Transient decrease in the excitability of a reflex circuit following its activation by appropriate stimuli is a well-recognized phenomenon, but it is unclear how this applies to thermoalgesic stimuli during quantitative sensory testing (QST). We examined the effects induced by a thermoalgesic (conditioning) stimulus on the response to a subsequent (test) stimulus of the same characteristics. Al...

Understanding the utility and limitations of molecular markers for predicting the evolutionary potential of natural populations is important for both evolutionary and conservation genetics. To address this issue, the distribution of genetic variation for quantitative traits and molecular markers is estimated within and among 14 permanent lake populations of Daphnia pulicaria representing two re...

Quantitative sensory testing (QST) measures perception thresholds of defined intensities of physical stimuli (e.g. temperature, touch, pressure, vibration). The frequency and severity of subjective sensory effects (itch, burn), though less quantifiable, can be characterized under defined conditions such as product testing. This article reviews two sources of published research on sensory percep...

Plant-pollinator interactions are thought to be major drivers of floral trait diversity. However, the relative importance of divergent pollinator-mediated selection vs. neutral processes in floral character evolution has rarely been explored. We tested for adaptive floral trait evolution by comparing differentiation at neutral genetic loci to differentiation at quantitative floral traits in a p...

We sought to determine whether early nerve damage may be detected by corneal confocal microscopy (CCM), skin biopsy, and neurophysiological tests in 86 recently diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients compared with 48 control subjects. CCM analysis using novel algorithms to reconstruct nerve fiber images was performed for all fibers and major nerve fibers (MNF) only. Intraepidermal nerve fiber densi...

Extraterritorial spread of sensory symptoms is frequent in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Animal models suggest that this phenomenon may depend on central sensitization. We sought to obtain psychophysical evidence of sensitization in CTS with extraterritorial symptoms spread. We recruited 100 unilateral CTS patients. After selection to rule out concomitant upper-limb causes of pain, 48 patients ...

Nuclear magnetic resonance is viewed as an important technique for the implementation of many quantum information algorithms and protocols. Although the most straightforward approach is to use the two-level system composed of spin 1/2 nuclei as qubits, quadrupolar nuclei, which possess a spin greater than 1/2, are being used as an alternative. In this study, we show some unique features of quad...

BACKGROUND Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) is more often used because of the increasing recognition of small fiber neuropathy. METHODS We studied QST in a systematic way in an age-stratified cohort of 83 neurological-free Hispanic Latinamerican patients. Predefined standardized stimuli were applied using the method of limits. RESULTS WDT range from 2.2 to 3.3°C in hands, and from 4.0°C u...

Cutaneous nerve regeneration following toe-to-finger transplantation was studied by immunohistochemical technique using antibody to protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) which is a specific neuronal marker. By this technique, epidermal and dermal nerves were semi-quantified and the Meissner's corpuscles were quantified. There were also quantitative sensory tests (QST) including pinprick, pressure ...

Background Cold-induced peripheral neuropathy has been described in individuals exposed to severe cold resulting in pain, hypersensitivity to cold, hyperhidrosis, numbness, and skin changes. Nerve conduction studies and thermal detection thresholds are abnormal in symptomatic patients, and intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) in skin biopsies is reduced. Case presentation A 41-year-old ...