Venom-inspired somatostatin receptor 4 (SSTR4) agonists as new drug leads for peripheral pain conditions.

Persistent pain affects one in five people worldwide, often with severely debilitating consequences. Current treatment options, which can be effective for mild or acute pain, are ill-suited for moderate-to-severe persistent pain, resulting in an urgent need for new therapeutics. In recent years, the somatostatin receptor 4 (SSTR 4 ), which is expressed in sensory neurons of the peripheral nervous system, has emerged as a promising target for pain relief. However, the presence of several closely related receptors with similar ligand-binding surfaces complicates the design of receptor-specific agonists. In this study, we report the discovery of a potent and selective SSTR 4 peptide, consomatin Fj1, derived from extensive venom gene datasets from marine cone snails. Consomatin Fj1 is a mimetic of the endogenous hormone somatostatin and contains a minimized binding motif that provides stability and drives peptide selectivity. Peripheral administration of synthetic consomatin Fj1 provided analgesia in mouse models of postoperative and neuropathic pain. Using structure-activity studies, we designed and functionally evaluated several Fj1 analogs, resulting in compounds with improved potency and selectivity. Our findings present a novel avenue for addressing persistent pain through the design of venom-inspired SSTR 4 -selective pain therapeutics. One Sentence Summary: Venom peptides from predatory marine mollusks provide new leads for treating peripheral pain conditions through a non-opioid target.

Rediscovery and Redescription of Cryptalaus cardoni (Candze, 1890) comb. nov. (Coleoptera: Elateridae) after a century with notes on other Cryptalaus hira species in India.

After about 133 years, the click-beetle species Alaus cardoni Candze, 1890 is rediscovered from India. Its thorough examination revealed that this species should be transferred to the genus Cryptalaus hira, 1967. Therefore, we provide a redescription for Cryptalaus cardoni (Candze, 1890) comb. nov. and illustrate its male genitalia for the first time. We also add notes on a few other species of this genus, including a first-ever description of the male genitalia of Cryptalaus alveolatus Parekar & Patwardhan, 2021. Additionally, the following new combinations are proposed: Cryptalaus emarginatus (Punam, Vats & Saini, 1996) comb. nov., Cryptalaus furunculus (Sarkar, Saha & Raychaudhuri, 2016) comb. nov., Cryptalaus nigrimaculatus (Punam, Vats & Saini, 1996) comb. nov., Cryptalaus rotundoextremus (Vats & Kashyap, 1992) comb. nov., Cryptalaus truncatus (Punam, Vats & Saini, 1996) comb. nov. Further, Chalcolepis pannus Vats & Kashyap, 1992 syn. nov. is synonymized with Cryptalaus sordidus (Westwood, 1848). An updated key to Cryptalaus hira species in India is presented along with a checklist.

Oral Cancer Pain Includes Thermal Allodynia That May Be Attenuated by Chronic Alcohol Consumption.

BACKGROUND: Oral cancer is one of the most painful cancer types, and is often refractory to existing analgesics. Oral cancer patients frequently develop a tolerance to opioids, the mainstay of current cancer pain therapy, leaving them with limited therapeutic options. Thus, there is a great need to identify molecular mechanisms driving oral cancer pain in an effort to develop new analgesics. Previous reports demonstrate that oral cancer patients experience intense mechanical pain and pain in function. To date, no studies have examined thermal pain in oral cancer patients or the role that alcohol consumption plays in oral cancer pain. This study aims to evaluate patient-reported pain levels and thermal allodynia, potential molecular mechanisms mediating thermal allodynia, and the effects of alcohol consumption on patient-perceived pain. METHODS: This study evaluated human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines for their ability to activate thermosensitive channels in vitro and validated these findings in a rat model of orofacial pain. Patient-reported pain in a south Texas OSCC cohort (n = 27) was examined using a visual analog scale (VAS). Covariant analysis examined variables such as tobacco and alcohol consumption, ethnicity, gender, and cancer stage. RESULTS: We determined that OSCC secretes factors that stimulate both the Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin type 1 channel (TRPA1; noxious cold sensor) and the Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid type 1 channel (TRPV1; noxious heat sensor) in vitro and that OSCC-secreted factors sensitize TRPV1 nociceptors in vivo. These findings were validated in this cohort, in which allodynia to cold and heat were reported. Notably, subjects that reported regular alcohol consumption also reported lower pain scores for every type of pain tested, with significantly reduced cold-induced pain, aching pain, and burning pain. CONCLUSION: Oral cancer patients experience multiple types of cancer pain, including thermal allodynia. Alcohol consumption correlates with reduced OSCC pain and reduced thermal allodynia, which may be mediated by TRPA1 and TRPV1. Hence, reduced pain in these patients may contribute to a delay in seeking care, and thus a delay in early detection and treatment.

Targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor A/neuropilin 1 axis for relief of neuropathic pain.

ABSTRACT: Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) is a pronociceptive factor that causes neuronal sensitization and pain. We reported that blocking the interaction between the membrane receptor neuropilin 1 (NRP1) and VEGF-A-blocked VEGF-A-mediated sensory neuron hyperexcitability and reduced mechanical hypersensitivity in a rodent chronic neuropathic pain model. These findings identified the NRP1-VEGF-A signaling axis for therapeutic targeting of chronic pain. In an in-silico screening of approximately 480 K small molecules binding to the extracellular b1b2 pocket of NRP1, we identified 9 chemical series, with 6 compounds disrupting VEGF-A binding to NRP1. The small molecule with greatest efficacy, 4'-methyl-2'-morpholino-2-(phenylamino)-[4,5'-bipyrimidin]-6(1H)-one, designated NRP1-4, was selected for further evaluation. In cultured primary sensory neurons, VEGF-A enhanced excitability and decreased firing threshold, which was blocked by NRP1-4. In addition, NaV1.7 and CaV2.2 currents and membrane expression were potentiated by treatment with VEGF-A, and this potentiation was blocked by NRP1-4 cotreatment. Neuropilin 1-4 reduced VEGF-A-mediated increases in the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents in dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Neuropilin 1-4 did not bind to more than 300 G-protein-coupled receptors and receptors including human opioids receptors, indicating a favorable safety profile. In rats with spared nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain, intrathecal administration of NRP1-4 significantly attenuated mechanical allodynia. Intravenous treatment with NRP1-4 reversed both mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in rats with L5/L6 spinal nerve ligation-induced neuropathic pain. Collectively, our findings show that NRP1-4 is a first-in-class compound targeting the NRP1-VEGF-A signaling axis to control voltage-gated ion channel function, neuronal excitability, and synaptic activity that curb chronic pain.

Green Light Exposure Elicits Anti-inflammation, Endogenous Opioid Release and Dampens Synaptic Potentiation to Relieve Post-surgical Pain.

Light therapy improves multiple conditions such as seasonal affective disorders, circadian rhythm dysregulations, and neurodegenerative diseases. However, little is known about its potential benefits in pain management. While current pharmacologic methods are effective in many cases, the associated side effects can limit their use. Non-pharmacological methods would minimize drug dependence, facilitating a reduction of the opioid burden. Green light therapy has been shown to be effective in reducing chronic pain in humans and rodents. However, its underlying mechanisms remain incompletely defined. In this study, we demonstrate that green light exposure reduced postsurgical hypersensitivity in rats. Moreover, this therapy potentiated the antinociceptive effects of morphine and ibuprofen on mechanical allodynia in male rats. Importantly, in female rats, GLED potentiated the antinociceptive effects of morphine but did not affect that of ibuprofen. We showed that green light increases endogenous opioid levels while lessening synaptic plasticity and neuroinflammation. Importantly, this study reveals new insights into how light exposure can affect neuroinflammation and plasticity in both genders. Clinical translation of these results could provide patients with improved pain control and decrease opioid consumption. Given the noninvasive nature of green light, this innovative therapy would be readily implementable in hospitals. PERSPECTIVE: This study provides a potential additional therapy to decrease postsurgical pain. Given the safety, availability, and the efficacy of green light therapy, there is a significant potential for advancing the green light therapy to clinical trials and eventual translation to clinical settings.

Chronic pain recruits hypothalamic dynorphin/kappa opioid receptor signalling to promote wakefulness and vigilance.

Increased vigilance in settings of potential threats or in states of vulnerability related to pain is important for survival. Pain disrupts sleep and conversely, sleep disruption enhances pain, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Chronic pain engages brain stress circuits and increases secretion of dynorphin, an endogenous ligand of the kappa opioid receptor (KOR). We therefore hypothesized that hypothalamic dynorphin/KOR signalling may be a previously unknown mechanism that is recruited in pathological conditions requiring increased vigilance. We investigated the role of KOR in wakefulness, non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in freely moving naïve mice and in mice with neuropathic pain induced by partial sciatic nerve ligation using EEG/EMG recordings. Systemic continuous administration of U69,593, a KOR agonist, over 5 days through an osmotic minipump decreased the amount of NREM and REM sleep and increased sleep fragmentation in naïve mice throughout the light-dark sleep cycle. We used KORcre mice to selectively express a Gi-coupled designer receptor activated by designer drugs (Gi-DREADD) in KORcre neurons of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, a key node of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal stress response. Sustained activation of Gi-DREADD with clozapine-N-oxide delivered in drinking water over 4 days, disrupted sleep in these mice in a similar way as systemic U69,593. Mice with chronic neuropathic pain also showed disrupted NREM and total sleep that was normalized by systemic administration of two structurally different KOR antagonists, norbinaltorphimine and NMRA-140, currently in phase II clinical development, or by CRISPR/Cas9 editing of paraventricular nucleus KOR, consistent with endogenous KOR activation disrupting sleep in chronic pain. Unexpectedly, REM sleep was diminished by either systemic KOR antagonist or by CRISPR/Cas9 editing of paraventricular nucleus KOR in sham-operated mice. Our findings reveal previously unknown physiological and pathophysiological roles of dynorphin/KOR in eliciting arousal. Physiologically, dynorphin/KOR signalling affects transitions between sleep stages that promote REM sleep. Furthermore, while KOR antagonists do not promote somnolence in the absence of pain, they normalized disrupted sleep in chronic pain, revealing a pathophysiological role of KOR signalling that is selectively recruited to promote vigilance, increasing chances of survival. Notably, while this mechanism is likely beneficial in the short-term, disruption of the homeostatic need for sleep over longer periods may become maladaptive resulting in sustained pain chronicity. A novel approach for treatment of chronic pain may thus result from normalization of chronic pain-related sleep disruption by KOR antagonism.

Partial Sciatic Nerve Ligation: A Mouse Model of Chronic Neuropathic Pain to Study the Antinociceptive Effect of Novel Therapies.

Management of chronic pain remains challenging to this day, and current treatments are associated with adverse effects, including tolerance and addiction. Chronic neuropathic pain results from lesions or diseases in the somatosensory system. To investigate potential therapies with reduced side effects, animal pain models are the gold standard in preclinical studies. Therefore, well-characterized and well-described models are crucial for the development and validation of innovative therapies. Partial ligation of the sciatic nerve (pSNL) is a procedure that induces chronic neuropathic pain in mice, characterized by mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity, ongoing pain, and changes in limb temperature, making this model a great fit to study neuropathic pain preclinically. pSNL is an advantageous model to study neuropathic pain as it reproduces many symptoms observed in humans with neuropathic pain. Furthermore, the surgical procedure is relatively fast and straightforward to perform. Unilateral pSNL of one limb allows for comparison between the ipsilateral and contralateral paws, as well as evaluation of central sensitization. To induce chronic neuropathic hypersensitivity, a 9-0 non-absorbable nylon thread is used to ligate the dorsal third of the sciatic nerve. This article describes the surgical procedure and characterizes the development of chronic neuropathic pain through multiple commonly used behavioral tests. As a plethora of innovative therapies are now being investigated to treat chronic pain, this article provides crucial concepts for standardization and an accurate description of surgeries required to induce neuropathic pain.

Case Report: Green Light Exposure Relieves Chronic Headache Pain in a Colorblind Patient.

Patients with chronic headaches sometimes prefer non-pharmacological methods for pain management. We have shown previously that green light exposure (GLED, Green Light Emitting Diode) reversed thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia in a rat model of neuropathic pain. This effect is mediated through the visual system. Moreover, we recently showed that GLED was effective in decreasing the severity of headache pain and the number of headache-days per month in migraine patients. The visual system is comprised of image-forming and non-image-forming pathways; however, the contribution of different photosensitive cells to the effect of GLED is not yet known. Here, we report a 66-year-old man with headaches attributed to other disorders of homeostasis and color blindness who was recruited in the GLED study. The subject, diagnosed with protanomaly, cannot differentiate green, yellow, orange, and red colors. After completing the GLED exposure protocol, the subject noted significant decreases in headache pain intensity without reduction in the number of headache-days per month. The subject also reported improvement in the quality of his sleep. These findings suggest that green light therapy mediates the decrease of the headache pain intensity through non-image-forming intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells. However, the subject did not report a change in the frequency of his headaches, suggesting the involvement of cones in reduction of headache frequency by GLED. This is the first case reported of a colorblind man with chronic headache using GLED to manage his headache pain and may increase our understanding of the contribution of different photosensitive cells in mediating the pain-relieving effects of GLED.

Somatostatin venom analogs evolved by fish-hunting cone snails: From prey capture behavior to identifying drug leads.

Somatostatin (SS) is a peptide hormone with diverse physiological roles. By investigating a deep-water clade of fish-hunting cone snails, we show that predator-prey evolution has generated a diverse set of SS analogs, each optimized to elicit specific systemic physiological effects in prey. The increased metabolic stability, distinct SS receptor activation profiles, and chemical diversity of the venom analogs make them suitable leads for therapeutic application, including pain, cancer, and endocrine disorders. Our findings not only establish the existence of SS-like peptides in animal venoms but also serve as a model for the synergy gained from combining molecular phylogenetics and behavioral observations to optimize the discovery of natural products with biomedical potential.

Conotoxin contulakin-G engages a neurotensin receptor 2/R-type calcium channel (Cav2.3) pathway to mediate spinal antinociception.

ABSTRACT: Intrathecal application of contulakin-G (CGX), a conotoxin peptide and a neurotensin analogue, has been demonstrated to be safe and potentially analgesic in humans. However, the mechanism of action for CGX analgesia is unknown. We hypothesized that spinal application of CGX produces antinociception through activation of the presynaptic neurotensin receptor (NTSR)2. In this study, we assessed the mechanisms of CGX antinociception in rodent models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Intrathecal administration of CGX, dose dependently, inhibited thermal and mechanical hypersensitivities in rodents of both sexes. Pharmacological and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9 editing of NTSR2 reversed CGX-induced antinociception without affecting morphine analgesia. Electrophysiological and gene editing approaches demonstrated that CGX inhibition was dependent on the R-type voltage-gated calcium channel (Cav2.3) in sensory neurons. Anatomical studies demonstrated coexpression of NTSR2 and Cav2.3 in dorsal root ganglion neurons. Finally, synaptic fractionation and slice electrophysiology recordings confirmed a predominantly presynaptic effect. Together, these data reveal a nonopioid pathway engaged by a human-tested drug to produce antinociception.

Postoperative Oral Antibiotic Use and Infection-Related Complications After Spinal Cord Stimulator Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is considered a minimally invasive and reversible neuromodulation therapy for various chronic pain disorders. The rates of infection following SCS surgery reported in the literature range from 2.8% to 10%. Several studies indicated no potential benefit of postoperative antibiotics (beyond 24 hours) on subsequent device infection. This study aimed to understand the characteristics of postoperative antibiotic prescriptions and subsequent infections following SCS surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was a retrospective cohort using the IBM® MarketScan® Commercial and Medicare Supplemental Databases from 2013 to 2018. Adult patients undergoing SCS surgical procedures with at least 90 days of follow-up were identified using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codes. Postprocedural oral antibiotics within 14 days and preprocedural corticosteroid use within seven days were identified using National Drug Codes (NDC). Administrative claims were analyzed to understand the characteristics of prescribed postoperative antibiotics. Infection-related complications within 90 days were identified using administrative codes. RESULTS: A total of 18,105 patients (age 55.5 ± 13.1 years, 40.2% male) underwent SCS surgery during the study period. Postprocedural oral antibiotics and preprocedural steroids were prescribed for 35.3% and 2.6%, respectively, for SCS surgery patients. The most commonly used postprocedural antibiotics were cephalexin (55.4%) and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (10.6%). The most common duration of antibiotic prescriptions was seven, ten, and five days in our study, from most to least common duration. Superficial surgical site infection (SSI), deep SSI, device infection, or any infection within 90 days occurred in 2.9%, 1.0%, 1.8%, and 4%, respectively, of the patients undergoing SCS surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Prospective studies are needed to understand the reasons for noncompliance with expert consensus recommendations on postoperative antibiotic use beyond 24 hours of SCS surgery. Neuromodulation team members should play an important role in antibiotic stewardship.

A prolactin-dependent sexually dimorphic mechanism of migraine chronification.

OBJECTIVE: Determination of possible sex differences in mechanisms promoting migraine progression and the contribution of prolactin and the prolactin long (PRLR-L) and short (PRLR-S) receptor isoforms. BACKGROUND: The majority of patients with chronic migraine and medication overuse headache are female. Prolactin is present at higher levels in women and increases migraine. Prolactin signaling at the PRLR-S selectively sensitizes nociceptors in female rodents, while expression of the PRLR-L is protective. METHODS: Medication overuse headache was modeled by repeated sumatriptan administration in male and female mice. Periorbital and hindpaw cutaneous allodynia served as a surrogate of migraine-like pain. PRLR-L and PRLR-S isoforms were measured in the trigeminal ganglion with western blotting. Possible co-localization of PRLR with serotonin 5HT1B and 5HT1D receptors was determined with RNAscope. Cabergoline, a dopamine receptor agonist that inhibits circulating prolactin, was co-administered with sumatriptan. Nasal administration of CRISPR/Cas9 plasmid was used to edit expression of both PRLR isoforms. RESULTS: PRLR was co-localized with 5HT1B or 5HT1D receptors in the ophthalmic region of female trigeminal ganglion. A single injection of sumatriptan increased serum PRL levels in female mice. Repeated sumatriptan promoted cutaneous allodynia in both sexes but down-regulated trigeminal ganglion PRLR-L, without altering PRLR-S, only in females. Co-administration of sumatriptan with cabergoline prevented allodynia and down-regulation of PRLR-L only in females. CRISPR/Cas9 editing of both PRLR isoforms in the trigeminal ganglion prevented sumatriptan-induced periorbital allodynia in females. INTERPRETATION: We identified a sexually dimorphic mechanism of migraine chronification that involves down-regulation of PRLR-L and increased signaling of circulating prolactin at PRLR-S. These studies reveal a previously unrecognized neuroendocrine mechanism linking the hypothalamus to nociceptor sensitization that increases the risk of migraine pain in females and suggest opportunities for novel sex-specific therapies including gene editing through nasal delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 constructs.

Procedure-Related Outcomes Including Readmission Following Spinal Cord Stimulator Implant Procedures: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been shown to reduce opioid consumption, reduce pain, improve quality of life compared to conventional therapy, and be more effective than spine reoperation in carefully selected patients. In this study, we evaluate readmissions after SCS implantation procedures, costs, predictors, and etiologies for readmission following implantation procedures. METHODS: The study was a retrospective cohort using the National Readmissions Database from 2013 to 2017. Administrative billing codes were used to identify patients undergoing SCS implantation procedures. The primary outcome of our study was 30-day readmission following the SCS implantation procedure. Continuous outcomes were compared between groups using the Student t test or Wilcoxon rank sum test. In addition, multivariable predictors of 30-day readmission were assessed by hierarchical logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 3737 (26.7% open surgical SCS implants [OS-SCS]) individuals admitted to the hospital for SCS implantation were included in the final cohort analysis. The cohort consisted of predominantly female patients (58.71%) and in the 50- to 64-year age group (35.46%). Patients who underwent open surgical SCS implantation had a longer length of stay during the initial admission and a higher 30-day readmission rate (9.4% vs 7% P = .01). OS-SCS, older age, lower socioeconomic status, patients with specific comorbidities (ie, hypertension or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]), and home discharge are associated with readmission. CONCLUSIONS: Readmission rates after SCS implantation are around 7.7% in the United States. Infection and postoperative complications remain the top etiologies for readmission. Open surgical SCS implantation is associated with more extended initial hospitalization and a higher rate of readmission when compared to percutaneous SCS implantation procedures.

Green Light Antinociceptive and Reversal of Thermal and Mechanical Hypersensitivity Effects Rely on Endogenous Opioid System Stimulation.

Benefits of phototherapy were characterized in multiple diseases including depression, circadian rhythm disruptions, and neurodegeneration. Studies on migraine and fibromyalgia patients revealed that green light-emitting diodes (GLED) exposure provides a pragmatic and safe therapy to manage chronic pain. In rodents, GLED reversed hypersensitivity related to neuropathic pain. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of GLED efficacy. Here, we sought to understand how green light modulates the endogenous opioid system. We first characterized how exposure to GLED stimulates release of ß-endorphin and proenkephalin in the central nervous system of male rats. Moreover, by individually editing each of the receptors, we found that µ- and δ-opioid receptors are required for green light's antinociceptive effect in naïve rats and a model of HIV-induced peripheral neuropathy. We investigated how GLED could increase pain thresholds, and explored its potential in reversing hypersensitivity in a model of HIV-related neuropathy. Through behavioral and gene editing approaches, we identified that green light provides antinociception via modulation of the endogenous opioid system in the spinal cord. This work identifies a previously unknown mechanism by which GLED can improve pain management. Clinical translation of these results will advance the development of an innovative therapy devoid of adverse effects. PERSPECTIVE: Development of new pain management therapies, especially for HIV patients, is crucial as long-term opioid prescription is not recommended due to adverse side effects. Green light addresses this necessity. Characterizing the underlying mechanisms of this potentially groundbreaking and safe antinociceptive therapy will advance its clinical translation.

Industry Payments to Pain Medicine Physicians: An Analysis of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Open Payments Program.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze industry payments to pain medicine physicians in the United States. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study using publicly available databases. SUBJECTS: The study includes U.S. pain medicine physicians (PMPs) with reports in the Open Payments program from 2013 to 2018. METHODS: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Open Payments program was analyzed for general, investment, and ownership payments to PMPs reported from 2013 to 2018. The nature, type, and geographic variation of payments were analyzed. RESULTS: The main findings of the study are as follows: 1) Payments made to PMPs constituted a small proportion of the payments made to all physicians in the United States, and the number of transactions and the total dollar amount seem to have decreased from 2016 to 2018. 2) The median number of payments among physicians with reported payments was around 4 (interquartile range: 18), and the majority of them were under $20. 3) The majority of payments were for in-kind items and services (85%) and were made for food and beverages (91%), travel and lodging (5.5%). 4) Some of the ownership and investment interest payments exceeded $500,000. 5) The top five drugs associated with physician payments included medications with opioids. 6) A very small minority of payments were made for entertainment or gifts. 7) A third of PMPs with reports had payments reported under more than one taxonomy. CONCLUSIONS: Overall payments made to PMPs seem to be decreasing since 2016. The majority of the payments are made for the food, beverage, and travel categories. Public and physician awareness of the Open Payments system reports is essential to promote transparency and to minimize adverse effects of financial relationships on patient care.

Mechanisms and Pathways of Pain Photobiomodulation: A Narrative Review.

A growing body of evidence supports the modulation of pain by light exposure. As such, phototherapy is being increasingly utilized for the management of a variety of pain conditions. The modes of delivery, and hence applications of phototherapy, vary by wavelength, intensity, and route of exposure. As such, differing mechanisms of action exist depending upon those parameters. Cutaneous application of red light (660 nm) has been shown to reduce pain in neuropathies and complex regional pain syndrome-I, whereas visual application of the same wavelength of red light has been reported to exacerbate migraine headache in patients and lead to the development of functional pain in animal models. Interestingly visual exposure to green light can result in reduction in pain in variety of pain conditions such as migraine and fibromyalgia. Cutaneous application typically requires exposure on the order of minutes, whereas visual application requires exposure on the order of hours. Both routes of exposure elicit changes centrally in the brainstem and spinal cord, and peripherally in the dorsal root ganglia and nociceptors. The mechanisms of photobiomodulation of pain presented in this review provide a foundation in furtherance of exploration of the utility of phototherapy as a tool in the management of pain. PERSPECTIVE: This review synopsizes the pathways and mechanisms through which light modulates pain and the therapeutic utility of different colors and exposure modalities of light on pain. Recent advances in photobiomodulation provide a foundation for understanding this novel treatment for pain on which future translational and clinical studies can build upon.

Opioid Prescriptions by Pain Medicine Physicians in the Medicare Part D Program: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Pain medicine physicians (PMP) are a group of physicians with background training in various primary specialties with interest and expertise in managing chronic pain disorders. Our objective is to analyze prescription drug (PD) claims from the Medicare Part D program associated with PMP to gain insights into patterns, associated costs, and potential cost savings areas. METHODS: The primary data source for Part D claims data is the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse, which contains Medicare Part D prescription drug events (PDE) records received through the claims submission cutoff date. Only providers with taxonomies of pain management (PM) and interventional pain management (IPM) were included in the study. The analysis of PDE was restricted to drugs with >250 claims. The distribution of claims and costs were analyzed based on drug class and provider specialty. Subsequently, we explored claims and expenses for opioid drug prescriptions in detail. Prescribing characteristics of the top 5% of providers by costs and claims were examined to gain additional insights. The costs and claims were explored for the top 10 drugs prescribed by PMP in 2017. RESULTS: There were a total of unique 3280 PMP-prescribed drugs with an associated expense of 652 million dollars in the 2017 Medicare Part D program. Prescriptions related to PMP account for a tiny fraction of the program's drug expenditure (0.4%). Opioids, anticonvulsants, and gabapentinoids were associated with the largest number of claims and the largest expenses within this fraction. Among opioid drug prescriptions, brand-named drugs account for a small fraction of claims (8%) compared to generic drugs. However, the expenses associated with brand name drugs were higher than generic drugs. Prescribers in the top 5% by PD costs had a higher number of claims, prescribed a higher proportion of branded medications, and had prescriptions associated with longer day supply compared to an average PMP. There were several opioid medications in the top 10 PD list by cost associated with PMP. CONCLUSIONS: Opioids were the most common medications among Medicare part D claims prescribed by PMP. Only 12% of the total opioid PD claims were by PMP. The top 5% of PMP prescribers had 10 times more claims than the average PMP.

Evaluation of green light exposure on headache frequency and quality of life in migraine patients: A preliminary one-way cross-over clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacological management of migraine can be ineffective for some patients. We previously demonstrated that exposure to green light resulted in antinociception and reversal of thermal and mechanical hypersensitivity in rodent pain models. Given the safety of green light emitting diodes, we evaluated green light as a potential therapy in patients with episodic or chronic migraine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We recruited (29 total) patients, of whom seven had episodic migraine and 22 had chronic migraine. We used a one-way cross-over design consisting of exposure for 1-2 hours daily to white light emitting diodes for 10 weeks, followed by a 2-week washout period followed by exposure for 1-2 hours daily to green light emitting diodes for 10 weeks. Patients were allowed to continue current therapies and to initiate new treatments as directed by their physicians. Outcomes consisted of patient-reported surveys. The primary outcome measure was the number of headache days per month. Secondary outcome measures included patient-reported changes in the intensity and frequency of the headaches over a two-week period and other quality of life measures including ability to fall and stay asleep, and ability to perform work. Changes in pain medications were obtained to assess potential reduction. RESULTS: When seven episodic migraine and 22 chronic migraine patients were analyzed as separate cohorts, white light emitting diodes produced no significant change in headache days in either episodic migraine or chronic migraine patients. Combining data from the episodic migraine and chronic migraine groups showed that white light emitting diodes produced a small, but statistically significant reduction in headache days from (days ± SEM) 18.2 ± 1.8 to 16.5 ± 2.01 days. Green light emitting diodes resulted in a significant decrease in headache days from 7.9 ± 1.6 to 2.4 ± 1.1 and from 22.3 ± 1.2 to 9.4 ± 1.6 in episodic migraine and chronic migraine patients, respectively. While some improvement in secondary outcomes was observed with white light emitting diodes, more secondary outcomes with significantly greater magnitude including assessments of quality of life, Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, Headache Impact Test-6, and Five-level version of the EuroQol five-dimensional survey without reported side effects were observed with green light emitting diodes. Conclusions regarding pain medications reduction with green light emitting diode exposure were not possible. No side effects of light therapy were reported. None of the patients in the study reported initiation of new therapies. DISCUSSION: Green light emitting diodes significantly reduced the number of headache days in people with episodic migraine or chronic migraine. Additionally, green light emitting diodes significantly improved multiple secondary outcome measures including quality of life and intensity and duration of the headache attacks. As no adverse events were reported, green light emitting diodes may provide a treatment option for those patients who prefer non-pharmacological therapies or may be considered in complementing other treatment strategies. Limitations of this study are the small number of patients evaluated. The positive data obtained support implementation of larger clinical trials to determine possible effects of green light emitting diode therapy.This study is registered with clinicaltrials.gov under NCT03677206.

Outcomes Associated With Infection of Chronic Pain Spinal Implantable Electronic Devices: Insights From a Nationwide Inpatient Sample Study.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic pain spinal implantable electronic devices (CPSIEDs) include devices that provide spinal cord stimulation and intrathecal drug therapy. In this study, we sought to evaluate the trends of CPSIED infections, related complications, and outcomes following the treatment of infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database contains data from 48 states, and the District of Columbia was used to identify patients with a primary diagnosis of CPSIED infection during the years 2005-2014. Patients with intrathecal pumps for the treatment of spasticity were excluded to limit the study population to patients with chronic pain disorders. Treatments were categorized as: 1) without device removal, 2) pulse generator or pump only removal, 3) intrathecal pump system removal, and 4) spinal cord stimulation system removal. Complications associated with CPSIED infections were identified using administrative billing codes. RESULTS: During the study period 2005-2014, a total of 11,041 patients were admitted to the hospital with CPSIED infections. The majority of the patients were treated without surgical intervention (56%), and a smaller proportion underwent complete system explantation (22.7%). In-hospital mortality or permanent disability due to paralysis after CPSIED infection was around 1.83% and 2.77%, respectively. Infectious complications such as meningitis, abscess formation, and osteomyelitis occurred in 4.93%, 5.08%, and 1.5%, respectively. The median cost of hospitalization was around US $14,118.00, and the median length of stay was approximately six days (interquartile range = 4-13 days). CONCLUSIONS: The complications of CPSIED infection were higher among patients that did not undergo device removal.

SARS-CoV-2 spike protein co-opts VEGF-A/neuropilin-1 receptor signaling to induce analgesia.

Global spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 continues unabated. Binding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2's spike protein to host angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 triggers viral entry, but other proteins may participate, including the neuropilin-1 receptor (NRP-1). Because both spike protein and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A)-a pronociceptive and angiogenic factor, bind NRP-1, we tested whether spike could block VEGF-A/NRP-1 signaling. VEGF-A-triggered sensory neuron firing was blocked by spike protein and NRP-1 inhibitor EG00229. Pronociceptive behaviors of VEGF-A were similarly blocked through suppression of spontaneous spinal synaptic activity and reduction of electrogenic currents in sensory neurons. Remarkably, preventing VEGF-A/NRP-1 signaling was antiallodynic in a neuropathic pain model. A "silencing" of pain through subversion of VEGF-A/NRP-1 signaling may underlie increased disease transmission in asymptomatic individuals.