AVPR1A and SLC6A4 polymorphisms in choral singers and non-musicians: a gene association study.

Amateur choral singing is a common pastime and worthy of study, possibly conferring benefits to health and social behaviour. Participants might be expected to possess musical ability and share some behavioural characteristics. Polymorphisms in genes concerned with serotonergic neurotransmission are associated with both behaviour and musical aptitude.

The influence of duration of fluid abstinence on hypotension during propofol induction.

Background: Prolonged preoperative fasting might be expected to exacerbate hypotension during the induction of general anesthesia. We aimed to establish whether the duration of preoperative abstinence from fluids independently contributed to arterial blood pressure changes and dosage requirements during propofol induction.

Methods: We prospectively recruited 130 ASA I or II nonhypertensive patients, ages 18 to 65 years scheduled for surgery under general anesthesia.

Introduction of bispectral index monitoring in a district general hospital operating suite: a prospective audit of clinical and economic effects.

Background And Objective: Randomized controlled trials have shown several beneficial effects of intraoperative bispectral index monitoring. We conducted a prospective audit to determine whether these could be replicated in everyday clinical practice.

Methods: Recovery characteristics and drug costs from two 4-week periods were compared, immediately before (phase 1, n = 427 patients) and after (phase 2, n = 299 patients) the introduction of bispectral index monitoring in the main operating theatres of a district general hospital.

Isoflurane dosage for equivalent intraoperative electroencephalographic suppression in patients with and without epidural blockade.

Unlabelled: We conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled trial to establish the effect of epidural blockade on isoflurane requirements for equivalent intraoperative electroencephalographic (EEG) suppression. Fifty patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy received combined epidural and general anesthesia or general anesthesia alone with isoflurane and alfentanil. Isoflurane was administered by computer-controlled closed-loop feedback to maintain an EEG 95% spectral edge frequency of 17.