Functional expression of the reverse transcriptase αß heterodimer from avian myeloblastosis virus in Escherichia coli.

The α subunit of avian myeloblastosis virus reverse transcriptase (AMV-RT) is generated from the ß-subunit by proteolysis, and the αß heterodimer represents the active form. The codon-optimized gene was expressed in Escherichia coli, and an active αß heterodimer was generated. The RNA amplification activity of the purified recombinant AMV-RT αß heterodimer was similar to that of the native one.

[Fentanyl administration during sevoflurane anesthesia suppresses spike waves from epileptic focus on electrocorticogram].

A 36-year-old man with intractable epileptic seizures underwent insertion of subdural electrodes on bilateral temporal lobes under air-oxygen-sevoflurane anesthesia. After the completion of the operation, we measured electrocorticogram at end-tidal sevoflurane concentration of 2.5%, 1.5%, and 1.5% with 0.1 mg intravenous fentanyl. When sevoflurane concentration was reduced to 1.5%, the incidence and voltage of the spike waves on electrocorticogram were reduced. When 0.1 mg fentanyl was intravenously administrated during 1.5% sevoflurane anesthesia, the frequency of the spike waves was further reduced. Caution should be taken when using sevoflurane-fentanyl anesthesia because this combination may interrupt identification of epileptic focus on intraoperative electrocorticogram.

Selective electro-thermolysis in aesthetic medicine: a review.

The use of radiofrequency (RF) for selective electro-thermolysis has been found to produce a highly efficient thermal effect on biological tissue. Different from optical energy, RF energy is dependent on the electrical properties of the tissue rather than on concentration of chromophores in the skin for selective thermal destruction of targeted sites. Good results have been obtained with systems that use RF current alone for skin resurfacing, with efficacy comparable to laser resurfacing but with potentially more rapid healing. A related adverse effect is pain accompanying the procedure, due to a high depth of penetration. Another technology integrates RF energy together with optical energy (using lower energies of both forms of energies). These systems have shown efficacy in hair removal for all hair colors and skin types, as well as wrinkle reduction; and may reduce the risk of side effects associated with either RF or optical treatments alone. This article discusses the properties of electrical current in medicine and reviews the studies to date that have evaluated RF energy for dermatological applications.