Articles: function.
-
Anesthesia and analgesia · Jun 2014
Curcumin Treatment Attenuates Pain and Enhances Functional Recovery after Incision.
Acute pain after surgery remains moderate to severe for 20% to 30% of patients despite advancements in the use of opioids, adjuvant drugs, and regional anesthesia. Depending on the type of surgery, 10% to 50% of patients experience persistent pain postoperatively, and there are no established methods for its prevention. Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is one of the phenolic constituents of turmeric that has been used in Eastern traditional medicine as an antiseptic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic agent. It may be effective for treating postoperative pain. ⋯ Our studies suggest that curcumin treatment is effective in alleviating incision-induced inflammation, nociceptive sensitization, spontaneous pain, and functional gait abnormalities. Augmented transforming growth factor-β production provides one possible mechanism. These preclinical findings demonstrate curcumin's potential as a preventative strategy in postoperative pain treatment.
-
Critical care medicine · Jun 2014
Observational StudyMicrocirculatory Alterations in Traumatic Hemorrhagic Shock.
Microcirculatory dysfunction has been well reported in clinical studies in septic shock. However, no clinical studies have investigated microcirculatory blood flow behavior in hemorrhagic shock. The main objective of this study was to assess the time course of sublingual microcirculation in traumatic hemorrhagic shock during the first 4 days after trauma. ⋯ Alterations of microcirculation in traumatic hemorrhagic shock patients result from the interplay among hemorrhage-induced tissue hypoperfusion, trauma injuries, inflammatory response, and subsequent resuscitation interventions. Despite restoration of the macrocirculation, the sublingual microcirculation was impaired for at least 72 hours. The initial proportion of perfused vessels appears to be a good predictor of high Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score at D4. Further studies are required to firmly establish the link between microvascular alterations and organ dysfunction in traumatic hemorrhagic shock patients.
-
Minerva anestesiologica · Jun 2014
Assessment of Perioperative Transfusion Requirement for Cirrhotic Patients Undergoing Elective Hepatectomy.
The possibility of outlining a risk profile for perioperative blood transfusion of cirrhotic patients submitted to hepatic resection can help to rationalize transfusion policy. ⋯ The risk profile for transfusion of cirrhotic patients undergoing hepatectomy can be better assessed with a model that combines already known clinical factors and hepatic function indexes.
-
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) may develop following fractures, limb trauma, or lesions of the peripheral or central nervous system. The clinical picture consists of a triad of symptoms including autonomic, sensory, and motor dysfunction. Diagnosis is based on clinical signs and symptoms according to the Budapest criteria. ⋯ Distinct methods of physical therapy and pharmacological strategies are the mainstay of therapy. Pharmacotherapy is based on individual symptoms and includes steroids, free radical scavengers, treatment of neuropathic pain, and agents interfering with bone metabolism. In some cases invasive methods may be considered.
-
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · May 2014
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyPathway From Central Obesity to Childhood Asthma: Physical Fitness and Sedentary Time Are Leading Factors.
Available prospective studies of obesity and asthma have used only body mass index (BMI) as an indicator for adiposity; studies using detailed obesity measures are lacking, and the role of physical fitness level and sedentary time remains unexplored in the link between obesity and asthma. ⋯ Central obesity measures should be incorporated in childhood asthma risk predictions. Children are encouraged to increase their physical fitness levels and reduce their sedentary time to prevent central obesity-related asthma.