Current Issue May 2012 | Vol. 13, No. 5

This study investigated observers’ negative emotional responses in anticipation of pain in another person, and the moderating role of observers’ psychopathic traits and pain catastrophizing. Knowledge about characteristics influencing responses may provide insight into why observers engage in particular behaviours when faced with another in pain. The results are discussed in light of affective-motivational perspectives on pain.

Inhibitor κB kinase (IKK) mediated NF-κB activation is a major pathway for transcriptional control of various pro-inflammatory factors. The authors assessed whether activation of this pathway contributes to the development of nociceptive hypersensitivity in primary nociceptive neurons of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). The results suggest that IKKß-mediated NF-κB stimulation in injured primary sensory neurons promotes cytokine and chemokine production and thereby contributes to the development of chronic pain.