[Effects of rocuronium, sugammadex and rocuronium-sugammadex complex on coagulation in rats].

Background And Objectives: Sugammadex is an alternative pharmacological drug capable of reversing neuromuscular blockades without the limitations that are presented by anticholinesterase drugs. Coagulation disorders that are related to treatment with sugammadex were reported. The exact mechanism of the effects on coagulation are not fully understood.

A prospective, randomized, double-blind trial to compare body weight-adjusted and fixed doses of palonosetron for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting in obese female patients.

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common postsurgical complication. Palonosetron is effective for PONV prevention at the usual dose of 75 μg, but the ideal dose for obese patients has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to compare body weight-adjusted and fixed doses of palonosetron for preventing PONV in obese female patients.

[Implementing a chronic pain ambulatory care: preliminary results].

Background And Objectives: Pain is one of the most common reason for seeking medical care. This study aimed to analyze patients with chronic pain in Maricá, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.

Methods: A transversal retrospective study with 200 patients, who were treated in ambulatory care in a public hospital from June 2014 to December 2015.

[Preoperative education reduces preoperative anxiety in cancer patients undergoing surgery: Usefulness of the self-reported Beck anxiety inventory].

Background And Objectives: Preoperative instruction is known to significantly reduce patient anxiety before surgery. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of preoperative education on the level of anxiety of cancer patients undergoing surgery using the self-reported Beck anxiety inventory.

Methods: This study is a short-term observational study, including 72 female patients with a diagnosis of endometrial cancer who were scheduled to undergo surgical treatment under general anesthesia.

A 50-50% mixture of nitrous oxide-oxygen in transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy: A randomized and prospective clinical trial.

Introduction: Transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy (TUSPB) is the standard method of diagnosis for prostate cancer, and although it is well tolerated by some patients, it presents a discomfort rate of 65 to 90%, which may be associated with pain. For convenience, it is agreed that a method of analgesia and sedation is necessary. For this purpose, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of inhalation of a 50-50% N2O-O2 gas mixture on pain intensity in these patients.

A Randomized Blinded Study of the Left Ventricular Myocardial Performance Index Comparing Epinephrine to Levosimendan following Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

Background: The objective was to evaluate the effect of epinephrine and levosimendan on the left ventricle myocardial performance index in patients undergoing on-pump coronary artery by-pass grafting (CABG).

Methods: In a double-blind, randomized clinical trial, 81 patients (age: 45-65 years) of both genders were randomly divided to receive either epinephrine at a dosage of 0.06 mcg.

Effect of magnesium sulphate on sugammadex reversal time for neuromuscular blockade: a randomised controlled study.

Magnesium potentiates neuromuscular blockade. Sugammadex reverses rocuronium-induced blockade. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of pre-treatment with magnesium sulphate on sugammadex reversal time for neuromuscular blockade.

Effects of magnesium sulphate on the pharmacodynamics of rocuronium in patients aged 60 years and older: A randomised trial.

Background: There is little information on the interaction between magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) and rocuronium in elderly patients. With a growing number of older patients who need surgical procedures, it is increasingly important to study this age group.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of MgSO4 administration on the pharmacodynamics of rocuronium in patients aged 60 years or older.

Curative ablation of atrial fibrillation: comparison between deep sedation and general anesthesia.

Objective: To compare deep sedation with general anesthesia for curative ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, randomized study with 32 patients, aged between 18 and 65 years, ASA 2 and 3, BMI d" 30 kg/m2, divided into two groups: deep sedation (G1) and general anesthesia (G2). All patients received intravenous midazolam (0.

A comparative study between one and two effective doses (ED95) of rocuronium for tracheal intubation.

Background And Objectives: Neuromuscular blockers (NMB) are used to induce relaxation of skeletal muscles and facilitate tracheal intubation (TI). According to the literature, two effective doses (ED95) of NMB are ideal for TI. Rocuronium is a steroid-type, synthetic, non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocker of medium duration.

A study on electrocardiographic changes secondary to the use of tricyclic antidepressants in patients with chronic pain.

Background And Objectives: Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are widely used as analgesics in chronic lumbar pain and neuropathic pain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the electrocardiographic changes in patients with chronic pain treated with amitriptyline or imipramine.

Methods: Forty patients, ages 26 to 81 years (57.

[Control of postoperative pain following total knee arthroplasty: is it necessary to associate sciatic nerve block to femoral nerve block?].

Background And Objectives: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) causes severe tissue trauma, leading to severe postoperative pain. Good postoperative analgesia is fundamental and one should consider that early mobilization of the joint is an important aspect to obtain good results. There is a controversy in the literature on the efficacy of isolated femoral nerve block.

[Clinical and therapeutic analysis of oncology patients treated at the pain and palliative care program of the Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho in 2003.].

Background And Methods: The main goal of palliative care is the control of pain and other symptoms in patients with chronic diseases without possibility of cure, especially advanced cancer. About 75% of patients with advanced cancer experience severe pain, which interferes with quality of life and, according to the WHO, it is considered a worldwide medical emergency. This study evaluated the profile of oncology patients enrolled in the Chronic Pain Treatment and Palliative Care Program of the HUCFF/FM/UFRJ, focusing on the role of the anesthesiologist, medications used, humanization of the treatment, and improvement in patient's quality of life.

Methadone to treat non-oncologic neuropathic pain. Case reports.

Background And Objectives: This report includes seven patients with chronic non-oncologic neuropathic pain who have not responded to classic approaches with tricyclic antidepressant and anticonvulsant drugs. Oral methadone, a synthetic opioid similar to morphine, is referred as alternative to treat neuropathic pain due to its non-competitive antagonist action on NMDA receptors. This study aimed at evaluating methadone to treat chronic non-oncologic neuropathic pain patients who have not responded to classic approaches.

[Mercury hazard in pediatric practice].

Medical doctors, nurses, attendants, and patients at the UFRJ paediatric hospital were accidentally exposed to inorganic mercury. From July to December 1992, 228 mercury thermometers were broken in 6 paediatric wards. Contamination of the exposed group was assessed by a comparative cross sectional study in January 93.

Penicillin post-antibiotic effects on the biology of group A streptococci.

Microbial growth in a Todd-Hewitt broth has been followed to determine the in-vitro post-antibiotic effects of penicillin in a Lancefield group A streptococcal strain. Bacteria were exposed for 2 h at 37 degrees C to 1 x MIC of penicillin. Following antibiotic removal, inactivation with penicillinase and regrowth in a drug-free broth, the duration of the effect was found to be 2.

Cell surface hydrophobicity and the net electric surface charge of group B streptococci: the role played in the micro-organism-host cell interaction.

The cell surface hydrophobicity, net electric surface charge and cell adhesion of six group B streptococci strains were assessed. Treatment with trypsin reduced cytoadhesion of the six strains (80340, 90356, 85147, 90222, 90186 and 88641) and induced loss of surface negative charge in the other four strains (80340, 85147, 90222 and 90186). The same treatment increased the surface hydrophobicity of three strains (90356, 90222 and 88641).

The effect of subminimal inhibitory concentrations of penicillin on growth rate and haemolysin activity of group G Streptococcus.

The influence of the subminimal inhibitory concentrations (1/3 and 1/4 of the MIC) of penicillin on growth rate and on haemolysin production of a strain of group G Streptococcus was studied. It was shown that 1/3 of the MIC almost completely inhibited the bacterial growth, but it was not able to inhibit haemolysin activity in the culture supernate. The generation time of bacteria grown in 1/4 of the MIC was approximately twice longer than that of the control culture.

Extracellular deoxyribonucleases of streptococci: a comparison of their occurrence and levels of production among beta-hemolytic strains of various serological groups.

Production of extracellular deoxyribonuclease by 394 strains of beta hemolytic streptococci was examined employing a deoxyribonucleic acid-methyl green assay. Enzymatic activities were measured in supernatants of bacterial cultures. Of the strains tested, 316 (80%) produced the enzyme.

Carnitine supplementation in diphtheria.

We studied the effect of carnitine supplementation in patients with diphtheria. Six hundred and twenty five children of diphtheria received either DL-carnitine (100 mg/kg/day in two divided doses orally for four days), or no carnitine, in addition to the routine treatment for diphtheria. The patients receiving carnitine (n = 327) and controls (n = 298) were matched for age, sex, duration of symptoms, grade of toxemia and immunization status.

The protective effect of carnitine in human diphtheric myocarditis.

Carnitine, an important cofactor in the transport of fatty acids to the interior of cell mitochondria, is depleted in myocardial tissue of guinea pigs submitted to diphtheric toxin administration. Mortality rates were reduced in these animals by supplying exogenous amounts of carnitine. The accumulation of fatty acids in the cytoplasm of human heart cells reported in cases of diphtheria suggests that carnitine might possibly be depleted in human myocardium as well.

Hyaluronidase production by groups A, B, C, and G streptococci: a statistical analysis.

Production of hyaluronidase by 147 strains of beta hemolytic streptococci was studied employing a sensitive dye-binding assay and levels of enzyme activity were evaluated statistically. The analysis of variance showed that group A strains isolated in Rio de Janeiro produced significantly smaller amounts of enzyme than group A strains from a Minneapolis (USA) collection or than groups B and G brazilian isolates. The t test revealed that M not typable nose/throat group A strains produced more hyaluronidase than skin isolates.