Dual role of osteoblastic proenkephalin derived peptides in skeletal tissues

Proenkephalin encodes a group of small peptides with opiate-like activity, the endogenous opioids, known to function as neurohormones, neuromodulators, and neurotransmitters. Recently, we have demonstrated that in addition to its abundance in fetal brain tissue, proenkephalin is highly expressed in nondifferentiated mesodermal cells of developing fetuses. We identified the skeletal tissues, bone, and cartilage as major sites of proenkephalin expression. To examine the possibility that proenkephalin is involved in bone development we have studied the expression of this gene in bone-derived cells, its modulation by bone active hormones, and the effects of enkephalin-derived peptides on osteoblastic phenotype. Our studies revealed that osteoblastic cells synthesize high levels of proenkephalin mRNA which are translated, and the derived peptides are secreted. Reciprocal interrelationships between osteoblast maturation and proenkephalin expression were established. These results together with our observations demonstrating inhibitory effects of proenkephalin-derived peptides on osteoblastic alkaline phosphatase activity, strongly support the notion that proenkephalin is involved in bone development. A different direction of research by other investigators has established the capability of the opioid system in the periphery to participate in the control of pain. On the basis of these two lines of observation, we would like to present the following hypothesis: The potential of embryonic skeletal tissue to synthesize proenkephalin-derived peptides is retained in the adult in small defined undifferentiated cell populations. This potential is realized in certain situations requiring rapid growth, such as remodeling or fracture repair. We suggest that in these processes, similarly to the situation in the embryo, the undifferentiated dividing cells produce the endogenous opioids. In the adult these peptides may have a dual function, namely participating in the control of tissue regeneration and in the control of pain. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Renal impairment and analgesia: From effectiveness to adverse effects

Kidney pain is one of the clinically significant features of renal dysfunction. Mild to severe pain is seen in the lower back area. Painkillers are mostly recommended in these cases to relieve the symptom. Yet, several analgesics are associated with side effects that can worsen the state of the disease. This review is based on the studies conducted in these aspects analgesics used to treat kidney pain and their effectiveness, renal consequences of postoperative analgesia, and pharmacogenetics of these palliatives are briefly summarized in this paper.     

Putative Nociceptive Modulatory Neurons in the Rostral Ventromedial Medulla of the Rat Display Highly Correlated Firing Patterns

Recent work in this laboratory has identified two classes of putative nociceptive modulating neurons in the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) of the rat: “off-cells,” which pause beginning just prior to the tail flick response (TF) evoked by noxious heat, and “on-cells,” which accelerate shortly before the occurrence of the TF. In the unstimulated, lightly anesthetized rat, the spontaneous firing pattern of individual on- and off-cells consists of alternating periods of silence and activity lasting from several seconds to a few minutes.

In the present study, simultaneous recordings were made from pairs of TF-related neurons, and the relationships among the firing patterns of cells within a class and between cells of different classes were determined. All cells of a given class showed fluctuations in spontaneous discharge that were in phase. On the other hand, there was a striking reciprocity of firing between the two cell classes, such that a decrease in activity of cells of one class was accompanied by an increase in activity of cells of the other class.

These observations point to the existence of integrating mechanisms that coordinate the activity of all members of each class of TF-related neurons. Thus, the pattern of activity of any single on- or off-cell provides a useful index of the excitability of all cells of that class. Moreover, because of the highly reciprocal nature of the firing of the two classes, it is possible to infer the current state of both cell populations from the pattern of activity of any single TF-related neuron.     

两面针提取物(S-O)对小鼠镇痛、抗炎和止血作用的研究

本研究对两面针根的提取物S-O进行了镇痛、止血和抗炎药理实验,每种作用选用两种实验方法来评价。镇痛作用采用热板法和扭体法。热板法实验显示,S-O在150mg/kg剂量时,小鼠痛阈值明显提高（P〈0．01）;扭体法实验显示,S-O在150mg/kg剂量为时,对冰醋酸致痛的小鼠扭体反应次数减少了70．96％（P〈0．01）。抗炎实验采用二甲苯致小鼠耳廓肿胀法及腹腔染料渗出法。二甲苯致炎剂实验表明,S-O在150mg/kg剂量时,对二甲苯所致小鼠耳廓肿胀有明显抑制作用,抑制率为63．45％（P〈0．01）;冰醋酸所致的腹腔毛细血管通透性实验中,S-O在150mg/kg和75mg/kg两个剂量组时,对小鼠的抗炎效果分别为52．94％（P〈0．01）和52．00％（P〈0．01）。止血实验采用毛细玻璃管法和载玻片法。毛细玻璃管实验表明S-O在150mg/kg和75mg/kg两个剂量时,凝血时间明显缩短（P〈0．01）;载玻片实验表明S-O在150mg/kg剂量时,凝血时间明显缩短（P〈0．01）。总之,两面针中提取物S-O对小鼠具有显著的镇痛、止血和抗炎作用。     

Modulation of spinal pain processing by cannabinoid receptor agonists

Manifestations of the central pain syndrome induced by applications of benzylpenicillin on the rat spinal cord were quantitatively measured after injections of endogenous and exogenous cannabinoid agonists, anandamide and WIN 55,212-2. The analgesic effects of those agents are described. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 38, Nos. 5/6, pp. 492–494, September–December, 2006.     

Involvement of the serotonergic cerebral system in microwave-induced analgesia in mice of different genotypes

Under conditions of the formalin test, we studied changes in the level of analgesia induced by the action of low-intensity microwaves on the antinociceptive acupuncture point (AP) E36 in mice of strains CBA/CaLac (CBA) and C57BL/6j (C57) and in albino mongrel mice. Measurements were performed under control conditions and with experimentally induced decrease in the serotonin level in the brain (by injections of DL-parachlorophenylalanine, p-CPA). In the latter cases, the duration of the pain behavioral reaction increased despite irradiation of the AP E36. In mongrel, CBA, and C57 mice, the intensity of pain manifestations was 114.4, 29.0, and 21.1% greater, respectively, than in mice of these groups with no injections of p-CPA. These facts show that the serotonergic brain system is profoundly involved in the formation of analgesia after irradiation of the AP by low-intensity microwaves, and this involvement significantly depends on the genotype of the animals. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 38, Nos. 5/6, pp. 495–497, September–December, 2006.     

Lateral gradients significantly enhance static magnetic field‐induced inhibition of pain responses in mice—a double blind experimental study

Recent research demonstrated that exposure of mice to both inhomogeneous (3–477 mT) and homogeneous (145 mT) static magnetic fields (SMF) generated an analgesic effect toward visceral pain elicited by the intraperitoneal injection of 0.6% acetic acid. In the present work, we investigated behavioral responses such as writhing, entry avoidance, and site preference with the help of a specially designed cage that partially protruded into either the homogeneous (ho) or inhomogeneous (inh) SMF. Aversive effects, cognitive recognition of analgesia, and social behavior governed mice in their free locomotion between SMF and sham sides. The inhibition of pain response (I) for the 0–5, 6–20, and 21–30 min periods following the challenge was calculated by the formula I = 100 (1 ? x/y) in %, where x and y represent the number of writhings in the SMF and sham sides, respectively. In accordance with previous measurements, an analgesic effect was induced in exposed mice (I_ho = 64%, P < 0.0002 and I_inh = 62%, P < 0.002). No significant difference was found in the site preference (SMF_{ho, inh} vs. sham) indicating that SMF is neither aversive nor favorable. Comparison of writhings observed in the sham versus SMF side of the cage revealed that SMF exposure resulted in significantly fewer writhings than sham (I_ho = 64%, P < 0.004 and I_inh = 81%, P < 0.03). Deeper statistical analysis clarified that the lateral SMF gradient between SMF and sham sides could be responsible for most of the analgesic effect (I_ho = 91%, P < 0.02 and I_inh = 54%, P < 0.02). Bioelectromagnetics 34:385–396, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The Controversy on Fish Pain: A Veterinarian’s Perspective

Fish welfare is still a relatively new field. As such, regulations and protocols to ensure fish welfare are currently limited and vary considerably in different jurisdictions. This is in part because of the ongoing controversy as to whether or not fish feel pain. This controversy has persisted for several years, yet veterinarians have been mostly absent from the discussion so far. This essay aims to address this issue. Here, it is argued that while this controversy has its place, it is unlikely to be resolved in the near future. Fish welfare could instead be improved by pursuing more clinically applicable research to increase knowledge of fishes’ behavior and physiology. Such research would assist in learning the optimal environment for their specific needs, as well as compiling some verified indicators of pain in fish. This would then lead to improved studies that could help to determine if and when analgesic drugs can be beneficial in fish, as they are in many other species.     

不同剂量地佐辛用于腹腔镜妇科手术超前镇痛的效果观察

目的：观察不同剂量地佐辛用于腹腔镜妇科手术超前镇痛的效果。方法：将90例ASAI．II级、年龄18~60岁拟行腹腔镜妇科手术的患者随机分成3组,每组30例,A组给予地佐辛0．1mg／kg开皮前15rain静脉注射;B组给予地佐辛0．15mg／kg开皮前15min静脉注射;C组给予地佐辛0．2mg／kg开皮前15min静脉注射,采用VAS评分评估术后镇痛效果并观察术后辅助镇痛药物的使用和不良反应的发生情况。结果：B、c组术后2、4、6、8h的VAS评分明显低于A组（P〈0．05）;C组术后2、4h的Ramsay评分明显高于A、B组（P〈0.05）;A组术后辅助镇痛药的使用率明显高于B组和C组（P／0．05）;3组不良反应的发生率比较均无统计学差异（P〉0．05）。结论：开皮前15rain静注地佐辛0．15mg／kg用于腹腔镜妇科手术镇痛效果好,且不增加不良反应的发生率。     

地佐辛在神经外科术后镇痛的应用体会

目的：探讨地佐辛用于神经外科患者术后镇痛的效果和安全性。方法：将64例ASAⅠ～Ⅱ级行神经外科手术患者随机分为两组,术后均以静脉自控镇痛（PCIA）,其中A组（34例）用地佐辛,B组（30例）用舒芬太尼,观察两组镇痛、镇静效果及不良反应。结果：术后4 h、8 h、12 h、24 h视觉模拟评分（VAS）和不良反应发生率A组明显低于B组（P〈0.05）,Ramsay评分明显高于B组（P〈0.05）。结论：地佐辛用于神经外科患者术后镇痛确切,不良反应少。