Effect of chewing gum of different weights before surgery on sore throat after total thyroidectomy: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a common postoperative complication. COMPLICATION: Chewing gum can inhibit the growth of oral bacteria, cleanse, and lubricate the oral cavity, which can help reduce postoperative sore throat. We hypothesize that chewing gum before surgery could relieve POST. METHODS: Patients planned to undergo total thyroidectomy under general anesthesia with tracheal intubation were randomized to swallow saliva twice or chew 1.4 g/2.8 g of gum for 2 minutes before surgery. A standard anesthesia protocol was performed. The numerical rating scale scores of POST at 1, 24, and 48 h after surgery were collected. The primary outcome was the incidence of moderate/severe POST (numerical rating scale score >3) within 48 h. RESULTS: Data from 148 patients (control group, n = 50; 1.4 g group, n = 48; and 2.8 g group, n = 50) were included in the analysis. Within 48 h, there was a significant difference among the three groups in the incidence of moderate/severe POST (control group: 74% vs. 1.4 g group: 65% vs. 2.8 g group: 50%. P = 0.04). The 2.8 g group had less incidence of moderate/severe POST than the control group (Odds Ratio = 0.351 95% Confidence Interval: (0.152 and 0.814) P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Chewing 2.8 g gum before total thyroidectomy can reduce the incidence of moderate/severe POST within 48 h after surgery.

A Dose-Response Relationship Study of Prophylactic Nalbuphine to Reduce Pain During the Awakening Period in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Total Hysterectomy: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Study.

Purpose: Prophylactic intravenous nalbuphine was administered to observe its median effective dose (ED50) in reducing pain after undergoing laparoscopic total hysterectomy. To investigate the effect of different doses of nalbuphine on postoperative analgesia and adverse reactions in patients. Patients and Methods: The 120 patients undergoing laparoscopic total hysterectomy were divided into 6 groups: group C (control) and group P (5 different doses of nalbuphine) with 20 patients per group. The doses of nalbuphine in group P were in an equally proportional series (groups P1, P2, P3, P4, and P5 received doses of 0.280, 0.200, 0.140, 0.100, and 0.070 mg/kg, respectively), diluted to 20 mL with saline and administered 5 min before the induction of anesthesia. A similar volume (20 mL) of saline was administered to group C 5 min before the induction of anesthesia. The numeric rating scale (NRS) of patients during awakening and after surgery, the number of postoperative salvage analgesia, and the occurrence of postoperative adverse effects were recorded. Results: The ED50 (95% confidence interval (CI)) of nalbuphine in preventing pain during the awakening period in patients calculated using the point-slope method was 0.125 (0.108, 0.145) mg/kg. NRS scores differed among the 6 groups at 30 min and 1 h after extubation (P < 0.001; P < 0.001). Pairwise comparisons between groups revealed that, at 30 min after extubation, compared with group P1, the NRS scores of groups P4, P5, and C were higher (P = 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001); compared with group P2, groups P5 and C had higher NRS scores (P = 0.011, P = 0.001). At 1 h after extubation, the NRS scores of groups P1 and P2 were lower than that of group P4 (P = 0.046, P = 0.036). Compared with the control, only the group P1 had a lower cough score (P = 0.009) and there were no differences in the other groups. There were no differences in sedation score at 10 min after extubation, the incidence of adverse events at 24 h postoperatively, or the number of remedial analgesics at 24 h postoperatively (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The ED50 (95% CI) of nalbuphine as a prophylactic in reducing pain during recovery was 0.125 (0.108, 0.145) mg/kg. Compared with the control, nalbuphine at doses of 0.140, 0.200, and 0.280 mg/kg prevented pain during the awakening period. Among these doses, 0.280 mg/kg was determined to be the best, the occurrence of cough was less during extubation and the postoperative analgesic effect was good. However, it is necessary to pay attention to the occurrence of adverse reactions.

Effect of total intravenous anesthesia or inhalation anesthesia on postoperative quality of recovery in patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy: A randomized controlled trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) or sevoflurane-based inhalation anesthesia on postoperative quality of recovery in patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy. DESIGN: A prospective randomized controlled trial. SETTING: An operating room, a postoperative recovery area, and a hospital ward. PATIENTS: A total of 102 female patients scheduled for elective total laparoscopic hysterectomy were randomly divided into two groups: the propofol group (group P) or sevoflurane group (group S). INTERVENTIONS: Anesthesia in group P was induced by propofol, fentanyl and rocuronium, and maintained by intravenous infusion of propofol and remifentanil. Anesthesia in group S was induced by a tidal volume inhalation technique with sevoflurane and rocuronium and maintained with sevoflurane and remifentanil. Patients in group P did not receive any volatile drugs. MEASUREMENTS: Quality of Recovery-40 (QoR-40), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores were assessed at 8, 24, 48, 72 h, 7 days and 30 days after surgery. Intraoperative hemodynamics, postoperative inflammatory indicators and adverse reactions were also recorded. MAIN RESULTS: The QoR-40 score and its 5 dimensions were similar in the two groups at each point in time (P > 0.05). Group S had less consumption of remifentanil (P < 0.001) but increased use of phenylephrine (P = 0.001) intraoperatively. PSQI scores were also comparable between groups at each point in time (P > 0.05). NRS scores at 72 h (P = 0.023) and 7 days (P = 0.017) after surgery, postoperative NLR (P = 0.024) and hs-CRP (P = 0.042), and the incidence of abdominal distension (P = 0.017) were significantly lower in group P than in group S. Multiple linear regression analyses demonstrated that duration of pneumoperitoneum and sleep quality were associated with postoperative recovery. CONCLUSIONS: The choice of intravenous or inhalation maintenance anesthesia did not affect overall postoperative recovery as measured by the QoR-40 in patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy. Reducing the duration of pneumoperitoneum and improving sleep quality were conducive to postoperative recovery.

Effect of Different Positions During Surgical Preparation With Combined Spinal-Epidural Anesthesia for Elective Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: The intraoperative 15° left-tilt position during cesarean delivery has more recently been questioned regarding its effect on fetal acid-base balance and is a frequent source of complaints by surgeons. We hypothesized that a 30° left-tilt position during surgical preparation could improve the acid-base balance of the fetus compared with the 15° left-tilt or supine position during surgical preparation. METHODS: Women undergoing elective cesarean delivery under combined spinal epidural anesthesia were randomized to a supine position, 15° left-lateral tilt position or 30° left-lateral tilt position; the position was changed to supine before the incision. Anesthetic management was standardized and included fluid loading with 10 mL/kg of normal saline followed by colloid loading. Hypotension (systolic blood pressure [SBP] reduction >20% baseline value or SBP <90 mm Hg) was treated with boluses of phenylephrine or ephedrine according to maternal heart rate. The primary outcome was umbilical arterial blood pH and the secondary outcomes included maternal SBP within 15 minutes after induction of anesthesia, the amount of vasoactive drug administered before end of the surgery, and the incidence of hypotension during cesarean delivery. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients were included. After testing by analysis of variance, there was no significant difference in the umbilical arterial pH among the 3 groups (supine group: 7.31 ± 0.03 vs 15° group: 7.30 ± 0.04 vs 30° group: 7.31 ± 0.02, P = .28). The 30° group required significantly less phenylephrine (P = .007) and ephedrine (P = .005) before the end of surgery than the supine group; however, the only benefit observed in the 15° group was that the mean SBP at 3 minutes after spinal injection was significantly improved compared with the supine group. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the supine position, the 30° left-tilt position during surgical preparation did not significantly improve the fetal acid-base status, but it significantly reduced the use of phenylephrine and ephedrine and reduced the incidence of hypotension; however, these benefits were not observed in the 15° left-tilt group.

Effect of continuous intraoperative infusion of methoxamine on renal function in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal tumor surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Acute renal injury (AKI) caused by hypotension often occurs in elderly patients after gastrointestinal tumor surgery. Although vasoactive drugs can increase effective filtration pressure, they may increase renal vascular resistance and reduce renal blood flow. The effect of methoxamine on renal function is not clear. METHODS: After obtaining written informed consent, 180 elderly patients undergoing elective gastrointestinal tumor surgery were randomly allocated into two groups: M group (continuous infusion of methoxamine at 2 µg/kg/min) and N group (continuous infusion of normal saline). The patients' mean arterial pressure was maintained within 20% of baseline by a continuous infusion of methoxamine or normal saline. Maintenance fluid was kept at 5 mL/kg/h. According to Kidney disease improve global outcome (KDIGO) guidelines, creatinine was measured at 1, 2 and 7 days after operation, and urine volume at 6, 12 and 24 h after operation was measured to evaluate the occurrence of AKI. 162 patients were included in the final data analysis. RESULTS: Significant differences in the incidence of postoperative Acute kidney injury (M group: 7.5%; N group: 18.3%; P < 0.05), the frequency of hypotension (M group: 1 [1-3]; N group: 3 [1-5]; P < 0.05), and the duration of intraoperative hypotension (M group: 2[0-10]; N group: 10 [5-16]; P < 0.05) were identified between the groups. Multivariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that preoperative creatinine and the frequency of intraoperative hypotension were the common factors leading to the occurrence of postoperative AKI. The results of Cox multivariate analysis showed that age and AKI were independent risk factors for 30-day death. CONCLUSION: Compared with the intraoperative continuous infusion of placebo and methoxamine, continuous infusion of 2 µg/kg/min methoxamine reduced the incidence of postoperative AKI and other clinical complications in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery by raising blood pressure and improved the prognosis of patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1900020536, registered 7 January, 2019.

Effects of different doses of magnesium sulfate on pneumoperitoneum-related hemodynamic changes in patients undergoing gastrointestinal laparoscopy: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The infusion of magnesium sulfate is well known to reduce arterial pressure and attenuate hemodynamic response to pneumoperitoneum. This study aimed to investigate whether different doses of magnesium sulfate can effectively attenuate the pneumoperitoneum-related hemodynamic changes and the release of vasopressin in patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery. METHODS: Sixty-nine patients undergoing laparoscopic partial gastrectomy were randomized into three groups: group L received magnesium sulfate 30 mg/kg loading dose and 15 mg/kg/h continuous maintenance infusion for 1 h; group H received magnesium sulfate 50 mg/kg followed by 30 mg/kg/h for 1 h; and group S (control group) received same volume 0.9% saline infusion, immediately before the induction of pneumoperitoneum. Systemic vascular resistance (SVR), cardiac output (CO), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), central venous pressure (CVP), serum vasopressin and magnesium concentrations were measured. The extubation time, visual analogue scale were also assessed. The primary outcome is the difference in SVR between different groups. The secondary outcome is the differences of other indicators between groups, such as CO, MAP, HR, CVP, vasopressin and postoperative pain score. RESULTS: Pneumoperitoneum instantly resulted in a significant reduction of cardiac output and an increase in mean arterial pressure, systemic vascular resistance, central venous pressure and heart rate in the control group (P <  0.01). The mean arterial pressure (T2 - T4), systemic vascular resistance (T2 - T3), central venous pressure(T3-T5) and the level of serum vasopressin were significantly lower (P <  0.05) and the cardiac output (T2 - T3) was significantly higher (P <  0.05) in group H than those in the control group. The mean arterial pressure (T4), systemic vascular resistance (T2), and central venous pressure(T3-T4) were significantly lower in group H than those in group L (P <  0.05). Furthermore, the visual analog scales at 5 min and 20 min, the level of vasopressin, and the dose of remifentanil were significantly decreased in group H compared to the control group and group L (P <  0.01). CONCLUSION: Magnesium sulfate could safely and effectively attenuate the pneumoperitoneum-related hemodynamic instability during gastrointestinal laparoscopy and improve postoperative pain at serum magnesium concentrations above 2 mmol/L. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was retrospectively registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry; the registration number is ChiCTR-IPD-17011145, principal investigator: D.Y. Q., date of registration: April 13, 2017.

Reliability of pleth variability index in predicting preload responsiveness of mechanically ventilated patients under various conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Goal-directed volume expansion is increasingly used for fluid management in mechanically ventilated patients. The Pleth Variability Index (PVI) has been shown to reliably predict preload responsiveness; however, a lot of research on PVI has been published recently, and update of the meta-analysis needs to be completed. METHODS: We searched PUBMED, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science (updated to November 7, 2018) and the associated references. Relevant authors and researchers had been contacted for complete data. RESULTS: Twenty-five studies with 975 mechanically ventilated patients were included in this meta-analysis. The area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristics (ROC) to predict preload responsiveness was 0.82 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79-0.85). The pooled sensitivity was 0.77 (95% CI 0.67-0.85) and the pooled specificity was 0.77 (95% CI 0.71-0.82). The results of subgroup of patients without undergoing surgery (AUC =0.86, Youden index =0.65) and the results of subgroup of patients in ICU (AUC =0.89, Youden index =0.67) were reliable. CONCLUSION: The reliability of the PVI is limited, but the PVI can play an important role in bedside monitoring for mechanically ventilated patients who are not undergoing surgery. Patients who are expanded with colloid may be more suitable for PVI.

Preventive intramuscular phenylephrine in elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Phenylephrine is the first-line vasoactive drug in the cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. The rate of hypotension remains high after intravenous preventive use of phenylephrine. However, few studies have investigated the effect of preventive intramuscular phenylephrine via a longer period of usage on fetal and maternal outcomes. METHODS: A total of 99 healthy parturients undergoing elective cesarean delivery were randomly allocated into three groups: M group (preventive intramuscular use of 5 mg phenylephrine), V group (preventive intravenous use of 100 µg phenylephrine), and P group (0.9% normal saline placebo). Rescue phenylephrine, ephedrine and atropine were used intraoperatively to adjust blood pressure and heart rate. The primary outcome was umbilical artery pH. RESULTS: Significant differences in umbilical artery pH (M group: 7.32 ±â€¯0.05 versus V group: 7.25 ±â€¯0.04 versus P group: 7.21 ±â€¯0.03, P < 0.05), fetal acidosis (M group: 3% [n = 33] versus V group: 15% [n = 33] versus P group: 30% [n = 33], P = 0.01) and maternal intraoperative hypotension (M group: 12% [33] versus V group: 39% [33] versus P group: 73% [33], P < 0.0001) were identified among the groups. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that treating arms, neonatal birthweight and the interval from the end of anesthesia to baby delivery were associated with umbilical artery pH. CONCLUSION: Compared with the preventive intravenous use of phenylephrine and placebo, preventive intramuscular phenylephrine exhibited a better neonatal acid-base status and more stable maternal hemodynamics in elective cesarean under spinal anesthesia.

Phenylephrine vs ephedrine in cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: In the past 20 years, many studies compared phenylephrine with ephedrine to prevent or treat hypotension in elective or emergency cesarean delivery and parturients with pre-eclampsia. A meta-analysis of the abovementioned trials is needed. METHODS: Several databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library) were searched from inception to April 2018 for trials comparing phenylephrine with ephedrine in cesarean delivery. The primary outcome is the incidence of maternal hypotension. RESULTS: Thirty-six trials (2439 patients) with elective cesarean delivery, three trials (400 patients) with emergency cesarean delivery and three trials (192 patients) with parturients with pre-eclampsia were included and analyzed. The incidence of hypotension did not differ in the elective surgery group (relative risk 0.83, 95% CI 0.66 to 1.05), emergency surgery group (relative risk 1.02, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.19) and pre-eclamptic parturients group (relative risk 0.93, 95% CI 0.63 to 1.37). The phenylephrine group had a higher incidence of bradycardia and lower incidences of tachycardia and nausea or vomiting in all three patient groups. The phenylephrine group also had lower fetal acidosis rate, higher umbilical artery and vein pH values and less base excess in the elective surgery. The abovementioned outcomes were similar in the emergency surgery group and the pre-eclampsia group. Publication bias for hypotension was detected. However, the trim and fill method demonstrated that the publication bias had little impact on hypotension. Trial sequential analysis of hypotension in elective surgery showed that this meta-analysis lacked a sufficient cumulative sample size and that further studies should be included. CONCLUSION: Phenylephrine and ephedrine were both effective in maintaining hemodynamic balance. Newborns benefited more from phenylephrine in elective cesarean delivery, but not in emergency cesarean delivery or in parturients with pre-eclampsia. More trials should be included to achieve more conclusive results.

Goal-directed fluid therapy versus conventional fluid therapy in colorectal surgery: A meta analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVES: This meta-analysis was conducted to compare the effects of goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) versus conventional fluid therapy (CFT) in colorectal surgery on patients' postoperative outcome and to detect whether the results differ between studies with the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol and those without, between studies using different devices for GDFT, or between different surgical approaches (laparoscopy or laparotomy). METHODS: The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Wanfang Data and ClinicalTrials.com were searched for studies from January,1990 to February, 2018. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing both two abovementioned fluid therapy protocols in colorectal surgery were included. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality after surgery. Secondary outcomes were length of hospital stay (LOS), complication rate, ICU admission and gastrointestinal indicators. RESULTS: Eleven studies were included, including a total of 1281 patients: the GDFT group included 624 patients and the control group included 657 patients. No significant differences were found between groups in 30-day mortality (relative risk, RR 0.86,0.28 to 2.63, P = 0.79), LOS (weighted mean difference, WMD 0.22,-0.1 to 0.55, P = 0.18), and ICU admission (RR 0.42, 0.17 to 1.04, P = 0.06). However, the GDFT group had a lower complication rate (RR 0.84,0.71 to 0.99, P = 0.04). In subgroup analyses, time to first flatus and time to tolerate an oral diet were shorter in GDFT group than the control group in studies who did not use the ERAS protocol. No publication bias was identified according to Begg's test. CONCLUSION: Compared with conventional fluid therapy, GDFT may not improve patients' postoperative outcome in colorectal surgery. However, the improvement of gastrointestinal function associated with GDFT over conventional fluid therapy was significant in the surgeries that did not use the ERAS protocol.

Effect of chewing gum on gastrointestinal function after gynecological surgery: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

AIM: Recently, several randomized controlled trials (RCT) reported the effect of chewing gum on gastrointestinal function after gynecological surgery; however, these results are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to systematically analyze the effect of chewing gum on postoperative gastrointestinal function and complications in women undergoing gynecological surgery. METHODS: Pumbed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese Wanfang databases, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and http://clinicaltrials.gov were searched from inceptions to April 30, 2017. Studies including chewing gum's impact on postoperative gastrointestinal function or complications were evaluated. Two authors individually performed data extraction from 10 RCT. Weighted mean difference (WMD) and odds ratio (OR) were used. RESULTS: Contrasting the group of standard postoperative care, the gum chewing group had a lower duration from the end of operation to first aerofluxus (WMD -7.55, 95%CI: -10.99 to -4.12); first intestinal sounds (WMD -6.20, 95%CI: -8.14 to -4.27); first defecation (WMD -12.24, 95%CI: -18.47 to -6.01); hospitalization duration (WMD -0.72. 95%CI -1.19 to -0.25); and lower incidence of nausea (OR 0.45, 95%CI: 0.29 to 0.69), vomiting (OR 0.38, 95%CI: 0.22 to 0.68) and postoperative ileus (OR 0.25, 95%CI: 0.14 to 0.44). CONCLUSION: Chewing gum is an effective measure to ameliorate gastrointestinal function and decrease complications after gynecological surgery.

IL-18 Contributes to Bone Cancer Pain by Regulating Glia Cells and Neuron Interaction.

Glial cell hyperactivity has been proposed to be responsible for chronic pain, however, the mechanisms remain unclear. Interleukin (IL)-18, released from glial cells, has been reported to be involved in neuropathic pain. In this study, we investigated the role of IL-18 in bone cancer pain. Bone cancer pain was mimicked by injecting Walker-256 mammary gland carcinoma cells into the intramedullary space of the tibia in rats. Expression and location of IL-18 and the IL-18 receptor were tested. To investigate the contribution of IL-18 signaling to bone cancer pain, IL-18 binding protein and recombinant IL-18 were used. To investigate the mechanisms of glial cells effects, MK801, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor inhibitor, and Src kinase-specific inhibitor PP1 were used. Tumor cell implantation (TCI) treatment increased expression of IL-18 and IL-18 receptor in spinal cord. The time course of IL-18 upregulation was correlated with TCI-induced pain behaviors. Blocking the IL-18 signaling pathway prevented and reversed bone cancer-related pain behaviors. Meanwhile, blocking IL-18 signaling also suppressed TCI-induced glial cell hyperactivity, as well as activation of GluN2B and subsequent Ca2+-dependent signaling. Spinal administration of recombinant IL-18 in naive rat induced significant mechanical allodynia, as well as GluN2B activation. However, intrathecal injection of MK801 failed to suppress recombinant IL-18-induced GluN2B phosphorylation, whereas Src kinase inhibitor PP1 significantly inhibited IL-18-induced GluN2B activation. IL-18-mediated glial-glia and glial-neuron interaction may facilitate bone cancer pain. Blocking IL-18 signaling may effectively prevent and/or suppress bone cancer pain. PERSPECTIVE: IL-18 signaling may be a new target for cancer pain therapy.

Angiotensin II system in the nucleus tractus solitarii contributes to autonomic dysreflexia in rats with spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND: Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a potentially life-threating complication after spinal cord injury (SCI), characterized by episodic hypertension induced by colon or bladder distension. The objective of this study was to determine the role of impaired baroreflex regulation by the nucleus tractus solitarii(NTS) in the occurrence of AD in a rat model. METHODS: T4 spinal cord transection animal model was used in this study, which included 40 Male rats Colorectal distension (CD) was performed to assess AD and compare the changes of BP, HR, and BRS, six weeks after operation. After that, SCI rats with successfully induced AD were selected. Losartan was microinjected into NTS in SCI rats, then 10, 30, 60 minutes later, CD was performed to calculate the changes of BP, HR, and BRS in order to explicit whether Ang II system was involved in the AD occurrence. Ang II was then Intra-cerebroventricular infused in sham operation rats with CD to mimic the activation of Ang II system in AD. Finally, the level of Ang II in NTS and colocalization of AT1R and NMDA receptor within the NTS neurons were also detected in SCI rats. RESULTS: Compared with sham operation, SCI significantly aggravated the elevation of blood pressure (BP) and impaired baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) induced by colorectal distension; both of which were significantly improved by microinjection of the angiotensin receptor type I (AT1R) antagonist losartan into the NTS. Level of angiotensin II (Ang II) in the NTS was significantly increased in the SCI rats than sham. Intracerebroventricular infusion of Ang II also mimicked changes in BP and BRS induced by colorectal distension. Blockade of baroreflex by sinoaortic denervation prevented beneficial effect of losartan on AD. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the activation of Ang II system in NTS may impair blood pressure baroreflex, and contribute to AD after SCI.

Levo-Tetrahydropalmatine Attenuates Bone Cancer Pain by Inhibiting Microglial Cells Activation.

OBJECTIVE: The present study is to investigate the analgesic roles of L-THP in rats with bone cancer pain caused by tumor cell implantation (TCI). METHODS: Thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia were measured at different time points before and after operation. L-THP (20, 40, and 60 mg/kg) were administrated intragastrically at early phase of postoperation (before pain appearance) and later phase of postoperation (after pain appearance), respectively. The concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-18 in spinal cord were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot was used to test the activation of astrocytes and microglial cells in spinal cord after TCI treatment. RESULTS: TCI treatment induced significant thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia. Administration of L-THP at high doses significantly prevented and/or reversed bone cancer-related pain behaviors. Besides, TCI-induced activation of microglial cells and the increased levels of TNF-α and IL-18 were inhibited by L-THP administration. However, L-THP failed to affect TCI-induced astrocytes activation and IL-1ß increase. CONCLUSION: This study suggests the possible clinical utility of L-THP in the treatment of bone cancer pain. The analgesic effects of L-THP on bone cancer pain maybe underlying the inhibition of microglial cells activation and proinflammatory cytokines increase.

The effects of epidural/spinal opioids in labour analgesia on neonatal outcomes: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

PURPOSE: Epidural/spinal opioids are increasingly used to relieve parturients' pain in labour. Some studies indicate that opioids can induce side effects in neonates, such as respiratory depression and neurobehavioural changes. This meta-analysis aimed to clarify the effects of opioids in labour analgesia on neonates. SOURCE: PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and EMBASE™ were searched for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The neonatal data of Apgar scores, Neurological and Adaptive Capacity Scores (NACS), and umbilical cord pH values were extracted. Statistical analyses were carried out using Review Manager 5.2 and Stata(®) 10. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Twenty-one trials with 2,859 participants were included in our meta-analysis. No difference in the incidence of Apgar scores < 7 was shown between the opioid and control groups at one minute (risk difference [RD] 0.0%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -3.0 to 2.0, P = 0.78; I (2) = 0%, 95% CI: 0 to 50) and at five minutes (RD -1.0%, 95% CI: -2.0 to 1.0, P = 0.31; I(2) = 0%, 95% CI: 0 to 50). No significant differences were found in the NACS at two hours (mean difference [MD] -0.35, 95% CI: -1.70 to 1.01, P = 0.62; I(2) = 0%, 95% CI: 0 to 79) and at 24 hr (MD -0.45, 95% CI: -1.36 to 0.46, P = 0.33; I(2) = 3%, 95% CI: 0 to 26). Also, no significant differences were found in umbilical cord artery pH (MD -0.02, 95% CI: -0.06 to 0.03, P = 0.48; I(2) = 80%, 95% CI: 46 to 92) and vein pH (MD -0.03, 95% CI: -0.07 to 0.00, P = 0.08; I(2) = 77%, 95% CI: 36 to 91). No significant publication bias was found. CONCLUSION: The common doses of fentanyl and sufentanil used with an epidural/spinal technique in labour analgesia are safe for neonates up to 24 hr after delivery. In future studies, more attention should be paid to the long-term side effects in neonates.