“
“This study compared the postactivation potentiation of the medial gastrocnemius

(MG) and soleus muscles by using mechanomyography (MMG). Twitch responses were evoked by stimulating the posterior tibial nerve with supramaximal intensity before and after a 10-s maximal voluntary plantar flexion, and potentiation of each muscle was evaluated by peak-to-peak amplitude www.selleckchem.com/products/sis3.html of the MMG signal. The MG showed greater potentiation than the soleus, reflecting the reported fiber type composition of these muscles. This result points to the possibility that one can delineate contrasting responses of synergist muscles to postactivation potentiation by this method.”
“Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A, -C, -B, -DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles were typed in 200 Polish healthy volunteers recruited for stem cell donor registry, using sequence-specific primer (SSP) and direct sequencing-based methods. Enhanced Bayesian approach of expectation maximization algorithm provided by PHASE platform was used https://www.selleckchem.com/products/Nutlin-3.html for extended HLA haplotype inferences. The numbers of identified alleles (four-digit resolution) were 23, 23, 44, 27 and 18 alleles in HLA-A, -C, -B, -DRB1 and -DQB1 loci, respectively, of both northern and southern European frequency characteristics. The most frequent extended haplotypes

were Cw*0701-B*0801-DRB1*0301-DQB1*0201 and Cw*0702-B*0702-DRB1*1501-DQB1*0602, found in 25 and 23 copies, respectively, in 400 tested chromosomes. The extended haplotype found in the Polish population with higher frequency than in other European population was A*2501-Cw*1203-B*1801-DRB1*1501DQB1*0602 (six copies) and especially its class I fragment (14 copies). The neighbour-joining and correspondence analyses showed Central and northern European genetic affinities of Polish population. In most cases, the observed European allele and haplotype gradients display smooth topography

around Polish population. Poles along with Western Slavs have their specific contribution in the demographic history of Europe. Our results will intensify the use of population data in stem cell donor search and can potentially improve current algorithms, facilitating selection of acceptable donors for patients in need of Selleck Milciclib stem cell transplant.”
“Chinese quince (Chaenomeles sinensis; CS) is known as a traditional oriental medicine for treating anaphylaxis and viral infection. Mast cells play an important role in a variety of inflammatory diseases. The inhibitory effects of CS extract on the inflammatory response of human mast cells were examined. CS extract inhibited HMC-1 cell migration in response to stem cell factor (SCF). Its mechanism is involved in the inhibition of a surface expression of c-kit binding to SCF. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha expression is induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and calcium ionophore (CaI).

The outcomes of these trials are eagerly awaited, because they have the potential to revolutionize the treatment of HCC. (HEPATOLOGY 2010;52:762-773)”
“The combination of an aldosterone receptor antagonist added to an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor has been demonstrated to reduce cardiovascular and renal end points in hypertensive humans but can produce hyperkalemia in the common clinical setting of impaired renal function. We investigated the effects of dual therapy on acute and chronic potassium PD0325901 handling in hypertensive humans with renal impairment by conducting a randomized crossover clinical trial of 4 weeks of 40 mg lisinopril/25

mg Akt inhibitor spironolactone versus placebo in 18 participants with a glomerular filtration rate of 25 to 65 mL/min. Study end points, following an established protocol, were hourly determinations of dynamic renal potassium excretion (mmol/h)

and serum potassium (mmol/L) after 35 mmol oral potassium challenge in addition to ambulatory potassium concentration. After 4 weeks, ambulatory potassium concentration was 4.87 mmol/L with lisinopril/spironolactone versus 4.37 with placebo (P<0.001). Lisinopril/spironolactone produced only a modest 0.44 mmol/h reduction in stimulated potassium excretion ( P=0.03) but a substantial 0.67 mmol/L increase in serum potassium (P<0.001) in response to 35 mmol potassium; these findings are consistent with impaired extrarenal/transcellular potassium disposition. We found the increase in serum potassium after an oral potassium challenge PD0332991 research buy to be a strong predictor of the increase in ambulatory potassium with lisinopril/spironolactone. Our study suggests that

dual renin-angiotensin-aldosterone blockade may impair extrarenal/transcellular potassium disposition in addition to reducing potassium excretion in humans with renal impairment, and that acute changes in dynamic potassium handling are predictive of chronic changes in ambulatory potassium concentration with dual renin-angiotensin-aldosterone blockade. (Hypertension. 2009; 53: 754-760.)”
“While progenitor-restricted factors broadly specify area identities in developing neocortex, the downstream regulatory elements involved in acquisition of those identities in postmitotic neurons are largely unknown. Here, we identify Bhlhb5, a transcription factor expressed in layers II-V, as a postmitotic regulator of area identity. Bhlhb5 is initially expressed in a high caudomedial to low rostrolateral gradient that transforms into a sharp border between sensory and rostral motor cortices. Bhlhb5 null mice exhibit aberrant expression of area-specific genes and structural organization in the somatosensory and caudal motor cortices.

EIEC and ETEC were not detected in the control cases. EHEC was not isolated from either the diarrheal or control cases. Conclusion: DEC strains are a significant cause of diarrhea in selleck compound children. The two Multiplex PCR

assays can be used for the detection of DEC in routine diagnostic laboratories. These assays are specific and sensitive for the rapid detection of DEC. EAEC was the most frequent pathotype in the population under study.”
“Background: Chronic hemodynamic overloading leads to heart failure (HF) due to incompletely understood mechanisms. To gain deeper insight into the molecular pathophysiology of volume overload-induced HF and to identify potential markers and targets for novel therapies, we performed proteomic and mRNA expression analysis comparing myocardium from Wistar rats with HF induced by a chronic aorto-caval fistula (ACF) and sham-operated rats harvested at the advanced, decompensated stage of HF.\n\nMethods: We analyzed control and failing myocardium employing iTRAQ labeling, two-dimensional peptide separation combining peptide IEF and nano-HPLC with MALDI-MS/MS. For BVD-523 the transcriptomic analysis we employed Illumina RatRef-12v1 Expression BeadChip.\n\nResults: In the proteomic analysis we identified 2030 myocardial proteins, of which 66 proteins were differentially

expressed. The mRNA expression analysis identified 851 differentially expressed mRNAs.\n\nConclusions: The differentially expressed proteins confirm a switch in the substrate preference from fatty acids to other sources in the failing heart. Failing hearts showed downregulation of the major calcium transporters SERCA2 and ryanodine receptor 2 and altered expression of creatine kinases. Decreased expression of two NADPH producing proteins suggests a decreased redox reserve. Overexpression of annexins supports their possible potential as HF biomarkers. Most importantly, among the most up-regulated proteins in ACF hearts were monoamine oxidase A and transglutaminase 2 that are both potential attractive targets of low molecular weight inhibitors in future HF therapy.”
“Besides its influence LGX818 ic50 on plant growth and health,

plant-associated bacteria exert an impact on fruit quality. Methylotrophic bacteria can enhance the biosynthesis of strawberry flavor compounds, especially the two furanoid compounds 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-2H-furanone (DMHF) and 2,5-dimethyl-4-methoxy-2H-furanone in vitro. Here, we report the selection and characterization of Methylobacterium extorquens DSM 21961, a strain that was able to enhance the furanone content ad planta under greenhouse conditions. For monitoring the colonization of strawberry plants, a strain-specific quantification system for M. extorquens DSM 21961 was developed. Specificity, linear range and quantitative limit of the system were shown, and successful application was demonstrated in a monitoring experiment of M. extorquens DSM 21961 on strawberry leaves under greenhouse conditions.

“
“Purpose: To evaluate the nature of cyclin-dependent Dibutyryl-cAMP price kinase 5 (CDK5) hyperactivity in pancreatic cancer progression.\n\nExperimental Design: We used genetic, biochemical, and molecular biology methods to investigate the nature and function of overexpression of CDK5 and its activators p35 and p39

during the progression of pancreatic cancer.\n\nResults: Amplification of the CDK5 gene or either of its main activators, p35 and p39, was observed in 67% of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). CDK5, p35, and p39 were rarely expressed in pancreatic ducts whereas more than 90% of PDACs had increased levels of CDK5 and p35. Increased levels of CDK5, p35, and p39 protein were observed in several pancreatic cancer cell lines. Inhibition of CDK5 kinase activity using GSK1120212 a CDK5 dominant-negative mutant or the drug roscovitine significantly decreased the migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro. Increased CDK5 kinase activity was also observed in immortalized human pancreatic nestin-expressing (HPNE) cells expressing a mutant form of K-Ras (G12D) compared with HPNE cells expressing native K-Ras. G12D K-Ras increased cleavage of p35 to p25, a stable and greater activator of CDK5,

thus implicating a role for CDK5 in early progression of PDAC. Inhibition of the signaling cascade downstream of mutant K-Ras (G12D) that involves mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, or CDK5 decreased p25 protein levels.\n\nConclusion: These results suggest that mutant

K-Ras acts in concert with CDK5 and its activators to increase malignant progression, migration, and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells. Clin Cancer Res; 17(19); 6140-50. (C) 2011 AACR.”
“Measuring CA153 serum levels in the early breast cancer setting is not recommended by current ASCO guidelines. In this large single center study, we assess the prognostic value of preoperative (n = 3746), postoperative selleck screening library (n = 4049) and change in (n = 3252) CA15.3, also across different breast cancer phenotypes. Preoperative, postoperative and change in CA15.3 were all significant (p = 0.0348, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001 respectively in multivariate analysis) predictors of distant metastasis free survival. For breast cancer specific survival, only postoperative and change in CA153 were significant predictors (p < 0.0001 both). Multivariate prognostic models did not improve by incorporating information on preoperative CA15.3, but did improve when introducing information on postoperative CA153 for distant metastasis (p = 0.0365) and on change in CA15.3 for breast cancer specific survival (p = 0.0291). Change in CA15.3 impacts on prognosis (distant metastasis) differently in different breast cancer phenotypes. A decrease in CA15.3 may be informative of improved prognosis in basal like and HER2 like breast cancer. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

“
“Antiphospholipid syndrome is a disorder characterized by arterial or venous thrombosis, high plasma levels of antiphospholipid antibodies, recurrent fetal loss (in women) and thrombocytopenia. The authors present a case of a 28-year-old man with no significant medical history who presented with ST elevation myocardial infarction (MI) and underwent percutaneous intervention to left anterior descending

artery. He was also found to have intracardiac thrombosis, thrombocytopenia, elevated activated partial thromboplastin time and persistently elevated anticardiolipin and beta-2 glycoprotein antibodies. The authors performed a literature search regarding the frequency of MI and intracardiac thrombosis as the LY411575 chemical structure primary presentation of antiphospholipid syndrome and the relationship of antiphospholipid antibodies with MI.”
“Porphyromonas gingivalis secretes gingipains, endopeptidases essential for the asaccharolytic growth of this bacterium. P. gingivalis also secretes dipeptidyl aminopeptidases (DPPIV and DPP-7) and a tripeptidyl aminopeptidase (PTP-A), although their role in asaccharolytic growth is unclear. The present study was carried out to elucidate the KU-57788 in vivo role of these dipeptidyl/tripeptidyl aminopeptidases on the asaccharolytic growth of P. gingivalis.\n\nKnockout mutants for the DPPIV (dpp), dpp7 and/or PTP-A genes were constructed. Brain-heart

infusion medium supplemented with sterile hemin and menadione (BHIHM) was used as a complex medium, and the minimal medium used was GA, in which the sole energy source was a mixture of immunoglobulin G and bovine serum albumin. Growth of P. gingivalis was monitored by measuring

the optical density of the culture.\n\nAll knockout mutants for DPPIV, dpp7 and PTP-A grew as well as strain W83 in BHIHM. In GA, growth of single-knockout Selleckchem SB203580 and double-knockout mutants was similar to that of W83, whereas growth of a triple-knockout mutant (83-47A) was reduced. We purified recombinant DPPIV and recombinant PTP-A from recombinant Escherichia coli overproducers, and purified DPP-7 from the triple-knockout mutant 83-4A. GA supplemented with the three purified dipeptidyl/tripeptidyl aminopeptidases supported the growth of 83-47A.\n\nDPPIV, DPP-7 and PTP-A contribute to the normal growth of P. gingivalis by cleaving substrate peptides into short-chain polypeptides that are efficient energy sources for P. gingivalis.”
“In this study, we have reported the immunological properties of cDNA encoding thioredoxin which is obtained from the database of Channa striatus (named as CsTRx) cDNA library. The analysis showed that the CsTRx polypeptide contains a thioredoxin domain between Val(2) and Asn(106). The domain possessed a thioredoxin active family at 24-42 along with a redox active site (also known as catalytic center) at (31)WCGPC(35).

Particularly older children and adolescents are often not fully vaccinated or are even unvaccinated. A high pro-portion is missing the recommended booster doses against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio. Vaccination compliance especially regarding completeness and timeliness is lower in western than eastern Germany, as well as in children

of vaccine sceptics and foreign-born children, More comprehensive surveillance of vaccination coverage and adverse events following immunization as well as the implementation of a national QNZ in vivo immunization plan focussing on closure of immunization gaps could lead to improved vaccination coverage.”
“Study Design. This is a retrospective comparative cohort study. Objective. To compare the outcomes of patients with symptomatic JNK-IN-8 cervical intervertebral disc

herniation (CIVDH) treated with full-endoscopic cervical discectomy (FECD) using the anterior approach with those treated with the posterior approach. Summary of Background Data. The optimal FECD surgical approach for CIVDH remains controversial. Methods. From March 2010 to July 2012, a total of 84 consecutive patients with symptomatic single-level CIVDH who underwent FECD using the anterior approach (42 patients) or the posterior approach (42 patients) were enrolled. Patients were assessed neurologically before surgery and followed up at regular outpatient visits. The clinical outcomes were evaluated using the visual analogue scale and the modified MacNab criteria. Radiographical follow-up included the static and dynamic cervical plain radiographs, computed tomographic scans, and magnetic

resonance images. Results. In both Staurosporine groups, shorter mean operative time (63.5 min vs. 78.5 min), increased mean volume of disc removal (0.6 g vs. 0.3 g), larger mean decrease in the final postoperative mean intervertebral vertical height (1.0 mm vs. 0.5 mm), and longer mean hospital stay (4.9 d vs. 4.5 d) were observed in the anterior full-endoscopic cervical discectomy group. Postoperatively, the clinical outcomes of the 2 approaches were significantly improved, but the differences between the 2 approaches were not significant (P = 0.211 and P = 0.257, respectively). Four surgery-related complications were observed among all enrolled patients (complications in each group were 2; overall 4 of 84, 4.8%). Conclusion. In our study, the clinical outcomes between the 2 approaches did not differ significantly. Nevertheless, posterior full-endoscopic cervical discectomy may be preferable when considering the volume of disc removal, length of hospital stay, and the postoperative radiographical changes. As an efficacious supplement to traditional open surgery, FECD is a reliable alternative treatment of CIVDH and its optimal approach remains open to discussion.

HBV infects its hosts at minimal inoculation doses and replicates exclusively in hepatocytes. The viral determinants for the pronounced species specificity and the high efficacy to address hepatocytes in vivo are unknown. Previous findings showed that N-terminally myristoylated peptides constituting a receptor binding Etomoxir price domain of the HBV large envelope (L)-protein block HBV entry in vitro and in vivo. Here we investigate the ability of such peptidic receptor ligands to target the liver. Injection of radioactively labeled HBVpreS-lipopeptides resulted in rapid accumulation in livers of mice, rats, and dogs but not cynomolgus monkeys.

Without lipid moiety the peptide was excreted by renal filtration, find more indicating its possible retention through the lipid by serum factors. Organ distribution studies of 26 HBVpreS peptide variants revealed a correlation of HBV infection inhibition activity and the ability to target mouse livers. Together with complementary studies using primary

hepatocytes of different species, we hypothesize that HBV hepatotropism is mediated through specific binding of the myristoylated N-terminal preS1-domain of the HBV L-protein to a hepatocyte specific receptor. Moreover, the restricted infectivity of HBV to human primates is not generally determined by the absence of this binding receptor in nonsusceptible hosts (e. g., mice) but related to postbinding step(s) (e. g., membrane fusion). Conclusion: HBVpreS-lipopeptides target to the liver. This observation has important clinical implications regarding the pharmacokinetic properties of Myrcludex B, the first entry inhibitor for HBV/HDV. In addition, this provides

the basis for the application of the peptides as vehicles for hepatocyte-specific drug targeting.”
“Elasmobranchs are thought to possess an acute sense of smell, but the relationship between the anatomy of their olfactory organs and their sensory ecology is poorly understood. Moreover, the ecological diversity of elasmobranchs as a group indicates that there Raf inhibition might be considerable interspecific variation in the importance of the olfactory sense. Wobbegong sharks, with their sedentary lifestyle and ambush predatory technique, probably utilize their senses differently than other shark species, making it difficult to generalize about their olfactory capabilities and olfaction-dependent behaviors. In this study, the number of olfactory lamellae and the surface area of the olfactory epithelium were measured as a means of assessing relative olfactory sensitivity in four species of wobbegong shark (the Western wobbegong, Orectolobus hutchinsi; the spotted wobbegong, O. maculatus; the ornate wobbegong, O. ornatus; and the dwarf spotted wobbegong, O. parvimaculatus). We also present a phylogenetic comparative analysis between wobbegongs and other elasmobranchs for which published data on olfactory morphology are available.

Concurrently, Tyr(317) phosphorylation of p52(Shc), proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression, and cell growth are decreased in these cells. Conversely,

decreased cPAcP expression by short hairpin RNA in LNCaP C-33 cells was associated with elevated phosphorylation of ErbB-2 initially at Tyr(1221/2). Its downstream p52(Shc), ERK1/2, Akt, Src, STAT-3, and STAT-5 were activated, and cell proliferation, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and cyclin D1 expression were increased. Stable subclones of C-33 cells by small interfering PAcP had elevated Tyr(1221/2) phosphorylation of ErbB-2 and exhibited androgen-independent growth and increased tumorigenicity in xenograft female animals. In summary, our data together indicate that in prostate epithelia, cPAcP ALK activation interacts

with and dephosphorylates ErbB-2 primarily at Tyr(1221/2) and hence blocks downstream signaling, leading to reduced cell growth. In PCa cells, decreased cPAcP expression is associated with androgen-independent cell proliferation and tumorigenicity as seen in advanced hormone-refractory prostate carcinomas.”
“Introduction: We sought to characterize the excitability properties of tibialis anterior (TA) and brachioradialis (BR) muscles at rest and during electrically induced muscle activation in normal subjects. Methods: Two centers recruited 10 subjects each. Multi-fiber velocity recovery cycles (VRCs) were recorded from TA (both centers) and BR (one center). VRCs were assessed at rest and during repetitive stimulation (intermittent 20 Hz for 6 min). Changes in latency and peak ARN-509 mw amplitude of the muscle action potential induced by a frequency ramp to 30 Hz were also characterized. Results: Excitability properties recorded from TA were very similar

between centers. Repetitive stimulation generated marked excitability changes, which were similar between TA and BR. Conclusions: Standardized AZD8931 inhibitor tests of muscle VRCs and responses to repetitive stimulation can provide consistent measures of membrane function and may encourage their wider use in clinical neurophysiology to investigate the pathophysiology of neuromuscular disorders. Muscle Nerve 46: 102111, 2012″
“Background/aims: No large-scale population-based study has ever been conducted to examine the relationship between cryptogenic pyogenic liver abscesses (PLA) and the subsequent risk of colorectal cancer. This study aimed to estimate the risk for colorectal cancer following a diagnosis of cryptogenic PLA over a 5-year period. Methods: The study group comprised 274 patients who visited an outpatient care centre or were hospitalized with a diagnosis of cryptogenic PLA between 2001 and 2003. The comparison group included 1370 randomly selected subjects. Cox proportional hazard regressions were performed to compare the 5-year colorectal cancer-free survival rates for these two groups.

In gliomas, several molecular LY2835219 mw biomarkers including IDH mutation, 1p/19q co-deletion, and MGMT promotor methylation status have been introduced into neuropathological practice. Recently, mutations of the ATRX gene have been found in various subtypes and grades of gliomas and were shown to refine the prognosis of malignant gliomas in combination with IDH and 1p/19q status. Mutations of

ATRX are associated with loss of nuclear ATRX protein expression, detectable by a commercially available antibody, thus turning ATRX into a promising prognostic candidate biomarker in the routine neuropathological setting.”
“Autoimmune diseases represent one of the most challenging clinical entities with unmet medical needs, so the continued development of novel therapeutics is well justified. Most autoimmune diseases are marked by the infiltration of lymphomyeloid cells in target tissues, leading to inflammation and tissue damage. This process is guided by chemokines that act as signaling bridges amidst a complex network of immune cells. For example, monocytes are believed to be the primary cell type responsible for pathology PCI-32765 cost initiation and tissue damage, while T lymphocytes are thought to orchestrate the process by secreting more cytokines/chemokines

to amplify leukocyte homing. Many studies have addressed the molecular basis of monocyte recruitment in different autoimmune diseases, and the conclusions pointed to a major role played by monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), also known as CC chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), and its cell-surface receptor, CC chemokine receptor (CCR) GDC 0032 concentration 2. These findings suggest that by interfering with CCL2 or its receptor, it is possible to inhibit the progression of CCR2-dependent diseases. Therefore, future therapy design targeting a maladapted immune response could target chemokine receptors starting with the CCL2-CCR2 axis.”
“Hepatitis C virus infection is a major public health problem because of an estimated

170 million carriers worldwide. Genotype 1b is the major subtype of HCV in many countries and is resistant to interferon therapy. Study of the viral life cycle is important for understanding the mechanisms of interferon resistance of genotype 1b HCV strains. For such studies, genotype 1b HCV strains that can replicate and produce infectious virus particles in cultured cells are required. In the present study, we isolated HCV cDNA, which we named the NC1 strain, from a patient with acute severe hepatitis. Subgenomic replicon experiments revealed that several mutations enhanced the colony-formation efficiency of the NC1 replicon. The full-length NC1 genome with these adaptive mutations could replicate in cultured cells and produce infectious virus particles. The density gradient profile and morphology of the secreted virus particles were similar to those reported for the JFH-1 virus.

Our quantitative analysis of expression noise and chromatin-remodeling data indicates that the dynamics of continual nucleosome removal and reformation at the activated promoters of PHO5 and PHO8 are closely similar. In contrast to PHO5, however, activator-stimulated transcription of PHO8 appears to be limited mostly to the acceleration of promoter nucleosome disassembly PCI 32765 with little

or no acceleration of promoter transitions following nucleosome disassembly, accounting for the markedly lower expression level of PHO8.”
“The aim of this study was to examine the frequency of amyloid deposition in patients with end-stage rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of the hip. The impact on the clinical situation and the RA severity regarding the inflammation was analyzed. Fifty patients with RA who consecutively underwent total hip replacement were prospectively evaluated. X-rays of the patients were analyzed radiologically (Larsen score) to quantify the radiological changes. A clinical score (Harris Hip Score) was preoperatively calculated from every

patient. A laboratory set of inflammation markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP, serum amyloid A-SAA, electrophoresis) was measured in every patient the day before the operation. Specimens of bone and cartilage from the femoral head and of the capsule were obtained from every patient intraoperatively for histological evaluation. A histological grading was performed. In patients with amyloid deposits, the subtypes were characterized immunohistologically. Ninety-two percent of the patients had raised SAA in the blood samples, but the only amyloid subtype click here was ATTR. No correlation was found for any other measured item, such as inflammation signs in the blood samples, the histological VX-770 molecular weight grading, the radiological or the clinical score. Amyloid plays a role in inflammatory joint destruction processes in RA with raised SAA values, but the amyloid deposits in the joint are of a different subtype. Thus, these amyloid deposits can be considered as minor

pathologic significance. A correlation to the radiological and histological changes was ruled out by our study. As in degenerative arthritis, ATTR amyloid deposits may be an incidental finding in aged joints.”
“Importance of the field: Chronic/persistent pain – a highly prevalent condition that places a substantial burden on patients in terms of personal suffering, reduced productivity and health care costs – remains inadequately treated in many patients. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview and evaluate the burden and undertreatment of chronic/persistent pain, considerations for choosing an analgesic and the utility of long-acting opioids.\n\nAreas covered in this review: A PubMed search was conducted to identify randomized, placebo-controlled trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of long-acting opioids in chronic pain conditions.