Pharmacol Rep
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Radiofrequency denervation with or without addition of pentoxifylline or methylprednisolone for chronic lumbar zygapophysial joint pain.
Radiofrequency neurolysis of lumbar medial branch is currently the only proven way to treat patients with chronic lumbar zygapophysial joint pain, however, in some patients it can cause transient postoperative pain due to an inflammation caused by trauma of the electrode insertion and the thermal lesion around the target nerves. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of intraoperative injection of methylprednisolone or pentoxifylline in comparison with placebo (saline) to prevent this process. 45 consecutive patients seen by one physician at one pain management clinic were included. Patients were randomly assigned to 3 groups of 15 patients treated with radiofrequency neurotomy procedure with an addition of methylprednisolone, pentoxifylline or saline, respectively, and were observed for 6 months. ⋯ No other complications were noted in any of the patients. Radiofrequency neurotomy is a safe and effective method to treat patients with zygapophysial joint pain. An addition of pentoxifylline and methylprednisolone can reduce postoperative pain commonly appearing within a short time after the procedure, however, neither pentoxifylline nor methylprednisolone influences long-term follow-up results.
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Epilepsy is one of the most widespread pathologies of human brain, affecting approximately 1% of world population. Despite the development of new methods of seizure control, chronic administration of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) remains the treatment of choice. Nevertheless, pharmacotherapy is not always effective. ⋯ STP potentiates central gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transmission and is characterized by nonlinear pharmacokinetics and inhibition of liver microsomal enzymes. STP has proved its anticonvulsant potency in different types of animal seizures, as well as in clinical trials. The drug seems a good candidate for adjunctive therapy in intractable epilepsy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effects of thiopental and propofol on heart rate variability during fentanyl-based induction of general anesthesia.
Anesthetics depress the autonomic nervous system. The effects of thiopental and propofol on heart rate variability (HRV) during fentanyl-based induction of general anesthesia were studied in one hundred patients. We observed different effects of fentanyl, thiopental and propofol on HRV. ⋯ Thiopental and propofol caused the further reduction of HRV and decreased HF power. Thiopental increased LF power and LF/HF ratio, indicating that the vagolytic effect is associated with the increase in sympathetic activity. Propofol preserved the LF power, indicating that the cardiac parasympathetic activity is reduced more than the sympathetic activity.