CSDE1 promotes miR-451 biogenesis.

MicroRNAs are sequentially processed by RNase III enzymes Drosha and Dicer. miR-451 is a highly conserved miRNA in vertebrates which bypasses Dicer processing and instead relies on AGO2 for its maturation. miR-451 is highly expressed in erythrocytes and regulates the differentiation of erythroblasts into mature red blood cells.

Brachial plexus block with or without ultrasound guidance.

Purpose Of Review: Should ultrasound or nerve stimulation be used for brachial plexus blocks? We investigated last year's literature to help answer this question.

Recent Findings: Many of the reports concluded that ultrasound guidance may provide a higher success rate for brachial plexus blocks than guidance by nerve stimulator. However, the studies were not large enough to conclude that ultrasound will reduce the risk of nerve injury, local anesthetic toxicity or pneumothorax.

Current threshold for nerve stimulation depends on electrical impedance of the tissue: a study of ultrasound-guided electrical nerve stimulation of the median nerve.

Background: Understanding the mechanisms causing variation in current thresholds for electrical nerve stimulation may improve the safety and success rate of peripheral nerve blocks. Electrical impedance of the tissue surrounding a nerve may affect the response to nerve stimulation. In this volunteer study, we investigated the relationship between impedance and current threshold needed to obtain a neuromuscular response.

Electrical nerve stimulation or ultrasound guidance for lateral sagittal infraclavicular blocks: a randomized, controlled, observer-blinded, comparative study.

Background: Ultrasound guidance is frequently used to perform infraclavicular brachial plexus blocks. In this study, we compared electrical nerve stimulation and ultrasound guidance for the lateral sagittal infraclavicular block.

Methods: Eighty patients, ASA 1-2, were randomized for either nerve stimulation (group NS) or ultrasound-guided blocks (group US).

Ultrasound controlled nerve stimulation in the elbow region: high currents and short distances needed to obtain motor responses.

Background: Electrical nerve stimulation is commonly used to perform peripheral nerve blocks. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between stimulating currents and the distance between the needle-tip and stimulated nerves.

Methods: In 18 volunteers the radial and ulnar nerves were stimulated in the elbow region from opposite directions.

Composite to tilted vortex lattice transition in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+delta in oblique fields.

Precision measurements of the vortex phase diagram in single crystals of the layered superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+delta in oblique magnetic fields confirm the existence of a second phase transition, in addition to the usual first-order vortex-lattice melting line Hm(T). The transition has a strong first-order character, is accompanied by strong hysteresis, and intersects the melting line in a tricritical point (Hm perpendicular, Hcr parallel). Its field dependence and the changing character of the melting line at the tricritical point strongly suggest that the ground state for magnetic fields closely aligned with the superconducting layers is a lattice of uniformly tilted vortex lines.

Use of magnetic resonance imaging to define the anatomical location closest to all three cords of the infraclavicular brachial plexus.

Infraclavicular techniques are often used to perform brachial plexus blocks. In our volunteer study we used magnetic resonance imaging to identify the brachial plexus and axillary vessels in a sagittal plane corresponding to the lateral sagittal infraclavicular block. In 20 volunteers, all cords were positioned within 2 cm from the artery approximately within 2/3 of a circle.

London theory for superconducting phase transitions in external magnetic fields: application to UPt3.

For multicomponent superconductors, it is known that the presence of symmetry breaking fields can lead to multiple superconducting phase transitions. Motivated by recent small angle neutron scattering experiments on the vortex state of UPt3, the London theory in the vicinity of such phase transitions is determined. It is found that the form of this London theory is in general quite different than that for conventional superconductors.

Double-blind comparison of the variability in spontaneous recovery of cisatracurium- and vecuronium-induced neuromuscular block in adult and elderly patients.

Background: This study was designed to compare variability in the offset of two neuromuscular blocking agents with different elimination pathways.

Methods: The spontaneous recovery profiles of cisatracurium and vecuronium were compared in adult (18-64 years) and elderly (> or =65 years) patients receiving N2O/O2/fentanyl/propofol anaesthesia. Patients were randomised to receive an initial bolus dose and maintenance doses of 3xED95, respectively, 0.

Vortex collisions: crossing or recombination?

We investigate the collision of two vortex lines moving with viscous dynamics and driven towards each other by an applied current. Using London theory in the approach phase we observe a nontrivial vortex conformation producing antiparallel segments; their attractive interaction triggers a violent collision. The collision region is analyzed using the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equation.

Evaporation of the pancake-vortex lattice in weakly coupled layered superconductors.

We calculate the melting line of the pancake-vortex system in a layered superconductor, interpolating between two-dimensional (2D) melting at high fields and the zero-field limit of single-stack evaporation. Long-range interactions between pancake vortices in different layers permit a mean-field approach, the "substrate model, " where each 2D crystal fluctuates in a substrate potential due to the vortices in other layers. We find the thermal stability limit of the 3D solid, and compare the free energy to a 2D liquid to determine the first-order melting transition and its jump in entropy.

Additive analgesic effect of codeine and paracetamol can be detected in strong, but not moderate, pain after Caesarean section. Baseline pain-intensity is a determinant of assay-sensitivity in a postoperative analgesic trial.

Background: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled single oral dose study was done in order to examine whether codeine has an additive analgesic effect to that of paracetamol for moderate and strong postoperative pain after abdominal surgery. The maximum recommended single dose of paracetamol 1000 mg (Paracet) was compared with a combination of a submaximal dose of paracetamol 800 mg plus codeine 60 mg (Paralgin forte) and placebo for pain relief after Caesarean section in 125 patients.

Methods: Visual analogue pain intensity score (VAS 0-100 mm) and categorical pain relief score were recorded for 6 hours after the study drug intake.

Antagonism of flunitrazepam-induced sedative effects by flumazenil in patients after surgery under general anaesthesia. A double-blind placebo-controlled investigation of efficacy and safety.

This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of flumazenil and a placebo in reversing the residual effects of flunitrazepam used to induce anaesthesia for elective laparoscopy in 49 female patients aged 16 to 52 years. In contrast to the placebo, flumazenil gave reductions in amnesia, sedation score, mood rating for mental sedation and physical sedation, and time taken to complete a psychomotor performance test which lasted throughout the study. There were no significant changes in pulse rate, respiration rate or blood pressure, and no unwanted effects were attributed to flumazenil.

Antagonism of diazepam-induced sedative effects by Ro15-1788 in patients after surgery under lumbar epidural block. A double-blind placebo-controlled investigation of efficacy and safety.

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of Ro15-1788 and a placebo in reversing diazepam-induced effects after surgery under epidural block, and to evaluate the local tolerance and general safety of Ro15-1788. Fifty-seven patients were sedated with diazepam for surgery under epidural anaesthesia. Antagonism of diazepam-induced effects by Ro15-1788 was investigated postoperatively in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Effect of chronic bupivacaine infusion on seizure threshold to bupivacaine.

Thirty rats were pretreated with a continuous infusion of bupivacaine or placebo. On the fourth day the acute seizure threshold to bupivacaine was determined for both groups. The seizure dose, blood and brain concentration of bupivacaine showed no difference between the groups.

Halothane-associated liver damage and renal failure in a young child.

A case of halothane-associated liver damage and renal failure is described in an 18-month-old girl after her third halothane anaesthetic. There had been two uneventful enflurane anaesthetics. The diagnosis was confirmed by detecting antibodies specific for halothane-associated liver failure using a recently developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Atracurium compared with suxamethonium for outpatient laparoscopy.

I.v. atracurium 0.

Isoflurane v fentanyl for outpatient laparoscopy.

Isoflurane and fentanyl have been compared as anaesthetic agents for outpatient laparoscopy. In 50 female patients anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone and maintained with nitrous oxide 66% in oxygen combined with either isoflurane 1-2% or fentanyl 0.3 mg according to a randomized list.