Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods and diagnostic kits for the objective measurement of the severity of pain or stress being experienced by a patient with a disorder, diagnosis and treatment for patients suffering from painful disorders, and monitoring the effectiveness of different pain-treatment protocols. Pain-measuring methods comprise collecting a sample from a patient and determining the presence of a pain-associated marker in the sample. Methods for alleviating pain comprise administrating a dose of a therapeutically effective amount of a composition to the patient wherein the dose is determined by the presence of a pain-associated marker in a biological sample obtained from the patient. Compositions for alleviating pain comprise substances that are pain-associated markers or agents that interfere with pain-associated markers, and block or modulate the progression of pain perceived by the patient.

Abstract: Image data is acquired and a spatial coordinate system is attached to the image data set. A navigational guide employs the attached coordinate system to indicate to the viewer the orientation of the imaged object and the location of the viewer with respect to the imaged object. This indication is made in a number of ways, including the display of an icon which depicts the orientation of the object being viewed.