Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40129863›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in neurology2025

The "brain-gut" mechanism of postherpetic neuralgia: a mini-review.

Peijun Zhang, Cuomaoji Zhang, Bixin Zheng, Yuntao Liu, Dingkun Zhang, Hong Xiao

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Peijun Zhang *Department of Pain Management, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Cuomaoji Zhang *Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Sport Hospital of Chengdu Sport University, Chengdu Sport University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Bixin ZhengDepartment of Pain Management, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Yuntao Liu *Department of Pain Management, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Dingkun ZhangLaboratory of Clinical Proteomics and Metabolomics, Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Hong XiaoDepartment of Pain Management, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a representative type of neuropathic pain, has attracted much research on its diagnosis and therapy at the molecular level. Interestingly, this study based on the brain-gut axis provided a novel point of view to interpret the mechanism of PHN. Past neuroanatomical and neuroimaging studies of pain suggest that the prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala, and other regions of the brain may play crucial roles in the descending inhibition of PHN. Dominant bacterial species in patients with PHN, such as Lactobacillus, generate short-chain fatty acids, including butyrate. Evidence indicates that disturbance of some metabolites (such as butyrate) is closely related to the development of hyperalgesia. In addition, tryptophan and 5-HT in the intestinal tract act as neurotransmitters that regulate the descending transmission of neuropathic pain signals. Concurrently, the enteric nervous system establishes close connections with the central nervous system through the vagus nerve and other pathways. This review aims to investigate and elucidate the molecular mechanisms associated with PHN, focusing on the interplay among PHN, the gut microbiota, and relevant metabolites while scrutinizing its pathogenesis.

Indexed as

bacteriabrain-gut axisenteric nervous systemmechanismmicrobiotapostherpetic neuralgia

Identifiers

PMID40129863
PMCPMC11932021

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.