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Biomedicines
Special Issues
Neuropathic Diseases: From Mechanisms to Novel Therapeutic Approaches
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Neuropathic Diseases: From Mechanisms to Novel Therapeutic Approaches

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Cell Biology and Pathology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 May 2024 | Viewed by 4655

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yu-Cheng Ho

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung City 82445, Taiwan
Interests: neuropsychiatric disorders; neuropharmacology; neural circuits
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ming Tatt Lee

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Interests: preclinical neuropsychiatric disorders; substance abuse; cognitive impairment; pharmacology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Neuropathic pain is caused by lesions or degeneration of the somatosensory system and is a major public health issue in the world. It is characterized by increased responses to nociceptive stimuli (hyperalgesia), unpleasant and abnormal sensations (dysesthesia), and pain in response to non-noxious tactile stimuli (allodynia). Several reports show that neuropathic pain raises a series of pathophysiologic events when the nervous tissue is damaged, including neuronal hyperexcitability, and neurogenic inflammation. Although the treatment for neuropathic pain remains a great challenge, progress has been made in identifying key molecules and their roles in pain modulation and processing. Thus, the identification of novel molecular and cellular targets for the development of effective and safe therapeutic strategies requires particular attention from the medical community.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. The purpose of this issue is to advance our understanding of novel neuropathic pain-related molecules and signaling pathways that can be used as therapeutic targets for the treatment of pain. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following:

  • Identification of potential therapeutic targets and pathophysiological mechanisms of neuropathic pain;
  • Novel molecules, which are implicated in the pathophysiological changes in somatosensory system.

Dr. Yu-Cheng Ho
Dr. Ming Tatt Lee
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. Biomedicines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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

  • neuropathic pain
  • chronic pain
  • nerve injury
  • pain treatment
  • brain
  • plasticity
  • neuropathy
  • analgesics
  • allodynia
  • spinal cord

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1259 KiB  
Article
A Retrospective Study on tDCS Treatment in Patients with Drug-Resistant Chronic Pain
by Yolanda A. Pérez-Borrego, Vanesa Soto-León, Ángela Brocalero-Camacho, Antonio Oliviero and Carmen Carrasco-López
Biomedicines 2024, 12(1), 115; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12010115 - 05 Jan 2024
Viewed by 671
Abstract
Background. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the primary motor cortex (M1) has an analgesic effect superior to a placebo in chronic pain. Some years ago, tDCS was implemented at the Hospital Nacional of Paraplegics (Toledo, Spain) to treat patients with pharmacological [...] Read more.
Background. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the primary motor cortex (M1) has an analgesic effect superior to a placebo in chronic pain. Some years ago, tDCS was implemented at the Hospital Nacional of Paraplegics (Toledo, Spain) to treat patients with pharmacological resistance to chronic pain. Objective. The main objectives of this study with tDCS were (1) to confirm the safety of one-year treatment; (2) to estimate the number of patients after one year in treatment; (3) to describe the effects of tDCS on the pain intensity during one-year treatment; and (4) to identify factors related to treatment success. Methods. This was a retrospective study conducted at the National Hospital for Paraplegics with 155 patients with pharmacologically resistant chronic pain. Anodal tDCS was applied over the M1 for 20 min at 1.5 mA for 10 treatment sessions from Monday to Friday (Induction phase), followed by 2–3 sessions per month (Maintenance phase). Pain intensity was assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results. Anodal tDCS on M1 confirmed the reduction in the pain intensity. Moreover, 58% of outpatients completed one year of treatment. Only the VAS values obtained during the baseline influenced the response to treatment. Patients with a very high VAS at the baseline were more likely to not respond adequately to tDCS treatment. Conclusions. Anodal tDCS over M1 is an adequate therapy (safe and efficient) to treat drug-resistant chronic pain. Moreover, pain intensity at the start of treatment could be a predictor of patients’ continuity with tDCS for at least one year. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuropathic Diseases: From Mechanisms to Novel Therapeutic Approaches)
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14 pages, 3844 KiB  
Article
Heparin-Based Hydrogel Micropatches with Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells: A Promising Therapeutic Approach for Neuropathic Pain Relief
by HyeYeong Lee, GiYoong Tae, SaeYeon Hwang, SungWon Wee, Yoon Ha, Hye-Lan Lee and DongAh Shin
Biomedicines 2023, 11(5), 1436; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11051436 - 12 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1160
Abstract
This study explores the therapeutic efficacy of heparin-based hydrogel micropatches containing human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) in treating neuropathic pain caused by nerve damage. Our results showed that hASCs exhibited neuroregenerative and pain-relieving effects when used with heparin-based hydrogel micropatches in the neuropathic [...] Read more.
This study explores the therapeutic efficacy of heparin-based hydrogel micropatches containing human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) in treating neuropathic pain caused by nerve damage. Our results showed that hASCs exhibited neuroregenerative and pain-relieving effects when used with heparin-based hydrogel micropatches in the neuropathic pain animal model. The use of this combination also produced enhanced cell viability and nerve regeneration. We conducted various neurological behavioral tests, dynamic plantar tests, histological examinations, and neuroelectrophysiological examinations to confirm the therapeutic effect. Our findings suggest that this approach could maximize therapeutic efficacy and improve the quality of life for patients suffering from neuropathic pain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuropathic Diseases: From Mechanisms to Novel Therapeutic Approaches)
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Review

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22 pages, 898 KiB  
Review
Ion Channel Genes in Painful Neuropathies
by Milena Ślęczkowska, Kaalindi Misra, Silvia Santoro, Monique M. Gerrits and Janneke G. J. Hoeijmakers
Biomedicines 2023, 11(10), 2680; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11102680 - 29 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1846
Abstract
Neuropathic pain (NP) is a typical symptom of peripheral nerve disorders, including painful neuropathy. The biological mechanisms that control ion channels are important for many cell activities and are also therapeutic targets. Disruption of the cellular mechanisms that govern ion channel activity can [...] Read more.
Neuropathic pain (NP) is a typical symptom of peripheral nerve disorders, including painful neuropathy. The biological mechanisms that control ion channels are important for many cell activities and are also therapeutic targets. Disruption of the cellular mechanisms that govern ion channel activity can contribute to pain pathophysiology. The voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) is the most researched ion channel in terms of NP; however, VGSC impairment is detected in only <20% of painful neuropathy patients. Here, we discuss the potential role of the other peripheral ion channels involved in sensory signaling (transient receptor potential cation channels), neuronal excitation regulation (potassium channels), involuntary action potential generation (hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels), thermal pain (anoctamins), pH modulation (acid sensing ion channels), and neurotransmitter release (calcium channels) related to pain and their prospective role as therapeutic targets for painful neuropathy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuropathic Diseases: From Mechanisms to Novel Therapeutic Approaches)
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