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Background: This research aimed to observe the mechanism of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and interleukin 8 (IL8) in pancreatic cancer pain and their correlation with pain degree. Methods: 126 patients with pancreatic cancer who visited our hospital from January 2021 to February 2023 were selected. The patients were divided into groups of 58 patients with low pain (1~3 points) and 68 patients with high pain (4~10 points) by visual analog scale (VAS). And 50 health examinees in the same period were selected as the healthy control group. The serum LDH and IL-8 concentrations are analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the subjective pain grading method score is analyzed. The differences in LDH and IL-8 concentrations among the three groups of patients were compared. Pearson correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between LDH, IL-8 concentrations, and patient pain. Binary logistic regression was used to determine independent risk factors for high pain, and ROC curves were used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of each indicator. Results: The serum LDH and IL-8 concentrations in the high-pain group were exceed the low-pain group’s (P<0.05). The serum LDH and IL-8 concentrations in the low-pain group exceeded the healthy control group’s (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between serum LDH concentration and pain grading (r=0.736, P=0.000). The serum IL-8 positively correlates with pain grading (r=0.680, P=0.000). Serum LDH and IL-8 concentrations positively correlate (r=0.589, P=0.000). LDH and IL-8 concentrations are independent risk factors for high pain levels (OR=1.033, 1.142, P<0.05). The logistic regression prediction model formula was used: Y=constant+B1X1+B2X2+...+BnXn to set the joint diagnostic prediction model as -12.063+ 0.033×LDH+0.133×IL-8. The areas under the ROC curves of LDH, IL-8, and predictive model (LDH+IL-8) in patients with high pain were 0.925, 0.945, and 0.974, respectively. The relevant standards for LDH are >190 U/L, IL-8 is >36 pg/mL, and the relevant standards for prediction models are >5.75. Conclusions: LDH and IL-8 participate in the pain aggravation process of pancreatic cancer and are closely related to the pain grading. The combination of LDH and IL-8 can be used as a biological indicator to evaluate the pain severity of pancreatic cancer and provide a reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumours of the head and neck induce severe pain in patients, compromising their quality of life and impeding basic life functions. Treating this pain with currently available methods poses a significant therapeutic challenge. Current efforts are focused on identifying solutions that directly target the mechanisms responsible for the pain. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying the development of this phenomenon are not fully understood. Among the pain-inducing factors in head and neck cancer, cytokines play a crucial role. These include TNF-a, interleukins, endothelin, and neurotrophic factors such as NGF. Secreted by the tumour and surrounding tissue, these substances activate and sensitise receptors on afferent neurons. Receptors for these molecules belong to the TRP family and their specific receptors. Additionally, the microenvironment of the tumour, comprising elements like proteases and hydrogen ions, contributes to pain through the activation and regulation of other pain receptors, particularly those in the PAR family. This article presents the current state of knowledge regarding the most widely studied pathomechanisms involved in the development of pain in head and neck tumours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim. Post-endodontic pain (PEP) is associated with the presence of any uncomfortable feeling or sensitivity that occurs within a few hours or a few days after the endodontic t reatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association between psychological factors and the frequency and perception of PEP. Methods. The study sample consisted of 140 patients with incisors, canines, or premolars indicated for root canal treatment (RCT) without periapical pathology. A single experienced endodontist was involved in the procedure, and the same clinical protocol was used for all the patients. Participants psychometric evaluation was done using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21). PEP levels were assessed using a Visual Analog Scale at different intervals (24, 48, and 72-hour intervals and after a week). Results. The presence of postoperative pain was reported in 63.6% of the respondents. The vast majority rated the pain intensity as mild, and the pain significantly decreased over evaluated time intervals. Participants who exhibited higher scores for depression, anxiety, and stress reported significantly higher pain intensity. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that tooth type (p = 0.001) and high anxiety score (p = 0.035) were directly associated with the occurrence of pain after therapy. Conclusion. Psychological factors, such as depression, stress, and anxiety, influenced pain perception after RCT treatment, and a high anxiety score was directly associated with the frequency of post-obturation pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nursing Journal / Sestrinski Glasnik is the property of Croatian Nurses Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Sport & Tourism Central European Journal / Sport i Turystyka Srodkowoeuropejskie Czasopismo Naukowe is the property of Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background/Aim. Swelling, trismus, and pain (STP) are the most common complications that occur after the surgical extraction of impacted lower third molars (LTM). Buccal triangular and envelope flaps are the two most commonly used mucoperiosteal flaps in LTM surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the possible impact of these two types of flaps on the occurrence and intensity of postoperative STP after the surgical extraction of impacted LTMs. Methods. The study included 30 adult patients of both genders, with fully impacted LTMs in vertical position according to Winter classification and class I or II, and position A or B, according to Pell and Gregory classification. All patients were randomly divided into two groups depending on the type of the applied mucoperiosteal flap (triangular or envelope type). The degree of edema, interincisal distance (trismus), and the level of pain were evaluated preoperatively and at each follow-up (on the first, second, and seventh day postoperatively). Results. No statistically significant difference was found among the examined groups in terms of STP reduction in the postoperative period (p > 0.05). Conclusion. The choice of mucoperiosteal flap design, buccal triangular or envelope, during the surgical extraction of impacted LTMs has no impact on the intensity of postoperative STP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim. Since finding a safe and efficient strategy of multimodal postoperative analgesia and sedation is particularly critical, it is important that dexmedetomidine (DM) combined with opioid anesthetics can enhance that through a synergistic action. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of butorphanol tartrate (BT) combined with DM on postoperative analgesia. Methods. A total of 100 elderly patients undergoing general anesthesia surgery from January 2019 to June 2022 were selected. The patients were divided into two equal groups -- research group (RG) and control group (CG), using the random number table method. All patients were given postoperative patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) plus background infusion. CG patients were given 10 mg of BT, and RG patients were given 10 mg of BT and 300 μg of DM. The analgesics were diluted in 100 mL of 0.9% normal saline. The doses of rescue analgesic tramadol within 48 hrs after surgery, the number of PCIA boluses 48 hrs after surgery, and postoperative hospitalization time were recorded. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score, Ramsay sedation score (RSS), inflammatory and stress responses [interleukin (IL)-6, interferon (IFN)-γ, and angiotensin II (Ang-II)], and anesthesia-related adverse reactions (ARAR) were compared at different time points. Results. The dose of tramadol within 48 hrs after surgery, the number of PCIA boluses 48 hrs after surgery, and the postoperative hospitalization time of RG were lower than those of CG (p < 0.05). VAS scores at rest and during activity and serum IL-6, IFN-γ, and Ang-II levels of both groups increased at 4 and 12 hrs after surgery, then decreased at 24 hrs after surgery. The above indicators of RG were lower than those of CG at each time point (p < 0.05). The RSSs of the two groups increased at 4, 12, and 24 hrs after surgery, then dropped at 48 hrs after surgery. The scores of RG were lower than those of CG at each time point (p < 0.05). The incidence rates of ARAR had no significant difference between RG and CG (p > 0.05). Conclusion. BT combined with DM is effective for analgesia and sedation after general anesthesia surgery in elderly patients, which can reduce inflammatory and stress responses without increasing ARAR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Colonoscopy is an important diagnostic and therapeutic procedure, however it causes considerable discomfort in patients. Their psychological functioning is sometimes not sufficiently taken into account by the medical staff, preoccupied with somatic conditions. The aim of this study was to reveal affective and cognitive aspects of how patients undergoing colonoscopy function in order to better understand periprocedural discomfort and pain and suggest interventions to reduce them. Material and methods: A total number of 101 patients, undergoing colonoscopy during their stay at the internal ward, were asked to participate in this prospective, observational study. Three measurements were made: the day before the examination, on the colonoscopy day (after bowel cleansing, before the procedure) and the following day. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory II, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, short version of The Illness Perceptions Questionnaire, as well as analog scales (measuring pain, sadness, anxiety, irritability, general discomfort and distress) were used. Ultimately, 50 people completed the study. Results: It has been shown that pain and discomfort on the colonoscopy day correlate positively with all measured aspects of negative affect. On the colonoscopy day 18% of the subjects revealed depressive symptoms matching a depressive episode, while 56.6% of the subjects displayed a high level of state anxiety. The worse the patient's understanding of the disease, the more periprocedural pain he/she experiences. Their cognitive functioning is worse on the colonoscopy day. Conclusions: The results suggest that it is advisable to educate patients early enough (not on the day of the procedure) about their ailments and planned colonoscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pain is the most dreaded symptom of breast cancer that significantly affects the patient's quality of life. The aim of this article was to present non-pharmacological interventions used to effectively manage pain in breast cancer patients. This is a review article; studies were researched in the PubMed database. Using the keywords: non-pharmacological AND intervention AND pain AND breast cancer OR breast neoplasms, 6 relevant studies were selected that met the specified criteria on non-pharmacological interventions for pain relief in women with breast cancer. Yoga, acupuncture and electroacupuncture in women with breast cancer appear to be promising non-pharmacological interventions in pain reduction. Other studies on cognitive-behavioral therapy and massage therapies have similarly demonstrated significant reductions in pain in women with breast cancer, whether induced by systemic therapy, hormone therapy, or surgery. Non-pharmacological interventions have been shown to be an appropriate adjunctive alternative in the management of pain in cancer patients, but can be applied alongside standard pharmacological treatment under professional supervision to improve the patient's quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pain Research / Ból is the property of Index Copernicus International and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Pain Research / Ból is the property of Index Copernicus International and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Pain is one of the most common symptoms that lead people to seek medical attention. In standard medical practice, a patient's well-being depends on pain relief. There is still a need for innovative approaches to pain management, since numerous drugs currently used to manage it have significant adverse effects. Narcotic herbal remedies (e.g. THC) have gained popularity in recent years as a potential treatment with minimal negative effects and analgesic impact. Others, like morphine, are widely used in medicine, and are placed in the analgesic ladder of WHO. Cocaine derivatives are sometimes used in otolaryngologist practice. This publication aims to provide an overview of the the analgesic effect of narcotic herbal treatments in a range of situations where pain management is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]