Scientists Discover New Pain-Sensing Organ (theguardian.com) 15
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Guardian: A new organ involved in the sensation of pain has been discovered by scientists, raising hopes that it could lead to the development of new painkilling drugs. Researchers say they have discovered that the special cells that surround the pain-sensing nerve cells that extend into the outer layer of skin appear to be involved in sensing pain. The scientists say the finding offers new insight into pain and could help answer longstanding conundrums.
Writing in the journal Science, the researchers reveal how they examined the nature of cells in the skin that, they say, have largely been overlooked. These are a type of Schwann cell, which wrap around and engulf nerve cells and help to keep them alive. The study has revealed these Schwann cells have an octopus-like shape. After examining tissues, the team found the body of the cells sits below the outer layer of the skin, but that the cells have long extensions that wrap around the ends of pain-sensing nerve cells that extend up into the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin. The scientists were surprised at the findings because it has long been believed that the endings of nerve cells in the epidermis were bare or unwrapped. With the special Schwann cells and the nerves they engulf forming a mesh-like network, the researchers say they have essentially discovered a new pain-sensing organ. "It is a two-cell receptor organ: the nerve and Schwann cell together," Prof Patrik Ernfors, a co-author of the research from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, said.
Writing in the journal Science, the researchers reveal how they examined the nature of cells in the skin that, they say, have largely been overlooked. These are a type of Schwann cell, which wrap around and engulf nerve cells and help to keep them alive. The study has revealed these Schwann cells have an octopus-like shape. After examining tissues, the team found the body of the cells sits below the outer layer of the skin, but that the cells have long extensions that wrap around the ends of pain-sensing nerve cells that extend up into the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin. The scientists were surprised at the findings because it has long been believed that the endings of nerve cells in the epidermis were bare or unwrapped. With the special Schwann cells and the nerves they engulf forming a mesh-like network, the researchers say they have essentially discovered a new pain-sensing organ. "It is a two-cell receptor organ: the nerve and Schwann cell together," Prof Patrik Ernfors, a co-author of the research from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, said.
So can we develop new drugs then deny them to peop (Score:2)
We can continue to expand the market for heroin that way.
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A new organ involved in the sensation of pain has been discovered by scientists, raising hopes that it could lead to the development of new painkilling drugs.
What's the bet the CIA will be taking advantage of this new finding long before the pharma companies do? Sounds like a great new prospect for enhanced interrogation.
Let me guess (Score:2)
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Hidden behind the paywall, it is revealed (Score:3)
Tucked away in the full document, behind a paywall, is the means for finding this new pain-sensing organ.
1. Grab hammer.
2. Attempt to hang a picture.
Wherever you manage to hit yourself with said hammer, that's where the new pain receptors are. :)
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When your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a thumb.
Are we talking about.... (Score:3)
Stopping the feeling is not the right approach (Score:2)
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"Ignoring" pain is practically no one's focus. That's not how it works. There are injuries or diseases that simply cannot be "fixed". There are thousands of situations where the source of pain cannot directly be stopped, whether it's having had several back surgeries , even pins inserted in bones that didn't fix an injured/ damaged spinal cord or nerves (I know of too many cases of this), to disease like fibromyalgia or cancer. Almost nobody is going, "My tumor is totally operable but nah, I'll just pop s
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If everyone thought like you Polio would still be a thing. I clearly stated that there are uses, and some of them are legitimate, then added that we should not consider the existence of new methods for dealing with pain as solutions to the root cause. Unfortunately you don't appear to posses basic reading comprehension ... a problem for which there may indeed be no solution.
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