The role of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and miR-196a2 in bronchial asthma pathogenesis and diagnosis.

Background: Bronchial asthma is a persistent inflammatory respiratory condition that restricts the passage of air and causes hyperresponsiveness. Chronic asthma can be classified into three categories: mild, moderate, and severe. Remodeling took place as the extracellular matrix accumulated in the walls of the airways.

The efficacy of oral piroxicam fast-dissolving tablets versus sublingual fentanyl in incident breakthrough pain due to bone metastases: a double-blinded randomized study.

Purpose: Breakthrough pain (BTP) is a transient exacerbation of pain occurring in a patient with chronic, persistent pain. The most common type is incident pain that is mostly related to bone metastases. The oral mucosa is an attractive route for drug delivery.

The Preventive Value of Epidural Calcitonin in Patients with Lower Limb Amputation.

Background: Postamputation pain is highly prevalent after limb amputation with neuropathic nature; calcitonin may effectively relieve many neuropathic pain states.

Design: Double-blind randomized multicenter study.

Setting: Our study hypothesis is to evaluate the preventive value of epidural calcitonin on postoperative pain, grade of phantom pain, and the development of allodynia and hyperalgesia in patients undergoing lower limb amputation.

Comparison of fentanyl versus meperidine as supplements to epidural clonidine-bupivacaine in patients with lower limb orthopedic surgery under combined spinal epidural anesthesia.

Background: The analgesic and sedative effect of clonidine explain its common use as adjuvant in regional anesthesia, however the hemodynamic instability associated with its neuroaxial administration is the major drawback. Our study hypothesis is to compare the hemodynamic and analgesic effect of epidural fentanyl in comparison to meperidine when added to clonidine in patients undergoing lower limbs orthopedic surgery using combined spinal-epidural anesthesia.

Methods: One hundred thirty five ASA physical status I or II patients were recruited for lower limb orthopedic surgery.

Effect of mini-dose epidural dexmedetomidine in elective cesarean section using combined spinal-epidural anesthesia: a randomized double-blinded controlled study.

Background: Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia is commonly used for elective cesarean section. Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of adding dexmedetomidine to epidural bupivacaine and fentanyl in patients undergoing elective cesarean section using combined spinal-epidural anesthesia.

Methods: Eighty healthy women at term were randomly assigned to two groups: a control group (n = 40; "Bup/Fen group") received combined spinal-epidural anesthesia with intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine 5 mg and an epidural mixture of 10 mL plain bupivacaine 0.

The Value of Admission Serum IL-8 Monitoring and the Correlation with IL-8 (-251A/T) Polymorphism in Critically Ill Patients.

Background. The clinical management of sepsis is a highly complicated process. Disruption of the immune system explains in part the major variation in sepsis outcome.

Pre-emptive value of methylprednisolone intravenous infusion in patients with vertebral metastases. A double-blind randomized study.

Context: The vertebral column is the most common site of bone metastases irrespective of the primary tumor. Vertebral metastases are a major cause of motor deficit of the lower extremities. The use of radiotherapy is the treatment of choice in these patients.

The predictive prognostic values of serum TNF-α in comparison to SOFA score monitoring in critically ill patients.

Background: The use of inflammatory markers to follow up critically ill patients is controversial. The short time frame, the need for frequent and serial measurement of biomarkers, the presence of soluble receptor and their relatively high cost are the major drawbacks. Our study's objective is to compare the prognostic values of serum TNF-α and SOFA score monitoring in critically ill patients.

The value of correlation of serum 20S proteasome concentration and percentage of lymphocytic apoptosis in critically ill patients: a prospective observational study.

Introduction: Sepsis in critically ill patients is almost associated with bad prognosis and its early detection may improve the prognosis. However, it is difficult to monitor the immunological state of these patients depending on the traditional markers of infection or inflammatory mediators. Accelerated lymphocyte death may reflect good idea about the prognosis especially when combined with 20S proteasome determinations, a recently discovered marker for muscle degradation in patients with sepsis.

A randomized comparison between three types of irrigating fluids during transurethral resection in benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Background: Central nervous system changes, circulatory and electrolyte imbalances are the main complications of endoscopic transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) which is known as transurethral resection (TUR) syndrome, which occurs as result of excessive absorption of irrigating fluid. We compare glycine 1.5% versus glucose 5% and normal saline 0.

Evaluation of efficacy of the perioperative administration of Venlafaxine or gabapentin on acute and chronic postmastectomy pain.

Objectives: Postmastectomy pain syndrome is a neuropathic pain syndrome that is known to develop after breast surgery. Preemptive analgesia has been shown to be efficacious in reducing postoperative pain, and may be effective in reducing the incidence of certain types of neuropathic pain. We investigated the analgesic efficacy of Venlafaxine and gabapentin on acute and chronic pain associated with cancer breast surgery.

The role of adding hyaluronidase to fluoroscopically guided caudal steroid and hypertonic saline injection in patients with failed back surgery syndrome: a prospective, double-blinded, randomized study.

Background: Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) has been reported to account for up to 40% of patients with chronic low back pain. Epidural fibrosis may be responsible for up to 30% of all cases of FBSS. Perineural fibrosis can interfere with cerebrospinal fluid-mediated nutrition, rendering the nerve root hyperesthetic and hypersensitive to compression.

The diagnostic value of serum leptin monitoring and its correlation with tumor necrosis factor-alpha in critically ill patients: a prospective observational study.

Introduction: Severe infection and sepsis are common causes of morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis in critically ill patients is important to reduce these complications. The present study was conducted to determine the role of serum leptin at early diagnosis and differentiation between patients with manifestations of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and those with sepsis in patients suffering from a broad range of diseases in the intensive care unit (ICU) and its correlation with other biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).

Effect of preincisional epidural fentanyl and bupivacaine on postthoracotomy pain and pulmonary function.

Background: This study attempts to determine whether preemptive thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) initiated before surgical incision would reduce the severity of acute post-thoracotomy pain, its effects on pulmonary function and stress response.

Methods: Forty patients undergoing posterolateral thoracotomy received TEA either before (preoperative-TEA group) or after (postoperative-TEA group) surgery. Postoperative analgesia was maintained with epidural infusion of bupivacaine and fentanyl.