Morphine remains one of the most frequently prescribed drugs for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. However, the long-term use of this excellent pain reliever in clinic is limited by sideeffects that include analgesic tolerance. Increase in dosage results in respiratory depression, and the potential for drug abuse. Unfortunately, the exact mechanism of opioids resulting in the neuropatho...

BACKGROUND Previous studies have suggested that melatonin may produce antinociception through peripheral and central mechanisms. Based on the preliminary encouraging results of studies of the effects of melatonin on pain modulation, the important question has been raised of whether there is a dose relationship in humans of melatonin on pain modulation. OBJECTIVE The objective was to evaluate ...

INTRODUCTION We recently reported that a majority of opioid-dependent Malay males on methadone therapy are cold pain sensitive. It is postulated that common OPRM1 polymorphisms may be responsible. This study investigated the association between 118A>G (dbSNP rs1799971) and IVS2+691G>C (dbSNP rs2075572) variants on cold pain responses among opioid-dependent Malay males on methadone maintenance t...

OBJECTIVES Evidence has accumulated that men and women show different responses to noxious stimuli, with women exhibiting greater sensitivity to pain than men. Data concerning sex differences in cortisol response patterns have revealed inconsistent results so far. The purpose of the present study was to examine sex differences in subjective pain and cortisol response to a noxious stressor. ME...

Introduction: Pain research using animal models is related to ethical concerns, so invertebrates and insects have been recommended by researchers. In the present study, the nociceptive and antinociceptive effects of capsaicin, aspirin, morphine and chili extract were examined using fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) as an alternative for rodent pain model. Methods: Stage 3 of larvae and ad...

Although opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH) is mentioned as a potential cause of opioid dose escalation without adequate analgesia, true evidence in support of this notion is relatively limited. Most studies conducted in the context of acute and experimental pain, which seemingly demonstrated evidence for OIH, actually might have measured other phenomena such as acute opioid withdrawal or tolera...

The aim of the present study was to examine the possible role of personality traits in determining the variability of pain perception among individuals. More specifically, it was intended to test whether or not the three personality dimensions suggested by Cloninger in 1987 - mainly harm avoidance (HA), but also reward dependence (RD), and novelty seeking (NS), can predict interpersonal differe...

OBJECTIVES To examine ethnic differences in pain sensitivity and relationship of pain tolerance to blood pressure and neuroendocrine factors. METHODS Fifty-one African Americans (24 men, 27 women) and 55 people from other ethnic groups (primarily Caucasian; 26 men, 29 women) were tested twice for pain sensitivity to tourniquet ischemia, thermal heat, and cold pressor tests, once following men...

CONTEXT Colonoscopy plays an indubitable role in the setting of clinical practice, however, it is an invasive exam; complex, lengthy, embarrassing, not devoid of risks and discomfort that yields fear and anxiety in the majority of patients. In a new era of rising competition between health institutions, where the quality of health care and client satisfaction are praised, studies regarding tole...

We hypothesised a 10 minute mindfulness based intervention performed by a novice therapist would have a beneficial effect on pain responses in naive participants. Twenty-four participants were randomly assigned to the control group or mindfulness meditation group. The control group sat quietly for 10 minutes in between two cold pressor tasks. The mindfulness meditation intervention group practi...