Pain News and Research

Latest Pain News and Research

Johns Hopkins researchers uncover role of neurotransmitter in the spread of aggressive cancers

Using human cancer cells, tumor and blood samples from cancer patients, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have uncovered the role of a neurotransmitter in the spread of aggressive cancers. Neurotransmitters are chemical "messengers" that transmit impulses from neurons to other target cells.

25 Apr 2019

Drug overdoses among adolescents and young adults on the rise

In American adolescents and young adults, death rates from drug poisoning, particularly from opioids, have sharply increased over the last 10 years, according to new research in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

25 Apr 2019

Cellular communication in emotion-processing brain region motivates us to keep eating tasty food

When you eat something super tasty, ever wonder why you really don't want to stop even though you know you've eaten enough? Scientists at the UNC School of Medicine may have found the reason.

25 Apr 2019

Discovery about cold sensing could pave way for new pain relief drugs

Researchers at UCL have shown for the first time that mammals detect different intensities of cold using distinct sensory neuron systems, a finding which could lead to the development of new drugs to treat cold pain.

24 Apr 2019

Amid opioid prescriber crackdown, health officials reach out to pain patients

A pharmacist in Celina, Tenn., was one of 60 people indicted on charges of opioid-related crimes last week, in a multistate sting. John Polston was charged with 21 counts of filling medically unnecessary narcotic prescriptions.

24 Apr 2019

Sparse treatment options complicate cancer care for immigrants in South Texas

Edgar carries a red folder bulging with paperwork, bills and medical records. Before his lung cancer diagnosis in September, he had about $11,000, he said, money he was saving to purchase a used truck and to pay an immigration attorney to pursue legal residency.

23 Apr 2019

Older kidney disease patients starting dialysis die at higher rates than previously thought

Older adults with end-stage kidney disease who start dialysis--a treatment that keeps their blood free of toxins--appear to die at higher rates than previously thought, according to findings of a new study by researchers at Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, among other institutions.

23 Apr 2019

Many cancer patients use marijuana and prescription opioids, study reveals

A new study reveals that many people with cancer use marijuana, and rates of use in the U.S. have increased over time.

22 Apr 2019

FDA grants approval of first generic naloxone nasal spray to treat opioid overdose

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today granted final approval of the first generic naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray, commonly known as Narcan, a life-saving medication that can stop or reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

22 Apr 2019

Opioid dose variability could lead to increased risk of overdose, study suggests

Patients prescribed opioid pain medications whose doses varied over time were 3 times more likely to experience an overdose than patients prescribed stable opioid doses, according to an observational study from Kaiser Permanente published today in JAMA Network Open.

22 Apr 2019

Bacteria play a role in the development of stomach ulcers in pigs

Stomach ulcers are common in pigs, like they are in humans. Until recently, the cause of this disease was unclear.

21 Apr 2019

Researchers identify risk factors for severe infection after knee replacement

In the largest study of its kind, researchers from the Musculoskeletal Research Unit at the University of Bristol have identified the most important risk factors for developing severe infection after knee replacement.

17 Apr 2019

New Virtual Reality Therapy game could offer relief for patients with chronic pain, mobility issues

A Virtual Reality Therapy game which could introduce relief for patients suffering from chronic pain and mobility issues has been developed by a team of UK researchers.

17 Apr 2019

Microbiome science may help doctors to improve treatment for children with IBS

To improve the treatment of children with irritable bowel syndrome, investigators have developed a sophisticated way to analyze the microbial and metabolic contents of the gut.

17 Apr 2019

Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation improves disease symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Bioelectronic medicine scientists at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research collaborated with counterparts from Academic Medical Center at University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands to carry out a series of pilot clinical studies to assess the effect of a novel bioelectronic stimulation.

17 Apr 2019

FDA orders surgical mesh manufacturers to stop selling and distributing their products in the U.S.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today ordered the manufacturers of all remaining surgical mesh products indicated for the transvaginal repair of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) to stop selling and distributing their products in the U.S. immediately.

17 Apr 2019

PCORI’s newly approved awards focus on cancer pain and opioid use disorders

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Board of Governors today approved $44.6 million to fund 12 studies comparing the best ways to treat a range of health conditions that impose high burdens on patients, caregivers and the healthcare system.

17 Apr 2019