Lipid emulsion treatment for local anesthetic systemic toxicity in pediatric patients: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) is rare, but fatal; the current widely used treatment is lipid emulsion (LE). The goal of this study was to analyze and review case reports on LE treatment for LAST in pediatric patients. METHODS: We performed a systematic review using case reports on LE treatment for LAST in pediatric patients, searching PubMed and Scopus databases to March 2023 using the following keywords: ("local anesthetic toxicity" OR "local anesthetic systemic toxicity" OR LAST") AND ("newborn" OR "infant" OR "child" OR "children" OR "adolescent" OR "pediatric") AND ("lipid emulsion" OR "Intralipid"). RESULTS: Our search yielded 21 cases, revealing that nearly 43% patients with LAST were less than 1 year old, and most cases were caused by bupivacaine (approximately 67% cases). "Inadvertent intravascular injection" by anesthesiologists and "overdose of local anesthetics" mainly by surgeons were responsible for 52% and 24% cases of LAST, respectively. LAST occurred in the awake state (52%) and under general anesthesia (48%), mainly causing seizures and arrhythmia, respectively. Approximately 55% of patients received LE treatment in <10 minutes after LAST, mainly improving cardiovascular symptoms. A 20% LE (1.5 mL/kg) dose followed by 0.25 mL/kg/minutes dose was frequently used. LE and anticonvulsants were mainly used in the awake state, whereas LE with or without vasopressors was mainly used under general anesthesia. LE treatment led to full recovery from LAST in 20 cases; however, 1 patient died due to underlying disease. CONCLUSION: Consequently, our findings reveal that LE is effective in treating pediatric LAST.

Cellular abundance-based prognostic model associated with deregulated gene expression of leukemic stem cells in acute myeloid leukemia.

Background: Previous studies have reported that genes highly expressed in leukemic stem cells (LSC) may dictate the survival probability of patients and expression-based cellular deconvolution may be informative in forecasting prognosis. However, whether the prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) can be predicted using gene expression and deconvoluted cellular abundances is debatable. Methods: Nine different cell-type abundances of a training set composed of the AML samples of 422 patients, were used to build a model for predicting prognosis by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression. This model was validated in two different validation sets, TCGA-LAML and Beat AML (n = 179 and 451, respectively). Results: We introduce a new prognosis predicting model for AML called the LSC activity (LSCA) score, which incorporates the abundance of 5 cell types, granulocyte-monocyte progenitors, common myeloid progenitors, CD45RA + cells, megakaryocyte-erythrocyte progenitors, and multipotent progenitors. Overall survival probabilities between the high and low LSCA score groups were significantly different in TCGA-LAML and Beat AML cohorts (log-rank p-value = 3.3×10-4 and 4.3×10-3, respectively). Also, multivariate Cox regression analysis on these two validation sets shows that LSCA score is independent prognostic factor when considering age, sex, and cytogenetic risk (hazard ratio, HR = 2.17; 95% CI 1.40-3.34; p < 0.001 and HR = 1.20; 95% CI 1.02-1.43; p < 0.03, respectively). The performance of the LSCA score was comparable to other prognostic models, LSC17, APS, and CTC scores, as indicated by the area under the curve. Gene set variation analysis with six LSC-related functional gene sets indicated that high and low LSCA scores are associated with upregulated and downregulated genes in LSCs. Conclusion: We have developed a new prognosis prediction scoring system for AML patients, the LSCA score, which uses deconvoluted cell-type abundance only.

Dyslipidemia Is Positively Associated with Chronic Low Back Pain in Korean Women: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010-2012.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the association between chronic low back pain (CLBP) and chronic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) between 2010-2012 and included women who answered a questionnaire in the KNHANES asking whether they had low back pain for ≥3 months. Participants were divided into non-CLBP and CLBP groups. For statistical analysis, the Student's t-test, chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression analysis were performed using SPSS. RESULTS: Of 5961 participants, the non-CLBP group comprised 4098 women and the CLBP group comprised 1863. Adjusted logistic regression model revealed that dyslipidemia was positively associated with CLBP (odds ratio, 1.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.140, 1.530; p < 0.001). However, hypertension and diabetes were not associated with CLBP. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that proper treatment of dyslipidemia may contribute to lowering the risk of CLBP later in life.

Oral/taste sensitivity to non-esterified long-chain fatty acids with varying degrees of unsaturation.

Understanding human oral/taste sensitivity to long-chain non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) with varying physicochemical properties is essential to reducing the intake of fats and altering the intake composition. This study investigated the differences in human taste sensitivity to two NEFA: oleic acid and linoleic acid. Twenty-four female subjects were divided into two equal sensitivity groups, and they performed discrimination tests for both fatty acids against bottled water using either the triangle or the DR A-Not A test. To achieve an accurate measurement of NEFA sensitivity, the stimulus was carefully prepared, avoiding additives that could interfere with the binding of fatty acids to receptors. Stimuli concentrations were selected to be within the lowest range (9.9 to 177.3 µM) evaluated in previous research. Through a systematic stimulus control process, this study confirmed that greater sensitivity was exhibited to linoleic acid than oleic acid, resulting in better discrimination than previous studies.

Adhesive Bowel Obstruction (ABO) in a Stranded Narrow-Ridged Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri).

In this case report, we present a rare occurrence of a narrow-ridged finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri), discovered on the coast of Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, that was afflicted with adhesive bowel obstruction (ABO), a life-threatening condition that has scarcely been reported in cetaceans. Diagnosis of ABO was confirmed via radiological and clinical assessments. Post-mortem computed tomography and necropsy revealed ABO between two loops of the jejunum at the L8 level. The mesenteric tissue covering the intestinal lesion was severely thickened with increased tension. Both bowel loops were fixed to the mesentery and acutely angulated, leading to asymmetrical thickening of the cross-sectional bowel walls. The intestinal lumen was stenosed because of pressure from the firm mesenteric band, and no fecal matter was observed in the lumen of the posterior bowel or rectum. Calcified nodules were detected, and histological analysis suggested parasitic or suspected post-parasitic infections. The primary cause of the intestinal lesions is presumed to be a reaction related to parasitic infection. However, further investigations would establish a definitive link between parasitic infections and ABO in this species. This case highlights the importance of studying rare medical conditions in wildlife, providing valuable insights into marine mammal health.

Characterization of Spheno-occipital Synchondrosis Fusion From Preadolescents to Young Adults Using Age and Cervical Vertebrae Maturation Index.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the spheno-occipital synchondrosis fusion (SOSF) from preadolescents to young adults. A total of 630 Korean subjects (308 men, 322 women; age range, 6-18 y) were divided into 26 groups according to sex and age. After 3-dimensional computed tomography (CT) images were reoriented using the Frankfort horizontal (FH) plane, mid-sagittal plane, and frontal plane via ON3D software (3DONS), the cervical vertebrae maturation index (CVMI) and SOSF stages were identified using 6-stage and 5-stage scoring systems, respectively. The distributions of stage in each group were statistically investigated. Women showed early appearance and a short range of onset (CVMI stage 2, SOSF stage 2), middle (CVMI stage 4, SOSF stage 3 and stage 4), and completion (CVMI stage 6, SOSF stage 5), indicating rapid skeletal maturation compared with men. In both males and females, there were strong positive correlations between age and CVMI stage (rs=0.902, rs=0.890), between age and SOSF stage (rs=0.887, rs=0.885), and between CVMI and SOSF stages (rs=0.955, rs=0.964) (all P<0.001). The mean ages at SOSF stage 3 and stage 4 (12.7~13.9 y in males and 11.0~12.5 y in females) could be used as indicators of the pubertal growth peak. Regression equations for SOSF stage (y), age (a), and CVMI stage (b) were as follows: y=1.355-(0.133×a)+(0.29007×b)+(0.041×a×b) for males (r2=0.9496); y=1.305-(0.158×a)+(0.455×b)+(0.036×a×b) for females (r2=0.9606). Ordinal logistic regression analyses with the proportional odds model showed that females had more advanced SOSF stages than males (odds ratio: 1.972; 95% CI: 1.063-3.658, P<0.05). Our findings may provide basic references for CVMI and SOSF from preadolescents to young adults.

Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses of Anisakis simplex sensu stricto (Nematoda: Anisakidae) from the common minke whale in Korean waters.

The genus Anisakis is among the most significant parasites to public health, as it causes anisakiasis, a parasitic infection in humans resulting from consuming raw or undercooked seafood. Although the infection status of i>Anisakis in second intermediate hosts, such as marine fishes and cephalopods, and humans have been severally reported in Korea, no information about the definitive host in Korean waters is available. In 2014, 2 adult gastric nematodes were collected from a common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) found in the East Sea, Korea. These worms were identified as A. simplex sensu stricto (s.s.) by comparing the mitochondrial COX2 marker with previously deposited sequences. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses of A. simplex (s.s.) worldwide revealed 2 distinct populations: the Pacific population and the European waters population. This is the first report on adult i>Anisakis and its definitive host species in Korea. Further studies on Anisakis infection in other cetacean species and marine mammals in Korean seas are warrantedi>Anisakis.

Eight cases of canine thelaziosis found in two localities in Korea.

Thelazia callipaeda, a parasitic nematode that causes thelaziosis in various mammals, including humans, is known to be endemic in Korea. However, life cycle-related information on the parasite, primarily from human infection and a few dog cases, is limited. This study reports additional cases of T. callipaeda infections in dogs from both rural and urban areas in Korea, indicating the potential for transmission to humans and other animals. We collected 61 worms from 8 infected dogs from Paju and Cheongju Cities and observed their morphological characteristics under a light microscope. The findings indicate that T. callipaeda infections in animals in Korea may be underestimated and are distributed close to human environments. Our results contribute to the growing knowledge of the reservoir hosts of T. callipaeda in Korea and highlight the importance of continued surveillance and research to prevent and control this emerging zoonotic disease.

Immediate Effects of Ankle Mobilization on Range of Motion, Balance, and Muscle Activity in Elderly Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability: A Pre-Post Intervention Study.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to identify the immediate effect of applying ankle mobilization to the elderly with chronic ankle instability on the range of joint motion, balance, and lower extremity muscle activity. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study, the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) was used to evaluate chronic ankle instability, and as a result, 65-year-olds with a score of 24 or less were conducted. In this study, the grade III of Maitland mobilization was used to increase the range of joint motion in older people with chronic ankle instability. And four joint mobilizations were administered for a total of 40 minutes, 10 minutes per run. In the pre-examination, the range of motion of ankle joints, balance, and lower extremity muscle activity in the Limit of Stability (LOS) position prior to ankle mobilization. The reexamination was taken a right after the intervention to see the immediate effect of applying joint mobilization. This study was conducted after receiving the approval of the Institutional Review Board of the Korea National University of Transportation. RESULTS The study results show that, as a result of applying the ankle mobilization intervention, the range of dorsi flexor and plantar flexor motion increased, resulting in the improvement of balance and an immediate effect on the lower extremity muscle activity when measuring the Limit of Stability. CONCLUSIONS The conclusion of this study is ankle mobilization may be a useful intervention method in preventing falls and improving balance in older adults with chronic ankle instability.

Microplastics in large marine animals stranded in the Republic of Korea.

Microplastics (MPs) are found in every ocean and are frequently ingested by marine animals. This study analyzed MPs in the stomachs and intestines of 12 large marine animals comprising one fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), seven finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis), two loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), one Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus), and one common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) that were stranded off the Republic of Korea between 2019 and 2021. MPs were detected with a mean abundance of 3.42 ± 3.2 items/g and were predominantly of transparent-white, fragment-shaped polypropylene smaller than 200 µm. The abundance of MPs found did not correlate with the biological information (maturity, body length) of the finless porpoises and there were no significant differences in the abundance of MPs between the stomachs and intestines. These results cannot accurately assess the impact of MPs on large marine animals, so further studies are necessary to understand how MPs can potentially affect them.

Lipid Emulsion Treatment for Drug Toxicity Caused by Nonlocal Anesthetic Drugs in Pediatric Patients: A Narrative Review.

OBJECTIVE: Lipid emulsion (LE) has been used to treat children with cardiovascular collapse induced by toxic doses of nonlocal anesthetics with high lipid solubility. We aimed to analyze case reports on LE administration for resuscitation of toxicity induced by these drugs in pediatric patients. METHODS: Case reports involving pediatric patients undergoing LE treatment for toxicity caused by nonlocal anesthetic drugs until December 31, 2021, were searched through PubMed and Scopus using the following terms: "toxicity, or intoxication, or poisoning, or overdose" and "LE or intralipid." RESULTS: Twenty-eight cases on LE treatment for toxicity induced by nonlocal anesthetic drugs in pediatric patients (younger than 19 years) were retrieved. The total number of patients was 31. Lipid emulsion treatment was carried out during toxicity caused by amitriptyline, flecainide, bupropion, propranolol, and lamotrigine, which was unresponsive to supportive treatment. These drugs are highly lipid-soluble and inhibit cardiac sodium channels, which is similar to pharmacological properties of the local anesthetic bupivacaine. The most frequent method of delivery involved bolus administration followed by continuous infusion; 1.5 mL/kg LE administration followed by 0.25 mL/kg/min LE was most frequently used. Lipid emulsion improved various symptoms of drug toxicity in 29 patients (29/31, 93.54%), and symptoms were improved in 14 patients (14/31, 45.16%) within an h after LE administration. The trend in frequency of improved symptoms after LE treatment was as follows: the cardiovascular symptom alone > symptoms of the central nervous system alone > symptoms of the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. The adverse effects of LE treatment in the reported cases were hypertriglyceridemia, mild pancreatitis, and elevated levels of aspartate and alanine aminotransaminases. CONCLUSIONS: Lipid emulsion treatment may be effective in ameliorating intractable cardiovascular depression when systemic toxicity caused by drugs, including cardiac sodium channel blockers, is unresponsive to supportive treatments.

The effect of a trunk stabilization exercise program using weight loads on balance and gait in stroke patients: A randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: The effects of trunk stabilization exercise programs and exercises applying weight loads for stroke patients are well presented. However, there is not enough objective research to prove the effects of trunk stabilization exercise programs using weight loads for stroke patients. OBJECTIVE: In this study, a trunk stabilization exercise program using weight loads was performed to investigate its impact on the balance and gait ability of stroke patients. METHODS: Thirty patients with stroke were randomly divided into three groups. Experiment group 1 followed a trunk stabilization exercise program using weight loads, experiment group 2 followed a trunk stabilization exercise program, and the control group followed general physiotherapy. Patients' balance ability was assessed using balance measurement equipment BT-4 (postural sway area (PSA), postural sway length (PSL), limit of stability (LOS)), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Time Up and Go test (TUG). Gait speed was measured to examine gait ability. RESULT: After the intervention, the PSA, PFSL in experimental groups 1 and 2 decreased but that of the control group increased. BBS, TUG, and LOS scores of experimental group 1 were significantly improved compared to experimental group 2 and the control group. Also, gait speed was significantly improved in experimental group 1 compared to experimental group 2 and the control group. CONCULSION: This study may be used as a basic material for an effective trunk stabilization exercise method for stroke patients and might be of significance as an intervention method for stroke patients requiring long-term treatment.

Influence of different ligation methods on force and moment generation in a simulated condition of the maxillary crowded anterior dentition with linguo-version and rotation.

BACKGROUND: Most orthodontic cases consist of varying degrees of crowding. To manage crowded dentitions, nickel-titanium archwires with various ligation methods are often used. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the effect of different ligation methods with respect to force and moment and suggest the efficient ligation method for treating rotation and displacement simultaneously. METHODS: We built a model that simulated the three anterior teeth of the maxilla. The teeth on the two ends were fixed, and the middle tooth was set in several different positions by manipulating the amount of displacement in bucco-lingual direction and rotation angle. The measurements were taken with three different ligation methods of self-ligation (SL), elastomeric o-ring ligation on both side wings (EB), and on one side wings (EO). RESULTS: The magnitude of linguo-buccal force exceeded the standard optimal force in each condition examined and was significantly larger in EB than in other ligation methods. Moreover, the magnitude of moment generation with SL was suitable in the 0.0 mm linguo-version, whereas it was suitable with EO in the linguo-version ranging 1.0-3.0 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The ligation method significantly affected the force and moment. SL and EO are recommended in dentitions with light and deep lingual displacements, respectively.

Anesthetic management of patients with carnitine deficiency or a defect of the fatty acid ß-oxidation pathway: A narrative review.

ABSTRACT: Carnitine is essential for the transport of long-chain fatty acids from the cytoplasm to the mitochondrial matrix. The carnitine shuttle transports long-chain fatty acylcarnitine to the mitochondrial matrix. Subsequently, long-chain fatty acyl CoA, which is split from long-chain fatty acylcarnitine by carnitine palmitoyltransferase II, undergoes fatty acid ß-oxidation. Acetyl CoA is produced from long-chain fatty acyl CoA via fatty acid ß-oxidation and aids in the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate via the tricarboxylic acid cycle and electron transport chain. In addition, in the fasting state, it leads to ketone body production in the liver and glucose production via gluconeogenesis. However, patients with compromised fatty acid ß-oxidation, owing to carnitine deficiency as well as defects in carnitine transport and the fatty acid ß-oxidation pathway, develop hypoglycemia, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, and hypotonia. These conditions are attributed to the accumulation of released fatty acids and acylcarnitine. This review aimed to shed light on the anesthetic management of patients with compromised fatty acid ß-oxidation undergoing various surgeries by assessing relevant case reports associated with fatty acid ß-oxidation disorder in PubMed. Pre-anesthetic and intraoperative evaluation should include monitoring of glucose and carnitine levels and specific cardiac tests, such as echocardiography. Considering that propofol is dissolved in 10% long-chain fatty acids, propofol infusion should be avoided because of increased long-chain fatty acid loading in patients with compromised fatty acid ß-oxidation. Thus, anesthesia using opioids (remifentanil and fentanyl), midazolam, dexmedetomidine, etomidate, and non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents would be appropriate in such patients.

Insights to helminth infections in food and companion animals in Bangladesh: Occurrence and risk profiling.

INTRODUCTION: A better understanding of the epidemiology of helminths in animal hosts is important in order to ensure animal welfare, public health and food safety. The aim of this study was to explore parasitism in common animals in Bangladesh. Perception and understanding of animal owners regarding parasitic diseases management were also assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 550 fecal samples were examined from common animals (cattle, goat, pig, chicken, dog, and cat) across three different areas of Bangladesh (Dhaka, Sylhet, and Chattogram) from January 2020 to March 2021. Associated risk factors were assessed through questionnaire surveys among 50 animal owners. Parasitological assessment was done using the combined sedimentation-flotation method, and factors associated with infection were modeled using mixed-effects logistic regression. RESULTS: Helminths including Toxocara sp., Spirometra sp., Capillaria sp., Trichuris sp., opisthorchiid, Ascaris suum, Fasciola sp., Paramphistomum sp., strongyles, hookworms, roundworms, taeniid, and acanthocephalans were detected in the examined animals, and overall prevalence was 59.3% (95% CI = 54.1-62.8). Parasites were found in 61.3% (245/400) of food animals and 54.0% (81/150) of companion animals. Animal owners have a good understanding of parasite infections; however, that knowledge was not being translated into practice. Logistic regression analysis showed that frequency of deworming, animal husbandry practice, contact with untreated animals, and treatment-seeking behaviors were significantly associated with parasitic infection. CONCLUSION: Several types of zoonotic parasites are widely prevalent in animals of Bangladesh and pose a potential risk to human health. This study highlights the need to diagnose animal parasitic infection and intensified case management to avoid spillovers to animals and humans.

Genotypes of Echinococcus Species from Cattle in Tanzania.

Cystic echinococcosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Echinococcus species. Tanzania is one of the endemic countries with cystic echinococcosis. This study focussed on identifying genotypes of Echinococcus spp. in Tanzania. We collected 7 cysts from cattle in Mwanza municipal (n=4) and Loliondo district (n=3). The cysts from Mwanza were all E. ortleppi and fertile. In contrast, the cysts from Loliondo were all E. granulosus sensu stricto and sterile. Two from the 4 cysts were a new haplotype of E. ortleppi (G5). These results can improve the preventive and control programs for humans and livestock in Tanzania. To our knowledge, this study is considered the first to identify the genotype and haplotype of Echinococcus spp. in Tanzania.

The role of PDGFRA as a therapeutic target in young colorectal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Young patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) exhibit poor prognoses compared to older patients due to the difficulty in early diagnosis and treatment. However, the underlying molecular characteristics are still unclear. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive analysis of 49 CRC patients without hereditary CRC using the whole-exome and RNA sequencing with tumor and matched normal samples. A total of 594 TCGA samples and 4 patient-derived cells were utilized for validation. RESULTS: Consensus molecular subtype 4 (CMS4) (53.85%) and CMS2 (38.46%) were enriched in the young (≤ 40 years) and old (> 60 years) age groups, respectively. A CMS4-associated gene, platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRA), was significantly upregulated in young patients with CRC (FC = 3.21, p = 0.0001) and was negatively correlated with age (p = 0.0001, R = - 0.526). Moreover, PDGFRA showed a positive co-expression with metastasis-related genes in young CRC patients. In vitro validation confirmed that young patient-derived cells (PDCs) showed an enriched expression of PDGFRA compared to old PDCs and a reduced proliferation rate by knockdown of PDGFRA. Furthermore, young CRC patients were more sensitive to regorafenib, a PDGFRA-targeting drug, than old CRC patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that CRC in young patients is associated with CMS4 and PDGFRA. In addition, PDGFRA may serve potential of novel therapeutic strategies and represent a predictive biomarker of response to regorafenib for young CRC patients.

Insights into geohelminth contamination in Bangladesh: feasibility of a modified diagnostic method and prevalence study.

INTRODUCTION: The objectives of this study were to evaluate a modified method for isolating geohelminth eggs and to assess the geohelminth contamination in Bangladesh. METHODS: The efficacy of the modified method was evaluated using naturally contaminated and experimentally seeded soil samples. In total, 240 samples were assessed from four different sites in three geographic contexts. A questionnaire survey with 50 professionals was conducted. RESULTS: The modified method showed considerable efficacy in isolating parasitic eggs from naturally contaminated soil (54.0%) and experimentally seeded soils (63.0% for Toxocara eggs and 52.0% for Ascaris eggs). The modified method was described as convenient by the majority of participants. Overall prevalence was 52.5%, with several species of helminth observed, including Toxocara sp., Ascaridia galli/Heterakis gallinarum, Ascaris sp., hookworms/strongyles, Capillaria sp., Trichuris sp., and taeniids). The contamination rate was found to be higher around livestock farms (76.7%), followed by latrines (63.3%), households (41.6%), and schools (28.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The modified method was shown to be feasible in terms of field applicability and egg recovery rate, and could be adopted in low-resource settings. A substantial prevalence of geohelminths was observed, with some of the species associated with zoonoses. These findings highlight the urgent need for widespread mapping of geohelminths to avoid spillovers to animals and humans.