Predictive factors for favorable short-term response to interlaminar epidural block for cervical radiculopathy.

Purpose: We sought to identify clinical predictors of favorable short-term outcomes associated with cervical interlaminar epidural injection (CIEI). Previous studies investigating the predictive factors of CIEI efficacy have shown inconsistent results. Gaining information on the possible response determinants of CIEI is necessary for appropriate treatment selection and outcomes prediction in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy.

Olaparib-induced Apoptosis Through EBNA1-ATR-p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway in Epstein-Barr Virus-positive Gastric Cancer Cells.

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated gastric cancer has been identified as a cancer subtype with definitive clinical and molecular characteristics. Although olaparib, a poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, is considered a potential effective agent for gastric cancer, the effect and underlying mechanism of olaparib on gastric cancer depending on EBV infection is not fully understood.

Materials And Methods: EBV-positive SNU719 and EBV-negative SNU638 gastric cancer cell lines were used to identify the effects of olaparib using the trypan blue exclusion method and annexin V staining assay.

Preoperative interscalene brachial plexus block aids in perioperative temperature management during arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Background: Hypothermia is common during arthroscopic shoulder surgery under general anesthesia, and anesthetic-impaired thermoregulation is thought to be the major cause of hypothermia. This prospective, randomized, double-blind study was designed to compare perioperative temperature during arthroscopic shoulder surgery with interscalene brachial plexus block (IBPB) followed by general anesthesia vs. general anesthesia alone.

The combination of sugammadex and neostigmine can reduce the dosage of sugammadex during recovery from the moderate neuromuscular blockade.

Background: Sugammadex is a novel neuromuscular reversal agent, but its associated hypersensitivity reaction and high cost have been obstacles to its widespread use. In the interest of reducing the necessary dosage of sugammadex, the reversal time of the combined use of sugammadex and neostigmine from moderate neuromuscular blockade were investigated.

Methods: The patients enrolled ranged in age from 18 to 65 years old with American Society of Anesthesiologists class 1 or 2.

Endogenous gastric-resident mesenchymal stem cells contribute to formation of cancer stroma and progression of gastric cancer.

Background: Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) contribute to carcinogenesis and cancer progression, although their origin and role remain unclear. We recently identified and investigated the in situ identity and implications of gastric submucosa-resident mesenchymal stem cells (GS-MSCs) in the progression of gastric carcinogenesis.

Methods: We isolated GS-MSCs from gastric submucosa using hydrogel-supported organ culture and defined their identity.

Effects of genetic polymorphisms of OPRM1, ABCB1, CYP3A4/5 on postoperative fentanyl consumption in Korean gynecologic patients.

Objective: Fentanyl, a μ-opioid receptor agonist, is a substrate of P-glycoprotein. Its metabolism is catalyzed by CYP3A4 and CYP3A5. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between postoperative fentanyl consumption and genetic polymorphisms of μ-opioid receptor (OPRM1), ABCB1 (gene encoding P-glycoprotein), CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 in Korean patients.

Does dexmedetomidine reduce postoperative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy with multimodal analgesia?

Background: Pain after laparoscopy is multifactorial and different treatments have been proposed to provide pain relief. Multimodal analgesia is now recommended to prevent and treat post-laparoscopy pain. Dexmedetomidine, an α2 agonist, has well-known anesthetic and analgesic-sparing effects.

Comparison of surgical conditions during propofol or desflurane anesthesia for endoscopic sinus surgery.

Background: Reduction of intraoperative bleeding is necessary to achieve the ideal surgical field for the endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Intraoperative intra nasal bleeding is influenced by various anesthetics. This study compared surgical field condition between propofol/remifentanil (PR) based anesthesia and desflurane/remifentanil (DR) based anesthesia.

Abrupt formation of a right atrium thrombus detected by transesophageal echocardiography during laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy and spontaneous resolution during thromboembolectomy -A case report-.

Intraoperative formation and management of a thrombus in right atrium has been reported occasionally. Nevertheless, it is rare that a right atrial thrombus with unstable hemodynamic changes detected by transesophageal echocardiography is resolved spontaneously. We report upon the 44-year-old woman, who had a right atrial thrombus detected by transesophageal echocardiography during laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy and resolved during thromboembolectomy.

The isolation and in situ identification of MSCs residing in loose connective tissues using a niche-preserving organ culture system.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been discovered in a multitude of organs, but their distribution and identity are still uncertain. Furthermore, loose connective tissue (LCT) is dispersed throughout virtually all organs, but its biological role in tissue homeostasis is unclear. Here, we describe a unique organ culture system to explore the omnipresence and in situ identity of MSCs among the LCTs.

Analgesic effect of preoperative versus intraoperative dexamethasone after laparoscopic cholecystectomy with multimodal analgesia.

Background: Pain after laparoscopy is multifactorial and different treatments have been proposed to provide pain relief. Multimodal analgesia is now recommended to prevent and treat post-laparoscopy pain. Dexamethasone is effective in reducing postoperative pain.

Lung injury induced by the pulmonary instillation of povidone-iodine in rats.

Purpose: Povidone-iodine (polyvinylpyrrolidone iodine, PI), which is commonly used as a pre- and postoperative oral antiseptic, has been reported to cause pneumonia secondary to its pulmonary aspiration. Because no studies have yet investigated the underlying mechanisms of PI-induced pneumonia, we conducted an animal study to analyze the effect of PI on the lung following its pulmonary instillation.

Methods: The lungs of 61 male Sprague-Dawley rats (150-250 g) were instilled with varying volumes of either phosphate-buffered saline or PI solutions varying in strength from 0.

Fibrin matrix-supported three-dimensional organ culture of adipose tissue for selective outgrowth, expansion, and isolation of adipose-derived stem cells.

Conventional systems for isolating adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) require enzymatic digestion of adipose tissue (AT), followed by monolayer culture to the enrich the stem cell population. However, these systems are hindered by low cell yields and a lack of reproducibility. The present study was aimed at developing a unique strategy for isolating ASC based on fibrin matrix-supported three-dimensional (3-D) organ culture of native AT.

Brief report: the effect of suggestion on unpleasant dreams induced by ketamine administration.

The use of ketamine may be associated with the recall of unpleasant dreams after sedation. We hypothesized that a positive suggestion before sedation could reduce the incidence of ketamine-induced unpleasant dreams. To test this hypothesis, we randomized 100 patients receiving sedation with ketamine for their procedure into 2 groups with 1 group having an anesthesiologist provide a mood-elevating suggestion to the patient before ketamine administration (suggestion group), whereas in the control group no suggestion was provided.

Prevention of pain during injection of microemulsion propofol: application of lidocaine mixture and the optimal dose of lidocaine.

Background: Similar to lipid emulsion propofol, microemulsion propofol also causes a high incidence of pain during intravenous injection. Various methods have been used to minimize the incidence and severity of pain on injection of lipid emulsion propofol. In this study, we investigated the effect of a lidocaine mixture on pain induced by microemulsion propofol injection, and sought to determine the optimal dose of lidocaine that could reduce pain on injecting a propofol-lidocaine mixture.

May-Thurner syndrome found incidentally after left femoral catheterization in a pediatric patient.

In May-Thurner syndrome, the left common iliac vein is compressed between the overlying right common iliac artery and the underlying vertebral body. Chronic and/or repetitive compressions at this site cause fibrosis of the vein and thus stenosis, potentially occluding the lumen. This report describes a case of May-Thurner syndrome discovered incidentally after femoral catheterization for chemotherapy in a 25-month-old child with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML).

A patient with Churg-Strauss syndrome who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery under general anesthesia -A case report-.

There are many cause of cholinesterase deficiency, including drugs, liver disease, chronic anemia, malignant states, cardiac failure, severe acute infection, surgical shock, severe burn, collagen disease and vasculitis syndromes. Vasculitis syndromes are relatively rare, and among them, Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is even rarer. We report here on a case of a patient with CSS who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery under general anesthesia.

Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome as a cause of persistent neuromuscular weakness after a mediastinoscopic biopsy -A case report-.

There are many causes of prolonged postoperative muscle weakness, including drugs, residual anesthetics, cerebrovascular events, electrolyte imbalance, hypothermia, and neuromuscular disease. Neuromuscular diseases are relatively rare, with the most common being myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS). We report an unusual case in which a patient who was given a muscle relaxant during mediastinoscopy developed postoperative muscle weakness that was ultimately diagnosed as secondary to LEMS.

Ex vivo organ culture of adipose tissue for in situ mobilization of adipose-derived stem cells and defining the stem cell niche.

In spite of the advances in the knowledge of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), in situ location of ASCs and the niche component of adipose tissue (AT) remain controversial due to the lack of an appropriate culture system. Here we describe a fibrin matrix-supported three-dimensional (3D) organ culture system for AT which sustains the ASC niche and allows for in situ mobilization and expansion of ASCs in vitro. AT fragments were completely encapsulated within the fibrin matrix and cultured under dynamic condition.

Comparison of the effects of acetaminophen to ketorolac when added to lidocaine for intravenous regional anesthesia.

Background: This study was done to evaluate the effect on pain relief when acetaminophen was added to lidocaine for intravenous regional anesthesia (IVRA).

Methods: SIXTY PATIENTS UNDERGOING HAND OR FOREARM SURGERY RECEIVED IVRA WERE ASSIGNED TO THREE GROUPS: Group C received 0.5% lidocaine diluted with 0.

Inter-arm arterial pressure difference caused by prone position in the thoracic outlet syndrome patient -A case report-.

Thoracic outlet syndrome has neurologic symptoms caused by compression of brachial plexus, blood vessel symptoms are caused by compression of the artery or vein. The authors report a case of sudden decrease in blood pressure of the left arm after turning the patient from supine position to prone position. They confirmed that the patient had thoracic outlet syndrome after performing computed tomography.

Unilateral administration of a drug into the lung of a small animal.

Background: The selective unilateral administration of drugs into a single lung of a rat is difficult because of the small airway diameter. Therefore, a simple method for unilateral administration into rat lung is needed.

Methods: Rats were assigned to 1 of 2 groups according to the direction of the catheter used for drug administration.

The effects of hemodilution on acute inflammatory responses in a bleomycin-induced lung injury model.

Acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) can be used in acute lung injury (ALI) patients who refuse blood transfusions. To investigate the effects of hemodilution on the acute inflammatory response in lung injury, the authors studied the effects of ANH in a rat model of bleomycin-induced lung injury. Bleomycin (10 mg/kg) was used to induce lung injury in 2 groups of rats.

Effect of remifentanil on QT dispersion.

Background: QT dispersion (QT(d)) is an indirect measure of the heterogeneity of ventricular repolarization and can be used as a risk factor for complex ventricular arrhythmias. We measured the effect of remifentanil on QT(d) and heart-rate corrected QT dispersion (QT(cd)).

Methods: Sixty ASA class I and II patients, who were between 20 and 60 years old, and who were scheduled for general anesthesia, were studied.