ACTN3 R/X gene polymorphism across ethnicity: a brief review of performance gene

Sport Sciences for Health - Alpha-actinin-3 (ACTN3) gene is one of the most extensively investigated genes associated with human physical performance. The ACTN3 gene via ACTN3 R/X gene polymorphism...     

Curing All Patients with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: Are We There Yet?

The introduction of all-trans retinoic acid to anthracycline-based chemotherapy has revolutionized the prognosis of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). The introduction of arsenic trioxide enabled the therapeutic approach of rationally targeted frontline protocols with minimal or no traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy and without compromise of previously established outstanding outcomes with anthracycline-based regimens. Although most of the current investigative efforts in APL are focused on developing potentially curative therapy without the exposure to toxicities and risks of DNA-disrupting agents, the cure rate can further be increased by implementing meticulous supportive care strategies that counter early coagulopathy-related deaths.     

Optical coherence tomography reflects clinically relevant gray matter damage in patients with multiple sclerosis

Journal of Neurology - Retinal degeneration leading to optical coherence tomography (OCT) changes is frequent in patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). To investigate associations among OCT...     

The comparative effects of desflurane and isoflurane on lumbar cerebrospinal fluid pressure in patients undergoing craniotomy for supratentorial tumors

We compared the effects of desflurane and isoflurane on cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), lumbar cerebrospinal fluid pressure (LCSFP), and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) in patients anesthetized with desflurane or isoflurane undergoing craniotomy for supratentorial mass lesions. Additionally, emergence from anesthesia was examined to determine if neurologic function could be assessed earlier after isoflurane or desflurane anesthesia. Thirty-six patients were randomized to receive either desflurane or isoflurane for maintenance of anesthesia at 1.2 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC). Patients were hyperventilated (PaCO(2), 30 +/- 2 mm Hg) after baseline LCSFP was obtained via the subarachnoid catheter. At a MAC of 1.2, mean LCSFP was not statistically different between the two study groups either before or after hyperventilation. Additionally, CPP was not significantly different between the two groups. Finally, patient's time to respond to commands was 50% shorter in the desflurane group (30 +/- 36 min) (mean +/- SD) when compared with the isoflurane group (72 +/- 126 min); however, this was not significant (P = 0.17). In patients undergoing craniotomy for supratentorial mass lesions, desflurane and isoflurane have similar effects on CPP and MAP. Additionally, desflurane in the setting of hyperventilation does not cause significant changes in LCSFP. IMPLICATIONS: This is the largest study to date comparing the effects of desflurane and isoflurane on patients undergoing craniotomy for supratentorial mass lesion with evidence of midline shift or edema. Neither desflurane nor isoflurane significantly altered lumbar cerebrospinal fluid pressure when moderate hypocapnia was maintained.