Administrations of thalidomide into the rostral ventromedial medulla produce antinociceptive effects in a rat model of postoperative pain.

The rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) is highly involved in pain signal transmissions. Previous studies have shown that thalidomide is anti-nociceptive. Thus, we evaluated the neurobiological mechanisms of thalidomide in the RVM in the regulation of postoperative pain.

Thalidomide Promotes Morphine Efficacy and Prevents Morphine-Induced Tolerance in Rats with Diabetic Neuropathy.

Opioid analgesics have less efficacy in diabetic neuropathy treatment, and tolerance often occurs after chronic usage. Given that thalidomide can potentiate the morphine efficacy in diabetic neuropathy treatment, we investigated the effects of intrathecal administrations of thalidomide on morphine tolerance during the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. We found that intrathecal administrations of thalidomide (25 mg/kg/ml) potentiated the analgesic effects of morphine on mechanical hyperalgesia and prevented the development of morphine tolerance.

Administrations of thalidomide into the rostral ventromedial medulla alleviates painful diabetic neuropathy in Zucker diabetic fatty rats.

The rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) plays a critical role in pain signal transmissions. However, the mechanisms of RVM in type 2 diabetic neuropathy are still poorly understood. Therefore, we evaluated the mechanisms within the RVM in the modulation of neuropathic pain in type 2 diabetes.

Thalidomide represses inflammatory response and reduces radiculopathic pain by inhibiting IRAK-1 and NF-κB/p38/JNK signaling.

Intervertebral disc (IVD) disease, the most common cause of disc failure and low back pain, is characterized by age-related changes in the adult disc. In this study we aimed to analyze the potential of thalidomide for the treatment of IVD disease, through identifying and explaining its anti-inflammatory and anti-catabolic activity in both in vitro IVD cell culture and in vivo animal model. Inflammatory response was induced by IL-1β, then the activity and expression of inflammatory mediators and pathways were assessed in the presence or absence of thalidomide.

Prolonged Suppression of Neuropathic Pain by Sequential Delivery of Lidocaine and Thalidomide Drugs Using PEGylated Graphene Oxide.

The management of patients with neuropathic pain is challenging. Monotherapy with a single pain relief drug may encounter different difficulties, such as short duration of efficacy and hence too many times of drug administration, and inadequate drug delivery. Recently, nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems have been proved to provide promising strategies for efficient drug loading, delivery, and release.

Comparison of two different sevoflurane expelling methods on emergence agitation in infants following sevoflurane anesthesia.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of two different inhalation anesthetic expelling methods on emergence agitation in infants following sevoflurane anesthesia.

Methods: 100 infants (1~3 years old) with cleft lip and palate and ASA classification I~II were randomized into two groups, a sevoflurane concentration decreasing expelling group (group n = 50 cases) and a low fresh gas flow expelling group (group D = 50 cases). The operation for cleft lip and palate repair was under general anesthesia, in which 30 minutes after initiation of narcosis ending extubation was indicated and after the tubes were removed the patients were sent to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) to record anesthesia times, emergence agitation scores, Ramsay scores and adverse reactions including drowsiness, respiratory depression, nausea and vomiting, chills, hiccough or laryngospasms.

Involvement of peripheral TRPV1 channels in the analgesic effects of thalidomide.

Thalidomide was introduced to the market in 1957 as a sedative and antiemetic agent, and returned to the market for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome and multiple myeloma. There are reports and studies of thalidomide as an analgesic or analgesic adjuvant in clinic. However, the underlying mechanism is quite elusive.

Expression of p-Akt in ovarian serous carcinoma and its association with proliferation and apoptosis.

The aim of the present study was to determine the expression of p-Akt in ovarian serous carcinoma (OSC) and its association with proliferation and apoptosis. Paraffin-embedded tissues of patients aged between 35 and 64 years old without history of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy prior to surgery were collected. In total, samples included 12 ovarian serous cystadenomas (OSAs), 18 ovarian serous borderline tumors (OS-BTs) and 46 OSCs.

Combining ECMO with IABP for the treatment of critically Ill adult heart failure patients.

Objective: To discuss the experience of combining extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) for the treatment of acute heart failure in critically ill adults.

Methods: The clinical data of 54 patients who received ECMO combined with IABP due to acute heart failure between January 2008 and July 2012 were retrospectively analysed. Thirty-eight of the patients were male, and 16 were female; the mean age was 57±11.