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As we move from the NCHPP website to our new home, we're porting our most popular series: The ACHPN prep course. It's free and may help you with enough questions to pass the darned thing. It's a very poorly written exam, so get all the help you can! You can do it!

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In this episode we discuss suzetrigine, a novel, non-opioid pain medication that specifically targets the NaV1.8 sodium channel to manage acute pain. The document explores its pharmacological mechanisms, highlighting how it blocks pain signals without causing the addictive or severe side effects associated with traditional opioids like respiratory depression or sedation. It reviews preclinical findings and clinical trial results, showcasing suzetrigine’s effectiveness in reducing postoperative pain with a favorable safety profile. The manuscript concludes by discussing suzetrigine’s potential to address the opioid crisis by providing a safer alternative for pain management, while also emphasizing the need for further research into its long-term applications.

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This episode examines Hypertrophic Pulmonary Osteoarthropathy (HPO), a rare syndrome often associated with underlying pulmonary malignancies. It outlines HPO's clinical presentation, which includes digital clubbing and painful, swollen joints, emphasizing the importance of differentiating it from metastatic bone pain due to its bilateral and symmetrical nature on bone scans. The text further explores the proposed pathophysiological mechanisms, particularly the roles of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Finally, it discusses treatment strategies, highlighting that addressing the underlying disease is most effective, but also suggesting symptomatic relief options such as bisphosphonates, octreotide, and anti-inflammatory drugs for patients not amenable to primary disease treatment.

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In this episode, we discuss a complex ethical dilemma concerning a pregnant woman diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer who refuses recommended termination and chemotherapy due to prior fertility struggles. Several experts in medicine, ethics, law, spiritual care, and social work provide differing perspectives on the case. The medical oncology perspective discusses the individualized management of cancer during pregnancy, while the ethics perspective grapples with patient autonomy versus the potential harm to both mother and fetus. The legal and social work perspectives emphasize the patient's right to self-determination. Ultimately, the article advocates for a multidisciplinary approach that respects the patient's wishes while providing comprehensive support and information. It highlights the need for healthcare providers to navigate these difficult situations with compassion and discernment.

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This case report explores the use of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injections for treating post-thoracotomy pain syndrome (PTPS), a chronic neuropathic condition affecting many patients after thoracotomy. The study highlights that traditional treatments often fail to provide adequate relief, prompting investigation into alternative therapies. BTX-A's mechanism, which involves reducing inflammation and peripheral neurotransmitters, suggests a potential benefit for localized pain syndromes like PTPS. Prior studies indicate the effectiveness of BTX-A in managing other neuropathic pain conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia and diabetic neuropathy. The case report details a successful instance where subcutaneous BTX-A injections significantly alleviated PTPS symptoms, allowing the patient to discontinue opioid medications. While the treatment appears promising and carries minimal risk, the authors suggest that further clinical trials should be conducted.

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I. Introduction

This briefing document synthesizes key findings from several sources exploring the potential of cannabinoids in managing neuropathic pain. The sources include pre-clinical investigations, clinical trial reviews, and decision analysis models, offering a multifaceted view of the topic. We will examine the potential of Cannabidiolic Acid Methyl Ester (CBDA-ME), the effectiveness of cannabis-based medicines, and compare these to traditional pain management techniques.

II. Pre-Clinical Investigation: CBDA-ME

• Focus: The research primarily centers around CBDA-ME, a modified version of cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), which has been enhanced for stability. The study investigates its analgesic effects in rats with peripherally induced neuropathic pain, considering sex as a biological variable.
• Key Findings:
• Improved Stability: CBDA is unstable which limits its potential as a therapeutic target. The addition of the methyl ester group enhances its stability in in vivo studies.
• Dose-Dependent Analgesic Effects (Males): CBDA-ME exhibited a clear dose-dependent increase in mechanical pain threshold in male rats, with a significant reduction in sensitivity to touch. The most effective dose was 1 μg/kg. For example, at week 5, the 1 μg/kg group showed a mechanical threshold of 12.27g compared to a 4.70g for the vehicle group. By week 8, the same groups had thresholds of 12.56g vs 3.53g respectively.
• Inconsistent Results (Females): Female rats showed less consistent responses to CBDA-ME, with some increase in mechanical threshold at weeks 3-5 at 1 μg/kg, but less pronounced and less sustained than in males. At week 5 females had a threshold of 8.81g in the high dose group compared to 4.33g in the vehicle group. At week 8 the numbers were 6.20g vs 5.26g.
• Impact on Thermal Thresholds: The study found less clear or consistent effects of CBDA-ME on thermal thresholds.
• Reduced Neuronal Excitability: CBDA-ME reduced the excitability of specific sensory neuron types (AβHTM, CUT, CHTM, CLTM) by decreasing the current threshold required to evoke an action potential, suggesting a mechanism for its analgesic effect.
• Quote: "This study examines early treatment efficacy of CBDA-ME in a rat model of peripherally induced NEP and evaluates sex as a biological variable."
• Implications: These findings suggest CBDA-ME as a potential analgesic, particularly for mechanical pain, with significant sex differences that need further investigation.

III. Clinical Trial Review: Cannabis-Based Medicines (CBMs)

• Source Focus: A Cochrane review examining the effectiveness of CBMs for chronic neuropathic pain in adults.
• Key Findings:
• Herbal Cannabis: The review found that herbal cannabis was not significantly different from placebo in reducing pain or causing dropouts due to side effects, rated as very low-quality evidence.
• Short-Term Studies: CBMs were not superior to placebo in short-term studies for pain reduction or patient-reported global improvement.
• Intermediate-Term Studies: Some studies showed slight superiority of CBMs over placebo in intermediate-term studies, but these were marginal and sometimes lacked statistical significance, such as a positive Risk Difference in studies reporting improvement in pain (RD=0.03 95% CI 0.00 to 0.06, p=0.05), and similar results reported for a composite measure of improved function

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Hiccups, while often seen as a minor inconvenience, can become a significant health issue when they are persistent or intractable. This episode explores the science behind hiccups, their potential medical causes, and treatment options, particularly the use of gabapentin as an off-label solution.

• Discussion of the three types of hiccups: acute, persistent, and intractable
• Explanation of the hiccup reflex arc and its neurological basis
• Overview of the myriad causes of intractable hiccups, including central nervous system and psychological factors
• Introduction and definition of gabapentin, including its off-label use for hiccups
• Presentation of case studies demonstrating the efficacy of gabapentin
• Examination of potential side effects of gabapentin relative to other treatments
• Alternatives to gabapentin, including other medications and non-pharmacological home remedies
• Ethical considerations regarding off-label prescriptions and open communication with doctors

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Thank you for your interest in Ethics in Palliative Medicine! Follow us at https://epionepalliative.com and on X: @PallCareEthics