Anesthetic management of pediatric patients with Niemann-Pick disease type C for intrathecal 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin injection.

Background: Niemann-Pick disease type C is an autosomal-recessive, lysosomal storage disorder with variable age of onset and a heterogeneous clinical presentation that includes neurological, psychiatric, and visceral findings. Serial intrathecal injections of 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin are being evaluated as a treatment modality for Niemann-Pick disease type C with a subset of patients requiring anesthesia for this procedure.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of anesthesia provided for patients undergoing intrathecal injection of 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin.

Optimizing the securement of epidural catheters: an in vitro trial.

Introduction: Epidural anesthesia is frequently used to provide postoperative analgesia following major surgical procedures. Secure fixation of the epidural catheter is necessary to prevent premature dislodgment and loss of epidural analgesia. Using an in vitro model, the current prospective study evaluates different types of dressings for securement of an epidural catheter by quantifying the force in Newtons (N) required for dislodgment using a digital force gage.

Pectoralis blocks for insertion of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator in two patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) often have systemic manifestations with comorbid involvement of the cardiac and respiratory systems that increase the risk of anesthetic and perioperative morbidity. These patients frequently develop progressive myocardial involvement with cardiomyopathy, depressed cardiac function, and arrhythmias. The latter may necessitate the placement of an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD) insertion.

Changes in tissue and cerebral oxygenation following spinal anesthesia in infants: a prospective study.

Use of spinal anesthesia (SA) in children may address concerns about potential neurocognitive effects of general anesthesia. We used near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to assess the effects of SA on cerebral and tissue oxygenation in 19 patients aged 7 ± 3 months. Prior to SA placement, NIRS monitors were placed on the forehead (cerebral) and the thigh (tissue).

Is previous same quadrant surgery a contraindication to laparoscopic adrenalectomy?

Background: Previous abdominal surgery may present a challenge to safely completing laparoscopic adrenalectomy. We evaluated the impact of previous ipsilateral upper abdominal surgery on laparoscopic adrenalectomy outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospective databases was performed for patients that underwent laparoscopic transabdominal adrenalectomy at 2 tertiary centers between 2001 and 2011.

Meta-analysis of vertebral augmentation compared with conservative treatment for osteoporotic spinal fractures.

Cement augmentation is a controversial treatment for painful vertebral compression fractures (VCF). Our research questions for the meta-analysis were: Is there a clinical and statistical difference in pain relief, functional improvement, and quality of life between conservative care and cement augmentation for VCF and, if so, are they maintained at longer time points? We conducted a search of MEDLINE from January 1980 to July 2011 using PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Controlled Trials, CINAHL, and EMBASE. Searches were performed from medical subject headings.

DNA zip codes control an ancient mechanism for gene targeting to the nuclear periphery.

Many genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are recruited to the nuclear periphery after transcriptional activation. We have identified two gene recruitment sequences (GRS I and II) from the promoter of the INO1 gene that target the gene to the nuclear periphery. These GRSs function as DNA zip codes and are sufficient to target a nucleoplasmic locus to the nuclear periphery.