Frank H. Sarnquist

Human Cerebral Function at Extreme Altitude

in the fall of 1981 the American Medical Research Expedition to Everest completed a series of physiological and psychological studies on mountaineers ascending to the summit of Mount Everest. This expedition afforded the unique opportunity to observe the consequences of extreme, sustained hypoxia on human cerebral function. The goal was to ascertain whether exposing healthy acclimatized individuals to extreme high altitude causes long-term alterations in cognition or behavior indicative of hypoxic brain dysfunction.

Efficacy and Safety of Single Doses of Intramuscular Ketorolac Tromethamine Compared with Meperidine for Postoperative Pain

Ketorolac tromethamine, a potent nonnarcotic prostaglandin synthetase‐inhibiting analgesic, was compared with meperidine for relief of moderate to severe postoperative pain. In a double‐blind, randomized study, 125 patients received single intramuscular doses of ketorolac 30 or 90 mg or meperidine 50 or 100 mg. The degree of pain and pain relief were quantified verbally and with visual analog scales at baseline and 30 minutes, then hourly for 6 hours. Ketorolac 30 and 90 mg were significantly superior to meperidine 50 mg in six of nine efficacy measures.

A Bioassay of a Water-soluble Benzodiazepine Against Sodium Thiopental

The authors performed a bioassay of midazolam maleate, an investigational, water-soluble benzodiazepine, to determine the duration of sleep after a single intravenous dose. Sodium thiopental was the standard against which the midazolam maleate was assayed. Prior to operation 60 surgical patients were randomly given one of five doses of drugs, either thiopental, 180 or 270 mg, or midazolam maleate, 6.6,10, or 15 mg. The designated drug was infused intravenously over 20 sec in a double-blind fashion. Sleep was defined as commencing when the patients stopped counting, and ending when they could respond appropriately to verbal commands. Midazolam maleate, 10 mg (9—12 mg represents 95 per cent confidence limits), was found to be equivalent to thiopental, 200 mg, in the duration of sleep induced. Apnea following the infusion was less frequent and of shorter duration after midazolam maleate than after thiopental. It is concluded that midazolam maleate is a satisfactory agent for the induction of anesthesia, and that it is about 20 times as potent as thiopental.