Perioperative administration of pregabalin for a single day (75 mg twice daily) was easy, safe and effective in reducing post-operative pain in patients undergoing mastectomy.

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This study presents a novel wrist pulse detection system based on the variation of transmission coefficient (S21) of coupled resonators. Radiated signal from one resonator is modulated by the wrist pulse and transmitted to the other resonator. To improve sensitivity of the system, a radio‐frequency (RF) interferometer concept is employed and its validity is mathematically analysed. Full‐wave electromagnetic simulation is conducted with the wrist phantom model to predict the transmission coefficient between resonators. The peak level of the S21 is around −10 dB and the resonance frequency shifts to higher frequency as the distance between the resonator and wrist increases. A prototype of the system is fabricated and tested to show sensitivity enhancement around the 2.4 GHz industry‐science‐medical (ISM) band. Experimental results reveal that the wrist pulse signal measured by the RF interferometer system is in exact coincidence with the reference finger sensor. Also, the sensitivity is enhanced about 23 dB with the RF interferometer system based on the measurement results.

This paper presents a high-gain antipodal linearly tapered slot antenna (LTSA) combined with substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) technique for Ku-band applications. The effects of periodic corrugation on the radiating elements are thoroughly investigated to optimize antenna performance. The periodic corrugation contributes to higher gain as well as and lower sidelobe level. The proposed antenna demonstrates broadband performance for frequency ranges from 13 GHz to over 17 GHz with gain of 16 dBi and relatively low crosspolarization levels of less than −25 dB. The 3-dB beam-widths of 36 • in the H-plane and 22 • in the E-plane have been obtained. Keywords: corrugation, LTSA, tapered slot antenna Classification: Microwave and millimeter wave devices, circuits, and systems IEE Proc., Pt H: Microwaves, Opt. Antennas, vol. 140, Feb. 1993 References

BackgroundBilateral total knee arthroplasty is generally accompanied by a significant amount of blood loss. We investigated the relationship between the intensity of pain and the amount of blood loss in the early postoperative period after bilateral total knee arthroplasty.MethodsA prospective study was conducted on 91 patients who underwent elective sequential bilateral total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis. All patients received combined spinal and epidural anesthesia. Patients were divided into three groups based on their scores on the verbal numerical rating scale (VNRS) for pain at 6 hours postoperatively. The VNRS was classified as follows; mild pain (n = 34, VNRS score 0-4), moderate pain (n = 24, VNRS score 5-6), and severe pain (n = 33, VNRS score 7-10). We compared the mean arterial pressures and the amount of blood loss during the first 24 postoperative hours in the three groups. Factors influencing postoperative blood loss were analyzed.ResultsPostoperative mean arterial pressures and blood loss were not different among the groups. Of the factors examined, the amount of postoperative blood loss was only dependent on the amount of intraoperative blood loss (P = 0.001).ConclusionsEarly postoperative pain has no effect on postoperative blood pressure and the amount of blood loss after bilateral total knee arthroplasty. For postoperative blood loss, intraoperative blood loss is the main determinant.