Respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic cough, recurrent respiratory infections and various upper airways conditions are common in elite athletes, but these conditions are often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Recurrent cough, often observed after exercise, is the most commonly reported symptom in athletes, particularly winter athletes, but it does not predict ...

sangsawang b. & serisathien y. (2011) Effect of pelvic floor muscle exercise programme on stress urinary incontinence among pregnant women. Journal of Advanced Nursing00(0), 000-000. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2011.05890.x ABSTRACT: Aim.  This article is a report of a study of the effects of a pelvic floor muscle exercise programme on the severity of ...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of supervised and unsupervised pelvic floor muscle exercises utilizing trunk stabilization for treating postpartum urinary incontinence and to compare the outcomes. DESIGN: Randomized, single-blind controlled study. SETTING: Outpatient rehabilitation hospital. SUBJECTS: Eighteen subjects with postpartum urinary incontinence. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects were randomized to either a supervised ...

This Best Practice Information Sheet is derived from 21 studies and aims to synthesize the best available evidence on the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle exercises on urinary incontinence in women following childbirth. The information that is contained in this sheet has been derived from studies that were included in ...

On first impression the "whole-istic approach to understanding biology" that has been used to describe Systems Biology bears a striking resemblance to what many of us know as Integrative Physiology. However, closer scrutiny reveals that at the present time Systems Biology is rooted in processes operating at a cellular level ...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In polymorphonuclear leucocytes, phagocytosis and respiratory burst activity are mainly responsible for bacterial killing. We aimed to investigate the effects of anaesthesia with desflurane, sevoflurane and propofol on these functional activities of polymorphonuclear leucocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. METHODS: Sixty patients scheduled to have tympanoplasty surgery were ...

Propofol is widely used for neurosurgical anesthesia; however, its effects on the pial microvasculature are unknown. We therefore evaluated the direct effects of propofol on pial microvessels in rabbits. Pial microcirculation was visualized using a closed cranial window technique in 20 Japanese white rabbits. In the first experiment (n=14), after ...

It is said that the result of the game of sports is controlled by player's mental state. Especially, player's concentration greatly controls the result of the game. Therefore, we think that if player's mental state under exercising can be evaluated, it becomes possible to guide the player appropriately. Our mental ...

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this prospective, randomized, double-blind study was to compare the anesthetic efficacy of 4% articaine and 2% lidocaine (both with 1:100,000 epinephrine) for buccal infiltration in patients experiencing irreversible pulpitis in maxillary posterior teeth. STUDY DESIGN: Forty patients with irreversible pulpitis in first premolar or first molar ...

BACKGROUND: Entropy is an anaesthetic EEG monitoring method, calculating two numerical parameters: State Entropy (SE, range 0-91) and Response Entropy (RE, range 0-100). Low Entropy numbers indicate unconsciousness. SE uses the frequency range 0.8-32 Hz, representing predominantly the EEG activity. RE is calculated at 0.8-47 Hz, consisting of both EEG ...

BACKGROUND: Anesthesia machines must be flushed of halogenated anesthetics before use in patients susceptible to malignant hyperthermia. We studied the kinetics of sevoflurane clearance in the Dräger Fabius anesthesia machine and compared them to a conventional anesthesia machine (Dräger Narkomed GS). METHODS: Before each trial, the anesthesia machine was contaminated ...

BACKGROUND: Hyperventilation, with the resulting hypocapnia, reduces cerebral blood flow and causes slowing of the EEG activity. However, neuronal oscillating properties including the thalamocortical network during hyperventilation have not been elucidated. To assess these features provoked by hyperventilation, the present study examined quadratic phase coupling features by means of bicoherence ...

Beagle dogs continue to be used in experimental studies and preclinical and clinical trials, many of which address the usage of anaesthesia. In order to reduce the number of animals, researchers tend to conduct several experiments on a single animal. The question arises, however, as to whether or not this ...

BACKGROUND: Thoracotomy induces severe postoperative pain and impairment of pulmonary function, and therefore regional analgesia has been intensively studied in this procedure. Thoracic epidural analgesia is commonly considered the "gold standard" in this setting; however, evaluation of the evidence is needed to assess the comparative benefits of alternative techniques, guide ...

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of target controlled infusion of propofol on QTc interval and tracheal intubation. Twenty-five unpremedicated, ASA class I or II patients were selected and target concentration infusion of propofol at 5 microg x ml(-1) was used throughout the study. The QTc interval was ...

BACKGROUND: It is increasingly believed that acute microvascular alterations may be involved in the development of organ dysfunction in critically ill patients. Propofol significantly decreases vascular tone and venous return, which can induce arterial hypotension. However, little is known about the microcirculatory effects of propofol in healthy humans. METHODS: We ...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate both, clinically and with electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings, the effect of gold wire implants in acupuncture points in dogs with uncontrolled idiopathic epileptic seizures. Fifteen dogs with such diagnosis were enrolled in the study. A first EEG recording was performed in all dogs ...

Introduction: Airway manipulation during direct laryngoscopy (DL) and intubation can produce a marked physiological response. These changes can be detrimental in scenarios such as ischemic heart disease, aortic dissection or intracranial hemorrhage (1, 2). Minimizing oropharyngo-laryngeal stimulation or avoiding laryngoscopy may attenuate the hemodynamic response. In this prospective randomized control ...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of L-659,066, a peripheral alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist, on dexmedetomidine-induced sedation and reduction in pulse rate (PR) in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized, cross-over. Animals Six healthy laboratory Beagles. METHODS: All animals received dexmedetomidine (5 microg kg(-1) IV, DEX) alone or in combination with L-659,066 (250 microg kg(-1) ...

AIM: To evaluate the function of cochlear outer hair-cells under the influence of extra-corporeal circulation and moderate hypothermia during cardiac surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. METHODS: Distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) were registered before surgery, immediately after general anesthesia induction, during extra-corporeal circulation with moderate hypothermia and after the surgical ...

A free testosterone analog immunoassay kit was used to determine the effects of exercise, and exposure to isoflurane anesthetic on this hormone in Phodopus sungorus hamsters. Sixteen hamsters were split into two groups of eight, and were allowed access to both functional and locked running wheels for twelve weeks in ...

BACKGROUND: Since the introduction of cocaine in 1884, local anesthetics have been used as a mainstay of pain management. However, numerous studies over the past several decades have elucidated the supplemental role of local anesthetics as antimicrobial agents. In addition to their anesthetic properties, medications such as bupivacaine and lidocaine ...

Sevoflurane, an inhalant of the volatile anesthetic class, has neurobiological and behavioral effects in common with abused inhalants and ethanol. We sought to determine if choice for subanesthetic doses of sevoflurane, and its subjective and psychomotor effects, would differ as a function of alcohol-drinking status in healthy volunteers. The effects ...

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective, randomized, double blind study was to evaluate the possible modification of in vivo nasal mucociliary clearance by three different volatile agents: sevoflurane, isoflurane and desflurane, following intravenous induction and tracheal intubation. METHODS: Following institutional approval and informed consent, 60 patients scheduled for ear and ...

OBJECTIVE: To describe and answer questions concerning the spread of contrast in patients receiving correctly placed lumbar epidural steroid injections (ESIs) under fluoroscopy. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: An outpatient surgery center. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive patients (N=114) receiving ESIs under fluoroscopy who met inclusion criteria. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ...

BACKGROUND: A decreased latency of onset of neural blockade has been noted when muscular exercise of the hand was performed after supraclavicular brachial plexus block using lidocaine. In this observational study, we examined the effect of repetitive muscle contraction of the hand on the speed of onset of interscalene brachial ...

Direct laryngoscopy is performed regularly in paediatric anaesthetic practice for the purpose of intubating a patient's trachea. A minimum illumination of 700 lux at a distance of 20 mm has been suggested in a draft standard for laryngoscopes from the International Organization for Standardization. We investigated the minimum and optimum ...

ABSTRACT: The Zeus(R) (Dräger, Lübeck, Germany), an automated closed-circuit anesthesia machine, uses high fresh gas flows (FGF) to wash-in the circuit and the lungs, and intermittently flushes the system to remove unwanted N2. We hypothesized this could increase desflurane consumption to such an extent that agent consumption might become higher ...

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of the ovum pick-up (OPU) technique on animal well-being. Eight dairy heifers were subjected to 4 months of twice-weekly OPU. The physiological response to OPU was recorded in four heifers at two sessions, at the beginning (time 1) and ...

BACKGROUND: In this clinical randomized study, the effects of four anaesthesia techniques during one-lung ventilation [total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with or without thoracic epidural anaesthesia (TEA) (G-TIVA-TEA and G-TIVA), isoflurane anaesthesia with or without TEA (G-ISO-TEA and G-ISO)] on pulmonary venous admixture (Qs/Qt) and oxygenation (OLV) were investigated. METHODS: In ...

The Intubating Laryngeal Mask Airway (ILMA) is a supraglottic airway that facilitates ventilation and blind tracheal intubation. The LMA CTrach is functionally identical to the ILMA, but has an integrated fibreoptic bundle that provides a view of the larynx. This enables visualisation of tracheal intubation while delivering 100% oxygen, with ...

BACKGROUND: There are conflicting results on the influence of neuromuscular block (NMB) on the bispectral index (BIS). We investigated the influence of two degrees of NMB on BIS, Alaris auditory-evoked potential index (AAI), and the electromyogram (EMG) obtained with needle electrodes from the frontal and temporal muscles, immediately adjacent to ...

BACKGROUND: In medicine, the use of standard operating procedures (SOPs) is often evaluated using questionnaires (QUES). However, QUES can have limitations with regard to method, thus leading to errors. Simulation (SIM) offers another opportunity for evaluation. We hypothesized that medical errors in the evaluation of SOPs using QUES could be ...

AIM: To validate use of the electroencephalogram (EEG) and a minimal anaesthesia model for assessment of noxious sensory input caused by scoop dehorning of calves. METHODS: Twenty Friesian heifers weighing 125-178 kg were maintained under light general anaesthesia using halothane and an established protocol (minimal anaesthesia model). They were then ...

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of 10% dextran and epinephrine on intraosseous injection with lidocaine in rabbits. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty male Japanese white rabbits were used. The effect of intraosseous injection was evaluated using an electromyogram (EMG) of the digastric muscle after electrical pulp stimulation. Two percent lidocaine alone (L), ...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although clonidine has been shown to prolong analgesia in central neuraxial blocks, its use in peripheral nerve blocks remains controversial. We performed a systematic review of the current literature to determine the benefit of adding clonidine to peripheral nerve blocks. METHODS: A systematic, qualitative review of double-blind ...

BACKGROUND: Propofol and remifentanil are the drugs of choice for insertion of the supraglottic airway without muscle relaxants for short duration surgery. In this study, we compared propofol concentrations required for insertion of laryngeal mask way (LMA) or laryngeal tube (LT) with and without remifentanil. METHODS: We included children scheduled ...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antagonism of acupuncture-induced sedation by electroencephalographic spectral edge frequency (SEF) 95 in 10 healthy intact male Miniature Schnauzer dogs (4.2-6.1kg; 2-3 years old) without neurological disorder. The GV20 and Yintang acupoints were administered for 20 min. While the dogs were conscious, ...

The use of the classic laryngeal mask airway (classic LMA) in the prone position is controversial, but the ProSeal laryngeal mask airway (ProSeal LMA) may be more suitable as it forms a better seal and provides access to the stomach. In the following retrospective audit, we describe our experience with ...

Taurolidine is an experimental antibacterial and antiendotoxic compound whose clinical utility as an antitumor agent is being investigated in human clinical trials. Taurolidine in aqueous solution exists in equilibrium with taurultam. Taurultam is subsequently transformed to taurinamide. The pharmacokinetic profiles of these metabolites are not well established. In this study, ...

BACKGROUND: The cost-benefit relationship for depth of anaesthesia monitors is complicated by the high cost of specially designed EEG electrodes. The cerebral state index (CSI) monitor will accept regular ECG electrodes with snap connectors. The purpose of this study was to determine if generic ECG electrodes could replace the more ...

BACKGROUND: Thoraco-abdominal-aneurysm surgery predicts high mortality. Propofol and sevoflurane are commonly used anaesthetics for this procedure. Halogenated anaesthetics induce organ protection similar to ischaemic preconditioning. We investigated which anaesthetic regimen would lead to a better protection against ischaemia-reperfusion injury induced by temporary thoracic-aortic occlusion. METHODS: Following initial fentanyl-midazolam anaesthesia for ...

OBJECTIVE: To quantify factors influencing anesthetic concentration when an innovative anesthetic delivery device (vapor wand) was used with enclosed chambers. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized study. METHODS: Two experimental chambers (57.4 and 171 L) were constructed. Anesthetic volumes necessary to reach a target concentration of 3% or 5% isoflurane with complete vaporization ...

OBJECTIVES: To compare isoflurane (ISO) and sevoflurane (SEVO) short-term anesthesia in piglets during castration. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized study. ANIMALS: A total of 114 male piglets aged 6-10 days, body weight 1.3-5.0 kg. METHODS: Piglets were randomly selected from multiple litters and randomly assigned to being anesthetized with ISO or ...

Reactive oxygen species are a part of the normal physiology of the biological system but their subsequent defence undergoes alteration during diseased conditions. Administration of anaesthesia for surgery may also alter the formation of reactive oxygen species. The present work deals with the comparative status of oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation) ...

Migraine is associated with a variety of electroencephalographic (EEG) changes. Previous studies using analogue EEG and old diagnostic criteria may under or over report the prevalence of EEG changes in migraine. The objective of this study was to reevaluate the EEG changes in migraine patients diagnosed by applying the new ...

BACKGROUND: To shorten emergence time after a procedure using volatile anesthesia, 78% of anesthesiologists recently surveyed used hyperventilation to rapidly clear the anesthetic from the lungs. Hyperventilation has not been universally adapted into clinical practice because it also decreases the Paco2, which decreases cerebral bloodflow and depresses respiratory drive. Adding ...

BACKGROUND: Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been used during cardiac surgery to monitor cerebral oxygenation although the validity of this technique has yet to be established. Although optical pathlength included in the algorithm for calculating NIRS values is supposed to be constant, recent evidence has suggested that optical pathlength could ...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Significant start-up delays are inherent to syringe infusion pumps, particularly at low infusion rates, as routinely used in children's anaesthesia and intensive care. Such delays are mainly the result of engagement of gears in the mechanical drive or compliance of the syringe assembly. The purpose of the ...

PURPOSE: To check the level of spinal anesthesia is sometimes difficult in patients with dementia. In spinal anesthesia, peripheral oxygen tension may increase in the anesthetized area because of vasodilatation due to sympathetic block. The purpose of this study was to determine whether changes in percutaneous oxygen tension (tcPO(2)) were ...