Serializes the first element of the input using the pickle protocol using
    the fastes binary protocol.

def pickle_dumps(inbox):
    """
    Serializes the first element of the input using the pickle protocol using
    the fastes binary protocol.
    
    """
    # http://bugs.python.org/issue4074
    gc.disable()
    str_ = cPickle.dumps(inbox[0], cPickle.HIGHEST_PROTOCOL)
    gc.enable()
    return str_