Temporal gene expression profiling of maslinic acid-treated Raji cells.

Maslinic acid is a novel phytochemical reported to target multiple signaling pathways. A complete gene expression profile was therefore constructed to illustrate the anti-tumourigenesis effects of maslinic acid in Raji cells across five time-points. Microarray analysis was used to identify genes that were differentially expressed in maslinic acid treated Raji cells at 0, 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48 h.

Unexpected upper airway obstruction due to disseminated human papilloma virus infection involving the pharynx in a parturient.

Human papilloma virus has been implicated as the cause of juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis in first-born children. Thus, cesarean section is strongly recommended by obstetricians to avoid direct contact with papilloma in an infected birth canal. We report a parturient with silent hypopharyngeal papilloma, which was associated with severe clinical problems at the induction of general anesthesia.

Prosthetic mitral leaflet malfunction due to inappropriate size of implant.

We report a case of unexpected malfunction of prosthetic mitral leaflets, discovered by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) immediately after implantation, due to selection of an inappropriate size of prosthesis; the problem was amended immediately by surgical revision. The subject was a 48-year-old man admitted for mitral valve replacement because of severe mitral stenosis. He had undergone mitral commissurotomy 21 years previously.

High frequency jet ventilation in exploration of tracheostomy--a case report.

Exploration of tracheostomy is not uncommon, however, in case a patient with a facial reconstruction flap, trouble may arise because of difficulty in intubation. We hereby report a patient who had a fresh facial reconstruction flap after radical resection of buccal carcinoma, sustained bleeding around the tracheostomy and was scheduled for exploration of tracheostomy. Fiberoptic oral intubation was failed because of profuse secretion and edematous oral mucosa; high frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) was thus applied and made possible with a suction catheter put through the tracheostomy tube.

Failure to provide adequate one-lung ventilation with a conventional endotracheal tube using a transbronchial approach: a case report.

Purpose: To report a case where failure to provide adequate one-lung ventilation during transbronchial intubation resulted in a potentially fatal mishap.

Clinical Features: A 61-yr-old male was scheduled for right lung lobectomy. Induction of general anesthesia was smooth, and subsequent resection of the right middle lobe was uneventful.

Vascular injury during a lumbar laminectomy.

A lumbar laminectomy is a common and routine operation. Damage to abdominal vascular structures during surgery is a relatively infrequent complication; however, when it does occur, it is sudden and life-threatening. We herein report on 2 cases of abdominal vascular injury which occurred during lumbar microdiscectomies.

Anesthetic management of a parturient undergoing cesarean section with a tracheal tumor and hemoptysis.

Anesthetic management of a parturient with respiratory failure associated with hemoptysis, dyspnea, and orthopnea is difficult. An anesthesiologist should realize that the patient's major problem is not solved during the surgery. This circumstance is similar to a patient with associated cardiac disease scheduled for non-cardiac surgery.

Red Man's syndrome following administration of vancomycin in a patient under spinal anesthesia--a case report.

Prophylactic antibiotics are frequently administered during anesthesia to reduce the incidence of infection. The most common organisms revealed in wound infections are staphylococci. Vancomycin is the antibiotic of choice for resistant staphylococcal infections and bacterial endocarditis in patient allergic to penicillin.