Recovery profile of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) bacteria inhibited by ZnO nanoparticles

The potential effects of nanoparticles (NPs) on biological treatment processes have become significant due to their increasing industrial applications. The purpose of this research was to investigate the self-recovery ability of anammox bacteria following to acute ZnO NPs toxicity. In this context, a 2-liter lab-scale anammox reactor was operated for 550 days to enrich the biomass required to the batch exposure tests. Anammox culture was firstly exposed to four different doses of ZnO NPs (50, 75, 100 and 200 mg/L) for 24 h. Then, the ZnO NPs were removed and self-recovery performance of the anammox bacteria was assessed by evaluating the nitrogen removal capacities for 72 h. Besides the nitrogen removal performance, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production was also detected to deeply understand the response of the enriched anammox culture against ZnO NPs exposure. The results revealed that, sudden and high load of ZnO NPs (100 and 200 mg/L) resulted in persistent impairment on the nitrogen removal performance of the enriched anammox culture. However, relatively lower doses (50 and 75 mg/L) caused deceleration of the nitrogen removal performance during the recovery period. In addition, EPS content in the reactor decreased along with escalating load of ZnO NPs.

A comparative study of propofol based total intravenous anesthesia and sevoflurane based volatile induction and maintenance anesthesia on post-operative recovery profile in elective tonsillectomy

Background: Tonsillectomies are common surgeries in day-to-day surgery practice particularly in pediatric age group. Recent trend is to conduct tonsillectomy surgery on a day care basis. It is important to use the best anesthetic option with the least recovery time to reduce the hospital stay of patient. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare recovery profile and side effects of Sevoflurane and Propofol as an anesthetic agent for tonsillectomy. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 patients undergoing elective tonsillectomy were selected for the study. Each patient was randomly allocated to either the propofol (Group P) or the sevoflurane group (Group S). Time of surgery (From start to end of surgery), time of anesthesia (From the start of induction to end of surgery), time between the end of anesthesia and the spontaneous eye opening, and time between the end of anesthesia and the following of verbal commands. Time to extubation, time between the end of anesthesia, and the orientation to his or her name and the incidence of post-operative nausea and vomiting were compared in both the groups. Results: The eye opening in Group P patients was found to be 8.9+1.21 min and that in Group S was 6.6+1.25 which was found to be statistically significant. The following of verbal commands in Group P was found to occur at 10.13+1.28 min, while that in Group S was found to be at 7.63+1.25 min, which was statistically significant. The time for extubation in Group P was found to be 11.17+1.29 min, while that in Group S was found to be 8.67+1.24 min, which was statistically significant. The duration for complete orientation in Group P was found to be 12.2+1.27 min, while that in Group S was found to be 9.43+1.04 min, which came out to be statistically significant. Hemodynamic parameters were found to be comparable in both the groups with no statistically significant difference in between then at any point of time (P>0.05). Conclusion: Sevoflurane is a useful alternative to propofol in providing anesthesia where rapid emergence and recovery of cognitive functions are desired.

Attenuation of the Airway and Cardiovascular Responses to Extubation in Chronic Smokers by Prior Treatment with Dexmedetomidine, Fentanyl, and their Combination

BACKGROUND: Respiratory complications and hemodynamic changes during and after extubation are more common than during tracheal intubation and induction of anesthesia. AIM: The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of prior treatment with dexmedetomidine, fentanyl, and their combination on the attenuation of the airway and cardiovascular responses to extubation. METHODS: The subjects were adult chronic male smokers, representing the population in which secondary response to extubation is most common. A randomized double-blinded comparative trial was conducted on 66 patients who were 20–60 years of age, chronic male smokers, scheduled for elective surgeries, and divided into three equal groups according to given drug 20 min before the end of surgery. Group A (n = 22) received 1 ug. kg−1 dexmedetomidine, Group B (n = 22) received fentanyl 1 ug. kg−1, and Group C (n = 22) received a mixture of the previously used drugs in the same doses. Time to and quality of extubation, airway and hemodynamic responses, and post-operative agitation and sedation were recorded. RESULTS: Hemodynamic responses and quality of extubation were better in both Groups A and C than patients in Group B at the expense of increasing time to extubation, post-extubation sedation, and delayed recovery in Group C. CONCLUSION: Single-dose dexmedetomidine 1 ug. kg-1 given 15 min before extubation in chronic cigarette smokers provided better attenuation of the airway and cardiovascular responses to extubation and suctioning with better recovery profile when compared to fentanyl 1 ug. kg-1 and dexmedetomidine mixed with fentanyl in the same previous doses.

Comparison of Dexmedetomidine with Fentanyl and Pentazocine – Promethazine in patients undergoing dilation and curettage in monitored anesthesia care

Dilatation and curettage (D and C) is an essential and common minor surgery in obstetrics and gynecology. Sedation, hypnosis and analgesia are used in combination for such short procedures. These days conscious sedation is provided to patients for day care surgeries which includes analgesia, sedation and anxiolysis while rapid recovery is ensured without side effects. Dexmedetomidine is a highly selective alpha-2 agonist that provides anxiolysis and conscious sedation without respiratory depression. It was to study the effect of dexemedetomidine with fentanyl versus Pentazocine with promethazine on hemodynamic stability and recovery during sedation in dilatation and curettage procedure. The comparison included the hemodynamic data and recovery time. The effect of the drugs on hemodynamics and monitoring the occurrence of any complication were also done. In our study, 50 patients were randomly divided into 2 equal groups; group DF received dexmedetomidine loading dose 1 μg/kg over 10 min and followed by 0.5 μg/kg/hr infusion till completion of surgery and group PP received pentazocine 0.5 mg/kg (max 30mg) and Promethazine 12.5 mg slow intravenous Bolus. Dexmedetomidine is a safe drug which provides good hemodynamics and less recovery time. It also exerts sedative and analgesic effects without respiratory depression unlike most analgesic/sedative drugs, such as ketamine, pentazocine and benzodiazepines. This study demonstrates that dexmedetomidine is a safe drug with good hemodynamic and recovery profile. Dexmedetomidine administration showed better preservation of MAP and SpO2.

Systematic Quantification of Hypertrophic Scar in Adult Burn Survivors

Very few objective scar evaluations have been conducted with burn survivors, which limits our knowledge of the clinical recovery profile of hypertrophic scars (HSc) and donor site scars (D). The purpose of this study was to prospectively quantify the skin characteristics of post-burn HSc in different anatomical locations (D) and normal skin (N) using objective instrumentation. The skin characteristics of HSc, D, and N in 44 burn survivors were measured at 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 months post-burn using validated instrumentation: a high-frequency ultrasound (for thickness), Cutometer® (for pliability), and Mexameter® (for erythema and pigmentation). Up to five sites were assessed on the same participant, if their scar was located on the upper extremity (UE), lower extremity (LE), and trunk. A mixed model two-way analysis of variance was used to investigate the differences in means between sites at each time point and between time points at each site. The results revealed that the HSc sites were thicker than the D and N at all time points; the UE and trunk HSc were thicker than the LE HSc at 7 months post-burn; the pliability of the trunk HSc did not improve over time; and the UE HSc was more erythematous at 7 months, compared to other anatomical sites, whereas the D erythema decreased from 2 to 7 months. As clinicians have prioritized UE treatments due to their functional importance, this study provides objective measurements to further support this practice and encourages clinicians to also prioritize trunk HSc treatments after burn injuries.

A comparative study of dexmedetomidine and propofol infusion during monitored anesthesia care (MAC) in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): a randomized controlled trial

Background Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) is an invasive procedure and hence is distressing for awake patients, requiring adequate level of sedation and analgesia. Recent advancements have encouraged use of monitored anesthesia care (MAC), that allows the patient to tolerate unpleasant procedures while maintaining cardio-respiratory function. The main aim is to compare the effect of dexmedetomidine and propofol on the hemodynamics during ERCP, quality of sedation, recovery profile, and any side effects. A total of 100 patients were randomized by a computer-generated random number table into two groups of 30 patients each. The group P received continuous propofol infusion at a rate of 25-75 mcg/kg/min to achieve a Ramsay sedation scale (RSS) of 3-4 before starting the procedure. Group D received dexmedetomidine at loading dose of 1 μg/kg i.v. over 10 min followed by 0.5 μg/kg/h infusion until RSS reached 3-4. Results The present study shows significant decrease in heart rate in group D (65.27 ± 4. 3 vs.77.27 ± 9.3) with more stable blood pressure values throughout than group P. There were episodes of transient desaturation in few patients in group P while no patient showed any signs of respiratory depression or desaturation in group D. The time to achieve Ramsay sedation score (RSS) 3-4 is significantly more in group D (11.4 ± 1.37 vs. 7.93 ± 1.32) with increased tendency to use rescue drug but shows better and early recovery. Conclusion Dexmedetomidine is a better substitute to propofol for patients undergoing ERCP; however, use of adjunct may be necessary to decrease the need for rescue drug.

Comparative Study between the Effect of Dexmedetomidine or Magnesium Sulphate Infusion on the Recovery Profile and Postoperative Analgesia in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery

Background: The increasing incidence of morbid obesity is a crisis in national healthcare which has precipitated an increase in bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for obesity, with a mean percentage of weight loss after 2 years of 68.2% for laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Methods: This prospective randomized controlled study was carried out in Tanta University Hospitals in General Surgery Department on patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic bariatric surgery from July 2019 to June 2020. The study has been approved by the Institutional ethical committee at Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University with approval number (33161/05/19) Results: There was a significant decrease in heart rate, at T2 to T9, in group II (Dexmedetomidine group) and group III (Mg sulphate group) compared to group I (Control group). There was a significant decrease in mean arterial blood pressure, at T2 to T9, in group II and group III compared to group I. Visual analog scale for pain (VAS) was decreased significantly in group II and group III compared to group I. There was a negative increase in nausea and vomiting in group I than group II and group III. Bradycardia, hypotension and postoperative hypoxemia were insignificantly different among the three groups. Conclusions: In patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgeries, both dexmedetomidine and magnesium sulphate were safe and effective as regards early recovery profile, delayed time for the first request of analgesia and less opioid consumption.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF KETOFOL (KETAMINE AND PROPOFOL) WITH PROPOFOL ALONE FOR RECOVERY IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY

Background: To compare the recovery in ketofol (ketamine and propofol) with propofol alone for vas in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy Methods: Prospective, randomized, double blinded controlled trial. After approval by the research ethics committee and written informed valid consent of the patients, the proposed study was carried out for a period of one year in 60 patients , in ASA-I and ASA-II patients, aged between 19 to 60 years of either sex, who were posted for laproscopic cholecystectomy surgery at Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla. Results: Recovery profile was statistically significant for two groups. In group P after stopping infusion ,mean time for eye opening was 8.27 ± 1.28 which was less than group K ( 12.53 ± 1.48). Mean time of response to verbal command in group P(8.4 ± 1.19) was less than group K (12.5 ± 1.46) and mean time of extubation in group P (9.5 ± 1.25) was also less than group K (14.33 ± 1.52). Conclusion- Patients of Group P after stopping of infusion took less time for eye opening, obeying verbal command and also less time for extubation in comparison to group K . Keywords: Recovery, Propofol, Ketamine