Lacosamide extended-release capsules are bioequivalent to lacosamide immediate-release tablets: Pharmacokinetic observations and simulations.

Objectives: Assess the bioequivalence of lacosamide extended-release (XR) capsules and immediate-release (IR) tablets and answer real-world clinical questions regarding the use of lacosamide XR.

Methods: An open-label, randomized, two-treatment, two-sequence, oral comparative bioavailability study was conducted to assess the bioequivalence of two lacosamide formulations. Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive lacosamide XR capsules (400 mg once-daily) or IR tablets (200 mg twice-daily) in 1 of 2 sequences over 7-day periods.

Muscle Relaxants for Acute and Chronic Pain.

Utilization of muscle relaxants varies for treatment of acute and chronic pain. This article provides an overview of the different types muscles relaxants and their adverse effects. Appropriate medication selection based on clinical indications is also examined.

Toll-like receptor signaling in liver ischemia and reperfusion.

Liver ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injuries are significant clinical challenges implicated in various hepatic surgical procedures and transplantations. Associated with varying degrees of insult, the hallmark of I/R is the excessive inflammatory response potentiated by the host immune system. Toll-like receptors (TLRs), known to play an important role in pathogen-derived inflammation, are now thought to participate in I/R injury-derived inflammation signaling pathways.

Intracellular calcium signaling pathways during liver ischemia and reperfusion.

Calcium plays a major role in intracellular signaling mechanisms during ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury of a liver cell. Under ischemic conditions, the absence of oxygen arrests oxidative phosphorylation, thereby eliminating the energy source by which hepatocellular mechanisms maintain homeostasis of calcium. This, in turn, leaves nonselective plasma membrane influx pores unopposed and results in a net increase in intracellular calcium concentrations.

Peripherally inserted central catheter placement using the Sonic Flashlight.

The Sonic Flashlight is an ultrasound (US) device that projects real-time US images into patients with use of a semireflective/transparent mirror. The present study evaluated the feasibility of use of the Sonic Flashlight for clinical peripherally inserted central catheter placements, originally with the mirror located inside a sterile cover (n = 15), then with the mirror outside (n = 11). Successful access was obtained in all cases.

Vascular access: comparison of US guidance with the sonic flashlight and conventional US in phantoms.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate whether ultrasonography (US)-guided vascular access can be learned and performed faster with the sonic flashlight than with conventional US and to demonstrate sonic flashlight-guided vascular access in a cadaver.

Materials And Methods: Institutional review board approval and oral and written informed consent were obtained. The sonic flashlight replaces the standard US monitor with a real-time US image that appears to float beneath the skin and is displayed where it is scanned.

C-mode real-time tomographic reflection for a matrix array ultrasound sonic flashlight.

Rationale And Objectives: Real-time tomographic reflection (RTTR) permits in situ visualization of tomographic images so that natural hand-eye coordination can be used directly during invasive procedures. The method uses a half-silvered mirror to merge the visual outer surface of the patient with a simultaneous scan of the patient's interior without requiring a head-mounted display or tracking. A viewpoint-independent virtual image is reflected precisely into its actual location.

Intuitive intraoperative ultrasound guidance using the Sonic Flashlight: a novel ultrasound display system.

Objective: The Sonic Flashlight (SF) is a new handheld ultrasound (US) display device being developed at our institution. It replaces the standard monitor on a conventional ultrasound (CUS) system with a miniature monitor and half-silvered mirror to reflect real-time US images into the body. With the SF, the imaged body part appears translucent, with the US image appearing to float below the surface of the anatomy, exactly where it is being scanned.

Guidance of retrobulbar injection with real-time tomographic reflection.

Objective: Retrobulbar and peribulbar injections are common ophthalmologic procedures used to deliver anesthetics and other medications for ophthalmic therapy and surgery. These injections, typically performed without any type of guidance, can lead to complications that are rare but visually devastating. The needle may penetrate the optic nerve, perforate the globe, or disperse toxic quantities of drugs intraocularly, causing major visual loss.