Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0022104 (irritable bowel syndrome)
 8,033 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Chronic musculoskeletal pain syndromes are common problems, but the etiology, pathogenesis, and pathology of many of them are very poorly understood. Because the currently used nomenclature suggests an understanding that we do not have, I propose that names like "myofascial pain," "tension myalgia," and "FM" be abandoned in favor of the more indefinite (but more honest) terms like "regional" and "generalized rheumatism." No matter what we rheumatologists call it, however, the condition of chronic generalized musculoskeletal pain probably is only one part of an even more generalized condition that includes IBS, chronic headaches, regional migratory numbness, TMJ syndrome, and a whole host of other somatic pain syndromes. The same patients end up seeing many specialists who themselves feel frustrated with the labels at their disposal, and these specialists end up resembling the blind men confronting the elephant. In this regard, the new ACR criteria for the diagnosis of fibrositis, by emphasizing tenderness and ignoring the presence of these other syndromes, are too circumscribed and represent a step backward in our attempts to understand. Although the chronic rheumatisms are problems difficult to manage and frustrating for both the patient and the physician, when patience can be applied and confidence achieved, a positive relationship can result and the patient can be helped.
 ...
PMID:Fibromyalgia and the rheumatisms. Common sense and sensibility. 835 61

We examined the association between serum trace elements and clinical findings such as number of sensitive tender points, severity of fatigue and functional status in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). Thirty-two patients diagnosed as having FM according to the ACR 1990 criteria and 32 normal healthy controls (NHC) were included in this study. The demographic data, disease duration, number of tender points and accompanying symptoms (fatigue, sleep disorders, headache, paresthesia, irritable bowel syndrome, sicca symptoms, Raynaud's phenomena) of the patients were noted. Visual analog scale (10 cm) was implemented to estimate daily severity of pain and fatigue. Fibromyalgia impact questionnaire was used for functional assessment. Serum selenium (microg/dL) and serum zinc (microg/dL) levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrometer. Serum magnesium (mmol/L) level was measured by the original kits of Abbott Aeroset auto-analyzer. The mean age of patients in FM group and NHC were calculated as 42.9 (SD = 7.7) years and 41.3 (SD = 9.7) years, respectively. Serum levels of zinc (P = 0.001) and magnesium (P = 0.002) were significantly decreased by FM groups, whereas there was no considerable difference with selenium levels of both groups (P > 0.05). Association between serum zinc level and number of tender points (P = 0.008) and that between fatigue and magnesium level (P = 0.003) was found as meaningful. According to the results of this study, it was asserted that serum magnesium and zinc levels may play an important role in the pathophysiology of FM.
 ...
PMID:The relationship between serum trace element levels and clinical parameters in patients with fibromyalgia. 1849 97

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) is a common chronic pain condition that affects at least 2% of the adult population. Chronic widespread pain is the defining feature of FM, but patients may also exhibit a range of other symptoms, including sleep disturbance, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, and mood disorders. The etiology of FM is not completely understood and the syndrome is influenced by factors such as stress, medical illness, and a variety of pain conditions. Establishing diagnosis may be difficult because of the multifaceted nature of the syndrome and overlap with other chronically painful conditions. A unifying hypothesis is that FM results from sensitization of the central nervous system; this new concept could justify the variety of characteristics of the syndrome. FM symptoms can be musculoskeletal, non-musculoskeletal, or a combination of both; and many patients will also experience a host of associated symptoms or conditions. The ACR classification criteria focus only on pain and disregard other important symptoms; but three key features, pain, fatigue and sleep disturbance, are present in virtually every patient with FM. Several other associated syndromes, including circulatory, nervous, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems are probably a part of the so called central sensitivity or sensitization syndrome. A minority subgroup of patients (30-40%) has a significant psychological disturbance. Psychological factors are an important determinant of any type of pain, and psychological comorbidity is frequent in FM. Psychiatric disorders most commonly described are mood disorders, but psychiatric illness is not a necessary factor in the etiopathogenesis of FM.
 ...
PMID:Symptoms and signs in fibromyalgia syndrome. 1885 5