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Nutrients May 2024Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) emerged over the years as a promising approach in the management of chronic pain. Despite the fact that the efficacy of micron-size PEA... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) emerged over the years as a promising approach in the management of chronic pain. Despite the fact that the efficacy of micron-size PEA formulations appears to be time-dependent, the optimal timing has not yet been elucidated. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to estimate the possible advantage of an extended treatment in the relief of chronic pain. The literature search was conducted consulting scientific databases, to identify clinical trials in which micron-size PEA was administered for at least 60 days, and pain assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) or Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Nine studies matched the required criteria, for a total of 742 patients involved. The meta-analysis showed a statistically and clinically significant pain intensity reduction after 60 days of micron-size PEA supplementation, compared to 30 days (1.36 points, < 0.01). The secondary analysis revealed a weighted NRS/VAS score decrease of 2.08 points within the first month of treatment. These two obtained scores corresponded to a 35.1% pain intensity reduction within the first month, followed by a further 35.4% during the second month. Overall, these results confirm the clinically relevant and time-depended pain-relieving effect of micron-size PEA and therefore the advantage of an extended treatment, especially in patient with incomplete pain management.
Topics: Palmitic Acids; Humans; Amides; Ethanolamines; Chronic Pain; Pain Measurement; Administration, Oral; Treatment Outcome; Analgesics
PubMed: 38892586
DOI: 10.3390/nu16111653 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2024Endometriosis is one of the most common causes of chronic pelvic pain and infertility, affecting 10% of women of reproductive age. A delay of up to 9 years is estimated... (Review)
Review
Endometriosis is one of the most common causes of chronic pelvic pain and infertility, affecting 10% of women of reproductive age. A delay of up to 9 years is estimated between the onset of symptoms and the diagnosis of endometriosis. Endometriosis is currently defined as the presence of endometrial epithelial and stromal cells at ectopic sites; however, advances in research on endometriosis have some authors believing that endometriosis should be re-defined as "a fibrotic condition in which endometrial stroma and epithelium can be identified". There are several theories on the etiology of the disease, but the origin of endometriosis remains unclear. This review addresses the role of microRNAs (miRNAs), which are naturally occurring post-transcriptional regulatory molecules, in endometriotic lesion development, the inflammatory environment within the peritoneal cavity, including the role that cytokines play during the development of the disease, and how animal models have helped in our understanding of the pathology of this enigmatic disease.
Topics: Endometriosis; Humans; Female; MicroRNAs; Animals; Endometrium; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal
PubMed: 38892003
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115815 -
BMC Women's Health Jun 2024The SCHUMANN study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the selective P2 × 3 antagonist eliapixant in patients with endometriosis-associated pelvic pain (EAPP). (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
The SCHUMANN study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the selective P2 × 3 antagonist eliapixant in patients with endometriosis-associated pelvic pain (EAPP).
METHODS
SCHUMANN was a randomized, placebo- and active comparator-controlled, double-blind to placebo and open-label to comparator, parallel-group, multicenter, dose-finding phase 2b study. The participants were women with surgically diagnosed endometriosis who fulfilled defined EAPP criteria. Participants were randomized 1:1:1:1 to twice daily (BID) 25 mg, 75 mg, or 150 mg oral eliapixant or a placebo for 12 weeks. An exploratory once-daily elagolix 150 mg treatment group was also included. The primary endpoint was the absolute change in mean worst EAPP from baseline to the end of intervention (EOI).
RESULTS
Overall, 215 participants were randomized for treatment (44 to eliapixant 25 mg, 44 to eliapixant 75 mg, 43 to eliapixant 150 mg, 43 to a placebo, and 41 to elagolix 150 mg). For safety reasons, the study was terminated early; both treatment and enrollment stopped immediately, producing less than 50% of the planned number of completers. The study found no significant differences in EAPP reduction from baseline between groups and no significant dose-response model. The elagolix 150 mg group showed better pain reduction than any of the other groups. No new safety signals were observed, relative to the previously known safety profile of eliapixant, which was generally well tolerated. However, one case of moderate and probably drug-induced liver injury in a participant receiving eliapixant 150 mg BID supported the association between eliapixant and a potential increase in liver function values, defined before the start of the phase 2 program.
CONCLUSIONS
This study did not meet its primary objective as no statistically significant or clinically relevant differences in changes of mean worst EAPP from baseline were observed between treatment groups. The single observed case of moderate, probably drug-induced liver injury was the second case in the eliapixant phase 2 program conducted in the following indications: refractory or unexplained chronic cough, diabetic neuropathic pain, overactive bladder, and EAPP. Due to this, the benefit-risk ratio for the study was no longer considered to be positive.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04614246; registered November 3, 2020.
Topics: Humans; Female; Endometriosis; Pelvic Pain; Adult; Double-Blind Method; Treatment Outcome; Middle Aged; Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Pain Measurement; Pyrimidines
PubMed: 38890641
DOI: 10.1186/s12905-024-03188-8 -
Frontiers in Pediatrics 2024Bladder urachal cysts in children are a rare form of urachal abnormality. In this paper, we present a case of atypical imaging that presented with lower abdominal pain...
Bladder urachal cysts in children are a rare form of urachal abnormality. In this paper, we present a case of atypical imaging that presented with lower abdominal pain accompanied by hematuria, resulting in the formation of both internal and external urachal cysts in a child. A 6-year-old male child presented with repeated abdominal pain over a span of 4 days. Color ultrasound and pelvic CT scans revealed a soft tissue lesion on the right anterior wall of the bladder with an unclear boundary from the bladder wall. Voiding Cystourethrography (VCUG) showed no significant abnormalities in the bladder, while routine urine testing was positive for hematuria. A cystoscopy was simultaneously performed with a laparoscopic resection of the urachal cyst. Intraoperative cystoscopy identified the intravesical lesion, which was precisely removed using a cystoscope-assisted laparoscopy. Postoperative pathology confirmed that both extravesical and intravesical lesions were consistent with a urachal cyst. No complications were observed after the operation, and no recurrence was noted during a six-month follow-up. Therefore, for urachal cysts at the bladder's end, the possibility of intravesical urachal cysts should not be excluded, especially in patients with microscopic hematuria. We recommend performing cystoscopy simultaneously with laparoscopic urachal cyst removal to avoid missing intravesical lesions.
PubMed: 38887563
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2024.1410976 -
Parasites & Vectors Jun 2024Schistosomiasis is a debilitating neglected tropical disease endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. The role of health facilities in the prevention, diagnosis, control, and...
BACKGROUND
Schistosomiasis is a debilitating neglected tropical disease endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. The role of health facilities in the prevention, diagnosis, control, and elimination of schistosomiasis is poorly documented. In a setting targeted for schistosomiasis elimination in Zanzibar, we assessed the prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium among patients seeking care in a health facility and investigated schistosomiasis-related knowledge of staff, and health facilities' capacities and needs for schistosomiasis diagnosis and management.
METHODS
We conducted a health facility-based mixed-method study on Pemba Island from June to August 2023. Patients aged ≥ 4 years seeking care in four health facilities were screened for S. haematobium infection using urine filtration and reagent strips. Those patients aged ≥ 10 years were additionally interviewed about signs and symptoms. Staff from 23 health facilities responded to a questionnaire assessing knowledge and practices. Ten staff participated in a focus group discussion (FGD) about capacities and needs for schistosomiasis diagnosis and management.
RESULTS
The prevalence of S. haematobium infection in patients attending the health facilities, as determined by the presence of eggs in urine, was 1.1% (8/712). Microhaematuria was detected in 13.3% (95/712) of the patients using reagent strips. Among patients responding to the questionnaire, pelvic pain, pain during sex, and painful urination were reported by 38.0% (237/623), 6.3% (39/623), and 3.2% (20/623), respectively. Among the health facility staff, 90.0% (44/49) and 87.8% (43/49) identified blood in urine and pelvic pain, respectively, as symptoms of urogenital schistosomiasis, 81.6% (40/49) and 93.9% (46/49) reported collecting a urine sample and pursuing a reagent strip test, respectively, for diagnosis, and 87.8% (43/49) administered praziquantel for treatment. The most reoccurring themes in the FGD were the need for more staff training about schistosomiasis, requests for diagnostic equipment, and the need to improve community response to schistosomiasis services in health facilities.
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of S. haematobium infection in patients seeking care in health facilities in Pemba is very low and similar to what has been reported from recent community-based cross-sectional surveys. The health facility staff had good schistosomiasis-related knowledge and practices. However, to integrate schistosomiasis patient management more durably into routine health facility activities, scalable screening pathways need to be identified and capacities need to be improved by regular staff training, and an unbroken supply of accurate point-of-care diagnostics and praziquantel for the treatment of cases.
Topics: Humans; Female; Health Facilities; Male; Child; Prevalence; Schistosomiasis haematobia; Adult; Schistosoma haematobium; Animals; Adolescent; Disease Eradication; Young Adult; Child, Preschool; Middle Aged; Tanzania; Surveys and Questionnaires; Schistosomiasis; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Aged; Health Personnel
PubMed: 38886811
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06311-8 -
Cureus May 2024Hydatid cyst disease, caused by the tapeworm larval form, typically affects the liver, lungs, and genitourinary tract. This case report details an unusual manifestation...
Hydatid cyst disease, caused by the tapeworm larval form, typically affects the liver, lungs, and genitourinary tract. This case report details an unusual manifestation of hydatid cysts in a 62-year-old male with a history of retrovesical hydatid cyst surgery. The patient presented with pain at the root of the penis, and subsequent imaging revealed cysts in the suprapubic, pubic bone, and left pectineus muscle regions. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the patient underwent surgical excision in 2023. The discussion emphasizes the rarity of such localized cysts, diagnostic imaging techniques, and the necessity of surgical intervention. The postoperative period involved a course of albendazole. While rectovesical hydatid cysts are uncommon, this case underscores the importance of considering them in the differential diagnosis of masses, particularly in endemic regions. Surgical excision remains the primary treatment for symptomatic hydatid cysts.
PubMed: 38883115
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60312 -
Case Reports in Urology 2024A 65-year-old man was diagnosed with bladder cancer invading the prostate and penis and multiple bone metastases. He underwent palliative radiation (30 Gy/10 fr)...
Bladder Cancer Invading the Prostate and Penis and Multiple Bone Metastases Showing Significant Improvement after a Short-Term Pembrolizumab Therapy following Radiation and Gemcitabine and Cisplatin Therapy Leading to a Pathologically Complete Remission.
A 65-year-old man was diagnosed with bladder cancer invading the prostate and penis and multiple bone metastases. He underwent palliative radiation (30 Gy/10 fr) through vertebral bones (Th3 and Th12-L5) and pelvic bones for pain control. The patient received pembrolizumab therapy after three courses of gemcitabine and cisplatin therapy. CT four weeks after starting pembrolizumab therapy showed that both the primary and metastatic lesions had notably reduced in size, and no new lesion was detected. He subsequently fell, resulting in a femoral neck pathological fracture, and underwent hemiarthroplasty. Pathological examination of the pathological fracture site revealed no residual tumor tissue.
PubMed: 38882557
DOI: 10.1155/2024/7525757 -
Radiation Oncology (London, England) Jun 2024Standard treatment options for patients with metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC) include systemic platinum-based chemotherapy, immunotherapy, antibody-drug-conjugates,...
Stereotactic body radiation therapy is beneficial for a subgroup of patients with urothelial cancer and solitary metastatic disease: a single institution real-world experience.
BACKGROUND
Standard treatment options for patients with metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC) include systemic platinum-based chemotherapy, immunotherapy, antibody-drug-conjugates, and targeted therapy. Oligometastatic disease (OMD) may be an intermediate state between localized and generalized cancer. The best treatment strategy for OMD and oligoprogressive (OPD) disease is poorly studied in mUC but local stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) could be an option to avoid or delay systemic treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and feasibility of SBRT given in a real-world patient population.
METHODS
All patients with mUC treated with SBRT at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden between 2009 and 2022 were included in this study. Baseline clinical characteristics, treatment data, SBRT dosimetry data and treatment outcome were collected retrospectively. The study endpoints were local control rate (LCR), progression-free-survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and feasibility of SBRT.
RESULTS
In total 39 patients were treated with SBRT. The median follow-up was 25.6 months. The LCR was 82%. PFS and OS were 4.1 and 26.2 months, respectively. Treatment was well tolerated; all patients but one (treatment related pain) completed the planned SBRT. Number of metastases irradiated with SBRT was significantly associated with outcome; patients with only one irradiated lesion had more favourable PFS compared to individuals with 2 or more metastases (HR 4.12, 95% CI: 1.81-9.38, p = 0.001). A subgroup of patients (15%) achieved a sustained long-term survival benefit and never required systemic treatments after SBRT.
CONCLUSIONS
SBRT was well tolerated and associated with high LCR. A subpopulation of patients with single metastatic lesion achieved long-term OS and never required subsequent systemic treatment after SBRT. Prospective randomized studies are warranted to discover treatment predictive biomarkers and to investigate the role of SBRT in oligometastatic UC.
Topics: Humans; Radiosurgery; Male; Female; Aged; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Aged, 80 and over; Survival Rate; Urologic Neoplasms; Neoplasm Metastasis; Adult; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms
PubMed: 38880908
DOI: 10.1186/s13014-024-02465-y -
Neuroscience Jun 2024Chronic low back pain (CLBP) impacts on spine movement. Altered sensorimotor integration can be involved. Afferents from the lumbo-pelvic area might be processed...
Chronic low back pain (CLBP) impacts on spine movement. Altered sensorimotor integration can be involved. Afferents from the lumbo-pelvic area might be processed differently in CLBP and impact on descending motor control. This study aimed to determine whether afferents influence the corticomotor control of paravertebral muscles in CLBP. Fourteen individuals with CLBP (11 females) and 13 pain-free controls (8 females) were tested with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to measure the motor-evoked potential [MEP] amplitude of paravertebral muscles. Noxious and non-noxious electrical stimulation, and magnetic stimulation in the lumbo-sacral area were used as afferent stimuli and triggered 20 to 200 ms prior to TMS. EMG modulation elicited by afferent stimulation alone was measured to control net motoneuron excitability. MEP/EMG ratio was used as a measure of corticospinal excitability with control of net motoneuron excitability. MEP/EMG ratio was larger at 60, 80 and 100-ms intervals in CLBP compared to controls, and afferent stimulations alone reduced EMG amplitude greater in CLBP than controls at 100 ms. Our results suggest alteration in sensorimotor integration in CLBP highlighted by a greater facilitation of the descending corticospinal input to paravertebral muscles. Our results can help to optimise interventions by better targeting mechanisms.
PubMed: 38878816
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.06.008 -
BMC Women's Health Jun 2024Endometriosis affects 10-15% of women of reproductive age and is considered a critical gynecological problem. Endometriosis causes pain and infertility, both of which...
BACKGROUND
Endometriosis affects 10-15% of women of reproductive age and is considered a critical gynecological problem. Endometriosis causes pain and infertility, both of which can impair the patient's quality of life. Sleep disorders account for the most bothersome presentation of impaired quality of life. This study investigated the frequency and severity of sleep disorders in women with endometriosis.
METHODS
In this analytical cross-sectional study, 665 women referred to three hospitals in Tehran, Rasool-e-Akram, Pars, and Nikan, were included (463 patients with endometriosis and 202 women without endometriosis). All of them were informed about the study design and the aim of the research, and then they were asked to sign the consent form and complete the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). After data gathering and entering, they were analyzed by SPSS version 22 and were considered significant with P < 0.05.
RESULTS
The study population's mean age was 35.4 ± 7.9 years. The mean global PSQI score in the case group (endometriosis patients) was higher than in the control group (non-endometriosis patients) (10.6 vs. 7.1; P < 0.001). Patients with dyspareunia, dysuria, pelvic pain, and dyschezia had a significantly higher PSQI score (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
According to the findings of the present study, the sleep quality in endometriosis patients is low, and there is a need to pay greater attention to these patients. This may result in some changes in the therapeutic strategies for this disease.
Topics: Humans; Female; Endometriosis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Adult; Sleep Wake Disorders; Iran; Pelvic Pain; Quality of Life; Dyspareunia; Surveys and Questionnaires; Middle Aged; Severity of Illness Index; Sleep Quality
PubMed: 38877485
DOI: 10.1186/s12905-024-03185-x