Heart rate response to breathing: dependency upon breathing pattern

Summary. Heart rate responses to stepwise and periodic changes in lung volume were studied in seven young healthy males. Stepwise inspiration and expiration both resulted in an increase in heart rate followed by a rapid decrease in heart rate. The fastest heart rate was reached in 1·6 ± 0·5 s and in 3·6 ± 1·4 s in response to inspiration and expiration, respectively (P < 0·01). The slowest heart rate was reached in 4·8± 1·0 s and in 7·6± 1·9 s in response to inspiration and expiration, respectively (P < 0·01). Following this biphasic change the heart rate returned to a steady level. The difference between the fastest and the slowest heart rates was significantly larger in response to inspiration (21·7 ± 7·3 beats per minute) than in response to expiration (12·0±7·3 beats per minute; P < 0·01). Periodic changes in lung volume were performed with frequencies from 3·0 to 12·0 respirations per minute (r.p.m.). The changes in heart rate showed a constant amplitude in the frequency range below 5·5 r.p.m. Maximal heart rate changes were found at frequencies of 5·5 to 7·0 r.p.m. Changes in heart rate decreased in a linear manner on a log-log scale in the frequency range above 7·0 r.p.m. The relation between frequency and changes in heart rate is explained by interference between the transient changes in heart rate induced both by inspiration and by expiration. It is concluded that if heart rate changes in response to periodic changes in lung volume are to be used as a measure of vagal function a number of factors have to be taken into consideration and to simplify the analysis of heart rate responses to breathing we recommend, instead, the use of the transient changes in heart rate induced by stepwise changes in lung volume.     

经皮椎体成形术中骨水泥对老年骨质疏松症患者凝血功能的影响

目的 观察经皮椎体成形术(PVP)中骨水泥对老年骨质疏松症患者凝血功能的影响.方法 于椎弓根穿刺前10 min、注入骨水泥后1、20 min、2 h分别抽血检测11例患者的凝血功能相关指标,包括血浆凝血酶原时间(PT)、活化的部分凝血酶原时间(APTT)、血浆纤维蛋白原(FIB)和鱼精蛋白副凝固实验(3P实验),并汇总数据进行统计学分析.结果 PVP中骨水泥注入后20 min,PT缩短、FIB增高、3P实验阳性率升高(P<0.05),骨水泥注入2 h后基本恢复至注入前水平.除1例患者PTA术后2 h稍高于正常值(126%),其余患者各个时间点的各项指标均在正常参考值范围内.结论 PVP术中注入骨水泥对于凝血功能正常的患者基本安全,但在注入后会产生一过性轻微的高凝倾向.     

前列腺素E1对大鼠肝移植肾功能的保护作用

目的探讨术中应用前列腺素E1（prostaglandin E1，PGE1）对大鼠肝移植肾功能的保护作用。方法大鼠原位肝移植术中经颈内静脉灌注PGE1为治疗组，生理盐水和空白为对照组，观察术后1周存活率、1h的尿量，测定血浆肌酐、尿素氮和肾组织中丙二醛（malondjaldehyde，MDA）、谷胱甘肽（glutathione，GSH）含量，肾组织病理检查。结果PGE1治疗组术后1h尿量较对照组明显增加，肌酐和尿素氮水平均较对照组降低，PGE1治疗组肾组织中GSH含量显著高于两对照组，MDA含量低于两对照组。病理检查PGE1治疗组肾脏组织形态学损伤明显减轻。结论术中应用PGE1能显著改善大鼠肝移植后的肾功能，其机制可能与对抗氧自由基损伤作用有关。     

慢性肾脏病非透析患者脑钠素与动脉粥样硬化及心功能的关系

目的 研究脑钠素（BNP）与慢性肾脏病（CKD）非透析患者动脉粥样硬化及心功能不全的关系。 方法 采用双抗夹心免疫荧光法检测203例CKD非透析患者与16例高血压患者对照组全血BNP水平，分析其与颈动脉超声结果、心脏彩超结果及既往心血管疾病史的关系。 结果 CKD非透析患者BNP水平与对照组相比显著升高[M（范围）：54.40(15.10～ 173.00) ng/L比9.35(7.35～15.00) ng/L，P < 0.01]。Spearman相关分析显示CKD患者BNP与颈动脉内膜中层厚度（IMT）、左室心肌重量指数（LVMI）等呈正相关。存在颈动脉斑块、左室肥厚或既往发生过心血管事件的患者血BNP水平显著增高。多元回归分析显示LVMI、既往心血管事件均是影响BNP水平的独立因素。 结论 CKD非透析患者BNP水平和动脉粥样硬化性疾病、左室肥厚及心功能不全相关，提示BNP水平可作为一项评价CKD非透析患者心功能及动脉粥样硬化的敏感生物学指标。     

Determination of diffusion coefficient of hydrogen in metals and their elastic modulus by generalised impedance

Transport of hydrogen in elastic metals has been analysed in terms of an impedance-like non-linear transfer function (TF). The equilibrium in a membrane specimen is perturbed by a sinusoidal signal of the concentration of hydrogen, of large amplitude, applied to one of its surfaces. The fundamental harmonics of periodically reproducible flux at the same surface is considered as a response. The TF is defined as the ratio of the signal to the response. The power of the said TF in determining the diffusion coefficient of hydrogen in a metal–hydrogen system and its bulk elastic modulus was analysed for the example of α-phase Pd–H and Pd₈₁Pt₁₉–H systems. It has been found that such a TF is suitable for determination of the above parameters. Also, the sensitivity of these estimates to the uncertainty of concentration of hydrogen in the metal, its partial molar volume and the thickness of the specimen has been explored.     

自制苏芪合剂联合治疗Ⅲ～Ⅳ级IgA肾病的临床疗效观察

目的 探讨自制苏芪合剂对Ⅲ～Ⅳ级IgA肾病患者的疗效及患者T细胞功能的改善.方法 28例Ⅲ～Ⅳ级IgA肾病患者随机分为两组,对照组:醋酸泼尼松-日1mg,kg,隔日晨起顿服,盐酸苯那普利-日10mg;治疗组:在上述用药的基础上加用自制苏芪合剂.8周后,观察患者缓解率、T细胞功能及不良反应.结果 治疗组患者在缓解率、T细胞功能改善等方面优于对照组,且因糖皮质激素的使用而出现的不良反应少于对照组.结论 苏芪合剂联合治疗Ⅲ～Ⅳ级IgA肾病疗效显著并能有效改善T细胞功能.     

Assessment of anti-inflammatory activity of Poria cocos in sodium lauryl sulphate-induced irritant contact dermatitis

OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of Poria cocos (PoCo) on experimentally induced irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) in a repeated sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) irritation model. METHODS: The anti-irritative effect of PoCo was evaluated with a visual score and quantified by non-invasive bioengineering methods, namely chromametry and transepidermal water loss. Three concentrations of PoCo in base cream DAC (amphiphilic emollient; German pharmacopoeia) were tested in a 4-day repetitive irritation test using SLS. RESULTS: A statistically significant anti-inflammatory activity was observed for PoCo by all three methods when applied in parallel to the induction period of ICD. Application of PoCo after induction of ICD once a day for 5 days, starting just at the end of 4 days, was without any effect. CONCLUSION: An anti-inflammatory efficacy of PoCo on the elicitation phase of the ICD induced by repeated SLS test could be observed and quantified by three independent, non-invasive biophysical assessment parameters. This effect can be explained by its influence on pro-inflammatory enzymes, namely phospholipase A2.     

阻塞性黄疸大鼠肾脏自分泌内皮素的变化及其与肾功能损害的关系

目的　探讨阻塞性黄疸时肾脏自分泌内皮素 (ET)的变化及其与肾功能损害的关系。方法　结扎胆总管(BDL)制备阻塞性黄疸大鼠模型 ,作为实验组 ,对照组鼠仅行假手术。分别于术后 5、1 0及 1 5d ,两组各取 1 0只大鼠检测其肾脏对氨基马尿酸清除率 (CPAH)、菊粉清除率 (CIN)和钠排泄分数 (FENa+) ,并用鲎试剂法测定血浆内毒素 (EX)水平 ,放射免疫法测定肾动、静脉血浆及肾组织中ET 1含量。结果　①实验组术后 5d仅FENa+明显高于对照组 (P<0 .0 1 ) ,术后 1 0d起 ,CPAH、CIN及FENa+呈进行性下降 ,术后 1 5dFENa+已较对照组低 ,与对照组比较差异有显著性 (P<0 .0 1 ) ;②实验组术后血浆EX水平呈进行性升高 ,与对照组比较差异有显著性 (P<0 .0 1 ) ;③实验组术后肾动脉血浆ET 1水平呈持续性降低 ,而肾静脉血浆及肾组织中ET 1含量呈持续性升高 ,与对照组比较差异有显著性 (P<0 .0 1 ) ;④血浆EX水平与肾组织ET 1含量呈正相关 (r =0 .762 4 ,P<0 .0 1 ) ,肾组织ET 1含量与CPAH和CIN呈负相关 (r=- 0 .883 2 ,P<0 .0 1 ;r =- 0 .945 2 ,P<0 .0 1 )、与FENa+呈正相关 (r=0 .873 4 ,P<0 .0 1 )。结论　内毒素血症及其诱导的肾内ET分泌增加在阻塞性黄疸所致大鼠肾损害中可能具有重要作用     

Cell transplantation to improve ventricular function in the failing heart

Current therapies for congestive heart failure are limited in efficacy or in applicability. Cardiac cell transplantation offers a novel therapeutic approach to improve heart function. Although significant progress has been made over the past decade in the development of cell transplantation, only recently have investigators studied the changes in ventricular function following cell transplantation. This review article describes the latest research developments, evaluates recent studies of ventricular function after cell transplantation, and discusses the future directions of cell transplantation as a new therapy to ‘repair broken hearts’.