SummaryS h t y patients with fractured neck of femur and scheduled for surgical correction were randomly allocated to receiue one of three anaesthetic techniques: general anaesthesia: spinalana1gesia;psoas compartment block. The patienis in the local anaesthetic groups also received a light general anaesthetic. There was liitle difference in the pre-, intra-and postoperatiue euents, and no difference in postoperative mortality.

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Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) commonly metastasizes to areas such as the lungs, liver, bone, brain, adrenals, and lymph nodes. We present a rare case of a 59-year-old female patient with RCC metastasis to the gallbladder. The patient had undergone right nephrectomy for RCC more than 6 years prior to the metastasis. During routine follow-up, a polypoid lesion of the gallbladder was identified. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed, and pathologic examination of the specimen revealed metastatic RCC. The patient was completely asymptomatic, which reinforces the importance of postoperative follow-up. Renal cell carcinoma is one of the few common malignancies for which there is good evidence of survival benefit from surgical resection of the metastatic tumours.

(Group Prop; n = 14) and the other isoflurane/alfentanil (Group [so; n = 13) . Periods of haemodynamic instability were correlated to episodes of myocardial ischaemia as assessed by Holter monitoring (begun the evening before surgery and ceasing the morning 9.t" the first postoperative day). In Group Prop, anaesthesia was induced with alfentanil 30 #g" kg -z iv, propofol up to L5 rag" kg -t and vecuronium 0.15 mg" kg -z, and maintained with infusions of propofol at 3-12 mg" kg -t" hr -1 and alfen-

Introduction Obesity is one of the largest modifiable risk factors for the development of musculoskeletal diseases, including intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration and back pain. Despite the clinical association, no studies have directly assessed whether diet-induced obesity accelerates IVD degeneration, back pain, or investigated the biological mediators underlying this association. In this study, we examine the effects of chronic consumption of a high-fat or high-fat/high-sugar (western) diet on the IVD, knee joint, and pain-associated outcomes. Methods Male C57BL/6N mice were randomized into one of three diet groups (chow control; high-fat; high-fat, high-sugar western diet) at 10 weeks of age and remained on the diet for 12, 24, or 40 weeks. At endpoint, animals were assessed for behavioral indicators of pain, joint tissues were collected for histological and molecular analysis, serum was collected to assess for markers of systemic inflammation, and IBA-1, GFAP, and CGRP were measured in spinal cords by immunohistochemistry. Results Animals fed obesogenic (high-fat or western) diets showed behavioral indicators of pain beginning at 12 weeks and persisting up to 40 weeks of diet consumption. Histological indicators of moderate joint degeneration were detected in the IVD and knee following 40 weeks on the experimental diets. Mice fed the obesogenic diets showed synovitis, increased intradiscal expression of inflammatory cytokines and circulating levels of MCP-1 compared to control. Linear regression modeling demonstrated that age and diet were both significant predictors of most pain-related behavioral outcomes, but not histopathological joint degeneration. Synovitis was associated with alterations in spontaneous activity. Conclusion Diet-induced obesity accelerates IVD degeneration and knee OA in mice; however, pain-related behaviors precede and are independent of histopathological structural damage. These findings contribute to understanding the source of obesity-related back pain and the contribution of structural IVD degeneration.

A 24-year-old black female presented for repeat elective Caesarean section. The procedure was performed under epidural anaesthesia. Sufentanil 25 micrograms, intended for postoperative analgesia, was inadvertently diluted to 10 ml with 15 per cent potassium chloride (KCl) instead of preservative-free normal saline (0.9 per cent NaCl). This solution was then injected via an epidural catheter into the epidural space at the conclusion of surgery. Two hours after injection of the sufetanil-KCl mixture, the patient had a level of sensory blockade to T1 and diaphoresis above this level. Painful muscle spasms had also developed below T1. One hour later she developed hypertension which required hydralazine 10 mg and labetalol 25 mg IV for treatment. The patient was treated supportively with oxygen. Dexamethasone 10 mg was administered intravenously to reduce spinal cord oedema. Intravenous diazepam 10 mg and meperidine 75 mg were given for sedation and analgesia. Complete recovery occurred within 12 hours.

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