Cytokines are essential mediators for the regulation of both innate and acquired immunity and hematopoiesis. They modulate immune cell signaling, activation, adhesion and functioning. They regulate the individual response to several insults such as infection, inflammation, trauma, and pain. Moreover, the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines is critical for the evolut...

Visually apparent EEG changes associated with clamping the internal carotid artery appeared in 55 of 176 consecutive patients (31%) undergoing carotid endarterectomy without shunt. Attenuation of higher frequency activity was the most common change. Changes were moderate in 33 patients (19%) and major in 22 (12.5%). Major changes usually commenced earlier than less severe alterations. EEG chang...

General or regional anesthesia can be appropriate for patients undergoing abdominal surgery. In common practice, balanced anesthesia with inhalational anesthetics, opioids and neuromuscular blockers are used in general anesthesia for abdominal surgical procedures. Endotracheal intubation as well as Laryngeal Mask Airway can be used for airway control. Regional anesthesia, mainly central blocks,...

Hepatitis is an unusual manifestation of herpesvirus infection. Herpes simplex virus hepatitis is a difficult diagnosis to establish, and the infection is often fatal. We report one case of herpes simplex virus hepatitis and review 51 cases in the literature. Impaired immunity resulting from pregnancy, malignancy, immunosuppression, or inhalational anesthetics may be predisposing factors. Fever...

The fundamental interactions of inhalational anesthetics with proteins have been considered in some detail, using specific examples where appropriate to illustrate these interactions and demonstrate progress. It is now clear that these low-affinity volatile molecules with rapid kinetics can specifically bind to discrete sites in some proteins at reasonable pharmacological concentrations, and so...

24. Introduction to Central Nervous System Pharmacology 281 Charles R. Craig 25.General Anesthesia: Intravenous and Inhalational Agents 291 David J. Smith and Michael B. Howie 26.Opioid and Nonopioid Analgesics 310 Sandra P. Welch and Billy R. Martin 27.Local Anesthetics 330 J. David Haddox 28.Agents Affecting Neuromuscular Transmission 338 Michael D. Miyamoto 29.Central Nervous System Stimulan...

A 34 year old morbidly obese stiffperson syndrome (SPS) patient was scheduled for a permanent catheter placement. SPS is a rare neurologic condition with a suspected autoimmune etiology. SPS most common manifestations are progressive, including severe muscle rigidity or stiffness affecting the spine and lower extremities more than other muscle groups. SPS have superimposed episodic muscle spasm...

BACKGROUND Patients with single ventricle physiology are at increased anesthetic risk when undergoing noncardiac surgery. OBJECTIVE To review the outcomes of anesthetics for patients with single ventricle physiology undergoing noncardiac surgery. METHODS This study is a retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent a palliative procedure for single ventricle physiology between Ja...

Angelman syndrome is characterized by a partial deficit of paired autosomal chromosome 15, which contains a subunit of the GABA (Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid) receptor. Many drugs that act on the CNS (Central Nerve System) during anesthesia are believed to exert their effects via the GABA receptors. We describe the anesthesia of a 7 year-old female patient with Angelman syndrome who underwent surge...

Although it is generally agreed that general anesthetics ultimately act on neuronal ion channels, there is considerable controversy over whether this occurs by direct binding to protein or secondarily by nonspecific perturbation of lipids. Very pure optical isomers of the inhalational general anesthetic isoflurane exhibited clear stereoselectivity in their effects on particularly sensitive ion ...