Intercostal Nerve Cryoablation as an Effective Pain Management Strategy in the Nuss Procedure: Reducing Opioid Use and Hospital Stay.

Introduction:  Erector spinae plane (ESP) blocks, thoracic epidural, and patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) have all been used for perioperative pain management in the Nuss procedure without a consensus on what modality produces the best outcomes. Intercostal nerve cryoablation (INC) is a relatively new modality that involves freezing the nerves to prevent pain during recovery. Our hypothesis is that using INC for the Nuss procedure will decrease opioid use, pain scores, and length of stay (LOS) but will increase cost compared with ESP block, thoracic epidural, and PCA.

GPR162 is a beta cell CART receptor.

Cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) is expressed in pancreatic islet cells and neuronal elements. We have previously established insulinotropic actions of CART in human and rodent islets. The receptor for CART in the pancreatic beta cells is unidentified.

Sharing food with infants in Hadza communities in Tanzania.

By analyzing mealtime interactions of Tanzanian Hadza infants with their interactional partners, we explored how two foundational schemas, namely giving/sharing and autonomy are realized and fostered in infants. We focused on three aspects of the mealtime interactions, namely how the infants' share was protected, whether independent eating was fostered by the infants' interactional partners, and how infants were encouraged to share food. To answer these questions, we also considered the settings that were created for infant eating, persons involved, and characteristics of the foods.

Overexpressed beta cell CART increases insulin secretion in mouse models of insulin resistance and diabetes.

Impaired beta cell function and beta cell death are key features of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) is necessary for normal islet function in mice. CART increases glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in vivo in mice and in vitro in human islets and CART protects beta cells against glucotoxicity-induced cell death in vitro in rats.

The role of CART in islet biology.

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) is mostly known for its appetite regulating effects in the central nervous system. However, CART is also highly expressed in the peripheral nervous system as well as in certain endocrine cells. Our group has dedicated more than 20 years to understand the role of CART in the pancreatic islets and in this review we summarize what is known to date about CART expression and function in the islets.