OBJECTIVE: We sought to establish normative values of intraabdominal pressure (IAP) in postpartum women with and without arterial hypertension. STUDY DESIGN: Bladder pressure was measured via a Foley catheter 1 hour following completion of cesarean section in supine and semirecumbent positions in 21 patients. RESULTS: Mean supine IAP (6.4 +/- ...

Hip adductor spasticity may adversely effect shear-force and pressure distribution on the buttocks, where ulcerations most frequently appear in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Phenol neurolysis of the obturator nerve (ON) is commonly used to manage hip adductor spasticity. This study aimed to determine the effects on the distribution ...

To compare the short-term hemodynamic effects of levosimendan and dobutamine in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients experiencing weaning difficulties in relation with increased left ventricular filling pressure. This prospective, sequential, pilot study included 10 COPD patients experiencing weaning difficulties in relation with increased left ventricular filling pressure ascertained by ...

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to understand the reason for variation in the sensitivity of different methods of detecting right-to-left shunts (RLS). BACKGROUND: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is implicated in the pathogenesis of cryptogenic stroke, decompression illness, and migraine headaches. Intravenous agitated saline injections with tomographic imaging (transthoracic, ...

Fibrin glue products and collagen patches are frequently used as a sealing product, preventing surgical side bleedings. This is especially true in the field of cardiovascular surgery, where increasing numbers of patients are being operated with antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy. The aim of this report was, in an in vitro ...

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The success of transgastric surgery depends on reliable, secure closure of the gastrotomy. Few tests of the integrity of these closures have been published. This study aimed to determine whether a gastrotomy suitable for a NOTES procedure can be closed safely and effectively from within the ...

Prehypertension is associated with significant damage to the coronary vasculature and increased rates of adverse cardiovascular events. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are critical to vascular repair and the formation of new blood vessels. We tested the hypothesis that prehypertension is associated with EPC dysfunction. Peripheral blood samples were collected ...

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Physiological reactions during natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) mediastinoscopy may lead to cardiorespiratory depression. The aim of the current study was to assess cardiopulmonary changes during transesophageal mediastinoscopy in an acute porcine model. METHODS: Transesophageal mediastinoscopy was performed under general anesthesia in eight female pigs ...

Although right-sided filling pressures often mirror left-sided filling pressures in systolic heart failure, it is not known whether a similar relationship exists in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Eleven subjects with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction underwent right heart catheterization at rest and under loading conditions manipulated by ...

AIM: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of resynchronization in patients with chronic heart failure who are symptomatic despite adequate pharmacological medication. SAMPLE AND METHODOLOGY: 118 patients with chronic heart failure, mostly dilated cardiomyopathy and ischaemic heart disease, with depressed systolic function, decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left bundle ...

OBJECTIVE: To compare bursting pressures in canine jejunum, measured by use of an in vitro and an in situ bursting pressure technique. STUDY POPULATION: Cadavers of 3 healthy adult dogs. PROCEDURES: 54 enterotomies were performed on 3 canine cadavers immediately after euthanasia. After completion of enterotomy closure, bursting pressure was ...

AIMS: Accurate assessment of right atrial pressure (RAP) often requires invasive measurement. With normal RAP, Valsalva increases right internal jugular vein (RIJV) cross sectional area (CSA) 20% to 30%. With high RAP, when venous compliance is low, we hypothesized that the increase in CSA would be blunted and could be ...

OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study was to determine the within- and between-day variability of blood pressure measurement in dogs using an oscillometric device, pet-MAP. ANIMALS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five healthy conscious adult Beagle dogs were used. The dogs were presented in a random order for examinations and the ...

The purpose of this study was to compare the reliability of the 'gold standard' Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT), with that of the ocular response analyser (ORA), and the dynamic contour tonometer (DCT). A total of 694 subjects were recruited to participate from the TwinsUK (UK Adult Twin Registry) at St ...

Three portable blood lactate analysers, Lactate Pro (LP), Lactate Scout (LS) and Lactate Plus (L(+)), were evaluated. Analyser reliability and accuracy was assessed. For reliability, intra- and inter-analyser comparisons demonstrated that the LP (intra-TE = 0.5 mM, inter-TE = 0.4 mM) and L(+) (intra-TE = 0.4, inter-TE = 0.4 mM) ...

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association of end-title partial pressure (Petco(2)) and oxygen saturation (Spo(2)) with the development of AMS in travelers rapidly ascending to Cusco, Peru (3326 m). METHODS: Using the 715 TIDAL WAVE Sp handheld, portable capnometer/oximeter, we measured Spo(2) and Petco(2) in 175 subjects upon ascent to Cusco, ...

The normal sonographic appearance of the adult canine gastrointestinal tract has been described. Interpretation of abdominal ultrasonographic findings in puppies is difficult due to the lack of information on normal ultrasonographic findings. The gastrointestinal tract, jejunal lymph node size and the presence and appearance of abdominal fluid were investigated in ...

BACKGROUND: Intra-organ and intra-vascular pressures can be used to estimate intra-abdominal pressure. The aim of this prospective, interventional study was to assess the effect of PEEP on the accuracy of pressure estimation at different measurement sites in a model of increased abdominal pressure. METHODS: Catheters for pressure measurement were inserted ...

BACKGROUND: The measurement of CO(2) partial pressure (PCO(2)) is of great importance. Former systems of transcutaneous capnometry combining the measurement of oxygen partial pressure (PO(2)) and PCO(2) had their limitations due to skin irritations caused by the heating-up of the sensor and a short application time of 4 h. OBJECTIVES: ...

BACKGROUND: Blunt chest trauma resulting in massive hemothorax requires immediate attention. We investigated the diagnostic and prognostic utility of various clinical factors in patients with deep pulmonary laceration caused by blunt chest trauma with a view toward interventional treatment. METHODS: We reviewed 42 patients with deep pulmonary laceration resulting from ...

Leakage from a gastrointestinal anastomosis in bariatric surgery is a catastrophic complication and is the second-most preventable cause of death after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Several adjuncts for staple line reinforcement have been investigated to reduce the incidence of this complication. The purpose of our study was to determine whether a ...

Background: Surgery on pheochromocytoma carries a risk for hemodynamic (HD) instability. The aim of this study was to identify preoperative risk factors for intraoperative HD instability. In addition, efficacy of pretreatment with the alpha-adrenergic receptor (alpha) antagonists phenoxybenzamine (PXB) and doxazosin (DOX) was compared with respect to reduction of intraoperative ...

BACKGROUND: -Although right-sided filling pressures often mirror left-sided filling pressures in systolic heart failure, it is not known whether a similar relationship exists in heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF). METHODS AND RESULTS: -Eleven subjects with HFPEF underwent right heart catheterization at rest and under loading conditions manipulated ...

BACKGROUND: Severe meningitis may compromise cerebral perfusion through increases in intracranial pressure (ICP) and through hypovolemia caused by a general inflammation with systemic plasma leakage. From its antiaggregative/antiadhesive and permeability-reducing properties, prostacyclin (PGI2) is a potential adjuvant treatment in meningitis, but previously published data have been ambiguous. The objective of ...

BACKGROUND: Hypotension and a resultant decrease in cerebral blood flow have been implicated in the development of cognitive dysfunction. We tested the hypothesis that nimodipine (NIMO) administered at the onset of nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced hypotension would preserve long-term associative memory. METHODS: The passive avoidance (PA) paradigm was used to assess memory ...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of body position on the arterial partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide (PaO(2), PaCO(2)), and the efficiency of pulmonary oxygen uptake as estimated by alveolar-arterial oxygen difference (A-a difference). DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, crossover study. SETTING: University teaching hospital, intensive care unit. ANIMALS: Twenty-one spontaneously ...

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate if colloid infusions have different effects on intestinal anastomotic healing when compared to crystalloid infusions depending on the amount of the administered volume. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups receiving different amounts of either a ...

BACKGROUND: Group B coxsackieviruses (CVBs) are the prototypical agents of acute myocarditis and chronic dilated cardiomyopathy, but an effective targeted therapy is still not available. Here, we analyze the therapeutic potential of a soluble (s) virus receptor molecule against CVB3 myocarditis using a gene therapy approach. METHODS AND RESULTS: We ...

Vitamin D may protect against cardiovascular disease, but its association with cardiac function is unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the associations of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) with heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and the rate-pressure product (RPP). Data analyses were carried out on 27,153 participants aged ...

This study was designed to assess possible associations between biomarkers of mercury (Hg) exposure and oxidative stress in fish-eating Amazonian communities. Clinical samples were obtained from riparians living in the Brazilian Amazon. Biomarkers of oxidative stress (glutathione - GSH, glutathione peroxidase - GSH-Px, catalase - CAT, activity and reactivation index ...

Here we investigated the incidence of cortical spreading depolarizations (spreading depression and peri-infarct depolarization) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their relationship to systemic physiologic values during neurointensive care. Subdural electrode strips were placed on peri-contusional cortex in 32 patients who underwent surgical treatment for TBI. Prospective electrocorticography was performed ...

Donors after Cardiac Death (DCD) may reduce the organ scarcity; however, their use is limited because of warm ischemia time. Fortunately, this is less important in a subclass of DCD called expected (e-DCD), those with irreversible but incomplete brain injury. This study analyzed hemodynamic/pulmonary data to establish a clinically relevant ...

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate novel Doppler echocardiographic methods for a comprehensive assessment of right ventricular afterload, including pulmonary artery (PA) mean pressure (PAMP) and the PA pressure waveform. METHODS: The study comprised 109 patients who underwent right-heart catheterization simultaneously (group A, n = 31) with ...

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether the compartment pressure of the rectus sheath (CPRS) reflects the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) under various conditions of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) in a pig model. METHODS: Design: Prospective experimental study with in vivo pressure measurements. Setting: Institute for Clinical and Experimental Surgery, University of Saarland. Animals: Seven ...

We have used density-functional-theory methods to study phases of iron at terapascal (TPa) pressures. Hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) iron is stable from below 0.1 TPa to multi-TPa pressures, where we find a window of 7-21 TPa in which the face-centred-cubic (fcc) phase is slightly more stable. At 34 TPa we find a transition to a body-centred-tetragonal (bct) phase, which ...

BACKGROUND: The success of natural orifice surgery depends on a reliable, secure closure of the opening in the gut. Few tests of the integrity of these closures have been published. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a gastrotomy can be closed safely and effectively from within the stomach by using looped T-anchors-a ...

The purposes of this study are to investigate the cost-effectiveness of an implantable carotid body stimulator (Rheos; CVRx, Inc, Minneapolis, MN) for treating resistant hypertension and determine the range of starting systolic blood pressure (SBP) values where the device remains cost-effective. A Markov model compared a 20-mm Hg drop in ...

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) may develop in patients with atrial septal defects (ASD); however, little is known about associated risk factors and its evolution after transcatheter ASD closure. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a cohort study on 215 adults with attempted transcatheter ASD closure from 1999 to 2006. Patients ...

BACKGROUND: Complete supraannular placement of an aortic bioprosthesis is one approach to optimize the hemodynamic result of an aortic valve replacement. It is achieved with the combination of a special valve design and the supraannular sewing technique with noneverted mattress sutures. We evaluated 5 bioprostheses designed for complete supraannular placement ...

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to examine the prognostic value of valvuloarterial impedance (Z(va)) in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). BACKGROUND: We previously showed that the Z(va) is superior to standard indexes of AS severity in estimating the global hemodynamic load faced by the left ventricle (LV) and predicting the ...

This study used high-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM) to determine pressure topography thresholds of peristaltic integrity predictive of incomplete esophageal bolus clearance. A total of 16 normal controls and 8 patients with dysphagia were studied using a solid-state HRIM assembly incorporating 36 manometric sensors and 12 impedance segments. Each of the ...

BACKGROUND: The deleterious effects of elevated intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) have been known for more than a century. The proposed objectives were to measure changes in IAP and analyze increase-related factors and complications and whether high IAP and its persistence are related to complications and mortality in a predominantly medical intensive ...

INTRODUCTION: Given that regular nocturnal erections are physiological, it has been suggested that erections are pivotal to the maintenance of erectile tissue health. It has been postulated that a critical element to erectile tissue protection is cavernosal oxygenation. It is accepted that the corpora cavernosa are oxygenated fully during a ...

PURPOSE: To compare vacuum rise time, vacuum limit accuracy, and occlusion break surge of 3 new phacoemulsification machines. SETTING: Jules Stein Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA. METHODS: The vacuum rise time under normal and enhanced aspiration modes, vacuum ...

BACKGROUND: Previous studies established that a level of partial pressure end-tidal carbon dioxide (P(ET)CO(2)) of 10 mm Hg divided patients undergoing advanced life support (ALS) into those likely to be resuscitated (values > 10 mm Hg) and those likely to die during ALS (values < 10 mm Hg). Objective: The ...

BACKGROUND: Secure endoscopic closure of transgastric natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) access is of paramount importance. The over-the-scope clip (OTSC) system has previously been shown to be effective for NOTES gastrotomy closure. OBJECTIVE: To compare OTSC gastrotomy closure with surgical closure. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled animal study. SETTING: Animal facility ...

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the comparative accuracy of renal translesional pressure gradients (TPG), intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), and angiographic parameters in predicting hypertension improvement after stenting of renal artery stenosis (RAS). BACKGROUND: The degree of RAS that justifies stenting is unknown. METHODS: In 62 patients with RAS, TPG (resting and hyperemic systolic ...

BACKGROUND: Recent research suggests that central pulse pressure may be a better indicator of cardiovascular disease outcomes than brachial pressure. Little information is available regarding the effect of food intake on postprandial central pressure and other measures of arterial stiffness when measured with a noninvasive pulse wave analysis (PWA) technique. ...

BACKGROUND: Although maintenance of adequate spinal cord perfusion pressure (SCPP) by the paraspinal collateral network is critical to the success of surgical and endovascular repair of descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms, direct monitoring of SCPP has not previously been described. METHODS: A catheter was inserted into the distal end ...

This research focuses on mercury (Hg) mobilization in stormwater runoff from an urban roadway. The objectives were to determine: how the transport of surface-derived Hg changes during an event hydrograph; the influence of antecedent dry days on the runoff Hg load; the relationship between total suspended sediments (TSS) and Hg ...