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Background and Aims: Paravertebral block (PVB) is the regional anaesthesia of choice for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is also effective for the same.This study aims to compare the analgesic efficacy and ease of performing PVB or ESPB for PCNL surgery. Methods: This study was conducted in 60 patients undergoing PCNL, who were randomised to Group P (n = 30; received ultrasound-guided [USG] PVB) and Group E (n = 30; received USG ESPB) after general anaesthesia. Blocks were administered at T10 level on the side of the surgery using 20 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine. The trachea was extubated at the end of surgery. The primary outcome was analgesia duration, and secondary outcomes were postoperative pain scores, analgesic consumption, ease of block performance, time taken to perform the block and complications between the two groups. Continuous variables were compared using an independent sample t-test, and categorical variables were analysed using Pearson's Chi-square test. Results: Demographic variables were comparable in both groups. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) time of first rescue analgesia in Group P and Group E were 16.6 (20.4)(95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.02–20.32) h and 16.3 (21.8) (95% CI: 8.17–24.51) h, respectively (P = 0.95). The postoperative pain scores and number of doses of analgesics used were comparable between the groups (P > 0.05). The time taken to perform PVB was much longer compared to the time taken to perform ESPB (P = 0.01). Conclusion: USG PVB and ESPB were equally effective for postoperative analgesia for PCNL surgery.

Alaini Priebe,1,* Megan Hunke,1,* Raquel Tonello,2 Yogesh Sonawane,3 Temugin Berta,2 Amarnath Natarajan,3 Nattamai Bhuvanesh,4 Mahesh Pattabiraman,5 Surabhi Chandra1 1Department of Biology, University of Nebraska-Kearney, Kearney, NE, USA; 2Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA; 3Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; 4Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, TX, USA; 5Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Kearney, Kearney, NE, USA *These authors contributed equally to this work Purpose: Search for alternate pain medications has gained more importance in the past few years due to adverse effects associated with currently prescribed drugs including nervous system dysfunction with opioids, gastrointestinal discomfort with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and cardiovascular anomalies with cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. Phytomedicine has been explored for the treatment of pain, as these have been used for generations in regional communities and tend to lack major side effects in general. One such phytomedicine, incarvillateine (INCA), derived from the Chinese herb Incarvillea sinensis has its primary antinociceptive action through the adenosine receptor, a novel pain target. We hypothesized that derivatives of cinnamic acid dimers, which are structurally similar to INCA, would show potent antinociceptive action and that their effect would be mediated through adenosine receptor action. Materials and methods: Dimers of cinnamic acid (INCA analogs) were synthesized using cavitand-mediated photodimerization (CMP) method, which utilizes a macromolecule (γ-cyclodextrin) to control excited state reactivity of photoactive compounds. Acute pain response was assessed by using formalin-induced licking behavior in hind paw of mice, and neurologic function was monitored through locomotor activity, mechanical hyperalgesia, and thermal sensitivity upon administration of test compound. For mechanistic studies, binding to adenosine receptor was determined by using computer modeling. Results: Ferulic acid dimer (FAD), which has the same chemical functionalities on the aromatic ring as INCA, showed significant suppression of formalin-induced acute pain. Antinociceptive effect was observed primarily in the inflammatory phase, and no apparent behavioral changes related to the nervous system were noticeable. Inhibition of opioid receptor did not reverse antinociceptive response, and modeling data suggest adenosine 3 receptor binding. Conclusion: FAD (INCA analog) shows potent nonopioid antinociceptive action mediated predominantly through A3AR – adenosine 3 receptor action. Further characterization and selection of such INCA analogs will help us generate a new class of antinociceptives with precise chemical modifications by using CMP methodology. Keywords: adenosine, incarvillateine, cinnamic acid, formalin, antinociceptive

Three new N,N′,N′′-trisubstituted guanidine derivatives (L1, L2 and L3) were synthesized and characterized using NMR and mass spectral studies. The structures of these ligands have been confirmed using single-crystal XRD studies. The interactions between these ligands and calf-thymus DNA (CT-DNA) were investigated in vitro using different spectroscopic methods and molecular docking and simulation methods in a physiological buffer (pH 7.4). UV-Vis spectral titrations suggested the formation of an L2/CT-DNA complex. The addition of increasing amounts of CT-DNA enhanced the fluorescence of L2 with a binding constant on the order of 104 M−1, indicating fairly strong binding between them. Thermodynamic parameters ΔG0 < 0 and ‖ΔH0‖ < T‖ΔS0‖ suggested that the complexation is spontaneous and entropy-driven where hydrophobic interaction plays a dominant role in stabilizing the complex. Molecular docking and metadynamics simulation studies indicated partial intercalation of one of the phenyl rings between the base pairs of DNA, which is strongly supported by circular dichroism, viscosity measurements and KI quenching studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim is to compare and evaluate the impact music has on anxiety in children while performing restorative procedures. Materials and Methods: Forty-five children between the ages of 4 and 12 years without any prior dental experience were recruited for the study. Forty-five children were equally divided into three groups of 15 children in each by simple random sampling. The children were allocated to the groups using the computer allocation method. Group A consisted of 15 children who were not made to hear music, Group B consisted of 15 children who heard nursery rhymes, and Group C consisted of 15 children who heard music of their own choice while undergoing restorative treatment for 40 min. Anxiety levels were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively using Venham’s picture test, and pulse rate using pulse oximeter. Results: Music of choice and nursery rhymes showed a better reduction in anxiety levels than no music, with a very high statistically significant difference (P < 0.001). Music of choice was better than nursery rhymes and no music in reducing anxiety in children. Conclusion: The music of choice was more effective in reducing anxiety when compared to the nursery rhyme group and no music group.

Graphene known as the wonder material and finds its utilization in various applications including sensors.This work reports the solvothermal route and the chemical reflux method synthesis of graphene oxide copper oxide nanocomposite material (GO-CuO). The hitherto prepared GO-CuO nanocomposite was well characterized using the usual spectroscopic and microscopic technique such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis Spectroscopy (UV), Photoluminescence Spectroscopy(PL) etc. The prepared GO-CuO nanocomposite was found to selectively bind to L-Leucine without any interference from the other naturally occurring L-amino acids as a potential fluorescent chemosensor. The interference studies, effect of time, effect of pH and various equivalence studies were also performed for the GO-CuO nanocomposite with L-Leucine. The antibacterial activity of GO-CuO nanocomposite revealed a minimum inhibitory zone concentration for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus to be 200 μg/ml, whereas for A. baumannii it was found to be 100 μg/ml. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acylthiourea (ATU) compounds 4-(3-(furan-2-carbonyl)thioureido)benzoic acid (1), 4-(3-(thiophene-2-carbonyl)thioureido)benzoic acid (2), and 4-(3-(benzoyl)thioureido)benzoic acid (3) were synthesized and characterized by NMR (1H and 13C), FT-IR, UV–Vis and mass spectrometry. The molecular structures of compounds 1 and 2 were confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. An electrochemical method employing Nafion (Nf)–ATU (1–3)–multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode (Nf/ATU/MWCNTs/GC) has been developed for the determination of DHCl. Electrochemical studies were carried out in phosphate buffer by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). DHCl was detected at 1.1 V vs Ag/AgCl (3 M KCl). The proposed sensor for the determination of DHCl was investigated with three acylthiourea derivatives (1, 2, and 3) under optimized experimental conditions using blood plasma samples. The lowest detection limit toward DHCl was 0.09 mM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]