Using a stereroscopic infrared camera the tracking sensor was located 3-dimensionally and a tracking handle was used to guide the cryoprobe percutaneously based on preoperative preloaded computerized tomography. Demographic and perioperative data were added prospectively to an institutional review board approved database. Immediately after cryoprobe placement computerized tomography was repeated to confirm placement accuracy.

Results: A total of 13 tumors in 10 patients were successfully

cryoablated with the novel navigational system. Mean tumor size was 2.2 cm. Preoperative biopsy revealed renal cell carcinoma in 9 cases. Mean operative time was selleck 155 minutes. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were noted. Mean length of stay was 9.5 hours. Mean targeting registration error was 4.2 mm.

Conclusions: Stereotactic percutaneous

cryoablation for renal tumors offers the potential for safe, precise needle placement.”
“Several groups maintain that morphine tolerance and dependence correlate with increased activity of protein kinases ERK1/2 and P38 MAPK and PKC as well as elevated levels of the neuropeptides dynorphin (DYN), substance P (sP), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in spinal cord dorsal horn (SCDH). They demonstrate that tolerance and dependence can be prevented, and sometimes reversed, by constitutive genetic deletion or pharmacological inhibition of these factors. Batimastat ic50 Recently, we showed that mice with a constitutive deletion of the GluR5 subunit of kainate receptors (GluR5

KO) are not different from wild type (WT) littermates with respect to baseline nociceptive thresholds as well as acute morphine antinociception, morphine physical dependence and conditioned place preference. However, unlike WT, GluR5 KO mice do not develop antinociceptive tolerance following systemic morphine administration. In this report, we examined levels of these mediators in SCDH of WT and GluR5 KO mice following subcutaneous implantation of placebo or morphine pellets. Surprisingly, spinal DYN and CGRP, along with phosphorylated ERK2 (pERK2), P38 (pP38) and PKCgamma (pPKC gamma) are elevated by deletion of GluR5. Additionally, chronic systemic morphine administration increased spinal pERK2, pP38 this website and pPKC gamma levels in both tolerant WT and non-tolerant GluR5 KO mice. In contrast, while morphine increased spinal DYN and CGRP in WT mice, DYN remained unchanged and CGRP was reduced in GluR5 KO mice. These observations suggest that spinal ERK2, P38 and PKC gamma are likely involved in multiple adaptive responses following systemic morphine administration, whereas DYN and CGRP may contribute selectively to the development of antinociceptive tolerance. (C) 2010 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.