Articles: cations.
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The aim of this study was to determine pain during endometrial biopsy by comparing the use of intrauterine instillation of levobupivacaine or paracervical block with a placebo in a randomized, double-masked trial in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. A total of 90 women were enrolled in the study. Patients were allocated to either the control or case groups. ⋯ There was a marked positive correlation between biopsy indications and pain scores. Pain scores were lower in cases with the indication of polymenorrhea, hypermenorrhea and metrorraghia compared to those in the cases with other indications. In conclusion, the transcervical intrauterine instillation of levobupivacaine or paracervical block with lidocaine brings about pain relief during and after endometrial biopsy.
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Case Reports
[Transpterygoid expanded endonasal approach in fibrous dysplasia of the skull base: case report and technical note].
Expanded endonasal approaches (EEA) are becoming a first-level technique for the treatment of skull base pathologies. In some cases, the endoscopic procedures make it possible to dissect structures manipulated with greater difficulty in the classic approaches. We report a full endoscopic transpterygoid EEA for the treatment of a fibrous dysplasia (FD) of the skull base. In addition, we reviewed the English literature available on FD and transpterygoid EEA, establishing an exact surgical technique and showing our intraoperative experience. ⋯ Transpterygoid EEA for treatment of FD of the skull base is a safe and effective procedure, thanks to the guide that the vidian canal provides in finding the lacerum segment of the carotid artery.
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The authors of the following article have requested that it be retracted from publication in Circulation: Kawakami A, Osaka M, Tani M, Azuma H, Sacks FM, Shimokado K, Yoshida M. Apolipoprotein CIII links hyperlipidemia with vascular endothelial cell dysfunction. Circulation. 2008;118:731–742. ⋯ In the process of following up the findings reported in this study, they were unable to reproduce some experiments due to Dr Akio Kawakami's negligence in keeping proper original records. This information was reported to the editors by Dr Kawakami directly. The authors apologize to the readers of Circulation for any inconvenience caused by this retraction.
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The modulation of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) by divalent cations is believed to play an important role in their regulation in a physiological context. Ions such as calcium or zinc influence the activity of pLGIC neurotransmitter receptors by binding to their extracellular domain and either potentiate or inhibit channel activation. Here we have investigated by electrophysiology and X-ray crystallography the effect of divalent ions on ELIC, a close prokaryotic pLGIC homologue of known structure. ⋯ Here, divalent cations interact with the protein via carboxylate side-chains, and the site is similar in structure to calcium binding sites described in other proteins. There is evidence that other pLGICs may be regulated by divalent ions binding to a similar region, even though the interacting residues are not conserved within the family. Our study provides structural and functional insight into the allosteric regulation of ELIC and is of potential relevance for the entire family.