Dexmedetomidine protects PC12 cells from lidocaine-induced cytotoxicity via downregulation of Stathmin 1.

Background: Understanding of lidocaine-induced neurotoxicity is not complete, resulting in the unsuccessful treatment in some clinical settings. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) has been shown to alleviate lidocaine-induced neurotoxicity in our previous cell model. However, the rationale for DEX combined with lidocaine to reduce lidocaine-induced neurotoxicity in the clinical setting remains to be further clarified in the detailed molecular mechanism. Methods: In this study, we established a cellular injury model by lidocaine preconditioning. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) proliferation assay kit were used to analyze cell proliferation. Cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry and Hoechst 33342 staining. Cell cycle progression was detected by flow cytometry. The protein expression levels were detected by Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. Results: Our results showed that DEX dose-dependently restored impaired proliferation of PC12 cells induced by lidocaine，as reflected by the increased cell viability and EdU positive cells, which were consistent with the decreased expression of tumor suppressor protein p21 and increased expression of cell cycle-related cyclin D1 and CDK1. In addition, DEX dose-dependently reduced apoptotic PC12 cells induced by lidocaine，as reflected by the decreased expression of apoptosis-related Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9 and increased expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 compared to the cells only treated with lidocaine. Mechanistically, with gain-or-loss-of-function of STMN1, we showed that DEX-mediated neuroprotection by lidocaine-induced damage is associated with downregulation of STMN1 which might be an upstream molecule involved in regulation of mitochondria death pathway. Conclusion: Our results reveal that DEX is likely to be an effective adjunct to alleviate chronic neurotoxicity induced by lidocaine.

Effectiveness of pre-operative clown intervention on psychological distress: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: This study aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge available on the effectiveness of pre-operative clown intervention on psychological distress in children and parents. METHODS: PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase and PsycINFO databases were searched to identify relevant studies. Systematic review procedures were followed including a quality assessment. Meta-analysis of suitable studies was conducted. RESULTS: Eight studies were included; six reported that clown intervention reduced children's pre-operative anxiety, while one found that children's pre-operative distress levels were unchanged. Two studies suggested that clown therapy decreased parents' state anxiety, while three others found inconsistent results. No differences were found on parents' trait anxiety score. Meta-analysis of the available data confirmed that clown intervention has a great effect to reduce children's pre-operative distress (six articles, 341 children, Hedges' g = 0.867, 95% confidence intervals: 0.374-1.360, P = 0.001), and also had a small-to-medium effect on reducing parents' state anxiety (five articles, 329 parents, Hedges' g = 0.338, 95% confidence intervals: 0.112-0.564, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: While significant variability existed between studies, the meta-analysis confirmed the effectiveness of pre-operative clown therapy on reducing psychological distress in children and parents. Larger randomised controlled trails and cross-cultural studies should be conducted to investigate the effectiveness of clown therapy in greater detail.

[Effect of epidural anesthesia on hemorheology in patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopy].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of epidural anesthesia and patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) on hemorheology and the incidence of deep venous thrombosis in patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopy. METHODS: One hundred ASA I-II patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopy were randomly allocated into 2 groups to receive general-epidural anesthesia combined with PCEA (GE group) and general anesthesia (G group). Blood samples were taken before anesthesia (T(0)), before operation (T(1)), 30 min after pneumoperitoneum (T(2)), 30 min after pneumoperitoneum cease (T(3)), and 24 and 48 h after the operation (T(4), T(5)) for hemorheological tests. RESULTS: In GE group, the blood viscosity, plasma viscosity and RBC aggregation decreased significantly at T(1) (P<0.05), but no significant variations were detected at the other time points. In G group, blood viscosity and plasma viscosity increased significantly from T(2) to T(5), and were significantly higher than those of GE group. The incidence of deep venous thrombosis of GE group (2%) was significantly lower than that of the G group (8%). CONCLUSION: The blood viscosity, plasma viscosity and RBC aggregation increase during gynecological laparoscopy, and can be reduced by epidural anesthesia and PCEA to lower the incidence of deep venous thrombosis.

[Effect of intrathecal administration of sufentanil at different doses on bupivacaine spinal anesthesia in gynecologic laparoscopy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of sufentanil administered intrathecally at different doses on the clinical effect of bupivacaine spinal anesthesia in gynecologic laparoscopy. METHODS: Sixty patients with ectopic pregnancy undergoing elective laparoscopy (ASA class I-II) were randomized into 4 groups (groups A, B, C and D), and received spinal anesthesia with 15 mg bupivacaine and sufentanil at 0, 2.5, 5 and 7.5 microg, respectively. When the patients complained of discomforts, showed bodily movements, had heart rate over 100 beats/min, or showed blood pressure increment by 20%, additional doses of propofol were given. The onset time of sensory block, time to Bromage scale 3 motor block, time to the highest sensory block level, time of operation and recovery from anesthesia, and the total dosages of propofol were recorded along with the sedative score and the side effects. RESULTS: The 4 groups were comparable for age, body weight, height and operation time (range 60-65 min) (P>0.05). Both the onset time of sensory block and the time of Bromage scale 3 motor block in groups C and D were significantly shorter than those in groups A and B (P<0.05). The time of the highest sensory block in group D was shorter than that in group A (P<0.05). Compared to the group A, the dose of propofol was reduced in groups B, C, and D by 7.1%, 28.1%, and 34.8%, respectively; propofol doses in groups C and D were significantly lower than those in groups A and B (P<0.05). Pruritus associated with the spinal anesthesia occurred in 4 (26.7%), 3 (20%), and 6 (40%) cases in groups B, C and D, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Intrathecal sufentanil dose-dependently affect the effect of bupivacaine spinal anesthesia, and larger sufentanil dose produces better effects but more side effects. According to our results, 5.0 microg is the optimal dose for sufentanil.

[Application of flurbiprofen preemptive analgesia combined with intravenous propofol anesthesia in induced abortion].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of flurbiprofen preemptive analgesia combined with intravenous propofol anesthesia in induced abortion. METHODS: Totally 175 women (ASA class I) undergoing induced abortion were randomized into 5 groups. In K10, K5, and K1 groups, the patients were given 50 mg flurbiprofen 10, 5 and 1 min before the operation, respectively, and in F group, 1 microg/kg of fentanyl was administered 10 min before the operation. All the 4 groups had intravenous induction with 2 mg/kg propofo1. The patients in P group received propofol at 2 mg/kg as the control group. The heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and SpO2 were monitored during the operation, and the induction time, recovery time, propofol dosage and adverse effect were recorded. The anesthetic effect of the protocols was assessed according to the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the overall patient satisfaction. RESULTS: HR, MAP, propofol consumption and the incidences of adverse effects during the operation were significantly higher in P group than in the other groups. F group had the highest incidence of respiratory depression among the 5 groups. The VAS in K10 group was significantly lower than that in K5 and K1 groups (P<0.05), but similar to that in F group (P>0.05). The overall patients' satisfaction was significantly higher than that in the other 4 groups. CONCLUSION: Flurbiprofen preemptive analgesia combined with intravenous propofol is safe and effective for anesthesia during induced abortion.

[Comparison of levobupivacaine, ropivacaine and racemic bupivacaine in patient-controlled epidural analgesia after cesarean section].

OBJECTIVE: To compare efficacy and side effects of patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) with levobupivacaine, ropivacaine and racemic bupivacaine after cesarean section. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized double-blind study, 90 ASA I-II full-term nulliparous women (aged 25-38 years with body weight of 59-87 kg) undergoing elective cesarean section under spinal-epidural anesthesia equally allocated into 3 groups. PCEA was administered with 0.125% levobupivacaine and 20 microg/ml morphine (group L, n=30), 0.125% ropivacaine and 20 microg/ml morphine (group R, n=30), and 0.125% bupivacaine and 20 microg/ml morphine (group B, n=30), respectively. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score, satisfaction rate, patients' overall impression of treatment, modified Bromage motor score, and incidence of side effects were recorded at regular intervals after operation. RESULTS: The three groups were comparable with respect to the efficacy of analgesia, patients' overall impression of treatment, motor blockade and side effects. There was significant difference in patients' satisfaction rate between group R (70%) and the other two groups (93.3% in group L and 96.6% in group B, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: PCEA with 0.125% levobupivacaine and morphine 20 microg/ml produces better analgesic effect with little side effects after cesarean section.

[Effects of hydroxyethyl-starch on hemorheology in patients with chronic liver disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of hemodilution with hydroxyethyl-starch (HES) on hemorheology in patients with chronic liver diseases in vitro. METHODS: Twenty-one healthy volunteers were selected as the control group and 21 patients with chronic liver disease as the study group. Both of the two groups were divided into HSE (n=11) and Ringer's solution (n=10) groups. Venous blood of 12 ml were collected from each subject and aliquoted into 4 samples, one of the 4 samples served as control (sample 1), and the other 3 (samples 2, 3, 4 respectively) were diluted with 6%; HES or Ringer's solution to cause the hematocrit (Hct) decrease to 30%;, 25%; or 20%;. The rheological parameters including Hct, blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, index of red blood cell aggregation (ARBC) and index of red blood cell rigidity (RRBC) were examined. RESULTS: The Hct of the study group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05), but plasma viscosity and ARBC were significantly higher. After being diluted by HES, the blood viscosity and ARBC decreased significantly in the study group (P<0.05), and were not significantly different from those of the control group (P>0.05) when Hct=25%; and 20%;. The RRBC of the study group was increased, but the increment was significantly higher than that of control group (P>0.05) only when Hct=20%;. CONCLUSION: The ARBC of patients with chronic liver diseases was significantly higher. Hemodilution with 6%; HES could significantly reduce the blood viscosity and ARBC.