Efficacy of Computer-Aided Three-Dimensional Ultrasound Guidance for Neuraxial Anesthesia in Adult Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Artificial intelligence for ultrasound scanning in regional anesthesia is a rapidly developing interdisciplinary field. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of computer-aided three-dimensional ultrasound (C-aided US) guidance for neuraxial anesthesia in adult patients. We searched all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of adult patients who required neuraxial anesthesia in the MEDLINE, CENTRAL, Embase, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), and ClinicalTrials.

High preoperative serum strontium levels increase the risk of acute kidney injury after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of cardiac surgeries. The incidence of AKI after cardiac surgeries using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB-AKI) is high, emphasizing the need to determine strategies to prevent CPB-AKI. This study investigates the correlation between CPB-AKI and trace metal levels in clinical and animal studies.

3M microfoam™ surgical tape prevents nasal pressure injury associated with nasotracheal intubation: A randomized double-blind trial.

Background: 3M microfoam™ surgical tape (3ST: 3M Japan Limited) is used for pressure wound control of medical equipment. It is cushioned and can be fitted to any body part. Here we investigated whether 3ST prevents nasal pressure injury associated with nasotracheal intubation (NTI).

Comparison of Emergence Agitation Scale Scores and Creatine Kinase Levels After General Anesthesia in Children: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Introduction A simple indicator of muscle damage is creatine kinase (CK). Although CK elevation is informative for malignant hyperthermia, no study has examined the relationship between the anesthetically awake state and CK in children. We aimed to prospectively examine the relationship between the awakening state and CK on the day after surgery in children who have undergone anesthesia with volatile inhalation anesthetics.

Successful perioperative management of a pediatric patient with medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency using a continuous tissue glucose monitoring device: A case report.

Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency can cause symptoms resulting from β-oxidation disorder during preoperative fasting. Tight perioperative glucose monitoring is needed to avoid these symptoms. We report the first pediatric case using continuous tissue glucose monitoring devices.

Determination of Lycopene Concentration in Fresh Tomatoes by Spectrophotometry: A Collaborative Study.

Background: Lycopene has been the object of considerable research attention recently, and the effects of the intake of lycopene, or of tomato products, have been studied in various ways. In Japan, interest in the health-promoting function of food components has increased.

Objective: Developing a method to determine lycopene contents in tomato that meets the Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS).

Comparison of disinfection effect between benzalkonium chloride and povidone iodine in nasotracheal intubation: a randomized trial.

Background: Nasotracheal intubation can potentially result in microbial contamination from the upper respiratory tract to the lower respiratory tracts. However, an ideal nasotracheal disinfection method is yet to be determined. Therefore, we compared the disinfection effects between benzalkonium chloride and povidone iodine in nasotracheal intubation.

General Anesthetic Management of a Child With Horseshoe Lung and Left Lung Hypoplasia for Cheiloplasty: A Case Report.

Horseshoe lung is an extremely rare congenital malformation in which the right and left lungs are fused due to stenosis of the lung parenchyma. In anesthetic management, it is important to avoid hypoxemia and hypercapnia caused by a decline in lung capacity and functional residual capacity. A 3-year-old boy with horseshoe lung and left lung hypoplasia was scheduled to undergo cheiloplasty.

Pharmacokinetics of mycophenolic acid in children with clinically stable idiopathic nephrotic syndrome receiving cyclosporine.

Background: The suitable dosage regime of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) based on the pharmacokinetics of mycophenoric acid (MPA) for pediatric patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is controversial. The pharmacokinetics of MPA is influenced by renal function, serum albumin concentration, and concomitant medications, especially calcineurin inhibitors. This study analyzed the pharmacokinetics of MPA in clinically stable children with INS receiving cyclosporine (CyA).

Three year outcome of childhood idiopathic nephrotic syndrome under a unified immunosuppressive protocol.

Background: This retrospective study was performed to assess the 3 year outcome of a unified protocol for childhood idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

Methods: Cyclosporine A (CsA) or CsA plus mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) were used in patients without remission on high-dose steroid therapy. CsA was maintained at an area under the whole blood concentration-time curve up to 4 h after dose (AUC0-4 ) of 1500 and 2000 ng·h/mL in steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS) and steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS), respectively.

Pharmacokinetics of glycopeptide antibiotics in children.

Vancomycin (VAN) and teicoplanin (TEIC) are the glycopeptide antimicrobials commonly used to treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in pediatric patients. This study examined the relationship between the initial doses of glycopeptides and the trough serum concentrations of drugs in children, with the intent to determine their optimal dosing. Consecutive patients between 0 and 18 years of age, who between June 2003 and December 2010 were treated with VAN (n = 50) or TEIC (n = 187) for >48 h, were enrolled in this study.

Clinical significance of IgM and C1q deposition in the mesangium in pediatric idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

Background: In biopsy-proven idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS), immunoglobulin M (IgM) and C1q are occasionally deposited in the mesangium. In pediatric nephrology, the significance of mesangial IgM or C1q deposits is controversial, based on previous reports. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical significance of mesangial IgM and/or C1q deposits in pediatric INS patients, especially the initial responses to steroids and final outcomes.

Detailed characterization of Mirafiori lettuce virus-resistant transgenic lettuce.

Lettuce big-vein disease is caused by Mirafiori lettuce virus (MiLV), which is vectored by the soil-borne fungus Olpidium brassicae. A MiLV-resistant transgenic lettuce line was developed through introducing inverted repeats of the MiLV coat protein (CP) gene. Here, a detailed characterization study of this lettuce line was conducted by comparing it with the parental, non-transformed 'Kaiser' cultivar.

Mechanism of inhibition of peroxynitrite-induced oxidation and nitration by [6]-gingerol.

[6]-Gingerol potently inhibits peroxynitrite-induced oxidation and nitration reactions, but its mechanism of action is unclear. In order to discover the mechanism of inhibition, [6]-gingerol was reacted with peroxynitrite and the reaction mixture was analyzed using HPLC. The HPLC chromatogram showed one novel peak, indicative of the formation of a reaction product between [6]-gingerol and peroxynitrite.

Enhancing effect of lipids and emulsifiers on the accumulation of quercetin metabolites in blood plasma after the short-term ingestion of onion by rats.

The effects of co-ingested lipids and emulsifiers on the accumulation of quercetin metabolites in blood plasma after the short-term ingestion of onion by rats were investigated. Plasma extracts of rats that had been fed onion-containing diets for one and two weeks were analyzed by HPLC with electrochemical detection after a treatment with sulfatase/beta-glucuronidase. Almost all of the quercetin metabolites in the plasma were sulfate/glucuronide conjugates of quercetin and isorhamnetin.

[6]-Gingerol inhibits nitric oxide synthesis in activated J774.1 mouse macrophages and prevents peroxynitrite-induced oxidation and nitration reactions.

Reactive nitrogen species (RNS), such as nitric oxide (NO) and its derivatives, e.g. peroxynitrite (ONOO-), have been proposed as being able to influence signal transduction and cause DNA damage, contributing to carcinogenic processes.

Combination of lipids and emulsifiers enhances the absorption of orally administered quercetin in rats.

The effects of lipids, emulsifiers, and ethanol on the absorption of orally administered quercetin in rats were investigated for its efficient intestinal absorption. Rats were administered 150 micromol/kg quercetin in water supplemented with lipids and/or emulsifiers, or ethanol, and blood was collected from the tail for 6 h after administration. Co-administration of lipids such as lecithin and soybean oil or emulsifiers including sucrose fatty acid ester, polyglycerol fatty acid ester, and sodium taurocholate had no statistically significant effects on quercetin absorption, although these constituents rather increased the accumulation of conjugated forms of quercetin and those of isorhamnetin in rat plasma.