Translational Research in Pain and Itch

This book provides a comprehensive review of the latest advances in translational pain and itch research, and presents the cutting-edge developments in the study of our two principal, yet most mysteries sensations. Despite the slow progress in the discovery of effective therapies for chronic pain and pruritus, scientists around the globe now have a better understanding of why and how these conditions occur. Based on these findings, a series of novel treatment strategies are currently under development, and hopefully in a few years, medical practitioners will become more confident and optimistic when facing patients with these annoying and sometimes severe disorders. The contributing authors are world-renowned research scientists, who have made significant discoveries. The book is of interest to neuroscientists, neurologists and pharmacologists in both clinical and basic medical research field.

In this second edition of the book, five existing chapters have been updated. Five new chapters have been added to reflect the lasted developments in the related field of research.

Chao Ma is a professor and director of Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. He was awarded ＂Union Scholar＂ in 2011. His research mainly focuses on the molecular study of chronic pain and itch.

Yuguang Huang is a professor and head of Department of Anesthesiology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital. He is the executive director of International Society for Anesthetic Pharmacology and president of China Anesthesiology Association. His research interests are the clinical anesthetic management for high risk cases, patient-controlled analgesia and regional blockade with nerve stimulator technique, as well as drug interactions for pain management.