Tehran University Medical Journal

Background: Axillary block is used for inducing anesthesia in outpatient hand and forearm surgeries. Few researches have studied hemodynamic and blockade effects of low doses of Epinephrine. The aim of the present study was to compare the duration of analgesia and hemodynamic changes following the injection of high/low epinephrine doses in such surgeries.

Methods: The present randomized clinical trial study was conducted on healthy individuals (ASA I-II) who were candidates for hand and forearm surgeries. The patients were randomly divided into three groups. The first two groups were allocated to receive lidocaine with low (0.6µg/cc) and high (5µg/cc) doses of epinephrine whereas lidocaine plus normal saline was injected in the third group. The hemodynamic changes (Mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate) and the occurance of any side-effects along with the duration of analgesia and motor block were recorded.

Results: From among the total of 75 patients, 15 cases were excluded due to incomplete blockade or failure needing general anesthesia. The duration of analgesia and the motor block were longer in the high dose epinephrine group, the difference, however, was not statistically significant. Heart rate changes within the groups was significant in the 4^th-7^th and 10^th minutes. Mean arterial blood pressure changes was only significant in the 4^th minute, within the groups.

Conclusions: Administering low doses of epinephrine plus lidocaine as a local anesthetic not only provides acceptable analgesia compared to higher doses of the medication, but also is associated with fewer side effects.

Background: Hypertension is one of the most common diseases in recent century with several complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Juglans regia L. leaves (Walnut tree) on blood pressure and its interaction with the adrenergic system in male rats.

Methods: In this experimental study that established in the physiology lab, School of scinse in Shiraz University from September to October 2013, in order to determine some of hydroalcoholic extract of Juglans regia L. leaves effect on blood pressure, the present study was performed by following procedure: 10 adult male wistar rats weighing between 180-250g were used. They were divided into two groups (Each group contained 5 rats) randomly: Juglans regia L. leaf extract group and Juglans regia L. leaf extract and adrenaline group. Then each rat was anesthetized by IP injection of 1.2 g/kg urethane. After tracheostomy the femoral vine and artery were cannulated for drug injection and blood pressure recording respectively. Arterial cannula for recording arterial blood pressure connected to a pressure transducer (PowerLab, ADInstruments, Sydney, Australia). Blood pressure parameters were recorded before and after IV administration of hydroalcoholic extract of Juglans regia L. leaf, solvent, adrenalin and extract with adrenaline.

Results: The result showed a significant decrease of mean arterial pressure, systolic and diastolic pressure in response to extract with compare to control and sham group (P<0.05). Also a significant decrease of blood pressure showed in presence of walnut leaf extract and adrenaline with compare to sham group (P<0.05).

Conclusion: It can be concluded that hydroalcoholic extract of Juglans regia L. leaf suggested as a hypotensive agent. It seems that this effect is probably due to inhibitory effect on adrenergic system.