A randomised, controlled study of peri-operative low dose s(+)-ketamine in combination with postoperative patient-controlled s(+)-ketamine and morphine after radical prostatectomy.

In a randomised, double-blind prospective study we compared the effects on postoperative pain and analgesic consumption of intra-operative s(+)-ketamine (100 microg.kg-1 bolus and a continuous infusion of 2 microg.kg-1.min-1) followed by postoperative patient-controlled analgesia with morphine (1 mg per bolus) plus s(+)-ketamine (0.5 mg per bolus), or intra-operative saline followed by postoperative patient-controlled analgesia morphine (1 mg per bolus) alone. A total of 28 male patients undergoing radical prostatectomy were studied. Morphine consumption, pain scores, pressure algometry and adverse effects were recorded for 48 h after surgery. Cumulative morphine consumption was significantly lower in the ketamine/morphine group (47.9 +/- 26.2 mg) than in the saline/morphine group (73.4 +/- 34.8 mg; p = 0.049). Pain scores at rest were significantly lower in the ketamine/morphine group across the 48-h study period (p = 0.01). No significant differences were found in pressure algometry measurements or the occurrence of adverse effects.

Effects of follicular fluid or progesterone on in vitro maturation of equine oocytes before intracytoplasmic sperm injection with non-sorted and sex-sorted spermatozoa.

In Expt 1, compact cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were matured in: (i) control medium (Hepes-buffered TCM-199 with 10% oestrous cow serum (OCS) + oestradiol, LH and FSH); (ii) Hepes-buffered TCM-199 with 20% follicular fluid; or (iii) control medium containing 250 ng progesterone ml(-1). Mature oocytes were collected by transvaginal aspiration as a positive control for the in vitro maturation (IVM) treatments. Oocytes were fertilized by ICSI and cultured in Menezo's B2 + 5% fetal calf serum (FCS). There were no significant differences among IVM treatments. In Expt 2, oocytes with expanded COCs were matured in Hepes-buffered TCM-199 with 10% OCS, oestradiol, LH and FSH with different concentrations of progesterone (0, 50, 250 and 1250 ng ml(-1)). Oocytes were fertilized by ICSI and cultured in a chemically defined medium. The medium containing 1250 ng progesterone ml(-1) resulted in fewer oocytes with a visible first polar body after maturation (P < 0.05), whereas the media containing 0 and 50 ng progesterone ml(-1) resulted in higher development rates to seven- to eight-cell embryos (P < 0.05), compared with media containing 250 or 1250 ng progesterone ml(-1). Six of the resulting morulae were transferred to recipient mares. In addition, oocytes (n=32) from Expt 2 were injected with sex-sorted spermatozoa, obtained by separating X- and Y-bearing spermatozoa with a Cytomation MoFlo flow cytometer/cell sorter. Two embryos resulting from ICSI with X-bearing spermatozoa were transferred to the oviduct of a recipient mare. No pregnancies were established after transfer of embryos in these experiments.