Comparing Different Doses of Dexmedetomidine Combined with Ropivacaine for Ultrasound-Guided Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block in Upper Limb Surgeries - A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Dexmedetomidine is used as an adjuvant to local anesthetic agents to provide prolonged analgesia in peripheral nerve blocks. This study aimed at determining the optimal dose of dexmedetomidine, which when combined with ropivacaine will produce a superior quality block in terms of extended pain-free period and reduced perioperative analgesic/opioid use, which in turn improves patient satisfaction. Objective: The objective of the study is to assess the duration of analgesia with two different doses (25 µg and 50 µg) of dexmedetomidine with ropivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus block. Subjects and Methods: This prospective randomized controlled study included 50 patients undergoing upper limb surgeries under supraclavicular brachial plexus block randomly divided into two groups. Group D25 received 29 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine +25 µg dexmedetomidine diluted in 1 mL of normal saline (total 30 mL); Group D50 received 29 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine +50 µg dexmedetomidine diluted in 1 mL of normal saline (total 30 mL). Onset and duration of sensorimotor block, duration of analgesia, and time interval for the rescue analgesia and hemodynamic stability were observed. Results: The mean onset of motor and sensory block was significantly higher in the D25 group (P = 0.001). The Visual Analog Scale pain scores and rescue analgesia consumption were significantly lower in the D50 group (P = 0.013, 0.001). The duration of analgesia was significantly higher in the D50 group (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine 50 µg is an effective adjuvant dose to ropivacaine with insignificant hemodynamic changes with better duration of analgesia and lesser pain scores.

Energy Enhancement of a Nickel-Cobalt-Mixed Metallic Metal-Organic Framework Electrode and a Potassium Iodide Redox Mediator Bound with an Aqueous Electrolyte for High-Performance Redox-Aided Asymmetric Supercapacitors.

Enhancing the energy density of a supercapacitor requires the use of novel electrode and electrolyte materials that can withstand high voltages and have rapid electrochemical kinetics. Pesudocapacitance, high energy density, and specific capacitance may be provided by electrodes and redox mediator electrolytes used in redox-aided asymmetric supercapacitor equipment (RAASC), which are essential for their practical implementation. In this work, the rod and microsphere structure of the Ni/Co-mixed metal-organic framework (MOF) positive electrode material was synthesized using the hydrothermal method. Because of the high proposition of active sites and fluent ionic channels created by the rod and microsphere structure, as-prepared Ni/Co-MOF materials were used as three different organic linkers. CNN-MOF material has a rodlike structure and good capacitance value, so we further increase the capacitance value that we introduced in a KI redox mediator bound with a KOH electrolyte, and in this combination, a high specific capacitance up to 612 F g-1 was reached in a three-electrode system. Additionally, an electrical double layer capacitor nature of the graphite anode material with CNN-MOF as a cathode material and a KI redox mediator bound with the KOH gel polymer electrolyte was observed in the assembled RAASC. The RAASC device had reached a high energy density of 84.2 W h kg-1 with a power density of 532 W kg-1. At the same time, it showed good cyclic stability and could retain 97.4% of initial capacitance after 11,200 charge and discharge cycles. This work demonstrates efficient fabrication of high-performing MOF electrodes, and the fabrication of KI redox electrolyte-constructed RAASC devices offers a novel window into the creation of cutting-edge energy storage devices.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome with spinal cord involvement (PRES-SCI): A case report.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome with spinal cord involvement (PRES-SCI) is a recently described entity with a handful of cases reported in literature. We describe a case of PRES in setting of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) with involvement of brain stem and spinal cord.

Antidepressant-induced neurogenesis in the hippocampus of adult nonhuman primates.

New neurons are generated in the adult hippocampus of many species including rodents, monkeys, and humans. Conditions associated with major depression, such as social stress, suppress hippocampal neurogenesis in rodents and primates. In contrast, all classes of antidepressants stimulate neuronal generation, and the behavioral effects of these medications are abolished when neurogenesis is blocked. These findings generated the hypothesis that induction of neurogenesis is a necessary component in the mechanism of action of antidepressant treatments. To date, the effects of antidepressants on newborn neurons have been reported only in rodents and tree shrews. This study examines whether neurogenesis is increased in nonhuman primates after antidepressant treatment. Adult monkeys received repeated electroconvulsive shock (ECS), which is the animal analog of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), the most effective short-term antidepressant. Compared with control conditions, ECS robustly increased precursor cell proliferation in the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus in the monkey hippocampus. A majority of these precursors differentiated into neurons or endothelial cells, while a few matured into glial cells. The ECS-mediated induction of cell proliferation and neurogenesis was accompanied by increased immunoreactivity for the neuroprotective gene product BCL2 (B cell chronic lymphocytic lymphoma 2) in the SGZ. The ECS interventions were not accompanied by increased hippocampal cell death or injury. This study demonstrates that ECS is capable of inducing neurogenesis in the nonhuman primate hippocampus and supports the possibility that antidepressant interventions produce similar alterations in the human brain.