Subclinical epileptiform activity in the Alzheimer continuum: association with disease, cognition and detection method.

Background: Epileptic seizures are an established comorbidity of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Subclinical epileptiform activity (SEA) as detected by 24-h electroencephalography (EEG) or magneto-encephalography (MEG) has been reported in temporal regions of clinically diagnosed AD patients. Although epileptic activity in AD probably arises in the mesial temporal lobe, electrical activity within this region might not propagate to EEG scalp electrodes and could remain undetected by standard EEG.

Impact of fatigue on anaesthesia providers: a scoping review.

Background: Recently, fatigue has received more attention as a workplace hazard. This scoping review focuses on fatigue in anaesthesia providers. We explore the prevalence of fatigue in anaesthesia providers, and we examine how fatigue impacts their performance.

Etomidate and other non-barbiturates.

It is today generally accepted that anesthetics act by binding directly to sensitive target proteins. For certain intravenous anesthetics, such as propofol, barbiturates, and etomidate, the major target for anesthetic effect has been identified as the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A)) receptor, with particular subunits playing a crucial role. Etomidate, an intravenous imidazole general anesthetic, is thought to produce anesthesia by modulating or activating ionotropic Cl(-)-permeable GABA(A) receptors.

Propofol.

The hypnotic agent propofol has pharmacokinetic characteristics that allow for rapid onset and offset of drug effect and fast elimination from the body. Elderly patients show a greater sensitivity to the hypnotic effect of propofol. The drug is extensively metabolized in the liver through the cytochrome P450 system and glucuronidation, with potential for drug interaction.

The role of COX-2 inhibitors in pain modulation.

NSAIDs are the analgesics that are most commonly used world-wide. In the past few years, there have been significant advances in explaining the mechanism of action and clinical efficacy of the drugs belonging to this pharmacological family. Recent data relating to the role of cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 in the development of neuronal hyperexcitability and pain hypersensitivity have opened new perspectives in our understanding of the therapeutic effects of these drugs in several painful conditions.