Articles: function.
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The perception and expression of pain are primarily psychological phenomena and are not directly correlated with the intensity of the nociceptive stimulus. They are often influenced by earlier experiences of pain, and also by current expectations and fears. The cancer patient interprets pain as a sign of the continued existence and of the progression of the malignant disease: if the pain can be controlled the patient will take this as an indication that the underlying disease can be cured. ⋯ In particular, antidepressants and neuroleptics have become an important component of the treatment of chronic pain in cancer patients. Due consideration of the emotional and motivational status of the patient will make it possible to choose between the different effect profiles of these drugs. However, the use of psychotropic drugs should complement, and cannot replace, empathic care from the physician.
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Journal of anesthesia · Sep 1988
Effects of halothane and calcium entry blockers on atrioventricular conduction-a comparative study of verapamil, diltiazem, and nifedipine.
The effects of halothane on AV nodal function were evaluated in dogs with verapamil, diltiazem, or nifedipine during atrial pacing using the technique of His-bundle electrocardiography. Fifty-one mongrel dogs were divided into six groups. Anesthesia was induced with ketamine 100 mg im. and thiamylal 25 mg/kg iv. ⋯ There were more prolongations of these variables after iv administration of verapamil (SCL; 617 +/- 35, AH; 118 +/- 7, FRP of the AV node; 311 +/- 4) and diltiazem (SCL; 554 +/- 19, AH; 118 +/- 12, FRP of the AV node; 283 +/- 12) but no prolongations after nifedipine (SCL; 533 +/- 19, AH; 99 +/- 8, FRP of the AV node; 272 +/- 9). Comparing effects of calcium entry blockers with and without halothane in groups I and II, III and IV, or V and VI, there were additive depressing effects of halothane with either verapamil or diltiazem on AV nodal function. And there is a difference between the effects of nifedipine on SCL with and without halothane.
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Tick-borne borreliosis (Borrelia burgdorferi) is a common and complex disorder affecting the skin, the joints and the nervous system. It progresses through different clinical stages. The clinical spectrum of neuroborreliosis has expanded since the introduction and widespread application of specific serological tests. ⋯ Therefore, borreliosis can be assumed to produce a painful skin dystrophy like SRD or ACA by direct injury to the sympathetic nerves even in the early clinical stage of the infection. The main conditions to be considered in the differential diagnosis are polymyalgia rheumatica; lumbar disk herniation; inflammatory radiculopathies of other origin (e.g. herpes zoster); painful neuropathies, including the diabetic thoraco-abdominal form; internal disorders of chest and abdomen with referred pain; lymphocytic meningitis of other origin, encephalomyelitis; and sympathetic reflex dystrophy. High-dose penicillin G i.v. is a potent analgesic in all patients with tick-borne neuroborreliosis.
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1. Renal blood flow is decreased by hypotension due to bleeding, and glomerular filtration rate is disproportionately decreased. After a first 40 minute stage of hypotension at about 60 mm. ⋯ Dogs with denervated kidneys respond to blood transfusion and restoration of arterial pressure by a disproportionately slow and incomplete return towards normal of renal clearance and, presumably, of renal blood flow. On the basis of these facts it is suggested that high spinal anesthesia may interfere with recovery of renal circulation in cases of shock treated by transfusion. 4. Profound or prolonged and repeated hypotension due to bleeding decreases the ability of normal and denervated kidneys of intact and anesthetized dogs to respond to transfusion and the restoration of arterial pressure by proportionately increased clearance and plasma flow, apparently because of renal vasoconstriction due to the release of humorally circulating vasoconstrictor substances.