Effects of PEEP on extra vascular lung water and central blood volume in the dog

Twenty-four mongrel dogs were anaesthetized and ventilated mechanically in the supine position. Extravascular lung water (EVLW) and central blood volume (CBV) were measured with a double indicator (dye/cold) dilution technique. Both indicators were detected intravascularly in the aortic root with a fibreoptic thermistor catheter. Seven dogs ventilated with a positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 1.0 kPa (10 cmH2O) for a short period of time (less than 20 min) displayed no significant change in EVLW as measured with the indicator dilution technique (= EVLWi), while reductions were seen in both CBV (15%, P less than 0.01) and cardiac output (CO-thermodilution technique) (10%, P less than 0.05). Another seven dogs ventilated with a PEEP of 1.0 kPa for 8 h showed a gradual increase in EVLWi. After 8 h, a mean increase of 34% (P less than 0.01) was recorded, and the increase was also verified by post-mortem gravimetric determination of EVLW (= EVLWg), displaying an increase of 61% (P less than 0.01). In five dogs ventilated with zero end-expiratory pressure (ZEEP) for 8 h, no changes in EVLWi, CO, and CBV were observed, and EVLWg was mean 4.39 g/kg body weight (BW). Five additional dogs were sacrificed after 15 min of anaesthesia without catheterization and EVLWg was found to be 4.24 g/kg BW. It is concluded that EVLWi does not change measurably during ZEEP or short periods of PEEP. However, long periods (8 h) of PEEP result in elevated EVLWi values. Gravimetry supports these conclusions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A role of insular cortex in cardiovascular function

We sought to determine whether the insular cortex contributes to the regulation of arterial blood pressure (AP). Responses to electrical and chemical stimulation of the cortex were studied in the anesthetized, paralyzed, and artificially ventilated Sprague-Dawley rat. The insular cortex was initially defined, anatomically, by the distributions of retrogradely labeled perikarya following injections of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) into the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS). Injections of WGA-HRP into the insular cortex anterogradely labeled terminals in cardiopulmonary and other divisions of the NTS and confirmed projections revealed by retrograde tracing experiments. Electrical stimulation of the insular cortex elicited elevations of AP (less than or equal to 50 mm Hg) and cardioacceleration (less than or equal to 40 bpm). The locations of the most active pressor sites corresponded closely to the locations of retrogradely labeled cells in layer V of granular and posterior agranular areas of the insular cortex (areas 14 and 13) and the extreme capsule. Maximal pressor responses were obtained at a stimulus intensity of three to five times threshold current of 20-30 microA. Responses elicited mostly with higher-threshold currents were also mapped in areas 2a and 5lb and the claustrum and within the corpus callosum. Unilateral injections into the insular pressor area of the excitatory amino acid monosodium glutamate (L-Glu; 0.05 nmol to 10 nmol) or the rigid structural analogue of L-Glu, kainic acid (KA) (0.4 nmol) (which specifically excite perikarya), caused topographically specific elevations in AP and tachycardia. During the course of the anatomical transport studies, new findings were obtained on the organization and characteristics of the cortical innervation of the NTS and the nucleus reticularis parvocellularis. Topographic relationships between the cortex and the NTS were organized in a more complex manner than previously thought. Cells projecting to caudal cardiopulmonary segments of the NTS were fewer and generally located ventrally and caudally and in a more restricted area than cells projecting rostrally or to the parvicellular reticular formation. Anterograde transport data revealed new presumptive terminal fields in dorsolateral, ventral, periventricular, and commissural regions of the NTS, including an area overlapping the terminal field of the aortic baroreceptor nerve. We conclude that neurons within an area of the insular cortex projecting to multiple brainstem autonomic nuclei, including a region of the NTS innervated by baroreceptor afferents, increase arterial blood pressure and heart rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

依西美坦片在不同介质中的溶出特性

目的:考察新药依西美坦片在3种不同介质中的溶出特性,以研究影响其口服吸收速率的主要因素和规律。方法:建立HPLC法检测其制剂含量和溶出液浓度,色谱柱:HypersilC18(150mm×4.6mm,5μm);流动相:甲醇:0.05mol/LKH2PO4溶液(60:40);检测波长:247nm。溶出介质选用水、0.1mol/L盐酸溶液及0.5%十二烷基硫酸钠溶液,采用转篮法,转速100r/min。结果:依西美坦片在水和0.1mol/L盐酸溶液中的溶出较差,在0.5%十二烷基硫酸钠溶液巾溶出迅速完全,60min时在3种介质中的溶出百分率分别为(60.25±3.76)%、(47.57±1.20)%和(82.24±0.96)%。结论:依西美坦片可能主要在肠道溶出,其溶出速率受介质影响大。     

Stimulation-induced setting of postural muscle tone in the decerebrate rat

These studies demonstrate the presence of pontomedullary areas in the rat brainstem which, when stimulated electrically, serve to set postural muscle tone in the hindlimbs. Low amplitude stimulation of the dorsal tegmental field (DTF) was found to inhibit postural muscle tone and, in some rats, was found to decrease mean arterial pressure. Low amplitude stimulation of the ventral tegmental field (VTF) was found to increase postural muscle tone and, in all cases tested, was found to increase mean arterial pressure.     

Dual blockade of the renin-angiotensin system in type 1 patients with diabetic nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Albuminuria and hypertension are predictors of poor renal and cardiovascular outcome in patients with diabetes. Approximately 30% of type 1 patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) have albuminuria >1 g/day, and blood pressure >135 and/or >85 mmHg despite antihypertensive therapy with recommended doses of ACE inhibitor (ACEI) and diuretics. We tested the effect of dual blockade of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in these patients. METHODS: We performed a randomised double blind crossover trial with 2 months treatment with Irbesartan 300 mg o.d. and placebo added on top of previous antihypertensive treatment. We included 21 type 1 patients with DN responding insufficiently to ACEI and diuretics, as defined above. At the end of each treatment period, albuminuria, 24-h blood pressure and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were measured. RESULTS: Addition of 300 mg Irbesartan to the patients' usual antihypertensive therapy induced a mean reduction in albuminuria of 37% (95% CI 20-49, P<0.001); from 1574 mg/24 h (95% CI 1162-2132) to 996 mg/24 h (95% CI 699-1419), a reduction in 24-h blood pressure of 8 mmHg systolic (95% CI -2 to 18) and 5 mmHg diastolic (95% CI 1-9) (P=0.11 and 0.01, respectively) (from placebo, mean (SE) 146 (4)/80 (2) mmHg). GFR remained unchanged. Serum potassium increased (mean 4.3 to 4.6 mmol/l, P=0.02). Intervention to reduce serum potassium was needed in two patients with GFR <35 ml/min/1.73 m(2). Otherwise the dual blockade with Irbesartan was safe and well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Dual blockade of the RAS may offer additional renal and cardiovascular protection in type 1 patients with DN responding insufficiently to conventional antihypertensive therapy, including recommended doses of ACEI and diuretics.     

磁场对家兔急性实验性高血压的影响

目的 :探讨内关穴敷磁的降压效应。方法 :40只清醒家兔和 40只麻醉家兔 (其中 2 0只去减压神经 ) ,静脉注射去甲肾上腺素或苯肾上腺素引起急性实验性高血压 ,并于内关穴敷磁 (0 .1～ 0 .2T) ,记录血压、心率和敷磁前及 1h后的血液粘度的变化。结果 :敷磁 1h后各实验组平均动脉压 (MAP)显著下降 (P <0 .0 1)。麻醉和清醒家兔MAP降幅无差异 (P >0 .0 5 ) ,但显著高于去减压神经家兔MAP的降幅 (P <0 .0 1或 0 .0 5 ) ,各实验组全血比粘度显著下降 (P <0 .0 1或 0 .0 5 ) ,实验组与各自对照组心率敷磁前后无差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论 :磁场具有降压作用 ,但对心率无影响 ,其降压效应与减压神经的抑制和全血粘度的降低有关 ,与化学感受性升压反射无关     

Differential effect of L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine in pure autonomic failure and multiple system atrophy with autonomic failure

Summary Treatment with L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (L-threo-dops), a synthetic precursor of norepinephrine, significantly increased upright blood pressure in patients with multiple system atrophy but had no effect on the upright blood pressure of patients with pure autonomic failure. These results suggest that the site of action of L-threo-dops is central and that its pressor effect requires intact peripheral sympathetic neurons.     

Comparison of the haemodynamic effects of intermittent positive pressure ventilation with high frequency jet ventilation

The cardiorespiratory effects of intermittent positive pressure ventilation and high frequency jet ventilation with and without positive end expiratory pressure were compared in patients following valvular heart surgery (mitral and/or aortic). Twenty patients received intermittent positive pressure ventilation and high frequency jet ventilation with 0, 0.5 and 1.0 kPa positive end expiratory pressure. High frequency jet ventilation was well tolerated. The addition of 1.0 kPa positive end expiratory pressure was associated with preservation of the arterial oxygen tension without any increase in shunt or significant adverse haemodynamic effect. The results are discussed and compared with a previous study of high frequency jet ventilation following aortocoronary bypass graft surgery.     

Pressure stability of nasal CPAP and bilevel devices

Summary Question of the study   Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) prevents collapse of the upper airway during sleep in patients with obstructive sleep apnea provided that a positive transmural pressure can be maintained during inspiration. We examined pressure-flow characteristics in seven CPAP and bilevel devices during spontaneous breathing.
Methods   The CPAP devices were set to a pressure level of 9.8  hPa (10  cm H₂O) and adapted to a pneumotachograph using a standard CPAP hose and an outlet valve. We continuously measured flow, volume and pressure during resting ventilation and increasing voluntary hyperventilation and analysed the dependence of the variables on a breath-to-breath basis.
Results   Mean CPAP pressures differed between the devices (9.9 – 10.6  hPa) despite the same settings. In all machines pressure fell during inspiration to 8.4 – 9.8  hPa and increased during expiration to 11.1 – 11.7  hPa. This effect increased with higher flow rates. Maximum expiratory pressures rose to 12 – 19  hPa at peak flow rates of 2 l/s, mean expiratory pressures to 9.5 – 16  hPa. Inspiratory pressures dropped to 8.5 – 4.5  hPa (minimum) and 10.5 – 6.0 (mean). Bilevel devices showed a higher stability than CPAP devices. Pressure swings during the respiratory cycle increased the additional work of breathing.
Conclusions   Due to differences in mean and effective CPAP levels CPAP devices are not simply exchangeable but should be individually adapted. Patients with higher minute ventilation might benefit from more stable CPAP machines. The impact on patients' compliance remains to be evaluated.