Anesthesiology
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In the face of widespread use of lung-protective, low-volume ventilation in patients with acute lung injury, interest in the recruitment maneuver (RM) is growing. Little is known about lung-morphometric effects of the RM as compared with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) titration (PT) without the RM. ⋯ Compared with PT, the RM resulted in a greater lung volume, better aeration of the most dependent lung, and less regional heterogeneity of aeration. However, the RM tended to induce a greater increase in hyperaerated lung volume than did the PT.
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Global cerebral ischemia is associated with delayed neuronal death. Given the role of caspases in apoptosis, caspase inhibitors may provide neuronal protection after cardiac arrest. To this end, the authors generated a transgenic rat line expressing baculovirus p35, a broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor, in central neurons. Its effects were evaluated on neuronal cell death and outcome after global cerebral ischemia. ⋯ Expression of baculovirus p35 can improve survival after cardiac arrest in rats, but the mode and site of action remain to be elucidated.
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Intrathecal clonidine reduces tactile allodynia in animal models of neuropathic pain, and this effect is blocked by atropine. However, the role of tonic spinal cholinergic activity and its interaction with alpha2-adrenergic systems in normal and neuropathic conditions and to different sensory methods has not been systematically examined. The authors examined cholinergic receptor involvement in thermal and mechanical sensitivity in normal and neuropathic animals and its interaction with intrathecal clonidine. ⋯ These data suggest that after nerve injury, mechanical but not thermal antinociception from intrathecal clonidine relies on a muscarinic interaction, because only mechanical antinociception was antagonized by atropine. These results do not favor a regulation of nociceptive transmission by a tonic release of acetylcholine in nerve-injured rats.
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Letter Case Reports
Cricoid pressure is effective in preventing esophageal regurgitation.