Nociplastic pain is a recently distinguished type of pain, distinct from neuropathic and nociceptive pain, and is well described in the literature. It is often mistaken for central sensitization. Pathophysiology has not been clearly established with regard to alteration of the concentration of spinal fluid elements, the structure of the white and gray matter of the brain, and psychological aspects. Many different diagnostic tools, i.e., the painDETECT and Douleur Neuropathique 4 questionnaires, have been developed to diagnose neuropathic pain, but they can also be applied for nociplastic pain; however, more standardized instruments are still needed in order to assess its occurrence and clinical presentation. Numerous studies have shown that nociplastic pain is present in many different diseases such as fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome type 1, and irritable bowel syndrome. Current pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments for nociceptive and neuropathic pain are not entirely suitable for treating nociplastic pain. There is an ongoing effort to establish the most efficient way to manage it. The significance of this field has led to several clinical trials being carried out in a short time. The aim of this narrative review was to discuss the currently available evidence on pathophysiology, associated diseases, treatment possibilities, and clinical trials. It is important that physicians widely discuss and acknowledge this relatively new concept in order to provide optimized pain control for patients.

Objective: Doctor-shopping has significant consequences for patients and payers and can indicate misuse of drugs, polypharmacy, less continuity of care, and increased medical expenses. This study reviewed the literature describing doctor-shoppers in the adult population. Methods: A systematic literature review was performed in PubMed and supplemented by a Google search of grey literature. Overall, 2885 records were identified; 43 papers served as a source of definition of a doctor-shopper, disease, treatment, patient characteristics, patient special needs, country. Results: Definitions of doctor-shopping were heterogeneous. Overall, 40% of studies examined the use of opioids, antidepressants, or psychoactive drugs, while the others focused on chronic or frequent diseases. Most studies were conducted in countries with easy access to healthcare resources (USA, France, Taiwan, Hong Kong). The prevalence of doctor-shopping ranged from 0.5% among opioid users in the USA to 25% of patients registered at general practices in Japan. Comorbidities, active substance abuse, greater distance from healthcare facility, younger age, longer disease and poor patient satisfaction increased doctor-shopping. Conclusions: Knowing the characteristics of doctor-shoppers may help identify such patients and reduce the associated waste of medical resources, but concerns about the misuse of drugs or healthcare resources should not prevent proper disease management.

In this study, we investigated the relationship between social media use and women’s sexual functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected between April and November 2021. Online surveys including the Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI) and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) questionnaires were distributed to young, sexually active women. Information was collected on their demographics, sexual life, and use of social media. We enrolled 546 women (mean age 23.07 ± 4.69). In general, 5.68% of the women were at high risk of social media addiction. Social media addiction had a negative impact on FSFI scores, while pornography use had a positive effect on women’s sexual functioning. Users of dating apps also obtained lower FSFI scores than non-users. No differences in FSFI scores were observed between gamers and non-gamers. The impact of time spent on social media on FSFI scores was not significant. We conclude that social media addiction negatively affected women’s sexual functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in elderly men with overweight or obesity and coronary artery disease. Methods: Patients recruited in cardiac rehabilitation centers post-myocardial infarction provided demographic and anthropomorphic data. ED was assessed using the abbreviated International Index of Erectile Function 5 (IIEF-5) Questionnaire. Results: The study included 661 men with a mean age of 67.3 ± 5.57 years, a mean BMI of 27.9 ± 3.6 m/kg², and a mean waist circumference of 98.9 ± 10.23 cm. Over 90% of men experienced ED, with similar proportions across BMI categories. The development of ED in men with a waist circumference of ≥100 cm had 3.74 times higher odds (OR 3.74; 95% CI: 1.0–13.7; p = 0.04) than in men with a waist circumference of <100 cm. Men with obesity and moderate-to-severe and severe ED were older compared to those without these disorders (67.1 ± 5.29 vs. 65.3 ± 4.35; p = 0.23). Conclusions: The prevalence of ED in men with coronary artery disease surpasses 90%. An increased body weight raises the risk of ED, with waist circumference proving to be a more reliable predictor of this risk compared to BMI. Physicians are encouraged to screen elderly patients with cardiovascular disease for ED and address obesity to enhance overall health.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) and coronary artery disease (CAD) share common risk factors, some of which have genetic backgrounds, while others may be stimulated by family lifestyle. We investigated the impact of the familial occurrence of CAD on the presence of ED and the presence of classic risk factors for ED in men with CAD. This cross-sectional observational study involved 751 men with CAD who were subjected to cardiac rehabilitation. Overall, 75.63% of the men had ED. CAD was diagnosed in 39.28% of the studied men’s relatives. ED was less frequent in the men with familial CAD than in those without (71.53% vs. 78.29%). Similar relations were observed for the presence of CAD in parents (70.43% vs. 78.34%) and the father (69.95% vs. 77.46%). The International Index of Erectile Function 5 score was significantly higher in patients with familial CAD (median (interquartile range); 17 (12–22) vs. 16 (10–21); p = 0.0118), in parents (18 (12–22) vs. 16 (10–20); p = 0.021), and in the father (18 (12–22) vs. 16 (10–21); p = 0.0499). Age and education minimized the effect of familial CAD. Familial CAD increased the incidence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and smoking but not sedentary lifestyle. Despite the higher prevalence of selected risk factors for ED in men with familial CAD, a higher incidence of ED was not observed.

We investigated whether long-term social restrictions and COVID-19 exposure have different impacts on the mental and sexual health of Polish women compared to the effects experienced at the beginning of the pandemic. An online survey was conducted among Polish women via Facebook groups. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) scores were compared for the first wave (April–May 2020) and the second wave (November 2020 to February 2021) of the pandemic. We enrolled 1644 participants (mean age 25.11 ± 7.09 years) during the first wave and 720 participants (mean age 23.23 ± 5.34 years) during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Significant differences were observed in libido levels and frequency of sexual activity before and during the first and second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (both p < 0.001). The percentage of participants under psychiatric or psychological care increased from 6.5% to 14.44% and those who were anxious about the health conditions of loved ones increased from 57.5% to 65.14%. BDI scores increased significantly from 11 (IQR 5–18) to 12 (IQR 7–20). The change in the FSFI score was not significant (27.01 ± 7.61 vs. 26.38 ± 7.76). The COVID-19 pandemic affected various aspects of human life, including sexual life. The data obtained during the first and the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland showed that female sexual dysfunction did not differ, but depressive symptoms and fear intensified.