“
“Background: Health care-associated infection is one of the most important patient safety problems in the world. While many methods exist to prevent health care-associated infection, most experts believe

that improving hand hygiene is paramount. We previously published the results of a successful before-and-after hand hygiene interventional study performed in the pediatric emergency department of the Meyer Hospital in Florence, Italy. The goal of the current study is to assess the longer term sustainability of the previously described intervention.\n\nMethods: Direct observation was used to assess hand hygiene compliance for both doctors and nurses in the emergency department using the same methods and observers as learn more previously employed.\n\nResults: In addition to the 420 preintervention and 463 immediately postintervention observations previously reported, this website we observed another 456 clinician-patient interactions approximately 1 year after the intervention. Among all health care workers, there was no significant difference between hand hygiene compliance immediately postintervention (44.9%) compared with 1 year after the intervention (45.2%). Adherence among

nurses, however, increased from 40.7% to 49.8% (P = .03), whereas adherence among doctors decreased from 50.5% to 36.5% (P = .008).\n\nConclusion: The overall effects of the intervention were sustained over a 1-year period, although a marked difference was observed between nurses and doctors.”
“This study was conducted to evaluate the microtubule distribution following control of nuclear remodeling by treatment of bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos with caffeine

or roscovitine. Bovine somatic cells were fused to enucleated ooeytes treated with either 5 mM caffeine or 150 mu M roscovitine to control the type of nuclear remodeling. Natural Product Library The proportion of embryos that underwent premature chromosome condensation (PCC) was increased by caffeine treatment but was reduced by roscovitine treatment (p < 0.05). The microtubule organization was examined by immunostaining beta- and gamma-tubulins at 15 min, 3 h, and 20 h of fusion using laser scanning confocal microscopy. The gamma-tubulin foci inherited from the donor centrosome were observed in most of the scNT embryos at 15 min of fusion (91.3%) and most of them did not disappear until 3 h after fusion, regardless of treatment (82.9-87.2%). A significantly high proportion of embryos showing an abnormal chromosome or microtubule distribution was observed in the roscovitine-treated group (40.0%, p < 0.05) compared to the caffeine-treated group (22.1%).

The genes are expressed under the control of constitutive gpdA promoter and trpC terminator. Expression of ftmPS alone resulted in the formation of the expected cyclic dipeptide brevianamide F with a yield of up to 36.9 mg l(-1). Introducing the reverse C2-prenyltransferase gene cdpC2PT as well as the reverse C3-prenyltransferase gene cdpNPT into a ftmPS mutant yielded reversely C2- and C3-prenylated

derivatives, respectively. Coexpression of ftmPS with the reverse C3-prenyltransferase gene cdpC3PT resulted in the formation of N1-regularly, C2-, and C3-reversely prenylated derivatives. The prenyl transfer reactions catalyzed by CdpC2PT, CdpNPT, and CdpC3PT observed in this study correspond well to those detected with purified proteins. The yields of the detected prenylated this website products were found to be up to 12.2 mg l(-1). The results HIF inhibitor presented in this study show the potential of synthetic biology for production of prenylated compounds.”
“Uveal melanoma is the most common primary cancer of the eye and often results in fatal metastasis. Here, we describe mutations occurring exclusively at codon 625 of the SF3B1 gene, encoding splicing factor 3B subunit 1, in low-grade uveal melanomas with good prognosis. Thus, uveal melanoma is among a small group of cancers associated with SF3B1 mutations, and these mutations denote a distinct molecular subset of uveal melanomas.”
“Background:

Infliximab (IFX) and adalimumab (ADA) are attractive treatment options in patients with inflammatory bowel selleck chemical disease (IBD) also during pregnancy but there is still limited data on the benefit/risk profile of IFX and ADA during pregnancy.\n\nMethods: This observational study assessed pregnancy outcomes in 212 women with IBD under

antitumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) treatment at our IBD unit. Pregnancy outcomes in 42 pregnancies with direct exposure to anti-TNF treatment (35 IFX, 7 ADA) were compared with that in 23 pregnancies prior to IBD diagnosis, 78 pregnancies before start of IFX, 53 pregnancies with indirect exposure to IFX, and 56 matched pregnancies in healthy women.\n\nResults: Thirty-two of the 42 pregnancies ended in live births with a median gestational age of 38 weeks (interquartile range PORI 37-39). There were seven premature deliveries, six children had low birth weight, and there was one stillbirth. One boy weighed 1640 g delivered at week 33, died at age of 13 days because of necrotizing enterocolitis. A total of eight abortions (one patient wish) occurred in seven women. Trisomy 18 was diagnosed in one fetus of a mother with CD at age 37 under ADA treatment (40 mg weekly) and pregnancy was terminated. Pregnancy outcomes after direct exposure to anti-TNF treatment were not different from those in pregnancies before anti-TNF treatment or with indirect exposure to anti-TNF treatment but outcomes were worse than in pregnancies before IBD diagnosis.

Together, these data provide new insights into the responsiveness of chromatin topography to DNA methylation changes.”
“Aim:\n\nTransforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is involved in renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Recently, the ubiquitin proteasome system was shown to participate in the TGF-beta signalling pathway. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of proteasome inhibitors on TGF-beta-induced transformation of renal fibroblasts and tubular epithelial cells in vitro and on unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in vivo.\n\nMethods:\n\nRat renal fibroblasts NRK-49F cells and tubular epithelial cells, NRK-52E,

were treated with TGF-beta in the presence or absence of a proteasome inhibitor, MG132 or lactacystin. Rats were subjected to UUO and received MG132 i.p. for 7 days.\n\nResults:\n\nIn cultured renal cells, both MG132 and lactacystin inhibited TGF-beta-induced alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) protein expression according to both western R788 research buy NVP-LDE225 manufacturer blotting and immunofluorescent study results. MG132 also suppressed TGF-beta-induced mRNA expression of alpha-SMA and upregulation of Smad-response element reporter activity. However, MG132 did not inhibit TGF-beta-induced

phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of Smad2. In contrast, MG132 increased the protein level of Smad co-repressor SnoN, demonstrating that SnoN is one of the target molecules by which MG132 blocks the TGF-beta signalling pathway. Although the proteasome inhibitor suppressed TGF-beta-induced transformation of cultured fibroblasts and tubular epithelial cells, MG132 treatment did not ameliorate tubulointerstitial fibrosis in the rat UUO model.\n\nConclusion:\n\nProteasome inhibitors attenuate TGF-beta

signalling by blocking Smad signal transduction in vitro, but do not inhibit renal interstitial fibrosis in vivo.”
“Primary cell cultures of the fresh water Hyriopsis cumingii mantle and pearl sac tissues were produced in this study, and Bioactive Compound Library molecular weight the influence of the tissue, cells, and secreted protein on calcium carbonate crystal nucleation and growth was studied. The study contributes to a further understanding of the influence of organic matrices on CaCO3 crystal formation. This research started from the protein level to the tissue/cell level, which is crucial for understanding the inorganic deposition process. The new data also add relevant theoretical approaches to an overall understanding of biomineralization processes. In the experimental groups with mantle or pearl sac tissue, the growth patterns of aragonite were similar: both started from a round disk-shaped amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) and then turned to flowerlike aragonite aggregate. The whole crystal growing process was recorded by transmitted light microscopy. In the control group, without any tissue, there was no ACC found nor crystal phase transformation; it was pure calcite, and the crystal size enlarged as the culture time increased.

4 +/- 4.1 mu M.”
“CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) produce immunosuppressive adenosine by degradation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by the ectonucleotidases CD39 and CD73. In this sequence of events, ATP is not only the substrate for generation of adenosine but it also activates the immunosuppressive functions of Tregs. To compare the effects of ATP on IL-10-deficient (IL-10(-/-)) Tregs with wild-type (wt) Tregs, we incubated both types of Tregs check details with ATP and assessed their phenotype and function. We show that IL-10(-/-) Tregs failed to become activated by ATP and were impaired in adenosine production. As a consequence, IL-10(-/-) Tregs were unable to block adherence of

effector T cells to the endothelium in vitro. When testing the signaling of the ATP receptor P2X(7) in IL-10(-/-) Tregs,

we recorded no elevation of intracellular calcium after engagement of P2X(7) receptors, as compared with wt Tregs, thus indicating that IL-10(-/-) Tregs fail to react normally Histone Methyltransf inhibitor to ATP and display impaired adenosine production, which explains their inability to suppress contact hypersensitivity responses. Therefore, when using IL-10(-/-) Tregs in different disease models, one has to take into account that adenosine production is abrogated and reduced suppressive effects may not be exclusively attributable to the lack of IL-10 production.”
“Background: Trachoma is a major cause of blindness in Southern Sudan. Its distribution has only been partially established and many communities in need of intervention have therefore not been identified or targeted. The present study aimed to develop a tool to improve targeting of survey and control activities.\n\nMethods/Principal Findings: A national trachoma risk map was developed using Bayesian geostatistics models, incorporating trachoma prevalence data from 112 geo-referenced communities surveyed between 2001 and 2009. Logistic regression

models were developed using active trachoma (trachomatous inflammation C59 manufacturer follicular and/or trachomatous inflammation intense) in 6345 children aged 1-9 years as the outcome, and incorporating fixed effects for age, long-term average rainfall (interpolated from weather station data) and land cover (i.e. vegetation type, derived from satellite remote sensing), as well as geostatistical random effects describing spatial clustering of trachoma. The model predicted the west of the country to be at no or low trachoma risk. Trachoma clusters in the central, northern and eastern areas had a radius of 8 km after accounting for the fixed effects.\n\nConclusion: In Southern Sudan, large-scale spatial variation in the risk of active trachoma infection is associated with aridity. Spatial prediction has identified likely high-risk areas to be prioritized for more data collection, potentially to be followed by intervention.

Cell proliferation

assay using H3 thymidine was performed on PBMC samples. The proliferation assay showed a significant suppression of cell proliferation rate in post-burn patients (p = 0.001). We observed a significant reduction in the https://www.selleckchem.com/products/S31-201.html lymphocyte count (p = 0.001) and frequency of CD3 (p = 0.007) and CD4 (p = 0.001) T cells in post-burn patients. Also, the frequency of CD 19 + and HLA DR + cells was increased compare to normal donors following burn injury. Treatment with Cimetidine increased the frequency of CD8 + T cells in the patient’s peripheral blood. The PBMC proliferation rate was restored following the treatment with Cimetidine (p = 0.02). Our data indicates that Cimetidine may have beneficial effects on cell mediated immunity following selleck products burn injury. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Dengue virus (DENV) is a severe mosquito-borne viral pathogen. Neither vaccines nor antiviral therapy is currently available to treat DENV infection. Nucleoside inhibitors targeting viral polymerase have proved promising for the development of drugs against viruses. In this study, we report a nucleoside analog, 2′-C-methylcytidine (2CMC), which exerts potent anti-DENV

activity in DENV subgenomic RNA replicon and infectious systems, with an IC50 value of 11.2 +/- 0.3 mu M. This study utilized both cell-based and cell-free reporter assay systems to reveal the specific anti-DENV RNA polymerase activity of 2CMC. In addition, both xenograft bioluminescence-based DENV replicon and DENV-infected Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) suckling mice models evaluated the anti-DENV replication activity of 2CMC in vivo. Collectively, these findings provide a promising

compound for the development of direct-acting antivirals against DENV infection. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Context: Thyroperoxidase (TPO) and dual oxidase (DUOX) are present at the apical membrane of thyrocytes, where TPO catalyzes thyroid hormone biosynthesis in the presence of H(2)O(2) produced by DUOX. Both enzymes are colocalized and associated, but the consequences Emricasan of this interaction remain obscure.\n\nObjective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the functional consequences of TPO-DUOX interaction at the plasma membrane.\n\nDesign: The functional consequences of DUOX-TPO interaction were studied by measuring extracellular H2O2 concentration and TPO activity in a heterologous system. For this purpose, HEK293 cells were transiently transfected with a combination of human TPO with human DUOX1 or DUOX2 in the presence of their respective maturation factors, DUOXA1 or DUOXA2. The effect of human DUOX2 mutants in which cysteine residues in the N-terminal domain were replaced by glycines was also analyzed.\n\nResults: We observed that production of H2O2 decreases both TPO and DUOX activities. We show that TPO presents a catalase-like effect that protects DUOX from inhibition by H2O2.

“
“The TATA-box binding protein (TBP) belongs to a family of structural proteins involved in transcription in eukaryotic cells. TBP binds in the minor groove of DNA and recognizes specifically the consensus sequence: 5′ TATAWAWR 3′ (W=A or T). Recent reports show that the TATA-box is only present in 10% of all human polymerase 11 promoters. Therefore, TBP must bind frequently to low affinity DNA sequences, possibly with help of other transcription Selleckchem Milciclib factors. In order to understand the intramolecular and intermolecular interactions that lead to the consensus sequence preferred by TBP, we use high resolution crystallographic structures of cognate TBP-DNA complexes as templates onto

which 16 dinucleotide repeating sequence DNA oligomers were built. The binding free energy of each complex was calculated

using the Molecular Mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann Solvent Accessible (MM-PBSA) approximation. Parsing of the free energy see more components allowed us to identify the most important contributions to sequence selectivity: DNA deformation and the interaction energy between TBP residues and DNA bases, as expected. Surprisingly, poor interaction energies lead to larger deformation costs, suggesting strategies to improve affinity and selectivity. Local analysis of the TBP-DNA interface allowed us to build interaction and deformation energy tables that were used, without the need to fit their relative weights, to predict successfully both the consensus sequence for T8P, and relative binding affinities for a collection of TATA box variants. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.”
“The post-genomic era is flooded with data from high-throughput techniques such as cDNA microarrays. In the field of systems biology the reconstruction of gene regulatory networks from gene expression data is one of the major problems in understanding complex cell functions. Drawing conclusions from microarray data requires sophisticated computational analyses that will explore causal genetic relations. In this paper we provide

a brief summary of some of the most recent and promising Fer-1 datasheet computational models and mathematical frameworks used to reconstruct, model and infer gene regulatory networks from data.”
“Background: Environmental surfaces play an important role in transmission of healthcare-associated pathogens. There is a need for new disinfection methods that are effective against Clostridium difficile spores, but also safe, rapid, and automated.\n\nMethods: The Tru-D (TM) Rapid Room Disinfection device is a mobile, fully-automated room decontamination technology that utilizes ultraviolet-C irradiation to kill pathogens. We examined the efficacy of environmental disinfection using the Tru-D device in the laboratory and in rooms of hospitalized patients. Cultures for C.

But we argue that when we look at the history of practice, we see as much evidence of strength, purpose, and successful political

action. Finally, we call for an acknowledgement of the rich and complex nature of the many different histories we can tell in nursing. And we suggest that an admitted inability to advance in one area of the discipline has not meant an inability to move in others.”
“A universal step in the biosynthesis of membrane sterols and steroid hormones is the oxidative removal PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitor 3 in vitro of the 14 alpha-methyl group from sterol precursors by sterol 14 alpha-demethylase (CYP51). This enzyme is a primary target in treatment of fungal infections in organisms ranging from humans to plants, and development of more potent and selective CYP51 inhibitors is an important biological objective. Our continuing interest in structural aspects of substrate and inhibitor recognition

in CYP51 led us to determine (to a resolution of 1.95 angstrom) the structure of CYP51 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (CYP51(Mt)) Selleck KPT-8602 co-crystallized with 4,4′-dihydroxybenzophenone (DHBP), a small organic molecule previously identified among top type I binding hits in a library screened against CYP51(Mt). The newly determined CYP51(Mt)-DHBP structure is the most complete to date and is an improved template for three-dimensional modeling of CYP51 enzymes from fungal and prokaryotic pathogens. The structure demonstrates the induction of conformational fit of the flexible protein regions and the interactions of conserved Phe-89 essential for both fungal drug resistance and catalytic function, which were obscure in the previously characterized CYP51(Mt)-estriol complex. DHBP represents a benzophenone scaffold binding in the CYP51 active site via a type I mechanism, suggesting (i) a possible new class of CYP51 inhibitors targeting flexible regions, (ii) an alternative catalytic function for bacterial CYP51 enzymes,

and (iii) a potential for hydroxybenzophenones, widely distributed in the environment, to interfere with sterol biosynthesis. Finally, we show the inhibition of M. tuberculosis growth by DHBP in a mouse macrophage model.”
“Despite many attempts to resolve evolutionary relationships among the major clades of Rosales, some nodes have been extremely problematic and have remained IPI-145 price unresolved. In this study, we use two nuclear and 10 plastid loci to infer phylogenetic relationships among all nine families of Rosales. Rosales were strongly supported as monophyletic; within Rosales all family relationships are well-supported with Rosaceae sister to all other members of the order. Remaining Rosales can be divided into two subclades: (1) Ulmaceae are sister to Cannabaceae plus (Urticaceae + Moraceae); (2) Rhamnaceae are sister to Elaeagnaceae plus (Barbeyaceae + Dirachmaceae). One noteworthy result is that we recover the first strong support for a sister relationship between the enigmatic Dirachmaceae and Barbeyaceae.

In the initial computation of diverging beliefs, the posterior medial prefrontal cortex (pMPFC) and the bilateral temporoparietal cortex were crucially involved. The findings suggest that the bilateral temporal cortex selleckchem engages in the construction and adjustment of diverging mental states by encoding relevant environmental information. The pMPFC inhibits this stimulus-bound processing which helps to compute discrepant mental states and process another’s false belief decoupled from one’s

own perception of reality. In the subsequent question phase the right temporoparietal cortex showed increased activity related to switching to and reconsidering another’s beliefs in order to select the correct response. Hum Brain Mapp 35:2950-2965,

2014. INCB28060 order (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.”
“Adaptive immunity, involving distinctive antibody- and cell-mediated responses to specific antigens based on “memory” of previous exposure, is a hallmark of higher vertebrates. It has been argued that adaptive immunity arose rapidly, as articulated in the “big bang theory” surrounding its origins, which stresses the importance of coincident whole-genome duplications. Through a close examination of the key molecules and molecular processes underpinning adaptive immunity, this review suggests a less-extreme model, in which adaptive immunity emerged as part of longer evolutionary journey. Clearly, whole-genome duplications provided additional raw genetic materials that were vital to the emergence of adaptive immunity, but a variety of other genetic events were also required to generate some of the key molecules, whereas others were preexisting and simply co-opted XMU-MP-1 solubility dmso into adaptive immunity.”
“HDAC inhibitors induce cell cycle arrest of E1A + Ras-transformed cells accompanied by e2f1 gene down-regulation and activation of Writ pathway Here we show that e2f1 expression is

regulated through the Wnt/Tcf-pathway: e2f1 promoter activity is inhibited by sodium butyrate (NaB) and by overexpression of beta-catenin/Tcf The e2f1 promoter was found to contain two putative Tcf-binding elements: the proximal one competes well with canonical Tcf element in DNA-binding assay Being inserted into luciferase reporter vector, the identified element provides positive transcriptional regulation in response to beta-catenin/Tcf co-transfection and NaB treatment. Thus we have firstly demonstrated that e2f1 belongs to genes regulated through Wnt/beta-catenin/Tcf pathway. (c) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved”
“The spectroscopic properties of thermophilic cytochrome P450 from the thermoacidophilic crenarchaeon Sulfolobus tokodaii strain 7 (P450st) were investigated in acidic and basic solutions. The resting form of ferric-P450st in weakly-acidic and neutral solutions contained a thiolate/H2O coordinated low-spin heme. Below pH 1.

Confocal microscopy demonstrated beta-haematin formation occurs in association with the lipid particles.\n\nConclusions: Kinetics of beta-haematin formation have shown that haemozoin-associated neutral lipids alone are capable of mediating beta-haematin formation at adequate rates under physiologically realistic conditions of ion concentrations to account for haemozoin formation.”
“Endovenous laser treatment has been around for more than

a decade. A brief history of circumstances that have made this treatment modality selleck screening library possible is provided.”
“Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a complex disease that affects up to 20% of children and impacts the quality of patients and families in a significant manner. New insights into the pathophysiology of AD point to an important role of structural abnormalities in the epidermis combined with immune dysregulation. Filaggrin (FLG) is synthesized as a large precursor, profilaggrin, and is expressed in the upper layers of the epidermis. FLG plays a critical role in the epidermal barrier, and FLG mutations cause abnormal epidermal function. FLG mutations are strongly associated with early-onset, and persistent severe AD. In addition, FLG deficiency in the epidermis is related to allergic sensitization and asthma. The basic skin care including repair and protection of the skin barrier

with proper hydration and topical anti-inflammatory therapy is important to control the severity of skin disease in patients with AD.”
“Background: We studied the use of cortico-cancellous circular allograft combined with cannulated screw fixation for find more the correction of dorsolateral peritalar subluxation https://www.selleckchem.com/products/LY294002.html in a series of children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy undergoing single event multilevel surgery.\n\nMethods: Forty-six children who underwent bilateral subtalar fusion between January 1999 and December 2004 were retrospectively reviewed. Gait laboratory records, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels, Functional Mobility Scale (FMS)

scores, and radiographs were reviewed. The surgical technique used an Ollier type incision with a precut cortico-cancellous allograft press-fit into the prepared sinus tarsi. One or two 7.3mm fully threaded cancellous screws were used to fix the subtalar joint. Radiographic analysis included preoperative and postoperative standing lateral radiographs measuring the lateral talocalcaneal angle, lateral talo-first metatarsal angle, and navicular cuboid overlap. Fusion rate was assessed with radiographs > 12 months after surgery.\n\nResults: The mean patient age was 12.9 years (range, 7.8 to 18.4 y) with an average follow-up of 55 months. Statistically significant improvement postoperatively was found for all 3 radiographic indices: lateral talocalcaneal angle, mean improvement 20 degrees (95% CI, 17.5-22.1; P < 0.001); lateral talo-first metatarsal angle, mean improvement 21 degrees (95% CI, 19.2-23.4; P < 0.

Towards this objective, human seminal plasma proteins were fractionated using gel-permeation chromatography and chromatofocusing. Results demonstrated that fraction-5 (containing purified hSPI) of the chromatofocused fractions demonstrated substantial anti-HIV activity. The data suggest that hSPI possesses anti-HIV activity. In future, molecular models based on such naturally occurring proteins could be potentially employed for prevention/therapeutics for HIV/AIDS.”
“Background:

Although many of the volatile constituents of flavor and aroma in citrus have been AZD9291 cost identified, the knowledge of molecular mechanisms and regulation of volatile production are very limited. Our aim was to understand mechanisms of flavor volatile production and regulation in mandarin fruit. Result: Fruits of two mandarin hybrids, Temple and Murcott with contrasting volatile and non-volatile profiles, were collected at three developmental stages. A combination of methods, including the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ), MK-1775 in vitro quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, gas chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography, was used to identify proteins, measure gene expression levels, volatiles, sugars, organic acids and carotenoids. Two thirds of differentially expressed proteins were identified in the pathways of glycolysis, citric acid cycle,

amino acid, sugar and starch metabolism. An enzyme encoding valencene synthase gene (Cstps1) was more abundant in Temple than in Murcott. Valencene accounted for 9.4% of total volatile content in Temple, whereas no valencene was detected in Murcott fruit. Murcott expression of Cstps1 is

severely reduced. Conclusion: We showed that the diversion of valencene and other sesquiterpenes into the terpenoid pathway together with high production of apocarotenoid volatiles might have resulted in the lower concentration of carotenoids in Temple fruit.”
“Introduction: Late termination of pregnancy combines psychological distress with severe physical pain. The present study evaluated the benefit of adding oral pregabalin to epidural analgesia during this procedure.\n\nMethods: Healthy women were randomly allocated to receive either oral pregabalin 150 mg/12 h or prazepam 10 mg/12 h at the induction of the late termination of NVP-BSK805 ic50 pregnancy procedure. When they felt abdominal pain (numerical rating scale ranging from 0 [no pain] to 100 [worst pain possible]), patient-controlled epidural analgesia was activated and set to deliver ropivacaine 0.1% with sufentanil 0.25 mu g/ml, 5 ml/h with a bolus dose of 5 ml/30 min. Rescue analgesia was available as needed by administration of 10 ml ropivacaine 0.1% (pain score less than 60/100) or 0.2% (at least 60/100). The primary outcome was the consumption of epidural analgesics.\n\nResults: Forty-eight patients participated in the study. Demographic and obstetric data were similar. Pregabalin reduced total ropivacaine consumption 11.3 +/- 3.