Methadone dose and human sexual behavior

Among 31 male and 17 female former addicts in methadone maintenance or drug-free treatment, the frequency of sexual behaviors was determined by questionnaires administered at least weekly over several weeks. Daily methadone dose (mg/kg) correlated significantly with frequency of genital contacts (r = -.54) and organs (-.43) among females, and with frequency of ejaculation (-.31) among males. Although open and nonblind, the study suggests that higher doses of methadone may suppress human sexual behavior.

Environmental and behavioral aspects of glue sniffing in a population of emotionally disturbed adolescents

The following study used an eight question survey to explore some ecological and behavioral dimensions of glue sniffing in a population of emotionally disturbed adolescents. The results indicated that peer-based pressure was a dominant motivational aspect for engaging initially in glue-sniffing behavior. In addition, a significant number of adolescents in this survey revealed a trend toward experiencing unpleasantness with continual use.

Effects of cycle length on atrial vulnerability

The effect of cycle length on atrial vulnerability was studied in 14 patients manifesting reproducible repetitive atrial firing during atrial extra-stimulus (A2) testing. Repetitive atrial firing was defined as the occurrence of two or more premature atrial responses with return cycle (A2-A3) of 250 msec or less and subsequent mean cycle length of 300 msec or less, following A2. The zone of repetitive atrial firing could be defined in terms of its longest and shortest A1-A2 coupling intervals. Each patient was tested at a long cycle length (CL1) (mean 884 msec) and a short cycle length (CL2) (mean 557 msec). CL1 was sinus rhythm and CL2, an atrial paced rhythm. Repetitive atrial firing occurred in two patients at CL1 and in all patients at CL2. Of the former two patients (group 2), the zone of repetitive atrial firing was markedly widened in one at CL2 due to a shortening of atrial functional refractory period (FRP) at CL2. In the other, zone of repetitive atrial firing could not be totally defined due to induction of sustained atrial flutter preventing definition of atrial FRP. The occurrence of repetitive atrial firing at only CL2 in 12 patients (group 1) reflected: 1) a shortening of atrial FRP from 294 +/- 11 msec at CL1 to 242 +/- 10 msec at CL2 (mean +/- SEM; P less than 0.01), allowing delivery of A2 at shorter coupling intervals (9); 2) the new occurrence of repetitive atrial firing at A1-A2 coupling intervals achievable at both cycle lengths (1); or 3) both effects (2). In conclusion, decrease of cycle length potentiated atrial vulnerability. This demonstration implies that atrial pacing could potentiate occurrence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or flutter.

Absence of cellular hypersensitivity in patients with unexplained hepatitis following halothane

In-vitro tests of cell-mediated immunity were performed using blood obtained from subjects with unexplained hepatitis following halothane anesthesia to determine whether sensitization to potentially antigenic products of halothane metabolism might exist. Both lymphocyte transformation and leukocyte migration-inhibition tests were undertaken in the presence of trifluoroacetylated human serum albumin. All tests in the presence of these potential antigenic complexes were negative. The results support the view that cell-mediated hypersensitivity to trifluoroacetylated proteins does not contribute to the pathogenesis of hepatic dysfunction following halothane anesthesia.

[Use of lande-edwards membrane oxygenators as artificial lungs]

Lande-Edwards membrane oxygenators were tested as artificial lungs in 6 dogs: the right heart directly perfused the oxygenators during an apneusis of one hour. During such a pulmonary by-pass right ventricular pressure doubles compared to initial value, with a moderate decrease in cardiac output; mean PO-2 rises from 40 to 67 mm Hg and PCO-2 decreases from 54 to 49 mm Hg through the oxygenator.