Gentle Touch Therapy, Pain Relief and Neuroplasticity at Baseline in Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Randomized, Multicenter Trial with Six-Month Follow-Up.

BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia (FM) is considered a stress-related disorder characterized mainly by chronic widespread pain. Its pathogenesis is unknown, but cumulative evidence points at dysfunctional transmitter systems and inflammatory biomarkers that may underlie the major symptoms of the condition. This study aimed to evaluate pain scores (primary outcome), quality of life, inflammatory biomarkers and neurotransmitter systems in women with FM (secondary outcomes) subjected to gentle touch therapy (GTT) or placebo. METHODS: A total of 64 female patients with FM were randomly assigned to two groups, namely GTT (n = 32) or Placebo (n = 32). Clinical assessments were conducted at baseline and post-intervention with six-month follow-up. We measured serum catecholamines (dopamine), indolamines and intermediary metabolites (serotonin or 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA)), as well as tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), which is a cofactor for the synthesis of neurotransmitters and inflammatory biomarkers in women with FM. A group of healthy individuals with no intervention (control group) was used to compare biochemical measurements. Intervention effects were analyzed using repeated measures (RM) two-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post hoc test and mixed ANCOVA model with intention to treat. RESULTS: Compared to placebo, the GTT group presented lower pain scores and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels without altering the quality of life of women with FM. Changes in BDNF had a mediating role in pain. Higher baseline serum BDNF and 5-HIAA or those with a history of anxiety disorder showed a higher reduction in pain scores across time. However, women with higher serum dopamine levels at baseline showed a lower effect of the intervention across the observation period revealed by an ANCOVA mixed model. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, lower pain scores were observed in the GTT group compared to the placebo group without altering the quality of life in women with FM. Reductions in BDNF levels could be a mechanism of FM pain status improvement. In this sense, the present study encourages the use of these GTT techniques as an integrative and complementary treatment of FM.

Lavandula angustifolia essential oil inhalation reduces mechanical hyperalgesia in a model of inflammatory and neuropathic pain: The involvement of opioid and cannabinoid receptors.

Lavandula angustifolia (LaEO) essential oil has been widely used by aromatherapy in the treatment of various clinical conditions, with evidence of its analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential. Our results demonstrate that sixty-five substances were identified in LaEO. Among the compounds found, the major ones were linalool (30.61%) and linalyl acetate (20.36%). We found that LaEO inhalation reduces mechanical hyperalgesia in conditions of chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Furthermore, this effect seems to be mediated by peripheral and central opioid and cannabinoid 2 receptors. The findings of the present study suggests that the LaEO inhalation is effective on the chronic pain treatment.

Correction to: Electroacupuncture induces antihyperalgesic effect through endothelin-B receptor in the chronic phase of a mouse model of complex regional pain syndrome type I.

The original version of this article contains an error. The Author Francisco José Cidral-Filho incorrectly listed as Francisco José Cidra-Filho. The correct spelling is presented above. The original article has been corrected.

Electroacupuncture induces antihyperalgesic effect through endothelin-B receptor in the chronic phase of a mouse model of complex regional pain syndrome type I.

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a disorder that involves abnormal inflammation and nerve dysfunction frequently resistant to a broad range of treatments. Peripheral nerve stimulation with electroacupuncture (EA) has been widely used in different clinical conditions to control pain and inflammation; however, the use of EA in the treatment of CRPS is under investigation. In this study, we explore the effects of EA on hyperalgesia and edema induced in an animal model of chronic post-ischemia pain (CPIP model) and the possible involvement of endothelin receptor type B (ETB) in this effect. Female Swiss mice were subjected to 3 h hind paw ischemia/reperfusion CPIP model. EA treatment produced time-dependent inhibition of mechanical and cold hyperalgesia, as well as edema in CPIP mice. Peripheral administration (i.pl.) of BQ-788 (10 nmol), an ETB antagonist, prevented EA-induced antihyperalgesia while intrathecal administration prolonged EA's effect. Additionally, peripheral pre-treatment with sarafotoxin (SRTX S6c, 30 pmol, ETB agonist) increased EA anti-hyperalgesic effect. Furthermore, the expression of peripheral ETB receptors was increased after EA treatments, as measured by western blot. These results may suggest that EA's analgesic effect is synergic with ETB receptor activation in the periphery, as well as central (spinal cord) ETB receptor blockade. These data support the use of EA as a nonpharmacological approach for the management of CRPS-I, in an adjuvant manner to ETB receptor targeting drugs.