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The Stone Pain
Lab is a research laboratory at
McGill University headed by Laura S
Stone, PhD.
>> more about
Dr Stone >>
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The lab's research
objective is to improve
diagnosis and treatment
of chronic pain by
expanding our
understanding of its
neurochemistry and
neuropathology. |
ANALGESIC PHARMACOLOGY
Many analgesic
drugs such as those acting at opioid-
or alpha-2-adrenergic receptors
interact in a synergistic manner
when co-administered in humans or in
animal models. This is important
clinically as co-administration of
synergistically interacting agents
can help maximize analgesia while
minimizing adverse side effects. We
are currently investigating the
hypothesis that the formation of
hetero-oligomeric receptor complexes
represents a molecular mechanism
underlying synergy. This information
may help to design safer, better
tolerated and more effective
pharmacological treatment strategies
for chronic pain.
CHRONIC BACK PAIN
Persistent back
pain is the most common chronic pain
condition in Canadians age 65 and
under. Unfortunately, the vast
majority of individuals suffer for
years with little relief. This is
due, in part, to a lack of
understanding of the underlying
causes of back pain. We are engaged
in the following preclinical and
human studies designed to understand
the pathophysiology of low back pain
and how it can be treated.
Pre-clinical Studies
Degeneration of
the intervertebral discs in the
spine has been associated with
increased risk of chronic low back
pain. However, the relationship
between disc degeneration and
chronic pain is not well understood.
We have developed a rodent model of
back pain due to degeneration of the
spine as a tool to study this
phenomenon. This model will increase
our understanding of the
relationship between disc
degeneration and pain and will allow
for the identification and testing
of novel therapeutic interventions
for the alleviation of chronic low
back pain.
Human
Studies
Relationship between Intervertebral
Disc Degeneration, Innervation and
Low Back Pain: Pain-sensing
nerve fibers are not normally
observed in healthy intervertebral
discs. Increases in nerve fibers
within degenerating discs has been
proposed as a mechanism contributing
to chronic pain. In order to assess
the relationship between low back
pain, disc degeneration and disc
innervation in humans, anatomical
and biochemical studies are being
performed on lumbar discs obtained
surgically from chronic pain
patients and post-mortem from
transplant donors. These studies
will help to determine if
alterations in disc biochemistry or
innervation may contribute to
chronic low back pain.
Effect of
treatment of chronic low back pain
on abnormal brain anatomy and
function: Chronic pain is
associated with pathological changes
in certain regions of the brain. The
consequences of these changes are
not yet fully understood, nor is it
clear if they can be reversed or
attenuated by successful pain
management. We are using magnetic
resonance imaging in chronic low
back pain patients to address this
question. Our data suggests that
some pain-related changes in the
brain can be reversed by spine
surgery or spinal injections and
that the extent of this reversal is
correlated to decreased pain and
increased physical function in
patients. It is therefore possible
that the brain can recover from
chronic pain.
Human
Biomarkers for Low Back Pain:
A biological marker or biomarker is
any characteristic that can be
measured and evaluated as an
indicator of normal biologic
processes, pathologic processes or
responses to therapeutic
intervention. We are currently
examining samples of cerebral spinal
fluid (CSF) and saliva from patients
with chronic low back pain for
potential biomarkers using
traditional biochemical and cutting
edge proteomics methods (i.e.
LC-MS/MS). The identification of
biomarkers for chronic low back pain
will provide insight into its
diagnosis and treatment.
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A Washington Post
article about one of our studies:
http://wapo.st/ipMAT3

2011: D.A. Seminowicz, T.H. Wideman, L. Naso, Z. Hatami-Khoroushahi,
S. Fallatah, M. Ware, P. Jarzem, M.C. Bushnell, Y. Shir,
J.A. Ouellet, and L.S. Stone Effective treatment of
chronic low back pain reverses structural and functional
brain changes, Journal of Neuroscience.

2011: M. Millecamps, M.
Tajarian, E.H. Sage, and L.S. Stone. Behavioral Signs
of Chronic Back Pain in the SPARC-null mouse. Spine,
36(2):95-102, 2011.

2011: Ms. Zahra Sadat
Tabatabaei Shafiei (MSc Student), Best Oral
Presentation Award, McGill University Dentistry
Research Day.

2011: Ms. Maral
Tajarian (PhD Student), Studentship, Louise and
Alan Edwards Foundation.
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