Nicorandil, a K Channel Opener, Attenuates Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Isolated Rat Lungs.

Purpose: Nicorandil is a hybrid between nitrates and K channel opener activators. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nicorandil's effects on ischemia-reperfusion (IR) lung injury and examine the mechanism of its effects.

Methods: Isolated rat lungs were divided into 6 groups.

Inhibition of poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase improves pulmonary arterial endothelium-dependent relaxation after ischemic-reperfusion injury of splanchnic artery in rats.

The role of poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) synthetase (PARS) in the contractile and relaxant responses of pulmonary arteries injured by ischemia and reperfusion (IR) of splanchnic artery has not been evaluated. We examined these responses by using 3-aminobenzamide, a pharmacological inhibitor of PARS. IR models in rats were induced by clamping the superior mesenteric artery for 60 min, followed by release of the clamp for 60 min.

Use of the bispectral index during the early postresuscitative phase after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Non-invasive and real-time measures of neurological status after cardiac arrest are needed to be able to make an early determination of the postresuscitative outcome. We investigated whether the bispectral index (BIS) predicts the postresuscitative outcome in 10 patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. We measured the BIS after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in the emergency room and on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Nitrous oxide administration during washout of sevoflurane improves postanesthetic agitation in children.

The use of sevoflurane in pediatric patients, which could enable a more rapid emergence and recovery, is complicated by a high incidence of postanesthetic agitation, probably due to residual sevoflurane during washout. The present study was designed to investigate whether administration of nitrous oxide (N2O) reduces sevoflurane concentration at awakening and suppresses postanesthetic agitation. The study enrolled 20 children classified as ASA physical status I.

Plasma exchange for hypertriglyceridemic acute necrotizing pancreatitis: report of two cases.

We report two cases of hypertriglyceridemic necrotizing pancreatitis treated by plasma exchange (PE). The outcome of each case was quite different according to the timing of PE. A 36 year old man presented with abdominal pain, and a diagnosis of severe acute pancreatitis was made.