Genetics more than any other biological approach can explain why some people experience more pain than others and receive less benefit from existing analgesics. Sixteen scholarly articles from international contributors describe the application of genetic techniques to the problem of pain and consider the knowledge that has so far resulted. Three themed sections review the techniques that are allowing the study of pain mechanisms at the genetic level; describe the progress being made in lab animals and humans in identifying the genes responsible for individual differences; and explore the practical and ethical issues that face pain researchers. The editor is associated with the Centre for Research on Pain, McGill U., Montreal. Annotation : 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).

A thirty-year quest, from genes to pain-signaling neurons to people with a rare genetic disorder that makes them feel they are on fire. Two soldiers, both with wounds injuring the same nerve, show very different responses: one is disabled by neuropathic pain, unable to touch the injured limb because even the lightest contact triggers excruciating discomfort; the other notices numbness but no pain at all. Could the difference lie in their genes? In this book, described in the foreword by Nobel Laureate James Rothman as “so well written that it reads like a detective novel,” Stephen Waxman recounts the search for a gene that controls pain—a search spanning more than thirty years and three continents. The story moves from genes to pain-signaling neurons that scream when they should be silent to people with a rare genetic disorder who feel they are on fire. Waxman explains that if pain-signaling neurons are injured by trauma or disease, they can become hyperactive and send pain signals to the brain even without external stimulus. Studying the hyperactive mutant pain gene in man on fire syndrome has pointed the way to molecules that produce pain more broadly within the general population, in the rest of us. Waxman's account of the many steps that led to discovery of the pain gene tells the story behind the science, of how science happens.

Primum non nocere... The fact that a surgical procedure can leave any kind of pain casts a shadow over this tenet, which is seen as the basis of medical practice and anchor of its principle ethic... It is all the more surprising in that medicine has only paid attention to this paradoxical chronic pain situation for the past few years. Clarifying the knowledge acquired in this field has become all the more urgent for any care-giver today confronted by a legitimate request from patients: Why and how can a surgical procedure, which is supposed to bring relief, leave behind an unacceptable sequela? This is the approach which the contributors to this new subject of major clinical interest invite you to follow as you work your way through this book.

One of the Most Rapidly Advancing Fields in Modern Neuroscience The success of molecular biology and the new tools derived from molecular genetics have revolutionized pain research and its translation to therapeutic effectiveness. Bringing together recent advances in modern neuroscience regarding genetic studies in mice and humans and the practical

Since the first TRP ion channel was discovered in Drosophila melanogaster in 1989, the progress made in this area of signaling research has yielded findings that offer the potential to dramatically impact human health and wellness. Involved in gateway activity for all five of our senses, TRP channels have been shown to respond to a wide range of st

Pain Genetics: Basic to Translational Science is a timely synthesis of the key areas of research informing our understanding of the genetic basis of pain. The book opens with foundational information on basic genetic mechanisms underlying pain perception and progresses recently discovered complex concepts facing the field. The coverage is wide-ranging and will serves as an excellent entry point into understating the genetics of pain as well as providing a single resource for established researchers looking for a better understanding of the diverse strands of research going on in the area. With contributors painstakingly selected to provide a broad range of perspectives and research, Pain Genetics will be a valuable resource for geneticists, neuroscientists, and biomedical professionals alike.

This book explores the connection of functional pain syndromes (e.g., irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia) with anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The authors address possible common pathophysiologies and review a range of treatment options, from antidepressants to cognitive-behavioral therapy. Who should buy this book? Whether you are a general practitioner, specialist, or scientist, this book is essential reading. It sheds new light on the complex links between various painful syndromes and disorders.