Prazosin Potentiates Mast Cell-Stabilizing Property of Adrenaline.

Background/aims: Adrenaline quickly inhibits the release of histamine from mast cells. Besides β2-adrenergic receptors, several in vitro studies also indicate the involvement of α-adrenergic receptors in the process of exocytosis. Since exocytosis in mast cells can be detected electrophysiologically by the changes in the membrane capacitance (Cm), its continuous monitoring in the presence of drugs would determine their mast cell-stabilizing properties.

Sonoclot® predicts operation time and blood loss after cardiopulmonary bypass in children.

Background: As the circulating blood volume is relatively small in pediatric patients, blood components are quickly lost when bleeding, which make it more difficult to stop the bleeding. Particularly in pediatric cardiac surgery, loss of clotting factors associated with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) would likely to be prominent. As a result, bleeding is further promoted and the operation time is extended.

Successive perioperative management of laparoscopic liver resection in the reverse Trendelenburg position for a patient with Fontan physiology: a case report.

Background: Laparoscopic surgery for a patient with Fontan physiology is challenging because pneumoperitoneum and positive pressure ventilation could decrease venous return and the accumulated partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO) could increase pulmonary vascular resistance, which might lead to disruption of the hemodynamics.

Case Presentation: A 25-year-old man with Fontan physiology was scheduled to undergo laparoscopic liver resection for Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD) with noninvasive monitoring of cardiac output (CO) by transpulmonary thermodilution in addition to transesophageal echocardiography. The abdominal air pressure was maintained low, and we planned to switch to open abdominal surgery promptly if hemodynamic instability became apparent because of the accumulated PaCO or postural change.

Management of cesarean section in a patient with Fontan circulation: a case report of dramatic reduction of maternal oxygen consumption after delivery.

Background: The anesthetic management of cesarean sections in Fontan-palliated parturients requires strict hemodynamic control. However, patient management with central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO) and oxygen consumption (VO) has never been reported.

Case Presentation: A 30-year-old woman, who had received a total cavopulmonary connection for tricuspid atresia, was planned to undergo cesarean section at 38 weeks' gestation.

-Adrenergic Receptor Blockade by Prazosin Synergistically Stabilizes Rat Peritoneal Mast Cells.

Background: Adrenaline quickly inhibits the release of histamine from mast cells. Besides -adrenergic receptors, several in vitro studies also indicate the involvement of -adrenergic receptors in the process of exocytosis. Since exocytosis in mast cells can be detected electrophysiologically by the changes in the membrane capacitance (Cm), its continuous monitoring in the presence of drugs would determine their mast cell-stabilizing properties.

Increase in circulating ACE-positive endothelial microparticles during acute lung injury.

Circulating endothelial microparticles (EMPs) are considered to be markers of endothelial injury, and lung microvascular endothelial cells express higher levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). The aim of this study is to examine whether the number of ACE microvascular EMPs could be a prognostic marker for the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in septic patients.The numbers of EMPs and ACE EMPs in the culture supernatant from human microvascular endothelial cells, as well as in the blood of mouse lung injury models and septic patients (n=82), were examined using flow cytometry.

Second-Generation Histamine H1 Receptor Antagonists Suppress Delayed Rectifier K-Channel Currents in Murine Thymocytes.

Background/aims: Voltage-dependent potassium channels (Kv1.3) are predominantly expressed in lymphocyte plasma membranes. These channels are critical for the activation and proliferation of lymphocytes.

Preoperative Assessment of the Impact of Positive Pressure Ventilation With Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation in a Patient With Eisenmenger Syndrome: A Case Study.

In Eisenmenger syndrome (ES), positive pressure ventilation (PPV) during general anesthesia may lead to an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and potentially to hypoxemia. In an attempt to predict the patient's hemodynamic response to intraoperative ventilation, we tested preoperatively the hemodynamic effects of noninvasive PPV with continuous positive pressure in a woman with ES scheduled for oophorectomy. The surgery was performed without complications, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 8.

Hydrocortisone and dexamethasone dose-dependently stabilize mast cells derived from rat peritoneum.

Background: Besides their anti-inflammatory properties, corticosteroid drugs exert anti-allergic effects. Exocytosis of mast cells is electrophysiologically detected as the increase in the whole-cell membrane capacitance (Cm). Therefore, the lack of such increase after exposure to the drugs suggests their mast cell-stabilizing effects.

Management of three cardiogenic pulmonary edemas occurring in a patient scheduled for left ventricular assist device implantation: indicators for determining left ventricular assist device pump speed.

A male patient with Marfan syndrome underwent aortic root replacement and developed left ventricular (LV) failure. Four years later, he underwent aortic arch and aortic valve replacement. Thereafter, his LV failure progressed, and cardiogenic pulmonary edema (CPE) appeared, which we treated with extracorporeal LV assist device (LVAD) placement.

Less contribution of mast cells to the progression of renal fibrosis in Rat kidneys with chronic renal failure.

Aim: Chronic renal failure (CRF) is histopathologically characterized by tubulointerstitial fibrosis in addition to glomerulosclerosis. Although mast cells are known to infiltrate into the kidneys with chronic inflammation, we know little about their contribution to the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis associated with CRF. The aim of this study was to reveal the involvement of mast cells in the progression of renal fibrosis in CRF.

Anti-Allergic Drugs Tranilast and Ketotifen Dose-Dependently Exert Mast Cell-Stabilizing Properties.

Background: Anti-allergic drugs, such as tranilast and ketotifen, inhibit the release of chemokines from mast cells. However, we know little about their direct effects on the exocytotic process of mast cells. Since exocytosis in mast cells can be monitored electrophysiologically by changes in the whole-cell membrane capacitance (Cm), the absence of such changes by these drugs indicates their mast cell-stabilizing properties.

Perioperative management of esophagectomy in a patient who previously underwent bilateral lung transplantation.

Background: General theory of anesthetic managements for nontransplant procedures in lung transplant patients was proposed. However, there are few literatures reporting the perioperative management of thoracoabdominal major surgery following lung transplantation in detail. Herein, we scrupulously report a perioperative management of esophagectomy in a patient who previously underwent bilateral lung transplantation (BLTx), focusing on protection of the transplanted lungs and the respiratory function of the patient.

Anesthetic management in an adult moyamoya disease patient undergoing mitral valve plasty for severe mitral regurgitation.

Background: Despite several previous reports, there are no established procedures for intraoperative management in moyamoya disease patients requiring cardiac surgery.

Case Presentation: Herein, we report the case of a 42-year-old man who was scheduled to undergo mitral valve plasty for severe mitral regurgitation. He had been diagnosed with moyamoya disease on the onset of cerebral ischemia at 41 years of age.

[Awake Nasotracheal Intubation for a 4-Year-old Boy with an Oral Penetrating Toothbrush Injury].

We report a case of an oral penetrating injury caused by a toothbrush in a 4-year-old 17-kg boy. The toothbrush was lodged in the right cervical region through the oral cavity, and emergency surgery for removal was planned under general anesthesia. Although mask ventilation was not possible because of the protruding toothbrush handle, awake nasotracheal intubation was successfully performed with a fiber-scope and intravenous fentanyl 25 μg.