Application of an artificial neural network to predict postinduction hypotension during general anesthesia.

Background: Perioperative hypotension is associated with adverse outcomes in patients undergoing surgery. A computer-based model that integrates related factors and predicts the risk of hypotension would be helpful in clinical anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to develop artificial neural network (ANN) models to identify patients at high risk for postinduction hypotension during general anesthesia.

[Effect of emergency care simulator combined with problem-based learning in teaching of cardiopulmonary resuscitation].

Objective: To evaluate the teaching effects of emergency care simulator (ECS) combined with problem-based learning (PBL) in teaching of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Methods: 42 medical students were randomly divided into 2 equal groups, control group receiving PBL and training of specific operation such as artificial respiration, external cardiac compression, tracheal intubation, and defibrillation, and ECS group receiving ECS training in addition. Then test was given to record the scores in artificial respiration.

Predicting hypotensive episodes during spinal anesthesia with the application of artificial neural networks.

Hypotension is one of the most frequent adverse effects of spinal anesthesia. Several factors might be related to the occurrence of hypotension. Predictions of the hypotensive event, however, had been addressed by only a few authors using logistic regression (LR) models.

Taxol induces caspase-independent cytoplasmic vacuolization and cell death through endoplasmic reticulum (ER) swelling in ASTC-a-1 cells.

High concentration of taxol was found to induce programmed cell death (PCD) and cytoplasm vacuolization in human lung adenocarcinoma (ASTC-a-1) cells. To elucidate the relationship between the PCD and cytoplasm vacuolization, confocal fluorescence microscopy was performed on the cytoplasm vacuolization, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria swelling after taxol treatment in living cells. erRFP plasmid was used to probe the ER distribution, and SCAT3 plasmid was used to monitor the caspase-3 activation in living cells.

Live morphological analysis of taxol-induced cytoplasmic vacuolization [corrected] in human lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Taxol (paclitaxel), one of the most active cancer chemotherapeutic agents, can cause programmed cell death (PCD) and cytoplasmic vacuolization. The objective of this study was to analyze the morphological characteristics induced by taxol. Human lung adenocarcinoma (ASTC-a-1) cells were exposed to various concentration of taxol.

Doxapram shortens recovery following sevoflurane anesthesia.

Purpose: A randomized, double blind controlled trial was undertaken to investigate the effect of doxapram on recovery times and bispectral index following sevoflurane anesthesia.

Methods: Upon completion of surgery under sevoflurane anesthesia, 60 adult patients were randomly allocated to receive either doxapram hydrochloride 1 mg.kg(-1) iv or saline placebo.

Starting dose of gabapentin for patients with post-herpetic neuralgia--a dose-response study.

Background: Gabapentin has been shown to provide pain relief for post-herpetic neuralgia at dosage of 1200 to 2400 mg/day. However, the initial dosing strategy has not been thoroughly investigated. The purpose of this study was to establish the initial dosing strategy in the treatment of the gabapentin-naive patients with post-herpetic neuralgia.

Intravenous lidocaine and ephedrine, but not propofol, suppress fentanyl-induced cough.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of lidocaine, propofol and ephedrine in suppressing fentanyl-induced cough.

Methods: One hundred and eighteen patients were randomly assigned into four groups and the following medications were given intravenously: patients in Group I (n = 31) received normal saline 2 mL, Group II (n = 29) received lidocaine 2 mg.kg(-1), Group III (n = 30) received propofol 0.

Outpatient penile implantation with the patient under a novel method of crural block.

Although local anaesthesia for penile implants has been substantially reported, its methodology, simplicity and reliability left room for improvement. We would like to report on an innovative penile crural block using local anaesthesia in patients who underwent penile implantation as outpatient surgery. From March 1987 to March 1991, a total of 21 organically impotent men, aged from 27 to 77 years, received penile prosthesis implantation.

The effect of desflurane on ameliorating cerebral infarction in rats subjected to focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

To obtain more information on the cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury under desflurane anesthesia, we compared the infarct volume and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in rats subjected to focal cerebral ischemia during different concentration of desflurane anesthesia. Male Long-Evans rats weighing 270-350 g were anesthetized with desflurane in air at 1.0, 1.

Penile venous anatomy: an additional description and its clinical implication.

The human penile venous system has been well studied and described but the demonstration of extra venous channels in imaging films prompted us to seek refinement of our anatomical knowledge of this venous system. Cavernosography in 37 patients who had venous stripping surgery and now suffered recurrent erectile dysfunction consistently showed an independent vein, smaller than the deep dorsal vein, running almost in the same position of the deep dorsal vein even though the latter had been removed unequivocally in previous surgery. Cavernosography in 9 patients who underwent intraoperative films also demonstrated the presence of this cavernosal vein in addition to the deep dorsal vein.

General anesthetic management for diagnostic splenectomy in a patient with paraneoplastic pemphigus.

Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is an autoantibody-mediated mucocutaneous blistering disease that often occurs with confirmed or occult malignancy. It is often accompanied by extensive eruption of respiratory mucosa and can lead to respiratory failure. The indications for anesthetic management in patients with PNP are rare due to the high risk of generating further eruption of respiratory mucosa during intubation, with potentially disastrous consequences.

Neural network modeling to predict the hypnotic effect of propofol bolus induction.

Dose requirements of propofol to achieve loss of consciousness depend on the interindividual variability. Until now when propofol was administered by a single bolus, how to define the optimal individual dose and to assess its hypnotic effect have not been clearly studied. The goal of this study is to develop an artificial neural network model to predict the hypnotic effect of propofol on the basis of common clinical parameters.

Myoclonic seizure in the postanesthesia care unit after thoracic laminectomy.

We report a patient who developed myoclonic seizure in the postanesthesia care unit after thoracic laminectomy. Expeditious diagnostic evaluation of unrecognized dura tear during surgery must be instituted immediately to avoid untoward sequelae. Specific treatment in addition to supportive care is required if the diagnosis is to be clearly identified.

Can neostigmine reduce propofol injection pain?

Background: Neostigmine has been found to cause peripheral analgesia. We used venous retention technique to evaluate whether neostigmine displayed peripheral analgesic effect in reducing propofol injection pain.

Methods: In a double blind fashion, 105 patients were randomly allocated to receive either 1 ml 0.

Influence of testosterone on autotomy in castrated male rats.

Sex-related differences exist in nociception and gonadal steroids influence the analgesic response in animals and humans. As we have shown previously, estrogen could modify autotomy in female rats using the sciatic nerve transection model. To further characterize the relationship between gonadal steroid and nociception, the role of testosterone on autotomy in sciatic nerve sectioned rats was investigated.

Bispectral index monitoring during hypoglycemic coma.

Bispectral index (BIS) monitoring is gaining wide acceptance as a gauge of the hypnotic effect of anesthetics. However, change in BIS in relation to the mental status of diabetic patients due to hypoglycemia has not been reported to date. We describe a case in which BIS was found to correlate with a patient's level of consciousness and changes in blood glucose levels.

Anesthetic considerations in intracranial aneurysm surgery.

Rupture of an intracranial aneurysm generally has a poor outcome, though perioperative treatments have improved. At the present time, the important factors in the management of intracranial aneurysm surgery appear to be the maintenance of adequate cerebral perfusion pressure and the avoidance of hyperglycemia. Relevant features of the anesthetic management of this surgery are discussed.