Indoor and Outdoor Allergies.

In last 30 to 40 years there has been a significant increase in the incidence of allergy. This increase cannot be explained by genetic factors alone. Increasing air pollution and its interaction with biological allergens along with changing lifestyles are contributing factors. Dust mites, molds, and animal allergens contribute to most of the sensitization in the indoor setting. Tree and grass pollens are the leading allergens in the outdoor setting. Worsening air pollution and increasing particulate matter worsen allergy symptoms and associated morbidity. Cross-sensitization of allergens is common. Treatment involves avoidance of allergens, modifying lifestyle, medical treatment, and immunotherapy.

Intrathecal magnesium sulfate as a spinal adjuvant in two different doses, combined with 0.5% heavy bupivacaine for infraumbilical surgeries.

UNLABELLED: The spinal anesthesia has the definitive advantage that profound nerve block can be produced in a large part of the body by the relatively simple injection of a small amount of local anesthetic. BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The use of adjuvant drugs with local anesthetics for spinal is intended to improve the success of regional anesthesia. The present study evaluated magnesium sulfate in two different doses and fentanyl as an adjuvant to bupivacaine for spinal anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following Institutional Ethical Committee approval and written informed consent, a prospective randomized double-blinded study was conducted in 81 cases. Patients included were of either gender belonging to American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) I or ASA II status undergoing elective infraumbilical surgeries of <3 h. Patients were randomized into four groups and were administered an intrathecal solution of (1) Group NS: 3 cc of 0.5% bupivacaine + 0.5 cc of NS. (2) Group F: 3 cc of 0.5% bupivacaine + 25 mcg fentanyl (0.5 cc). (3) Group M 50: 3 cc of 0.5% bupivacaine + 50 mg magnesium sulfate diluted to 0.5 cc with NS. (4) Group M 100: 3 cc of 0.5% bupivacaine + 100 mg magnesium sulfate diluted to 0.5 cc with NS. The variables assessed were visual analog pain scale, pruritus, intensity of motor block and somnolence before and after intrathecal injection at 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, and 60 min in the 1(st) h, at every 30 min in next hour and then hourly thereafter. RESULTS: The mean duration of analgesia in normal saline group, fentanyl group, M 50 and M 100 groups are 272.8 (standard error [S.E.] of mean 22.9), 360.0 (S.E. of mean 28.8), 252.5 (S.E. of mean 15.0), 276.6 (S.E. of mean 29.5) min, respectively. CONCLUSION: The addition of magnesium sulfate in the two different doses (50, 100 mg) does not affect the quality of block or duration of analgesia. However, M 100 is as effective as fentanyl as far as the duration of analgesia is concerned.

Impact of supplementing preoperative intravenous omega 3 Fatty acids in fish oil on immunomodulation in elderly patients undergoing hip surgery.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of supplementing intravenous omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil (IVFO) in elderly patients undergoing hip surgery. This was a single centre, randomized, controlled, comparative, phase IV study in elderly patients undergoing hip surgery. The subjects, within the age range of 50-90 years, were assigned randomly to the group receiving intravenous omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil (IVFO, Omegaven®) or the control group not receiving intravenous fish oil (n = 20 in each group). IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and HS-CRP levels were the inflammatory markers assessed in this study. The within-group comparison was done by paired t-test and between-group comparison by unpaired t-test. At day 4, IL-6 values in the IVFO group decreased as compared to day 0. At day 4, IL-8 mean values increased for both IVFO and control groups. This increase was highly significant in the control group (P = 0.0182). IL 10 values decreased at day 4 and increased at day 8 in the IVFO group. Increase in HS-CRP levels was nonsignificant at day 4 in the IVFO group (P = 0.60) and significant at day 8 for the control group (P = 0.0084) as compared to day 0. Various biochemical parameters including albumin, protein, SGOT, SGPT, blood glucose, and urea values generated evidence regarding the safety profile of IVFO. This study suggests a role for IVFO in the short-term suppression of inflammatory mediators for patients undergoing hip surgery. However, further, larger trials may be needed to establish its definitive role in this patient population.