Changes in masseter muscle structure, membrane lipid peroxidation and Ca-ATPase activity as effects of different local anesthetics.

Local anesthetics (LA) can cause undesired effects such as sustained contraction of skeletal muscles as a result of structural and functional changes. Proper skeletal muscle function is controlled by intracellular Ca2+ concentration and efficient energy (ATP) production, which is closely related to cell ultrastructure. Aim: The aim of this study was to identify the structural and functional changes caused by LAs.

[A Case of Ascending Colon Cancer with Synchronous Unresectable Liver Metastasis Maintaining a Long-Term Stable Disease State after Discontinuing Chemotherapy].

A 73-year-old woman presenting with weight loss was diagnosed as having ascending colon cancer with synchronous liver metastasis. The liver metastasis was solitary but it occupied the medial and anterior segments. The size was over 9 cm in diameter and was located adjacent to the left, middle, and right hepatic veins, making it initially unresectable.

Percutaneous biliary drainage is oncologically inferior to endoscopic drainage: a propensity score matching analysis in resectable distal cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) increases the incidence of seeding metastasis and shortens postoperative survival compared with endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD).

Methods: A total of 376 patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy following either PTBD (n = 189) or EBD (n = 187) at 30 hospitals between 2001 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Seeding metastasis was defined as peritoneal/pleural dissemination and PTBD sinus tract recurrence.

Drug action of benzocaine on the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase from fast-twitch skeletal muscle.

The effect of the local anesthetic benzocaine on sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes isolated from fast-twitch muscles was tested. The effects on Ca-ATPase activity, calcium binding and uptake, phosphoenzyme accumulation and decomposition were assessed using radioisotopic methods. The calcium binding to the Ca-ATPase was noncompetitively inhibited, and the enzymatic activity decreased in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 47.

Characterizing compositional changes of Napier grass at different stages of growth for biofuel and biobased products potential.

Napier grass, Pennisetum purpureum, is a high yielding, perennial feedstock that can be harvested year-round in (sub)tropical geographies of the world. Because of its high moisture content (∼ 80%w/w), Napier grass presents a unique opportunity for fractionation into solid and liquid streams, where the extruded cellulosic fibers can serve as a substrate for biofuel production, and the nutrient-rich juice can serve as a substrate for co-product generation. The aim of this study evaluated the effects of biomass age on constituents relevant to biofuel and biobased product generation.