Abstract: The technology disclosed herein generally relates to the field of pain relief, and relates to a topical composition comprising a TRPV1 antagonist. The technology disclosed herein provides for methods, compositions and devices for topical application for the treatment of pain, allodynia or hyperalgesia associated with acute tissue injury, e.g., for the treatment of a wounds or tissue injury, including but not limited to incision, abrasion, laceration, puncture and avulsion. The methods, compositions and devices disclosed herein can be used for point-of-care treatment of a tissue injury or wound, e.g., in emergency care for first responders, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), ambulance workers, firemen, in field surgery, combat medicine or casualty care and/or first aid kits.

Abstract: A method for characterization of mechanically induced pain experienced by an animal includes exposing the animal to an environment including a first region having a planar surface and a second region having a chainmail structure; characterizing an interaction of the animal with one or more of the first region of the environment and the second region of the environment; and determining a characterization of tactile hypersensitivity experienced by the animal based on the characterization of the interaction of the animal with one or more of the first and second regions of the environment.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and assays relating to the inhibition of sepiapterin reductase and measuring said inhibition by measuring the level of sepiapterin. In some embodiments, the methods can further relate to treating a subject with BH4 and/or BH2.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and assays relating to the inhibition of sepiapterin reductase and measuring said inhibition by measuring the level of sepiapterin. In some embodiments, the methods can further relate to treating a subject with BH4 and/or BH2.

Abstract: The present invention features methods and compositions for preventing, reducing, or treating a traumatic, metabolic or toxic peripheral nerve lesion or pain including, for example, neuropathic pain, inflammatory and nociceptive pain by administering to a mammal in need thereof a compound that reduces the expression or activity of BH4. According to this invention, this reduction may be achieved by reducing the enzyme activity of any of the BH4 synthetic enzymes, such as GTP cyclohydrolase (GTPCH), sepiapterin reductase (SPR), or dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR); by antagonizing the cofactor function of BH4 on BH4-dependent enzymes; or by blocking BH4 binding to membrane bound receptors. The compounds of the invention may be administered alone or in combination with a second therapeutic agent. The invention also provides methods for diagnosing pain or a peripheral nerve lesion in a mammal by measuring the levels of BH4 or its metabolites in biological sample.

Abstract: The present invention features methods and compositions for preventing, reducing, or treating a traumatic, metabolic or toxic peripheral nerve lesion or pain including, for example, neuropathic pain, inflammatory and nociceptive pain by administering to a mammal in need thereof a compound that reduces the expression or activity of BH4. According to this invention, this reduction may be achieved by reducing the enzyme activity of any of the BH4 synthetic enzymes, such as GTP cyclohydrolase (GTPCH), sepiapterin reductase (SPR), or dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR); by antagonizing the cofactor function of BH4 on BH4-dependent enzymes; or by blocking BH4 binding to membrane bound receptors. The compounds of the invention may be administered alone or in combination with a second therapeutic agent.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for determining whether a subject possesses altered pain sensitivity an altered risk of developing acute or chronic pain, or diagnosing a tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4)-related disorder or a propensity thereto. These methods are based on the discovery of GCH1 and KCNS1 allelic variants that are associated with altered pain sensitivity and altered risk of developing acute or chronic pain, and the discovery that a GCH1 “pain protective haplotype” is associated with decreased upregulation of BH4 synthesis in treated leukocytes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences which are related to pain and which are differentially expressed during pain. The invention further relates to methods of identifying nucleic acid sequences which are differentially expressed during pain, microarrays comprising such differentially expressed sequences and methods of screening agents for the ability to regulate the expression of such differentially expressed sequences.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences which are related to pain and which are differentially expressed during pain. The invention further relates to methods of identifying nucleic acid sequences which are differentially expressed during pain, microarrays comprising such differentially expressed sequences and methods of screening agents for the ability to regulate the expression of such differentially expressed sequences.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the treatment or prevention of pain by administering to an animal an agent that decreases the activity of the complement cascade.

Abstract: The present invention features methods and compositions for preventing, reducing, or treating a traumatic, metabolic or toxic peripheral nerve lesion or pain including, for example, neuropathic pain, inflammatory and nociceptive pain by administering to a mammal in need thereof a compound that reduces the expression or activity of BH4. According to this invention, this reduction may be achieved by reducing the enzyme activity of any of the BH4 synthetic enzymes, such as GTP cyclohydrolase (GTPCH), sepiapterin reductase (SPR), or dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR); by antagonizing the cofactor function of BH4 on BH4-dependent enzymes; or by blocking BH4 binding to membrane bound receptors. The compounds of the invention may be administered alone or in combination with a second therapeutic agent. The invention also provides methods for diagnosing pain or a peripheral nerve lesion in a mammal by measuring the levels of BH4 or its metabolites in biological sample.