British journal of anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of thoracic epidural anaesthesia on serum vascular endothelial growth factor C and cytokines in patients undergoing anaesthesia and surgery for colon cancer.
Serum vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and interleukin (IL)-6 promote angiogenesis and metastases in colon cancer. We hypothesized that patients who received propofol-epidural anaesthesia (PEA) would exhibit decreases in VEGF-C, TGF-β, and IL-6 and an increase in IL-10 compared with patients who received general anaesthesia (GA). ⋯ ChiCTR-TRC-13003146 (www.chictr.org).
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Differential effects of serum from patients administered distinct anaesthetic techniques on apoptosis in breast cancer cells in vitro: a pilot study.
In vitro and retrospective clinical studies suggest an association between anaesthetic technique during primary breast cancer surgery and cancer outcome. Apoptosis is an important step in the mechanism of breast cancer metastasis, but whether it is influenced by anaesthetic technique is unknown. Using serum from breast cancer surgery patients randomized to receive distinct anaesthetic techniques, we investigated its effect on apoptosis in oestrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer cells in vitro. ⋯ Serum from patients given sevoflurane anaesthesia and opioids for primary breast cancer surgery reduces apoptosis in ER-negative breast cancer cells to a greater extent than serum from patients given propofol-paravertebral anaesthesia. Anaesthetic technique might affect the serum milieu in a manner that impacts cancer cell apoptosis, and thereby tumour metastasis.
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Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is associated with at least transient episodes of hypertension and tachycardia. Beta-blocking agents may be indicated to prevent cardiovascular complications and may shorten seizure duration. This review evaluates studies that used beta-blocking agents during ECT to determine which agent has the most favourable outcomes on cardiovascular variables and seizure duration. ⋯ Labetalol has been studied to a lesser extent and may have prolonged cardiovascular effects. The included studies varied in design, methodology, and the amount of exact data provided in the publications. Further study of beta-blocking agents in ECT is clearly necessary.
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Comparative Study
Xenon decreases cell migration and secretion of a pro-angiogenesis factor in breast adenocarcinoma cells: comparison with sevoflurane.
While volatile agents have been implicated in metastasis-enhancing effects on cancer cells, the effects of xenon are unknown. We investigated xenon- and sevoflurane-mediated effects on migration and expression of angiogenesis biomarkers in human breast adenocarcinoma cells. ⋯ Xenon, but not sevoflurane, inhibited migration in both oestrogen receptor positive and negative breast adenocarcinoma cells. Furthermore, xenon decreased release of the pro-angiogenic factor RANTES from MDA-MB-231 cells.