Background-In a recent preliminary trial in 20 patients after gastric bypass surgery, 20 minutes of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the left prefrontal cortex was associated with a 40% reduction in postoperative patient-controlled morphine use. As is the case with all novel scientific findings, and especially those that might have an impact on clinical practice, replicability is paramount. This study sought to test this finding for replication and to more accurately estimate the effect size of this brief intervention on postoperative morphine use and postoperative pain and mood ratings.

A single session of postoperative prefrontal repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation was associated with a reduction in patient-controlled analgesia pump use in gastric bypass surgery patients. This is important because the risks associated with postoperative morphine use are high, especially among obese patients who frequently have obstructive sleep apnea, right ventricular dysfunction, and pulmonary hypertension. These preliminary findings suggest a potential new noninvasive method for managing postoperative morphine use.

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Uptake of sucrose by excised tomato roots showed saturation kinetics and could proceed against an internal sucrose concentration of approximately 0.046 M. It was inhibited by a number of compounds structurally related to sucrose and was largely but not totally dependent on respiration. It is concluded that sucrose was taken up mainly by an active process and to a lesser extent also by a passive process. Low pH markedly increased the uptake and sodium ions, and ouabain had no appreciable effect.