Ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block in pediatric patients -A report of four cases-

Supraclavicular brachial plexus blocks are not common in pediatric patients due to the risk of pneumothorax. Ultrasonography is an important tool for identifying nerves during regional anesthesia. Directly visualizing the target nerves and monitoring the distribution of the local anesthetic are potentially significant. In addition, ultrasound monitoring helps avoid complications, such as inadvertent intravascular injection or pneumothorax. This paper reports four cases of pediatric patients who received ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block for upper limb surgery

Reactive oxygen species regulate context-dependent inhibition of NFAT5 target genes

The activation of nuclear factor of activated T cells 5(NFAT5), a well-known osmoprotective factor, can be induced by isotonic stimuli, such as activated Toll-like receptors (TLRs). It is unclear, however, how NFAT5 discriminates between isotonic and hypertonic stimuli. In this study we identified a novel context-dependent suppression of NFAT5 target gene expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or a high salt (NaCl) concentration. Although LPS and NaCl both used NFAT5 as a core transcription factor, these stimuli mutually inhibited distinct sets of NFAT5 targets within the cells. Although reactive oxygen species (ROS) are essential for this inhibition, the source of ROS differed depending on the context: mitochondria for high salt and xanthine oxidase for TLRs. Specifically, the high salt-induced suppression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) production was mediated through the ROS-induced inhibition of NFAT5 binding to the IL-6 promoter. The context-dependent inhibition of NFAT5 target gene expression was also confirmed in mouse spleen and kidney tissues that were cotreated with LPS and high salt. Taken together, our data suggest that ROS function as molecular sensors to discriminate between TLR ligation and osmotic stimuli in RAW 264.7 macrophages, directing NFAT5 activity toward proinflammatory or hypertonic responses in a context-dependent manner.open3

Efficacy of Lavage by Tube under Local Anesthesia versus Arthroscopic Treatment of Acute Septic Arthritis of Native Knee

Although arthroscopic treatment is a minimally invasive surgery that effectively treats septic arthritis of the knee joint, it requires general or regional anesthesia. This study aimed to compare the clinical results of lavage after tube insertion versus arthroscopic treatment. Patients treated with arthroscopic treatment were included in group I (n = 76), while those treated with lavage by tube were included in group II (n = 34). We investigated the following in all patients: demographics, underlying disorders, initial serum white blood cell (WBC) count, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, synovial fluid WBC and polymorphonuclear cell counts, causative organism, initial Kellgren–Lawrence grade, lavage number, interventional delay, hospitalization days, CRP normalization time, and Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index scores for clinical outcomes at 3 months postoperative. The mean interventional delay was significantly greater in group I (23.6 ± 15.6 h vs. 8.7 ± 9.3 h, p < 0.001). The lavage by tube featured a significantly shorter interventional delay time than arthroscopy, while the CRP decrease rate did not differ between groups. Moreover, lavage by tube showed no significant differences in outcomes, including laboratory results and functional outcomes at 3 months postoperative

Efficacy of Lavage by Tube under Local Anesthesia versus Arthroscopic Treatment of Acute Septic Arthritis of Native Knee

Although arthroscopic treatment is a minimally invasive surgery that effectively treats septic arthritis of the knee joint, it requires general or regional anesthesia. This study aimed to compare the clinical results of lavage after tube insertion versus arthroscopic treatment. Patients treated with arthroscopic treatment were included in group I (n = 76), while those treated with lavage by tube were included in group II (n = 34). We investigated the following in all patients: demographics, underlying disorders, initial serum white blood cell (WBC) count, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, synovial fluid WBC and polymorphonuclear cell counts, causative organism, initial Kellgren–Lawrence grade, lavage number, interventional delay, hospitalization days, CRP normalization time, and Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index scores for clinical outcomes at 3 months postoperative. The mean interventional delay was significantly greater in group I (23.6 ± 15.6 h vs. 8.7 ± 9.3 h, p < 0.001). The lavage by tube featured a significantly shorter interventional delay time than arthroscopy, while the CRP decrease rate did not differ between groups. Moreover, lavage by tube showed no significant differences in outcomes, including laboratory results and functional outcomes at 3 months postoperative

Endoscopic vitrectomy improves outcomes of Seoul-type keratoprosthesis exchange in rabbit model

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy of an endoscopic vitrectomy in Seoul-type keratoprosthesis (S-Kpro) exchange procedures. METHODS: Nine S-Kpro-implanted rabbit eyes were enrolled in the S-Kpro exchange. Six eyes underwent an antecedent vitrectomy by an endoscopic system and then the S-Kpro exchange (endoscopy group). In the other three eyes, previously placed S-Kpros were removed, and a conventional vitrectomy was performed using the Eckardt keratoprosthesis, followed by an implantation of new S-Kpros (Eckardt group). All eyes were evaluated with slit lamp biomicroscopy and ultrasonography weekly to evaluate the time up to the development of the total retinal detachment (RD). RESULTS: Vitreous traction membranes were found around the prolene haptics of the fixation sites in all the S-Kpro implanted rabbits; they were excised precisely through an endoscopic view in the endoscopy group. The mean survival time up to the RD development was 9.75 +/- 4.70 weeks in the endoscopy group. In contrast, total retinal detachment or dialysis over 180 degrees developed during surgery in all three eyes in the Eckardt group. CONCLUSIONS: Antecedent endoscopic vitrectomy was safe and effective for the S-Kpro exchange in a rabbit model by removing the vitreous traction near the haptics before the exchange procedures