The Clock Keeps on Ticking: Emerging Roles for Circadian Regulation in the Control of Fungal Physiology and Pathogenesis.

Authors: Larrondo LF, Canessa P Abstract Tic-tac, tic-tac, the sound of time is familiar to us, yet, it also silently shapes daily biological processes conferring 24-hour rhythms in, among others, cellular and systemic signaling, gene expression, and metabolism. Indeed, circadian clocks are molecular machines that permit temporal control of a variety of processes in individuals, with a close to 24-hour period, optimizing cellular dynamics in synchrony with daily environmental cycles. For over three decades, the molecular bases of these clocks have been extensively described in the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa, yet, there have been few molecular studies in fungi other than Neurospora, despite evidence of rhythmic phenomena in many fungal species, including pathogenic ones. T...

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The Clock Keeps on Ticking: Emerging Roles for Circadian Regulation in the Control of Fungal Physiology and Pathogenesis.

Authors: Larrondo LF, Canessa P Abstract Tic-tac, tic-tac, the sound of time is familiar to us, yet, it also silently shapes daily biological processes conferring 24-hour rhythms in, among others, cellular and systemic signaling, gene expression, and metabolism. Indeed, circadian clocks are molecular machines that permit temporal control of a variety of processes in individuals, with a close to 24-hour period, optimizing cellular dynamics in synchrony with daily environmental cycles. For over three decades, the molecular bases of these clocks have been extensively described in the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa, yet, there have been few molecular studies in fungi other than Neurospora, despite evidence of rhythmic phenomena in many fungal species, including pathogenic ones. T...

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Preoperative dexamethasone for acute post-thoracotomy analgesia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Abstract

Background

The analgesic effects of dexamethasone have been reported previously, and the present study determined the effects of preoperative dexamethasone on postoperative pain in patients who received thoracotomy.

Methods

Forty patients participated in this randomized, double-blind study. All patients received either dexamethasone via a 0.1 mg/kg intravenous bolus before anesthetic induction or an equal volume of saline. Postoperative analgesia was provided to both groups via epidural patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), which consisted of 250 μg of sufentanil in 250 mL of ropivacaine (0.18%) for 72 h. The primary outcome was the cumulative consumption of epidural PCA at postoperative 24 and 72 h. The secondary outcomes were the pain intensity scores during resting and coughing at postoperative 24 and 72 h, quality of recovery, total amount of rescue analgesics required, and length of hospital stay.

Results

No significant differences was observed in the consumption of epidural PCA between the control and dexamethasone infusion groups at 24 h (63.6 [55.9–72.7] vs. 68.5 [60.2–89.0] ml, P = 0.281) and 72 h (199.4 [172.4–225.1] vs. 194.7 [169.1–252.2] ml, P = 0.890). Moreover, there was no significant difference in the pain intensity scores during resting and coughing at postoperative 24 and 72 h, quality of recovery, total amount of rescue analgesics required, and length of hospital stay.

Conclusion

A single intravenous administration of dexamethasone during the preoperative period does not reduce opioid consumption and post-thoracotomy pain.

Trial registration

The study was registered at http://cris.nih.go.kr (KCT0000359) and was conducted from December 2011 to October 2012.

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Preoperative dexamethasone for acute post-thoracotomy analgesia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Abstract

Background

The analgesic effects of dexamethasone have been reported previously, and the present study determined the effects of preoperative dexamethasone on postoperative pain in patients who received thoracotomy.

Methods

Forty patients participated in this randomized, double-blind study. All patients received either dexamethasone via a 0.1 mg/kg intravenous bolus before anesthetic induction or an equal volume of saline. Postoperative analgesia was provided to both groups via epidural patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), which consisted of 250 μg of sufentanil in 250 mL of ropivacaine (0.18%) for 72 h. The primary outcome was the cumulative consumption of epidural PCA at postoperative 24 and 72 h. The secondary outcomes were the pain intensity scores during resting and coughing at postoperative 24 and 72 h, quality of recovery, total amount of rescue analgesics required, and length of hospital stay.

Results

No significant differences was observed in the consumption of epidural PCA between the control and dexamethasone infusion groups at 24 h (63.6 [55.9–72.7] vs. 68.5 [60.2–89.0] ml, P = 0.281) and 72 h (199.4 [172.4–225.1] vs. 194.7 [169.1–252.2] ml, P = 0.890). Moreover, there was no significant difference in the pain intensity scores during resting and coughing at postoperative 24 and 72 h, quality of recovery, total amount of rescue analgesics required, and length of hospital stay.

Conclusion

A single intravenous administration of dexamethasone during the preoperative period does not reduce opioid consumption and post-thoracotomy pain.

Trial registration

The study was registered at http://cris.nih.go.kr (KCT0000359) and was conducted from December 2011 to October 2012.

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Effect of topical ropivacaine on the response to endotracheal tube during emergence from general anesthesia: a prospective randomized double-blind controlled study

Abstract

Background

The airway reflex such as cough is common accompanied with severe fluctuations of hemodynamics during emergence. This prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial tested the hypothesis that topical ropivacaine may reduce extubation response and postoperative sore throat.

Methods

Fifty-four patients undergoing thyroidectomy were randomly assigned to two groups. The patients in Group R were received 0.75% ropivacaine, which was sprayed on the tracheal mucosa, epiglottis, tongue base, and glottis to achieve uniform surface anesthesia. As control, patients in Group C were received the same volume saline. The primiary outcome was the incidence and grade of cough during peri-extubation.

Results

The incidence (34.62% vs. 76.92%, P = 0.002) of cough during extubation were lower in Group R compared to Group C. Meanwhile, the sore throat visual acuity score at 12 h after surgery was lower in Group R than that in Group C (2.00 vs. 3.50, P = 0.040).

Conclusion

Topical anesthesia with 0.75% ropivacaine before intubation can significantly reduce the incidence of cough during peri-extubation. Meanwhile, it reduced hemodynamic fluctuations and postoperative throat pain without influence patients recovery.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1800014412 (date of registration January 2018).

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Effect of topical ropivacaine on the response to endotracheal tube during emergence from general anesthesia: a prospective randomized double-blind controlled study

Abstract

Background

The airway reflex such as cough is common accompanied with severe fluctuations of hemodynamics during emergence. This prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial tested the hypothesis that topical ropivacaine may reduce extubation response and postoperative sore throat.

Methods

Fifty-four patients undergoing thyroidectomy were randomly assigned to two groups. The patients in Group R were received 0.75% ropivacaine, which was sprayed on the tracheal mucosa, epiglottis, tongue base, and glottis to achieve uniform surface anesthesia. As control, patients in Group C were received the same volume saline. The primiary outcome was the incidence and grade of cough during peri-extubation.

Results

The incidence (34.62% vs. 76.92%, P = 0.002) of cough during extubation were lower in Group R compared to Group C. Meanwhile, the sore throat visual acuity score at 12 h after surgery was lower in Group R than that in Group C (2.00 vs. 3.50, P = 0.040).

Conclusion

Topical anesthesia with 0.75% ropivacaine before intubation can significantly reduce the incidence of cough during peri-extubation. Meanwhile, it reduced hemodynamic fluctuations and postoperative throat pain without influence patients recovery.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1800014412 (date of registration January 2018).

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A prospective pilotstudy comparing the anesthetic effects of an alpha-2 agonist during holmium laser resection of the prostate and transurethral resection for prostate surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia patients using selective alpha-1 blockers

Abstract

Background

To examine the response to an α2receptor agonist used as a sedative for patients using long-term selective α1 blockers.

Methods

Sixty-nine consecutive patients undergoing transurethral prostate resection or holmium laser resection of the prostateunder spinal anesthesia were divided into two groups; group N (n = 37), which did not receive α1 blockers, and group T (n = 32), which was administered tamsulosin for at least 1 month before the study. Bispectral index scores, Modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation scale scores, heart rate, and mean blood pressure were obtained under sedation using dexmedetomidine for 30 min during surgery.

Results

The only significant difference found between the groups were mean bloodpressure 15 min after the first loading dose injection of dexmedetomidine. Differencesbetween both groupswere noted at 15 min(group T: 100.2 ± 12.9 mmHg; group N: 90.0 ± 17.5 mmHg; P = 0.08), 20 min (group T: 99.8 ± 12.3 mmHg; group N: 87.4 ± 15.0 mmHg; P < 0.00), 25 min (group T: 99.3 ± 13.4 mmHg; group N: 85.4 ± 13.8 mmHg; P < 0.00), and 30 min (group T: 98.8 ± 13.1 mmHg; group N: 84.5 ± 13.5 mmHg; P < 0.00).

Conclusions

The use of α2 agonists is appropriate during surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia patients using tamsulosin, and there is no need to alter the dose. Alertness with anesthesia involving α2 agents was maintained for patients using long-term tamsulosin and patients who did not use tamsulosin.

Trial registration

The study was retrospectively registered with the Clinical Research Informational Service (KCT0002967, July 2, 2018).

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A prospective pilotstudy comparing the anesthetic effects of an alpha-2 agonist during holmium laser resection of the prostate and transurethral resection for prostate surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia patients using selective alpha-1 blockers

Abstract

Background

To examine the response to an α2receptor agonist used as a sedative for patients using long-term selective α1 blockers.

Methods

Sixty-nine consecutive patients undergoing transurethral prostate resection or holmium laser resection of the prostateunder spinal anesthesia were divided into two groups; group N (n = 37), which did not receive α1 blockers, and group T (n = 32), which was administered tamsulosin for at least 1 month before the study. Bispectral index scores, Modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation scale scores, heart rate, and mean blood pressure were obtained under sedation using dexmedetomidine for 30 min during surgery.

Results

The only significant difference found between the groups were mean bloodpressure 15 min after the first loading dose injection of dexmedetomidine. Differencesbetween both groupswere noted at 15 min(group T: 100.2 ± 12.9 mmHg; group N: 90.0 ± 17.5 mmHg; P = 0.08), 20 min (group T: 99.8 ± 12.3 mmHg; group N: 87.4 ± 15.0 mmHg; P < 0.00), 25 min (group T: 99.3 ± 13.4 mmHg; group N: 85.4 ± 13.8 mmHg; P < 0.00), and 30 min (group T: 98.8 ± 13.1 mmHg; group N: 84.5 ± 13.5 mmHg; P < 0.00).

Conclusions

The use of α2 agonists is appropriate during surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia patients using tamsulosin, and there is no need to alter the dose. Alertness with anesthesia involving α2 agents was maintained for patients using long-term tamsulosin and patients who did not use tamsulosin.

Trial registration

The study was retrospectively registered with the Clinical Research Informational Service (KCT0002967, July 2, 2018).

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Comparison of Osseointegration between 5 Different Titanium Implant Surfaces

The surface properties of an implant plays the most important role in osseointegration. Titanium dental implants are produced applying different methods such as grit blasting, acid etching, coating, and combination of these techniques yielding materials with roughened surfaces. Those techniques are used to optimize the surface characteristics and to enhance biocompatibility and bioactivity with bone tissue.

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Ultra-Short Implants for Rehabilitation of the Edentulous Posterior Mandible: Outcomes after 2 Years

Rehabilitation of the posterior mandible when limited bone is present is one of the more difficult challenges in implant dentistry. Several techniques have been proposed to vertically augment bone. However, these techniques are unpredictable in the hands of the majority of the clinicians and associated with more trauma and a high incidence of failure. The use of short implants (6-8 mm) has been very well-documented in the literature. Recently, ultra-short implants (4 mm) became available and are 1 more option for rehabilitation of patients with vertical defects in the posterior mandible.

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Comparison of Osseointegration between 5 Different Titanium Implant Surfaces

The surface properties of an implant plays the most important role in osseointegration. Titanium dental implants are produced applying different methods such as grit blasting, acid etching, coating, and combination of these techniques yielding materials with roughened surfaces. Those techniques are used to optimize the surface characteristics and to enhance biocompatibility and bioactivity with bone tissue.

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Ultra-Short Implants for Rehabilitation of the Edentulous Posterior Mandible: Outcomes after 2 Years

Rehabilitation of the posterior mandible when limited bone is present is one of the more difficult challenges in implant dentistry. Several techniques have been proposed to vertically augment bone. However, these techniques are unpredictable in the hands of the majority of the clinicians and associated with more trauma and a high incidence of failure. The use of short implants (6-8 mm) has been very well-documented in the literature. Recently, ultra-short implants (4 mm) became available and are 1 more option for rehabilitation of patients with vertical defects in the posterior mandible.

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Chronotolerance for cisplatin ototoxicity in the rat.

The objective of the study was to determine the sensitivity of cisplatin ototoxicity to circadian time. Fifty-seven Fischer 344/NHsd rats were exposed to 12 mg/kg cisplatin by intra-peritoneal injection at one of six time points on a 12 h light-12 h dark cycle: 2, 6, or 10 h after light onset or 2, 6, or 10 h after light offset. Cochlear injury was evaluated using auditory brainstem response threshold shifts and postmortem outer hair cell counts. All animals experienced threshold shift in the highest frequencies tested (30 and 40 kHz). The animals exposed to cisplatin at 6 h after light onset (the inactive period) had significantly higher mid-frequency threshold shifts and outer hair cell losses than the groups exposed during the dark hours. The results indicate that cisplati...

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Rapamycin but not acarbose decreases age-related loss of outer hair cells in the mouse Cochlea.

Authors: Altschuler RA, Kanicki A, Martin C, Kohrman DC, Miller RA Abstract Adding rapamycin or acarbose to diet at 9-10 months of age has been shown to significantly increase life span in both male and female UM-HET3 mice. The current study examined cochleae of male and female UM-HET3 mice at 22 months of age to determine if either treatment also influenced age-related loss of cochlear hair cells. A large loss of cochlear outer hair cells was observed at 22 months of age in untreated mice in both apical and basal halves of the cochlear spiral. Addition of acarbose to diet had no significant effect on the amount of outer hair cell loss at 22 months of age or in its pattern, with large loss in both apical and basal halves. The addition of rapamycin to diet, however, significantly re...

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Rapamycin but not acarbose decreases age-related loss of outer hair cells in the mouse Cochlea.

Authors: Altschuler RA, Kanicki A, Martin C, Kohrman DC, Miller RA Abstract Adding rapamycin or acarbose to diet at 9-10 months of age has been shown to significantly increase life span in both male and female UM-HET3 mice. The current study examined cochleae of male and female UM-HET3 mice at 22 months of age to determine if either treatment also influenced age-related loss of cochlear hair cells. A large loss of cochlear outer hair cells was observed at 22 months of age in untreated mice in both apical and basal halves of the cochlear spiral. Addition of acarbose to diet had no significant effect on the amount of outer hair cell loss at 22 months of age or in its pattern, with large loss in both apical and basal halves. The addition of rapamycin to diet, however, significantly re...

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White matter involvement in young non-demented Down’s syndrome subjects: a tract-based spatial statistic analysis

Abstract

Purpose

Cognitive decline in Down syndrome generally shows neurodegenerative aspects similar to what is observed in Alzheimer's disease. Few studies reported information on white matter integrity. The aim of this study was to evaluate white matter alterations in a cohort of young Down subjects, without dementia, by means of DTI technique, compared to a normal control group.

Methods

The study group consisted of 17 right-handed subjects with DS and many control subjects. All individuals participating in this study were examined by MR exam including DTI acquisition (32 non-coplanar directions); image processing and analysis were performed using FMRIB Software Library (FSL version 4.1.9, http://www.fmrib.ox.ac.uk/fsl)) software package. Finally, the diffusion tensor was estimated voxel by voxel and the FA map derived from the tensor. A two-sample t test was performed to assess differences between DS and control subjects.

Results

The FA is decreased in DS subjects, compared to control subjects, in the region of the anterior thalamic radiation, the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculum, the inferior longitudinal fasciculum, and the cortico-spinal tract, bilaterally.

Conclusions

The early white matter damage visible in our DS subjects could have great impact in the therapeutic management, in particular in better adapting the timing of therapies to counteract the toxic effect of the deposition of amyloid that leads to oxidative stress.

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White matter involvement in young non-demented Down’s syndrome subjects: a tract-based spatial statistic analysis

Abstract

Purpose

Cognitive decline in Down syndrome generally shows neurodegenerative aspects similar to what is observed in Alzheimer's disease. Few studies reported information on white matter integrity. The aim of this study was to evaluate white matter alterations in a cohort of young Down subjects, without dementia, by means of DTI technique, compared to a normal control group.

Methods

The study group consisted of 17 right-handed subjects with DS and many control subjects. All individuals participating in this study were examined by MR exam including DTI acquisition (32 non-coplanar directions); image processing and analysis were performed using FMRIB Software Library (FSL version 4.1.9, http://www.fmrib.ox.ac.uk/fsl)) software package. Finally, the diffusion tensor was estimated voxel by voxel and the FA map derived from the tensor. A two-sample t test was performed to assess differences between DS and control subjects.

Results

The FA is decreased in DS subjects, compared to control subjects, in the region of the anterior thalamic radiation, the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculum, the inferior longitudinal fasciculum, and the cortico-spinal tract, bilaterally.

Conclusions

The early white matter damage visible in our DS subjects could have great impact in the therapeutic management, in particular in better adapting the timing of therapies to counteract the toxic effect of the deposition of amyloid that leads to oxidative stress.

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Resection of Inverted Papilloma of the Maxillary Sinus via a Prelacrimal Recess Approach: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis of Surgical Efficacy.

Conclusions These multicenter follow-up results demonstrated that the PLRA is a safe and effective method for the excision of primary or recurrent IPMS with lower postoperative complications and recurrent rate. PMID: 30251558 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy)

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Resection of Inverted Papilloma of the Maxillary Sinus via a Prelacrimal Recess Approach: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis of Surgical Efficacy.

Conclusions These multicenter follow-up results demonstrated that the PLRA is a safe and effective method for the excision of primary or recurrent IPMS with lower postoperative complications and recurrent rate. PMID: 30251558 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy)

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Role of Superantigens in Allergic Inflammation: Their Relationship to Allergic Rhinitis, Chronic Rhinosinusitis, Asthma, and Atopic Dermatitis.

Conclusion Just as SAgs are known to feature in many allergic conditions, they play their part in AR, chronic rhinosinusitis, asthma, and AD. Further research is required before the relationship between SAgs and allergy can be adequately explained. PMID: 30253652 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy)

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