Effect of intraoperative systemic magnesium sulphate on postoperative Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale score after endovascular repair of aortic aneurysm under general anesthesia: A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.

Intraoperative magnesium has the effect of reducing postoperative opiate requirement, pain, and agitation. However, its effect on postoperative sedation and delirium is unclear. This study investigated the effect of magnesium on the postoperative Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) score and delirium following endovascular repair of aortic aneurysm (EVAR). Sixty-three consecutive patients diagnosed with abdominal (45) and thoracic (18) aortic aneurysm who underwent EVAR under general anesthesia were eligible. Patients were allocated randomly to the magnesium group (infusion of 30 mg•kg-1 magnesium in the first hour followed by 10 mg•kg-1 h-1 until the end of surgical procedure, targeting total 60 mg•kg-1) or the control group (0.9% saline at the same volume and rate). The primary outcome was whether magnesium had an effect on RASS score of patients at postoperative ICU admission. Secondary outcomes were effects on RASS score, numerical rating scale (NRS) score, Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) until 24 h after postoperative ICU transfer, and length of ICU stay. At postoperative ICU admission, magnesium had no significant effect on the RASS score (0[-0.5 to 0] vs 0[0 to 0]; P = 0.114), but at 1 h the NRS score was statistically different, 2[0 to 4] vs 4[0 to 5] (P = 0.0406). However, other data (RASS score, NRS score, CAM-ICU and length of ICU stay) did not show a significant difference. Our results did not show that intraoperative magnesium of target total 60 mg•kg-1 affected postoperative RASS score for undergoing EVAR. Trial registration: The current study was registered according to WHO and ICMJE standards on 4 July 2018, under registration number the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials, iRCTs041190013.

Inter-professional and inter-departmental alcoholism rehabilitation program.

A 3-month alcoholism rehabilitation program at psychiatric hospitals is common in Japan for patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, many AUD patients are often hospitalized for the treatment of digestive disorders due to alcohol-related liver diseases and pancreatitis. In this sense, AUD patients need to be better supported by professionals and departments in general hospitals. Here we analyzed the problems in alcohol-related medical care in Japan and examined the measures to be taken at general hospitals.

Comprehensive panicle phenotyping reveals that qSrn7/FZP influences higher-order branching.

Rice grain number directly affects crop yield. Identifying alleles that improve panicle architecture would greatly aid the development of high-yield varieties. Here, we show that the quantitative trait locus qSrn7 contains rice FRIZZY PANICLE (FZP), a previously reported gene encoding an ERF transcription factor that promotes floral transition. Reduced expression of FZP in the reproductive stage increases the extent of higher order branching of the panicle, resulting in increased grain number. Genotype analysis of this gene in cultivars from the publicly available National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences (NIAS) Core Collection demonstrated that the extent of higher order branching, especially in the upper panicle, was increased in those cultivars carrying the FZP allele associated with qSrn7. Furthermore, chromosome segment substitution lines resulting from a cross between Koshihikari and Kasalath, the latter of which carries qSrn7/FZP, also showed that upper panicle higher order branching and grain yield were increased by qSrn7/FZP. Our findings indicate that qSrn7/FZP influences panicle branching pattern and is thus useful in the breeding of high-yield rice varieties.