Effect of Dexmedetomidine Preconditioning on Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Acute Hyperglycemic Rats.

Background: Acute hyperglycemia frequently occurs in stressful situations, including liver transplantation or hepatic surgery, which may affect the protective effects of dexmedetomidine preconditioning and increase postoperative mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in acute hyperglycemia.

Methods: Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 6 groups, including a combination between 2 glycemic (normo- and hyperglycemia) and 3 ischemia-reperfusion conditions (sham, ischemia-reperfusion only, and dexmedetomidine plus ischemia-reperfusion).

Improved Image Analysis for Measuring Gastric Ulcer Index in Animal Models and Clinical Diagnostic Data.

Gastric ulcers are one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases. In this study, as an attempt to reduce the minimal error in clinical observations during the diagnosis of gastric ulcers, the applicability of improved ImageJ analysis (IA) was investigated by comparing the results of animal experiments and clinical data. As a result, IA exhibited a significantly improved potential for determining the ulcer index (UI) of clinical data sheets compared to those rated directly by conventional clinical observation (CCO).

Misinterpretation of carbon dioxide monitoring because of deadspace of heat and moisture exchanger with a filter in pediatric anesthesia: A case report.

Rationale: When patients are intubated and treated with mechanical ventilation, the upper respiratory tract is bypassed by the flow of dry and cold air. To prevent disturbances of airway homeostasis, a heat and moisture exchanger filter (HMEF) has been applied to breathing circuit.

Patient Concerns: A 4-month-old male infant was ventilated with the pediatric HMEF.

The evaluation of implementing smart patient controlled analgesic pump with a different infusion rate for different time duration on postoperative pain management.

Background: Control of postoperative pain is an important aspect of postoperative patient management. Among the methods of postoperative pain control, patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) has been the most commonly used. This study tested the convenience and safety of a PCA method in which the dose adjusted according to time.

Analgesic effects of 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose in an animal model of lipopolysaccharide-induced pain.

We examined the analgesic effects of 1,2,3, 4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose (β-PGG), a prototypical gallotannin, in an animal model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‑induced pain. To evaluate the analgesic activity of β-PGG, we assessed the potential of β-PGG to inhibit the generation of nitric oxide (NO) in LPS-stressed RAW 264.7 cells, and found that β-PGG inhibits NO generation in a dose-dependent manner.

Erythropoietin prevents hypoxia-induced GATA-4 ubiquitination via phosphorylation of serine 105 of GATA-4.

Erythropoietin (EPO), an essential hormone for erythropoiesis, can provide protection against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and hypoxic apoptosis. GATA-4 is a zinc finger transcription factor, and its activation and post-translational modification are essential components in the transcriptional response to hypoxia. GATA-4 has also been reported to play a role in the cellular mechanisms of EPO-induced myocardial protection against I/R injury.

Berberine ameliorates cold and mechanical allodynia in a rat model of diabetic neuropathy.

This study evaluated the antiallodynic properties of berberine on cold and mechanical allodynia after streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes using a rat model. Diabetic neuropathy was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of STZ. To measure cold and mechanical allodynia, a 4°C plate and von Frey filament were used, respectively.

A comparison of femoral/sciatic nerve block with lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block and combined spinal epidural anesthesia for total knee replacement arthroplasty.

Background: Several factors, such as compromised cardiopulmonary function, anticoagulative therapy, or anatomical deformity in the elderly, prevent general anesthesia and neuraxial blockade from being conducted for total knee replacement arthroplasty (TKRA). We investigated the efficacy of femoral/sciatic nerve block with lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block (FSNB) as an alternative procedure in comparison with combined spinal epidural nerve block (CSE) in patients undergoing TKRA.

Methods: In this observational study, 80 American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-III patients scheduled for elective unilateral TKRA underwent CSE (n = 40) or FSNB (n = 40).

Moderate hypothermia attenuates α(1)-adrenoceptor-mediated contraction in isolated rat aorta: the role of the endothelium.

Moderate hypothermia (25-31 °C) may have a significant influence on vascular tone. We investigated the cellular mechanisms by which moderate hypothermia alters α-adrenoceptor-mediated contraction in rat thoracic aortae. Cyclooxygenase inhibition by indomethacin; nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibition by L-NAME; potassium channel and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) inhibition by glibenclamide and TEA; G protein inhibition by pertussis toxin; α₂-adrenergic inhibition by yohimbine; and β-adrenergic inhibition by propranolol were assessed for their effect on the contractile response to the α1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine (Phe) in combination with moderate hypothermia (25 °C).

The effect of the intravenous phenylephrine on the level of spinal anesthesia.

Background: Spinal anesthesia causes hypotension and bradycardia due to sympathetic nerve block and it is difficult to predict the level of sensory block and the duration of blockade. Recent studies have reported that intravenous phenylephrine can reduce the rostral spread of spinal anesthesia in pregnant women. We think a phenylephrine infusion will be useful for maintaining the baseline blood pressure by reducing the rostral spread of spinal anesthesia during the elective surgery of non-obstetric patients.

Target-controlled infusion of remifentanil for conscious sedation during spinal anesthesia.

Background: The aim of this study was to define the optimal target concentration of remifentanil which effectively achieves conscious sedation without significant vital sign changes and side effects during spinal anesthesia.

Methods: Sixty patients underwent spinal anesthesia with 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine (8-16 mg), and were infused with a target controlled infusion (TCI) of remifentanil at 1.

Intravenous fentanyl during shoulder arthroscopic surgery in the sitting position after interscalene block increases the incidence of episodes of bradycardia hypotension.

Background: Episodes of bradycardia hypotension (BH) or vasovagal syncope have a reported incidence of 13-29% during arthroscopic shoulder surgery in the sitting position after an interscalene block (ISB). This study was designed to investigate whether intravenous fentanyl during shoulder arthroscopy in the sitting position after ISB would increase or worsen the incidence of BH episodes.

Methods: In this prospective study, 20 minutes after being in a sitting position, 160 patients who underwent ISB were randomized to receive saline (S, n = 40), 50 µg of fentanyl (F-50, n = 40), 100 µg of fentanyl (F-100, n = 40) or 30 mg of ketorolac (K-30, n = 40) randomly.

Reduction of matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression by culture filtrate of Paecilomyces farinosus J3.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-tumor effects of a culture filtrate of Paecilomyces farinosus J3. Various anti-tumor assays using B16 melanoma cells were carried out. Paecilomyces farinosus J3 significantly decreased the wound healing capability, invasiveness and angiogenic activity, which was confirmed by wound healing, human umbilical vein endothelial cell and invasion assays.

Effect of pretreatment with acetaminophen on withdrawal movements associated with injection of rocuronium: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study.

Background: Withdrawal movement during rocuronium injection is a common, unresolved adverse effect. We aimed to investigate the effect of IV acetaminophen pretreatment on withdrawal movement during rocuronium injection.

Methods: This study enrolled 120 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I-II patients undergoing general anesthesia.

Sympathetic block for treating primary erythromelalgia.

Primary erythromelalgia is a rare condition that's characterized by erythema, an increased skin temperature and burning pain in the extremities. The pain is often very severe, and treating erythromelalgia is frustrating and difficult. We report here on the case of a 12-year old girl with primary erythromelalgia in both lower extremities.

Anesthesia of a dental patient with Angelman syndrome -A case report-.

Angelman syndrome is characterized by a partial deficit of paired autosomal chromosome 15, which contains a subunit of the GABA (Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid) receptor. Many drugs that act on the CNS (Central Nerve System) during anesthesia are believed to exert their effects via the GABA receptors. We describe the anesthesia of a 7 year-old female patient with Angelman syndrome who underwent surgery for dental caries.

Amelioration of asthmatic inflammation by an aqueous extract of Spinacia oleracea Linn.

Inflammation of the respiratory tract is a crucial process in immune diseases, including asthma, and atopic rhinitis. To establish whether an aqueous extract of Spinacia oleracea Linn (SoL) has a beneficial influence in terms of anti-asthmatic activity, we examined its effects on an ovalbumin-induced asthmatic model. Mice sensitized to ovalbumin were orally administered the SoL extract, and their lungs examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining to determine IL-4/13 cytokine expression.

Contralateral allodynia and central change in the chronic post-ischemic pain model rats.

Background: Mirror-image allodynia is a mysterious phenomenon that occurs in association with many clinical pain syndromes including complex regional pain syndromes (CRPS). Underlying mechanisms for the development of such pain are still a matter of investigation. Several studies suggest that activation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is essential for central sensitization as a base for persistent pain.

Prophylactic antiemetic effect of midazolam after middle ear surgery.

Objective: To investigate the prophylactic antiemetic effect of midazolam after middle ear surgery.

Study Design: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Subjects And Methods: Ninety women patients undergoing middle ear surgery with general anesthesia received intravenously either midazolam 0.

Heat shock-induced augmentation of vascular contractility is independent of rho-kinase.

In a previous study, we demonstrated that heat shock augments the contractility of vascular smooth muscle through the stress response. 2. In the present study, we investigated whether Rho-kinases play a role in heat shock-induced augmentation of vascular contractility in rat isolated aorta.

Endothelial dysfunction after exposure to cobalt chloride enhanced vascular contractility.

Brief exposure to cobalt chloride augmented vascular contractility. We hypothesized that endothelial dysfunction plays a role in the augmentation of aortic contractility, after brief exposure to cobalt chloride. Rat aortic ring preparations were mounted in organ baths, exposed to cobalt chloride (0.

Role of PKC, tyrosine kinases, and Rho kinase in alpha-adrenoreceptor-mediated PASM contraction.

Our objectives were to identify the relative contributions of intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity in the pulmonary artery smooth muscle (PASM) contractile response to the alpha-adrenoreceptor agonist phenylephrine (PE) and to assess the role of PKC, tyrosine kinases (TK), and Rho kinase (ROK) in that response. Our hypothesis was that multiple signaling pathways are involved in the regulation of [Ca2+]i, myofilament Ca2+ sensitization, and vasomotor tone in response to alpha-adrenoreceptor stimulation of PASM. Simultaneous measurement of [Ca2+]i and isometric tension was performed in isolated canine pulmonary arterial strips loaded with fura 2-AM.