Articles: function.
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The thalamus is thought to be crucially involved in the anesthetic state. Here, we investigated the effect of the inhaled anesthetic xenon on stimulus-evoked thalamocortical network activity and on excitability of thalamocortical neurons. Because hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide-gated cation (HCN) channels are key regulators of neuronal excitability in the thalamus, the effect of xenon on HCN channels was examined. ⋯ Here, we clearly showed that xenon impairs HCN2 channel function, and this impairment is dependent on intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels. We provide evidence that this effect reduces thalamocortical signal propagation and probably contributes to the hypnotic properties of xenon.
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Anasthesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther · May 2015
[Perioperative heart failure - Anesthetic management and monitoring].
Due to the demographic and medical development, the number of patients with heart failure needing anaesthesiological care will continue to grow in the upcoming years. For the optimal care of these patients close coordination between the surgically treating, the cardiology and the anesthesiological department is important. Cardiac function and structural characters, such as cardiac valve defects should be known preoperatively. ⋯ Especially in high-risk patients goal directed hemodynamic therapy is useful. For this, in addition to the established monitoring procedures, less invasive monitoring devices areincreasingly used. During an acutehaemodynamic instability, thetransoesophageal echocardiography is gaining importance due to its wide diagnostic evaluation.
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Observational Study
Impact of ICU-acquired weakness on post-ICU physical functioning: a follow-up study.
ICU-acquired weakness is thought to mediate physical impairments in survivors of critical illness, but few studies have investigated this thoroughly. The purpose was to investigate differences in post-ICU mortality and physical functioning between patients with and without ICU-acquired weakness at 6 months after ICU discharge. ⋯ ICU-acquired weakness is independently associated with higher post-ICU mortality and with clinically relevant lower physical functioning in survivors at 6 months after ICU discharge.
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Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are nonselective cation channels expressed in a variety of sensory structures, and are important molecular mediators of thermal, mechanical, cellular and chemical signals. We investigated the function of one key member of the TRP superfamily, TRPA1, in the spinal dorsal horn using in vivo patch-clamp recordings. ⋯ TRPA1 appears to be localized not only at presynaptic terminals on SG neurons, enhancing glutamate release, but also in the terminals of primary afferents innervating spinal inhibitory interneurons, which have synaptic interactions with SG neurons. This study offers further insight into the mechanisms underlying the possible antinociceptive actions of TRPA1 activation in the spinal dorsal horn. Our findings suggest that pharmacological activation of spinal TRPA1 channels may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of pain.