Nitric oxide inhalation as a chemical assist for circulation in patients after cardiovascular surgery

The objective of this study was to investigate whether nitric oxide (NO) inhalation might be an alternative strategy as a chemical assist for the circulation in patients showing a deterioration in oxygen delivery. Twelve adult patients whose oxygen delivery indices (DO2I) were less than 400 ml/min/m2 after cardiovascular surgery were included in this study. NO was administered via a premixing system or a side stream system at doses between 1 and 10 (5.1+/-2.4) ppm. Data obtained before and during a 120 min NO inhalation were compared using the paired Student's t-test. The increase in PaO2/FiO2 resulting from NO inhalation was significant (from 162 to 251 mm Hg). DO2I increased significantly from 326 to 417 ml/min/m2 concomitantly with significant increases in both arterial oxygen content (CaO2) and cardiac index (CI) (from 14.1 to 15.4 vol% and from 2.31 to 2.71 L/min/m2 , respectively). The increase in SvO2 during NO inhalation was significant (from 55.2 to 62.6%). Among the other hemodynamic parameters, both total pulmonary resistance and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (SPAP) showed significant decreases during NO inhalation, but right atrial pressure did not change significantly. There was a close relationship between the baseline SPAP level (bSPAP) and the decrease in SPAP during NO inhalation (dSPAP) (r = -0.88). However, negative correlations were observed between bSPAP and percentage increase in CI (%CI) (r = -0.61) and between bSPAP and percentage increase in DO2I (%DO2I) (r = -0.48). Moreover, positive relationships were observed between dSPAP and %CI (r = 0.62) and between dSPAP and %DO2I (r = 0.45). Hemoglobin (Hb) increased significantly from 11.0 to 11.4 g/dl. There were no significant changes in Fio2, pH, PacO2, or base excess (BE) during NO inhalation. The level of methemoglobin measured during the study period remained within the normal range (0.86+/-0.23%). In conclusion, NO inhalation could be an efficient and alternative assist for the circulation in patients whose oxygen delivery deteriorates after cardiovascular surgery.     

Effects of a low-intensity worksite-based nutrition intervention

Male employees from four local worksites were recruited to participate in a short-term and low-intensity nutrition intervention which focused on promoting low-fat dietary habits. The sites were randomized to control conditions or to the intervention programme that consisted of an individualized health risk appraisal, group sessions, mass media activities and environmental changes. Participants were seen before and three months after intervention to measure blood lipids, nutrition knowledge and dietary changes. Eighty-three per cent of all eligible subjects were screened (n = 770) and follow-up measures were obtained for 82%. The score for nutrition knowledge improved significantly in the intervention group. There was also a net reduction in the intake of total calories and in the percentage of energy from total fat. Reported intake of carbohydrates and proteins increased. For all employees assessed, there were no changes in mean total cholesterol level or fatty acid composition. Only among participants with hypercholesterolemia was a significant reduction in blood cholesterol observed. This low-intensity intervention programme achieved some self-reported dietary changes and was successful (at least in part because statistical regression needs to be considered) in obtaining a more short-term beneficial cholesterol level in employees at higher cardiovascular risk.     

Utilization of cardiovascular drugs (blood pressure lowering drugs, lipid lowering drugs and nitrates) and mortality from ischaemic heart disease and stroke An ecological analysis based on Sweden's municipalities

Objective: To perform an ecological study in an effort to generate questions concerning the preventive impact of various cardiovascular drugs on mortality from stroke and ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in the community, and to explore the association between sales of nitrates and mortality from stroke and IHD. Methods: Out-patient drug utilization (sales) of blood pressure lowering drugs, lipid lowering drugs and nitrates were categorized in four groups of equal size by quartiles and compared with mortality from IHD and stroke, using the group of municipalities with the lowest utilization as reference, from 1989 to 1993 in 283 of Sweden's 288 municipalities, by Poisson regression. Adjustments were made for population size, age and gender proportions, the utilization rate of cardiovascular drugs other than the tested drug group and location of the municipality. Results: Compared with the group of municipalities with the lowest sales and adjusting only for population size, mortality from IHD and stroke increased with the extent of utilization of blood pressure lowering drugs and nitrates. In contrast, mortality decreased with increased utilization of lipid lowering drugs. After further adjustments by percentage of men, age structure, geographical location (mid-points) of the municipalities, and, as a proxy for cardiovascular disease, the sales of cardiovascular drugs other than the tested drug group, the increased risk associated with blood pressure lowering drugs disappeared, and there was a dose-response association between sales of diuretics and old antihypertensives and decreasing mortality, sales of nitrates continued to be associated with an increased risk, and the low mortality risk associated with sales of lipid lowering drugs persisted. Conclusion: Lipid lowering drugs may have a preventive impact in the general population, but the preventive impact of blood pressure lowering drugs, with the exception of diuretics and old antihypertensives, may be low in many municipalities. The safety of nitrates needs more investigation at the individual level. Received: 16 April 1998 / Accepted in revised form: 10 November 1998     

Vascular and electromyographic responses evoked in forearm muscle by isometric contraction of the contralateral forearm

There is controversy over whether isometric contraction of the forearm evokes vasoconstriction or vasodilatation in the muscles of the contralateral forearm. In the present study we have investigated in normal man, the effects of isometric contraction of one arm at 75, 50 and 25% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) on arterial pressure, heart rate, blood flow and vascular resistance of the contralateral forearm and on electromyographic (EMG) activity recorded from that same arm with sensitive, surface electrodes.When EMG activity was not being recorded from the resting arm, isometric contraction of the contralateral arm for 2 min evoked increases in arterial pressure and heart rate whose magnitudes were graded with % MVC and an increase in forearm blood flow and a decrease in forearm vascular resistance at 75, 50 and 25% MVC, indicating vasodilatation. Further experiments in which EMG activity was recorded from the resting arm demonstrated that the decrease in forearm vascular resistance evoked by 75% MVC was associated with a substantial increase in EMG activity of the extensor and flexor muscles of that arm. By contrast, when forearm contraction was performed at 75% MVC whilst subjects viewed the EMG activity in the resting arm on an oscilloscope and kept EMG activity minimal, vascular resistance increased in that arm, indicating vasoconstriction. Further, when subjects performed contraction at 25% MVC whilst showing minimal EMG activity in the contralateral arm, vascular resistance in that same arm increased (from 78 ± 16 to 124 ± 29 mmHg/ml/min/100 ml tissue). These results are discussed in relation to those of previous studies. We propose, that in normal man, isometric contraction of the forearm evokes primary vasoconstriction in the muscles of the contralateral forearm, but that this response may be overcome by muscle vasodilatation occurring secondary to unintended muscle contraction or as part of the alerting response to acute stress.     

药物不良事件的防范研究

目的：探讨心内科病房药物不良事件(ADE)的防范特征。方法：由药师深入心内科病房，集中监测药物不良事件。主要监测内容是药物不良事件的存在与否，可否防范及严重程度。结果：5个月研究期间共鉴定ADE64次，其中28％可以防范。在重度ADE中，50．0％可防范；在中度ADE中，33．3％可防范；在轻度ADE中，可防范的比例最少，为13．6％。结论：药物不良事件中有相当一部分可以防范，而且越是严重的ADE就越有可能被防范。应该采取有效的措施来防范药物不良事件。     

赖诺普利与氯沙坦预防压力负荷性心肌肥厚的实验研究

目的 探讨大鼠心肌肥厚时心血管重构的结构、生化改变及赖诺普利与氯沙坦对心血管重构的预防作用。方法 膈下腹主动脉缩窄法建立大鼠心肌肥厚模型。假手术组、模型组、降压和非降压剂量赖诺普利与氯沙坦在术后第2天用药至30天后，检测平均动脉压(MAP)、心肌肥厚程度及局部心肌组织一氧化氮(N0)、一氧化氮合酶(NOS)和胶原蛋白含量。结果 (1)与假手术组相比，模型组MAP、左室重量(LVW)、左室重量指数(LVMI)、心肌细胞横径(TDM)、胶原蛋白分别提高28．6％、20．5％、26．9％、17．9％、54．4％(P＜0．01)；NO、NOS分别降低53．4％、51．2％(P＜0．01)。(2)降压剂量赖诺普利与氯沙坦和非降压剂量氯沙坦干预后，LVW、LVMI、TDM、NO、NOS、胶原蛋白含量与假手术组无明显差异。非降压剂量赖诺普利可使LVW、LVMI和TDM下降，但仍高于假手术组(P＜0．01)，NO、NOS改善不明显；(3)LVMI与MAP、胶原蛋白含量均呈正相关(分别为γ=0．7841，γ=0．8177，P＜0．01)，与NO显负相关(γ=-0．7730，P＜0．01)。结论 心血管重构与血压、心脏间质成分及NO有密切关系；赖诺普利预防心肌肥厚可能是血流动力学和非血流动力学因素共同作用的结果；氯沙坦可能主要依靠非血流动力学因素抗心肌肥厚。     

Hemodialysis in elderly patients

International Urology and Nephrology -     

国产、进口乌拉地尔对全麻气管拔管心血管反应的比较观察

目的 :观察国产、进口乌拉地尔对全麻拔管期心血管反应的影响。方法 :60例无高血压病史的择期全麻手术病人随机分为 3组 ,分别为国产乌拉地尔组、进口乌拉地尔组和对照组。三组病人麻醉诱导均相同。术毕当病人符合拔管指征时 ,静注乌拉地尔 0 4mg/kg ,或等量生理盐水 (对照组 )。观察记录拔管前、拔管时、拔管后 1分钟、5分钟的SP、DP、HR ,并计算SP与HR的乘积RPP。结果 :对照组拔管后SP、DP、HR、RPP均较拔管前显著升高 (P <0 0 5 ) ,尤以拔管时至拔管后 1分钟为著 (P <0 0 1)。围拔管期两组乌拉地尔组的血流动力学变化非常相似 ,SP、DP较拔管前均无明显变化 ,而HR则均明显升高 (P <0 0 5 ) ,与对照组相比SP、DP和RPP的变化均明显降低(P <0 0 1)。结论 :国产乌拉地尔与进口制剂具有同等的降压效能 ,可削弱拔管期高血压反应     

芩栀胶囊的一般药理作用研究

目的：观察芩栀胶囊对小鼠、大鼠精神神经系统和麻醉犬心血管系统、呼吸系统的影响，探讨其用药安全性。方法：芩栀胶囊灌胃给药，观察给药后小鼠和大鼠的一般行为表现及平衡爬杆实验，考察其对精神神经系统的影响；芩栀胶囊十二指肠给药，在八道生理记录仪上记录给药前后相关指标的变化，考察其对心血管系统及呼吸系统的影响。结果：芩栀胶囊不影响小鼠和大鼠的一般行为表现，姿势、步态正常，无肌颤、流涎、瞳孔异常等变化，在平衡爬杆时间点，大鼠30min内跌落次数〈3次；对麻醉犬呼吸频率、血压、心率等未见影响。结论：一般药理作用研究表明，芩栀胶囊对动物精神神经系统、心血管系统及呼吸系统无明显影响，提示其不良反应小。     

长期吸烟对心血管功能和血脂水平的影响

目的通过对比吸烟与非吸烟正常人群的心血管功能和血脂水平的差异,探讨长期大量吸烟对心血管系统的影响.方法采用BioZ.com数字化无创血液动力学监护仪,检测了65名健康成年人心血管功能;同时测定了血清总胆固醇(TC)和甘油三酯(TG)的含量.结果与非吸烟者相比,长期大量吸烟者的心输出量(CO)、心脏指数(CI)、左心作功量(LCW)显著降低(P＜0.05);体循环血管阻力(SVR)明显增大(P＜0.05);TC显著增高(P＜0.05);收缩压(SBP)、舒张压(DBP)、每搏量(SV)、搏出指数(SI)及TG变化较小,差异无显著性(P＞0.05).结论长期大量吸烟者虽尚未出现明显的临床症状,但其静息心功能已明显下降,体循环血管阻力显著增大,应引起吸烟者足够的重视.