Zeitschrift für Anästhesiologie und Schmerzforschung

Abstract
Objective: To determine the effect of atorvastatin on the expression of lung apoptosis-associated protein caspase-12 in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) model rats.
Methods: 30 rats were randomly divided into three groups: the normal group, the control group, and the treatment group. The control group and the treatment group were treated by being exposed to smoking and intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide to establish the COPD model rats. 2 weeks later, the treatment group was treated with 2.5 mg/kg atorvastatin daily for 6 weeks. Nothing was done in the normal group. The rats were executed after 8 weeks. Lung tissue sections stained by Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) were observed. The protein and gene expression of lung apoptosis-associated caspase-12 in each group was investigated by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.
Results: Pulmonary histopathology: emphysema and airway inflammation were observed in the control group, and the symptoms of the treatment group were lighter. RT-PCR: compared with the normal group, a higher level of caspase-12 mRNA was expressed in the control group and the treatment group (p<0.05); compared with the control group, lower level of caspase-12 mRNA was expressed in the treatment group (p<0.05). Immunohistochemistry: compared with the normal group, the expression of caspase-12 increased in the control group and the treatment group (p<0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression of caspase-12 decreased (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Atorvastatin has a protective effect on the COPD model rats by decreasing the protein and gene expression of caspase-12 which can reduce the apoptosis of COPD lung tissue.

The Authors evaluate the effect of a Surface Acoustic Wave device (NanoVibronix Inc. Elmsford, NY, USA) on the symptomatology of Trigeminal Neuralgia. 59 subjects completed the trial. This was a double-blinded randomized control trial that measured subjective pain relief as measured by VAS and subjective results measured by the reduction of use of breakthrough narcotic medications. There was a significant reduction in subjective pain reported as well as in the number of uses of breakthrough opioid medications. There was trending towards an increase in quality of life scores. The investigational device had no adverse events or complications and was deemed both safe and efficacious.