Evolution of rarity and phylogeny determine above- and belowground biomass in plant-plant interactions.

Rare species are often considered inferior competitors due to occupancy of small ranges, specific habitats, and small local populations. However, the phylogenetic relatedness and rarity level (level 1-7 and common) of interacting species in plant-plant interactions are not often considered when predicting the response of rare plants in a biotic context. We used a common garden of 25 species of Tasmanian Eucalyptus, to differentiate non-additive patterns in the biomass of rare versus common species when grown in mixtures varying in phylogenetic relatedness and rarity.

Bereaved mothers' and fathers' perceptions of a legacy intervention for parents of infants in the NICU.

Background: Legacy-making, actions or behaviors aimed at being remembered, may be one strategy to enhance coping and improve grief outcomes for bereaved parents and siblings. While legacy interventions have been developed and tested in pediatric and adult populations, legacy activities specific to bereaved parents in the neonatal intensive care unit remain unexplored. This study explored bereaved parents' perceptions of a digital storytelling legacy-making intervention for parents after the death of an infant.

Intravenous mononuclear marrow cells reverse neuropathic pain from experimental mononeuropathy.

Background: Stem cells mediate neuroprotection in a variety of nervous system injury models. In this study, we evaluated a potential role for stem cells in pain therapies. Marrow mononuclear cells containing mixed stem cell populations were used because of wide experience with these cells in experimental and clinical transplantation.

A role for endothelin in neuropathic pain after chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve.

The purpose of this study was to explore the role of endothelin in neuropathic pain. Endothelins (ET) are a family (ET-1, ET-2, ET-3) of ubiquitously expressed peptides involved in control of vascular tone. Injected ET-1 causes intense pain via activation of ETA receptors, modulated by analgesic signals initiated by ETB receptor activation.

Conversion to oral controlled-release oxycodone from intravenous opioid analgesic in the postoperative setting.

Objective: This study assessed conversion factors utilized by physicians to transfer postoperative patients from intravenous opioids to oral controlled-release (CR) oxycodone and the subsequent analgesic effectiveness.

Design: This was a multicenter, open-label, usual-use study of 189 hospitalized postoperative patients receiving opioid (usually morphine) intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV PCA) for at least 12 to 24 hours post-procedure. Patients who were tolerant of oral medications and without signs of paralytic ileus were converted to oral CR oxycodone, given every 12 hours for up to 7 days.

The effect of systemic zonisamide (Zonegran) on thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia in rats with an experimental mononeuropathy.

Unlabelled: We studied the ability of zonisamide (Zonegran) to relieve thermal hyperalgesia and/or mechanical allodynia in the chronic constriction injury model of neuropathic pain. Zonisamide (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg) or saline was administered in a blinded, randomized manner by intraperitoneal injection on postoperative days (PODs) 4, 5, and 6. Paw withdrawal latency (PWL) to heat, paw withdrawal response to von Frey monofilaments, and pain scores based on weight-bearing were tested: before surgery; before and after zonisamide or saline (PODs 4, 5, and 6); and on POD 9.

Systemic tizanidine hydrochloride (Zanaflex) relieves thermal hyperalgesia in rats with an experimental mononeuropathy.

Unlabelled: We sought to determine whether tizanidine, an alpha2-agonist, relieved thermal hyperalgesia in rats with surgically induced neuropathic pain. We used a Sprague-Dawley rat model in which a chronic constriction of the sciatic nerve caused the rats to develop postural changes, mechanical allodynia, and thermal hyperalgesia. Thermal hyperalgesia was verified through paw withdrawal latency (PWL).

Systemic tizanidine hydrochloride (Zanaflex) partially decreases experimental postoperative pain in rats.

Tizanidine was given systemically to rats with experimental postoperative pain. Partial pain relief was obtained, but the effect was not clinically significant. Although systemic tizanidine is effective in relieving experimental neuropathic pain, it is not as effective for postoperative pain.

alpha-1 and alpha-2 Adrenergic antagonists relieve thermal hyperalgesia in experimental mononeuropathy from chronic constriction injury.

Phentolamine, a nonspecific alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist, relieves pain in patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy. We sought to determine whether phentolamine, prazosin (alpha 1 antagonist), or SKF86466 (alpha 2 antagonist) relieve thermal hyperalgesia in rats with neuropathic pain. Four days after producing a chronic constriction injury (CCI), thermal hyperalgesia was tested by measuring paw withdrawal latency (PWL).

Lack of pain associated with microfabricated microneedles.

Microscopic needles previously shown capable of transdermal delivery of drugs and proteins are demonstrated to be painless when pressed into the skin of human subjects.

A comparison of the analgesic efficacy of 0.25% levobupivacaine combined with 0.005% morphine, 0.25% levobupivacaine alone, or 0.005% morphine alone for the management of postoperative pain in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery.

Unlabelled: We compared the relative efficacy of the combination of the single-isomer local anesthetic levobupivacaine and the opioid analgesic morphine versus both drugs alone for postoperative epidural analgesia after major abdominal surgical procedures. Thoracic epidural anesthesia was produced and maintained with levobupivacaine 0.75% in combination with general inhaled anesthesia without opioids.

Changes in rat paw perfusion after experimental mononeuropathy: assessment by laser Doppler fluxmetry.

Unlabelled: This study was performed to determine the changes in perfusion that occur after chronic constriction injury (CCI). Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 275-300 g had loosely constricting ligatures placed around the left sciatic nerve. Paw withdrawal latency (PWL) to heat, skin temperature, and skin perfusion (laser Doppler) of the hind paws were measured before and for 30 days after CCI.

Intravenous ondansetron for postsurgical opioid-induced nausea and vomiting. S3A-255 Study Group.

The use of opioids for postoperative analgesia may be limited by side effects such as nausea and vomiting. Because ondansetron, a selective serotonin type 3 (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT3]) antagonist, is effective for chemotherapy and general anesthesia-induced nausea and vomiting, we hypothesized that it may also be effective for opioid-induced nausea and vomiting. ASA physical status I-III patients undergoing regional anesthesia were eligible for the study.

Intravenous regional bretylium and lidocaine for treatment of reflex sympathetic dystrophy: a randomized, double-blind study.

Patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy, who received transient pain relief from stellate ganglion blocks or lumbar sympathetic blocks and had abnormal isolated cold stress tests, were enrolled in a study to determine the efficacy of intravenous regional bretylium. Each patient received two control treatments (0.5% lidocaine) and two treatments with 0.

Anatomic spread of india ink in the human intercostal space with radiographic correlation.

In a study designed to determine the spread of anesthetic solutions in the intercostal space, the spread of india ink was studied in fresh cadavers. They were turned prone and had epidural catheters placed at ribs 4, 6, 8 and 10, 7-8 cm lateral to the midline, by two different techniques. Group 1 had epidural catheters directed laterally into the subcostal groove.

Reflex control of breathing following inhalation of cigarette smoke in conscious dogs.

The acute ventilatory response to spontaneously inhaled cigarette smoke (750 ml, 10% concentration) was studied in 92 experiments on 6 awake resting dogs. Upon the first or second breath of smoke inhalation, either an apnea or an augmented breath was elicited consistently in each dog, and a hyperpnea occurred subsequently. Minute ventilation (VE) increased from a base line of 3.