scholarly journals The Role of Dexmedetomidine in Pediatric Patients Presenting with an Anticholinergic Toxidrome

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Mitchell Zekhtser ◽  
Erin Carroll ◽  
Molly Boyd ◽  
Shashikanth Ambati

Background. We report two pediatric cases of anticholinergic toxidrome, including the youngest reported to date, in which standard therapeutic strategies were either contraindicated or ineffective, while treatment with dexmedetomidine was rapidly efficacious with no adverse effects. Moreover, with the recent shortage of physostigmine, we highlight an alternative treatment in this clinical setting. Case Summaries. In case 1, a two-year-old had an overdose presenting with an anticholinergic toxidrome. However, his hypopnea precluded the use of benzodiazepines due to the high likelihood of intubation. In case 2, a 14-year-old had a polypharmacy overdose inducing agitated delirium that was refractory to high-dose benzodiazepines. Due to the unknown ingestion, physostigmine was avoided. In both cases, dexmedetomidine helped the patient remain calm and metabolize the ingestions. Conclusion. Our experience suggests that dexmedetomidine may be a useful adjunct in anticholinergic presentations in the setting of polypharmacy, when standard therapy is proven ineffective, contraindicated, or unavailable.


1993 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 55-59
Author(s):  
P.F. Bouvy

SummaryIndications for lithium in the treatment of bipolar disorders are acute mania, depression and preventive treatment. In the case of insufficient efficacy or adverse effects the first alternative for lithium in acute mania is carbamazepine. However, the role of carbamazepine in preventive treatment is still uncertain. Well designed prospective research is hardly done. Clearly positive reports on the efficacy of carbamazepine concern specific lithium-resistant groups such as the ‘rapid-cyclers’. Valproic acid has been found effective in a few studies in bipolar disorders, especially in acute mania. Clonazepam is sometimes mentioned as a possible alternative, however recent research seriously questions the efficacy of clonazepam in bipolar disorders. Calcium-antagonists, especially verapamil, may have some efficacy in the treatment of acute mania, their role is still very uncertain.



2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soo Min Jeon ◽  
Susan Park ◽  
Soonhak Kwon ◽  
Jin-Won Kwon

Background: Potential adverse effects might be caused by increasing the number of antipsychotic prescriptions. However, the empirical evidence regarding pediatric psychiatric patients is insufficient. Therefore, we explored the antipsychotic-induced adverse effects focusing on the neurological system.Method: Using the medical information of pediatric patients retrieved from the claims data of Health Insurance Review and Assessment in Korea, we identified those psychiatric patients who were started on antipsychotic treatment at age 2–18 years between 2010 and 2018 (n = 10,969). In this study, movement disorders and seizures were considered as major neurological adverse events. The extended Cox model with time-varying covariates was applied to explore the association between antipsychotic medication and adverse events.Findings: Total 1,894 and 1,267 cases of movement disorders and seizures occurred in 32,046 and 33,280 person-years, respectively. The hazard risks of neurological adverse events were 3–8 times higher in the exposed to antipsychotics period than in the non-exposure period. Among the exposure periods, the most dangerous period was within 30 days of cumulative exposure. High doses or polypharmacy of antipsychotics was associated with increased risks of neurological adverse events. Among individual antipsychotics, haloperidol showed the highest risk of developing movement disorders among the examined agents. Quetiapine showed a lower risk of developing movement disorders but a higher risk of developing seizures than risperidone.Conclusion: These findings suggest that antipsychotics should be used with caution in pediatric patients, especially regarding initial exposure, high dose, and polypharmacy.



Author(s):  
Rubina Yasmin ◽  
AKM Akhtaruzzaman ◽  
Paresh Chandra Sarker ◽  
Neaz Ahmed ◽  
Ranadhir Kumar Kundu ◽  
...  

This prospective clinical study was carried out in the Dept. of Anaesthesia, Analgesia and Intensive Care Medicine, BSMMU, Dhaka, during the period of May 2003 to July 2003. The study was done to emphasize the importance of giving analgesics preemptively instead of waiting for the child to complain of pain and to produce smooth recovery after surgery by decreasing immediate postoperative pain in children by a simple, safe acceptable drug. The children scheduled for tonsillectomy under general anaesthesia were recruited in this study. The analgesic efficiency of rectal paracetamol in two doses, 25 mg/kg bodywt.(Gr-P25) and 50 mg/kg. bodywt. (Gr-P50) were compared with Diclofenac Sodium suppository 1mg/ kg body weight (Gr-D) given half an hour before induction of anaesthesia. Pain scoring was done by TPPPS (Toddler Pre-schooler postoperative pain scale). Heart rate and blood pressure were stable in Gr-P50 and Gr-D. Time of first demand of analgesic was delayed in Gr-P50 and Gr-D. Total paracetamol consumption in 24 hours was less in Gr-P50(181±14.25) and Gr-D (212±25) than Gr-P25(318± 26.39). Total duration of analgesia in Gr- P50 (657±9.94) mins. and in Gr- D(502±10.63) mins. and in Gr-P25(288±23.17) mins. Pre-emptive high dose rectal paracetamol appears to be more effective than diclofenac sodium suppository for postoperative analgesia in children undergoing tonsillectomy. Journal of BSA, Vol. 18, No. 1 & 2, 2005 p.9-16



2003 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deanna Kelly ◽  
Robert Conley ◽  
Charles Richardson ◽  
Carol Tamminga ◽  
William Carpenter


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 892-901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Luiza Ataide Carneiro de Paula Gonzaga ◽  
Vitória Andrade Palmeira ◽  
Thomas Felipe Silva Ribeiro ◽  
Larissa Braga Costa ◽  
Karla Emília de Sá Rodrigues ◽  
...  

Background: Pediatric tumors remain the highest cause of death in developed countries. Research on novel therapeutic strategies with lesser side effects is of utmost importance. In this scenario, the role of Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) axes, the classical one formed by angiotensinconverting enzyme (ACE), Angiotensin II and AT1 receptor and the alternative axis composed by ACE2, Angiotensin-(1-7) and Mas receptor, have been investigated in cancer. Objective: This review aimed to summarize the pathophysiological role of RAS in cancer, evidence for anti-tumor effects of ACE2/Angiotensin-(1-7)/Mas receptor axis and future therapeutic perspectives for pediatric cancer. Methods: Pubmed, Scopus and Scielo were searched in regard to RAS molecules in human cancer and pediatric patients. The search terms were “RAS”, “ACE”, “Angiotensin-(1-7)”, “ACE2”, “Angiotensin II”, “AT1 receptor”, “Mas receptor”, “Pediatric”, “Cancer”. Results: Experimental studies have shown that Angiotensin-(1-7) inhibits the growth of tumor cells and reduces local inflammation and angiogenesis in several types of cancer. Clinical trials with Angiotensin-( 1-7) or TXA127, a pharmaceutical grade formulation of the naturally occurring peptide, have reported promising findings, but not enough to recommend medical use in human cancer. In regard to pediatric cancer, only three articles that marginally investigated RAS components were found and none of them evaluated molecules of the alternative RAS axis. Conclusion: Despite the potential applicability of Angiotensin-(1-7) in pediatric tumors, the role of this molecule was never tested. Further clinical trials are necessary, also including pediatric patients, to confirm safety and efficiency and to define therapeutic targets.



2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-27
Author(s):  
Manzoor M. Khan

Interstitial lung disease, a term for a group of disorders, causes lung fibrosis, is mostly refractory to treatments and has a high death rate. After diagnosis the survival is up to 3 years but in some cases the patients live much longer. It involves a heterogenous group of lung diseases that exhibit progressive and irreversible destruction of the lung due to the formation of scars. This results in lung malfunction, disruption of gas exchange, and eventual death because of respiratory failure. The etiology of lung fibrosis is mostly unknown with a few exceptions. The major characteristics of the disease are comprised of injury of epithelial type II cells, increased apoptosis, chronic inflammation, monocytic and lymphocytic infiltration, accumulation of myofibroblasts, and inability to repair damaged tissue properly. These events result in abnormal collagen deposition and scarring. The inflammation process is mild, and the disease is primarily fibrotic driven. Immunosuppressants do not treat the disease but the evidence is evolving that both innate and acquired immune responses a well as the cytokines contribute to at least early progression of the disease. Furthermore, mediators of inflammation including cytokines are involved throughout the process of lung fibrosis. The diverse clinical outcome of the disease is due to different pattern of inflammatory markers. Nonetheless, the development of novel therapeutic strategies requires better understanding of the role of the immune response. This review highlights the role of the immune response in interstitial lung disease and considers the therapeutic strategies based on these observations. For this review several literature data sources were used to assess the role of the immune response in interstitial lung disease and to evaluate the possible therapeutic strategies for the disease.



2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhaojun Duan ◽  
Yunping Luo

AbstractImmunotherapy is regarded as the most promising treatment for cancers. Various cancer immunotherapies, including adoptive cellular immunotherapy, tumor vaccines, antibodies, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and small-molecule inhibitors, have achieved certain successes. In this review, we summarize the role of macrophages in current immunotherapies and the advantages of targeting macrophages. To better understand and make better use of this type of cell, their development and differentiation characteristics, categories, typical markers, and functions were collated at the beginning of the review. Therapeutic strategies based on or combined with macrophages have the potential to improve the treatment efficacy of cancer therapies.



2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7_suppl3) ◽  
pp. 2325967121S0008
Author(s):  
Adam Saloom ◽  
Nick Purcell ◽  
Matthew Ruhe ◽  
Jorge Gomez ◽  
Jonathan Santana ◽  
...  

Background: Posterior ankle impingement (PAI) is a known cause of posterior ankle pain in athletes performing repetitive plantarflexion motion. Even though empirically recommended in adult PAI, there is minimal literature related to the role of conservative physical therapy (PT) in pediatric patients. Purpose: To identify patient characteristics and determine if there is a difference in pediatric patients with PAI who were successful with conservative PT and those who were unsuccessful, requiring surgical intervention. Methods: Prospective study at a tertiary children’s hospital included patients <18 years diagnosed with PAI and underwent PT. Patients who received PT at an external facility were excluded. Collected data included demographics, initial presentation at PT evaluation, treatment throughout PT, patient presentation at PT discharge, time to return to sport (RTS) from initial PT evaluation (if successful), time to surgery from initial PT evaluation (if unsuccessful). Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scores were collected. Group comparisons were conducted using independent t-tests or chi-square analyses (alpha level set at .05). Results: 31 (12 males, 19 females) patients diagnosed with PAI were enrolled with a mean age 12.61 years (range: 8-17). Gymnastics, football, and basketball were the most commonly implicated sports (42% patients). All patients underwent initial conservative PT for an average of 16.24 weeks (9.23 visits ±7.73). 20/31(64.5%) patients failed conservative management and underwent arthroscopic debridement. PAI pathology was predominantly bony in 61.3% and soft tissue 38.7%. Between the successful PT group and unsuccessful PT group, there was no difference in the proportion of athletes/non-athletes (p=.643). Average RTS time for successful group was 11.47 weeks and average time to surgery for unsuccessful group was 17.82 weeks. There were no significant differences in sex (p=.332), age (p=.674), number of PT visits (p=.945), initial weight-bearing status (p=.367), use of manual therapy (p=.074) including manipulation (p=.172) and mobilization (p=.507), sport (p=.272), initial evaluation ankle ROM (p>.05). Initial AOFAS scores for pain, function, alignment, or total were not significantly different (p=.551, .998, .555, .964 respectively). Conclusion: The first prospective study in pediatric patients with PAI demonstrates that even though success of PT is not dependent on age, sex, sport or PAI pathology, a notable proportion of patients who undergo PT do not need surgery. Conservative management including PT should be the initial line of management for PAI. PT treatment and surgery (if unsuccessful with PT) allowed patients to return to prior level of activity/sports. Tables/Figures: [Table: see text]



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