Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Language：English   Publisher：Pain Reports  

Objectives:This study aimed to compare the prevalence of chronic pain using various definitions from previous studies and to determine the optimal definition for detecting chronic pain associated with physical and emotional dysfunction in a general Japanese population.Methods:A total of 2700 community-dwelling Japanese residents aged ≥40 years were assessed for chronic pain and its components of duration, frequency, and intensity. The activities of daily living (ADL) disability and depressive symptoms of participants were also evaluated using the modified Lankin Scale and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The odds ratios and the population attributable fractions (PAFs) for ADL disability and depressive symptoms were estimated using a logistic regression model.Results:The prevalence of chronic pain varied greatly by definition, ranging from 13% for pain defined as pain duration ≥3 months, pain frequency ≥ twice a week, and pain intensity of ≥50 mm by a visual analogue scale (VAS) to 48% for a simple definition of pain duration ≥3 months. The PAFs for ADL disability and depressive symptoms were relatively high at 33% in participants with pain duration of ≥6 months and 30% in those with pain frequency of ≥twice a week, while the VAS ≥50 mm group had a low PAF of 12%.Conclusion:For screening people with chronic pain and ADL disability or depressive symptoms, the criteria of pain duration and pain frequency yielded essentially identical results, while the criterion of pain intensity risked overlooking individuals with chronic pain and these associated symptoms.

DOI： 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001250

Web of Science

Scopus

PubMed

Language：English   Publisher：European Journal of Pain United Kingdom  

Background: Autonomic nervous system dysfunction has been reported to be associated with impaired activities of daily living (ADL) among patients with chronic pain, but the association has not been fully addressed in general populations. This study cross-sectionally investigated the association between autonomic nervous system function and the presence of subjective symptoms affecting ADL in community-dwelling residents with chronic pain. Methods: A total of 888 residents with chronic pain, aged 40–79 years, who underwent a health examination in 2017–2018 were included. Based on heart rate variability measured by fingertip pulse wave, the standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN), root mean square of successive RR interval differences (RMSSD), low frequency (LF) power, and high frequency (HF) power were calculated. Symptoms affecting ADL were defined as those scoring ≥1 on the modified Rankin Scale. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for symptoms affecting ADL were estimated using a logistic regression analysis. Results: The overall prevalence of symptoms affecting ADL was 39.4%. The ORs for symptoms affecting ADL increased significantly per 1-standard-deviation decrement in log-transformed SDNN (OR 1.23 [95% CI 1.06–1.44]), RMSSD (1.25 [1.08–1.45]), LF power (1.29 [1.11–1.52]), and HF power (1.29 [1.11–1.51]) after adjusting for age, sex, education, hypertension, diabetes, serum total cholesterol level, body mass index, past medical history, current smoking, current drinking, exercise, depressive symptoms, and pain intensity. Conclusions: Decreased heart rate variability was associated with the presence of symptoms affecting ADL among individuals with chronic pain in a Japanese community. Significance: Decrease in heart rate variability was associated with the presence of symptoms affecting ADL among individuals with chronic pain in a Japanese community. This article could help scientists understand the significance of autonomic nervous system dysfunction in the pathology of chronic pain. Approaches that target autonomic nervous system dysfunction may be an option to relieve or prevent symptoms affecting ADL for chronic pain sufferers.

DOI： 10.1002/ejp.2224

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PubMed

Language：English   Publisher：Plos One  

Recent evidence suggests a crucial role of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of anorexia nervosa (AN). In this study, we carried out a series of multiple analyses of the gut microbiota of hospitalized individuals with AN over three months using 16S or 23S rRNA-targeted reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology (YIF-SCAN®), which is highly sensitive and enables the precise quantification of viable microorganisms. Despite the weight gain and improvements in psychological features observed during treatment, individuals with AN exhibited persistent gut microbial dysbiosis over the three-month duration. Principal component analysis further underscored the distinct microbial profile of individuals with AN, compared with that of age-matched healthy women at all time points. Regarding the kinetics of bacterial detection, the detection rate of Lactiplantibacillus spp. significantly increased after inpatient treatment. Additionally, the elevation in the Bifidobacterium counts during inpatient treatment was significantly correlated with the subsequent body weight gain after one year. Collectively, these findings suggest that gut dysbiosis in individuals with AN may not be easily restored solely through weight gain, highlighting the potential of therapeutic interventions targeting microbiota via dietary modifications or live biotherapeutics. Copyright:

DOI： 10.1371/journal.pone.0296037

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PubMed

Language：English   Publisher：European Journal of Pain United Kingdom  

Background: Poor family functioning has been reported to be associated with the severity of chronic pain in outpatients, but the association has not been fully addressed in general populations. The present study aimed to examine the association between family dysfunction levels and the presence of chronic pain in a community-dwelling Japanese population. Methods: A total of 2598 participants aged ≥40 years were classified as having healthy, borderline or unhealthy family functioning. Chronic pain was defined as subjective pain for three months or longer, and further classified by pain intensity, the number of chronic pain sites, pain duration and the extent of pain spread. A logistic regression model was used to compute the odds ratios (ORs) for chronic pain outcomes. Results: The prevalence of chronic pain was 49%. The age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of total and severe chronic pain were increased significantly with increasing family dysfunction levels (all p for trend <0.01). After adjusting for sociodemographic, physical, social and family structure factors, the ORs (95% confidence intervals [CI]) for having chronic pain among borderline and unhealthy groups were 1.20 (1.01–1.44) and 1.43 (1.15–1.79), respectively, as compared with a healthy family function group. The association was stronger among people who were employed and those who were living with their children. In addition, the ORs for severe chronic pain increased significantly with increasing levels of family dysfunction. Conclusions: The family dysfunction level was positively associated with the presence as well as the severity of chronic pain in a community-dwelling population. Significance: A biopsychosocial burden due to family relationships could worsen the clinical presentation of pain. Social support or family therapy for dysfunctional families would be a potential initiative for the prevention or management of chronic pain.

DOI： 10.1002/ejp.2076

Web of Science

Scopus

PubMed

Language：Japanese  

Language：Japanese