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Molecular Mechanisms of Pain and Analgesia

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 May 2024 | Viewed by 639

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Oral Physiology, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
Interests: synaptic transmission and plasticity in the spinal dorsal horn and the spinal trigeminal nucleus; glutamate receptors and ion channels; mechanisms of pain including orofacial pain; brain circuitry modulating pain signals

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Guest Editor
Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
Interests: acupuncture; visceral organ; mechanical stimulation; mesolimbic dopamine system
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Pain, an intricate and pervasive phenomenon, remains one of the most difficult challenges in human health. This unwelcome guest can linger, intrude, and disrupt the essence of our lives. Despite its omnipresence, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms orchestrating pain perception and our quest for effective analgesic interventions continue to evolve, pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge.

The scope of this special issue includes, but is not limited to: molecules that play roles in pain sensation, transmission, and perception, such as structural proteins, signaling proteins, transcriptional factors, receptors, ion channels, genes, and so on. The scope also includes altered neural circuitries and abnormal peripheral and central nervous system functions that contribute to the modulation of normal sensory transmission and integration. In addition, relationships of pain with other abnormal brain diseases, such as psychiatric (e.g., anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and addiction) and neurodegenerative (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson's disease) diseases, are included. Therefore, We invite researchers, clinicians, and scientists to submit manuscripts (original research or review) on the following topics, but not limited to:

  1. Molecular pathways involved in nociception, inflammatory pain, and neuropathic pain.
  2. Neurotransmitters and receptors in pain signaling.
  3. Genetics and epigenetics of pain susceptibility.
  4. Novel drug targets for analgesia.
  5. Emerging technologies in pain research.
  6. Alternative and complementary approaches to pain relief.

Dr. Dong-Ho Youn
Dr. Hee Young Kim
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • pain
  • analgesia
  • sensory transmission and integration
  • molecular pathways
  • pain genes
  • drug targets

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

15 pages, 323 KiB  
Review
Mechanisms and Preventative Strategies for Persistent Pain following Knee and Hip Joint Replacement Surgery: A Narrative Review
by Jasper Murphy, Sery Pak, Lana Shteynman, Ian Winkeler, Zhaosheng Jin, Martin Kaczocha and Sergio D. Bergese
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(9), 4722; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25094722 - 26 Apr 2024
Viewed by 247
Abstract
Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a prevalent complication of joint replacement surgery which has the potential to decrease patient satisfaction, increase financial burden, and lead to long-term disability. The identification of risk factors [...] Read more.
Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a prevalent complication of joint replacement surgery which has the potential to decrease patient satisfaction, increase financial burden, and lead to long-term disability. The identification of risk factors for CPSP following TKA and THA is challenging but essential for targeted preventative therapy. Recent meta-analyses and individual studies highlight associations between elevated state anxiety, depression scores, preoperative pain, diabetes, sleep disturbances, and various other factors with an increased risk of CPSP, with differences observed in prevalence between TKA and THA. While the etiology of CPSP is not fully understood, several factors such as chronic inflammation and preoperative central sensitization have been identified. Other potential mechanisms include genetic factors (e.g., catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and potassium inwardly rectifying channel subfamily J member 6 (KCNJ6) genes), lipid markers, and psychological risk factors (anxiety and depression). With regards to therapeutics and prevention, multimodal pharmacological analgesia, emphasizing nonopioid analgesics like acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), has gained prominence over epidural analgesia. Nerve blocks and local infiltrative anesthesia have shown mixed results in preventing CPSP. Ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor antagonist, exhibits antihyperalgesic properties, but its efficacy in reducing CPSP is inconclusive. Lidocaine, an amide-type local anesthetic, shows tentative positive effects on CPSP. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) have mixed results, while gabapentinoids, like gabapentin and pregabalin, present hopeful data but require further research, especially in the context of TKA and THA, to justify their use for CPSP prevention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Pain and Analgesia)
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