Estudio comparativo entre bloqueo paravertebral torácico, bloqueo de los nervios pectorales y bloqueo del músculo erector de la columna ecoguiados para el manejo del dolor en cirugías de cáncer de mama. Estudio controlado aleatorizado / A comparative study between ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block, pectoral nerves block, and erector spinae block for pain management in cancer breast surgeries. A randomized controlled study

Objetivos: Lograr la analgesia perioperatoria adecuada puede ser difícil en los pacientes sometidos a cirugías de mama, debido a la compleja inervación de la mama y la axila. El objetivo del estudio es investigar la eficacia de bloqueo del plano del músculo erector de la columna (ESPB) en comparación con las técnicas anestésicas regionales convencionales (bloqueo paravertebral torácico [TPVB] y bloqueo del nervio pectoral [PECS] ecoguiado). Métodos: Se incluyó en el estudio a 80 mujeres programadas para mastectomía radical modificada (MRM) electiva, con puntuación ASAI-II, y edades comprendidas entre 18 y 60años. Se aleatorizó a las pacientes en cuatro grupos: TPVB, PECS, ESPB y grupo control. Todas las pacientes de los grupos de bloqueo recibieron 25ml de bupivacaína al 0,25% mediante guía ecográfica. El grupo control recibió únicamente opiáceos para el manejo del dolor perioperatorio. Se observó a las pacientes durante 48horas en el postoperatorio para medir la duración de la analgesia (resultado primario). Resultados: ESPB reflejó una menor duración de la analgesia en comparación con el bloqueo PECS, sin diferencia estadísticamente significativa en comparación con el grupo TPVB. El consumo de morfina se incrementó en ESPB en comparación con el grupo PECS, con una diferencia insignificante en comparación con el grupo TPVB. Se produjo una diferencia no significativa entre los grupos en términos de hemodinámica y complicaciones, reportándose un caso de neumotórax en el grupo TPVB. Conclusión: PECS y ESPB representan una buena alternativa a TPVB para analgesia post-mastectomía, reflejando el bloqueo PECS un efecto analgésico superior en cuanto a consumo de opiáceos, duración de la analgesia y puntuación EVA.(AU)

Objectives: Achieving adequate perioperative analgesia can be challenging in patients undergoing breast surgeries due to the complex nerve supply of the breast and axilla. The study aims to investigate the efficacy of ESPB in comparison to conventional regional anesthesia techniques (TPVB and PECS). Methods: Eighty female patients who were scheduled for elective MRM, with ASA scoreI-II, and aged between 18 and 60years, were included in the study. Patients were randomized into four groups: the TPVB, PECS, ESPB, and the control group. All patients in either block groups received 25ml bupivacaine 0.25% with ultrasound guidance. The control group received only opioids for perioperative pain management. The patients were observed for 48hours after surgery for the duration of analgesia (primary outcome) Results: ESPB has a shorter duration of analgesia than PECS block with no significant statistical difference compared with group TPVB. Morphine consumption is increased in ESPB compared to the PECS group, with an insignificant difference compared to group TPVB. There was an insignificant difference between the groups concerning hemodynamics and complications, with one pneumothorax case reported in the TPVB group. Conclusion: PECS and ESPB represent a good alternative to TPVB for post-mastectomy analgesia with a superior analgesic effect of PECS block regarding opioid consumption, duration of the analgesia, and VAS score.(AU)

A comparative study between ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block, pectoral nerves block, and erector spinae block for pain management in cancer breast surgeries. A randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: Achieving adequate perioperative analgesia can be challenging in patients undergoing breast surgeries due to the complex nerve supply of the breast and axilla. The study aims to investigate the efficacy of ESPB in comparison to conventional regional anesthesia techniques (TPVB and PECS). METHODS: Eighty female patients who were scheduled for elective MRM, with ASA score I-II, and aged between 18 and 60 years, were included in the study. Patients were randomized into four groups, the TPVB, PECS, ESPB, and the control group. All patients in either block groups received 25 ml bupivacaine 0.25% with ultrasound guidance. The control group received only opioids for perioperative pain management. The patients were observed for 48 h after surgery for the duration of analgesia (primary outcome). RESULTS: ESPB has a shorter duration of analgesia than PECS block with no significant statistical difference compared with group TPVB. Morphine consumption is increased in ESPB compared to the PECS group, with an insignificant difference compared to group TPVB. There was an insignificant difference between the groups concerning hemodynamics and complications, with one pneumothorax case reported in the TPVB group. CONCLUSION: PECS and ESPB represent a good alternative to TPVB for post-mastectomy analgesia with a superior analgesic effect of PECS block regarding opioid consumption, duration of the analgesia, and VAS score.

ACE2 and TMPRSS2 SNPs as Determinants of Susceptibility to, and Severity of, a COVID-19 Infection.

Background: Genetic risk factors may be related to the infectivity and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and host transmembrane serine protease (TMPRSS2) have key role in viral cell entrance and priming. Methods: This case-control study on 147 healthy controls and 299 COVID-19 patients identified potential determinants and risk factors, including gene polymorphism involved in the severity (mild, moderate, severe) of COVID-19 disease defined by CORAD radiological criteria. Results: The ACE2 s2285666 and TMPRSS2 rs12329760 SNPs were significantly linked with COVID-19 disease severity, as were certain co-morbidities (hypertension, heart disease) and laboratory parameters. Both SNPs were amongst the highest predictors of disease severity: TMPRSS2 rs12329760 CT + TT [odds ratio (95% CI) 17.6 (5.1-61.10), ACE2 rs2285666 CT + TT 9.9 (3.2-30.9), both p < 0.001]. There was an increase in the expression of genotype frequencies of ACE2 rs2285666 and TMPRSS2 rs1232976 (TT), (CT + TT), and (T) allele in severe COVID-19 group compared to control and mild groups. Disease severity was also linked to elevated CRP, ferritin and D-dimer, and lower lymphocytes and platelet count (all p < 0.001). Conclusion: ACE2 rs2285666 and TMPRSS2 rs12329760 SNPs, in addition to lymphocyte count, CRP, D-dimers, ferritin, and hypertension, are predictors of COVID-19 disease severity.

Mi-RNA-93 and Mi-RNA-152 in the Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy.

Background and Aim: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disorder with diabetic retinopathy (DR) as one of its main microvascular outcomes, being a prime cause of vision loss. Dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been associated with some diabetic microvascular complications such as diabetic retinopathy. This hypothesised changes in the serum of miR-93 and miR-152 in diabetes and diabetic retinopathy. Methods: The study cohort consisted of 80 healthy volunteers, 80 type 2 diabetic patients, and 80 diabetic retinopathy patients, of whom 40 had proliferative (PDR) and 40 non-proliferative retinopathy (NPDR). Serum fasting and 2-hour postprandial glucose (2hPP), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR were evaluated by routine methods, miR-93 and miR-152 expression by quantitative real-time PCR. Results: FBG, 2hPP, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, and miR-152 showed an increasing trend across groups while miR-93 showed a decreasing trend (all p < 0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis for prediction of DR found that the most significant were miR-152 (OR 1.37, 95% CI: 1.18-1.58, <0.001), BMI (1.13, [1.07-1.31], p = 0.004), duration of disease (1.29 [1.04-1.6] p = 0.018), and miR-152 (0.01, [0.0-0.47] p = 0.019). The most significant predictors of PDR were miR-152 (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.12-1.92, p = 0.005), HOMA-IR (2.66 [1.30-5.45] p = 0.007), and miR-93 (0.25 [0.07-0.86] p = 0.028). Conclusion: MiR-93 and miR-152 can differentiate patients with diabetes and those with DR. Both miRNAs might be potential biomarkers for diabetes and diabetic retinopathy, and specifically for proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Targeted metabolomics as a tool for the diagnosis of kidney disease in Type II diabetes mellitus.

Background: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is an increasing health problem and an extra burden to health services. The study of characteristic metabolic alterations of DKD is crucial for a better understanding of pathogenesis to identify new potential biomarkers and drug targets. We hypothesized that metabolic profiling of amino acids, acylcarnitines, and organic acids are useful new biomarkers for the diagnosis of the early stages of DKDMethods: The hypothesis was testing in a case-control study of 232 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 150 healthy controls. Patients were classified according to urinary albumin and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) into 100 with normoalbuminuria and 132 with microalbuminuria group. Eighteen AcylCNs and 17 amino acids were measured in the blood by tandem mass spectrometry while 17 urinary organic acids were quantitatively measured by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry.Results: Regression analysis found that dodecanoylcarnitines C12 (effect size 2.03 [95%CI 1.73-2.32]), triglylcarnitine C5:1 (2.01 [1.70-2.30]), and isovalerylcarnitine C5 (1.78 [1.48-2.07]) were stronger predictors of albumin/creatinine ratio than HbA1c (1.50 [1.20-1.78]) and hence they could serve as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of the early stages of DKD.Conclusions: Targeted metabolic profiling offers a new, non-invasive approach for detecting biomarkers for the early diagnosis of DKD suggesting new pathogenetic phases that might be new targets for treatment.

Role of endoscopy in suspicion of atrophic gastritis with and without intestinal metaplasia in comparison to histopathology.

Background and study aims: Atrophic gastritis (AG) and intestinal metaplasia (IM) are established premalignant gastric lesions. Many studies documented a poor correlation between esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and histopathological (HP) findings of precancerous gastric lesions. The aim was to bridge the gap between endoscopy and HP in detection of chronic gastritis, AG and IM. Patients and methods: a prospective single-center study involved 150 patients with endoscopic criteria of gastric lesions with upper gastrointestinal symptoms referred for upper GI endoscopy met the endoscopic criteria and classified according to HP of biopsies from targeted gastric lesions into chronic gastritis (GI), AG(GII) or IM(GIII). We correlated the endoscopic criteria of the 3 groups with the HP results. Results: (73 males & 75 females) with ages ranged17-75 years and mean± SD was 41.96 ± 15.95. GI, GII & GIII were [42 patients (28%),82 patients (54.7%) and 26 patients (17.3%)], respectively. Diffuse gastric mottling was more common in GI (74.3%, P<0.001), visible submucosal vessels, gastric atrophy predominated in GII (75.6, 82.3 & 73.1% (P 0.005,0.4 & <0.01)), respectively. Whitish raised lesions were more specific in GIII (85.7%) (P<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of endoscopic suspicion of chronic gastritis were (86&88% in GI), (87&85% in GII) and (54% & 100% in GIII) (p-0.001). The logistic regression model for risk factors was χ2= 25.74 and 49.32, p < 0.001. Conclusion: Conventional endoscopy has high sensitivity and specificity for suspicion of chronic gastritis and AG, but low sensitivity and very high specificity for IM. Targeted biopsies may be valuable with image enhanced techniques.

Effect of adding midazolam to bupivacaine during rectus sheath block: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Various adjuvants have been tried to improve quality and increase duration of local anaesthetics during various nerve blocks. We aimed to evaluate the effect of adding midazolam to bupivacaine on rectus sheath (RS) block in patients undergoing umbilical or epigastric hernia repair. METHODS: In all, 60 adult patients were divided into two equal groups, each group included 30 patients. Group I received 20 ml of bupivacaine hydrochloride 0.25% + midazolam 50 µg/kg in 2 ml saline 0.9% (Midazolam group, n = 30), whereas Group II received 20 ml of bupivacaine hydrochloride 0.25% + 2 ml saline (Control group, n = 30) for RS block on each side. The primary outcome was post-operative 48 h morphine consumption, whereas secondary outcomes included analgesia duration, post-operative pain, as evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain scoring at 1, 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h post-operatively, reported post-operative nausea and or vomiting (PONV), somnolence or any adverse drug reactions. RESULTS: The current study showed that addition of midazolam to bupivacaine for RS blockade provided good analgesia as evidenced by a statistically significant less morphine consumption in the post-operative 48 h [11.2 (5.3-18.3) vs. 25.9 (15.2-31.0) mg, P = 0.002], longer duration of analgesia, lower VAS during post-operative 48 h, lower incidence of PONV, somnolence and pruritus. CONCLUSION: Midazolam addition to bupivacaine for RS blockade provided adjuvant analgesia as supported by less morphine consumption, longer duration of analgesia, and lower VAS score.

A comparison of sugammadex and neostigmine for reversal of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade in children.

BACKGROUND: Sugammadex is designed to be a reversal agent for steroidal muscle relaxants. The current trial was aimed to compare between sugammadex and neostigmine concerning the recovery time from neuromuscular blockade. We hypothesised that sugammadex might have shorter recovery time than neostigmine. METHODS: Sixty paediatric patients aged 2-10 years scheduled for lower abdominal surgeries were randomly assigned into two equal groups to receive 4 mg/kg sugammadex (Group S) or 0.35 mg/kg neostigmine and 0.02 mg/kg atropine (Group N) as a reversal agent for rocuronium at the end of surgery. Primary outcome was the recovery time [time from starting of sugammadex or neostigmine till reaching train of four (TOF) ratio> 0.9] whereas secondary outcomes included number of patients who needed another dose of sugammadex or neostigmine to reach TOF ratio> 0.9, extubation time (time from stoppage of anaesthetic inhalation until the patient fulfilled criteria for safe extubation, post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU) discharge time and post-operative adverse effects. RESULTS: The mean recovery and extubation times were significantly shorter (P = 0.002 and 0.005) in Group S compared with Group N (2.5 and 2.0 min vs. 12.6 min and 4.3 min respectively). In the Group N, eight patients needed another reversal dose compared with one patient in Group S (P = 0.035). PACU discharge time showed no significant difference between both groups. Incidence of nausea, vomiting, tachycardia, and dry mouth were significantly higher in Group N. CONCLUSION: Sugammadex administration in children resulted in faster recovery and extubation times and lower incidence of adverse events compared with neostigmine.

Cardiac and renal protective effects of dexmedetomidine in cardiac surgeries: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac and renal injuries are common insults after cardiac surgeries that contribute to perioperative morbidity and mortality. Dexmedetomidine has been shown to protect several organs against ischemia/reperfusion-(I/R) induced injury. We performed a randomized controlled trial to assess the effect of dexmedetomidine on cardiac and renal I/R injury in patients undergoing cardiac surgeries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgeries were randomized to dexmedetomidine group that received a continuous infusion of dexmedetomidine initiated 5 min before cardiopulmonary bypass (1 µg/kg over 15 min, followed by 0.5 µg/kg/h) until 6 h after surgery, whereas the control group received an equivalent volume of physiological saline. Primary outcome measures included myocardial-specific proteins (troponin-I, creatine kinase-MB), urinary-specific kidney proteins (N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, alpha-1-microglobulin, glutathione transferase-pi, glutathione transferase alpha), serum proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1 beta), norepinephrine, and cortisol levels. They were measured within 5 min of starting anesthesia (T0), at the end of surgery (T1), 12 h after surgery (T2), 24 h after surgery (T3), 36 h postoperatively (T4), and 48 h postoperatively (T5). Furthermore, creatinine clearance and serum cystatin C were measured before starting surgery as a baseline, and at days 1, 4, 7 after surgery. RESULTS: Dexmedetomidine reduced cardiac and renal injury as evidenced by lower concentration of myocardial-specific proteins, kidney-specific urinary proteins, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, it caused higher creatinine clearance and lower serum cystatin C. CONCLUSION: Dexmedetomidine provided cardiac and renal protection during cardiac surgery.

A randomised controlled trial comparing the effects of propofol with isoflurane in patients with diastolic dysfunction undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

There is a strong association between pre-operative diastolic dysfunction and difficulty in weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass. We compared the effects of propofol and isoflurane on left ventricular diastolic function in patients with pre-existing diastolic dysfunction undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. We randomly allocated 60 patients to receive either propofol or isoflurane anaesthesia, and assessed left ventricular diastolic function using transoesophageal echocardiography. We measured early (E), late (A) diastolic velocities, E/A ratio, A-wave duration and deceleration time using pulsed wave Doppler, and early (Em), late (Am) diastolic velocities of the mitral annulus, Em/Am ratio and isovolumetric relaxation time using tissue Doppler. We measured pulmonary venous flow velocity and recorded values for the peak systolic flow velocity (S), peak diastolic flow velocity (D), S/D ratio, peak reverse atrial flow velocity and duration of reverse atrial flow. All data were recorded immediately after tracheal intubation as a baseline, 5 min before sternotomy (T1 ), 5 min before aortic cannulation (T2 ) and 15 min after weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass (T3 ). Both propofol and isoflurane improved left ventricular diastolic function as evidenced by significant increases in E/A ratios, and significant decreases in deceleration time and isovolumetric relaxation time; the improvement was greater in the isoflurane group (between groups, p = 0.001 for both E/A ratio and deceleration time at T1 and T2 and p = 0.006 for isovolumetric relaxation time at both T1 and T2 ). Furthermore, Em/Am ratio, S, D and S/D ratios were significantly better in the isoflurane group. The administration of isoflurane during cardiac surgery improves diastolic function comparatively more than propofol.