Effect of local wound infiltration with ropivacaine on postoperative pain relief and stress response reduction after open hepatectomy

AIM To prospectively evaluate the effect of local wound infiltration with ropivacaine on postoperative pain relief and stress response reduction after open hepatectomy.METHODS A total of 56 patients undergoing open hepatectomy were randomly divided into two groups:a ropivacaine group(wound infiltration with ropivacaine solution)and a control group(infiltration with isotonic saline solution).A visual analog scale(VAS)at rest and on movement was used to measure postoperative pain for the first 48 h after surgery.Mean arterial pressure(MAP),heart rate(HR),time to bowel recovery,length of hospitalization after surgery,cumulative sufentanil consumption,and incidence of nausea and vomiting were compared between the two groups.Surgical stress hormones(epinephrine,norepinephrine,and cortisol)were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and the results were compared. RESULTS VAS scores both at rest and on movement at 24 h and48 h were similar between the two groups.Significantly lower VAS scores were detected at 0,6,and 12 h in the ropivacaine group compared with the control group(P<0.05 for all).MAP was significantly lower at 6,12,and 24 h(P<0.05 for all);HR was significantly lower at 0,6,12,and 24 h(P<0.05 for all);time to bowel recovery and length of hospitalization after surgery(P<0.05 for both)were significantly shortened;and cumulative sufentanil consumption was significantly lower at 6,12,24,and 36 h(P<0.05 for all)in the ropivacaine group than in the control group,although the incidence of nausea and vomiting showed no significant difference between the two groups.The levels of epinephrine,norepinephrine,and cortisol were significantly lower in the ropivacaine group than in the control group at 24 and 48 h(P<0.01 for all). CONCLUSION Local wound infiltration with ropivacaine after open hepatectomy can improve postoperative pain relief,reduce surgical stress response,and accelerate postoperative recovery.

Pure large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma originating from the endometrium: A case report

BACKGROUND Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma(LCNEC)of the endometrium is an uncommon and highly aggressive tumor that has not been comprehensively characterized.We report a case of pure endometrial LCNEC and review the current literature of similar cases to raise awareness of the histological features,treatment,and prognosis of this tumor.CASE SUMMARY We report the case of a 73-year-old woman who presented with irregular postmenopausal vaginal bleeding.Ultrasonography showed an enlarged uterus and a 5.1 cm×3.3 cm area of medium and low echogenicity in the uterine cavity.Biopsy by dilatation and curettage suggested poorly differentiated carcinoma.Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a heterogeneously enhanced uterine tumor with diffuse infiltration of the posterior wall of the uterine myometrium and enlarged pelvic lymph nodes.The patient underwent a hysterectomy and bilateral adnexal resection.Gross observation revealed an ill-defined white solid mass of the posterior wall of the uterus infiltrating into the serosa with multiple solid nodules on the serous surface.Microscopically,the tumor cells showed neuroendocrine morphology(organoid nesting).Immunohistochemistry revealed the tumor cells were diffusely positive for the neuroendocrine markers CD56,chromogranin A,and synaptophysin.Thus,the tumor was diagnosed as stage IIIC endometrial LCNEC.CONCLUSION Pathologic findings and immunohistochemistry are essential in making a diagnosis of endometrial LCNEC.

Synthesis and characterization of Pt-MoO_x-TiO_2 electrodes for direct ethanol fuel cells

To enhance the CO-tolerance performance of anode catalysts for direct ethanol fuel cells,carbon nanotubes were modified by titanium dioxide （donated as CNTs@TiO2） and subsequently served as the support for the preparation of Pt/CNTs@TiO2 and Pt-Mo/CNTs@TiO2 electrocatalysts via a UV-photoreduction method.The physicochemical characterizations of the catalysts were carried out by using X-ray diffraction （XRD）,transmission electron microscopy （TEM）,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS）,and infrared spectroscopy of adsorbed probe ammonia molecules.The electrocatalytic properties of the catalysts for methanol oxidation were investigated by the cyclic voltammetry technique.The results show that Pt-Mo/CNTs@TiO2 electrode exhibits the highest performance in all the electrodes.It is explained that,the structure,the oxidation states,and the acid-base properties of the catalysts are influenced due to the strong interaction between Ti and Mo species by adding TiO2 and MoOx to the Pt-based catalysts.

Bronchiolar adenoma with unusual presentation:Two case reports

BACKGROUND The clinicopathological features,immunohistochemical characteristics,and genetic mutation profile of two unusual cases of distal bronchiolar adenoma are retrospectively analyzed and the relevant literature is reviewed.CASE SUMMARY Case 1 was a 63-year-old female patient who had a mixed ground-glass nodule,with mild cells in morphology,visible cilia,and bilayer structures in focal areas.Immunohistochemical staining for P63 and cytokeratin(CK)5/6 revealed the lack of a continuous bilayer structure in most areas,and no mutations were found in epidermal growth factor receptor,anaplastic lymphoma kinase,ROS1,Kirsten rat sarcoma,PIK3CA,BRAF,human epidermal growth factor receptor-2(HER2),RET,and neuroblastoma RAS genes.Case 2 was a 58-year-old female patient who presented with a solid nodule,in which most cells were observed to be medium sized,the nuclear chromatin was pale and homogeneous,local cells had atypia,and cilia were found locally.Immunohistochemical staining for P63 and CK5/6 showed no expression of these proteins in mild cell morphology whereas the heteromorphic cells showed a bilayer structure.The same nine genes as above were analyzed,and HER2 gene mutation was identified.CONCLUSION Some unresolved questions remain to be answered to determine whether the lesion is a benign adenoma or a part of the process of malignant transformation from benign adenoma of the bronchial epithelium.Furthermore,whether lesions with atypical bilayer structures are similar to atypical hyperplastic lesions of the breast remains to be elucidated.Moreover,clarity on whether these lesions can be called atypical bronchiolar adenoma and whether they are invasive precursor lesions is needed.Future studies should examine the diagnostic significance of HER2 gene mutation as a prognostic indicator.