Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy In Young Adults

Long-term uncontrolled glycemic levels primary cause of complication in diabetes, such as diabetic peripheral neuropathy. There is a gradual increase in incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) among the U.S. youth population. Studies show that if this continues, diabetes prevalence among the youth population will triple within three decades. One of the most distressing complications of chronic diabetes is diabetic peripheral neuropathy and contributes to significant disability and diminished quality of life. It has been well-researched and documented among the adult population but not so with the adolescents and young adults in the U.S. Prevalence…
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Can Weed and Snail Venom Replace Opioids?

In the wake of mounting overdoses and deaths from the opioids-addiction crisis sweeping across the U.S., drugmakers are racing to come up with safer painkillers. Companies are highly motivated to create alternatives to the $4 billion opioid market. The federal government is cracking down on lax prescriptions that contribute to many thousands of deaths a year and has started to block the sale of medications it considers unsafe. Drugs such as morphine, fentanyl, and oxycodone are such powerful analgesics because they so effectively block pain signals by acting directly on the brain. Since they work at such a fundamental level, these…
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Vitamin B3 Reduces Pain From Chemo-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Nicotinamide riboside (NR), a type of vitamin B3, may prevent chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a recent study in animals has shown. Although chemotherapy increases survival rates, it can have serious side effects, including peripheral neuropathy, that affect quality of life.1 "Our findings support the idea that NR could potentially be used to prevent or mitigate CIPN in cancer patients, resulting in a meaningful improvement in their quality of life and the ability to sustain better and longer treatment," said Marta Hamity, PhD, assistant research scientist at University of Iowa, Iowa City. For this study, the researchers examined the effects of…
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Pain Receptors Migrating may cause Chronic Pain

A study led by Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) has shown that chronic pain may occur when pain receptors migrate from the nerve cell's surface to the cell's inner chambers, out of the reach of current pain medications. The discovery, in rodents, may lead to the development of a new class of medications for chronic pain that is more potent and less prone to side effects than currently available pain treatments. The study was published online today in the journal Science Translational Medicine. An estimated 20 percent of people have chronic pain at some point. Currently available therapies for chronic…
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Nerve Decompression Potentially Beneficial in Diabetic Neuropathy

This article is part of Endocrinology Advisor's coverage of the American Diabetes Association's 77th Scientific Sessions (ADA 2017), taking place in San Diego, CA. Our staff will report on medical research and technological advances in diabetes and diabetes education, conducted by experts in the field. Check back regularly for more news from ADA 2017. Results of research presented at the 77th American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions demonstrated that patients with painful diabetic neuropathy who underwent nerve decompression or sham surgery had greater reductions in pain when compared with patients who did not receive surgery. The researchers conducted a randomized, controlled,…
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Post-Stroke Shoulder Pain Reduced with Peripheral Nerve Stimulator

Clinical results reported at the 2017 North American Neuromodulation Society meeting show that peripheral nerve stimulation can help stroke patients. And that peripheral nerve stimulation provides meaningful relief for people suffering from post-stroke shoulder pain (PSSP). Post stroke shoulder pain is experienced by anywhere between 30 and 70 percent of stroke sufferers. Dr. Porter McRoberts is a trained Physiatrist and Interventional Spine and Pain Management Specialist in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He shared data indicating that peripheral nerve stimulation is a promising treatment for post-stroke shoulder pain (PSSP) patients. When compared to the alternative options for pain management, it proved helpful.…
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Microvascular Complications of Diabetes

Abstract and Introduction Abstract Microvascular complications of diabetes include eye disease, kidney disease, and peripheral and/or autonomic neuropathy. This study illustrates the importance of early screening and detection of microvascular complications, while also focusing on treatment guidelines and indications for specialist referral. Introduction Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease that is classified, based on etiology, into 4 main groups: type 1 (T1DM); type 2 (T2DM); gestational; and "other."[1] As a brief review, T1DM, most commonly an autoimmune process, is due to pancreatic islet β-cell destruction, resulting in absolute or near-total insulin deficiency.[1,2] The worldwide incidence of T1DM varies; the…
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Functional Abdominal Pain Syndrome

Functional abdominal pain syndrome (FAPS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder, which involves chronic or frequent pain that does not result from a specific, identifiable cause. Symptoms The primary symptom of FAPS is abdominal pain. The pain can often be very severe and impact the quality of life of patients significantly. This can even disrupt their normal daily routine due to inability to take part in certain activities. It can also have a financial impact on their wellbeing and may increase levels of stress. The condition is not usually associated with gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea or constipation, and the findings…
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Migraines More Than Just A ‘Headache’

The distinction between a headache and a migraine can be hard to define. For those who have never been affected, the distinction between a headache and  migraines can be hard to define. Headaches affect the head, are caused by stress, exhaustion, et cetera, and are painful [1]. Migraines are a type of headache that display all the same factors but on a greater scale. For individuals who suffer from migraines, the difference in severity is very real. Migraines are painful headaches that typically center on one side of the head and are often accompanied by nausea and blurred vision [1].…
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Advancing Pain Management Medicine: Human Studies

Nearly every advance in modern medicine, from diagnosis to treatment, has benefited from animal studies. Basic research has made vital contributions to all aspects of medical care, including our understanding of pain pathophysiology. However, the applicability of these findings to humans remains limited. “Translation from animal to human is hindered by many obstacles, in particular with the subject of pain, where the human organism and mind interact in quite a unique way,” Claudia Sommer, MD, a professor of neurology at the University of Würzburg in Germany, told Clinical Pain Advisor. Even so, valuable insights have been gained by the direct…
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