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Fibromyalgia Researcher Dr. M.B. Yunus on the Future of Fibromyalgia Research
According to Essential Science Indicators, Dr. Muhammad B. Yunus is one of the most widely published fibromyalgia researchers, with 16 papers cited a total of 422 times as of late 2006. Dr. Yunus is Professor of Medicine in the Section of Rheumatology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. In an interview with Dr. Yunus from September 2006, he discusses his background in fibromyalgia research and then envisions the future of fibromyalgia research:
"A greater number of studies involving a large array of neurotransmitters involved in the pain pathway may be most relevant in fibromyalgia research in the future. There will be more drug studies involving many neurotransmitters, their receptors and subtypes. Serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, substance P, NMDA receptors and their subtypes, among others, are likely targets of more fruitful research with better identification of agonists or inhibitors that will be helpful in developing new drugs without significant side-effects. Thus, research on the basic science of FMS and related syndromes may lead to discovery of new pharmacological agents for better treatment of the suffering patients (as has been the case with rheumatoid arthritis in recent years).
"Roles of ion channels and cytokines released from microglia and astrocytes need to be carefully investigated. Among the inhibitory pathways, the opioid system has so far not been studied earnestly. The effect of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions on [central sensitization] can be tested in a human pain laboratory setting or by neuroimaging prior to their large scale clinical trials. Researchers should also focus on further genetic studies of FMS and other members of the [central sentivity syndromes] family."
He goes on to mention the necessity of more research into fatigue in FMS, an area that has rarely been studied. "Most likely a combination of endocrine abnormalities, dysfunction of certain areas of the [central nervous system] along with particular neurotransmitter abnormalities, as well as psychological distress are involved in causing fatigue, but we need data to prove this," Dr. Yunus says. He also mentions the dearth of information on the symptom of muscle stiffness, which he says is often not helped by common pain treatments, and the need for information about the origins and triggers of the syndrome.
"More studies are expected involving the factors that may trigger FMS... such as viral infection, mental and physical trauma, poor sleep, environmental factors (such as noise and chemicals) and various psychosocial stresses in childhood and their probable ability to cause long term neuronal plasticity among the adults."
According to Essential Science Indicators, Dr. Muhammad B. Yunus is one of the most widely published fibromyalgia researchers, with 16 papers cited a total of 422 times as of late 2006. Dr. Yunus is Professor of Medicine in the Section of Rheumatology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. In an interview with Dr. Yunus from September 2006, he discusses his background in fibromyalgia research and then envisions the future of fibromyalgia research:
"A greater number of studies involving a large array of neurotransmitters involved in the pain pathway may be most relevant in fibromyalgia research in the future. There will be more drug studies involving many neurotransmitters, their receptors and subtypes. Serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, substance P, NMDA receptors and their subtypes, among others, are likely targets of more fruitful research with better identification of agonists or inhibitors that will be helpful in developing new drugs without significant side-effects. Thus, research on the basic science of FMS and related syndromes may lead to discovery of new pharmacological agents for better treatment of the suffering patients (as has been the case with rheumatoid arthritis in recent years).
"Roles of ion channels and cytokines released from microglia and astrocytes need to be carefully investigated. Among the inhibitory pathways, the opioid system has so far not been studied earnestly. The effect of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions on [central sensitization] can be tested in a human pain laboratory setting or by neuroimaging prior to their large scale clinical trials. Researchers should also focus on further genetic studies of FMS and other members of the [central sentivity syndromes] family."
He goes on to mention the necessity of more research into fatigue in FMS, an area that has rarely been studied. "Most likely a combination of endocrine abnormalities, dysfunction of certain areas of the [central nervous system] along with particular neurotransmitter abnormalities, as well as psychological distress are involved in causing fatigue, but we need data to prove this," Dr. Yunus says. He also mentions the dearth of information on the symptom of muscle stiffness, which he says is often not helped by common pain treatments, and the need for information about the origins and triggers of the syndrome.
"More studies are expected involving the factors that may trigger FMS... such as viral infection, mental and physical trauma, poor sleep, environmental factors (such as noise and chemicals) and various psychosocial stresses in childhood and their probable ability to cause long term neuronal plasticity among the adults."