The fatty ridge and fatty cushion of the human pulmonary trunk

Presence of a ridge of fatty tissue running obliquely upwards and backwards over the left aspect of the pulmonary trunk was observed. It started from the left end of the infundibulo-truncal junction and after running parallel adjacent to free anterior border of the left auricle, terminated into an expanded, oval and discoid structure, a little above the level of the tip of the left auricle. The structure was found to be of constant occurrence, position and form. A comparison between similar structure reported in relation with the aorta and the right auricle was attempted.     

10 K: a large‐scale prospective longitudinal study in Israel

European Journal of Epidemiology - The 10 K is a large-scale prospective longitudinal cohort and biobank that was established in Israel. The primary aims of the study include development...     

The effects of preemptive pregabalin on attenuation of stress response to endotracheal intubation and opioid-sparing effect in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

The clinical study was designed to evaluate and compare single preoperative dose of pregabalin to a placebo regarding hemodynamic responses to laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation, to assess perioperative fentanyl requirement and any side-effects. It was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel assignment, efficacy study. The study was done at a tertiary university hospital. This study was a comparison between two groups of 30 adult patients scheduled for elective off pump coronary artery bypass surgery. In the control group, the patients were given placebo capsules, and in the pregabalin group, the patients were given pregabalin 150 mg capsule orally 1 h before surgery. The patients were compared for hemodynamic changes before the start of the surgery, after induction, 1, 3, and 5 min after intubation. Additionally, fentanyl requirement during surgery and the first postoperative day was also compared. The present study shows that a single oral dose of 150 mg pregabalin given 1 h before surgery attenuated the pressor response to tracheal intubation in adults, but the drug did not show any effect on perioperative opioid consumption and was devoid of side-effects in the given dose.     

Short-term effects of diet on salt taste preference.

The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether optimal salt levels in soup were influenced by consumption of a meal either high or low in salt. Following a lunch high in salt, optimal salt levels were reduced; no change in optimal levels followed a lunch low in salt. No changes in optimal sweet preference were observed for either condition. It is suggested that changes in optimal salt levels are due to factors associated with exposure to salt during the meal.     

The effects of dexmedetomidine on attenuation of stress response to endotracheal intubation in patients undergoing elective off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

This study was designed to study the efficacy of intravenous dexmedetomidine for attenuation of cardiovascular responses to laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation in patients with coronary artery disease. Sixty adult patients scheduled for elective off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery were randomly allocated to receive dexmedetomidine (0.5 mcg/kg) or normal saline 15 min before intubation. Patients were compared for hemodynamic changes (heart rate, arterial blood pressure and pulmonary artery pressure) at baseline, 5 min after drug infusion, before intubation and 1, 3 and 5 min after intubation. The dexmedetomidine group had a better control of hemodynamics during laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation. Dexmedetomidine at a dose of 0.5 mcg/kg as 10-min infusion was administered prior to induction of general anaesthesia attenuates the sympathetic response to laryngoscopy and intubation in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization. The authors suggest its administration even in patients receiving beta blockers.