BACKGROUND The estimation of the distance from the skin to the thoracic epidural space or skin to epidural depth (SED) may increase the success rate and decrease the incidence of complications during placement of a thoracic epidural catheter. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most comprehensive imaging modality of the spine, allowing for the accurate determination of tissue spaces and dis...

To investigate the protective effect of the active form of vitamin D3, 1,25-(OH)2D3, on macrovasculopathy in rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group, T2DM group, and treatment group. The T2DM model was established after 6 weeks by administering an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (30 mg/kg). 1,25-(OH)2D3 ...

BACKGROUND The study of gene-environment interactions enables us to further understand the pathogenesis of asthma and inflammation. The TNF-α gene has been associated with airway pathology in asthma but there is limited information in relation to pollutant exposure and the TNF-α 308G/A polymorphism. OBJECTIVE To determine the risk conferred by the TNF-α 308(G/A) polymorphism on respiratory ou...

Editor’s key points † Thoracic epidural analgesia is associated with rare but potentially serious complications. † In the setting of lung surgery single-shot intercostal block (ICB) offers an alternative modality of postoperative regional analgesia. † This study compared PCEA with single-shot ICB combined with PCA. ICB with PCA was not as effective as PCEA with respect to postoperative pain con...

·T WO factors have increased interest in ketamine for postoperative analgesia. The first was the discovery of the N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and its role in central pain processing and spinal cord neural plasticity.1 Ketamine is one of two clinically useful NMDA receptor antagonists available (the other is dextromethorphan). Ketarnine binds non-competitively to the PCI, (phencyclidine...

BACKGROUND Operations on structures in the chest (usually the lungs) involve cutting between the ribs (thoracotomy). Severe post-thoracotomy pain can result from pleural (lung lining) and muscular damage, costovertebral joint (ribcage) disruption and intercostal nerve (nerves that run along the ribs) damage during surgery. Poor pain relief after surgery can impede recovery and increase the risk...

EDITOR: Patients with hip fracture are often frail and elderly, and co-morbidities are frequently present. The following case describes perioperative use of continuous epidural blockade in a patient with hip fracture and a severe aortic stenosis. This has not been reported before. There is no evidence favouring general anaesthesia to neuroaxial blockade in patients with aortic stenosis. Several...

objective(s): acquisition of tnf-α resistance plays role in the onset and growth of malignant tumors. previous studies have demonstrated that mcf-7 cell line and its doxorubicin resistant variant mcf-7/adr are resistant against the cytotoxic effects of tnf-α. in this study, we investigated the role of akt activation in resistance of mcf-7 and mcf-7/adr against tnf-α cytotoxicity. materials and ...