Effect of dry needling on pain and central sensitization in women with chronic pelvic pain: A randomized parallel-group controlled clinical trial.

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a debilitating problem in women with clear evidence of myofascial dysfunction. It seems that Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) contribute to the development of central sensitization (CS). This study aimed to investigate the effect of dry needling on pain and CS in women with CPP. Thirty-six women with CPP participated in this randomized controlled clinical trial and randomly assigned into three groups: dry needling group (DNG), placebo needling group (PNG) and control group (CG). The DNG received five sessions of DN using the "static needling", the PNG received non-penetrating method, and the CG did not receive any intervention. Assessment of outcomes including central sensitization inventory (CSI), short-form McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ), electroencephalography (EEG), conditioned pain modulation (CPM), salivary cortisol concentration, 7-item general anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7), pain catastrophizing scale (PCS), and SF-36 questionnaire was performed pre-intervention, post-intervention, and three months post-intervention by a blind examiner. The result showed a significant group-by-time interaction for CSI, SF-MPQ, and PCS. There was a significant decrease in CSI score in post-intervention and three-months post-intervention compare to pre-intervention in the DNG and PNG. SF-MPQ-PPI score in DNG significantly decreased post-intervention. PCS-Total score decreased significantly post-intervention in DNG and PNG. No significant group-by-time interactions were observed for other variables. EEG results showed regional changes in the activity of frequency bands in both eye closed and eye open conditions. It seems that DN can affect central pain processing by removing the source of peripheral nociception. Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20211114053057N1, registered on: December 03, 2021. https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/search/result?query=IRCT20211114053057N1).

Exosomes: Promising Delivery Tools for Overcoming Blood-Brain Barrier and Glioblastoma Therapy.

Gliomas make up virtually 80% of all lethal primary brain tumors and are categorized based on their cell of origin. Glioblastoma is an astrocytic tumor that has an inferior prognosis despite the ongoing advances in treatment modalities. One of the main reasons for this shortcoming is the presence of the blood-brain barrier and blood-brain tumor barrier. Novel invasive and non-invasive drug delivery strategies for glioblastoma have been developed to overcome both the intact blood-brain barrier and leverage the disrupted nature of the blood-brain tumor barrier to target cancer cells after resection-the first treatment stage of glioblastoma. Exosomes are among non-invasive drug delivery methods and have emerged as a natural drug delivery vehicle with high biological barrier penetrability. There are various exosome isolation methods from different origins, and the intended use of the exosomes and starting materials defines the choice of isolation technique. In the present review, we have given an overview of the structure of the blood-brain barrier and its disruption in glioblastoma. This review provided a comprehensive insight into novel passive and active drug delivery techniques to overcome the blood-brain barrier, emphasizing exosomes as an excellent emerging drug, gene, and effective molecule delivery vehicle used in glioblastoma therapy.

Effects of dry needling on muscle spasticity of the upper limb in a survivor of traumatic brain injury: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Survivors of moderate and severe traumatic brain injury typically present with spasticity, an upper motor neuron lesion associated with hyperexcitability of the stretch reflex due to disinhibition of cortical influences on spinal cord circuits and structural and functional changes in skeletal muscle. There is growing evidence supporting the effectiveness of dry needling in abating spasticity. CASE PRESENTATION: The present case aims to quantify the effects of dry needling on upper limb spastic muscles in a survivor of severe traumatic brain injury in a 27-year-old Iranian man. The treated muscles were biceps brachii, brachialis, flexor digitorum superficialis and profundus, flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpi ulnaris, opponens pollicis, and adductor pollicis. Outcome measures were evaluated before and 1 hour after the intervention. Our results showed that the patient's upper limb recovery stage and hand function improved one grade according to Brunnstrom recovery stages. Spasticity assessed using the Modified Modified Ashworth Scale in all movements showed one-grade abatement, except in the forearm pronator. Passive resistance force decreased in all movements except in forearm supination. Active range of motion and passive range of motion increased in all movements except in active and passive forearm supination. Hand dexterity improved in both affected and unaffected hands. CONCLUSIONS: Results shown that dry needling could be a favorable option for reducing spasticity.

The association between ATM variants and risk of breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) gene contributes to repair damaged DNA and to regulate cell cycle; therefore, ATM variants seem to increase breast cancer risk; however, the results are controversial. So we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to clarify the pooled association between various ATM variants and the risk of breast cancer. METHODS: The relevant studies were searched through Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed and Cochrane. Stratified and subgroup analyses were performed to explore heterogeneity between studies and assess effects of study quality. The pooled estimates logarithm with standard error logarithm of odds ratio and relative risk with confidence interval were calculated. RESULTS: This study revealed that there is association between ATM variants and the risk of breast cancer; according to the seven adjusted case-control studies, OR of this association was estimated as 1.67 (95%CI: 0.73-3.82), according to nine unadjusted case-control studies, the crude OR was 2.27 (95% CI: 1.17-4.40) and according to two cohorts, the RR was estimated as 1.68 (95% CI: 1.17-2.40). CONCLUSIONS: The ATM variants are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer that ATM V2424G mutation is detected as the most predisposing factor while ATM D1853V, L546V, and S707P variants have the least predictive ability.

Pelvic musculoskeletal dysfunctions in women with and without chronic pelvic pain.

AIM: This study aimed to compare the prevalence of pelvic musculoskeletal dysfunctions in women with and without Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP). MATERIALS &METHODS: A total of 84 women with and without CPP (42 in each group), participated in this cross-sectional analytical study. After collecting demographic information, clinical examinations were carried out to compare pelvic musculoskeletal dysfunctions between two groups. Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S) goodness-of-fit, Independent t, X2 and Pearson correlation tests were used for data analysis. Values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. FINDINGS: Significant differences were found in the asymmetric iliac crest and pubic symphysis height (45.2% vs 9.5%), positive sacroiliac provocation and positive Carnett's tests (50% vs 4.8%), (p < 0.05). CPP Patients exhibited more tenderness at Levator ani, Piriformis, and Obturator Internus muscles, also higher degrees of pelvic inclination (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Higher frequency of pelvic musculoskeletal dysfunctions in women with CPP suggests the value of routine musculoskeletal examinations for earlier diagnosis of musculoskeletal originated CPP and effective management of these patients.