The Utility of Pre-Procedural Blood Tests in Neuraxial Blocks: A Retrospective Study in High-Risk Patients.

: The necessity and clinical utility of routine pre-procedural blood tests (PBTs) before neuraxial blockade remain controversial. This study evaluates the effectiveness of PBTs in identifying clinically significant conditions in an outpatient setting. : This single-center retrospective study involved patients who received neuraxial blockades from January 2020 to August 2023.

The Novel Tetra-Specific Drug C-192, Conjugated Using UniStac, Alleviates Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis in an MCD Diet-Induced Mouse Model.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a complex disease resulting from chronic liver injury associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and inflammation. Recently, the importance of developing multi-target drugs as a strategy to address complex diseases such as NASH has been growing; however, their manufacturing processes remain time- and cost-intensive and inefficient. To overcome these limitations, we developed UniStac, a novel enzyme-mediated conjugation platform for multi-specific drug development.

Thenar Compartment Syndrome Related to Tightened Radial Arterial Line During Robotic Laparoscopic Surgery: A Case Report.

We present a 54-year-old man who developed an unexpected thenar space compartment syndrome after robotic laparoscopic surgery, which was caused when the radial arterial pressure tubing was pulled too tightly around the base of the thumb while changing the surgical position. A conventional method of securing the tubing by looping it around the thumb appeared to be the primary cause. This complication went unnoticed during the surgery because the arm was tucked out of sight; there were no remarkable findings on monitoring.

Varicella-Zoster Virus Reactivation During the Incubation Period for Scrub Typhus: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Herpes zoster caused by the reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus is thought to result from the waning of specific cell-mediated immunity. Scrub typhus, an acute infectious disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, affects multiple organs and is characterized by microangiopathies that result in significant vascular leakage and subsequent end-organ injury. Very few cases of reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus following scrub typhus occurrence have been reported.

Predictive factors for favorable short-term response to interlaminar epidural block for cervical radiculopathy.

Purpose: We sought to identify clinical predictors of favorable short-term outcomes associated with cervical interlaminar epidural injection (CIEI). Previous studies investigating the predictive factors of CIEI efficacy have shown inconsistent results. Gaining information on the possible response determinants of CIEI is necessary for appropriate treatment selection and outcomes prediction in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy.

Neuropathic Pain Component in Patients with Cervical Radicular Pain: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Background and Objectives: Evidence regarding the prevalence of neuropathic pain in patients with cervical radicular pain is limited. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of neuropathic pain components in patients with cervical radicular pain using established screening tools and identify the relationship between neuropathic pain components and clinical factors. Materials and Methods: Data from 103 patients (aged ≥ 20 years) with cervical radicular pain who visited our pain clinic were analyzed retrospectively.

Effect of performing preoperative echocardiography in patients with cardiovascular risk on intraoperative anesthetic management and postoperative outcomes: A retrospective study.

Although echocardiography is widely used for preoperative cardiac risk evaluation, few studies have analyzed the effect of performing preoperative echocardiography on intraoperative anesthetic management and postoperative outcomes. We investigated the effect of performing echocardiography on intraoperative anesthetic management and postoperative outcomes in patients with cardiovascular risk. We retrospectively evaluated patients who had undergone major abdominal surgery and satisfied 2 or more of the following criteria: hypertension, diabetes mellitus, age ≥70 years, and previous cardiac disease.

Atypical Course of Vertebral Artery Identified by Ultrasound Prescan before Performing a Stellate Ganglion Block.

Ultrasound provides direct visualization of blood vessels and soft tissues around the sympathetic chain and potentially minimizes injury to these critical anatomic structures when performing stellate ganglion block (SGB). We report an atypical left vertebral artery course detected during an ultrasound prescan before performing a SGB. The left vertebral and inferior thyroid arteries were identified on the longus colli muscle's ventral surface at the C6 level.

Effect of Remifentanil on Postoperative Vomiting After Strabismus Surgery in Preschool Children: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Strabismus surgery and the use of opioid are risk factors of postoperative vomiting. We evaluated whether there is a dose-dependent effect of remifentanil on the incidence of postoperative vomiting.

Methods: Sixty pediatric patients who were scheduled for strabismus surgery were enrolled.

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension following spinal anesthesia initially misdiagnosed as postdural puncture headache.

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is not rare, but its diagnosis remains challenging. SIH tends to be misdiagnosed as postdural puncture headache when orthostatic headache develops subsequent to spinal anesthesia because both have similar symptoms. We report the case of a 35-year-old man with orthostatic headache following spinal anesthesia, who did not respond to conventional therapy for postdural puncture headache.

Comment to: The utility of ultrasound examination in cubital tunnel syndrome caused by heterotopic ossification.

Ultrasound (US) could visualize the pathological anatomy of HO and the enlargement site and compression location of the nerve in the cubital tunnel [1]. We read with great interest the article of Jačisko et al[2]. In addition, we report rare US images of HO in direct contact with the swollen ulnar nerve in the cubital tunnel that was not detected by plain radiography.

Leriche Syndrome Misdiagnosed as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in a Patient with Neuropathic Pain Caused by a Chip Fracture: A Case Report.

Introduction: Leriche syndrome is an aortoiliac occlusive disease caused by atherosclerotic occlusion. We report a case of Leriche syndrome with a fracture that was suspected as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), as the post-traumatic pain gradually worsened in the form of excruciating neuropathic pain.

Case Report: A 52-year-old woman with a history of hypertension was referred to the Department of Pain Medicine from a local orthopedic clinic because of suspected CRPS for excruciating neuropathic pain for one month.

The Influence of Ultrasound-Guided Technique Using a Catheter-Over-Needle on the Incidence of Accidental Intravascular Injection during Caudal Block-A Retrospective Case Series Study.

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of an ultrasound-guided technique using a catheter-over-needle when an intravascular injection occurs in patients undergoing a caudal block. We retrospectively investigated 41 cases of an ultrasound-guided technique using an angiocatheter for caudal block. These had been performed between November 2019 through August 2020 to manage pain of lumbosacral origin.

The Relationship between the Timing of Sugammadex Administration and the Upper Airway Obstruction during Awakening from Anesthesia: A Retrospective Study.

: The harmonization of recovery of consciousness and muscular function is important in emergence from anesthesia. Even if muscular function is recovered, tracheal extubation without adequate recovery of consciousness may increase the risk of respiratory complications. In particular, upper airway obstruction is one of the common respiratory complications and can sometimes be fatal.

Severe Atrophy of the Ipsilateral Psoas Muscle Associated with Hip Osteoarthritis and Spinal Stenosis-A Case Report.

Pathology of the lumbar spine and hip joint can commonly coexist in the elderly. Anterior and lateral leg pain as symptoms of hip osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis can closely resemble each other, with only subtle differences in both history and physical examinations. It is not easy to identify the origin of this kind of hip pain.

Evaluation of Contrast Flow Patterns with Cervical Interlaminar Epidural Injection: Comparison of Midline and Paramedian Approaches.

The purpose of this study was to compare and to analyze contrast spread patterns between the paramedian and midline approaches to cervical interlaminar epidural injection (CIEI). We retrospectively enrolled 84 CIEI cases that had been performed for unilateral cervical spinal pain from April 2019 to April 2020. After 3 mL of contrast had been injected into the epidural space, fluoroscopic images were obtained.

Superior cervical sympathetic ganglion block under ultrasound guidance promotes recovery of abducens nerve palsy caused by microvascular ischemia.

The abducens nerve palsy is most likely caused by microvascular issue. Spontaneous recovery of vasculopathic abducens nerve palsies was common at 3-6 months. But recovery time was longer when many risk factors were present.

Solution structure of the transmembrane 2 domain of the human melanocortin-4 receptor in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles and the functional implication of the D90N mutant.

The melanocortin receptors (MCRs) are members of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) 1 superfamily with seven transmembrane (TM) domains. Among them, the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) subtype has been highlighted recently by genetic studies in obese humans. In particular, in a patient with severe early-onset obesity, a novel heterozygous mutation in the MC4R gene was found in an exchange of Asp to Asn in the 90th amino acid residue located in the TM 2 domain (MC4RD90N).