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The effects of three so-called kosmotropic solutes, namely, betaine, sucrose, and choline chloride on 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine large unilamellar vesicles, were studied by measuring the generalized polarization (GP) for the fluorescence emission of the membrane partitioning probe Laurdan. The latter has been shown to be sensitive to the depth of water penetration into phospholipid bilayers. At equal osmotic pressures the three solutes produced different increments in GP, with a qualitative positive correlation. However, the increments in GP correlated also quantitatively with the increase of air-water surface tension caused by the three kosmotropes. Our findings suggest surface tension to determine the impact of these solutes on the lateral packing of the lipid bilayer. Based on the changes in area/lipid at different surface tensions, the equilibrium lateral pressure for a 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine bilayer at 25 degrees C was estimated to be approximately 34 mN/m.

Effects of intravenously given alcohol on eye movements were analysed in ten voluntary subjects. Each subject served as his/her own control. Good correlations were found between the changes in saccade variables and subjective evaluations of alertness, eye movement control and intoxication. Interindividually, the subjective evaluation of drunkenness correlates with the alcohol effect on saccade variables better than do the other subjective variables or blood or breath alcohol concentrations. A steady decrease of mean and maximum velocity and a steady increase in the duration of saccades was observed during the alcohol infusion. The latency of saccades also increased. There was, however, a slight decrease of latency due to alcohol 15 min after the start of infusion, suggesting a biphasic effect of alcohol on saccade latency.

Marshall-Smith syndrome is a rare clinical disorder characterized by accelerated bone maturation, dysmorphic facial features, airway abnormalities and death in early infancy because of respiratory complications. Although patients with Marshall-Smith syndrome have several features with potential anaesthetic problems, previous reports about anaesthetic management of these patients do not exist. We present a case, in which severe hypoxia developed rapidly after routine anaesthesia induction in an eight-month-old male infant with this syndrome. After several unsuccessful attempts the airway was finally secured by blind oral intubation. After 2 weeks, laryngeal anatomy was examined with fibreoptic laryngoscopy which revealed significant laryngomalacia. Laryngoscopy was performed without problems with ketamine anaesthesia and spontaneous breathing. The possibility of a compromised airway should always be borne in mind when anaesthetizing patients with Marshall-Smith syndrome. Anaesthesia maintaining spontaneous breathing is safest for children with this syndrome. If tracheal intubation or muscle relaxation is required, precautions are needed to maintain a patent airway. Muscle relaxants should possibly be avoided before intubation.

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