The mobility of the lathyritic rabbit mandibular incisor in response to axially-directed extrusive loads

Axially-directed extrusive loads of 0.01-0.1N were applied to the lathyritic mandibular incisors of 12 rabbits. Tooth position was monitored continuously with a variable capacitance displacement transducer. Compared with pair-fed controls, lathyritic teeth showed markedly reduced resistance to extrusive loading, indicating that the periodontal collagen has a rôle in supporting the tooth. The pattern of tooth mobility, however, was little affected. The results may have implications for the eruptive mechanism. That eruption rates can appear unchanged by lathyrogens might not preclude an effect of the drug upon the eruptive force, assuming that there is a concomitant decrease in the resistance of the periodontal tissues to eruption. The teeth of rabbits in the pair-fed control group showed increased resistance to extrusive loading compared with animals fed ad libitum, indicating that changes in food and water intake may also influence the mechanical properties of the periodontium.     

Transient severe hypertension following alcohol withdrawal convulsions.

A case of transient severe hypertension following alcohol withdrawal convulsions is described. In the absence of other recognized causes of hypertension it was concluded that the hypertension was caused directly by the convulsions themselves.     

Contractile properties and fatigue of the diaphragm in man.

We studied the pressure developed by the diaphragm in response to stimulation of the phrenic nerve in the neck, in three normal men. When the phrenic was electrically stimulated at increasing frequencies the diaphragm responded by increasing transdiaphragmatic pressure to give a frequency-pressure curve similar to the frequency-force curve for other skeletal muscles. The subjects than breathed through an inspiratory resistance for as long as possible and the frequency-pressure curve was repeated. It was found that the diaphragm developed low frequency fatigue, in the same way as previously described for other muscles. We conclude that the diaphragm has contractile properties similar to these of other skeletal muscles. Low frequency fatigue of the diaphragm could contribute to respiratory failure in patients with lung disease.     

Effect of maximum ventilation on abdominal muscle relaxation rate.

BACKGROUND: When the demand placed on the respiratory system is increased, the abdominal muscles become vigorously active to achieve expiration and facilitate subsequent inspiration. Abdominal muscle function could limit ventilatory capacity and a method to detect abdominal muscle fatigue would be of value. The maximum relaxation rate (MRR) of skeletal muscle has been used as an early index of the onset of the fatiguing process and precedes failure of force generation. The aim of this study was to measure MRR of abdominal muscles and to investigate whether it slows after maximum isocapnic ventilation (MIV). METHODS: Five normal subjects were studied. Each performed short sharp expiratory efforts against a 3 mm orifice before and immediately after a two minute MIV. Gastric pressure (PGA) was recorded and MRR (% pressure fall/10 ms) for each PGA trace was determined. RESULTS: Before MIV the mean (SD) maximum PGA MRR for the five subjects was 7.1 (0.8)% peak pressure fall/10 ms. Following MIV mean PGA MRR was decreased by 30% (range 25-35%), returning to control values within 5-10 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: The MRR of the abdominal muscles, measured from PGA, is numerically similar to that described for the diaphragm and other skeletal muscles. After two minutes of maximal isocapnic ventilation abdominal muscle MRR slows, indicating that these muscles are sufficiently heavily loaded to initiate the fatiguing process.     

Effect of endurance exercise on respiratory muscle function in patients with cystic fibrosis

During exercise, patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) dynamically hyperinflate, which imposes both elastic and threshold loads on the inspiratory muscles and places them at a mechanical disadvantage due to muscle shortening. Conversely, dynamic hyperinflation imposes a progressively resistive load and lengthens the expiratory muscles potentially increasing their susceptibility to develop low frequency fatigue (LFF). The aim of the study was to determine whether high intensity endurance exercise leads to the development of LFF in either the diaphragm or expiratory abdominal wall muscles in patients with CF. Ten patients and ten healthy individuals were studied. Twitch transdiaphragmatic pressure (TwP(di)) and twitch abdominal pressure (TwT(10)) were measured before and after exhaustive endurance cycle exercise at 80% of their previously determined maximum work rate. There was no difference in TwP(di) or TwT(10) at 20, 40 or 60 min post exercise compared to pre-exercise resting values in any of the participants, indicating that overt LFF of the respiratory muscles did not develop.