Nociplastic pain in office workers with chronic neck pain

Chronic neck pain is highly prevalent in office workers. For a better treatment management plan is fundamental to classified the pain mechanism. The main aim of this thesis was to assess central sensitization in office workers with chronic neck pain comparing different pain conditions and different pain intensities. Thus, the thesis is presented in five articles format. The first study, a systematic review and meta-analysis found that all the pressure pain threshold measurements were lower in office workers with chronic neck pain compared with healthy workers. These assumptions were based on a small sample of existing studies. Importantly, this study proposed hypersensitivity reference values for localized and extra-segmental assessment of pressure pain thresholds in chronic neck pain. The second article, a structured web-based questionnaire, demonstrated a high prevalence of neck pain and a considerable number of body segments with pain in Portuguese office workers. The third study assessed pressure pain threshold, temporal summation of pain, and conditioned pain modulation, in different pain conditions and pain intensities. Office workers with moderate pain intensity demonstrated signs of sensitization demonstrated by widespread pressure hyperalgesia and enhanced temporal summation of pain. The fourth study added the assessment of maximal voluntary contraction in upper and lower trapezius, which was lower in those workers. The last study further demonstrated signs of sensitization in a higher number of office workers with chronic neck pain which had at least one quantitative sensory testing finding, being associated with pain intensity and pain rumination. It concludes that office workers with chronic neck pain self reporting a moderate pain intensity, demonstrated signals of nociplastic pain. The assessment of the pain mechanism was possible with reference values and cut-off points in the quantitative sensory testing. Moreover, the presence of nociplastic pain was associated with pain intensity, pain rumination, and lower muscle strengthDor crónica na cervical é altamente prevalente em trabalhadores de escritório. Para uma melhor estratégia de tratamento é fundamental classificar-se o mecanismo de dor. O objetivo principal desta tese é avaliar a sensitização central em trabalhadores de escritório com dor crónica cervical, comparando diferentes condições de dor com diferentes intensidades de dor. Esta tese é constituída por cinco estudos. O primeiro estudo, uma revisão sistemática e meta-análise, verificou que o limiar de dor à pressão estava diminuído em trabalhadores de escritório com dor crónica cervical, comparando com trabalhadores saudáveis. Estas suposições foram baseadas em estudos com pequenas amostras. Importante foi propor valores hipersentitivos de referência para pontos locais e extra-segmentares, na avaliação do limiar de dor à pressão em dor crónica cervical. O segundo estudo, um questionário online, demonstrou uma prevalência elevada de dor cervical e um número elevado de áreas com dor em trabalhadores de escritório portugueses. O terceiro estudo, avaliou o limiar de dor à pressão, somação temporal e modulação condicionada de dor, em diferenças condições e intensidades. Trabalhadores com dor moderada demonstraram sinais de sensitização, devidos a uma hiperalgesia por pressão generalizada e uma somação temporal aumentada. O quarto estudo avaliou a contração voluntária máxima do trapézio superior e inferior, que nestes trabalhadores estava reduzida. No último estudo foi demonstrada a existência de sinais de sensitização num número elevado de trabalhadores com dor crónica cervical, que tiveram um teste quantitativo sensorial positivo, com associações entre intensidade e ruminação da dor. Concluiu-se que trabalhadores de escritório com dor cervical, que auto-reportam dor moderada, demonstram sinais de dor nociplástica. A avaliação do mecanismo de dor foi possível através de testes quantitativos sensoriais, usando-se valores de referência e pontos de corte. Além disso, a presença de dor nociplástica foi associada com intensidade da dor, ruminação e redução da força muscular

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data

NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics

Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data