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J Clin Anesth 2021 Apr 23;72:110299. Epub 2021 Apr 23.

Chief of Department of Anesthesia, Lincoln Medical & Mental Health Center, United States.

Harefuah 2021 Apr;160(4):245-249

Hypertension Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.

Introduction: Pseudopheochromocytoma is an uncommon form of hypertension. In contrast to the more well-known pheochromocytoma, no unequivocal etiologic factor or a clear physiological abnormality can be identified. This disorder manifests in sudden, recurrent, episodes of significant, sometimes extreme, increase in blood pressure, both systolic and diastolic, lasting from minutes to hours, with no consistent trigger that the patient or the doctor is aware of, and is accompanied by typical symptoms. Read More

Pain Pract 2021 Apr 19. Epub 2021 Apr 19.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, College of Medicine, Daegu Catholic University, Daegu City, Korea.

Background: Selective nerve root block (SNRB) was shown to effectively control radiating pain and reduce the need for surgical intervention. However, repetitive injections may trigger corticosteroid-induced side effects (hypercorticism, hyperglycemia, or fluid retention). This study aims to compare the potency of hyaluronic acid-carboxymethylcellulose (HA-CMC) solution versus that of corticosteroids regarding lower leg radiating pain (LLRP) improvement and functional outcome. Read More

Headache 2021 Feb 12;61(2):392-395. Epub 2021 Jan 12.

Department of Neurology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, E.P.E., Porto, Portugal.

Objectives/background: Auriculotemporal neuralgia is a rare headache disorder. Anesthetic nerve blockade seems to be effective in most cases; however, literature is scarce about the management of refractory cases.

Methods: Case report. Read More

Surg Neurol Int 2020 22;11:455. Epub 2020 Dec 22.

Department of Radiotherapy, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Reserach, Chandigarh, India.

Background: The correct diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is still a far cry and the patients suffer from unnecessary dental procedures before getting the definite treatment. In this study, we evaluated, if the patients have undergone dental procedures for their misdiagnosed TN before receiving definite treatment for the same.

Methods: A total of 187 patients received GKRS for their TN (excluding secondary TN) in two institutes from 2010 to 2019. Read More

Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao 2020 Dec;40(12):1821-1825

Department of Anesthesiology, Cancer Center of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510000, China.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of different postoperative analgesic strategies on neurocognitive function and quality of recovery in elderly patients at 7 days after thoracic surgery with one lung ventilation.

Methods: Ninety elderly patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery were randomized into 3 groups (=30) to receive postoperative analgesia with thoracic paravertebral block analgesia (TA), epidural analgesia (EA) and intravenous analgesia (GA). Before and at 7 days after the surgery, the patients' cognitive function was assessed using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and their early recovery at 7 days postoperatively was evaluated using Quality of Recovery-40 items (QoR-40). Read More

Clin Shoulder Elb 2019 Dec 1;22(4):210-215. Epub 2019 Dec 1.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nowon Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Background: This study was undertaken to evaluate early clinical outcomes of ultrasound-guided suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) using a proximal approach, as compared with subacromial steroid injection (SA).

Methods: This retrospective study included a consecutive series of 40 patients of SSNB and 20 patients receiving SA, from August 2017 to August 2018. The visual analogue scale (VAS), American Shoulder Elbow Surgeon's score (ASES), University of California, Los Angeles score (UCLA), the 36 health survey questionnaire mental component summary (SF36-MCS), physical component summary (PCS), and range of motion (forward elevation, external rotation, and internal rotation) were assessed for clinical evaluations. Read More

Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2021 May 1;102(5):819-827. Epub 2020 Dec 1.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nowon Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address:

Objectives: To evaluate the early clinical outcomes of ultrasound (US)-guided suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) using a proximal approach compared with a distal approach for outpatient treatment of adhesive capsulitis.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Outpatient clinic PARTICIPANTS: Participants (N=47) with symptomatic adhesive capsulitis. Read More

Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2020 Dec;36(3):477-499

Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Mailbox 32, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. Electronic address:

Procedural sedation has become popular for describing a semiconscious state that allows patients to be comfortable during certain surgical or diagnostic procedures. Sedation may be enhanced by locoregional anesthetic techniques to produce sufficient analgesia and muscle relaxation for surgery to occur. Sedation and local anesthesia for standing diagnostic and surgical procedures on the horse's head circumvents the potential complications of general anesthesia (particularly, complications related to recovery). Read More

Gen Dent 2020 Nov-Dec;68(6):65-68

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of mental-incisive nerve block (MINB) along with finger pressure following inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) on anesthetic success in mandibular first molars with asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis. In this randomized controlled trial, 70 patients were randomly divided into 2 groups (n = 35). Each patient in the control group received only a standard IANB injection of 1. Read More

J Korean Neurosurg Soc 2020 Nov 27;63(6):814-820. Epub 2020 Oct 27.

Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.

Objective: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a severe neuropathic condition that affects several elderly patients. It is characterized by uncontrolled pain that significantly impacts the quality of life of patients. Therefore, the condition should be treated as an emergency. Read More

Pain Ther 2021 Jun 23;10(1):349-361. Epub 2020 Oct 23.

Department of Orthopaedics, Kumagaya General Hospital, Kumagaya, Japan.

Introduction: Pain has been identified as a risk factor for cognitive dysfunction, which in turn affects pain perception. Although pain, cognitive dysfunction, and their interaction are clinically important, the neural mechanism connecting the two phenomena remains unclear.

Methods: The resting-state brain activity of 38 participants was measured using magnetoencephalography before and after the patients underwent selective nerve root block (SNRB) for the treatment of their pain. Read More

Injury 2021 Mar 7;52(3):548-553. Epub 2020 Oct 7.

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, T6G 2G3. Electronic address:

Purpose: To determine the: 1) impact of pre-operative femoral nerve block(PreopFNB) on: a) pain; b) opioid use; and c) early post-operative mobilization relative to usual care(CONTROL) and 2) feasibility of a definitive randomized clinical trial(RCT).

Methods: This pilot RCT, performed in a Canadian tertiary center, compared PreopFNB to CONTROL in 73 participants aged ≥65 years, who a) were ambulatory pre-hip fracture, b) had Mini Mental Status Examination(MMSE) score ≥13 and c) provided consent(direct/proxy). Participants were randomized to PreopFNB or CONTROL using 2 PreopFNB:1 CONTROL(48 PreopFNB:25 CONTROL) allocation. Read More

Cureus 2020 Sep 2;12(9):e10192. Epub 2020 Sep 2.

Anaesthesiology, Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, GBR.

Background Total knee replacement is often associated with significant postoperative pain. Although the use of a femoral nerve block is well-established, local infiltration analgesia has gained popularity in recent years. We compared single-shot local infiltration analgesia with a single-shot femoral nerve block for patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty. Read More

Ann Maxillofac Surg 2020 Jan-Jun;10(1):142-148. Epub 2020 Jun 8.

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial, Galilee Medical Center, Naharyia, Israel.

Introduction: Posterior mandibular ridges with extreme atrophy are usually combined with superficial location of the mental nerve and inferior alveolar nerves (IAN) and with a short residual mandibular ridge. As a result, dental implants cannot be placed in conjunction with IAN transposition alone. The aim of this paper is to introduce a new treatment approach to treat those patients. Read More

Mol Psychiatry 2020 Jul 27. Epub 2020 Jul 27.

The Centre for Neuroimaging & Cognitive Genomics (NICOG) and NCBES Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.

The burden of large and rare copy number genetic variants (CNVs) as well as certain specific CNVs increase the risk of developing schizophrenia. Several cognitive measures are purported schizophrenia endophenotypes and may represent an intermediate point between genetics and the illness. This paper investigates the influence of CNVs on cognition. Read More

Pain 2020 08 13;161(8):1808-1823. Epub 2020 Mar 13.

Department of Anatomy, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan.

Physical disuse could lead to a state of chronic pain typified by complex regional pain syndrome type I due to fear of pain through movement (kinesiophobia) or inappropriate resting procedures. However, the mechanisms by which physical disuse is associated with acute/chronic pain and other pathological signs remain unresolved. We have previously reported that inflammatory signs, contractures, disuse muscle atrophy, spontaneous pain-like behaviors, and chronic widespread mechanical hyperalgesia based on central plasticity occurred after 2 weeks of cast immobilization in chronic post-cast pain (CPCP) rat model. Read More

J Am Dent Assoc 2020 09 14;151(9):e82. Epub 2020 Jul 14.

Br J Anaesth 2020 08 16;125(2):168-174. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

Department of Anaesthesia, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK.

Background: The effect of mental rotation training on ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia (UGRA) skill acquisition is currently unknown. In this study we aimed to examine whether mental rotation skill training can improve UGRA task performance by novice operators.

Methods: We enrolled 94 volunteers with no prior experience of UGRA in this randomised controlled study. Read More

Folia Morphol (Warsz) 2021 3;80(1):170-176. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (I), Selesih, Aizawl, Mizoram, India.

Background: There is no previously reported information on the applied anatomy and clinical significance of the maxillofacial and mandibular regions of the barking deer and sambar deer.

Materials And Methods: Therefore, the present study was designed to provide some important clinical landmarks related to tracking of the infraorbital, mental and mandibular nerves with its clinical implications in regional anaesthesia in both the species.

Results: In the present study, the distance between the most lateral bulging of the facial tuberosity to the infraorbital foramen and from the latter to the root of the alveolar tooth directly ventral to it was found to be 2. Read More

Front Neurosci 2020 21;14:377. Epub 2020 Apr 21.

Department of Pain Management, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.

Background: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) seriously affects a patient's quality of life, and it is urgent to find a method that can effectively alleviate the PHN of the upper extremity.

Objective: To observe the Efficacy of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) to cervical nerve root for PHN in upper extremity under CT guidance.

Study Design: Retrospective comparative study. Read More

Eur J Dent Educ 2020 Aug 13;24(3):491-498. Epub 2020 Apr 13.

School of Dentistry, Universidad Veracruzana, Rio Blanco, México.

Introduction: We compared the motor learning, self-confidence whilst performing an anaesthesia technique and the perception of confidence between a group of students trained (G1) with two distinct dental anaesthesia simulation models (DASM) and a group of students (G2) not trained with DASM.

Materials And Methods: The G1 students (n = 22) were trained with a learning protocol including a DASM for simulating a puncture and a DASM for simulating an injection of dental anaesthesia. The G2 students (n = 22) received no such training. Read More

Evid Based Dent 2020 03;21(1):20-21

South Bay Dental Institute, California, USA.

Design Randomised clinical trialStudy population The present study evaluated patients of different genders aged between 18-65 years old. The study design and the language of the consent form were approved by the Ethics Committee at Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) (approval code: IR.TUMS. Read More

J Endod 2020 Apr 20;46(4):471-474. Epub 2020 Feb 20.

Oral Health Sciences Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.

Introduction: The purpose of this clinical trial was to comparatively evaluate the anesthetic efficacy of unilateral and bilateral mental incisive nerve block (MINB) during the endodontic treatment of inflamed mandibular incisors.

Methods: The study was designed as a crossover single-blind study. A total of 76 patients requiring endodontic intervention in at least 2 mandibular incisors participated in this trial. Read More

Aesthet Surg J 2020 07;40(8):887-891

Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.

Background: Microfocused ultrasound with visualization has become one of the more popular nonsurgical facial rejuvenation therapies available. Although the treatment has gained wide acceptance, providing adequate pain relief during the procedure can be challenging.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to test our hypothesis that nerve blocks prior to treatment would be well tolerated and significantly reduce patient discomfort. Read More

Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg 2020 Jan;26(1):109-114

Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University Faculty of Medicine, Muğla-Turkey.

Background: Hip fracture is a common clinical problem which causes severe pain in geriatric patients. However, severe pain following fracture may bring on mental disorders and delirium. A neuroinflammatory response with IL-6 and IL-8 has been shown to be associated with the pathophysiology of delirium. Read More

Front Neurosci 2019 6;13:1281. Epub 2019 Dec 6.

Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States.

Results from a variety of sources indicate a role for pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in light/glutamate-induced phase resetting of the circadian clock mediated by the retinohypothalamic tract (RHT). Attempts to block or remove PACAP's contribution to clock-resetting have generated phenotypes that differ in their responses to light or glutamate. For example, previous studies of circadian behaviors found that period-maintenance and early-night phase delays are intact in PACAP-null mice, yet there is a consistent deficit in behavioral phase-resetting to light stimulation in the late night. Read More

Neurol India 2019 Nov-Dec;67(6):1419-1422

Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

Peripheral nerve injuries are a heterogeneous and distinct group of disorders that are secondary to various causes commonly including motor vehicle accidents, falls, industrial accidents, household accidents, and penetrating trauma. The earliest classification of nerve injuries was given by Seddon and Sunderland, which holds true till date and is commonly used. Neuropraxia, axonotmesis, and neurotmesis are the three main types of nerve injuries. Read More

BMC Anesthesiol 2019 12 17;19(1):230. Epub 2019 Dec 17.

Department of Orthopedics, Chengdu Aerospace Hospital, Chengdu, 610100, China.

Background: There is no consensus on the optimal anesthesia method for intertrochanteric fracture surgeries in elderly patients. Our study aimed to compare the hemodynamics and perioperative outcomes of general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation, combined spinal-epidural anesthesia, and general anesthesia with laryngeal mask airway (LMA) and nerve block for intertrochanteric fracture surgeries in elderly patients.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of 75 patients aged > 60 years scheduled for intertrochanteric fracture surgeries with general anesthesia with intubation (n = 25), combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (n = 25), and general anesthesia with LMA and nerve block (n = 25). Read More

BMC Psychiatry 2019 12 12;19(1):394. Epub 2019 Dec 12.

Department of Psychiatry, Dokkyo Medical University, School of Medicine, Mibu, Shimotsuga, Tochigi, 321-0293, Japan.

Background: Somatization is regarded as psychological or emotional distress in the form of physical symptoms that are otherwise medically unexplained.

Case Presentation: We report a case of a patient with a somatic symptom disorder (SSD) and depression who was later diagnosed with anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome (ACNES) when Carnett's test was positive and block anesthesia using trigger point injections dramatically improved the symptom of abdominal pain.

Conclusion: We concluded that the differentiation of SSDs, such as psychogenic pain, from ACNES is very difficult. Read More