Perioperative kinetics of heat shock protein 60 in serum during orthotopic liver transplantation.

Introduction: Heat shock proteins (HSP) play essential roles in the synthesis, transport, and folding of proteins. During ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury to orthotopic liver transplants (OLT), disassembly of oligomeric complexes and unfolding of proteins are likely to occur, producing a major burden on HSP to prevent and/or reverse these events. To date, all studies have evaluated HSP expression in tissues after an I/R injury.

Decreased serum erythropoietin and its relation to anti-erythropoietin antibodies in anaemia of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: This study was performed to assess erythropoietin levels and anti-erythropoietin antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: The sera of 100 patients with SLE were investigated for serum erythropoietin levels and the presence of anti-erythropoietin antibodies by ELISA. Routine laboratory parameters such as peripheral blood count, relevant parameters of blood chemistry, and immunological parameters of SLE were recorded.

Effect of pre-emptive hydromorphone administration on postoperative pain relief--a randomized controlled trial.

Background And Aim Of Study: Pre-emptive analgesia represents a treatment strategy which tries to prevent the development of pain by inhibiting central reactions to peripheral sensory stimuli. In a prospective randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study, the effect of oral premedication with 4 mg of a slow-release hydromorphone preparation on postoperative piritramide consumption and subjective pain perception is being evaluated.

Patients And Methods: 96 women undergoing hysterectomy were randomly assigned to four study groups.