Carbon dioxide recruitment threshold as a predictor of successful weaning in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: A pilot study

Abstract Several methods have been used to predict successful weaning and extubation among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. The objective of this study is to determine whether carbon dioxide recruitment threshold (PCO₂RT) can be used as adjunct to conventional weaning parameters to predict early weaning and successful extubation. Twelve COPD patients who were ready to be extubated based on conventional weaning parameters were divided into group A ( n = 7) and group B ( n = 5). Group A were those patients with better weaning parameters and hence a higher probability of successful extubation as compared to group B. Carbon dioxide apnoeic threshold (PCO₂AT) was obtained by hyperventilating the patient using an increment of two breaths per min until apnoea occurs. At this point, the PCO₂AT or the PaCO₂ during said apnoeic period was recorded. A dead space of 150 cc is then added to the circuit until the patient starts to breathe as evidenced by the sensitivity trigger indicator. The PCO₂ obtained at this period is termed PCO₂RT. After weaning for 30 min on a T-tube, another arterial blood gas is determined and this is called the PCO₂SB or the CO₂ level after 30 min on spontaneous breathing. If the PCO₂SB-PCO₂RT difference is high with a sensitivity of 85.71% and specificity of 100% vs sensitivity of 57.14% and specificity of 60% using the conventional weaning parameters. Thus an increase in PCO₂SB at 30 min T-tube is indicative of impending respiratory pump failure and that other causes of failure to wean must be investigated.     

Effects of exposure to air pollution on blood coagulation

BACKGROUND: Consistent evidence has indicated that air pollution increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The underlying mechanisms linking air pollutants to increased cardiovascular risk are unclear. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the association between the pollution levels and changes in such global coagulation tests as the prothrombin time (PT) and the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) in 1218 normal subjects from the Lombardia Region, Italy. Plasma fibrinogen and naturally occurring anticoagulant proteins were also evaluated. METHODS: Hourly concentrations of particulate (PM10) and gaseous pollutants (CO, NO2, SO2, and O3) were obtained from 53 monitoring sites covering the study area. Generalized additive models were applied to compute standardized regression coefficients controlled for age, gender, body mass index, smoking, alcohol, hormone use, temperature, day of the year, and long-term trends. RESULTS: The PT became shorter with higher ambient air concentrations at the time of the study of PM10 (coefficient = -0.06; P < 0.05), CO (coefficient = -0.11; P < 0.001) and NO2 (coefficient =-0.06; P < 0.05). In the 30 days before blood sampling, the PT was also negatively associated with the average PM(10) (coefficient = -0.08; P < 0.05) and NO2 (coefficient = -0.08; P < 0.05). No association was found between the APTT and air pollutant levels. In addition, no consistent relations with air pollution were found for fibrinogen, antithrombin, protein C and protein S. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation shows that air pollution is associated with changes in the global coagulation function, suggesting a tendency towards hypercoagulability after short-term exposure to air pollution. Whether these changes contribute to trigger cardiovascular events remains to be established.     

Carbon blacks as EPR sensors for localized measurements of tissue oxygenation.

New electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) oximetry probes were identified in the class of carbon black materials. These compounds exhibit very high oxygen sensitivity and favorable EPR characteristics for biological applications. At low pO(2), the linewidth is particularly sensitive to changes in oxygen tension (sensitivity of 750 mG/mmHg). The application of the probes for oximetry was demonstrated in vivo: the pO(2) was measured in muscle in which the blood flow was temporarily restricted as well as in tumor-bearing mice during a carbogen breathing challenge. The responsiveness to pO(2) was stable in muscle for at least 3 months. No toxicity was observed using these materials in cellular experiments and in histological studies performed 2, 7, and 28 days after implantation. In view of their EPR characteristics (high sensitivity) as well as the well-characterized production procedure that make them available on a large scale, these probes can be considered as very promising tools for future developments in EPR oximetry.     

Do Electrode and Lead Design Differences for Permanent Cardiac Pacing Translate into Clinically Demonstrable Differences? (Comparison of Sintered Platinum and Activated Vitreous and Porous Carbon Electrodes)

A randomized prospective study was undertaken to compare the electrical performances of three permanent, endocardial, tined pacing leads with different electrode designs--sintered platinum, vitreous carbon, and porous carbon. Ninety-nine patients received one of the leads (S80 31; 423S 32; S100 36). Acute R wave amplitude and ST elevation of the native endocardial electrogram, voltage threshold, impedance, and current flow at four pulse durations (0.25-1.0 msec) were measured. Voltage thresholds were measured noninvasively at each of four pulse durations at 2 days and 1, 3, and 6 months after implantation. No significant differences were found in sensing properties, or current flow at threshold at 0.5 msec pulse duration. The 423S lead had a significantly higher impedance at threshold and both a higher impedance and lower current flow at 5 V. No significant differences in threshold voltages were found between the three leads at any pulse duration, at any of the assessed times after implantation. Six-month thresholds for the S80, 423S, and S100 leads were 1.18 +/- 0.35, 1.17 +/- 0.29, and 1.06 +/- 0.38 V respectively at 0.5 msec pulse duration. Differences between 'high performance' pacing leads need to be of a greater order of magnitude before they can be exploited to give any real clinical advantage to patients.     

儿茶酚胺类药物对感染性休克兔胃肠灌注的影响

Objective To assess the effects of dopamine,dobutamine and norepinephrine on the P(g-a)CO2 and superior mesenteric blood flow in septic shock.Methods Rabbit septic shock model was established by challenging with intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharides from Escherichia coil(2 mg/kg).The rabbits with septic shock were randomly assigned to 3 groups-dopamine group(n = 8),dobutamine group(n = 8) and norepinephrine group(n = 8).Apart from volume resuscitation with normal saline solution [20 ml/(kg· h)]，dopamine[5μg/(kg·min)],dobutamine[(5μg/(kg·min)]and norepinephrine [(1μg/(kg·min)]were infused in dopamine group,dobutamine group and norepinephrine group respeclively.Cardiac index(CI) and superior mesenteric blood flow index(SMBFI) were continuously monitored by doppler flowrneter.Gastric mucosal PCO2 was evaluated by gas tonometry every 10 min.Arterial and venous blood gas analyses and lactate levels were measured every 1 h.Results MAP,CI,and SMBFI significandy decreased and P(g-a) CO2 increased after lipopolysaccharides infusion in three groups.After 2-hour treatment,MAP in norepinephrine group[(70 +3) mm Hg]was higher than that of dopamine group[(66±4) mm Hg]and dobutamine group[(65±4) mm Hg](P ＜0.05).SMBFI in norepinephrine group [(18.7±2.9) ml/(kg·min)]was higher than that of dopamine group[(16.2±1.6) ml/(kg·min)]and dobutamine group[(15.8±1.9) ml/(kg·min)](P＜0.05).P(g-a) CO2 in norepinephrine group [(30±6) mm Hg]was lower than that of dobutamine group[(23±5)mm Hg](P＜0.05).Condnsion As an adjuvant therapy of volume resuscitation,norepinephrine is more effective than low dose dopamine and dobutamine in improving splanchnic perfusion.     

急性一氧化碳中毒后迟发性脑病患者血清白介素水平的变化及其临床意义

目的 探讨急性一氧化碳（CO）中毒后迟发性脑病（DEACMP）患者血清白介素（IL）水平变化及其临床意义。方法 采用酶联免疫吸附法检测34例DEACMP患者治疗前、后血中IL-2、4、6的水平，并与30名健康人和30例急性CO中毒（ACMP）患者进行比较。结果 （1）DEACMP组治疗后血中IL-2、4、6的含量显著高于治疗前（均P〈0．01），但仍显著低于ACMP组和健康对照组（均P〈0．01）；（2）ACMP组血IL-2、4、6的含量明显高于健康对照组（均P〈0．01）。结论 DEACMP的发生与神经免疫病理损伤有关，血中IL-2、4、6的水平可以反映DEACMP患者机体的免疫状态。     

活性炭纤维在地方性氟中毒方面的应用展望

介绍了活性炭纤维（ＡＣＦｓ）的制造，特性及其应用。它具有优异的结耕与性能特征。含碳量高，比表面积大，微孔丰富，从而吸附力强，而且活性炭纤维还可制成纱、布、毡等形状，它可用于去除燃煤氟中毒区室内空气中氟化氢、二氧化硫、氧化氮、氨等污染物，利用它的高吸附性能还可较好的去除饮水中的氟化物及其他有害物质。活性炭纤维是一种新型高效吸附材料。在氟中毒防治方面有广阔的前途。     

胰岛素增敏剂曲格列酮对人卵巢颗粒细胞芳香化酶活性的抑制作用

为探讨曲格列酮(troglitazone,TGZ)对人卵巢颗粒细胞芳香化酶(P450arom)活性的调节作用，以不同剂量的TGZ和(或)维甲酸类X受体(RXR)激动剂(LG100268，LG)处理来源于体外受精患者的卵巢颗粒细胞24h，然后测定细胞的芳香化酶活性和P450arom mRNA水平。结果发现，TGZ处理颗粒细胞24h可引起剂量依赖性的芳香化酶活性下降；LG单独作用可以抑制芳香化酶活性，但与TGZ合用对芳香化酶的抑制作用更明显；RT-PCR结果显示，随着芳香化酶活性的下降，P450arom mRNA表达水平也降低。表明TGZ可能是通过过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体γ(PPARγ)：RXR异二聚体组成的核受体系统直接抑制卵巢颗粒细胞芳香化酶活性。     

接触一氧化碳工人血清LDL—C,HDL—C及脂质过氧化物含量的研究

本文对长期接触一氧化碳(CO)的工人血清高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三脂(TG)及脂质过氧化物(LPO)含量进行了研究。结果表明,长期接触低浓度CO者的血清TG、LPO及HbCO含量与对照组比较,有极显著性差异(P<0.001)。