Neuromuscular effects of rocuronium during sevoflurane, isoflurane, and intravenous anesthesia

The potency and time course of action of rocuronium were studied in patients anesthetized with 66% nitrous oxide in oxygen and 1.5 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration of sevoflurane or isoflurane, or a propofol infusion. Potency was estimated by using the single-bolus technique. Neuromuscular block was measured by stimulation of the ulnar nerve and by recording the force of contraction of the adductor pollicis muscle. The mean (95% confidence limits) of the 50% and 95% effective doses were estimated tobe 142 (129-157) and 265 (233-301) microg/ kg, 165 (146-187) and 324 (265-396) microg/kg, and 183 (163-207) and 398 (316-502) microg/kg during sevoflurane, isoflurane, and propofol anesthesia, respectively (P < 0.05 for sevoflurane versus propofol). The mean +/- SD times to onset of maximal block after rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg were 0.96 +/- 0.16, 0.90 +/- 0.16, and 1.02 +/- 0.15 min during sevoflurane, isoflurane, and propofol anesthesia, respectively. The respective times to recovery of the first response in the train-of-four (TOF) stimulation (T1) to 25% and 90% were 45 +/- 13.1 and 83 +/- 29.3 min, 35 +/- 6.1 and 56 +/- 15.9 min, and 35 +/- 9.2 and 55 +/- 19.4 min. The times to recovery of the TOF ratio to 0.8 were 103 +/- 30.7, 69 +/- 20.4, and 62 +/- 21.1 min, and the 25%-75% recovery indices were 26 +/- 11.7, 12 +/- 5.0, and 14 +/- 6.9 min, respectively. There were no differences among groups in the times for onset of action or to recovery of T1 to 25%. However, the times for recovery of T1 to 90%, TOF ratio to 0.8, and recovery index in the sevoflurane group were all significantly longer compared with the other two groups (P < 0.05, < 0.01, and < 0.01, respectively). We conclude that the effects of rocuronium, especially duration of action, are significantly enhanced during sevoflurane compared with isoflurane and propofol anesthesia. IMPLICATIONS: In routine clinical use, the effects of rocuronium are enhanced by sevoflurane, in comparison with isoflurane and propofol anesthesia, and the recovery is slower. Particular attention should be paid to monitoring of neuromuscular block during sevoflurane anesthesia.     

Breathing of awake goats during prolonged dysfunction of caudal M ventrolateral medullary neurons

Recent scientific studies have demonstrated the efficacy of various forms of immunotherapy for the treatment of allergic diseases. Traditional subcutaneous immunotherapy, sublingual, oral, and intranasal immunotherapy have been shown to significantly reduce symptoms and favorably modulate the immune response. Outcome studies that use patient response data from standardized surveys represent the next challenge to all practicing allergists.     

An evaluation of the impact of social presence through Group size and the use of collaborative software on Group member "Voice" in face-to-face and computer-mediated task Groups

Firms that are trying to stay competitive in the current business environment often require the use of groups. The popularity of group work is tied to the promise of improved productivity via the pooling of information, knowledge, and skills. In recent years, group work has been expanded to virtual or distributed environments. However, there are questions about how aspects of group work-specifically group size and social presence-impact group members' ability to voice opinions. This study examines groups of two sizes in three distinct social presence settings: face-to-face, face-to-face using collaborative software, and virtual using collaborative software. This study finds that both group size and social presence affect individual instrumental voice, value-expressive voice, and the group interaction process. The results show that by increasing social presence through the use of collaborative software, it is possible to lessen the negative impact of increasing group size. These results should be of interest to the increasing number of organizations that are implementing virtual group environments.     

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECTS OF COLD EXPANSION OF FASTENER HOLES

A series of experimental investigations concerning the residual stress fields at cold-expanded fastener holes and of the behavior of fatigue cracks at such holes has been conducted. These studies have included measurement of the initial, cold-work-induced residual stress fields at both uncracked and cracked holes and the performance of both constant amplitude and spectrum fatigue crack growth tests.     

Mould growth on meat at freezing temperatures

Meat is usually spoiled by bacteria, which grow more rapidly than moulds. It is usually suggested that mould spoilage occurs mainly with frozen meat when the temperature permits growth of moulds but not bacteria. Moulds were thought to grow at —10°C or even lower temperatures, while bacteria cannot grow much below —2°C, the freezing point of meat. It has also been suggested that the reduced water activity of frozen media rather than the temperature per se may determine the minimum growth temperatures for moulds. Examination of meat spoilage moulds showed most to be moderately xerotolerant with minimum growth temperatures of —5°C or higher. In only one species was growth limited by reduced water activity rather than temperature. During prolonged storage at —5°C, meat developed a flora dominated by yeasts. Visible mould colonies did not appear until the eighth month of storage. It therefore seems that most cases of mould spoilage arise when the temperature of meat surfaces approaches 0°C with surface drying inhibiting bacterial growth.     

Mechanics of caloric stimulation in a case with a plug in the horizontal semicircular canal

Cytochrome P-450cam hydroxylates d-camphor, using molecular oxygen and reducing equivalents transferred via putidaredoxin. We constructed mutant genes in which Phe-350 of P-450cam was replaced by Leu, Tyr, or His by site-directed mutagenesis, expressed them in Escherichia coli, purified the mutant proteins, and compared their enzymic properties with those of the wild type P-450cam. NADH oxidation rate of the Tyr mutant in the reconstituted system with putidaredoxin and putidaredoxin reductase was similar to that of the wild type enzyme, while the Leu mutant and the His mutant showed 67% and 17% activity of that of the wild type, respectively. The affinities of these mutant proteins for camphor and the oxidized form of putidaredoxin were much the same as those of the wild type protein. Rate constants for the reduction reaction of P-450cam by reduced putidaredoxin, a physiological electron donor for P-450cam, of Tyr and His mutants were much the same as that of the wild type enzyme, whereas the Leu mutant showed approx. half that of the wild type. Thus, the aromatic ring of Phe-350 of P-450cam probably contributes to enhancing efficiency of the electron transfer yet does not seem to be essential for the reaction.     

Optimisation of conditions for the degradation of mimosine in Leucaena leucocephala leaf

A study was made of the rate of degradation of mimosine to 3-hydroxy-4(1H)-pyridone in harvested leucaena leaf under various conditions. Optimum rates of degradation of an aqueous leucaena slurry were at pH 8.0 and 45°C with virtual total loss of mimosine in 10 min. Heating the intact leaf also reduced the mimosine content with the maximum rate of degradation at 70°C. The results have implications for reducing the toxicity of leucaena used for stock feed.     

Photoacoustic infrared spectroscopy of some solids

Infrared spectra in the 100–15000 wavenumber region (0.67–100 μm) of some ionic (as LiF) and semiconducting (as Ge, Si, GaAs) powders and crystals are reported. The experiment involves the use of a photoacoustic cell as an accessory to a multiple scan averaging Michelson interferometer. The results show the advantages of studying impurities in powders, and surface properties, particularly since the technique is immune to scattering induced errors.