Paper-based analytical device for point-of-care nucleic acid quantification combining CRISPR/Cas12a and a personal glucose meter.

Although CRISPR-based nucleic acid detection has great potential in point-of-care testing due to its simplicity, it has been rarely integrated into paper-based analytical devices (PADs), which are attractive platforms to simplify assays. This work introduces a CRISPR-assisted nucleic acid quantification approach integrated into a PAD with signal readout by a personal glucose meter (PGM). Retention of magnetic beads by filter paper and pre-deposition of all required reagents by freeze-drying stabilized with trehalose enabled the indirect quantification of human papilloma virus (HPV) DNA through a PGM readout without complicated user intervention and complex reagent handling.

Basic evaluation of the CRISPR/Cas system stability for application to paper-based analytical devices.

Despite the promising features of the CRISPR/Cas system for application to point-of-care nucleic acid tests, there are only a few reports on its integration into paper-based analytical devices (PADs) for the purpose of assay simplification. In most cases, paper platforms have only been used for the final signal readout in an assay otherwise performed in a test tube. Therefore, there is very limited information on the suitability of the CRISPR/Cas system for on-device reagent storage.

[Usefulness of subarachnoid phenol-glycerin block therapy for enabling cancer patients with refractory anal pain to proceed to home-based care].

In recent years, the number of cancer patients and their families desiring palliative home-based care in Japan has increased. Subarachnoid phenol-glycerin block therapy is offered to relieve refractory anal pain in cancer patients, and to reduce the side effects of systemic administration of opioids, such as drowsiness. The effects of phenol-glycerin, which is a medicine used for neurodegenerative diseases, lasted for 1 week to 3 months.

[Usefulness of epidural catheter with distal subcutaneous reservoir for cancer pain control].

When an effective pain relief cannot be achieved by systemic administration of analgesics, neuraxial opioid therapy such as epidural (EPI) and subarachnoid (SA) catheters should be offered. During the period of 2004 to 2008, EPI (117 patients) and SA (1 patients) with an epidural catheter with subcutaneous reservoir also showed a significant improvement in their pain level calculated by numerical rating scale (NRS). Two cases of infection were caused by a subcutaneous reservoir, however, no serious infections, such as epidural abscess, were observed.

Removal of 2-arachidonylglycerol by direct hemoperfusion therapy with polymyxin B immobilized fibers benefits patients with septic shock.

Arachidonylethanolamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG) are endocannabinoids involved in septic shock, and 8-epi prostaglandin F2alpha (F2-isoprostane) is a biomarker of oxidative stress in biological systems. Because the antibiotic polymyxin B absorbs endocannabinoids as well as endotoxins, direct hemoperfusion therapy with polymyxin B-immobilized fibers (PMX-DHP) decreases serum levels of endocannabinoids. To investigate the features of sepsis and determine the proper use of PMX-DHP, we measured the changes in levels of endocannabinoids and F2-isoprostane in patients with septic shock.

Does long-term continuous transcranial Doppler monitoring require a pause for safer use?

Background: Transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) has been used widely for long-term monitoring of cerebral blood flow without adverse reports. However, attention has not been adequately paid to the fact that an increase in the time period of TCD insonation causes brain temperature to rise due to ultrasound absorption by tissue and the skull. We measured the actual temperature rise in local brain tissue induced by TCD insonation over a long time period during in vivo animal experiments in order to verify whether or not a pause is required in long-term, continuous TCD monitoring.

Do dopamine receptors mediate part of MAC?

Background: Depletion of central nervous system catecholamines, including dopamine, can decrease MAC (the minimum alveolar concentration of an inhaled anesthetic required to suppress movement in response to a noxious stimulus in 50% of test subjects); release of central nervous system catecholamines, including dopamine, can increase MAC; and increased free dopamine concentrations in the striatum can decrease MAC. Such findings suggest that dopamine receptors might mediate part of the capacity of inhaled anesthetics to provide immobility in the face of noxious stimulation.

Methods: We measured the effect of blockade of D2 dopamine-mediated transmission with 0.

[Effects of proton pump inhibitor on airway hyperresponsiveness in asthmatics with gastroesophageal reflux].

Background: Previous data suggest the high incidence of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in asthmatics, although the relationship between GER and the respiratory condition in asthmatics remain unclear. We investigated the incidence of GER in asthmatics and the association between the effects of proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) on respiratory functions and esophageal pH in asthmatics with GER.

Methods: Two hundreds ninety outpatients who attended our unit with asthma received GER symptoms questionnaire used at Mayo Clinic.

Insulin secretion and glucose utilization are impaired under general anesthesia with sevoflurane as well as isoflurane in a concentration-independent manner.

Purpose: The dose-dependent effects of sevoflurane and isoflurane anesthesia on glucose tolerance were compared in humans.

Methods: A prospective, randomized clinical study was conducted in 30 patients. The 30 patients were divided randomly into three sevoflurane anesthesia groups (0.

Efficacy and safety of intravenous theophylline administration for treatment of mild acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma.

Objective: The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenously administered theophylline (IAT) for the treatment of an acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma. The theophylline was solubilized and not combined with ethylenediamine.

Methodology: The subjects were 22 asthmatic patients with mild acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma.

Comparative effects of bupivacaine and ropivacaine on intracellular calcium transients and tension in ferret ventricular muscle.

Background: Recent evidence suggests that ropivacaine exerts markedly less cardiotoxicity compared with bupivacaine; however, the mechanisms are not fully understood at the molecular level.

Methods: Isolated ferret ventricular papillary muscles were microinjected with the Ca-binding photoprotein aequorin, and intracellular Ca transients and tension were simultaneously measured during twitch in the absence and presence of bupivacaine or ropivacaine.

Results: Bupivacaine and ropivacaine (10, 30, and 100 microm) reduced peak systolic [Ca]i and tension in a concentration-dependent manner.

Simultaneous determination of endocannabinoids (arachidonylethanolamide and 2-arachidonylglycerol) and isoprostane (8-epiprostaglandin F2alpha) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring for medical samples.

This article describes the overall procedure for the simultaneous determination of endocannabinoids (arachidonylethanolamide and 2-arachidonyglycerol) and isoprostane by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the selected-ion monitoring SIM mode (GC-MS-SIM) for medical samples. It also describes the general points of this method which a scientist who wants to assay a new, unidentified prostanoids and related compounds in medical samples would need to be clarified. The similar structures of prostaglandins, thromboxane, their metabolites, isoprostane, and arachidonyl compounds, allow them to be assayed after the simultaneous preparation of a single sample.

Bupivacaine attenuates contractility by decreasing sensitivity of myofilaments to Ca2+ in rat ventricular muscle.

Background: Bupivacaine exhibits a cardiodepressant effect, the molecular mechanism(s) of which have yet to be fully understood. Bupivacaine may directly act on contractile proteins and thereby decrease myofibrillar Ca2+ sensitivity.

Methods: Rat ventricular muscle was used.

[One-lung anesthesia was successfully maintained by means of Fogarty Catheter in infants].

We experienced one-lung anesthesia using Fogarty catheter as a selective bronchial blocker in two infants. First case was a one-year and ten month-old female who underwent partial resection of the right middle lobe for her giant lung cyst under general anesthesia. Second case was an eight-month-old male who underwent thoracoscopic resection of his left mediastinal tumor under general anesthesia.

Effects of esophageal acid perfusion on cough responsiveness in patients with bronchial asthma.

Study Objectives: The effect of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) on cough responsiveness in patients with bronchial asthma has yet to be studied in significant detail. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of distal esophageal acid perfusion on cough responsiveness in patients with bronchial asthma.

Patients And Interventions: In seven patients with mild persistent bronchial asthma (mean +/- SD age, 57.

[The efficacy of intravenous theophylline injection for treatment of acute exacerbations of bronchial asthma].

The efficacy of the intravenous injection of aminophylline for treatment of acute exacerbations of bronchial asthma has been recognized since 60 years ago by many reports. It has been published on the "Asthma Prevention and Management Guidelines 1998, Japan" as one of important treatment for acute exacerbations of bronchial asthma. An intravenously Administered Theophylline (IAT) was newly developed in Japan in 2000.

The effects of flumazenil on sleepiness, task performance and nocturnal sleep after anesthesia with midazolam.

The purpose of the present study was to clarify the changes in psychophysiological functions after anesthesia with midazolam (intravenous (i.v.) benzodiazepine anesthetic) and to examine the ability of flumazenil (benzodiazepine antagonist) to prevent the adverse effects of anesthesia with midazolam.

Effects of pranlukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, on airway inflammation in mild asthmatics.

To determine the anti-inflammatory actions of pranlukast, a cysteinyl leuklotriene receptor antagonist, we measured exhaled nitric oxide (NO) concentrations and eosinophil ratio in induced sputum of three groups of mild asthmatics (n = 30): treated with bronchodilators alone, with bronchodilators and inhaled steroid (beclomethasone dipropionate; 400 microg/day), and bronchodilators and pranlukast (450 mg/day). Pranlukast (450 mg/day) reduced the eosinophil ratio in the induced sputum significantly (p < 0.01) without a major effect on the concentration of exhaled NO.

Changes in subjective sleepiness, subjective fatigue and nocturnal sleep after anaesthesia with propofol.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the changes in psycho-physiological functions after anaesthesia with propofol (PF). The subjects were seven healthy male volunteers and the duration of the anaesthesia was 1 h (14:00-15:00 h). The plasma concentration of PF immediately decreased after the anaesthesia.

Effects of esophageal acid perfusion on airway hyperresponsiveness in patients with bronchial asthma.

Study Objectives: The effects of gastroesophageal reflux on airway hyperresponsiveness in patients with bronchial asthma have yet to be studied in significant detail. The purpose of the present study was to determine how esophageal acid perfusion could change airway responsiveness in patients with bronchial asthma.

Patients And Interventions: In seven patients with bronchial asthma (mean +/- SD age, 55.

[Dyspnea attack due to hysteria after general anesthesia].

A 30-year-old female was scheduled for an expander insertion of the breast under local anesthesia. Thirty minutes after infiltration anesthesia with lidocaine and bupivacaine mixture, she suffered from dyspnea. She was intubated and transferred to our hospital.

[Perioperative pulmonary embolism: a nationwide survey in Japan].

Pulmonary embolism is a leading cause of death and morbidity in the perioperative period. To obtain a contemporary overview of the epidemiology of acute pulmonary embolism, a questionnaire was mailed to anesthesia department chair-persons at 179 hospitals in Japan. The 158 cases were reported from the 88 hospitals.

[Anesthetic management using extracorporeal circulation of a patient with severe tracheal stenosis by thyroid cancer].

A 64-year-old male with tracheal stenosis by thyroid cancer was scheduled for the emergency management of airway maintenance and total thyroidectomy. Dyspnea and orthopnea appeared suddenly on the admission for operation. Cervical CT and bronchial fiberscope examination revealed the trachea oppressed at the frontal neck by thyroid tumor.

[Anesthetic management of a patient with Eaton-Lambert syndrome with chronic respiratory failure].

A 66-year-old male with colon cancer was scheduled for left hemicolectomy. He had a past history of respiratory failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Anesthesia method chosen was general anesthesia with sevo-flurane combined with epidural anesthesia.