Cardiovascular Effects of Xenon in Isoflurane-anesthetized Dogs with Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Background: Clinical interest in xenon has been rekindled recently by new recycling systems that have decreased its relative cost. The cardiovascular effects of xenon were examined in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs before and after the development of rapid left ventricular (LV) pacing-induced cardiomyopathy.

Methods: Dogs (n = 10) were chronically instrumented to measure aortic and LV pressure, LV subendocardial segment length, and aortic blood flow. Hemodynamics were recorded, and indices of LV systolic and diastolic function and afterload were determined in the conscious state and during 1.5 minimum alveolar concentration isoflurane anesthesia alone and combined with 0.25, 0.42, and 0.55 minimum alveolar concentration xenon in dogs with and without cardiomyopathy.

Results: Administration of xenon to healthy dogs anesthetized with isoflurane decreased heart rate and increased the time constant [small tau, Greek] of isovolumic relaxation but did not alter arterial and LV pressures, preload recruitable stroke work slope, and indices of LV afterload. Chronic rapid LV pacing increased the baseline heart rate and LV end-diastolic pressure, decreased arterial and LV systolic pressures, and produced LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Administration of xenon to isoflurane-anesthetized, cardiomyopathic dogs did not alter heart rate, arterial and LV pressures, myocardial contractility, and indices of early LV filling and regional chamber stiffness. More pronounced increases in [small tau, Greek] were accompanied by increases in total arterial resistance during administration of xenon to isoflurane-anesthetized cardiomyopathic compared with healthy dogs.     

Effects on haemodynamics and catecholamine release of xenon anaesthesia compared with total i.v. anaesthesia in the pig

In order to investigate haemodynamic response and catecholamine release during anaesthesia with xenon, we conducted a study on 28 pigs which were allocated randomly to one of four groups: total i.v. anaesthesia with pentobarbitone and buprenorphine, and xenon anaesthesia with inspiratory concentrations of 30%, 50% or 70%, respectively, supplemented with pentobarbitone. Haemodynamic variables were measured using arterial and Swan Ganz catheters. Depth of anaesthesia was monitored using spectral edge frequency analysis. Plasma concentrations of dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline were measured by high pressure liquid chromatography. All haemodynamic variables and plasma concentrations of dopamine and noradrenaline remained within normal limits. Adrenaline concentrations were reduced significantly in all groups. Xenon anaesthesia was associated with a high degree of cardiovascular stability. Significant reduction in adrenaline concentrations at inspiratory xenon concentrations of 30% and 50% can be explained by analgesic effects of xenon below its MAC value.      

Plasma iron status and lipid peroxidation following thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction

Summary— Free radical species have been implicated as important agents involved in myocardial ischemic and reperfusion injuries. Superoxide is capable of mobilizing iron from ferritin and the released iron can cause hydroxyl formation from H₂O₂. The aim of this study was to evaluate the time-dependent increase in lipid peroxidation assessed by plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and the relationship between lipid-peroxidation and the iron status. Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained from 17 men with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) before thrombolytic treatment (T0***) and 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 48 hours after commencing fibrinolytic treatment. The concentration of TBARS, the parameters of iron metabolism, serum myoglobin, creatine kinase, and creatine kinase-MB were measured. Early reperfusion was judged by regression of sinus tachycardia (ST) elevation and reduction of chest pain. Recanalization of coronary artery was evaluated by a late coronary angiography 24–96 hours after thrombolysis. After thrombolytic therapy, the TBARS level was raised from 2.98 ± 0.80 (T0***) to 4.57 ± 1.24 (peak), and decreased to 2.96 ± 0.40 nmol/mL plasma at T48 (T0 vs peak: P < 0.001, peak vs T48: P < 0.001, TO vs T48: NS). The mean time of the peak was observed at 9.7 ± 7.5 hours. The iron increased significantly from 0.67 ± 0.34 (T0) to 1.15 ± 0.52 mg/L (peak), and returned to the pre-reperfusion to levels: 0.53 ± 0.28 UI/L at T48 (T0 vs peak: P < 0.001, peak vs T48: P < 0.001, TO vs T48: NS). The mean time of the peak was observed at 9.4 ± 7.3 hours. In return, no correlation was found between the increase of plasma creatine-kinase activity, myoglobin and iron or between the biochemical markers and time of fibrinolytic therapy. The results confirmed the importance of the temporal relationship between lipid peroxidation and iron status after thrombolytic therapy. Our results are in agreement with the concept that antioxidant agents used in association with thrombolytic therapy might be useful.     

Stress hormone response during and after cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

The purpose of this study was to assess whether plasma adrenocorticotropin, cortisol, vasopressin, and renin concentrations are higher in resuscitated than in nonresuscitated patients during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and whether there are possible correlations between these hormones and blood pressure or heart rate in the immediate postresuscitation phase. Of 34 consecutive patients (36-85 yr of age) with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, 20 could be successfully resuscitated and admitted to hospital, whereas in the remaining 14 patients restoration of spontaneous circulation could not be achieved. During cardiopulmonary resuscitation, median adrenocorticotropin, cortisol, vasopressin, and renin concentrations in the external jugular vein were 237 pg/ml, 32.6 micrograms/dl, 122 pg/ml, and 46.5 ng/l, respectively, in resuscitated patients, and 45 pg/ml (P = 0.018), 18.4 micrograms/dl (P = 0.481), 88 pg/ml (P = 0.049), and 11 ng/l (P = 0.017), respectively, in nonresuscitated patients. Median adrenocorticotropin, cortisol, vasopressin, and renin concentrations were 101 pg/ml, 34.6 micrograms/dl, 22 pg/ml, and 25 ng/l, respectively, 60 min after successful resuscitation. No significant correlations were found between hormone levels and blood pressure or heart rate, but there was a significant negative correlation between the interval from collapse to the start of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and plasma cortisol concentrations during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (Spearman rank correlation coefficient = -0.967, P less than 0.001), indicating an impaired cortisol release from the adrenal cortex. The lower hormone concentrations of the nonresuscitated patients measured during cardiopulmonary resuscitation might indicate an impairment in neuroendocrine response.     

Developmental and regional changes in the neurochemical profile of the rat brain determined by in vivo 1H NMR spectroscopy.

Sixteen metabolites were quantified from 11-24 micro l volumes in three different brain regions (hippocampus, striatum, and cerebral cortex) during postnatal development. Rat pups from the same litter were repeatedly measured on postnatal days 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28 using a completely noninvasive and longitudinal study design. Metabolite quantification was based on ultra-short echo-time (1)H NMR spectroscopy at 9.4 T and LCModel processing. Most of the brain metabolites were quantified with Cramer-Rao lower bounds (CRLB) less than 20%, which corresponded to an estimated concentration error <0.2 micro mol/g. Taurine and total creatine were quantified with CRLB < or = 5% from all 114 processed spectra. The resulting high reliability and reproducibility revealed significant regional and age-related changes in metabolite concentrations. The most sensitive markers for developmental and regional variations between hippocampus, striatum, and cerebral cortex were N-acetylaspartate, myo-inositol, taurine, glutamate, and choline compounds. Absolute values of metabolite concentrations were in very good agreement with previously published in vitro results based on chromatographic measurements of brain extracts. The current data may serve as a reference for studies focused on developmental defects and pathologies using neonatal rat models.     

Direct demonstration that autologous bone marrow transplantation for solid tumors can return a multiplicity of tumorigenic cells

Patients with solid tumors are increasingly being treated by autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Although response rates appear to be increased, disease recurrence is the commonest cause of treatment failure. Whether relapse is entirely due to residual disease in the patient or arises also from infiltrating malignant cells contained in the autologous marrow transplant has not been resolved. If the latter explanation is correct, then purging would be required as part of the transplantation procedure. We used retrovirally mediated transfer of the neomycin-resistance gene to mark BM harvested from eight patients with neuroblastoma in clinical remission. The marked marrow cells were subsequently reinfused as part of an autologous BMT. At relapse, we sought the marker gene in malignant cell populations. Three patients have relapsed, and in each the marker gene was detected by phenotypic and genetic analyses of resurgent malignant cells at medullary and extramedullary sites. Analysis of neuroblast DNA for discrete marker gene integration sites suggested that at least 200 malignant cells, each capable of tumor formation, were introduced with the autologous marrow transplant and contributed to relapse. Thus, autologous BMTs administered to patients with this solid tumor may contain a multiplicity of malignant cells that subsequently contribute to relapse. The marker-gene technique we describe should permit evaluation of the mechanisms of relapse and the efficacy of purging in patients receiving autologous marrow transplantation for other solid tumors that infiltrate the marrow.