Comparison of the TOFscan and the TOF-Watch SX during pediatric neuromuscular function recovery: a prospective observational study

Abstract Background TOFscan is a three-dimensional acceleromyography neuromuscular monitoring device that does not require initial calibration before muscle relaxant injection. This study aimed to compare TOFscan with TOF-Watch SX, the currently widely accepted uni-dimensional acceleromyography, for use among the pediatric population. We aimed to assess the agreement between TOFscan with TOF-Watch SX in the pediatric populations neuromuscular recovery. Methods A total of 35 children aged 6–12 years were enrolled. Prior to any muscle relaxant injection, TOFscan and TOF-Watch SX were applied at each opposite arm and monitoring began concurrently throughout neuromuscular recovery. Calibration was performed for TOF-Watch SX, and train-of-four values were recorded every 15 s. Agreement between the two devices was evaluated with Modified Bland-Altman analysis. Results The bias between TOF-Watch SX and TOFscan were all within the 95% limits of agreement. The bias and standard deviation were smaller and the limit of agreement was narrower in the normalized group than in the non-normalized group [normalized bias −0.002 (95% CI, −0.013 to 0.010), standard deviation (SD) 0.111 vs non-normalized bias 0.010 (95% CI, −0.003 to 0.0236), SD 0.127]. Conclusions TOFscan reliably demonstrated lack of bias and good concordance with TOF-Watch SX throughout the neuromuscular recovery, especially when normalized. Despite technical limitations, the two devices were unbiased along the path of spontaneous and pharmacological reversal in pediatric patients. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03775603. Registered on 13 March 201

Effects of benzydamine hydrochloride on postoperative sore throat after extubation in children: a randomized controlled trial

Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a common, undesirable result of endotracheal intubation during general anaesthesia. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of benzydamine hydrochloride (BH) spray in reducing the incidence of POST in paediatric patients. This randomized, double-blind, prospective study included 142 children 6–12 years of age, who were randomly assigned to receive either BH spray or control. After induction of anaesthesia, direct laryngoscope was placed and BH spray was applied to the upper trachea and vocal cord in the BH group and intubation was performed using a cuffed tube lubricated with normal saline. Intubation in the control group was performed using a cuffed tube lubricated with normal saline without any intervention. The balloon was inflated to a pressure of 20 cmH2O. Patients were extubated after fully awakened and transferred to the post-anaesthetic care unit (PACU), where they were examined for the presence of POST and any adverse events 30 min after arrival to the PACU. Postoperative pain was evaluated using a smartphone application. Seventy-one patients were allocated to each group. The incidence of POST in the BH group did not differ from that in the control group (control: BH = 35 (49.3%): 42 (59.2%); P = 0.238); postoperative pain was also similar between the groups. Other complications, such as breath holding, secretions, coughing, laryngospasm and desaturation events, did not differ between the groups. Application of prophylactic BH spray to the vocal cords and upper trachea was not proven to reduce POST in paediatric patients. NCT03074968 (ClinicalTrials.gov, Feb 26, 2017)

High-energy, short-duration bursts of coherent terahertz radiation from an embedded plasma dipole

Emission of radiation from electrons undergoing plasma oscillations (POs) at the plasma frequency has attracted interest because of the existence of intriguing and non-trivial coupling mechanism between the electrostatic PO and the emitted electromagnetic wave. While broadband emission from plasma waves in inhomogeneous plasma is well known, the underlying physics of narrowband emission at the plasma frequency observed in experiments and in solar radio-bursts is obscure. Here we show that a spatially-localized plasma dipole oscillation (PDO) can be generated when electrons are trapped in a moving train of potential wells produced by the ponderomotive force of two slightly detuned laser pulses that collide in plasma and give rise to a burst of quasimonochromatic radiation. The energy radiated in the terahertz spectral region can reach an unprecedented several millijoules, which makes it suitable for applications requiring short pulses of high-intensity, narrowband terahertz radiation

Identification of potential biomarkers for diagnosis of pancreatic and biliary tract cancers by sequencing of serum microRNAs

Background Pancreatic and biliary tract cancer (PC and BTC, respectively) are difficult to diagnose because of their clinical characteristics; however, recent studies suggest that serum microRNAs (miRNAs) might be the key to developing more efficient diagnostic methods for these cancers. Methods We analysed the genome-wide expression of serum miRNAs in PC and BTC patients to identify novel biomarker candidates using high-throughput sequencing and experimentally validated miRNAs on clinical samples. Results Statistical and classification analysis of the serum miRNA-expression profiles of 55 patient samples showed distinguishable patterns between cancer patients and healthy controls; however, we were unable to distinguish the two cancers. We found that three of the highest performing miRNAs were capable of distinguishing cancer patients from controls, with an accuracy of 92.7%. Additionally, dysregulation of these three cancer-specific miRNAs was demonstrated in an independent sample group by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Conclusions These results suggested three candidate serum miRNAs (mir-744-5p, mir-409-3p, and mir-128-3p) as potential biomarkers for PC and BTC diagnosis.This work was supported by the Post-Genome Technology Development Program. (No. 10040174; Multiple biomarker development through validation of useful markers generated by next-generation bio-data-based genome research) funded by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE, Korea). The funders had no role in study design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of data, or in the writing of the manuscript

Site-specific isotope labeling of long RNA for structural and mechanistic studies

A site-specific isotope labeling technique of long RNA molecules was established. This technique is comprised of two simple enzymatic reactions, namely a guanosine transfer reaction of group I self-splicing introns and a ligation with T4 DNA ligase. The trans-acting group I self-splicing intron with its external cofactor, ‘isotopically labeled guanosine 5′-monophosphate’ (5′-GMP), steadily gave a 5′-residue-labeled RNA fragment. This key reaction, in combination with a ligation of 5′-remainder non-labeled sequence, allowed us to prepare a site-specifically labeled RNA molecule in a high yield, and its production was confirmed with 15N NMR spectroscopy. Such a site-specifically labeled RNA molecule can be used to detect a molecular interaction and to probe chemical features of catalytically/structurally important residues with NMR spectroscopy and possibly Raman spectroscopy and mass spectrometry

Laboratory information management system for COVID-19 non-clinical efficacy trial data

Background : As the number of large-scale studies involving multiple organizations producing data has steadily increased, an integrated system for a common interoperable format is needed. In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a number of global efforts are underway to develop vaccines and therapeutics. We are therefore observing an explosion in the proliferation of COVID-19 data, and interoperability is highly requested in multiple institutions participating simultaneously in COVID-19 pandemic research. Results : In this study, a laboratory information management system (LIMS) approach has been adopted to systemically manage various COVID-19 non-clinical trial data, including mortality, clinical signs, body weight, body temperature, organ weights, viral titer (viral replication and viral RNA), and multiorgan histopathology, from multiple institutions based on a web interface. The main aim of the implemented system is to integrate, standardize, and organize data collected from laboratories in multiple institutes for COVID-19 non-clinical efficacy testings. Six animal biosafety level 3 institutions proved the feasibility of our system. Substantial benefits were shown by maximizing collaborative high-quality non-clinical research. Conclusions : This LIMS platform can be used for future outbreaks, leading to accelerated medical product development through the systematic management of extensive data from non-clinical animal studies.This research was supported by the National research foundation of Korea(NRF) grant funded by the Korea government(MSIT) (2020M3A9I2109027 and 2021M3H9A1030260)

New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms

25th annual computational neuroscience meeting: CNS-2016

The same neuron may play different functional roles in the neural circuits to which it belongs. For example, neurons in the Tritonia pedal ganglia may participate in variable phases of the swim motor rhythms [1]. While such neuronal functional variability is likely to play a major role the delivery of the functionality of neural systems, it is difficult to study it in most nervous systems. We work on the pyloric rhythm network of the crustacean stomatogastric ganglion (STG) [2]. Typically network models of the STG treat neurons of the same functional type as a single model neuron (e.g. PD neurons), assuming the same conductance parameters for these neurons and implying their synchronous firing [3, 4]. However, simultaneous recording of PD neurons shows differences between the timings of spikes of these neurons. This may indicate functional variability of these neurons. Here we modelled separately the two PD neurons of the STG in a multi-neuron model of the pyloric network. Our neuron models comply with known correlations between conductance parameters of ionic currents. Our results reproduce the experimental finding of increasing spike time distance between spikes originating from the two model PD neurons during their synchronised burst phase. The PD neuron with the larger calcium conductance generates its spikes before the other PD neuron. Larger potassium conductance values in the follower neuron imply longer delays between spikes, see Fig. 17.Neuromodulators change the conductance parameters of neurons and maintain the ratios of these parameters [5]. Our results show that such changes may shift the individual contribution of two PD neurons to the PD-phase of the pyloric rhythm altering their functionality within this rhythm. Our work paves the way towards an accessible experimental and computational framework for the analysis of the mechanisms and impact of functional variability of neurons within the neural circuits to which they belong

Effects of Anacetrapib in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

BACKGROUND: Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease remain at high risk for cardiovascular events despite effective statin-based treatment of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) by anacetrapib reduces LDL cholesterol levels and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, trials of other CETP inhibitors have shown neutral or adverse effects on cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30,449 adults with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive atorvastatin therapy and who had a mean LDL cholesterol level of 61 mg per deciliter (1.58 mmol per liter), a mean non-HDL cholesterol level of 92 mg per deciliter (2.38 mmol per liter), and a mean HDL cholesterol level of 40 mg per deciliter (1.03 mmol per liter). The patients were assigned to receive either 100 mg of anacetrapib once daily (15,225 patients) or matching placebo (15,224 patients). The primary outcome was the first major coronary event, a composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 4.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in significantly fewer patients in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (1640 of 15,225 patients [10.8%] vs. 1803 of 15,224 patients [11.8%]; rate ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.97; P=0.004). The relative difference in risk was similar across multiple prespecified subgroups. At the trial midpoint, the mean level of HDL cholesterol was higher by 43 mg per deciliter (1.12 mmol per liter) in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (a relative difference of 104%), and the mean level of non-HDL cholesterol was lower by 17 mg per deciliter (0.44 mmol per liter), a relative difference of -18%. There were no significant between-group differences in the risk of death, cancer, or other serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive statin therapy, the use of anacetrapib resulted in a lower incidence of major coronary events than the use of placebo. (Funded by Merck and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN48678192 ; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01252953 ; and EudraCT number, 2010-023467-18 .)