Influence of the marvelous™ three-way stopcock on the natural frequency and damping coefficient in blood pressure transducer kits.

Two types of Planecta™ ports are commonly used as sampling ports in blood pressure transducer kits: a flat-type port (FTP) and a port with a three-way stopcock (PTS). Recently, a new type of three-way stopcock (Marvelous™) has been released as a Planecta™ counterpart, but its effects on the frequency characteristics and reliability of blood pressure monitoring have not been investigated. We assessed the influence of the Marvelous™ stopcock on the frequency characteristics of the pressure transducer kit.

Effect of using a Planecta™ port with a three-way stopcock on the natural frequency of blood pressure transducer kits.

Blood pressure transducer kits are equipped with two types of Planecta™ ports-the flat-type Planecta™ port (FTP) and the Planecta™ port with a three-way stopcock (PTS). We reported that FTP application decreased the natural frequency of the kits. However, Planecta™ is an invaluable tool as it prevents infection, ensures technical simplicity, and excludes air.

Frequency characteristics of pressure transducer kits with inserted pressure-resistant extension tubes.

The accurate monitoring of arterial blood pressure is important for cardiovascular management. However, the frequency characteristics of pressure transducer kits are influenced by the length of the pressure-resistant tube. To date, there have been few studies addressing the frequency characteristics of pressure transducer kits with inserted pressure-resistant extension tubes (pressure-resistant extension tube (ET) circuits).

Effect of carbamazepine and gabapentin on excitability in the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis of neonatal rats using a voltage-sensitive dye imaging technique.

Background: The antiepileptic drugs carbamazepine and gabapentin are effective in treating neuropathic pain and trigeminal neuralgia. In the present study, to analyze the effects of carbamazepine and gabapentin on neuronal excitation in the spinal trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Sp5c) in the medulla oblongata, we recorded temporal changes in nociceptive afferent activity in the Sp5c of trigeminal nerve-attached brainstem slices of neonatal rats using a voltage-sensitive dye imaging technique.

Results: Electrical stimulation of the trigeminal nerve rootlet evoked changes in the fluorescence intensity of dye in the Sp5c.

Orexin-B antagonized respiratory depression induced by sevoflurane, propofol, and remifentanil in isolated brainstem-spinal cords of neonatal rats.

Orexins (hypocretins) play a crucial role in arousal, feeding, and endocrine function. We previously reported that orexin-B activated respiratory neurons in the isolated brainstem-spinal cords of neonatal rats. We herein determined whether orexin-B antagonized respiratory depression induced by sevoflurane, propofol, or remifentanil.

Orexin induces excitation of respiratory neuronal network in isolated brainstem spinal cord of neonatal rat.

Endogenous neuropeptides known as orexins (hypocretins) play important roles in the regulation of feeding, drinking, endocrine function, and sleep/wakefulness. Orexin neuron projection sites include the rostral ventrolateral medulla of brainstem, which is related to the control of breathing. Previous studies suggest that orexins modulate the central CO2 ventilatory response during wakefulness in rodent.

Direct assessment of the antioxidant properties of midazolam by electron spin resonance spectroscopy.

Some antioxidant anesthetics directly inhibit lipid peroxidation mediated via the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). To date, the scavenging effects of midazolam on ROS have not been directly assessed. We investigated the inhibitory effect of midazolam on ROS [hydroxyl radical (HO(·)) and superoxide (O (2) (·-) )] by in vitro X-band electron spin resonance with the spin-trapping agent 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide.

Comparative effects of verapamil, nicardipine, and nitroglycerin on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.

The aim of this experiment was to establish whether verapamil, nicardipine, and nitroglycerin have (1) infarct size-limiting effects and (2) antiarrhythmic effects in in vivo rabbit hearts during ischemia/reperfusion. Rabbits received regional ischemia by 30 min of left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion followed by 3 hours of reperfusion under ketamine and xylazine anesthesia. The animals were randomly assigned to the following 4 treatment groups: a control group, a verapamil group, a nicardipine group, and a nitroglycerin group.

Application of gum elastic bougie to nasal intubation.

Gum elastic bougie (GEB), a useful device for difficult airway management, has seldom been used for nasotracheal intubation. Among 632 patients undergoing dental procedures or oral surgery, GEB was used successfully in 16 patients in whom conventional nasal intubation had failed because of anatomical problems or maldirection of the tip of the tracheal tube. We recommend that GEB should be applied from the first attempt for nasal intubation in patients with difficult airways.

Effects of wearing complete dentures during sleep on the apnea-hypopnea index.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate whether wearing complete dentures during sleep can improve the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI).

Materials And Methods: A total of 34 edentulous patients (16 men and 18 women, mean age: 72.5 +/- 8.

Perioperative management of obstructive sleep apnea with nasal continuous positive airway pressure.

The high risks associated with general anesthesia in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients have been reported. Many authors have suggested that the intraoperative administration of opioids and sedatives should be limited or avoided because these drugs selectively impair muscle activity in the upper airway. We report the case of an OSAS patient who was managed with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) and treated safely in spite of the use of conventional anesthetic and analgesic agents typically used for patients without OSAS.

Direct assessments of the antioxidant effects of propofol medium chain triglyceride/long chain triglyceride on the brain of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats using electron spin resonance spectroscopy.

Background: Antioxidant anesthetics such as propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) directly inhibit lipid peroxidation via the generation of reactive oxygen species. Currently, there are no other studies regarding the direct effects of propofol medium chain triglyceride/long chain triglyceride (MCT/LCT) on reactive oxygen species generation or in experimental models of reactive oxygen species-induced oxidative stress in the brain.

Methods: The authors investigated the effects of propofol MCT/LCT on reactive oxygen species (hydroxyl radical or superoxide) by electron spin resonance spin trapping with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide.

Usefulness of noninjectable anesthetic gel for intraperiodontal gingival retraction.

This study aimed to determine the efficacy of local anesthesia using Oraqix for gingival retraction in 35 healthy adult patients. The median visual analogue scale value was 20.5 +/- 24.

Hypothermic, but not normothermic, ischemia causes a drastic increase in cyclooxygenase-2 immunoreactive granule cells in rat dentate gyrus after 4 hours of ischemic reperfusion.

We investigated cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) immunoreactive cells in the hippocampus and dentate gyrus of Sprague-Dawley rats at 4 h after the induction of normothermic and hypothermic ischemia and reperfusion. Under the normothermic condition, Cox-2 immunoreactive cells showed more intense staining and clearer proximal dendrite configurations as compared with the control animals, whereas the numbers of immunoreactive cells in the hippocampus and dentate gyrus were not remarkably increased. In contrast to the normothermic condition, long-term (pre- and intra-ischemic) and short-term (exclusively intra-ischemic) hypothermic conditions caused a drastic increase in immunoreactive cells in the dentate gyrus.

Application of nasal flexible laryngeal mask airway in anesthesia for oral surgery.

The laryngeal mask airway has been used increasingly in clinics but is seldom applied in anesthesia for oral surgery, as the mask occupies the middle of the mouth and tends to obstruct the surgical field. Here, we report the successful placement and usage of a nasal flexible laryngeal mask airway (FLMA) in an oral surgical procedure. Fifteen patients undergoing dental procedures under general anesthesia were studied.

Sildenafil and vardenafil but not nitroglycerin limit myocardial infarction through opening of mitochondrial K(ATP) channels when administered at reperfusion following ischemia in rabbits.

Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors including sildenafil and vardenafil induce powerful preconditioning-like cardioprotective effect against ischemia/reperfusion injury through opening of mitochondrial K(ATP) channels in the heart. The goal of these studies was to demonstrate the protective effect of sildenafil and vardenafil on reperfusion injury and to compare it with the antianginal vasodilator nitroglycerin (NTG). In addition, we determined the role of mitochondrial K(ATP) channels in protection.

Differential vascular reactivity of canine mesenteric arteries and veins to sevoflurane.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the vascular reactivities of canine mesenteric arteries and veins to sevoflurane and to elucidate the underlying mechanism that is responsible for sevoflurane-induced hypotension.

Methods: Vascular rings of canine mesenteric arteries and veins were suspended in organ baths, and the effect of 2.3% and 4.