Factors affecting pain intensity in a pain model based upon tonic intranasal stimulation in humans

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Contributors

Abstract

Objective: The present publication describes an inflammatory pain model based on an air-stream introduced in the nasal cavity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of how, humidity and temperature of the airstream on the intensity of the evoked pain sensations.Methods: Six healthy volunteers participated in the study. Pain was produced by a stream of air introduced to the nasal cavity at different flow rates (5, 6 and 8 l/min), humidity (20 and 80% relative humidity) and temperature (16, 24, and 32 degrees C). The evoked pain was quantified by means of visual analogue scales.Results: The air-stream induced a dull and burning painful sensation. The intensity of pain was found to be related to the air-stream's humidity and temperature. Specifically, a dry airstream (20% relative humidity) evoked significantly stronger pain than a humidified air-stream (80% relative humidity). Pain was significantly greater at a temperature of 32 degrees C than at 24 degrees and 16 degrees C, while the temperatures of 16 and 24 degrees C did not differ with respect to pain intensity. In contrast, a tendency towards stronger pain produced by a flow of 81 compared to that with 51 could not be statistically justified within the present study.Conclusions: The non-invasive pain stimulus was found to be easily applicable and the evoked pain sensation could be modified by variation of humidity and temperature of the airstream.

External IDs

PubMed 9865504
Scopus 0031753757
ORCID /0000-0001-9713-0183/work/146645546

Keywords

Keywords

  • Experimental human pain model, Inflammation