Long-Term Anti-Allodynic Effect of Immediate Pulsed Radiofrequency Modulation through Down-Regulation of Insulin-Like Growth Factor 2 in a Neuropathic Pain Model.

Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is effective in the treatment of neuropathic pain in clinical practice. Its application to sites proximal to nerve injury can inhibit the activity of extra-cellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) for up to 28 days. The spared nerve injury (SNI)+ immPRF group (immediate exposure to PRF for 6 min after SNI) exhibited a greater anti-allodynic effect compared with the control group (SNI alone) or the SNI + postPRF group (application of PRF for 6 min on the 14th day after SNI).

Hylan G-F 20 attenuates posttraumatic osteoarthritis progression: Association with upregulated expression of the circardian gene NPAS2.

Aims: The study was to examine the effect of Hylan G-F 20 on the progression of posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) and the expression of the circadian genes neuronal PAS domain protein 2 (NPAS2) and period 2 (Per2).

Main Methods: We used the anterior cruciate ligament transaction and medial menisectomy (ACLT+MMx) model in Wistar rats. The rats were divided into three groups, the sham-operated group, the Hylan G-F 20-treated group, and the saline-treated group.

Contralateral acute subdural hematoma occurring after evacuation of subdural hematoma with coexistent contralateral subdural hygroma.

Burr-hole craniostomy with closed-system drainage is a safe and effective method for the management of chronic subdural hematoma. However, contralateral acute subdural hematoma has been reported to be a rare and devastating complication. Only 3 cases have been described in the literature.

Quality of life in Taiwanese breast cancer survivors with breast-conserving therapy.

Background/purpose: Breast cancer is the most common female malignancy in Taiwan; however, quality of life (QOL) following breast cancer therapy remains rarely studied. The aim of the present study was to evaluate QOL among Taiwanese breast cancer patients with and without breast-conserving therapy.

Methods: A total of 130 women with breast cancer (37 with breast-conserving therapy and 93 with modified radical mastectomy) were enrolled between August, 2004 and December, 2007 in a single center.

Clinical meaning of age-related expression of fecal cytokeratin 19 in colorectal malignancy.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of malignant death worldwide. Because young age of onset is often considered a poor prognostic factor for CRC, it is important to identify the poor outcomes of CRC in a younger population and to consider an aggressive approach by implementing early treatment. Our aim was to specifically quantify the fecal cytokeratin 19 (CK19) transcript from CRC patients and investigate its correlation with clinical stage, tumor malignancy, and age.

Efficacy of oropharyngeal lidocaine instillation on hemodynamic responses to orotracheal intubation.

Study Objective: To determine whether oropharyngeal instillation of lidocaine after anesthetic induction modifies the hemodynamic response to intubation.

Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Setting: Operating room of a university hospital.

Anesthesia for emergency cesarean section in a parturient with undiagnosed acute fatty liver of pregnancy--a case report.

Few clinical diagnoses of acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) are established immediately upon admission, while anesthetic interventions are frequently required on an emergent basis. We report a patient with the admitting diagnosis of severe preeclampsia with fetal distress necessitating an emergency cesarean section. An epidural block was instituted before laboratory data were available.

Lower limb wrapping prevents hypotension, but not hypothermia or shivering, after the introduction of epidural anesthesia for cesarean delivery.

The decrease of arterial blood pressure and body temperature after epidural or spinal anesthesia is thought to be the result of sympathetic block, which could cause pooling and redistribution of blood into the lower extremities. Studies have demonstrated that leg wrapping with elastic bandages may reduce the incidence of hypotension after spinal anesthesia. We tried to extend these previous observations to epidural anesthesia by testing the hypothesis that leg wrapping with elastic bandages should decrease the incidence of hypotension in patients receiving epidural anesthesia.