Clinical Research Directory

Postoperative Pain Trajectories After Endometriosis Surgery

The pain associated with endometriosis reflects a multifactorial pathophysiology combining peripheral nociception, central sensitisation and psychosocial factors. Although surgery is an integral part of treatment, a significant proportion of patients experience persistent pain several months after the procedure. To date, postoperative pain trajectories after endometriosis surgery remain poorly characterised, and there are no reliable predictors of chronic postoperative pain (CPP). This prospective, single-centre, longitudinal study aims to identify distinct postoperative pain trajectories and to assess whether perioperative quantitative sensory testing can predict the development of chronic postoperative pain at 3 and 6 months. Patients will undergo perioperative mechanical and pressure tests, including assessment of temporal summation and pressure pain thresholds, combined with validated measures of patient- reported outcomes. Follow-up assessments will be conducted on day 2, day 14, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery to capture the dynamic evolution of pain, quality of life, fatigue, sexual function, and central sensitisation symptoms.

Hyperthermia in Patients With Chronic Primary Pain - Effects on Thermoregulation, Somatosensory System and Movement Evoked Pain

This study, in a quasi-experimental matched two-group pre-post design, investigates the effect of serial water-filtered whole-body hyperthermia on circadian core body temperature, the somatosensory system (nociception) and the movement evoked pain in healthy and patients with chronic primary pain (e.g., fibromyalgia). The intervention lasts 3 weeks with two treatment sessions per week.

Integrative Medicine in Pain Management in Sickle Cell Disease, 2.0

The proposed research is to determine the clinical efficacy and neurobiological mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia in patients with sickle cell disease.

Integrative Medicine in Pain Management in Sickle Cell Disease

The proposed research is to determine the clinical efficacy and neurobiological mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia in patients with sickle cell disease.

Investigation of Pain Modulation Phenotypes in Female Patients With Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is characterized by altered pain processing, including impaired descending pain inhibition and central sensitization. While both mechanisms have been independently associated with disease severity, their interrelationship remains unclear. This cross-sectional study aims to investigate whether central sensitization symptoms mediate the relationship between conditioned pain modulation and fibromyalgia impact.