Succinylcholine(SCh)-induced muscle fasciculations may be prevented by pretreatment with small doses of nondepolarizing muscle relaxants. The optimal timing of pretreatment to abolish fasciculation varies according to the drug used and dose. In this study, we determined the optimal timing of pretreatment of pancuronium to prevent muscular fasciculation in 100 patients. Each group (n=20) was received pancuronium 0.015 mg/kg at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 minutes before SCh 3 mg/kg administration, respectively. The degree of fasciculations after SCh administration was observed and classified into one of 4 grade. There were significant differences between each groups (Ridit scores=10.078, p<0.01) To compare observed fasciculations of one grpup with those of the others, the degree of fasciculations was summed according to an arbitrary scale. The summation of grade in 4 minute group was lowest in this scale. It was concluded that the optimal timing of pretreatment, pancuronium 0.015 mg/kg, was 4 minutes before SCh 3 mg/kg injection.
Fasciculation* ; Humans ; Pancuronium* ; Succinylcholine*

BACKGROUND: Postoperative sore throat is a common complication of endotracheal intubation; the thicker the endotracheal tube, the higher the frequency of postoperative sore throat. So, we evaluated the effect of benzydamine hydrochloride spray on postoperative sore throat, associated with double-lumen endobronchial intubation. METHODS: Sixty patients undergoing thoracic surgery were scheduled and enrolled for intubation, with a double-lumen endobronchial tube. Of these patients, 30 were sprayed with benzydamine hydrochloride (group B), and 30 with normal saline (group N), 10 minutes before intubation was performed. Patients were randomly assigned to the two groups. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded before, and after endotracheal intubation. Symptoms of sore throat, hoarseness, and dysphagia were examined one hour, as well as 24 hours, after surgery. RESULTS: Incidence of sore throat was 73.3% and 23.3% (P < 0.001) in groups N and B, respectively, at one hour after surgery. In addition, incidence of sore throat at 24 hours after the operation, was also statistically significant (66.6% and 20.0%, P = 0.001). Frequency of dysphagia at one hour, and 24 hours after surgery, was lower in group B. There were no significant differences in heart rate, blood pressure, and hoarseness at 24 hours after surgery between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In cases wherein a double-lumen endobronchial tube was used, an oropharyngeal spray of benzydamine hydrochloride before tracheal intubation, reduced incidence of postoperative sore throat.
Benzydamine ; Blood Pressure ; Deglutition Disorders ; Heart Rate ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Pharyngitis ; Postoperative Period ; Thoracic Surgery

Repeated morphine administration induces tolerance to its analgesic effects. A previous study reported that repeated morphine treatment activates transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) expression in the sciatic nerve, dorsal root ganglion, and spinal cord, contributing to morphine tolerance. In the present study, we analyzed TRPV1 expression and binding sites in supraspinal pain pathways in morphine-tolerant mice. The TRPV1 mRNA levels and binding sites were remarkably increased in the cortex and thalamus of these animals. Our data provide additional insights into the effects of morphine on TRPV1 in the brain and suggest that changes in the expression of, and binding to TRPV1 in the brain are involved in morphine tolerance.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between preoperative parameters and extrathyroidal extension (ETE) of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) according to the BRAF mutation and to evaluate the preoperative predictability of ETE. METHODS: We analyzed the medical records of 332 patients with PTMC (140 in the BRAF– group and 192 in the BRAF+ group). The presence of ETE was subjected to a correlation analysis with age, sex, tumor size, clinical nodal status, and ultrasonography (US) findings. Among the US findings, the correlation between tumors and the thyroid capsule was categorized into four groups; US group A, intraparechymal; US group B, tumor abutting the capsule <50% of diameter; US group C, tumor abutting >50% of diameter; and US group D, tumor destroyed the capsule. The predictive value of ETE, including sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were evaluated. RESULTS: Tumor size and US group were significantly correlated with gross ETE in the BRAF– and BRAF+ groups. Tumor size of 0.5 cm and US groups B and C in the BRAF– group were cutoff values for gross ETE, with a negative predictive value of 100%, whereas tumor size of 0.7 cm and US groups A and B in the BRAF+ group had negative predictive values of 92.4% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Excluding of ETE by US was categorized according to tumor size and US findings. A different categorization to exclude ETE is needed according to the BRAF mutation.
Capsules ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thyroid Gland* ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: To evaluate the pathological and clinical effects of preoperative chemoradiation (CCRT) in cases of locally advanced rectal cancer and to determine the predictive factors for tumor downstaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 2004 to August 2008, 33 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer were treated with preoperative CCRT. Twenty-eight patients (84.8%) were treated using a concomitant boost technique while five (15.2%) patients were treated using a cone down boost technique. All patients received 50.4 Gy of irradiation and concurrent chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil. The median follow-up duration was 24.2 months (range, 9.8 to 64.7 months). RESULTS: Thirty-one (93.9%) patients underwent surgery. Twenty-four patients (72.7%) underwent anal sphincter-preserving surgery. The 3-year disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival rates were 63.4% and 78.8%, respectively. Post-operative factors were more important for DFS. Pathologic N stage, margin status, and pathologic differentiation were significant prognostic factors (p=0.001, 0.029, 0.030). Tumor size and lymphovascular invasion were also associated with marginal significance (p=0.081, 0.073). However, only pre-treatment T stage was a significant pre-operative factor (p=0.018). The complete pathological response rate was 9.1%. T-downstaging was observed in ten (30.3%) patients, whereas N-downstaging was found in 24 (72.7%) patients. Pre-treatment T stage and the interval between CCRT and operation were the predictive factors for downstaging in a univariate analysis (p=0.029, 0.027). Pre-treatment carcinoembryogenic antigen was also associated with marginal significance (p=0.068). CONCLUSION: The survival of rectal cancer patients can be better determined based on post-operative findings. Therefore, pre-operative CCRT for downstaging of the tumor seems to be important. Pre-treatment T stage and the interval between CCRT and operation can be used to predict downstaging.
Disease-Free Survival ; Fluorouracil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Survival Rate

Intraductal papillary mucinous tumor (IPMT) of the pancreas is a recently understood unique clinicopathologic disease entity comprising approximately 1% of all exocrine pancreatic tumors and 11% of cystic neoplasms of pancreas. It has been reported worldwide, mostly in Japan. It is generally characterized by recurrent pancreatitis, mucin oozing from the papilla of Vater, and dilated pancreatic duct with intraductal filling defects. Microscopically, the mucin-producing columnar epithelium forms papillary proliferation into the dilated pancreatic duct and this feature differentiates IPMT of the pancreas from the more common mucinous cystic neoplasms of the pancreas which usually do not communicate with the pancreatic duct. On the other hand, mucin-hypersecreting bile duct tumors have been rarely reported in the English literature. We herein present the first case of mucin-hypersecreting bile duct tumor combied with IPMT of the pancreas with a review of the related literature.
Bile Ducts ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic* ; Epithelium ; Hand ; Japan ; Mucins* ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatitis

Purpose: Since 1995, the Korean Gastric Cancer Association (KGCA) has been periodically conducting nationwide surveys on patients with surgically treated gastric cancer. This study details the results of the survey conducted in 2023. Materials and Methods: The survey was conducted from March to December 2024 using a standardized case report form. Data were collected on 86 items, including patient demographics, tumor characteristics, surgical procedures, and surgical outcomes. The results of the 2023 survey were compared with those of previous surveys. Results: Data from 12,751 cases were collected from 66 institutions. The mean patient age was 64.6 years, and the proportion of patients aged ≥71 years increased from 9.1% in 1995 to 31.7% in 2023. The proportion of upper-third tumors slightly decreased to 16.8% compared to 20.9% in 2019. Early gastric cancer accounted for 63.1% of cases in 2023.Regarding operative procedures, a totally laparoscopic approach was most frequently applied (63.2%) in 2023, while robotic gastrectomy steadily increased to 9.5% from 2.1% in 2014.The most common anastomotic method was the Billroth II procedure (48.8%) after distal gastrectomy and double-tract reconstruction (51.9%) after proximal gastrectomy in 2023.However, the proportion of esophago-gastrostomy with anti-reflux procedures increased to 30.9%. The rates of post-operative mortality and overall complications were 1.0% and 15.3%, respectively. Conclusions The results of the 2023 nationwide survey demonstrate the current status of gastric cancer treatment in Korea. This information will provide a basis for future gastric cancer research.

Purpose: Since 1995, the Korean Gastric Cancer Association (KGCA) has been periodically conducting nationwide surveys on patients with surgically treated gastric cancer. This study details the results of the survey conducted in 2023. Materials and Methods: The survey was conducted from March to December 2024 using a standardized case report form. Data were collected on 86 items, including patient demographics, tumor characteristics, surgical procedures, and surgical outcomes. The results of the 2023 survey were compared with those of previous surveys. Results: Data from 12,751 cases were collected from 66 institutions. The mean patient age was 64.6 years, and the proportion of patients aged ≥71 years increased from 9.1% in 1995 to 31.7% in 2023. The proportion of upper-third tumors slightly decreased to 16.8% compared to 20.9% in 2019. Early gastric cancer accounted for 63.1% of cases in 2023.Regarding operative procedures, a totally laparoscopic approach was most frequently applied (63.2%) in 2023, while robotic gastrectomy steadily increased to 9.5% from 2.1% in 2014.The most common anastomotic method was the Billroth II procedure (48.8%) after distal gastrectomy and double-tract reconstruction (51.9%) after proximal gastrectomy in 2023.However, the proportion of esophago-gastrostomy with anti-reflux procedures increased to 30.9%. The rates of post-operative mortality and overall complications were 1.0% and 15.3%, respectively. Conclusions The results of the 2023 nationwide survey demonstrate the current status of gastric cancer treatment in Korea. This information will provide a basis for future gastric cancer research.