A defasciculating dose of d-tubocurarine causes resistance to succinylcholine

Forty-four patients, ASA physical status I or II, undergoing thiamylal, fentanyl, N2O/O2 anaesthesia were studied to determine the dose-response to succinylcholine (Sch) without prior defasciculation (24 pt - Group 1), or three minutes following d-tubocurarine (dTC), 0.043 mg.kg-1 (20 pt - Group 2). The individual log dose-logit response curve for each patient was determined using a cumulative dose plus infusion technique and integrated EMG monitoring of the first dorsal interosseous muscle. The mean (+/- SEM) ED50, ED90 and ED95 values for Sch in Group 1 were 0.13 +/- 0.01, 0.19 +/- 0.01 and 0.22 +- 0.01 mg.kg-1, and in Group 2 were 0.16 +/- 0.01, 0.25 +/- 0.01 and 0.29 +/- 0.02 mg.kg-1, respectively. The mean ED values in Group 2 were significantly greater than the equivalent values in Group 1 (P less than 0.05). Compared with values in Group 1, ED values in Group 2 represented mean increases of 23, 32, and 32 per cent, respectively. These pharmacodynamic data indicate that the dose of Sch needs to be increased by 32 per cent following a defasciculating dose of dTC 3 mg.70 kg-1 (0.043 mg.kg-1).     

Low-dose sufentanil and lidocaine supplementation of general anaesthesia

This randomized double-blind study compared the effects of: (1) saline infusion (C); (2) sufentanil alone (1.0 micrograms.kg-1) (S); and (3) low-dose sufentanil (0.5 micrograms.kg-1) in combination with lidocaine (1.5 mg.kg-1) (LS): on the cardiovascular responses to tracheal intubation and on postoperative ventilation as monitored by respiratory inductive plethysmography in day-care surgical procedures of approximately 60 min duration. Thirty healthy, unpremedicated patients were studied. Thiopentone requirements were reduced by 40 and 28 per cent in the S and LS groups respectively compared with control (P less than 0.001). Both treatments suppressed HR and BP responses (P less than 0.005) to intubation. Postoperatively, PaCO2 was elevated (P less than 0.05) in group S. Dose-related respiratory depression was observed. The incidence of postoperative apnoea was significantly higher in both S and LS groups than compared with control (P less than 0.05). However, only patients in group S showed higher apnoea index and mean apnoea duration over the initial 10-20 min after surgery compared with control (P less than 0.005). In addition, group S showed slower respiratory frequency and prolonged expiratory time (P less than 0.005). In conclusion, an induction dose of sufentanil (1 microgram.kg-1) used in balanced anaesthesia of less than 70 min duration was associated with significant respiratory depression, particularly during the initial 10-20 min after surgery, whereas low-dose sufentanil (0.5 micrograms.kg-1) with lidocaine (1.5 mg.kg-1) had minimal postoperative respiratory depression and comparable attenuation of pressor responses to intubation.     

Intraoperative anaphylaxis to latex

This case report describes intraoperative anaphylaxis occurring in a fourteen-year-old female with spina bifida in which latex surgical gloves were incriminated as the aetiologic agent. The patient was non-atopic but since eight years of age she had developed localized angioedema and urticarial skin reactions on exposure to rubber. She had previously undergone several uneventful surgical procedures. Forty-five minutes following induction of anaesthesia and during laparotomy for elective cholecystectomy she experienced sudden onset of increased airway pressure, oxygen desaturation, tachycardia, profound hypotension and erythema consistent with an anaphylactic reaction. Resuscitation with manual ventilation and oxygen, intravenous fluids and an epinephrine infusion was successful. Subsequent investigations for allergies demonstrated a strongly positive skin prick test and RAST to latex antigen, with negative results to anaesthetic agents, antibiotics and inhalant allergens. During two later operations prophylaxis consisting of diphenhydramine, ranitidine and hydrocortisone appeared to prevent further reactions. Latex should be considered as a cause of life-threatening intraoperative allergic reactions in patients with a history of rubber allergy or frequent exposure to latex products.     

Estimating the financial savings from maintaining the level of acute services with fewer hospital beds

All district health authorities are obliged to use resources most efficiently. One approach to increasing efficiency is to identify measures which allow service levels, in terms of patients treated and standards of care, to be maintained at a lower cost. This could be achieved by maintaining service levels with fewer hospital beds. Reducing lengths of stay by removing organizational delays and expansions of day-case care, are policies which can increase patient caseload per bed. This paper puts forward an approach for estimating the resources released by such policies and assesses the savings achieved by realizing efficiency gains identified in a previous study by Beech et al. (1987). That study identified significant potential for maintaining services with fewer beds, with the expansion of day-case care being a key mechanism. However this paper concludes that when services are maintained with fewer beds, the vast majority of hospital costs remain fixed. It also reaches the alarming conclusion that as a vehicle for reducing costs, day-case care is much less effective than previous studies have implied. However, increasing hospital throughput per bed does release capacity to treat more patients. The proposed reforms of the NHS (Secretaries of State, 1989) envisage an internal market for health care, allowing hospitals to enter into contracts with purchasers of health care. The approach to costing described in this paper is applicable to assessing the increased costs associated with such developments. These extra costs can then be compared with expected income.     

Behavioral effects of MK-801 in the rat

Several experiments were conducted to study the effects of the noncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, MK-801, on learning and memory in the rat. Rats displayed impaired performance on several sensorimotor tests and appeared grossly intoxicated when treated IP with 0.2 mg/kg MK-801, but not when treated with lower doses (0.05 or 0.1 mg/kg). Postacquisition performance on two spatial learning tasks involving working memory protocols (reinforced alternation and radial arm maze) was impaired by MK-801 at intoxicating doses (0.2 mg/kg) but not at lower doses (0.05 or 0.1 mg/kg). Using a position habit reversal task, we found that rats could learn to reverse a position habit while under the influence of a nonintoxicating dose of MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg), but when tested on the following day performed as if they did not recall what they had learned. Thus, acute administration of a nonintoxicating dose of MK-801 disrupts the retention of new information learned under the influence of the drug but does not interfere with the performance of tasks that are well learned before the drug is administered. Whether the performance deficits on the spatial learning tasks observed only following intoxicating doses of MK-801 reflect an effect on memory is not clear.     

A Simple Rheological Method for the in Vitro Assessment of Mucin-Polymer Bioadhesive Bond Strength

A simple viscometric method was used to quantify mucin-polymer bioadhesive bond strength. Viscosities of 15% (w/v) porcine gastric mucin dispersions in 0.1 N HC1 (pH 1) or 0.1 N acetate buffer (pH 5.5) were measured with a Brookfield viscometer in the absence (_m) or presence (_t) of selected neutral, anionic, and cationic polymers (0.1–2.5%, w/v). Viscosity components of bioadhesion (1%) were calculated from the equation, _t = _m + _p + _b, where _p is the viscosity of corresponding pure polymer solution as measured by an Ostwald viscometer. The forces of bioadhesion (F) were calculated from the equation, F = _b, where is the rate of shear/sec. _b's and F's for polyelectrolytes, e.g., polyacrylic acid, cationic gelatin, and chitosan were always higher in acetate buffer than in HC1. Validity of the technique and the effect of ionic charge, polymer conformation, and rate of shear on _b and F are discussed, as is a comparison of this method to other methods for evaluating bioadhesive materials.     

冷冻浓缩腹水回输在治疗顽固性肝硬化腹水中的应用

目的 探讨冷冻浓缩腹水回输治疗顽固性肝硬化腹水的疗效。方法 采用透析机对32例顽固性肝硬化腹水患者的腹水进行超滤浓缩,置-18℃环境中冷冻2～3天,37℃温育溶解后静脉回输。结果 冷冻浓缩腹水回输前后,血清总蛋白为(59.1±5.6)g/L和(66.3±4.7)g/L,白/球比值为0.8±0.3和1.1±0.5,腹水总蛋白为(15.2±6.8)g/L和(55.6±8.4)g/L;腹围为(91.3±9.5)cm和(80.8±9.2)cm,腹压为(3.5±0.43)kPa和(2.4±0.32)kPa,24 h尿量为(615.0±185.5)ml和(1 240.0±255.0)ml;治疗前后相比,差异有高度显著性(P<0.01)。血清钾为(3.5±1.1)mmol/L和(4.0±1.3)mmol/L,腹水钾(3.6±0.9)mmol/L和(4.1±1.0)mmol/L;血清钠为(122.2±4.0)mmol/L和(126.5±4.3)mmol/L,腹水钠为(120.8±4.5)mmol/L和(123.3±4.7)mmol/L;血清氯为(90.3±6.2)mmol/L和(95.1±5.7)mmol/L,腹水氯为(92.0±5.9)mmol/L和(96.4±50.5)mmol/L;治疗前后相比,血清钠、腹水钠、腹水钾、血清氯、腹水氯差异均有显著性(P<0.05,P<0.01),血清钾差异无显著性(P>0.05)。冷冻浓缩腹水回输后,除2例出现一过性发热外,未发生低血压、肝昏迷、消化道出血现象,未出现蛋白凝集、堵塞管腔;未出现电解质紊乱现象。结论 冷冻浓缩腹水回输可大量回收腹水     

立体定向显微手术切除脑内病灶

目的探讨立体定向显微手术切除脑内病灶的可行性。方法应用F.L.FischerZD定向仪,CT定位,对24例脑重要功能区及脑深部病灶进行立体定向开颅显微手术。病变性质胶质瘤14例,脑囊虫2例,转移瘤2例,脑脓肿1例,脑膜瘤1例,动静脉畸形(AVM)1例,海绵状血管瘤1例,异物1例,炎性肉芽肿1例。病灶直径为1.5～3.0cm,＞3.5cm     

孕妇风疹病毒IgG、IgM检测及意义

目的：了解温州地区孕妇对风疹的免疫状态,探讨风疹病毒IgG、IgM检测对评估孕妇免疫状态及判断风疹宫内感染的作用。方法：用ELISA法对1471名产前检查孕妇检测风疹病毒特异性抗体IgG、IgM,电镜检查和分子生物学法检查组织中病毒颗粒和病毒核酸。结果：76.07%（1119／1471）的孕妇具有免疫力,7.41%（109／1471）有孕妇为原发感染,14.14%的孕妇为易感,2.38%（35／1471）的孕妇IgG、IgM均呈阳性,其中1例引产胎儿心肌细胞和1例死胎的心肌、肝及脑细胞中均发现病毒颗粒。结论：同时检测孕妇风疹IgG和IgM可以正确判断孕妇的免疫状态,对IgM阳性孕妇应进行连续多次检测,IgM持续呈阳性三个月以上的孕妇可大致确定为宫内感染。     

紫杉醇诱导HL—60细胞凋亡的研究

目的：观察抗微管药紫杉醇对急性白血病细胞株HL－60是否具有凋亡诱导作用,并进一步研究bcl－2基因在此过程中的作用。方法：（1）以紫杉醇处理HL－60细胞,观察细胞生长抑制作用的时间效应和剂量效应,在光镜和电镜下观察细胞形态变化;（2）用流式细胞仪检测药物孵育前后细胞凋亡率（AP）的变化;（3）用RT－PCR法检测药物孵育前后bcl-2基因的表达水平。结果：（1）在一定剂量和时间范围内紫杉醇能抑制HL－60细胞生长;（2）紫杉醇能诱导HL－60细胞凋亡,并显示剂量效应：（3）在紫杉醇诱导HL－609细胞凋亡过程中,bcl－2基因表达水平下调。结论：紫杉醇能诱导HL－60细胞凋亡;bcl-2基因参与了紫杉醇诱导HL－60细胞凋亡的调控。