BACKGROUND: The use of anesthesia during assisted reproductive technology (ART) such as TEST (Tubal Embryo Stage Transfer) may expose early embryo to anesthetics in tubal fluid. The effects of anesthetic agents on the development of early embryo in ART are yet unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of narcotics on mouse two-cell embryo development using in vitro growth model of mouse embryo. METHODS: Mouse two-cell embryos were exposed to narcotics, fentanyl (6.0 nM; 30.0 nM) and meperidine (1.0 M; 3.6 M) respectively. Mouse two-cell embryos unexposed to any drugs were served as controls. In vitro developmental patterns were observed on the third and fifth day of culture. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the rates of embryos arrested at 2~8 cell stage on the third day after culture and blastocysts development and their hatching on the fifth day after culture among three groups. CONCLUSION: We conclude that fentanyl and meperidine in clinical therapeutic concentration have no detrimental effects on the in vitro two-cell mouse embryo development. But further investigations are required to determine whether narcotics have any adverse toxic effects in human reproductive medicine.
Anesthesia ; Anesthetics ; Animals ; Blastocyst ; Embryonic Development* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Meperidine ; Mice* ; Narcotics* ; Pregnancy ; Reproductive Medicine ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Animals ; Killer Cells, Natural* ; Mice*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Mice*

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic urologic surgery including transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) requires adequate sacral analgesia for insertion of resectoscope. But epidurally administered local anesthetic does not produce anesthetic effects uniformly. Failure to completely block S1 during epidural anesthesia because of the large size of nerve root has been noted. The purpose of this study to compare the relation between catheter direction and sensory anesthesia. METHODS: Thirty patients scheduled for endoscopic urologic surgery were enrolled. The epidural catheter was inserted at L3-4 using a standard 18 gauge Tuohy needle. In group A (n=15), the Tuohy needle with bevel pointed in a cephalad direction during catheter insertion. In group B (n=15), it pointed caudally. And the catheter was introduced 3 cm into the epidural space. After test dose, 2% lidocaine 5 cc, 0.5% bupivacaine 5 cc and 2% lidocaine 3 cc were administered with fractionate dose through it. The extent of the sensory anesthesia to loss of cold sensation and pin prick test was measured every 5minute for 30 minutes. RESULTS: Analgesia spread to loss of cold sensation and pin prick test was no significant statistical difference between the two groups. In 15 minutes after injection of surgical dose, complete blockade in L5, S1 dermatome was present in both groups. CONCLUSION: Our results conclude that epidural catheter direction is not significantly influence the epidural anesthetic spread including sacral area in continuous lumbar epidural anesthesia in elderly patients.
Aged ; Analgesia ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Anesthetics ; Bupivacaine ; Catheters* ; Epidural Space ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Needles ; Sensation ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate

It has been Known that silicone intubation may be an effective procedure for total or partial obstruction in infants of age one year or less, and the older the patient, the lower the success rate. We had performed silicone intubation on 40 eyes of 39 patients from january 1995 to May 1996, and they were divided into 3 groups according to age: group 1, 6 months to 6 years: group 2,6 to 16.: group 3, one 16 years. The success rate was 92.4% in groups 1 and 2, respectively: 83.3% ingroup 3. The success rate in patients with partial obstruction in group 3 was 100% In view of the results of the present study, silicone intubation may be in primary procedure for partial obstruction of lacrimal drainage system.
Drainage ; Humans ; Infant ; Intubation* ; Silicones*

BACKGROUND: We have previously demonstrated the isoflurane and halothane may be detrimental to in vitro fertilization of mouse oocytes in high concentrations. The aim of this study is to compare the toxic effects of volatile anesthetics on mouse embryos using in vitro growth model of two cell mouse embryos. METHODS: mouse two-cell embryos exposed to three volatile anesthetics, enflurane(0.5mM; 1.5mM), isoflurane(0.26mM; 0.78mM)and halothane(0.24mM; 0.72mM). Mouse two-cell unexposed to any drugs were included as controls. RESULTS: The percentages of two-cell mouse embryos developed over morula stages on the third day after exposure of high concentrations of isoflurane and halothane decreased significantly compared with controls. The rates of embryos arrested at 2~8 cell stage in these groups were significantly higher than that of controls. There were no significant differences in these rates between enflurane group, isoflurane and halothane group of lower concentrations and controls. The hatching and/or hatched blastocysts development were significantly lower in isoflurane and halothane group than in controls. no significant differences in the hatching rate of blastocyst developed were observed among groups. CONCLUSIONS: our data show that isoflurane and halothane in high concentrations have harm effects of the in vitro growth of two cell mouse embryos.
Anesthetics ; Animals ; Blastocyst ; Embryonic Development* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Enflurane* ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Halothane* ; Isoflurane* ; Mice* ; Morula ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy

No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic*

The effect of prior administration of d-tubocurarine on the increased intraocular pressure associated with the use of succinylcholine was studied in 30 randomely selected human subjects, who did not have cardiopulmonary or ocular disease preoperatively. Intraocular pressures were measured with Schiotz tonometer. The major findings of this study were as follows: 1) When succinylcholine was given alone, a rise from 15.5mmHg to 18.OmmHg (16.1%) was seen(p<0.05). 2) When d-tubocurarine, 3mg, was given three minutes prior to the administration of succylchin oline, 15 healthy human subjects had no significant increase in intraocular pressure(p>0.05). 3) Intrsocular pressure were significantly increased in both groups after endotracheal intubation, but the d-tubocurarine precurarization group had minimal pressure compured to the succinylcholine alonegroup(p<0.05). An intraocular pressure increase was inhibited in the d-tubocurarine precurarization group. This simple, convenient method prevents the increased intraocular pressure associated with the use of succinylcholine.
Humans ; Intraocular Pressure* ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Succinylcholine ; Tubocurarine*