Posted on Pain Management

AI for personalized pain medicine

A review paper by scientists at Indiana University Bloomington summarized recent engineering efforts in developing various sensors and devices to address challenges in personalized pain treatment.

The new review paper, published on September 13th in the journal Cyborg and Bionic Systems, critically examines the role of sensors and devices guided by artificial intelligence (AI) in personalized pain medicine and highlights their transformative impact on treatment outcomes and patient quality of life.

The experience of pain is complex and varies from person to person, impacting quality of life and putting strain on healthcare systems. Despite its widespread impact, accurately assessing and managing pain is challenging. “Personalized pain medicine aims to customize treatment strategies based on individual patient needs, with the potential to improve outcomes, reduce side effects, and increase patient satisfaction,” explained Feng Guo, a professor at Indiana University Bloomington. Recent engineering efforts have focused on developing sensors and devices to address these challenges in personalized pain treatment. These efforts include monitoring, assessing, and relieving pain, as well as taking advantage of advancements in medical AI, such as AI-based analgesia devices, wearable sensors, and healthcare systems.

The potential of intelligent sensors and devices to provide real-time, accurate pain assessment and treatment options represents a significant shift toward more dynamic and patient-specific approaches. However, adopting these technologies comes with substantial technical, ethical, and practical challenges, such as ensuring data privacy and integrating AI systems with existing medical infrastructures. Future research must refine algorithms and enhance system interoperability to foster broader adoption. AI-driven technologies are poised to transform the field of pain medicine, but it’s crucial to rigorously evaluate their impact and address ethical dimensions to ensure positive contributions to patient care without exacerbating existing disparities. Yantao Xing emphasized the importance of addressing these issues.

The potential of smart devices and sensors in personalized pain medicine is promising. However, challenges need to be addressed, such as data accuracy, device reliability, privacy, security concerns, and the cost of technology. This review emphasizes the need for multidisciplinary collaboration to fully utilize sensors and devices guided by AI in revolutionizing pain management. Integrating these technologies into clinical practice not only promises improved patient outcomes but also a more detailed understanding of pain mechanisms, leading to more effective and personalized treatment strategies.

Posted on Rheumatoid arthritis

New chance of early diagnosis and therapies for rheumatoid arthritis

Currently, there are no cures for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which affects 40,000 people in Ireland. The disease costs an estimated €20,000 per patient per year, with an overall cost to the health system of approximately €544 million.

Only 1 in 4 patients achieve remission, and a significant proportion of patients have suboptimal responses or no response at all to currently available therapies. Since it is impossible to predict who will develop severe, erosive disease and who will respond to treatment, a trial-and-error approach prevails, leading to potential irreversible joint damage before the patient has received the correct treatment.

Researchers at Trinity College Dublin and St Vincent’s University Hospital have published a study on the site of inflammation in RA. The study aims to improve understanding in order to develop new treatment strategies or predictive biomarkers. This could lead to the potential for a more personalized approach to medicine. The study is published in the journal Science Advances.

The research team conducted a thorough investigation of a specific group of cells known as “macrophages” that are found in the synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), individuals at risk of RA, and healthy individuals. For the first time, the researchers showed the presence of a dominant subtype of macrophages (CD40-expressing CD206+CD163+) in the inflamed synovium of RA patients. This subtype was significantly associated with disease activity and how well the patients responded to treatment.

The team identified that these cells are resident in the joint and play a protective role in health. However, in disease—for reasons we are unsure of—they become pro-inflammatory and release proteins called cytokines that induce inflammation. They also have the ability to activate the invasive fibroblast cell type, which leads to cartilage and bone destruction. 

Researchers have found that the pro-inflammatory state of these macrophages is sustained by particular signalling and metabolic pathways within the joint. Targeting these pathways may lead to the resolution of inflammation. Importantly, the team discovered that these changes in the macrophage state occurred before the onset of the disease.

Posted on Autism

An Autistic Guide to Alexithymia – Take Back Control & Thrive

An Autistic Guide to Alexithymia – Take Back Control & Thrive

“Alexithymia, also known as emotional blindness, is a neuropsychological phenomenon characterized by significant challenges in recognizing, expressing, sourcing, and describing one’s emotions. It is associated with difficulties in attachment and interpersonal relations. While there is no scientific consensus on its classification as a personality trait, medical symptom, or mental disorder, alexithymia is highly prevalent among autistic individuals ), with a prevalence ranging from 50% to 85%.”

Posted on autoimmune conditions

My 3 SIMPLE STEPS To Reverse Autoimmune DISEASE! | Dr. Terry Wahls


In the field of health and medicine, it’s important to keep searching for solutions and not give up, even if a disease is said to be incurable. I’m excited to share the story of Dr. Terry Wahls, who refused to accept the limitations of her diagnosis of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Instead, she delved into finding long-lasting solutions and has made significant contributions to MS research and treatment options. Dr. Wahls, a certified practitioner of the Institute for Functional Medicine and a clinical professor at the University of Iowa, conducted clinical trials and received the Institute for Functional Medicine’s Linus Pauling Award in 2018 for her research, clinical care, and patient advocacy. After being confined to a wheelchair for four years, she restored her health using a personalized diet and lifestyle program and now bikes to work every day. Dr. Wahls is the author of The Wahls Protocol: A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principles, and the cookbook The Wahls Protocol Cooking for Life.