Tageted bipolar radiofrequency decompression with vertebroplasty for intractable radicular pain due to spinal metastasis: a case report / 대한마취과학회지

Metastatic spinal tumors are usually quite difficult to treat. In patients with metastatic spinal tumors, conventional radiotherapy fails to relieve pain in 20-30% of cases and open surgery often causes considerable trauma and complications, which delays treatment of the primary disease. Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) is considered to be useful in achieving rapid pain control and preventing further vertebral collapse due to spinal metastasis. However, symptoms of intraspinal neural compression can be contraindications to PVP. To overcome this problem, we performed PVP following targeted bipolar radiofrequency decompression, and examined the effect of the combined treatment in relieving severe radicular pain related to spinal cord compression caused by malignant metastatic tumors.

Comparison of the Proseal LMA and intersurgical I-gel during gynecological laparoscopy / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The relatively recently developed I-gel (Intersurgical Ltd., Workingham, England) is a supraglottic airway device designed for single-use that, unlike conventional LMAs, does not require an inflatable cuff. In addition, the I-gel, much like the Proseal LMA (PLMA), has a gastric drainage tube associated with an upper tube for decompression of the stomach, thereby avoiding acid reflux and decreasing the risk of pulmonary absorption. The purpose of this study was to compare PLMA and I-gel devices in patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopy based on sealing pressure before and during pneumoperitoneum, insertion time, and gas exchange. METHODS: Following Institutional Review Board approval and written informed consent, 30 adult patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups (the PLMA or I-gel group). In each case, insertion time and number of attempts were recorded. After successful insertion, airway leak pressure was measured. RESULTS: Successful insertion and mechanical ventilation with both supraglottic airway devices was achieved on the first attempt in all 30 patients, and there were no significant differences with respect to insertion time. Likewise, leak pressure did not vary significantly either between or within groups after CO2 insufflation. In addition, differences between leak volume and leak fraction between groups were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study indicate that the I-gel is a reasonable alternative to the PLMA for controlled ventilation during laparoscopic gynecologic surgery.

Submerged Culture of Phellinus linteus for Mass Production of Polysaccharides

In order to increase the mycelial production of Phellinus linteus, which exhibits potent anticancer activity, some ingredients of the medium used to culture P. linteus were investigated. The optimal medium composition for the production of Phellinus linteus was determined to be as follows: fructose, 40 g/l; yeast extract, 20 g/l; K2HPO4, 0.46 g/l; KH2PO4, 1.00 g/l; MgSO4.7H2O, 0.50 g/l; FeCl2.62O, 0.01 g/l; MnCl2.4H2O, 0.036 g/l; ZnCl2, 0.03 g/l; and CuSO4.7H2O, 0.005 g/l. The optimal culture conditions were determined to be as follows: temperature, 28degrees C; initial pH, 5.5; aeration, 0.6 vvm; and agitation, 100 rpm, respectively. Under optimal composition and conditions, the maximum mycelial biomass achieved in a 5 l jar fermentor was 29.9 g/l.

Antitumor and Antioxidant Activities of the Extracts from Fruiting Body of Phellinus linteus

Fruiting bodies of Phellinus linteus were extracted by hot water and alkali methods. Sugar contents of PL-H (hot water extract) and PL-A (alkali water extract) were 81.1%, 37.4% and protein contents were 6.2%, 21.8%, respectively. Amino acid pattern showed that two extracts contained large amount of aspartic acid and alanine. Two extracts showed characteristic IR absorption pattern for glycosidic bond at 890 cm(-1). PL-H was divided two fractions by gel filtration chromatography and the molecular weights of each fraction were estimated to be about 10 kD and 225 kD, respectively and also PL-A was estimated 10 kD. Two extracts showed strong antitumor, immunomodulating and antioxidant activities, and were compared with commercialized glycopeptide anticancer drugs.