Non-viral transfer of BDNF and uPA stimulates peripheral nerve regeneration

Peripheral nerves connect brain and spinal cord with the extremities and inner organs, and nerves injury can lead the disability and social exclusion. Growth factors and other natural stimulators of regeneration processes look very promising as future medicines. In our study, we tested the influence of genetic constructions that contain genes of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and urokinase plasminogen activator on nerve's structure and function after traumatic and ischemic injuries. Injection of pVax1-hBDNF and pVax1-muPA after traumatic injury led to better restoration of nerve's structure and function compared to similar parameters of control group mice. In ischemic injury model pVax1-hBDNF and pVax1-muPA slowed and reduced the damage progression and stimulated nerve regeneration as well. However, the treatment with pVax1-muPA was less effective after the traumatic injury. As we chose a non-viral method of gene delivery during our study the optimal conditions of plasmid intramuscular delivery were also determined.     

Adductor Canal Block or Local Infiltrate Analgesia for Pain Control After Total Knee Arthroplasty? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background

Total knee arthroplasty is a treatment option for debilitating arthritis. In the postoperative period, patients experience moderate to severe pain affecting the rehabilitation, hospital stay, and patient satisfaction. This study aims at utilizing current best evidence to determine whether adductor canal block (ACB) or periarticular injection (PAI) is a better modality for managing short-term postoperative pain and opioid consumption.

皮肤瘙痒神经传导介质的研究进展

瘙痒是皮肤科的一种常见症状,是多因素相互作用的结果,其发生受到中枢和外周机制的双重调控,但具体发生机制尚不十分清楚。近年来随着研究的不断深入,多种物质如组胺、乙酰胆碱、5-羟色胺、蛋白酶和蛋白酶相关受体、细胞因子、阿片样肽等介质在瘙痒产生过程中起重要作用,这些介质通过刺激C类神经纤维或直接与皮肤感觉神经纤维受体相结合来介导瘙痒。本文就将皮肤瘙痒的神经传导及传导介质作一综述。     

Dexamethasone as an adjuvant for peripheral nerve blockade: a randomised,triple-blinded crossover study in volunteers

Background

The efficacy of dexamethasone in extending the duration of local anaesthetic block is uncertain. In a randomised controlled triple blind crossover study in volunteers, we tested the hypothesis that neither i.v. nor perineurally administered dexamethasone prolongs the sensory block achieved with ropivacaine.

环化酶激活剂对大鼠感觉神经元保护作用的实验研究

目的探讨环化酶激活剂（前列腺素E1、腺苷及Zn^2＋离子）对周围神经损伤后感觉神经元的保护作用.方法在大鼠坐骨神经夹毁模型术后21 d,取背根节用图像分析法观测前列腺素E1（PGE1）、腺苷（Ade）和高Zn^2＋饲料（Zn^2＋）对背根节细胞数、核偏心率及核等圆径的影响,并与人胎盘神经生长因子（hNGF）的作用相比较.结果NGF及环化酶激活剂组与夹毁对照组相比都能增进背根节细胞的存活和减轻核偏移（P＜0.05）;NGF组和高Zn^2＋饲料组在背根节细胞存活数、核偏心率及核等圆径方面与假手术组无差别（P＞0.05）.结论PEG1、Ade及Zn^2＋离子等环化酶激活剂对DRG神经元均有保护作用,其中Zn^2＋离子的保护效应与NGF无差别.     

Distribution patterns of transforaminal injections in the cervical spine evaluated by multi-slice computed tomography

Transforaminal injections are sometimes used for the diagnosis and treatment of painful conditions in the lumbar and to a lesser degree in the cervical spine. The technique is most often used when investigating/treating radiculopathy caused by degenerative disease. But how selective are the nerve root blocks? What possible structures other than the intended nerve root are affected from such injections? This study was undertaken in order to try to answer these questions, as no study focusing on the possible spread from the transforaminal selective nerve root blocks in the cervical spine has been performed earlier. In three groups of patients, each group including three patients, we injected three different volumes (0.6, 1.1 and 1.7 ml) with a transforaminal technique in the cervical spine. In all the injections, a small amount of contrast media was added. The spread of the injections were then investigated using multi-slice computed tomography with reconstructions. The imaging revealed a possible effect on other nerve roots than the intended ones when a larger volume was used for the root blocks. The spread was related to the injected volume as well as to local anatomy (size of foraminal area). In this study, only 0.6-ml injections could be accepted for being selective enough for diagnostic investigations.     

Use of paracervical analgesia for outpatient hysteroscopic surgery: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Twenty-five women receiving sedation for outpatient hysteroscopic polypectomy were injected with 0.25% bupivacaine 10 mL (paracervical group) and another 25 received the same volume of saline (control group) at the cervical fornix. Both groups were given target-controlled propofol sedation during the procedure. More propofol (mg/min) was needed for adequate anesthesia in the control group compared to the paracervical group (6.5 versus 4.6). In addition, the postoperative pain scores were lower in the paracervical group than in the control group. Hemodynamic changes and postoperative side effects were similar in the two groups. This prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study confirmed the effective use of paracervical blocks. This approach has the effect of reducing the amount of intraoperative propofol and decreasing postoperative pain in outpatient hysteroscopic surgery.     

Sciatic Neuropathy: Case Report and Discussion of the Literature on Postoperative Sciatic Neuropathy and Sciatic Nerve Tumors

Sciatic nerve injury and dysfunction is not an uncommon cause of lower extremity symptoms in a musculoskeletal practice. We present the case of a man who presented with lower extremity weakness, pain, and cramps, and was initially diagnosed at an outside institution with bilateral S1 radiculopathies and recommended for spine surgery. He came to us for a second opinion. Electrodiagnostic testing revealed an isolated sciatic neuropathy and the patient was referred for imaging, which showed a sciatic nerve sheath tumor. Review of the literature on sciatic neuropathies shows that there can be many possible etiologies of sciatic nerve dysfunction, but that hip arthroplasty continues to be the leading risk factor. Sciatic nerve tumors are not commonly described in the literature and their definitive management remains unclear.     

The effect of MS-818, a pyrimidine compound,on the regeneration of peripheral nerve fibers of mice after a crush injury

One of the pyrimidine compounds, 2-piperadino-6-methyl-5-oxo-5,6-dihydro(7H)pyrrolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine (MS-818), has neurotropic effects in vitro. Therefore, we studied the effect of MS-818 on the regeneration of the peroneal nerve in C57BL/6J mice after a crush injury. Two test groups, which received a daily intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg MS-818, respectively, were compared with controls, which received daily intraperitoneal injections of physiological saline, over a 14-day period. The maximum foot-width ratio (crushed side/uncrushed side) was obtained on days 1, 8 and 14 after the crush injury, and the various morphometric parameters were evaluated at both 5 and 10 mm distal to the proximal portion of the crush site. The significant effects of MS-818 included a larger maximum foot width (P<0.04) and a greater number of unmyelinated axons per nerve at both levels (P<0.003) in both test groups than in controls. MS-818 had no significant effects on body weight, the increase of total transverse fascicular area after the crush injury, the total number of myelinated fibers with their size distributions, or the number of nuclei of Schwann cells and macrophages. Therefore, we conclude that MS-818 promotes axonal sprouting and elongation after a crush injury in mice.     

颈丛阻滞、硬膜外阻滞下甲状腺手术应激反应的比较

目的 :比较颈丛阻滞、硬膜外阻滞下甲状腺手术应激反应的大小。方法 :选择ASAⅠ～Ⅱ级 ,女性 ,甲状腺手术患者 30例 ,年龄 2 2～ 5 5岁 ,术前无呼吸、循环和内分泌疾病 ,随机分为颈丛阻滞组 (颈丛组 ) 15例 ,硬膜外阻滞组(硬膜外组 ) 15例 ;颈丛阻滞选用 0 .8%利多卡因和 0 .2 5 %布比卡因混合液 ,以C4一点法行双侧深浅丛阻滞 ;硬膜外阻滞选用 1.3%利多卡因和 0 .15 %丁卡因混合液 ,穿刺点选择C4～ 5或C5～ 6间隙 ,采用侧卧位直入法 ,并向头置管 3cm ;分别测定并记录麻醉前、麻醉后 2 0min、切皮、分上极、切腺体和术毕共六个时点的血糖、血压和心率的变化。结果 :两组病例各时点血糖均逐步上升 ,于分上极、切腺体和术毕血糖值与麻醉前比较有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 1) ;硬膜外组只在分上极时SBP与麻醉前比较有差异外 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,而颈丛组在分上极、切腺体时DBP与麻醉前比较有差异 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,SBP、MAP与麻醉前比较有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 1)。结论 :本研究表明颈丛阻滞、硬膜外阻滞均不能完全抑制甲状腺手术的应激反应 ,在稳定甲状腺手术循环功能方面硬膜外阻滞优于颈丛阻滞