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Biomedical subjects

C B Berde

Publications and source records attributed to C B Berde.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Laser Doppler measurements of skin blood flow before, during, and after lumbar sympathetic blockade in children and young adults with reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome.

Changes in the skin capillary blood flow (SBF) and temperature before, during, and 1 hour after unilateral lumbar paravertebral sympathetic blockade (LSB) were studied simultaneously with laser Doppler flowmetry and thermometry in patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome. The baseline flow measurements in the toes on the affected limb were significantly lower than in the contralateral limb (p less than 0.01). During LSB, a 10-fold increase in SBF was detected within 4 minutes after injection of a local anesthetic agent when the sympathetic blockade was effective; an increase of more than 1 degrees C in the skin temperature occurred within 11 minutes. Measurements 1 hour after blockade showed an 18-fold (mean) increase in SBF in the toes (p less than 0.0001) and a 2-fold (mean) increase in SBF in the thighs (p less than 0.001). There was a significant decrease in the skin blood flow in the contralateral toes after the sympathetic blockade (p less than 0.01). We conclude that laser Doppler flow measurements can be used to detect immediate onset of sympathetic blockade in patients under general anesthetic or conscious sedation.

Adolescent↗

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy in children. Clinical characteristics and follow-up of seventy patients.

We report on the experience with our first seventy patients who had reflex sympathetic dystrophy and were less than eighteen years old (average age, 12.5 years). In our series, the patients were predominantly girls (male to female ratio, 11:59) and the lower extremity was involved most often (sixty-one of the seventy patients). The average time from the initial injury to the diagnosis was one year, which indicates that the syndrome remains under-recognized in patients in this age-group. Conservative treatment with physical therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, psychological therapies including cognitive-behavioral management and relaxation training, and tricyclic anti-depressants was effective in improving the average scores for pain and function for forty patients. Sympathetic blocks were helpful for twenty-eight of thirty-seven patients. Thirty-eight of the seventy patients in the series continued to have some degree of residual pain and dysfunction. Reflex sympathetic dystrophy in children differs in presentation and clinical course from the syndrome in adults. It is best treated in a multidisciplinary fashion.

Algorithms↗

High sensitivity quantification of RNA from gels and autoradiograms with affordable optical scanning.

To increase sensitivity and to improve normalization of RNA levels in Northern blot analysis, a comparatively inexpensive optical scanner was utilized for digitizing photonegatives of ethidium bromide stained gels and autoradiograms. The optical scanner captures the image with a maximum resolution of 300 dots per inch by assigning one of 256 gray levels (8-bit) to each dot in the image. With the use of the public domain NIH Image program (requires a Macintosh II and an 8-bit video card), gel or autoradiogram bands in the digitized image are selected and their average gray scale density measured. We found that the digitized image of a photonegative of a TAE (Tris-acetate/EDTA) agarose gel, loaded incrementally with 50-1500 ng total RNA, produced a linear response over a 4-fold range down to 100 ng (R2 greater than 0.950). In utilizing "quantification" gels like this, RNA samples that are too dilute or too small for traditional spectrophotometric techniques can be normalized and loaded uniformly onto subsequent Northern gels. Results from autoradiogram scans demonstrate highly linear gray scale responses over a 4-fold range of total RNA (R2 greater than 0.950) that are reproducible with different blots and probe types (e.g., riboprobe, cDNA and oligonucleotide). In addition, we describe a normalization technique using a 30-mer oligonucleotide probe for rat 28S ribosomal RNA as a measure of total RNA loaded per gel lane. Altogether, this scanning, ribosomal RNA normalization system allows the measurement of relative changes between 20% and 400% using standard autoradiographic methods.

Actins↗

Comparison of morphine and methadone for prevention of postoperative pain in 3- to 7-year-old children.

A randomized, double-blind, prospective study was performed to determine the effects of perioperative administration of morphine or methadone on postoperative analgesic requirements and pain scores in 35 children aged 3 to 7 years undergoing major surgery. After a standardized induction of anesthesia, methadone or morphine, 0.2 mg/kg, was blindly administered, and supplemental doses were titrated to achieve comfort in the recovery room. Pain was assessed during the next 36 hours with a combination of validated behavioral and self-report measures. Patients in the methadone group required fewer supplemental opioid analgesic drugs during the next 36 hours, and reported lower pain scores. No patient had prolonged emergence from anesthesia, and no patient required naloxone or postoperative ventilatory assistance. No major adverse events occurred. We conclude that perioperative intravenous administration of methadone is an effective, inexpensive, and technologically simple means for providing prolonged analgesia for children after surgery.

Algorithms↗

Patient-controlled analgesia in children and adolescents: a randomized, prospective comparison with intramuscular administration of morphine for postoperative analgesia.

A randomized, prospective trial of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), that is, a method of analgesia administration involving a computer-driven pump activated by patients to receive small doses within defined limits was performed in 82 children and adolescents after major orthopedic surgery to compare (1) intramuscularly administered morphine, (2) PCA morphine and (3) PCA morphine with a low-dose continuous morphine infusion (PCA-plus). Patients receiving PCA and PCA-plus had lower pain scores and greater satisfaction than patients receiving intramuscularly administered morphine. The three groups used equal amounts of morphine and most measures of recovery were identical in the groups. In particular, PCA and PCA-plus did not increase the incidence of opioid-related complications, and patients receiving PCA-plus were less sedated than patients receiving intramuscular therapy. We conclude that PCA and PCA-plus are safe and effective methods of pain relief in children and adolescents after orthopedic surgery, are better accepted than intramuscular injections, and do not increase perioperative morbidity.

Adolescent↗

Efficacy of adrenaline, lignocaine-adrenaline and isoprenaline as a test dose in halothane-anaesthetized lambs.

It has been shown that an epidural test dose with adrenaline does not always detect an intravascular injection in halothane-anaesthetized children. To ascertain whether test dosing with other agents might be more useful, we sought to determine if and at what dose levels three different intravenous drugs (adrenaline, isoprenaline and 1% lignocaine with 1/200,000 adrenaline) produced an increase in heart rate (HR) in halothane-anaesthetized lambs. Eight 2-week-old lambs were anaesthetized with 1% halothane in oxygen. The lambs were intubated and ventilated in order to maintain end-tidal and arterial CO2 within normal limits; HR and blood pressure before and 15-180 s after the injection of four increasing doses of each drug were recorded. The same set of measurements was repeated after the intravenous injection of atropine 10 micrograms kg-1. Adrenaline-containing doses produced a more sustained increase in HR (P less than 0.05, ANOVA) at lower doses of adrenaline when atropine was injected first. This increase did not occur in all lambs, and dysrhythmias were manifest in some. Isoprenaline always produced a significant increase in HR without dysrhythmias whether atropine was given or not. We conclude that in halothane-anaesthetized lambs, isoprenaline is a more reliable indicator of intravascular injection than adrenaline.

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗

Midazolam for conscious sedation during pediatric oncology procedures: safety and recovery parameters.

Multiple bone marrow aspirations or biopsies and lumbar punctures are a necessary part of the diagnosis and treatment of many pediatric cancer patients. Pharmacologic sedation may decrease the distress associated with these procedures. Midazolam (MDZ, Versed) is a water-soluble, rapid-onset, short-duration benzodiazepine that has not been studied widely in children. We prospectively evaluated safety and recovery parameters for intravenous MDZ used for conscious sedation by oncologists (without an anesthesiologist in attendance) for 70 procedures (bone marrow aspirations, lumbar punctures, or bone marrow aspirations plus lumbar punctures) in 24 ambulatory pediatric cancer patients, aged 1.5 to 15.5 years. MDZ was used alone or in combination with morphine or fentanyl. Respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, and heart rate were monitored. Sedation, anxiolysis, and recovery were assessed with a behavior score and a modified recovery room discharge score. Restraint was not required in 45% of the procedures. In no case was a respiratory rate less than 12 observed. In nine procedures (13%), an oxygen saturation less than or equal to 90 occurred, all within 10 minutes after the last dose of MDZ. Ten procedures (14%) required verbal stimulation to take deeper breaths. Two patients did not respond immediately to verbal stimulation and received face-mask oxygen. Hypoxemia was not correlated with opioid use. Hypoxemia appears to be related to total MDZ dose and may occur with normal respiratory rates; all cases resolved with verbal stimulation or face-mask oxygen without specific airway maneuvers or assisted ventilation. Heart rate and blood pressure remained stable in all 70 procedures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Discordance between self-report and behavioral pain measures in children aged 3-7 years after surgery.

This study examined concurrent self-reports of pain intensity and behavioral responses in 25 children aged 3-7 yr. Behavioral (Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale, CHEOPS) and self-report (the Oucher and Analogue Chromatic Continuous Scale) measures of pain were obtained following major surgery. The two self-report measures were strongly and significantly correlated, and the pattern of scores over the 36-hr observation period was as expected. There was little relationship between the scores for the self-report and the behavioral measures. Many children who reported severe pain manifested few of the behavioral indicators of distress used in the CHEOPS. This behavioral response pattern may occur commonly in children experiencing pain after surgery and may limit the applicability of current behavioral scales as sole measures of pain intensity in younger children.

Behavior↗

Regional analgesia on pediatric medical and surgical wards.

Regional anesthetic approaches to pain management were examined in 72 children and young adults (ages 3 weeks to 31 years) who were observed on the surgical or medical wards of a children's hospital separate from intensive care areas. A protocol was devised to permit safe conduct of these techniques on the ward. Full resuscitation supplies were kept at each bedside. All patients receiving epidural narcotics had an apnea monitor, hourly counting of respiratory rates, and restriction of systemic analgesics. All bolus re-injections into the catheters were performed by an anesthesiologist who monitored the patient for 20 min. Minor side-effects, including pruritus, nausea, and urinary retention were common, but manageable. Significant complications included: one case of decubitus ulcers requiring skin-grafting, one episode of mild hypotension in a patient with terminal malignancy, requiring ephedrine and phenylephrine, and one mild toxic reaction on test dosing due to presumed intravascular migration of a lumber sympathetic catheter. Regional analgesic techniques can provide excellent analgesia on the wards for selected children and young adults, provided precautions are taken. Further study is required to define specific indications, risks and benefits relative to simpler techniques.

Adolescent↗

Pharmacologic management of pain in children and adolescents.

In the management of chronic pain conditions, the combination of pharmacologic measures with physical and psychologic modalities becomes even more important. A pain clinic and pain consultation service are one model that facilitates this combined approach. Initial management of mild to moderate pain begins with nonopioid analgesics such as acetaminophen and NSAIDs. Persistent severe pain of a neuropathic character merits careful trials of antidepressants or anticonvulsants. Traditionally, use of opioids for chronic pain not due to cancer has been discouraged for adults as well as children. Recently, this view was challenged by reports by Portenoy and Foley and by Taub, who followed a group of adults with chronic pain due to a variety of conditions. They found that the majority of these patients, if managed with opioids on a regular schedule as part of an overall treatment program, could be made comfortable and were able to increase their level of functioning for several years. In general, dosage escalation and compulsive drug-seeking behaviors were not seen. Since this report was retrospective and did not involve children, caution must be applied in extrapolating these findings to children. For example, remarkably little is known about the effects of chronic opioid administration in childhood on growth and development. Certainly, this issue deserves further study before general recommendations can be made. It seems prudent to emphasize the importance of maximizing nonpharmacologic and nonopioid approaches in the management of chronic pain in children prior to embarking on long-term use of opioids.

Acetaminophen↗

Pediatric postoperative pain management.

This article reviews methods to relieve postoperative pain in most children. It also discusses the major barriers to treatment and considers the provision of opioids via a painless route as an alternative to the more usual intramuscular (and painful) route.

Adolescent↗

Sufentanil, morphine, met-enkephalin, and kappa-agonist (U-50,488H) inhibit substance P release from primary sensory neurons: a model for presynaptic spinal opioid actions.

An in vitro model system for analysis of presynaptic inhibitory actions of spinal opioids has been applied. Embryonic sensory neurons derived from chick dorsal root ganglia were grown in primary cell culture, and the release of substance P was evoked by electrical field stimulation during exposure to drugs with well-demonstrated affinity for opioid receptors. This allowed a pharmacologic characterization of the inhibitory actions of specific opioid agonists on the release of substance P as measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Sufentanil (0.5 microM), a high affinity mu receptor agonist, U-50,488H (25 microM), a selective kappa receptor agonist, and morphine (10 microM), an agonist with high affinity for mu and delta receptors, inhibited the evoked release of substance P by approximately 60%, 40%, and 50%, respectively. For sufentanil the response was demonstrated to be dose-dependent. As is the case for its analgesic action in vivo, morphine was approximately 50-fold less potent than sufentanil on a molar basis in this assay. The actions of sufentanil, U-50-488H and morphine were mimicked by the endogenous opioid peptide met-enkephalin, and its stable synthetic analog D-ala2-met5-enkephalinamide (DAME). Naloxone (25 microM), an opioid receptor antagonist, blocked the inhibitory action of sufentanil (0.5 microM), morphine (5 microM), and DAME (5 microM), but not U-50,488H (10 microM). The action of U-50,488H was partially blocked by the antagonist naltrexone (25 microM). Stereo-selectivity of agonist action was confirmed by the failure of dextrorphan (50 microM), an inactive opioid isomer, to inhibit the release of substance P.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cycloh↗