A comparison of analgesic efficacy and safety of clonidine and methylprednisolone as additives to 0.25% ropivacaine in stellate ganglion block for the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome: a prospective randomised single blind study

Background@#The role of the sympathetic nervous system appears to be central in causing pain in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The stellate ganglion block (SGB) using additives with local anesthetics is an established treatment modality. However, literature is sparse in support of selective benefits of different additives for SGB.Hence, the authors aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of clonidine with methylprednisolone as additives to ropivacaine in the SGB for treatment of CRPS. @*Methods@#A prospective randomized single blinded study (the investigator blinded to the study groups) was conducted among patients with CRPS-I of the upper limb, aged 18–70 years with American Society of Anaesthesiologists physical status I–III. Clonidine (15 μg) and methylprednisolone (40 mg) were compared as additives to 0.25% ropivacaine (5 mL) for SGB. After medical treatment for two weeks, patients in each of the two groups were given seven ultrasound guided SGBs on alternate days. @*Results@#There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to visual analogue scale score, edema, or overall patient satisfaction. After 1.5 months follow-up, however, the group that received methylprednisolone had better improvement in range of motion. No significant side effects were seen with either drug. @*Conclusions@#The use of additives, both methylprednisolone and clonidine, is safe and effective for the SGB in CRPS. The significantly better improvement in joint mobility with methylprednisolone suggests that it should be considered promising as an additive to local anaesthetics when joint mobility is the concern.

Biochemical synthesis of silver nanoprticles using filamentous fungi Penicillium decumbens (MTCC-2494) and its efficacy against A-549 lung cancer cell line / 中国天然药物

Biosynthesis of silver and other metallic nanoparticles is one of the emerging research area in the field of science and technology due to their potentiality, especially in the field of nano-biotechnology and biomedical sciences in order to develop nanomedicine. In our present study, Penicillium decumbens (MTCC-2494) was brought from Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH) Chandigarh and employed for extracellular biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Ag-NPs formation was appeared with a dark brown color inside the conical flask. Characterization of Ag-NPs were done by UV-Spectrophotometric analysis which showed absorption peak at 430 nm determines the presence of nanoparticles, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic analysis, showed amines and amides are the possible proteins involved in the stabilization of nanoparticles as capping agent. Atomic force Microscopy (AFM) confirmed the particle are spherical, size was around 30 to 60 nm and also the roughness of nanoparticles. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) showed the topology of the nanoparticles and were spherical in shape. The biosynthesis process was found fast, ecofriendly and cost effective. Nano-silver particle was found to have a broad antimicrobial activity and also it showed good enhancement of antimicrobial activity of Carbenicillin, Piperacillin, Cefixime, Amoxicillin, Ofloxacin and Sparfloxacin in a synergistic mode. These Ag-NPs showed good anti-cancer activity at 80 μg·mL(-1)upon 24 hours of incubation and toxicity increases upon 48 hours of incubation against A-549 human lung cancer cell line and the synergistic formulation of the antibiotic with the synthesized nanoparticles was found more effective against the pathogenic bacteria studied.

Osteomyelitis of Scapula with Secondary Septic Arthritis of Shoulder Joint in a Six Month Old Child

We report a case of delayed diagnosis of osteomyelitis of the scapula extending to glenoid, with secondary septic arthritis of glenohumeral joint in a 6-month-old female infant. We performed urgent arthrotomy of the shoulder joint through an anterior approach with drainage of pus from the scapula through a posterior approach and prescribed intravenous antibiotics. Diagnosis was delayed as the patient initially presented with pneumonia, for which she was treated in the neonatal intensive care unit; at that time, all medical efforts were directed toward saving her life. Had the diagnosis been made earlier, septic arthritis of the shoulder might have been prevented. Diagnosis of septic shoulder arthritis is rare and difficult, requiring a high index of suspicion.

Ligamentotaxis for comminuted fracture of capitate: a case report / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

We present the technical report for treatment of comminuted fracture of the capitate with ligamentotaxis. The base of third metacarpal was found to be fractured with comminution of the capitate. The decrease in carpal height index and comminution of the third metacarpal base lead to dilemma between conservative treatment and surgical management of this particular injury. The surgical management was chosen to maintain the carpal height index of the wrist to prevent the late degenerative changes.The patient was applied with external fixator in distraction mode expanning the wrist joint for six weeks, and the wrist was mobilised after removal of the fixator. It is shown that the external fixator in distraction mode expanning the wrist joint is a good alternative method for treatment of capitate fracture.