Comparison of nicardipine, diltiazem and verapamil for controlling the cardiovascular responses to tracheal intubation.

We have compared the efficacy of three calcium channel blockers, nicardipine, diltiazem and verapamil, in attenuating the cardiovascular responses to laryngoscopy and intubation in 60 normotensive patients (ASA I) undergoing rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia with thiopentone and fentanyl. We also examined whether or not these blockers inhibited catecholamine release induced by intubation. The patients were allocated to one of four groups (n = 15 for each): saline (control), nicardipine 30 micrograms kg-1, diltiazem 0.

Oral clonidine premedication reduces postoperative pain in children.

Clonidine is an effective preanesthetic medication in children, providing a preoperative sedative effect. The analgesic properties of the drug have been well documented in adults. The current study was designed to investigate the effect of oral clonidine given preoperatively on postoperative pain in children undergoing minor surgery.

Detection of lysyl oxidase gene expression in rat skin during wound healing.

Lysyl oxidase (LOX) initiates the crosslinking of the lysine-derived aldehyde and plays an essential role in maturation of collagen, for example in wound healing. Although the activity of this enzyme has been examined in various disorders, and a further intriguing aspect of the relationship between LOX and tumorigenesis has recently emerged, its gene expression pattern in tissues is still unknown. We examined LOX gene expression during wound healing in rat skin.

Reference citation accuracy in theJournal of Anesthesia.

To determine the accuracy of the bibliographic citations in theJournal of Anesthesia, all references appearing the years 1987 (Vol. 1;n=548) and 1994 (Vol. 8;n=1839) were sequentially numbered and 100 references from each year were randomly selected.

The accuracy of references in Anaesthesia.

We reviewed all the references quoted in Volume 45 (1990) (n = 3967) and half the references quoted in Volume 49 (1994) (n = 2183) of Anaesthesia. The references were numbered sequentially and 100 references from each year were randomly selected. Citations of non-journal articles were omitted leaving 197 citations for careful scrutiny.

Oral clonidine premedication reduces vomiting in children after strabismus surgery.

This is a prospective randomized double-blind trial conducted to determine whether preoperative orally administered clonidine causes or potentiates postoperative vomiting in 140 children (3-12 yr) undergoing strabismus surgery. They were all inpatients and classified randomly into four groups (n = 35 each); placebo (control), diazepam 0.4 mg.

Attenuation of the catecholamine response to tracheal intubation with oral clonidine in children.

We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind , controlled clinical trial to examine (1) whether plasma catecholamine (CA) concentrations increased in response to tracheal intubation in children, and (2) the effects of clonidine on the CA responses. Sixty children (ASA physical status I) aged 7-13 yr were allocated to one of three groups (n = 20 for each group): diazepam 0.4 x kg(-1) (active control), clonidine 2 micrograms x kg(-1), or clonidine 4 micrograms x kg(-1) po.

[A case of graft-versus-host disease following red cell concentrate (MAP-CRC) transfusion].

We report a case of transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). A 79-year-old woman with Hodgkin's disease, respiratory failure and severe anemia who had been treated with two courses of chemotherapy was transfused with red cell concentrate (MAP-CRC) and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) in the ICU. On the 7-9th days after transfusion, she developed a diffuse erythematous rash mainly on the chest, high fever, liver dysfunction and thrombocytopenia.

Effects of exogenous intravenous glucose on plasma glucose and lipid homeostasis in anesthetized infants.

Background: Whether intravenous glucose administration to infants during anesthesia is necessary remains to be resolved. The current study was designed to investigate the effect of exogenous glucose infusion on plasma glucose and lipid homeostasis in infants undergoing minor surgery.

Methods: Sixty infants (inpatients, ASA physical status 1) between 1 and 11 months of age were divided randomly into three groups as follows: LR group, lactated Ringer's solution (LR) alone; D2LR group, 2% glucose in LR; and D5LR group, 5% glucose in LR.

Gastric fluid volume and pH after nizatidine in adults undergoing elective surgery: influence of timing and dose.

We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind study to investigate the effect of oral nizatidine (150-600 mg), a new potent H2 antagonist, on preoperative gastric fluid pH and volume in adults undergoing elective surgery. One hundred and seventy-five healthy adults (21-68 yr) were randomly allocated to seven treatment groups (n = 25); Placebo was administered at 21:00 and 06:30 the night before and on the day of surgery, respectively (0/0: control); nizatidine 150 mg at 21:00 and placebo at 06:30 (150/0); placebo at 21:00 and nizatidine 150 mg at 06:30 (0/150); nizatidine 150 mg at 21:00 and 06:30 (150/150); nizatidine 300 mg at 21:00 and placebo at 06:30 (300/0); placebo at 21:00 and nizatidine 300 mg at 06:30 (0/300); and nizatidine 300 mg at 21:00 and 06:30 (300/300). Each patient fasted overnight and took the drug and/or placebo with 20 ml water.

[A recurrence of benign fibrous mesothelioma of the pleura: a case report].

A 64-year-old man who complained of the right chest pain was admitted in our hospital. A mass shadow which revealed the extrapleural sign was shown in the chest X-ray. This patient was performed thoracotomy and a tumor invading to the intercostal muscles was resected.

[Intrapleural bleomycin for management of malignant pleural effusions].

We studied the efficacy of intrapleural administration of bleomycin for the management of malignant pleural effusions of non-small cell lung cancer in 24 cases. Bleomycin 60 mg was administered into the pleural space after tube drainage. If the effusion continued, one additional dose was given.

Does early posttreatment with lidocaine attenuate endotoxin-induced acute injury in rabbits?

Background: It is well known that endotoxin causes acute lung injury, resulting in adult respiratory distress syndrome. Lidocaine pretreatment has recently been shown to attenuate endotoxin-induced lung injury in rabbits. The aim of the current study was to determine whether early postinjury treatment with intravenous lidocaine could attenuate acute lung injury induced by endotoxin in rabbits.

The accuracy of reference lists in Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica.

To determine the accuracy of bibliographic citation in Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica, we reviewed all 1990 volumes and part of 1994 volumes of the journal and sequentially numbered all references appearing in those years (n = 2701 and 2158 in 1990 (No. 1-No. 8) and 1994 (No.

Attenuation of cardiovascular responses to tracheal extubation with diltiazem.

We conducted a randomized, double-blind study to examine the effects of intravenous (i.v.) diltiazem (0.

Lansoprazole reduces preoperative gastric fluid acidity and volume in children.

The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of lansoprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, in reducing the acidity and volume of gastric aspirate in children immediately following the induction of anaesthesia. One hundred healthy in-patients aged 3-11 yr undergoing elective surgery were randomly allocated to four groups (n = 25 each): lansoprazole-lansoprazole, placebo-placebo, placebo-lansoprazole, and lansoprazole-placebo. For each treatment regimen, the first medication was administered at 9:00 pm on the night before surgery and the second at 5:30 am on the morning of the day of surgery (three hours preoperatively).

Suppression of adult T cell leukemia-derived factor/human thioredoxin induction by FK506 and cyclosporin A: a new mechanism of immune modulation via redox control.

Adult T cell leukemia-derived factor (ADF), which is identical to a disulfide reducing enzyme human thioredoxin (TRX), is produced and released by activated or virus-infected lymphocytes. Here we report that, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA), ADF/TRX mRNA was induced within 8 h after stimulation as detected by in situ hybridization study. To analyze the mechanism of ADF/TRX induction during T cell activation, the effects of immunosuppressants including FK506, rapamycin (Rap) and cyclosporin A (CsA) on ADF/TRX expression were investigated by immunoblot analysis.

Oral clonidine premedication blunts the heart rate response to intravenous atropine in awake children.

Background: Clonidine, which is known to have analgesic and sedative properties, has recently been shown to be an effective preanesthetic medication in children. The drug may cause side effects, including bradycardia and hypotension. This study was conducted to evaluate the ability of intravenous atropine to increase the heart rate (HR) in awake children receiving clonidine preanesthetic medication.

The antiemetic efficacy of prophylactic granisetron in gynecologic surgery.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting are common after recovery from anesthesia. We examined the prophylactic effect of granisetron on postoperative nausea and vomiting in 120 female patients (ASA physical status I) undergoing gynecologic surgery. They were randomly allocated to one of three groups (n = 40 for each): saline (as a control), granisetron 20 micrograms/kg, and granisetron 40 micrograms/kg.

Serum levels of soluble CD23 in patients with bullous pemphigoid.

In this study, we tested the serum levels of soluble CD23 (sCD23) in 27 bullous pemphigoid (BP) patients and compared them with the disease activity. Soluble CD23 is the cleaved portion of the low affinity Fc receptor for IgE (Fc epsilon RII/CD23) which has an affinity for IgE and regulates IgE synthesis. Although bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a subepidermal blistering disease characterized by IgG class autoantibodies against the basement membrane of stratified squamous epithelia, several IgE-related phenomena have been reported.