Basic Science

Contact:

Christina Brock

Background

The basic group applies and validates the psychophysical and electrophysiological techniques applied on the GI tract in healthy volunteers. This step explores the mechanistic approach of the different sensory models. When the models have been proved to be robust they are applied in clinical or pharmaceutical research.

Multi-modal stimulation
Central sensitizing mechanism
Conditioning pain modulation (prev. DNIC)
Electrophysiologic signalling

Previous studies:

• Validation of the experimental human multimodal pain approach in oesophagus and rectosigmoid
• Validation of human sensitization the multimodal human oesophageal approach
• Validation of neurophysiologic assessments of pain during sensitization and inhibition

Ongoing works:

• Developing a neurophysiologic platform to investigate central pain inhibition
• Developing biomarkes in diabetic patients suffering from autonomous neuropathy
• Spinal evoked responses elicited from visceral electrical stimulation

Future:

The ultimate painmodel which describes the entire gut-brain-gut axis from the peripheral stimulus, the spinal level the supra-spinal pain processing and activation of the inhibitory pathways. Validation of such a model can be used in future clinical and pharmaceutical studies.

Collaborators:

Sahlgrenska Universitetssjukhus, Gøteborg; Leiden University, Holland and Haukeland Universitets sjukhus, Bergen

Reference List

• Brock C, Arendt-Nielsen L, Wilder-Smith O, Drewes AM.Sensory testing of the human gastrointestinal tract. Review. World J Gastroenterol. 2009 Jan 14;15(2):151-9.
   
• Sharma A, Lelic D, Brock C, Paine P, Aziz Q. New technologies to investigate the brain-gut axis. Review. World J Gastroenterol. 2009 Jan 14;15(2):182-91.
  
• Olesen SS, Krarup AL, Brock C, Drewes AM. Gastrointestinal sensations and pain: a review on basic, experimental and clinical findings. Minerva, Gastroenterol Dietol. 2009 Sep;55(3):301-14.
  
• Staahl, C., Reddy, H., Andersen, S. D., Arendt-Nielsen, L., & Drewes, A. M. 2006, "Multi-modal and tissue-differentiated experimental pain assessment: reproducibility of a new concept for assessment of analgesics", Basic Clin.Pharmacol.Toxicol., vol. 98, no. 2, pp. 201-211.
   
• Brock C, Nissen TD, Gravesen FH, Frøkjaer JB, Omar H, Gale J, Gregersen H, Svendsen O, Drewes AM. Multimodal sensory testing of the rectum and rectosigmoid: development and reproducibility of a new method. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2008 Aug;20(8):908-18. 
   
• Olesen AE, Staahl C, Brock C, Arendt-Nielsen L, Drewes AM. Evoked Human Oesophageal Hyperalgesia: A Potential Tool for Analgesic Evaluation? Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2009 Apr 27.
   
• Brock C, Andresen T, Frøkjær JB, Gale J, Olesen AE, Arendt-Nielsen L, Drewes AM. Central pain mechanisms following combined acid and capsaicin perfusion of the human oesophagus. Eur J Pain. 2009 Jun 19.