Effect of curcumin (Curcuma longa extract) on LPS-induced acute lung injury is mediated by the activation of AMPK.

Purpose: Curcumin, a biphenolic compound extracted from turmeric (Curcuma longa), possesses potent anti-inflammatory activity. The present study investigated whether curcumin could increase 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity in macrophages and modulate the severity of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury.

Methods: Macrophages were treated with curcumin and then exposed (or not) to LPS.

Current status of intensive care units registered as critical care subspecialty training hospitals in Korea.

There is a lack of information on critical care in Korea. The aim of this study was to determine the current status of Korean intensive care units (ICUs), focusing on the organization, characteristics of admitted patients, and nurse and physician staffing. Critical care specialists in charge of all 105 critical care specialty training hospitals nationwide completed a questionnaire survey.

Anesthetic requirements and stress hormone responses in chronic spinal cord-injured patients undergoing surgery below the level of injury: nitrous oxide vs remifentanil.

Background: Nitrous oxide (N2O) and remifentanil both have anesthetic-reducing and antinociceptive effects. We aimed to determine the anesthetic requirements and stress hormone responses in spinal cord-injured (SCI) patients undergoing surgery under sevoflurane anesthesia with or without pharmacodynamically equivalent doses of N2O or remifentanil.

Methods: Forty-five chronic, complete SCI patients undergoing surgery below the level of injury were randomly allocated to receive sevoflurane alone (control, n = 15), or in combination with 67% N2O (n = 15) or target-controlled infusion of 1.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate, a green tea catechin, protects the heart against regional ischemia-reperfusion injuries through activation of RISK survival pathways in rats.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major catechin derived from green tea, has been shown to modulate numerous molecular targets in the setting of inflammation. This study aimed to determine whether EGCG protects against regional myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injuries and its underlying mechanisms involving the role of reperfusion injury salvage kinase (RISK) pathways (PI3K-Akt and ERK 1/2) and GSK-3β or apoptotic kinases (p38 and JNK). The rats were subjected to I/R injuries consisting of 30 min ischemia followed by 2 h reperfusion.

Propofol attenuates pulmonary injury induced by collapse and reventilation of lung in rabbits.

Propofol is an anesthetic drug with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We previously found that propofol attenuated lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in rabbits. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of propofol on lung injury caused by collapse and reventilation in rabbits.

Urinary trypsin inhibitor attenuates liver enzyme elevation after liver resection.

Background: Urinary trypsin inhibitors (UTI) have been widely used for the treatment of diseases including disseminated intravascular coagulation, shock, and pancreatitis. Since UTI synthesis is likely to be reduced in patients who have undergone liver resection, the incidence of inflammatory reactions may be increasing accordingly. For such patients, the liver enzyme increases after the operation can reflect liver damage.

Protective effect of sauchinone against regional myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury: inhibition of p38 MAPK and JNK death signaling pathways.

Sauchinone has been known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. We determined whether sauchinone is beneficial in regional myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Rats were subjected to 20 min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery, followed by 2 hr reperfusion.

Curcumin protects against regional myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury through activation of RISK/GSK-3β and inhibition of p38 MAPK and JNK.

Background: Curcumin, the active ingredient of turmeric (Curcuma longa), is known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. The present study was aimed to determine the effect of curcumin in regional myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and its underlying mechanisms involving the role of prosurvival kinases and apoptotic kinases.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 109) subjected to a 30-minute left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) occlusion followed by reperfusion were assigned to receive saline (control), curcumin (100 mg/kg), wortmannin (inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase [PI3K]-Akt), wortmannin + curcumin, U0126 (inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated kinase [ERK1/2]), U0126 + curcumin, SB216763 (inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase [GSK-3β]), and SB216763 + curcumin 20 minutes before LAD occlusion.

Effect of manassantin B, a lignan isolated from Saururus chinensis, on lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin-1β in RAW 264.7 cells.

Background: Elevated systemic levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines cause hypotension during septic shock and induce capillary leakage in acute lung injury. Manassantin B has anti-inflammatory and anti-plasmoidal properties. This study examined the effects of manassantin B on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response in murine macrophages.

Roles of serotonergic and adrenergic receptors in the antinociception of selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor in the rat spinal cord.

Background: The analgesic mechanisms of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors have been explained mainly on the basis of the inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis. However, several lines of evidence suggest that their analgesic effects are mediated through serotonergic or adrenergic transmissions. We investigated the roles of these neurotransmitters in the antinociception of a selective COX-2 inhibitor at the spinal level.

Lipid-emulsion propofol less attenuates the regulation of body temperature than micro-emulsion propofol or sevoflurane in the elderly.

Purpose: Anesthesia and surgery commonly cause hypothermia, and this caused by a combination of anesthetic-induced impairment of thermoregulatory control, a cold operation room environment and other factors that promote heat loss. All the general anesthetics markedly impair normal autonomic thermoregulatory control. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of two different types of propofol versus inhalation anesthetic on the body temperature.

Ultrasound guided obturator nerve block: a single interfascial injection technique.

We describe a new technique of single interfascial injection for 25 patients scheduled for transurethral bladder tumor resection. An ultrasound probe was placed at the midline of inguinal crease and moved medially and caudally to visualize the fascial space between the adductor longus (or pectineus) and adductor brevis muscles. We injected 20 mL 1% lidocaine containing epinephrine into the interfascial space using a transverse plane approach to make an interfascial injection, not an intramuscular swelling pattern.

The intrathecally administered kappa-2 opioid agonist GR89696 and interleukin-10 attenuate bone cancer-induced pain through synergistic interaction.

Background: Although bone cancer-related pain is one of the most disruptive symptoms in patients with advanced cancer, patients are often refractory to pharmacological treatments; thus, more effective treatments for bone cancer pain are needed. We evaluated the analgesic efficacy of and interaction between intrathecal GR89696, a κ(2)-opioid receptor agonist, and interleukin (IL)-10 in a rat model of bone cancer pain.

Methods: The rat model of bone cancer pain was produced by right tibia intramedullary injection of rat breast cancer cells, and an intrathecal catheterization was performed.

Cardiovascular and arousal responses to single-lumen endotracheal and double-lumen endobronchial intubation in the normotensive and hypertensive elderly.

Background: Endotracheal intubation usually causes transient hypertension and tachycardia. The cardiovascular and arousal responses to endotracheal and endobronchial intubation were determined during rapid-sequence induction of anesthesia in normotensive and hypertensive elderly patients.

Methods: Patients requiring endotracheal intubation with (HT, n = 30) or without hypertension (NT, n = 30) and those requiring endobronchial intubation with (HB, n = 30) or without hypertension (NB, n = 30) were included in the study.

The effect of priming injection of different doses of remifentanil on injection pain of microemulsion propofol premixed with lidocaine.

Background: The injection pain of microemulsion propofol is frequent and difficult to prevent. This study examined the prevention of pain during microemulsion propofol injection by pretreatment with different doses of remifentanil or saline, and premixing of lidocaine.

Methods: One hundred sixty ASA physical status 1-2 adult patients scheduled for elective surgery were enrolled into one of four groups (n = 40, in each).

Effects of urinary trypsin inhibitor on lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in rabbits.

This study was undertaken to clarify the effects of urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury. Rabbits were randomly assigned to one of seven groups: saline only, UTI, LPS, pre- or post-UTI-high (infusion of UTI of 25,000 U/kg followed by 25,000 U/kg over 2 h), pre- or post-UTI-low (infusion of UTI of 2,500 U/kg followed by 2,500 U/kg over 2 h). UTI was administered 30 min before (pre-groups) or 15 min after (post-groups) LPS administration.

Fatal pulmonary embolism caused by thrombosis of contralateral axillary vein after arthroscopic right rotator cuff repair -A case report-.

A clinically apparent thromboembolism associated with arthroscopic shoulder surgery is extremely rare. We report a case of a fatal pulmonary embolism developed after an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in a 45-year-old woman. On the first day after surgery, she experienced syncope that was complicated by cardiac arrest.

Roles of opioid receptor subtype in the spinal antinociception of selective cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitor.

Background: Selective inhibitors of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 are commonly used analgesics in various pain conditions. Although their actions are largely thought to be mediated by the blockade of prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis, evidences suggesting endogenous opioid peptide link in spinal antinociception of COX inhibitor have been reported. We investigated the roles of opioid receptor subtypes in the spinal antinociception of selective COX-2 inhibitor.

Efficacy of the combination of cold propofol and pretreatment with remifentail on propofol injection pain.

Background: Pain upon the injection of propofol is a common adverse effect. This study was conducted to evaluate the analgesic effect of remifentanil and cold propofol during propofol injection for the induction of anesthesia and to determine if a combination of cold propofol and remifentanil produced additional analgesic efficacy.

Methods: A total of 160 patients aged 20-65 years old were randomly allocated into one of four groups (n = 40, in each).

A randomized controlled trial of intra-articular prolotherapy versus steroid injection for sacroiliac joint pain.

Objectives: Controversy exists regarding the efficacy of ligament prolotherapy in alleviating sacroiliac joint pain. The inconsistent success rates reported in previous studies may be attributed to variability in patient selection and techniques between studies. It was hypothesized that intra-articular prolotherapy for patients with a positive response to diagnostic block may mitigate the drawbacks of ligament prolotherapy.

Sauchinone, a lignan from Saururus chinensis, reduces tumor necrosis factor-alpha production through the inhibition of c-raf/MEK1/2/ERK 1/2 pathway activation.

We investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of sauchinone, a lignan isolated from Saururus chinensis, and the underlying mechanism in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. To assess the effects of sauchinone on LPS-induced macrophages activation, we measured the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2, and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, c-Jun amino terminal kinases and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and NF-kappaB activation in RAW264.

Pain reduction on injection of microemulsion propofol via combination of remifentanil and lidocaine.

Background: Microemulsion propofol produces more frequent and severe pain upon injection than lipid emulsion propofol. This study examined the analgesic effect of lidocaine-premixed microemulsion propofol in patients pretreated with remifentanil. The induction of anesthesia with this combination was compared with microemulsion propofol accompanied with either remifentanil or lidocaine.

Effect of ulinastatin on cytokine reaction during gastrectomy.

Background: Inflammation plays an important role in the postoperative morbidity of organs, which is related to the activation of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Ulinastatin (Urinary trypsin inhibitor, UTI) is a serine protease inhibitor found in human urine or serum that inhibits the activation of human leukocyte elastase. This study examined the effect of UTI on the inflammation response in patients undergoing a gastrectomy.

Recurrent attacks of post-intubation right upper lobe atelectasis.

A 22-year-old woman with no history of asthma developed an acute recurrent attack of severe bronchoconstriction and right upper lobe atelectasis immediately after laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation. The first attack had taken place 2 months earlier under identical circumstances. Induction of anesthesia for tracheal intubation was achieved using propofol, fentanyl, and rocuronium.