Prolonged continuous wound infusion of local anesthetic and steroid after major abdominal surgery to reduce opioid consumption: a randomized, double-blind trial.

Background: Continuous wound infusion (CWI) is effective for post-operative pain management, but the effect of prolonged infusions and the use of steroids in the infused mixture have never been addressed. We investigate the effect of prolonged CWI with ropivacaine 0.2% (R) over seven days and methylprednisolone (Mp) 1 mg/kg infused in the wound in the first 24 hours.

The number of people exposed to water stress in relation to how much water is reserved for the environment: a global modelling study.

Background: Increasing human demand for water and changes in water availability due to climate change threatens water security worldwide. Additionally, exploitation of water resources induces stress on freshwater environments, leading to biodiversity loss and reduced ecosystem services. We aimed to conduct a spatially detailed assessment of global human water stress for low to high environmental flow (EF) protection.

Immune function after major surgical interventions: the effect of postoperative pain treatment.

Introduction: Impaired immune function during the perioperative period may be associated with worse short- and long-term outcomes. Morphine is considered a major contributor to immune modulation.

Patients And Methods: We performed a pilot study to investigate postoperative immune function by analyzing peripheral blood mononuclear cells' functionality and cytokine production in 16 patients undergoing major abdominal surgery.

Impact of the FloTrac/VigileoTM Monitoring on Intraoperative Fluid Management and Outcome after Liver Resection.

Backgrounds: Perioperative fluid-therapy is a still a debated issue. In hepatic surgery, volume load must be strictly monitored to assure both a safe hemodynamics and low central venous pressure (CVP) to limit the backflow bleeding. Retrospectively, we compared intraoperative fluid management before and after the adoption of a semi-invasive hemodynamic monitoring.

Continuous wound infusion of local anesthetic and steroid after major abdominal surgery: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Inflammatory response is one of the key components of pain perception. Continuous infusion (CWI) of local anesthetics has been shown to be effective in controlling pain and reducing postoperative morphine consumption, but the effect of adding a potent anti-inflammatory drug (such as a steroid) has never been addressed. In our study, we want to investigate the effect of CWI with local anesthetic + methylprednisolone on acute and persistent pain, correlating clinical data with biomarkers of inflammation and genetic background.

Microevolution of Anthrax from a Young Ancestor (M.A.Y.A.) Suggests a Soil-Borne Life Cycle of Bacillus anthracis.

During an anthrax outbreak at the Pollino National Park (Basilicata, Italy) in 2004, diseased cattle were buried and from these anthrax-foci Bacillus anthracis endospores still diffuse to the surface resulting in local accumulations. Recent data suggest that B. anthracis multiplies in soil outside the animal-host body.