Predictive performance of Shock Index for postpartum hemorrhage during cesarean delivery.

BACKGROUND: The Shock Index (SI), defined as heart rate divided by systolic blood pressure, is reportedly an early surrogate indicator for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). However, most previous studies have used clinical data of women who delivered vaginally. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the SI pattern during cesarean delivery and determine its usefulness in detecting PPH. METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective study using the clinical data of women (n = 331) who underwent cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia at term between 2018 and 2021. We assessed the SI pattern stratified by total blood loss and evaluated the predictive performance of each vital sign in detecting PPH (total blood loss ≥1000 mL) based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). RESULTS: At 10-15 min after delivery, the mean SI peaked between 0.84 and 0.90 and then decreased to a level between 0.72 and 0.77, which was similar to that upon entering the operating room. Among 331 women, 91 (27.5%) were diagnosed with PPH. There was no correlation between SI and total blood loss (rs = 0.02). The SI had low ability to detect PPH (AUROC 0.54, 95% confidence interval 0.47 to 0.61), which was similar to other vital signs (AUROCs 0.53-0.56). CONCLUSION: We determined the pattern of SI during cesarean delivery. We found no correlation between SI and total blood loss. Unlike in vaginal delivery, the prognostic accuracy of SI for PPH detection in cesarean delivery was low.

The prevalence and impact of chronic neuropathic pain on daily and social life: A nationwide study in a Japanese population.

BACKGROUND: This study marks the first epidemiological evaluation of the prevalence and burden of chronic neuropathic pain (NeP) in an Asian population. The objective of this nationwide cross-sectional study was to identify the characteristics of individuals with NeP, detect the NeP features that affect their quality of life (QOL), and demonstrate the negative effects of NeP on social and daily living as well as comorbidities including depression, anxiety and sleep disorders. METHODS: We mailed a cross-sectional, population-based epidemiological survey to a random nationwide sample of 10,000 Japanese adults over 20 years old. RESULTS: The response rate was 54.4% (2445 men, 2992 women; mean age, 53.4 years). Prevalence of chronic pain was 16.6%, and prevalence of NeP was 3.2% as detected by the PainDETECT. Participants with NeP showed significantly lower quality of life according to scores on the EuroQol-5 Dimensions scale (p < 0.001), higher levels of psychological distress on the Kessler 6-item psychological distress scale (p < 0.001), poorer sleep quality (p < 0.001), and more workdays lost (p < 0.001) than did participants without NeP. Linear regression modelling showed that widespread pain, thermal hyperalgesia and pressure-induced pain had strong associations with lower QOL, with regression coefficients of -0.046 (p < 0.001), -0.038 (p < 0.001), and -0.040 (p < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to report the prevalence of NeP in an Asian population using a validated questionnaire. This study provides compelling evidence that chronic NeP is more strongly associated with poorer QOL, mental health and social well-being than CP without a neuropathic component. SIGNIFICANCE: This population-based nationwide epidemiological study revealed the prevalence, characteristics, and negative effects of chronic pain with neuropathic components in Asian society. The prevalence of neuropathic pain was 3.2% with PainDETECT.

Nociceptive phenotype alterations of dorsal root ganglia neurons innervating the subchondral bone in osteoarthritic rat knee joints.

OBJECTIVE: Subchondral bone plays a role in generating knee joint pain in osteoarthritis (OA). The objective of this study was to clarify nociceptive phenotype alterations of subchondral bone afferents of the distal femur in mono-iodoacetate (MIA)-induced OA rats. METHODS: OA was induced by intra-articular injection of MIA in rats. Two different retrograde tracers were separately injected into the knee joint cavity and the subchondral bone to identify joint and subchondral bone afferents. Immunohistochemistry was used at 2 weeks (early stage) and 6 weeks (advanced stage) after MIA injection to determine the expression of nociceptive markers (calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and tyrosine receptor kinase A (TrkA)) and the soma size distribution of CGRP-immunoreactive (IR) neurons. Histological subchondral bone and cartilage damage was scored according to the Osteoarthritis Research Society International grading system. Pain-related behavior was evaluated using weight distribution and mechanical sensitivity of the hind paw. RESULTS: OA caused an up-regulation of CGRP, TrkA and enlargement of soma size of CGRP-IR neurons in both joint and subchondral bone afferents. CGRP and TrkA expression in subchondral bone afferents gradually increased over 6 weeks. Furthermore, up-regulation of CGRP and TrkA in subchondral bone afferents displayed a strong correlation with the subchondral bone damage score. CONCLUSION: Up-regulation of nociceptive markers in subchondral bone afferents correlated with subchondral bone damage, suggesting that subchondral bone is a therapeutic target, especially in the case of advanced stage knee OA. In particular, CGRP and TrkA are potentially molecular therapeutic targets to treat joint pain associated with subchondral lesions.

Maternal molecular hydrogen treatment attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced rat fetal lung injury.

Maternal inflammation is associated with spontaneous preterm birth and respiratory impairment among premature infants. Recently, molecular hydrogen (H2) has been reported to have a suppressive effect on oxidative stress and inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of H2 on fetal lung injury caused by maternal inflammation. Cell viability and the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were examined by treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) contained in ordinal or H2-rich medium (HM) using a human lung epithelial cell line, A549. Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups: Control, LPS, and HW + LPS groups. Rats were injected with phosphate-buffered saline (Control) or LPS intraperitoneally (LPS) on gestational day 19 and provided H2 water (HW) ad libitum for 24 h before LPS injection (HW + LPS). Fetal lung samples were collected on day 20, and the levels of apoptosis, oxidative damage, IL-6, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. The number of apoptotic cells, and levels of ROS and IL-6 were significantly increased by LPS treatment, and repressed following cultured with HM in A549 cells. In the rat models, the population positive for cleaved caspase-3, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, IL-6, and VEGF was significantly increased in the LPS group compared with that observed in the Control group and significantly decreased in the HW + LPS group. In this study, LPS administration induced apoptosis and oxidative damage in fetal lung cells that was ameliorated by maternal H2 intake. Antenatal H2 administration may decrease the pulmonary mobility associated with inflammation in premature infants.

The microRNA-23a has limited roles in bone formation and homeostasis in vivo.

Recent studies have demonstrated that some microRNAs (miRNAs) inhibit bone formation by inhibiting the translation of specific genes. Several in vitro studies have suggested that miR-23a inhibits osteogenic differentiation by suppressing the translation of Runx2, a transcription factor essential for osteoblastogenesis, and of Satb2, a member of the special AT-rich binding protein family. In the present study, we used a gain-of-function approach to determine the roles of miR-23a in bone formation and homeostasis in vivo. The miR-23a transgenic (Tg) mice grew normally and their body size and weight were similar to those of wild-type (WT) littermates. Bone structure and morphology were similar in Tg and WT mice. Furthermore, the numbers of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, as well as their activities in bone were similar between Tg and WT mice. Our results indicate that miR-23 has limited roles in bone formation and maintenance in vivo in mice.

Repeated intra-articular injections of acidic saline produce long-lasting joint pain and widespread hyperalgesia.

BACKGROUND: Synovial fluid in inflamed joint shows a drop in pH, which activates proton-gated ion channels in nociceptors. No studies have ever tried to develop and characterize acid-induced joint pain. METHODS: Rats were injected intra-articularly with pH 4.0 acidic saline twice, 5 days apart. Pain-related behaviour tests including weight-bearing asymmetry, paw withdrawal threshold and knee compression threshold were conducted. To clarify the roles of proton-gated ion channels, rats were injected intra-articularly with selective antagonists for ASIC1a, ASIC3 and TRPV1 on day 5 (before the second injection) or on day 14. Underlying peripheral and central pain mechanisms were evaluated using joint histology, interleukin-1ß concentrations in the synovium, single-fibre recording of the knee afferent and expression of phosphorylated cyclic adenosine monophosphate-responsive element-binding protein (p-CREB) in the spinal dorsal horn. RESULTS: Repeated injections of acidic saline induced weight-bearing asymmetry, decrease in paw withdrawal threshold and knee compression threshold bilaterally, which lasted until day 28. Early administration of ASIC3 antagonist reduced the bilateral and long-lasting hyperalgesia. Neither articular degeneration nor synovial inflammation was observed. C-fibre of the knee afferent was activated by acidic saline, which was attenuated by pre-injection of ASIC3 antagonist. p-CREB expression was transiently up-regulated bilaterally on day 6, but not on day 14. CONCLUSION: We developed and characterized a model of acid-induced long-lasting bilateral joint pain. Peripheral ASIC3 and spinal p-CREB played important roles for the development of hyperalgesia. This animal model gives insights into the mechanisms of joint pain, which is helpful in developing better pain treatments.

The use of sonication treatment to decellularize aortic tissues for preparation of bioscaffolds.

A novel decellularization method using sonication treatment is described. Sonication treatment is the combination of physical and chemical agents. These methods will disrupt cell membrane and release cell contents to external environments. The cell removal was facilitated by subsequent rinsing of sodium dodecyl sulfate detergents. Sonication treatment is used in the preparation of complete decellularized bioscaffolds. The aim of this study is to confirm the usefulness of sonication treatment for preparation of biological scaffolds. In this study, samples of aortic tissues are decellularized by sonication treatment at frequency of 170 kHz in 0.1% and 2% sodium dodecyl sulfate detergents for 10-h treatment time. The relation between decellularization and sonication parameters such as dissolved oxygen concentration, conductivity, and pH is investigated. Histological analysis and biomechanical testing is performed to evaluate cell removal efficiency as well as changes in biomechanical properties. Minimal inflammation response elicit by bioscaffolds is confirmed by xenogeneic implantation and immunohistochemistry. Sonication treatment is able to produce complete decellularized tissue suggesting that these treatments could be applied widely as one of the decellularization method.

Nociceptive phenotype of dorsal root ganglia neurons innervating the subchondral bone in rat knee joints.

BACKGROUND: The subchondral bone of the distal femur is a source of pain caused by osteoarthritis (OA) or spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee. However, nociceptive phenotype of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons innervating the subchondral bone in rat knee joints has not been clarified. METHODS: Retrograde labelling was used to identify afferents innervating the subchondral bone of the distal femur and the knee joint in rats. The nociceptive phenotype markers [calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), tyrosine receptor kinase A (TrkA), neurofilament 200 (NF200) and isolectin B4 (IB4)], segmental distribution and the soma size of backlabelled DRG neurons were examined. Furthermore, we evaluated the differences in nociceptive phenotype between the subchondral bone and the knee joint afferents. RESULTS: The majority (60%) of the subchondral bone afferents were localized in L3 DRGs and fewer in L4 and L5, while the knee joint afferents were localized mainly in L3 and L4. The percentage of CGRP immunoreactive (IR), TrkA-IR, NF200-IR and IB4-binding neurons in the subchondral bone afferents were 50%, 65%, 35% and 0%, respectively. The percentage of CGRP-IR and TrkA-IR neurons in the subchondral bone afferents was significantly higher than that in the knee joint afferents, respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The majority of sensory DRG neurons innervating the subchondral bone of the distal femur were CGRP-IR and TrkA-IR. It is expected that therapeutic approaches targeting CGRP and TrkA could be effective in attenuating pain from the subchondral bone in knee joints.

Preparation of decellularized meniscal scaffolds using sonication treatment for tissue engineering.

Scaffolds play a key role in the process of regeneration and morphogenesis of tissue or organ. We have developed a novel sonication decellularization system to prepare decellularized bio-scaffolds in a short treatment time. The aim of the study is to investigate sonication decellularization condition that completely decellularize meniscus can be changed as well as to maintain the biomechanical parameters of scaffolds. The meniscus samples were decellularized using sonication treatment. The treated samples were evaluated histologically by EVG for cell removal, picrosirius red for content of collagen type I and III, and safranin-O/fast green staining for content of glycosaminoglycan, and SEM for observation of scaffold surface. Indentation apparatus was used to analyze the unconfined deformation under load of native and decellularized menisci. The load parameters which are stiffness, compression and residual force were not significantly different compare with native and sonicated scaffolds. However, the content of extracellular matrix and its fiber alignment changed significantly due to sonication treatment as observed by SEM and safranin-O/fast green staining, respectively. The removal of immunogenic cell components by sonication decellularization as well as maintain its biomechanical strength of decellularized scaffolds, so that it has potential to use as an implant material for tissue engineering of menisci.

Development of heat hyperalgesia and changes of TRPV1 and NGF expression in rat dorsal root ganglion following joint immobilization.

The aim of this study was to examine whether threshold to heat stimuli, and expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid1 (TRPV1) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) altered under conditions of long-term limb immobilization. A plastic cast was wrapped around the right limb from the forearm to the forepaw to keep wrist joint at 90° of flexion for 5 weeks. Heat hyperalgesia was tested using the plantar test at 6 h after removing cast. The rats were perfused transcardially with 4 % paraformaldehyde and DRGs were excised at 24 h after removing cast. For size distributions of the TRPV1-IR and NGF-IR neuronal profile, the DRG area measurements over 1000 DRG neurons per animal were measured in each side, on both the immobilized (ipsilateral) and contralateral sides. Ipsilateral withdrawal latency was significantly shorter than contralateral sides. Ipsilateral percentage of immunoreactive neurons in the total DRG neurons was significantly higher than contralateral sides in TRPV1-IR and NGF-IR. Long-term casting induced heat hyperalgesia, and up-regulation and phenotypic change of TRPV1-IR and NGF-IR in DRGs on the immobilized side. These DRG alterations may involve heat hyperalgesia after long-term limb immobilization.

Two-week cast immobilization induced chronic widespread hyperalgesia in rats.

It has been postulated that physical immobilization is an essential factor in developing chronic pain after trauma or surgery in an extremity. However, the mechanisms of sustained immobilization-induced chronic pain remain poorly understood. The present study, therefore, aimed to develop a rat model for chronic post-cast pain (CPCP) and to clarify the mechanism(s) underlying CPCP. To investigate the effects of cast immobilization on pain behaviours in rats, one hindlimb was immobilized for 2 weeks with a cast and remobilization was conducted for 10 weeks. Cast immobilization induced muscle atrophy and inflammatory changes in the immobilized hindlimb that began 2 h after cast removal and continued for 1 week. Spontaneous pain-related behaviours (licking and reduction in weight bearing) in the immobilized hindlimb were observed for 2 weeks, and widespread mechanical hyperalgesia in bilateral calves, hindpaws and tail all continued for 5-10 weeks after cast removal. A sciatic nerve block with lidocaine 24 h after cast removal transitorily abolished bilateral mechanical hyperalgesia in CPCP rats, suggesting that sensory inputs originating in the immobilized hindlimb contribute to the mechanism of both ipsilateral and contralateral hyperalgesia. Intraperitoneal injection of the free radical scavengers 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperydine-1-oxy1 or N-acetylcysteine 24 h after cast removal clearly inhibited mechanical hyperalgesia in bilateral calves and hindpaws in CPCP rats. These results suggest that cast immobilization induces ischaemia/reperfusion injury in the hindlimb and consequent production of oxygen free radicals, which may be involved in the mechanism of widespread hyperalgesia in CPCP rats.

Avidin-biotin-based approach to forming heterotypic cell clusters and cell sheets on a gas-permeable membrane.

Implantation of sheet-like liver tissues is a promising method in hepatocyte-based therapies, because angiogenesis is expected to occur upon implantation from the surrounding tissues. In this context, we introduce here a new methodology for the formation of a functional thick hepatic tissue usable for cell sheet technology. First, we report the formation of composite tissue elements in suspension culture. Composite elements were composed of human hepatoma Hep G2 cells and mouse NIH/3T3 fibroblasts which are important modulators for thick-tissue formation. To overcome the very low attachment and organization capability between different cells in suspension, we synthesized a new cell-to-cell binding molecule based on the avidin-biotin binding system that we previously applied to attach hepatocytes on artificial substrata. This newly synthesized biotin-conjugated biocompatible anchoring molecule was inserted in the plasma membrane of both cell types. NIH/3T3 cells were further conjugated with avidin and incubated with biotin-presenting Hep G2 cells to form highly composite tissue elements. Then, we seeded those elements on highly gas-permeable membranes at their closest packing density to induce the formation of a thick, composite, functional hepatic tissue without any perfusion. This methodology could open a new way to engineer implantable thick liver tissue sheets where different cell types are spatially organized and well supplied with oxygen.

Increased heart rate variability correlation between mother and child immediately pre-operation.

BACKGROUND: Maternal distress would correlate with the children's mental status, thereby influencing the activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) of the children and mothers. We hypothesized that pre-anesthetic maternal ANS activity, when approaching close to their children's operation time, would correlate with children's ANS activity, and that the values of heart rate variability (HRV) would correlate. METHODS: We calculated maternal and children's HRVs and analyzed the relationship between the two. A total of 24 pairs of mother and child were analyzed. Maternal and children's HRVs were recorded from the night before the child's surgery to the arrival to the operation room. RESULTS: The ratios of low-frequency components (LF) to high-frequency components (HF) (LF/HF ratio) of children's and maternal HRVs obtained during the immediate pre-operative period (06:00-08:00 hours) showed a significantly, positive correlation, but no correlation was found for the LF/HF ratios obtained during the pre-operative night. CONCLUSION: The LF/HF ratios of HRV immediately before surgery in children and mothers showed a significant positive correlation.

Epidural puncture can be confirmed by the Queckenstedt-test procedure in patients with cervical spinal canal stenosis.

BACKGROUND: The loss-of-resistance test is the most popular method for identifying the epidural space, but it cannot confirm epidural puncture. Therefore, we developed a new method to confirm epidural puncture by assessing indirect changes in epidural pressure using the Queckenstedt-test procedure, which increases subarachnoid pressure by compressing the internal jugular veins. Because this new method depends on the dynamics of cerebrospinal fluid, blockade of cerebrospinal fluid flow, as with severe spinal stenosis, is predicted to reduce changes in epidural pressure. Thus, in this study, we examined the effect of spinal stenosis on the Queckenstedt-test procedure. METHODS: Epidural puncture using the loss-of-resistance test was utilized to insert an electrode in patients undergoing cervical spine surgery. Epidural pressure was monitored during bilateral compression of the internal jugular veins to confirm epidural puncture. The insertion of the electrode into the epidural space was confirmed by observation of muscle twitch evoked by electric stimulation. RESULTS: In 60 patients, epidural puncture was performed with the loss-of-resistance test; a second trial was required in 13 patients. Increased epidural pressure was observed in 57/73 trials. When increased epidural pressure was observed, epidural puncture was always successful. The sensitivity and specificity of this method was 92.0% and 100%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 100% and 66.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: An increase in epidural pressure during bilateral compression of the internal jugular veins could offer a reliable method for confirming epidural puncture in combination with the loss-of-resistance test, even if patients have potential spinal canal narrowing.

Induction and emergence behavior of children undergoing general anesthesia correlates with maternal salivary amylase activity before the anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: The parents of the children who undergo surgery experience stress during the pre-anesthetic period. Such stress influences the mental status of their children, thereby inducing their pre-anesthetic anxiety and problematic behavior at emergence. Recently, measurement of salivary biomarkers was evaluated as stress biomarkers. Especially, alpha-amylase is utilized as an excellent index for psychological stress. In the present study, we tested whether salivary amylase activity of mothers before the surgery of their children correlates with the peri-operative children's behaviors. METHODS: A total of 22 pairs of mothers and children were analyzed. Maternal salivary amylase activity was evaluated at the entrance of the operation room. The children underwent minor plastic surgery under general anesthesia, and induction and emergence behaviors were assessed. RESULTS: The higher the maternal salivary amylase activity, the severer the children's induction anxiety (r(s)=-0.667, n=22, P<0.0001), and the higher the maternal amylase activity, the severer the children's emergence agitation (r(s)=0.705, n=22, P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Induction and emergence behaviors of children undergoing general anesthesia significantly correlated with their respective maternal salivary amylase activity during the pre-anesthetic period.

Fabrication of microstructures in photosensitive biodegradable polymers for tissue engineering applications.

Combining the MEMS technology and biology requirements for tissue engineering, the fabrication processes of microstructured chambers and microchannels made in biodegradable photosensitive polymers are presented. The fabrication processes, based on softlithography are very fast and flexible. Various single and multistepwise microstructures could be achieved using the biodegradable polymers. Microstructures down to 50microm, which are suitable for liver reconstructs, could be fabricated. As the pCLLA acrylate photosensitive polymer has interesting property for implantable bioreactors, that is, its softness, we examined the ability of various mammalian cells to grow and spread on it. With Hep G2 cells, human umbilical blood vessel endothelial cells (HUVEC), 3T3-L1 mouse fibroblasts, static cultures could be successfully performed on single stepwise microstructures. Then, by using this photosensitive biodegradable polymer, a microstructure with simple fluidic channels is fabricated and a perfusion experiment could be carried out. Both cell cultures and perfusion experiments suggested the possibility to use the present photosensitive polymer as microfluidic supports for biodegradable bioreactors for implantation applications.

Development of cone and plate-type rheometer for quantitative analysis of endothelial cell detachment by shear stress.

We developed an apparatus, which has a structure based on a cone and plate-type rheometer, to facilitate quantitative analysis of the detachment process of endothelial cells (EC) from diverse materials including 3-dimensional scaffolds such as plate, membrane and porous-shaped materials. As an artificial vascular model, a material inoculated with EC to a polycarbonate membrane coated with laminin was prepared. In consequence, reduced cell number, medium volume, and material size was enough to evaluate cell detachment from various materials by shear stress in our system. When shear stress was loaded to a material with EC, the ratio retained of initially inoculated cells decreased with time. Increase of magnitude of shear stress also decreased the ratio. We conclude that our apparatus could analyze quantitatively detachment of EC with ease for screenings to find materials that enhance adhesive force of EC. To produce artificial blood vessels with small diameter, our apparatus could become a useful instrument.

Paradoxical enhancement of spinal-cord-evoked potentials rostral and caudal to the site of progressive cord compression in the cat.

STUDY DESIGN: Analysis of the sequential waveform changes of the spinal-cord-evoked potentials (SCEPs) associated with progressive cord compression in the cat. OBJECTIVES: To document the phenomenon of paradoxical enhancement of SCEPs despite conduction abnormalities and to evaluate its possible significance. SETTING: Kochi Medical School, Kochi, Japan. METHODS: SCEPs were recorded simultaneously at four serial intervertebral levels, from T6-7 to T9-10 caudal to, and at three serial levels from T2-3 to T4-5 rostral to the compression site at T5-6 following epidural stimulation at L6 in 14 cats. RESULTS: Caudal to the compression site, the area of negative peak significantly increased toward maximal values of 277+/-36 (mean+/-SE), 151+/-9 and 110+/-4% as compared to the baseline precompression values (100%) at T6-7, T7-8, and T8-9, respectively. Rostral to the compression site, the area of negative peak significantly increased before subsequent deterioration and reached 105+/-2, 106+/-2, and 104+/-2% at T4-5, T3-4, and T2-3, respectively. The onset of negative peak enhancement, recorded either caudal or rostral to the compression site, showed a close temporal correlation (r>0.8, P&<0.001) with that of the prolongation in latency of SCEPs at T2-3. CONCLUSIONS: A progressive focal conduction block induced by compression of the spinal cord can paradoxically enhance the ascending SCEPs both caudally and, though less consistently, rostrally, representing a warning of the impending risk of paraplegia.