Publications

Featured Publications

Loss of mu opioid receptor signaling in nociceptors, but not microglia, abrogates morphine tolerance without disrupting analgesia

Microglial Modulation as a Target for Chronic Pain: From the Bench to the Bedside and Back

Angiotensin receptor blockade mimics the effect of exercise on recovery after orthopaedic trauma by decreasing pain and improving muscle regeneration.

2023

Lopas LA, Shen H, Zhang N, Jang Y, Tawfik VL, Goodman SB, Natoli RM. Clinical Assessments of Fracture Healing and Basic Science Correlates: Is There Room for Convergence? Curr Osteoporos Rep. 2023 Apr;21(2):216-227. doi: 10.1007/s11914-022-00770-7. Epub 2022 Dec 19. PMID: 36534307.
Trinh P, Luan A, Tawfik VL, Sheckter C, Rochlin D, Fox P, Curtin C. Impact of Adding Carpal Tunnel Release or Trigger Finger Release to Carpometacarpal Arthroplasty on Postoperative Complications”. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2023 Jan 2. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000010144. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36728633.

2022

Huck NA, Donovan LJ, Shen H, Jordan CE, Muwanga GPB, Bridges CM, Forman TE, Cordonnier SA, Haight ES, Dale-Huang F, Takemura Y, Tawfik VL. Sex-distinct microglial activation and myeloid cell infiltration in the spinal cord after painful peripheral injury. Neurobiol Pain. 2022 Oct 12;12:100106. doi: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2022.100106. PMID: 36531615; PMCID: PMC9755061.
Muwanga GPB, Siliezar-Doyle J, Ortiz AA, Kaslow J, Haight ES, Tawfik VL. The Tibial Fracture-Pin Model: A Clinically Relevant Mouse Model of Orthopedic Injury. J Vis Exp. 2022 Jul 28;(185). doi: 10.3791/63590. PMID: 35969043.
Bertels Z, Mangutov E, Conway C, Siegersma K, Asif S, Shah P, Huck N, Tawfik VL, Pradhan AA. Migraine and peripheral pain models show differential alterations in neuronal complexity. Headache. 2022 Jul;62(7):780-791. doi: 10.1111/head.14352. Epub 2022 Jul 13. PMID: 35676889; PMCID: PMC9543775.
Gaffney CM, Muwanga G, Shen H, Tawfik VL, Shepherd AJ. Mechanical Conflict-Avoidance Assay to Measure Pain Behavior in Mice. J Vis Exp. 2022 Feb 18;(180):10.3791/63454. doi: 10.3791/63454. PMID: 35253785; PMCID: PMC9058981.
Yoon D, Xu Y, Cipriano PW, Alam IS, Mari Aparici C, Tawfik VL, Curtin CM, Carroll IR, Biswal S. Neurovascular, Muscle, and Skin Changes on [18F]FDG PET/MRI in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome of the Foot: A Prospective Clinical Study. Pain Med. 2022 Feb 1;23(2):339-346. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnab315. PMID: 34718774; PMCID: PMC8807071.

2021

Huck NA, Siliezar-Doyle J*, Haight ES*, Ishida R, Forman TE, Wu S, Shen H, Takemura Y, Clark JD, Tawfik VL. Temporal contribution of myeloid-lineage TLR4 to the transition to chronic pain: A focus on sex differences. Journal of Neuroscience. 2021 Apr 10; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1940-20.2021
Johnson EM, Yoon D, Biswal S, Curtin C, Fox P, Wilson TJ, Carroll I, Lutz A, Tawfik VL. Characteristics of Patients With Complex Limb Pain Evaluated Through an Interdisciplinary Approach Utilizing Magnetic Resonance Neurography. Front Pain Res (Lausanne). 2021 May 31;2:689402. doi: 10.3389/fpain.2021.689402. PMID: 35295513; PMCID: PMC8915577.
Grace P, Tawfik VL, Svensson CI, Burton MD, Loggia ML, Hutchinson MR. Journal of Neuroscience. 2021 Feb 3; 41(5): 855-865. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1650-20.2020.
Shen H, Gardner A, Vyas J, Tawfik VL. Models of complex orthotrauma in rodents: bone, muscle and nerve injury, and healing. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2021 Feb 1; 11: 620485. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2020.620485

2020

Obal D, Wu S, McKinstry-Wu A, Tawfik VL. A guide to Understanding “State-of-the-Art” Basic Research Techniques in Anesthesiology. Anesthesia & Analgesia. 2020. Aug; 131(2): 450-463.
Tawfik VL, Quarta M, Paine P, Forman TE, Pajarinen J, Takemura Y, Goodman SB, Rando TA, Clark JD. Angiotensin receptor blockade mimics the effects of exercise on recovery after orthopaedic trauma by decreasing pain and improving muscle regeneration. J Physiology. 2020 Jan; 598(2): 317-329.
Tawfik VL, Huck NA, Baca QJ, Ganio E, Haight ES, Culos A, Ghaemi S, Angst MS, Clark JD, Aghaeepour N, Gaudilliere B. Systematic immunophenotyping reveals sex-specific responses after painful injury in mice. Frontiers in Immunology.
Haight ES, Johnson EM, Carroll IR, Tawfik VL. Of mice, microglia, and (wo)men: a case series and mechanistic investigation of hydroxychloroquine for complex regional pain syndrome. Pain Reports. 2020 Sept-Oct; 5(5): e841.
Haight ES, Huck NA, Jordan CE, Tawfik VL. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: Pathophysiology, Prognosis and Natural History. In E. Lawson, J. Castellanos (Eds.) Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Springer, New York, NY.

2019

Haight, E. S., Chen, F., Tanaka, P., Brock-Utne, J. G., Macario, A., Sun, E. C., Tawfik, V. L. Predictors of post-anaesthesiology residency research productivity: preliminary report. British journal of anaesthesia. 2019
Haight, E. S., Forman, T. E., Cordonnier, S. A., James, M. L., Tawfik, V. L. Microglial Modulation as a Target for Chronic Pain: From the Bench to the Bedside and Back. Anesthesia and analgesia. 2019; 128 (4): 737–46
Cropper, H. C., Johnson, E. M., Haight, E., Cordonnier, S. A., Chaney, A. M., Forman, T. E., Biswal, A., Stevens, M. Y., James, M. L., Tawfik, V. L. Longitudinal TSPO-PET imaging of peripheral and central myeloid cells in a mouse model of complex regional pain syndrome. Pain, 2019
Kuzumaki, N., Suda, Y., Iwasawa, C., Narita, M., Sone, T., Watanabe, M., Maekawa, A., Matsumoto, T., Akamatsu, W., Igarashi, K., Tamura, H., Takeshima, H., Tawfik, V. L., Ushijima, T., Hattori, N., Okano, H., Narita, M. Cell-specific overexpression of COMT in dopaminergic neurons of Parkinson’s disease. Brain : a journal of neurology. 2019; 142 (6): 1675–89
Cipriano, P., Yoon, D., Carroll, I., Curtin, C., Tawfik, V., Xu, Y., Biswal, S. 18F-FDG PET/MRI of patients with chronic pain alters management. SOC NUCLEAR MEDICINE INC. 2019
Yoon, D., Xu, Y., Cipriano, P., Tawfik, V., Curtin, C., Carroll, I., Biswal, S. Musculoskeletal changes on [18F]FDG PET/MRI from complex regional pain syndrome in foot. SOC NUCLEAR MEDICINE INC. 2019
Li, W., Irvine, K., Sahbaie, P., Guo, T., Shi, X., Tawfik, V. L., Kingery, W. S., Clark, J. Morphine Exacerbates Postfracture Nociceptive Sensitization, Functional Impairment, and Microglial Activation in Mice. ANESTHESIOLOGY 2019; 130 (2): 292–308
Schwan, J., Sclafani, J., Tawfik, V. L. Chronic Pain Management in the Elderly. Anesthesiology clinics. 2019; 37 (3): 547–60

2018

Li, W., Irvine, K., Sahbaie, P., Guo, T., Shi, X., Tawfik, V. L., Kingery, W. S., Clark, J. D. Morphine Exacerbates Postfracture Nociceptive Sensitization, Functional Impairment, and Microglial Activation in Mice. Anesthesiology. 2018
Clark, J. D., Tawfik, V., Tajerian, M., Kingery, W. [EXPRESS] Autoinflammatory and Autoimmune Contributions to Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Molecular pain. 2018: 1744806918799127
Wang, D., Tawfik, V. L., Corder, G., Low, S. A., Francois, A., Basbaum, A. I., Scherrer, G. Functional Divergence of Delta and Mu Opioid Receptor Organization in CNS Pain Circuits. NEURON 2018; 98 (1): 90-
Takemura, Y., Clark, D., Forman, T., Haight, E., Tawfik, V. TEMPORAL CONTROL OF MICROGLIAL REACTIVITY REVEALS SEX-INDEPENDENT FUNCTIONAL CONTRIBUTION OF MICROGLIA TO LONG-LASTING PAIN. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2018: 437
Watanabe, M., Narita, M., Hamada, Y., Yamashita, A., Tamura, H., Ikegami, D., Kondo, T., Shinzato, T., Shimizu, T., Fukuchi, Y., Muto, A., Okano, H., Yamanaka, A., Tawfik, V. L., Kuzumaki, N., Navratilova, E., Porreca, F., Narita, M. Activation of ventral tegmental area dopaminergic neurons reverses pathological allodynia resulting from nerve injury or bone cancer. MOLECULAR PAIN. 2018; 14: 1744806918756406
Cipriano, P., Lee, S., Yoon, D., Shen, B., Tawfik, V., Curtin, C., Dragoo, J. L., James, M., Mccurdy, C., Chin, F., Biswal, S. Successful treatment of chronic knee pain following localization by a sigma-1 receptor radioligand and PET/MRI: a case report. JOURNAL OF PAIN RESEARCH. 2018; 11: 2353–56

2017

Low, S. A., Robbins, W., Tawfik, V. L. Complex management of a patient with refractory primary erythromelalgia lacking a SCN9A mutation. JOURNAL OF PAIN RESEARCH. 2017; 10: 973-977
Corder, G., Tawfik, V. L., Wang, D., Sypek, E. I., Low, S. A., Dickinson, J. R., Sotoudeh, C., Clark, J. D., Barres, B. A., Bohlen, C. J., Scherrer, G.Loss of mu opioid receptor signaling in nociceptors, but not microglia, abrogates morphine tolerance without disrupting analgesia. NATURE MEDICINE. 2017; 23 (2): 164-173

2016

Adelus, M., Sturgeon, J., RICO, T., Tawfik, V., Mackey, S. (118) Physical and psychological predictors of dysfunction in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS): a Collaborative Health Outcomes Information Registry (CHOIR) study. journal of pain .2016; 17 (4S): S5-?
Adelus, M., Sturgeon, J., RICO, T., Tawfik, V., Mackey, S. (218) Characterization of patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) in a tertiary care pain management setting: A Collaborative Health Outcomes Information Registry (CHOIR) study. journal of pain. 2016; 17 (4S): S30-?
Tawfik, V. L., Flood, P. Electrical Synapses High-speed Communication in the Maintenance of Neuropathic Pain. ANESTHESIOLOGY. 2016; 124 (1): 13-15

2015

Wu, Y., Kim, J., Tawfik, V. L., Lalchandani, R. R., Scherrer, G., Ding, J. B. Input- and Cell-Type-Specific Endocannabinoid-Dependent LTD in the Striatum. Cell reports 2015; 10 (1): 75-87.
Pradhan, A. A., Tawfik, V. L., Tipton, A. F., Scherrer, G. In vivo techniques to investigate the internalization profile of opioid receptors. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) 2015; 1230: 87-104

2014

Bardoni, R., Tawfik, V. L., Wang, D., Francois, A., Solorzano, C., Shuster, S. A., Choudhury, P., Betelli, C., Cassidy, C., Smith, K., de Nooij, J. C., Mennicken, F., O’Donnell, D., Kieffer, B. L., Woodbury, C. J., Basbaum, A. I., MacDermott, A. B., Scherrer, G. Delta Opioid Receptors Presynaptically Regulate Cutaneous Mechanosensory Neuron Input to the Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn. NEURON 2014; 81 (6): 1312-1327

2013

Carroll, I., Hah, J., Mackey, S., Ottestad, E., Kong, J. T., Lahidji, S., Tawfik, V., Younger, J., Curtin, C. Perioperative interventions to reduce chronic postsurgical pain. Journal of reconstructive microsurgery 2013; 29 (4): 213-222
Carroll, I., Hah, J., Mackey, S., Ottestad, E., Kong, J. T., Lahidji, S., Tawfik, V., Younger, J., Curtin, C. Perioperative Interventions to Reduce Chronic Postsurgical Pain. JOURNAL OF RECONSTRUCTIVE MICROSURGERY 2013; 29 (4): 213-222

2010

Tawfik, V. L., Chang, S., Hitti, F. L., Roberts, D. W., Leiter, J. C., Jovanovic, S., Lee, K. H.Deep Brain Stimulation Results in Local Glutamate and Adenosine Release: Investigation Into the Role of Astrocytes. NEUROSURGERY. 2010; 67 (2): 367-375

2008

Tawfik, V. L., Regan, M. R., Haenggeli, C., Lacroix-Fralish, M. L., Nutile-McMenemy, N., Perez, N., Rothstein, J. D., DeLeo, J. A. Propentofylline-induced astrocyte modulation leads to alterations in glial glutamate promoter activation following spinal nerve transection. NEUROSCIENCE. 2008; 152 (4): 1086-1092
LaCroix-Fralish, M. L., Tawfik, V. L., Nutile-McMenemy, N., DeLeo, J. A.Neuregulin 1 is a pronociceptive cytokine that is regulated by progesterone in the spinal cord: Implications for sex specific pain modulation. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PAIN. 2008; 12 (1): 94-103

2007

Boye, S. M., Grant, R. J., Tawfik, V. L. Intracranial self-stimulation of the dorsal raphe sensitizes psychostimulant locomotion. BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE. 2007; 121 (3): 550-558
Tawfik, V. L., Nutile-McMenemy, N., LaCroix-Fralish, M. L., DeLeo, J. A. Efficacy of propentofylline, a glial modulating agent, on existing mechanical allodynia following peripheral nerve injury. BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY. 2007; 21 (2): 238-246

2006

Tawfik, V. L., LaCroix-Fralish, M. L., Bercury, K. K., Nutile-McMenemy, N., Harris, B. T., DeLeo, J. A. Induction of astrocyte differentiation by propentofylline increases glutamate transporter expression in vitro: Heterogeneity of the quiescent phenotype. GLIA. 2006; 54 (3): 193-203
LaCroix-Fralish, M. L., Tawfik, V. L., Tanga, F. Y., Spratt, K. F., DeLeo, J. A. Differential spinal cord gene expression in rodent models of radicular and neuropathic pain. ANESTHESIOLOGY. 2006; 104 (6): 1283-1292
De Leo, J. A., Tawfik, V. L., LaCroix-Fralish, M. L The tetrapartite synapse: Path to CNS sensitization and chronic pain. PAIN. 2006; 122 (1-2): 17-21
Lacroix-Fralish, M. L., Tawfik, V. L., Nutile-McMenemy, N., DeLeo, J. A. Progesterone mediates gonadal hormone differences in tactile and thermal hypersensitivity following L5 nerve root ligation in female rats. NEUROSCIENCE. 2006; 138 (2): 601-608
LaCroix-Fralish, M. L., Tawfik, V. L., Spratt, K. F., DeLeo, J. A. Sex differences in lumbar spinal cord gene expression following experimental lumbar radiculopathy. JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE. 2006; 30 (3): 283-295
LaCroix-Fralish, M. L., Tawfik, V. L., Nutile-McMenemy, N., Harris, B. T., DeLeo, J. A. Differential regulation of neuregulin 1 expression by progesterone in astrocytes and neurons. NEURON GLIA BIOLOGY 2006; 2: 227-234

2005

M. A., Tawfik, V. L. Safety issues concerning the medical use of cannabis and cannabinoids. Pain research & management. Ware. 2005; 10: 31A-7A
Tawfik, V. L., Lacroix-Fralish, M. L., Nutile-McMeneny, N., DeLeo, J. A. Transcriptional and translational regulation of glial activation by morphine in a rodent model of neuropathic pain. JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL THERAPEUTICS. 2005; 313 (3): 1239-1247
Lacroix-Fralish, M. L., Tawfik, V. L., DeLeo, J. A. The organizational and activational effects of sex hormones on tactile and thermal hypersensitivity following lumbar nerve root injury in male and female rats. PAIN. 2005; 114 (1-2): 71-80

2004

DeLeo, J. A., Tanga, F. Y., Tawfik, V. L. Neuroimmune activation and neuroinflammation in chronic pain and opioid tolerance/hyperalgesia. Neuroscientist. 2004; 10 (1): 40-52