A novel technique for assessment of post-extubation airway obstruction can successfully replace the conventional cuff leak test: a pilot study.

Background: Post-extubation airway obstruction is an important complication of tracheal intubation. The cuff leak test is traditionally used to estimate the risk of this complication. However, the cuff leak test parameters are not constant and may depend on the respiratory system and ventilator settings.

Spinal cord infarction following epidural and general anesthesia: a case report.

Background: Epidural anesthesia is widely used for postoperative analgesia and rarely causes permanent neurological complications. We report a case of paraplegia following abdominal surgery under combined epidural/general anesthesia.

Case Presentation: A 75-year-old woman underwent a scheduled abdominal total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for suspected endometrial cancer.

Stimulation of sensory neurons improves cognitive function by promoting the hippocampal production of insulin-like growth factor-I in mice.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) increases the production of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in the mouse brain. IGF-I exerts beneficial effects on the cognitive function by increasing synaptic transmission and by inducing angiogenesis and neurogenesis in the hippocampus. In the current study, we examined whether stimulation of sensory neurons by capsaicin improved the cognitive function by increasing the production of IGF-I in the hippocampus using wild-type (WT) and CGRP-knockout (CGRP-/-) mice.

Donepezil improves cognitive function in mice by increasing the production of insulin-like growth factor-I in the hippocampus.

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) exerts beneficial effects on cognitive function. The selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitor donepezil increases serum IGF-I levels in elderly subjects. Because stimulation of sensory neurons induces IGF-I production by releasing calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the mouse brain, we hypothesized that donepezil increases IGF-I production by sensory neuron stimulation to improve the cognitive function in mice.

Effect of topical application of raspberry ketone on dermal production of insulin-like growth factor-I in mice and on hair growth and skin elasticity in humans.

Sensory neurons release calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on activation. We recently reported that topical application of capsaicin increases facial skin elasticity and promotes hair growth by increasing dermal insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) production through activation of sensory neurons in mice and humans. Raspberry ketone (RK), a major aromatic compound contained in red raspberries (Rubus idaeus), has a structure similar to that of capsaicin.