Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Feb 2012
Propofol protects against high glucose-induced endothelial dysfunction in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.
Hyperglycemia, via peroxynitrite-mediated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) enzymatic uncoupling, induced endothelial dysfunction. Propofol has been reported to improve high glucose-induced endothelial dysfunction. However, its mechanisms of action remain unclear. We hypothesized that propofol could improve hyperglycemia-induced endothelial dysfunction by decreasing the peroxynitrite level and thus restoring eNOS coupling. ⋯ Propofol has beneficial effects on 30 mM glucose-induced NO reduction and O(2)(·-) accumulation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. This may be mediated through inhibiting peroxynitrite-mediated BH(4) reduction, and restoring eNOS coupling.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Feb 2012
A heat map of superior cervical ganglion location relative to the common carotid artery bifurcation.
Determining the superior cervical ganglion's precise anatomical location for local anesthetic block, when stellate block is not feasible or is contraindicated, is difficult. ⋯ This study determined that the common carotid artery bifurcation is a good landmark for localizing the superior cervical ganglion for anesthetic block.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Feb 2012
A rare anatomical variation of the brachial plexus: single cord anomaly.
Anatomical variations of the brachial plexus may be important in regional anesthesia and upper limb procedures. A fused single cord of the brachial plexus, although considered rare, was discovered in 4 Indian male cadavers during the dissection of 90 brachial plexuses. ⋯ A fused single cord of brachial plexus might be more common than previously thought. The impact on the performance or success of blockade remains unknown.