27.

IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy.

Background: Activity monitors have been introduced in the last years to objectively measure physical activity to help physicians in the management of musculoskeletal patients.

Objective: This systematic review aimed at describing the assessment of physical activity by commercially available portable activity monitors in patients with musculoskeletal disorders.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, PEDro, Web of Science, Scopus and CENTRAL databases were systematically searched from inception to June 11th, 2020. Read More

Braz J Anesthesiol 2021 Feb 6. Epub 2021 Feb 6.

Universidade La Salle, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Desenvolvimento Humano, Canoas, RS, Brazil; Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Laboratório de Dor e Neuromodulação, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Electronic address:

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome characterized by chronic pain related to the musculoskeletal system. Patients feel incapable and show catastrophic thoughts (exaggeration of the sensations) related to painful events. This study aimed to compare catastrophic thoughts of pain between daughters of women with fibromyalgia and daughters of women without fibromyalgia, no daughter having the syndrome. Read More

Reumatol Clin 2021 Apr 28. Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Meco, Madrida, España.

Objective: To prevent the deterioration of patients with fibromyalgia due to potentially avoidable harmful actions in clinical practice.

Methods: A multidisciplinary panel of experts identified key areas, analysed the scientific evidence and formulated recommendations based on this evidence and qualitative techniques of «formal assessment» or «reasoned judgement».

Results: Thirty-nine recommendations were made on diagnosis, ineffective and unsafe treatments, patient education and practitioner training. Read More

Neuro Endocrinol Lett 2021 Mar 2;42(1):13-21. Epub 2021 Mar 2.

Trnava University in Trnava, University Hospital Trnava, Slovakia.

Objectives: The beneficial effects of ozone therapy consist mainly of the promotion of blood circulation: peripheral and central ischemia, immunomodulatory effect, energy boost, regenerative and reparative properties, and correction of chronic oxidative stress. Ozone therapy increases interest in new neuroprotective strategies that may represent therapeutic targets for minimizing the effects of oxidative stress.

Methods: The overview examines the latest literature in neurological pathologies treated with ozone therapy as well as our own experience with ozone therapy. Read More

Reumatol Clin 2021 Apr 27. Epub 2021 Apr 27.

Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Meco, Madrida, España.

Objective: To prevent the impairment of fibromyalgia patients due to harmful actions in daily clinical practice that are potentially avoidable.

Methods: A multidisciplinary team identified the main areas of interest and carried out an analysis of scientific evidence and established recommendations based on the evidence and "formal evaluation" or "reasoned judgment" qualitative analysis techniques.

Results: A total of 39 recommendations address diagnosis, unsafe or ineffective treatment interventions and patient and healthcare workers' education. Read More

Am Fam Physician 2021 May;103(9):566-567

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.

Ann Rheum Dis 2021 Apr 29. Epub 2021 Apr 29.

Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, UK

Background And Objectives: Chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain (CWP) is a symptom of fibromyalgia and a complex trait with poorly understood pathogenesis. CWP is heritable (48%-54%), but its genetic architecture is unknown and candidate gene studies have produced inconsistent results. We conducted a genome-wide association study to get insight into the genetic background of CWP. Read More

J Clin Med 2021 Apr 28;10(9). Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology III, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, 18010 Granada, Spain.

Fatigue is a cardinal symptom in fibromyalgia. Fatigue is assumed to be the result of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. We aimed at examining the role of genetic susceptibility for fatigue in southern Spanish women with fibromyalgia, by looking at single nucleotide polymorphisms in 34 fibromyalgia candidate-genes, at the interactions between genes, and at the gene-physical activity interactions. Read More

Molecules 2021 Apr 20;26(8). Epub 2021 Apr 20.

Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna St., 30-688 Krakow, Poland.

Fibromyalgia is a disease characterized by lowered pain threshold, mood disorders, and decreased muscular strength. It results from a complex dysfunction of the nervous system and due to unknown etiology, its diagnosis, treatment, and prevention are a serious challenge for contemporary medicine. Impaired serotonergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission are regarded as key factors contributing to fibromyalgia. Read More

Medicina (Kaunas) 2021 Apr 19;57(4). Epub 2021 Apr 19.

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str.1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.

: The aetiology and pathomechanism of fibromyalgia syndrome 12 (FMS) as one of chronic pain syndromes still need to be further elucidated. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway has been proposed as a novel approach in pain management. Since the major symptom of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) patients is pain, it became of interest whether MAPK pathways, such as the stress-activated p38 MAPK/MK2 axis, are activated in FMS patients. Read More

Nutrients 2021 Apr 21;13(5). Epub 2021 Apr 21.

Clinical Investigation Center, Inserm CIC 1405, Bat 3C, University Hospital Clermont-Ferrand, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France.

Background: Magnesium (Mg) is commonly used in clinical practice for acute and chronic pain and has been reported to reduce pain intensity and analgesics consumption in a number of studies. Results are, however, contested.

Objectives: This review aims to investigate randomised clinical trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness of Mg treatment on pain and analgesics consumption in situations including post-operative pain, migraine, renal pain, chronic pain, neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia. Read More