MicroRNA-34 suppresses breast cancer invasion and metastasis by directly targeting Fra-1

MicroRNAs have key roles in tumor metastasis. Here, we describe the regulation and function of miR-34a and miR-34c (miR-34a/c) in breast cancer metastasis. Expression analysis verified that miR-34a/c expression is significantly decreased in metastatic breast cancer cells and human primary breast tumors with lymph node metastases. Overexpression of miR-34a/c could inhibit breast cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro and distal pulmonary metastasis in vivo. Further studies revealed that Fos-related antigen 1 (Fra-1 or Fosl1) is a downstream target of miR-34a/c as miR-34a/c bound directly to the 3'untranslated region of Fra-1, subsequently reducing both the mRNA and protein levels of Fra-1. Silencing of Fra-1 recapitulated the effects of miR-34a/c overexpression, whereas enforced expression of Fra-1 reverses the suppressive effects of miR-34a/c. Moreover, significant downregulation of miR-34a in metastatic breast cancer tissues was found to be inversely correlated with Fra-1 expression. Our results demonstrate that miR-34a/c functions as a metastasis suppressor to regulate breast cancer migration and invasion through targeting Fra-1 oncogene and suggest a therapeutic application of miR-34 in breast cancer.

Assembly, verification, and initial annotation of the NIA mouse 7.4K cDNA clone set

A set of 7407 cDNA clones (NIA mouse 7.4K) was assembled from >20 cDNA libraries constructed mainly from early mouse embryos, including several stem cell libraries. The clone set was assembled from embryonic and newborn organ libraries consisting of ~120,000 cDNA clones, which were initially re-arrayed into a set of ~11,000 unique cDNA clones. A set of tubes was constructed from the racks in this set to prevent contamination and potential mishandling errors in all further re-arrays. Sequences from this set (11K) were analyzed further for quality and clone identity, and high-quality clones with verified identity were re-arrayed into the final set (7.4K). The set is freely available, and a corresponding database was built to provide comprehensive annotation for those clones with known identity or homology, and has been made available through an extensive Web site that includes many link-outs to external databases and analysis servers.

Glycyrrhizin attenuates isoflurane-induced cognitive deficits in neonatal rats via its anti-inflammatory activity

Children exposed to general anesthetics such as isoflurane are maybe at an increased risk of cognitive impairment. Recent studies have indicated that this kind of cognitive decline is associated with neuroinflammation in the hippocampus of neonatal rodents. Glycyrrhizin is a naturally available compound for the treatment of inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. We therefore aimed to investigate the effects of glycyrrhizin on the isoflurane-induced cognitive deficits and hippocampal neuroinflammation in the neonatal rats. Seven day-old rats were exposed to 1.8% isoflurane for 4h. Saline and glycyrrhizin solution was injected intraperitoneally 30min prior to isoflurane or control gas exposure. The effects of isoflurane and glycyrrhizin treatment on memory performance were examined using Morris Water Maze (MWM) task. The protein expression of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), NFκB, Bcl-2, Bax and cleaved (active) caspase-3 were determined by Western blot assay. The protein levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The combination of ELISA and Western blot results showed that glycyrrhizin attenuated isoflurane-induced increases of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) and activation of HMGB1/NFκB signaling pathway in the hippocampus of neonatal rats. Furthermore, glycyrrhizin treatment prevented the deficits in spatial memory induced by neonatal exposure to isoflurane. Consistent with these observations, we found that glycyrrhizin alleviated isoflurane-induced neuroapoptosis and down-regulations of PSD-95 and SNAP-25 in the hippocampus of neonatal rats. These results suggest that glycyrrhizin may be a potential therapeutic agent for developmental neurotoxicity and subsequent cognitive decline induced by neonatal exposure to general anesthetics.

Absence of 3a0 charge density wave order in the infinite-layer nickelate NdNiO2

A hallmark of many unconventional superconductors is the presence of many-body interactions that give rise to broken-symmetry states intertwined with superconductivity. Recent resonant soft X-ray scattering experiments report commensurate 3a0 charge density wave order in infinite-layer nickelates, which has important implications regarding the universal interplay between charge order and superconductivity in both cuprates and nickelates. Here we present X-ray scattering and spectroscopy measurements on a series of NdNiO2+x samples, which reveal that the signatures of charge density wave order are absent in fully reduced, single-phase NdNiO2. The 3a0 superlattice peak instead originates from a partially reduced impurity phase where excess apical oxygens form ordered rows with three-unit-cell periodicity. The absence of any observable charge density wave order in NdNiO2 highlights a crucial difference between the phase diagrams of cuprate and nickelate superconductors.

Perceptions and practices of spiritual care among hospice physicians and nurses in a Taiwanese tertiary hospital: a qualitative study

Background

Spiritual care is frequently cited as a key component of hospice care in Taiwanese healthcare and beyond. The aim of this research is to gauge physicians and nurses’ self-reported perspectives and clinical practices on the roles of their professions in addressing spiritual care in an inpatient palliative care unit in a tertiary hospital with Buddhist origins.

Methods

We performed semi-structured interviews with physicians and nurses working in hospice care over a year on their self-reported experiences in inpatient spiritual care. We utilized a directed approach to qualitative content analysis to identify themes emerging from interviews.

Results

Most participants identified as neither spiritual nor religious. Themes in defining spiritual care, spiritual distress, and spiritual care challenges included understanding patient values and beliefs, fear of the afterlife and repercussions of poor family relationships, difficulties in communication, the patient’s medical state, and a perceived lack of preparedness and time to deliver spiritual care.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that Taiwanese physicians and nurses overall find spiritual care difficult to define in practice and base perceptions and practices of spiritual care largely on patient’s emotional and physical needs. Spiritual care is also burdened logistically by difficulties in navigating family and cultural dynamics, such as speaking openly about death. More research on spiritual care in Taiwan is needed to define the appropriate training, practice, and associated challenges in provision of spiritual care.

Effect of solid-liquid separation on BOD and VFA in swine manure

Fresh swine manure was sieved into seven different particle size categories, i.e., <0.075 mm, < 0.15 mm, < 0.25 mm, < 0.5 min, < 1.0 mm, < 1.4 mm, and < 2.0 mm. Manure was stored in seven PVC columns and sampled every 5 days up to 30 days. Manure samples were analyzed for total volatile fatty acids (VFAs), 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), total solids (TS), total suspended solids (TSS), and total volatile solids (TVS). Two parameters (VFAs and BOD5) were used to determine the odor generation potential of the test manure. The results showed that total VFAs correlated well with BOD5 (R2 = 0.8297). The levels of ISS only explained 40% of BOD5 and 46% of VFAs, both of which increased with storage time, regardless of solid particle sizes. Also, the data inferred that most of the odorous compounds (measured by VFA and BOD levels) were contained in manure solid particles less than 0.075 mm. These cannot be removed by commercial mechanical separators with screen size ranging from 0.5 to 3.0 mm. With an average separation efficiency of 25% for most commercially available mechanical separators, the removal efficiencies of BOD5 and VFAs were as low as 10% and 12%, respectively. These findings cannot justify the use of solid-liquid separation tocontrol odor. Data also showed that for swine manure, it is critical to run separation treatment within the first ten days after the manure is excreted to potentially improve the separation efficiency. After ten days, the degradation of TSS was accelerated due to the increased biological activities, which may greatly reduce the separation efficiency.

Effects of bioreactor temperature and time on odor-related parameters in aerated swine manure slurries

Previous studies have linked odor generation from swine manure to some characteristics of the liquid manure such oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), volatile fatty acids (VFAs), and predominant microbial population. This study investigated the effect of bioreactor temperature and time on the aforementioned parameters during aeration of swine manure. Five reactors (13 1 capacity) loaded with swine manure and maintained at temperatures of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 degrees C, were supplied with air for 15 days to maintain aerobic conditions. Large fluctuations in ORP (-120 to 360 mV) were observed in the first seven days of aeration, which stabilized thereafter regardless of the bioreactor temperature. The percentage removal of VFAs and BOD5 in the manure significantly increased from 0.0% on day one to 87.8% and 65.3%, respectively, on day nine, and remained relatively constant thereafter. The mean percentage of VFAs and BOD5 removed also increased significantly with an increase in the bioreactor temperature. The VFAs and BOD5 removal increased by approximately 25% and 35%, respectively, in going from 5 to 25 degrees C, during the 15 days of aeration. Both VFAs and BOD5 in the manure were significantly correlated with ORP, aerobic bacteria, and anaerobic bacteria. The data suggested that continued aeration for seven days at 20 or 25 degrees C was sufficient for significant reduction of odor precursors (VFAs and BOD5) and in stabilization of swine manure. A linear correlation of 0.97 between VFAs and BOD5 indicated that the two parameters can be used interchangeably as indicators of odor release potential in swine manure.

Intraoperative catecholamine release in brain-dead organ donors is not suppressed by administration of fentanyl

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Endogenous catecholamines are released in brain-dead organ donors following painful stimulation during retrieval surgery, and might be harmful to harvested organs. Our hypothesis was that inhibition of pain by fentanyl would inhibit such catecholamine release.

METHODS

We tested 17 brain-dead organ donors in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study. Blood samples for determination of epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations were obtained before and 10 min after in take of either fentanyl 7 microg kg(-1) or an equivalent volume of placebo. Further points of measurement were taken after skin incision and sternotomy. Mean arterial pressure and heart rate at these points were recorded.

RESULTS

Catecholamine concentrations rose following painful stimuli. No differences in haemodynamics, between the fentanyl and the placebo group were detectable. Epinephrine concentrations, but not those of norepinephrine, were higher in the fentanyl group, reaching significance following sternotomy.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the use of fentanyl (7 microg kg(-1)) was not effective in suppressing the catecholamine release, following painful surgical stimulation in brain-dead organ donors.

Factors Influencing Families' Decision-Making for Organ Donation in Hunan Province, China

BACKGROUND

In 2010, the Chinese government started a pilot project of donation after Chinese citizens' death. Seeking the consent of the families of potential donors is an important task in the organ donation process.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to explore the factors that influence the families' decision-making for organ donation.

METHODS

We performed a content analysis of 30 semistructured in-depth interviews with immediate family members who made the decision for an organ donation. The interviewees were asked questions such as how the decision to donate was made, what factors influenced the decision, and whether the decision was rejected by relatives and friends.

RESULTS

The interviewees were the donors' parent (15; 50%), spouse (9; 30%), brother (3; 10%) or son (3; 10%), including 18 men and 12 women, with a mean age of 41.6 (standard deviation, 10.7) years; rural households accounted for 83.3%. Through analyzing the interview notes, 17 factors ware mentioned by interviewees, and 3 types of decision-making in organ donors' families were obtained. Then, the factors affecting the decisions of the donor families were classified into 3 categories and 11 subcategories.

CONCLUSIONS

Factors influencing the families' decision-making for organ donation were analyzed preliminarily in this study.

Preliminary Analysis of Competency Assessment of Organ Donation Coordinators in Hunan Province, China

BACKGROUND

The organ donation coordinator is indispensable in the process of organ donation and transplantation. The competency of coordinators is closely related to the organ donation rate.

OBJECTIVE

1) To construct a competency assessment system for organ donation coordinators; and 2) to evaluate the competency level of coordinators in Hunan province.

METHODS

We constructed the competency model framework for coordinators based on the McClelland competency model and then extracted and screened the competency indicators by interview and Delphi methods. Next, we determined the weight of the indicators by an analytic hierarchy process method. Finally, we evaluated the competency level of 42 coordinators in Hunan province with the use of our assessment system.

RESULTS

1) We constructed the competency evaluation system for organ donation coordinators, which included 6 dimensions and 21 competency indicators. 2) The average competency score of 42 coordinators was 79.43 ± 8.51. Five coordinators were at qualified level (11.9%), 18 at moderate level (42.9%), 12 at good level (25.6%), and 7 at excellent level (16.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

1) This competency evaluation system for organ donation coordinators will provide scientific evidence for human resource management in health institutions. 2) The organ donation coordinators in Hunan were qualified, but their number was insufficient.

Crisis response during the COVID-19 pandemic: Changes in social contact and social participation of older Americans

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess changes in social contact with family, friends and healthcare providers, as well as social participation in working, volunteering, religious services and other organized activities, among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic while examining the role of pre-COVID sociodemographic characteristics or cognitive and physical limitations in changes in social contact and participation.

METHODS

We conducted secondary data analyses in the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) COVID-19 questionnaire, collected in 2020 during a period of workplace closures and social distancing guidelines. We linked data to pre-COVID sociodemographic and medical information collected in 2019 before COVID interrupted social life. The frequency of participants' social contact and social participation prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic, were compared using paired t-tests for summed scores. Multivariate linear regression was used to relate participants' socio-demographic, prior physical and cognitive performance with levels of social contact and participation and with changes reported during the COVID-19 pandemic.

RESULTS

In total, results from 2,486 eligible participants revealed that COVID-19 was associated with decreased social contact among family and friends (change: -0.62; SE: 0.06; p<0.0001), and social participation among older adults (change: -0.58; SE: 0.02; p<0.0001). Pre-COVID characteristics including older age, lower educational attainment, poorer physical performance, and more chronic conditions were associated with lower social contact and social participation and with how older adults adapted their social lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DISCUSSION

These results emphasize the importance of increasing digital inclusion for older adults in a major crisis.

The effect of limited aeration on swine manure phosphorus removal

Two low level aeration schemes (intermittent vs. continuous) were investigated on a laboratory scale, in conjunction with swine manure pH adjustment using sodium hydroxide (1.0 M), for manure phosphorus (P) removal. According to the data, an 80% reduction in soluble P was observed when the manure pH was increased to 8. Both intermittent and continuous aeration treatments could raise manure pH above 8 with an airflow rate of 1 L/minute in a period of 15 days. A drastic increase in pH (about 1 unit) was observed for both aeration schemes within the first day of test, resulting in a 76% reduction in soluble P concentration in the liquid. It appeared that there is no difference in terms of P removal between the two aeration programs, suggesting that the intermittent aeration be preferred to save energy while still achieving the same level of P removal.

[Spatial distribution of cancer-related burden in Guangzhou from 2010 to 2013]

Objective: To evaluate the burden and to describe the characteristics of spatial distribution caused by malignant tumors among different administrative areas in Guangzhou from 2010- 2013. Methods: Based on data from the Cancer Registry system and population in Guangzhou in 2010- 2013, disability-adjusted life year (DALY) was assessed on the disease burden of cancer, in accordance with the method used in the Global Burden of Disease study. Results: The crude incidence rates of cancer appeared as 256.22/10(5) in 2010-2011 and 270.04/10(5) in 2012-2013, with the crude mortality rates as 143.17/10(5) and 148.01/10(5), respectively, in Guangzhou. Cancers caused 606 238.95 DALYs in 2010-2011 and 623 763.80 DALYs in 2012-2013 for both sexes and 37.63 and 37.81 person year per 1 000 persons, with the standardized DALY rates as 34.51‰, 34.00‰ respectively. Three administrative districts (Yuexiu, Haizhu and Liwan) were with the largest disease burden of cancers that accounted for 45% of the DALYs for the whole Conghua district, with liver cancer was the leading cancer on DALYs, and tracheal, bronchus and lung cancer ranked the first in the other districts. Conclusions: In Guangzhou, disease burden caused by cancers was both prominently seen in the newly developed urban area and the old districts. It remains an arduous task to continue programs on control and prevention of cancers in this city.

Effect of cardiopulmonary bypass on beta adrenergic receptor-adenylate cyclase system on surfaces of peripheral lymphocytes

The experimental results showed that the level of CAMP, the ratio of cAPM to cGMP, IL-2R expression and IL-2 production in vitro in lymphocytes immediate and 2 weeks after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were significantly lower than those before anesthetics in the patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB. These findings suggested that CPB could cause serious damage to adrenergic beta receptor-adenylate cyclase system on circulating lymphocytes surfaces, which might be one of the mechanisms resulting in immunosuppression after open heart surgery with CPB.

The change of arteriovenous carbon dioxide and pH gradients during severe hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation

OBJECTIVE

To investigate clinically useful markers for determining the severity of hemorrhagic shock and adequacy of resuscitation.

METHODS

Prospective study was undertaken in 12 dogs, using an established model for hemorrhagic shock. The anesthetized dogs were bled to a mean arterial pressure of 40 mmHg which was maintained for 3 hours. Then each animal was resuscitated with heperinized whole blood followed by intravenous infusion of dobutamine at a rate of 5 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 for 10 minutes. Arterial and mixed venous blood gases, arterial lactate concentrations and hemodynamic parameters were measured throughout the study.

RESULTS

A difference in the PCO2 and pH values between arterial and mixed venous blood was observed. Arterial-venous PCO2 and pH difference increased significantly after sustained shock. The arteriovenous carbon dioxide and pH gradients recovered more rapidly than arterial lactate levels after successful resuscitation with blood and dobutamine.

CONCLUSION

Arterial blood gases fail to reflect the acid-base status of tissues during hemorrhagic shock. The differences in PCO2 and pH values between arterial and mixed venous blood could be used as clinical indicators for assessing the severity of shock and efficacy of resuscitation.

Social contact, social participation, and their changes among elderly people in the United States during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Background

The study aims to assess changes of social contact and social participation during the COVID‐19 pandemic among the US elderly, and what roles the prior physical and cognitive performances of the elderly played.

Method

Data were from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) COVID‐19 questionnaire in 2020 (n=3,188, response rate=80.5%).¹ Data was linked to the 2019 round to include the demographics, physical and cognitive performances of the participants. Participants that reported COVID‐19 diagnosis and symptoms (n=288) and represented by proxies (n=414) were excluded. Frequencies of social contact with family and friends (phone calls/emails/texts/person visits) and with health care providers, and social participation (working, volunteering, attending religious services, and attending organized activities) prior to and during the COVID‐19 were compared using paired t test for summed scores, Wilcoxon signed rank for paired categorical variables, and McNamara test for paired binary variables. Weighted linear and logistic regressions adjusted for multiple covariates were used to investigate the effects of prior physical and cognitive performances on social contact and social participation, prior to, during, and changes in the COVID‐19.

Result

A total of 2,486 participants were included (mean age: 78.24 years; female: 56.20%; non‐Hispanic White: 88.43%). The COVID‐19 resulted in significant increased social contact with family and friends but decreased social participation, among the elderly. Furthermore, elder people with better prior physical performance reported significant increased social contact with family and friends and social participation, both prior to and during the COVID‐19, while they reported significant decreased social participation during the COVID‐19. Specially, better prior physical performance was associated with significant increased video calls and volunteering work during the COVID‐19. However, prior cognitive ability was not found a significant risk factor.

Conclusion

The COVID‐19 pandemic affected the pattern of social contact and social participation of the US elderly. Prior physical performance, rather than prior cognitive ability, significantly affected the social way old people respond to a pandemic crisis.

[Simultaneously monitoring end tidal CO2 and other parameters versus anesthesia management]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the significance of end tidal CO2(ETCO2) combined with other techniques in anesthesia management.

METHODS

Twenty two patients undergoing general anesthesia were monitored with electromyocardiogram (ECG), invasive arterial blood pressure (IABP), plethysmogram and capnography simultaneously. Ten patients undergoing epidural anesthesia and cervical plexus block were monitored with ETCO2.

RESULTS

During general anesthesia the depth of general anesthesia, status of ventilation and the degree of muscle relaxation could be grossly evaluated by simultaneously monitoring ETCO2, capnography, plethysmogram, ECG and IABP. ETCO2 could also provide an objective standard for the assessment of respiratory function during spontaneous ventilation.

CONCLUSIONS

ETCO2 combined with other monitoring techniques can increase the safety of anesthesia and the accuracy of anesthesia management.

[Biological responses of a Streptomyces strain producing-Nikkomycin to space flight]

In order to see biological responses to the production of Nikkomycins in general and Nikkomycin X and Z in particular by space conditions, Streptomyces ansochromogenus, a Nikkomycins-producing strain, was carried onboard a satellite for 15 d in 1996. Several strains were isolated from the treated sample and found that the productivity of Nikkomycins in all was increased by 13-18 percent, and the proportion of Nikkomycin X and Z increased correspondingly. Besides, some biological properties of the isolated strains varied markedly.

[The effects of cardioplegia and reperfusional blood containing captopril on myocardial ultrastructure alterations after cardiac arrest]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the myocardial protective effect of captopril on the ischemia and reperfusion injury in the canine heart.

METHODS

Twelve mongrel dogs were randomly divided into control and captopril groups. In the former, only modified St. Thomas cardioplegia was used, and in the latter, modified St. Thomas cardioplegia and reperfusional blood containing 4.6mumol/L captopril were used. Sixty minutes after reperfusion, myocardial renin activity (MRA), angiotensin II (AII) and melondyldialdehyde (MDA) content in myocardium were measured, and the subendocardial myocardium of the left ventricle was taken for electromicroscopy.

RESULTS

The MRA in the Cp1 group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01), while the AII and MDA content in the myocardium in the Cp1 group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.01). Electronmicroscopically, the damage of the myocardium including sarcomeres, mitochondria and microvascular endothelial cells were less obvious in the Cp1 group than that in the control. The mitochondrial average cross-section area and average volume (0.59 +/- 0.15 micron2 and 0.74 +/- 0.23 micron3) in the Cp1 group were significantly lower than those in the control (0.83 +/- 0.34 micron2, P < 0.01 and 1.1 +/- 0.4 micron3, P < 0.01). The numerical density (0.46 +/- 0.16 micron-3), specific surface of mitochondria (6.4 +/- 1.1 microns-1) and memberance density of mitochondrial cristae (21 +/- 10 microns-1) in the Cp1 group were significantly higher than those in the control (0.29 +/- 0.06 micron-3, P < 0.05, 4.8 +/- 0.8 micron-1, P < 0.01 and 15.3 +/- 2.0 microns-1, P < 0.01):

CONCLUSION

Cardioplegia and reperfusional blood containing 4.6 mumol/L captopril could effectively protect the myocardial mitochondria and microvascular endothelial cells against ischemia and reperfusion injury.

[The effects of sodium nitroprusside-induced hypotension at different levels on cerebral blood flow and metabolism: a clinical study]

OBJECTIVE

The clinical experiment was designed for observing the effects of deliberate hypotension at different level on cerebral blood flow and metabolism.

METHODS

30 ASA Grade I-II patients were randomly allocated to one of three groups (each group n = 10). Hypotension was induced by sodium nitroprusside in group 1[mean arterial pressure (MAP) = 55 mmHg] and group 2 (MAP = 65 mmHg). Group 3 (control) was on normotension. The changes of cerebral blood flow during hypotension were estimated according to the variability of cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) in the middle cerebral artery(MCA), which was obtained through transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD).

RESULTS

Hypotension caused a moderate decrease in CBFV, but no significant difference, in CBFV and oxygen saturation in internal jugular vein(SjO2), either among three groups or during the procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

It is safe for cerebral perfusion and metabolism with deliberate hypotension at MAP = 55 mmHg.

[Effect of propofol and etomidate for anesthesia induction on plasma total cortisol concentration]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of propofol and etomidate for anesthesia induction on adrenocortical function.

METHODS

The plasma total cortisol concentration was determined in 20 patients who were treated with propofol or etomidate.

RESULTS

After propofol induction, the plasma total cortisol level decreased from (308.7 +/- 27.4) nmol/L to (267.7 +/- 31.2) nmol/L at post-medication 2 hours, increased to (400.2 +/- 26.9) nmol/L at postmedication 5 hours and restored to premedication level at postmedication 24 hours [(306.4 +/- 35.4) nmol/L]. After etomidate induction, the plasma total cortisol level decreased from (309.1 +/- 36.6) nmol/L to (115.9 +/- 29.7) nmol/L at postmedication 2 hours, maintained (171.1 +/- 34.7) nmol/L at postmedication 5 hours and restored to premedication level at postmedication 24 hours [(311.8 +/- 46.2) nmol/L].

CONCLUSIONS

Propofol induction has little effect on adrenocortical function whereas etomidate induction inhibits adrenocortical function.