Efficacy of dural puncture epidural combined with programmed intermittent epidural bolus for labor analgesia in parturients / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of dural puncture epidural (DPE) combined with programmed intermittent epidural bolus (PIEB) for labor analgesia in parturients.Methods:A total of 200 primiparas of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ, who were at full-term with a singleton fetus in vertex presentation and requested natural childbirth and intraspinal analgesia were selected and divided into 2 groups ( n=100 each) according to a computer-generated random number table: epidural block alone+ PIEB group (group E) and DPE+ PIEB group (group D). After successful epidural puncture, epidural catheter was placed in the epidural cavity, and the depth was 3-4 cm in group E. In group D, spinal needle was used for intrathecal needle puncture after successful epidural puncture, the posterior epidural catheter was placed in the epidural cavity, and the depth was 3-4 cm.The epidural pulse pump (0.08% ropivacaine plus sufentanil 0.4 μg /ml) was connected and was set up to deliver a 5-ml bolus dose with initial dose 10 ml, a 20-min lockout interval and background infusion at a rate of 10 ml/h.The onset time of analgesia, development of the sensory block reaching S 2 within 30 min after administration, development of motor block, effective pressing times and consumption, requirement of ropivacaine for rescue analgesia, ropivacaine consumption and delivery mode were recorded.The development of hypotension, pruritus, nausea, vomiting, headache after puncture and fetal bradycardia were recorded.The Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min after delivery were recorded and the parturients were followed up on 1 day after delivery for the scores for satisfaction with analgesia. Results:Compared with group E, the onset time of analgesia was significantly shortened, the ratio of sensory block reaching S 2 was increased, analgesia pump pressing times and ropivacaine consumption were decreased ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the incidence of motor block, the requirement for rescue analgesic, the scores for parturients′ satisfaction with analgesia, delivery mode, Apgar scores of the neonates and the incidence of adverse reactions in group D ( P>0.05). Conclusion:DPE combined with PIEB for labor analgesia can shorten the onset time of analgesia and provide reliable efficacy and higher safety.

Effect of mitomycin on normal dermal fibroblast and HaCat cell: an in vitro study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of mitomycin on the growth of human dermal fibroblast and immortalized human keratinocyte line (HaCat cell), particularly the effect of mitomycin on intracellular messenger RNA (mRNA) synthesis of collagen and growth factors of fibroblast. METHODS: The normal dermal fibroblast and HaCat cell were cultured in vitro. Cell cultures were exposed to 0.4 and 0.04 mg/ml of mitomycin solution, and serum-free culture medium was used as control. The cellular morphology change, growth characteristics, cell proliferation, and apoptosis were observed at different intervals. For the fibroblasts, the mRNA expression changes of transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), procollagen I, and III were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The cultured normal human skin fibroblast and HaCat cell grew exponentially. A 5-min exposure to mitomycin at either 0.4 or 0.04 mg/ml caused marked dose-dependent cell proliferation inhibition on both fibroblasts and HaCat cells. Cell morphology changed, cell density decreased, and the growth curves were without an exponential phase. The fibroblast proliferated on the 5th day after the 5-min exposure of mitomycin at 0.04 mg/ml. Meanwhile, 5-min application of mitomycin at either 0.04 or 0.4 mg/ml induced fibroblast apoptosis but not necrosis. The apoptosis rate of the fibroblast increased with a higher concentration of mytomycin (p<0.05). A 5-min exposure to mitomycin at 0.4 mg/ml resulted in a marked decrease in the mRNA production of TGF-ß1, procollagen I and III, and a marked increase in the mRNA production of bFGF. CONCLUSIONS: Mitomycin can inhibit fibroblast proliferation, induce fibroblast apoptosis, and regulate intracellular protein expression on mRNA levels. In addition, mitomycin can inhibit HaCat cell proliferation, so epithelial cell needs more protecting to avoid mitomycin's side effect when it is applied clinically.

Evaluation of intratympanic dexamethasone for treatment of refractory sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE: To observe and compare the efficacy of intratympanic application of dexamethasone (DXM) for the treatment of refractory sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), the DXM was given in three different ways: by tympanic membrane injection, by drip through a ventilation tube, and by perfusion through a round window catheter. METHODS: We conducted a nonrandomized retrospective clinical trial involving 55 patients with refractory SSNHL. For 21 patients (the perfusion group), DXM (2.5 mg/0.5 ml) was perfused transtympanically through a round window catheter using an infusion pump for 1 h twice a day for 7 d giving a total amount of 35.0 mg. For 23 patients (the injection group), DXM (2.5 mg/time) was injected by tympanic membrane puncture at intervals of 2 d on a total of four occasions giving a total amount of 10.0 mg. For 11 patients (the drip group), DXM (2.5 mg/0.5 ml) was dripped via a ventilation tube placed by myringotomy, once on the first day and twice a day for the remaining 6 d giving a total amount of 32.5 mg. Thirty-two patients with refractory SSNHL who refused to undertake further treatments were defined as the control group. Hearing recovery and complications were compared among the groups. Hearing results were evaluated based on a four-frequency (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 kHz) pure tone average (PTA). RESULTS: Post-treatment audiograms were obtained one month after treatments were completed. The improvements in average PTA for the perfusion, injection, and drip groups were 9.0, 8.6, and 1.7 dB, respectively. Hearing improvement was significantly greater in the perfusion and injection groups than in the control group (1.4 dB) (P<0.05). In the perfusion group, 8 out of 21 patients (38.1%) had a PTA improvement of 15‒56 dB (mean 29.8 dB); in the injection group, 8 out of 23 patients (34.8%) had a PTA improvement of 16‒54 dB (mean 24.9 dB); in the drip group, 1 of 11 patients (9.1%) had a PTA improvement of 26.0 dB; in the control group, 3 out of 32 patients (9.4%) had a PTA improvement of 15‒36 dB (mean 14.9 dB). CONCLUSIONS: Topical intratympanic application of DXM is a safe and effective method for the treatment of SSNHL cases that are refractory to conventional therapies.