Nerve agents are among the most dangereous chemical warfare agents (3, 29, 40, 45). They can be (and have been) misused by terrorists (4, 31). Moreover, the whole spectrum of these agents of the same basic chemical structure covers organophosphorus insecticides (OP) – chemicals easily available, frequently used over the world and causing professional, suicidal or accidental intoxications (4). A...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the genetic and physiologic basis of the neuromuscular symptoms of hypotonia-cystinuria syndrome (HCS) and isolated PREPL deficiency, and their response to therapy. METHODS We performed molecular genetic, histochemical, immunoblot, and ultrastructural studies, investigated neuromuscular transmission in vitro in a patient with isolated PREPL deficiency, and evaluated t...

Sympathetic hyperactivity and its outcome in heart failure have been thoroughly investigated to determine the focus of pharmacologic approaches targeting the sympathetic nervous system in the treatment of this pathophysiological condition. On the other hand, therapeutic approaches aiming to protect the reduced cardiac parasympathetic function have not received much attention. The present study ...

A good knowledge of the basic mechanisms of acute toxicity of organophosphorus compounds has lead to the development of specific antidotes able to counteract their acute toxic effects. Unfortunately, there are still some highly toxic organophosphorus compounds, called nerve agents, that are resistant to standard antidotal treatment. Relatively unsatisfactory antidotal treatment of acute poisoni...

BACKGROUND Anesthesia without muscle relaxants has been reported to be effective for early extubation after thymectomy, but postoperative respiratory status of the patients has not been studied intensively. METHODS Fifty-two consecutive patients undergoing thymectomies for myasthenia gravis (MG) were evaluated. RESULTS Forty-two (81%) of the 52 patients were extubated in the operating room,...

BACKGROUND Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune, IgG autoantibody-mediated disease of skin and mucosa leading to progressive blistering and nonhealing erosions. Patients develop autoantibodies to adhesion molecules mediating intercellular adhesion and to keratinocyte cholinergic receptors regulating cell adhesion. OBSERVATIONS To determine whether a cholinergic agonist can abolish PV IgG-...

BACKGROUND This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the use of sugammadex in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy. METHODS Data were obtained from medical record review of patients who underwent VATS lobectomy from January 2013 to November 2014. Fifty patients were divided into two groups: the sugammadex group (group S, n = 19) was administered sugamma...