Reduction of postoperative pain and opioid consumption by VVZ-149, first-in-class analgesic molecule: A confirmatory phase 3 trial of laparoscopic colectomy.

Study Objective: VVZ-149 is a small molecule that inhibits the glycine transporter type 2 and the serotonin receptor 5-hydroxytryptamine 2 A. In this Phase 3 study, we investigated the efficacy and safety of VVZ-149 as a single-use injectable analgesic for treating moderate to severe postoperative pain after laparoscopic colectomy.

Design: Randomized, parallel group, double-blind, Phase 3 clinical trial (Trial no.

Programmed Follow-up and Quality Control of Treatment Techniques Enhance Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension Management: Lessons From a Multidisciplinary Team.

Background And Objectives: The recent developments in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) are emphasizing the multidisciplinary team. We report on the changes in clinical practice following the development of a multidisciplinary team, based on our 7 years of experience.

Methods: Multidisciplinary team was established in 2015 offering both balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) and pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) with technical upgrades by internal and external expertise.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with COVID-19 on mechanical ventilation undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy.

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly strained global healthcare, particularly in the management of patients requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). This study investigated the characteristics and prognoses of these patients.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study gathered data from patients with COVID-19 across 26 medical centers.

Evaluation of pulse oximeter at the nasal septum during general anesthesia: comparison with finger oximeter.

Purpose: Though the finger is generally recommended for pulse oxygen saturation (SpO) monitoring site, its reliability may be compromised in conditions of poor peripheral perfusion. Therefore, we compared the performance of nasal septum SpO monitoring with finger SpO monitoring relative to simultaneous arterial oxygen saturation (SaO) monitoring in generally anesthetized patients.

Methods: In 23 adult patients, comparisons of SpO measured at the nasal septum and finger with simultaneous SaO were made at four time points during the 90 min study period.

Clinical Manifestations and Outcomes of Older Patients with COVID-19: A Comprehensive Review.

The consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are particularly severe in older adults with a disproportionate number of severe and fatal outcomes. Therefore, this integrative review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the clinical characteristics, management approaches, and prognosis of older patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Common clinical presentations in older patients include fever, cough, and dyspnea.

Comparative analysis of immunotherapy responses in small cell lung cancer patients with dermatomyositis.

Cancer-associated dermatomyositis (CAD), a paraneoplastic syndrome characterized by dermatomyositis (DM), frequently presents in association with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Although the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has revolutionized cancer treatment, their efficacy and safety in patients with concurrent autoimmune diseases (AD) and malignancies remains uncertain. Several studies have suggested the safe administration of ICIs in patients with AD, indicating that successful cancer therapy can alleviate CAD symptoms.

Cathepsin C regulates tumor progression via the Yes-associated protein signaling pathway in non-small cell lung cancer.

Cathepsin C (CTSC), also known as dipeptidyl peptidase I, is a cathepsin with lysosomal exocysteine protease activity and a central coordinator for the activation of neutrophil-derived serine proteases in the lysosomes of neutrophils. Although the role of CTSC in various cancers, including liver and breast cancers, has recently been reported, its role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the functional role of CTSC in NSCLC and the molecular mechanisms underlying CTSC involvement in disease progression.

Multiagent Q-Learning-Based Mobility Management for Multi-Connectivity in mmWAVE Cellular Systems.

Effective mobility management is crucial for efficient operation of next-generation cellular systems in the millimeter wave (mmWave) band. Massive multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) systems are seen as necessary to overcome the significant path losses in this band, but the highly directional beam makes the channels more susceptible to radio link failures due to blockages. To meet stringent capacity and reliability requirements, multi-connectivity has attracted significant attention.

Comparison of high-flow nasal cannula and conventional nasal cannula during sedation for endoscopic submucosal dissection: a retrospective study.

Background: The high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is a relatively recent method that provides high-flow, heated, humidified gas delivery.

Objectives: We compared HFNC (group HF) and conventional nasal cannula (NC) (group CO) during deep sedation with propofol and remifentanil for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).

Design: Single-center, retrospective observational cohort study.

Proteogenomic landscape of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in an Asian population reveals tumor cell-enriched and immune-rich subtypes.

We report a proteogenomic analysis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Mutation-phosphorylation correlations identified signaling pathways associated with somatic mutations in significantly mutated genes. Messenger RNA-protein abundance correlations revealed potential prognostic biomarkers correlated with patient survival.

PD-L1-directed PlGF/VEGF blockade synergizes with chemotherapy by targeting CD141 cancer-associated fibroblasts in pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a poor 5-year overall survival rate. Patients with PDAC display limited benefits after undergoing chemotherapy or immunotherapy modalities. Herein, we reveal that chemotherapy upregulates placental growth factor (PlGF), which directly activates cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) to induce fibrosis-associated collagen deposition in PDAC.

Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block for pain management after gastrectomy: a randomized, single-blinded, controlled trial.

Background: Open gastrectomy causes severe postoperative pain. Therefore, we investigated the opioid-sparing effect of the ultrasound-guided bilateral erector spinae plane block (ESPB) after open gastrectomy.

Methods: Adult patients undergoing open gastrectomy were randomly assigned to either the ESPB group (ESPB + fentanyl based intravenous patient-controlled analgesia [IV-PCA]) or a control group (fentanyl based IV-PCA only).

The impact of pulmonary function tests on early postoperative complications in open lung resection surgery: an observational cohort study.

We investigated whether pulmonary function tests (PFTs) can predict pulmonary complications and if they are, to find new cutoff values in current open lung resection surgery. In this observational study, patients underwent open lung resection surgery at a tertiary hospital were analyzed (n = 1544). Various PFTs were tested by area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) to predict pulmonary complications until 30 days postoperatively.

Implementation and Outcomes of a Difficult Airway Code Team Composed of Anesthesiologists in a Korean Tertiary Hospital: A Retrospective Analysis of a Prospective Registry.

Background: In 2017, we established an airway call (AC) team composed of anesthesiologists to improve emergency airway management outside the operating room. In this retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from the airway registry, we describe the characteristics of patients attended to and practices by the AC team during the first 4 years of implementation.

Methods: All AC team activations in which an airway intervention was performed by the AC team between June 2017 and May 2021 were analyzed.

Tumor-Infiltrating Neutrophils and Non-Classical Monocytes May Be Potential Therapeutic Targets for HER2 Gastric Cancer.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death globally. The classification of advanced GC (AGC) according to molecular features has recently led to effective personalized cancer therapy for some patients. Specifically, AGC patients whose tumor cells express high levels of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) can now benefit from trastuzumab, a humanized monoclonal Ab that targets HER2.

Simulation Analysis of Flow Rate Variability During Microinfusions: The Effect of Vertical Displacement and Multidrug Infusion in Conventional Infusion Pumps Versus New Cylinder-Type Infusion Pumps.

Background: Medication dosing errors can occur during microinfusions when there is vertical pump displacement or multidrug infusion through a single intravenous path. We compared flow rate variability between new-generation cylinder-type infusion pumps and conventional infusion pumps under simulated conditions.

Methods: We evaluated the flow rates during microinfusions using different infusion pumps (syringe pump with 10/30/50-mL syringes, peristaltic pump, and cylinder pump).

Comparison of Respiratory Effects between Dexmedetomidine and Propofol Sedation for Ultrasound-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation of Hepatic Neoplasm: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Patient's cooperation and respiration is necessary in percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We compared the respiratory patterns of dexmedetomidine and propofol sedation during this procedure. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups: the continuous infusions of dexmedetomidine-remifentanil (DR group) or the propofol-remifentanil (PR group).

Diagnosis and treatment of nerve injury following venipuncture - A report of two cases.

Background: Venipuncture is one of the one of the most commonly performed, minimally-invasive procedures; however, it may lead to peripheral nerve injury. Here, we describe the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of two self-reported cases of nerve injury during venipuncture with the aim of drawing attention to possible needle-related nerve injuries.

Case: Two anesthesiologists in our hospital experienced an injury of the lateral antebrachial cutaneous branch of the musculocutaneous nerve during venipuncture.