We reported previously that nitrous oxide induces pre-emptive analgesia that is partially antagonized by naloxone and totally antagonized by halothane. The aims of this study were to determine if halothane and isoflurane are similar in this respect and to examine if volatile anaesthetics antagonize the analgesic effect of exogenous opioids. We found that 75% nitrous oxide prolonged tail-flick l...

This manuscript presents an overview of published work on nitrous oxide in the permanently ice-covered lakes of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. One of these lakes contains the highest concentration of nitrous oxide reported for natural aquatic systems (> 500 000% with respect to the global average mixing ratio in air). Recent data on nitrous oxide from the major lakes in this region of Ant...

The use of N fertilizer in agriculture is a major source of Nitrous Oxide, an important greenhouse gases. Market-based instruments, such as incentives or taxes, may help reduce Nitrous Oxide emission by changing Nitrogen application rate. Using a dynamic programming approach, we found that changing corn price or fertilizer price have effects on both farm profit and Nitrogen application rate. Ho...

We studied the effects of six inhalation anaesthetics at subanaesthetic concentrations of 0.2 MAC on pain threshold and psychomotor function in six healthy volunteers. When compared with 100% oxygen inhalation, nitrous oxide and methyoxyflurane significantly increased pain threshold as measured by a radiant heat algometer, and prolonged the response time to auditory stimuli. In contrast, haloth...

Although analgesic action of xenon has been reported, little is known about the effect of xenon at the spinal cord, which plays a crucial role in nociceptive transmission. We studied the effect of xenon on nociceptive reflex (the slow ventral root potential) and the monosynaptic reflex in neonatal rat spinal cord in vitro in comparison with nitrous oxide. Xenon (30%) and nitrous oxide (30%) wer...

In order to evaluate the value of the inspiratory to end-tidal oxygen concentration difference (Io2-E'o2) as a monitor during general anaesthesia, we studied 40 orthopaedic patients allocated randomly to four groups: anaesthesia with enflurane or isoflurane in nitrous oxide with either spontaneous or controlled ventilation. (Io2-E'o2) followed an asymptotically increasing curve because of decre...

We have compared the analgesic potency of MAC-equivalent concentrations of xenon (10, 20, 30 and 40%) and nitrous oxide (15, 30, 45 and 60%) in humans using a multimodal experimental pain testing and assessment technique. We tested 12 healthy volunteers in a randomized, single-blind, crossover study. The following experimental pain tests were used: nociceptive reflex to repeated stimuli; pain t...

The morphology of the bone marrow of 21 dentists who habitually used nitrous oxide in their surgeries was investigated. Exposure to nitrous oxide was measured with an atmospheric sampling device, and each dentist was invited to fill in a questionnaire giving details of medical history, diet, and intake of alcohol. During the trial a full neurological and haematological investigation was carried...

STUDY OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and complication profile of oral midazolam therapy and continuous-flow 50% nitrous oxide in alleviating anxiety during laceration repair in children 2 to 6 years old. METHODS We conducted a prospective, randomized clinical trial using 4 study groups who required laceration repair: (1) children who received standard care alone, which included comforting ...

In Central Europe, most bogs have a history of drainage and many of them are currently being restored. Success of restoration as well as greenhouse gas exchange of these bogs is influenced by environmental stress factors as drought and atmospheric nitrogen deposition. We determined the methane and nitrous oxide exchange of sites in the strongly decomposed center and less decomposed edge of the ...