Effect of Preoperative Forced-Air Warming on Hypothermia in Elderly Patients Undergoing Transurethral Resection of the Prostate.

PURPOSE: Elderly patients under spinal anesthesia are vulnerable to hypothermia, leading to increased morbidity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of preoperative forced-air warming on perioperative hypothermia and shivering in elderly patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) under spinal anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients (> 65-year-old) scheduled for TURP under spinal anesthesia were randomly assigned to receive preoperative forced-air skin warming for 20 min (the pre-warmed group, n = 25) or not (control group, n = 25). Core temperatures were measured at 15-min intervals after spinal anesthesia, and intra- and post-operative shivering were also assessed. RESULTS: Incidences of intraoperative hypothermia (< 36 ºC) in the pre-warmed and control groups were not significantly different (10/25 [40%] vs. 15/24 [62.5%], P = .259). However, severities of hypothermia were significantly different (P = .019). No patient in the pre-warmed group showed moderate or profound hypothermia, whereas of patients in control group 21% and 13% did so, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that a brief period of preoperative forced-air warming did not completely prevent intraoperative hypothermia or shivering, but it could significantly reduce its severity in elderly male patients under spinal anesthesia.

Black porgy (Acanthopagrus schlegeli) prolactin cDNA sequence: mRNA expression and blood physiological responses during freshwater acclimation.

To investigate the consequences of freshwater (FW) transfer, we studied the prolactin (PRL) cDNA sequence and its mRNA expression, and physiological responses in the black porgy (Acanthopagrus schlegeli). We cloned and characterized cDNA encoding its PRL from the pituitary gland. Black porgy PRL cDNA consists of 1492 bp and encodes a protein of 212 amino acids including 24 signal peptides. Reverse transcription-PCR showed the PRL mRNA expression in the pituitary gland. Expression of pituitary gland PRL mRNA was significantly higher during FW acclimation. Furthermore, we studied the stress responses and osmoregulatory abilities of black porgy in changing salinities. Plasma cortisol, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) significantly increased in the fish immediately after transfer to FW. We also identified significant changes in the fish in terms of plasma ions (Na(+), Cl(-), Ca(2+)) and osmolality during the acclimation period. These results suggests that PRL plays an important role in hormonal regulation in osmoregulatory organs, thereby improving the hyperosmoregulatory ability of black porgy in freshwater.