This study demonstrates that oral administration of GBE is associated with a dose-dependent antihyperalgesic effect on mechanical and cold stimuli in a rat model of vincristine-induced neuropathy.

BackgroundIschemia reperfusion (IR) injury is a complex phenomenon that leads to organ dysfunction and causes primary liver failure following liver transplantation. We investigated whether an intravenous administration of magnesium before reperfusion can prevent or reduce IR injury.MethodsFifty-nine living donor liver transplant recipients were randomly assigned to an MG group (n = 31) or an NS group (n = 28). Each group was also divided in two groups based on the preoperative magnesium levels (normal: ≥ 0.70 mmol/L, low: < 0.70 mmol/L). The MG groups received 25 mg/kg of MgSO4 mixed in 100 ml normal saline intravenously before reperfusion and the NS groups received an equal volume of normal saline. The levels of lactate, pH, arterial oxygen tension, and base excess were measured to assess reperfusion injury at five specific times, which were 10 min after the beginning of anhepatic phase, and 10, 30, 60 and 120 min after reperfusion. To evaluate postoperative organ function, the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin and creatinine levels were measured at preoperative day 1, postoperative day 1 and 5.ResultsThe blood lactate levels were significantly lower at 10, 30, 60 and 120 min after reperfusion in the MG groups compared to the NS groups. In addition, significantly higher blood lactate levels were observed in the NS group with preoperative hypomagnesemia than in MG groups.ConclusionsMagnesium administration before reperfusion of liver transplantation significantly reduces blood lactate levels. These findings suggest that magnesium treatment may have protective effects on IR injury during living donor liver transplantation.

Background: Quality of recovery, assessed by patients, is related to patients' satisfaction, and even to quality of life. Of numerous patient-based measures to evaluate the quality of recovery, a '40-item-quality of recovery (QoR-40)' has proved to be valid and reliable. Using this questionnaire, we evaluated the quality of recovery in the gynecological patients and tried to identify factors affecting the quality of recovery.Methods: Patients undergoing gynecological surgery were asked to fill a questionnaire 8 to 9 p.m the day after the completion of anesthesia. Questionnaires were prepared after translation to Korean from 40-item-quality of recovery. From the anesthetic and recovery room records we collected data about patient's age, surgery types, anesthetic and surgical duration, recovery room stay, main anesthetic agents, and recovery room complications.Results: A total of 383 patients completed the questionnaires. Patients aged under 40 got significantly lower QoR-40 scores than those aged over 40, especially in the dimension of pain (P ＜ 0.05). Patients who had undergone laparoscopic surgery got higher scores than those had undergone non-laparoscopic surgery (P ＜ 0.05). Patients who answered the questionnaires in more than 30 hours after the completion of anesthesia showed lower total scores than those who did in less than 30 hours, especially in the dimensions of emotional state and pain (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions: In gynecological patients, laparoscopic surgery improved quality of recovery. Quality of recovery was affected by age and survey time. Postoperative pain contributed to the decrease of the quality of recovery.

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BackgroundThe pre-transplant model for end-stage liver disease (pre-MELD) score is controversial regarding its ability to predict patient mortality after liver transplantation (LT). Prominent changes in physical conditions through the surgery may require a post-transplant indicator for better mortality prediction. We aimed to investigate whether the post-transplant MELD (post-MELD) score can be a predictor of 1-year mortality.MethodsPerioperative variables of 269 patients with living donor LT were retrospectively investigated on their association with 1-year mortality. Post-MELD scores until the 30th day and their respective declines from the 1st day post-MELD score were included along with pre-MELD, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II, and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores on the 1st post-transplant day. The predictive model of mortality was established by multivariate Cox's proportional hazards regression.ResultsThe 1-year mortality rate was 17% (n = 44), and the leading cause of death was graft failure. Among prognostic indicators, only post-MELD scores after the 5th day and declines in post-MELD scores until the 5th and 30th day were associated with mortality in univariate analyses (P < 0.05). After multivariate analyses, declines in post-MELD scores until the 5th day of less than 5 points (hazard ratio 2.35, P = 0.007) and prolonged mechanical ventilation ≥24 hours were the earliest independent predictors of 1-year mortality.ConclusionsA sluggish decline in post-MELD scores during the early post-transplant period may be a meaningful prognostic indicator of 1-year mortality after LT.