Objective To evaluate the role of transient receptor potential channel 8 (TRPM8) in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain and the relationship with nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in the dorsal root ganglion of rats.Methods Thirty-six pathogen-free healthy adult male SpragueDawley rats,weighing 180-200 g,aged 6-8 weeks,were divided into 3 groups (n=12 each) using a random number table:sham opeation group (group S),neuropathic pain group (group NP) and TRPM8 bocker BCTC group (group BCTC).Neuropathic pain was induced by ligation of the right sciatic nerve in anesthetized rats.BCTC 20 nmol was intrathecally injected once a day on preoperative day 1 and postoperative days 1,3,7 and 10 in group BCTC.The thermal,mechanical and cold pain thresholds were measured on preoperative day 1 and postoperative days 1,3,7,10 and 14.The dorsal root ganglions of the lumbar segment (L4-6) were removed on postoperative days 7 and 14 for determination of the expression of TRPM8 and NF-κB p65 by Western blot.Results Compared with group S,the thermal and mechanical thresholds were significantly decreased on postoperative days 1-14,and the cold pain threshold was decreased on postoperative days 3-14 in NP and BCTC groups,the expression of TRPM8 and NF-κB p65 in dorsal root ganglions was up-regulated on postoperative days 7 and 14 in group NP (P＜0.05),and no significant change was found in the expression of TRPM8 and NF-κB p65 in dorsal root ganglions in group BCTC (P＞0.05).Compared with group NP,the thermal pain threshold was significantly decreased and the cold pain threshold was increased on postoperative days 3-14,the expression of TRPM8 and NF-κB p65 in dorsal root ganglions was up-regulated on postoperative days 7 and 14,and no significant change was found in the mechanical pain threshold in group BCTC (P＞0.05).Conclusion NF-κB activation after opening of TR-PM8 in dorsal root ganglion neurons is involved in the development and maintenance of neuropathie pain in rats.

Objective To evaluate the role of P2X3 receptors in the development and mnaintenance of neuropathic pain (NP) and the relationship with nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in dorsal root ganglia of rats.Methods Thirty-six SPF healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 180-200 g,aged 4-6 weeks,in which intrathecal catheters were successfully implanted,were divided into 3 groups (n =12 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (group S),NP group and P2X3 receptor antagonist A-317491 group (group A).At 3 days after intrathecal catheters were successfully implanted,NP was induced by chronic constriction injury to the sciatic nerve.The sciatic nerve was only exposed but not occluded in group S.Intrathecal injection was performed twice a day for 14 consecutive days starting from 1 day after operation.Normal saline 20 μ l was intrathecally injected in group S and group NP,and A-317491 100 nmol/10 μ1 and normal saline 10 μ l were intrathecally injected in group A.Thermal paw withdrawal threshold (TWT) and mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) were measured on day 1 before operation and at 30 min after intrathecal injection on days 1,3,7,10 and 14 after operation.On days 7 and 14 after operation,the rats were sacrificed and the dorsal root ganglia of the lumbar segment were removed for determination of the expression of P2X3 receptors and NF-κB p65 by Western blot.Results Compared with group S,TWT and MWT were significantly decreased at each time point after operation,and thc expression of P2X3 receptors andi NF-κB p65 in dorsal root ganglia was up-regulated on days 7 and [4 after operation in group NP (P＜0.05 or 0.01).Compared with group NP,TWT was significantly increased at each time point after operation,MWT was increased on days 3,7,10 and 14 after operation,anl the expression of P2X3 receptors and NF-κB p65 in dorsal root ganglia was down-regulated on days 7 and 14 after operation in group A (P＜0.05).Conclusion The mechanism underlying the development and maintenance of NP is related to the up-regulation of P2X3 receptor expression and promotion of the expression of NF-κB in dorsal root ganglia of rats.

Objective To evaluate the reliability and validity of Bowel Function Index applied to assess the constipation induced by strong opioid drugs for patients with cancer pain.Methods 126 patients with constipation induced by strong opioid drugs for pain caused by cancer were selected.BFI,Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms(PAC-SYM) and clinical observations were used to collect data which were conducted for reliability analysis,correlation analysis and tests for several independent samples to evaluate the reliability and validity.Results The internal consistency determined by Cronbach αt was 0.86 for the total BFI score.Significant correlations were found among BFI,PAC-SYM and clinical observations.The BFI total score and each item scores of three groups all showed significant differences.Conclusions The Chinese version of BFI is a simple,valid and reliable,clinically relevant tool to assess the constipation induced by strong opioid drugs for pain caused by cancer.

Objective To explore the effect of auricular plaster therapy on associated symptoms and quality of life in patients with constipation induced by strong opioid drugs for pain.Methods A total of 60 patients selected were randomly divided into the intervention group and the control group with 30 cases in each group.The intervention group was treated with auriculotherapy based on the pattern/syndrome differentiation after detecting the auricular sensitive acupoints' distribution in patients with opioid-induced constipation after receiving opioid therapy.BFI,self-made scale on symptoms accompanied by constipation and PAC-QOL were used to collect data about constipation symptoms and the level of quality of life before or after the intervention,and still with a subset of the intervention group followed for more than two weeks.Results The BFI and PAC-QOL scores of the intervention and control group were lower after intervention,and the decline score of the two groups showed significant difference.But for the self-made scale,the score of each item was slightly lower compared with that before treatment,which showed no statistically significant difference between groups.A follow-up of 2 weeks showed that the long-term efficacy of auricular plaster therapy was significantly lower than before,but was less desirable than short-term.Conclusions Scientific and reasonable choice of acupoint prescription according to syndrome differentiation can effectively improve symptoms accompanied by constipation and patients' quality of life.