Regional redistribution of blood during air cooling of unanesthetized rats

3-hr exposure to air at +5 degrees C of unrestrained rats evoked a relative reduction of blood volume in vessels of the skin, skeletal muscles, abdominal and pelvic organs (except liver). Increase of the blood volume occurred in the brain, thoracic organs, and in the liver. No significant decrease of the rectal temperature was noticed at that, in spite of cooling of the skin of different parts of the body and tail. Cooling of restrained rats at +5 degrees C during 1 and 3 hrs decreased the rectal temperature. The main direction of the blood redistribution involved its removal from the liver to the deep muscle tissues. At the beginning of the cooling and immediately after self--warming the relative increase of the blood volume was more obvious in the skeletal muscles of the anterior body parts.     

Effect of skin or muscle incisions or the loss of blood on serum leucogenenol level

It has been found that damage to a tissue of a rabbit or a rat, such as results from a skin incision or an incision through the skin and muscles into the abdominal cavity, is followed 24 hr later by a significant increase in the concentration of leucogenenol in the animal's serum. Likewise, loss of approximately one-quarter to one-half of the blood in the circulation of rabbits or rats causes an increase 24 hr later in the animals' serum leucogenenol concentration.     

A simple technique for measuring relative renal blood flow

To determine whether externally monitored early renal uptake of 131I-hippurate is proportional to renal blood flow, the renal uptake of 131I-hippurate at 1--2 min after injection was compared with the renal accumulation of radioactive carbonized microspheres in dogs. A renal artery catheter equipped with a balloon was used to decrease renal blood flow unilaterally. One minute after the intravenous injection of 100 muCi of 131I-hippurate, about 1 muCi of either 85Sr- or 98Nb-labeled carbon microspheres was injected into the left ventricle. Radioactivity was measured over both kidneys. The total radioactivity within each kidney region of interest was corrected for background and integrated over the 1--2 min after injection. Thirteen measurements of relative renal blood flow were made for seven dogs. The dogs were then killed and both kidneys were excised and counted for the radioactivity of the microspheres. The 1--2-min relative renal uptake of 131I-hippurate correlated well with relative microsphere uptake, suggesting that relative renal blood flow can be simply determined from the external measurement of renal uptake of 131I-hippurate.     

The effect of massage on the neuromuscular apparatus and blood coagulating system of patients with chronic salpingo-oophoritis

74 patients with chronic salpingo-oophoritis (CS) in remission were assessed as to effects of classic massage of the uterine and epo?phoronic reflexogenic zones on clinical pattern of the disease, bioelectric activity of the abdominal muscles, spine and pelvis, blood coagulation. The combined massage produced a more potent effect on electric activity of the above muscles and blood coagulation than massage on a single area. It is better to start massage from the abdomen and continue in the lumbosacral area.     

Economic longitudinal lateral posterior thoracothomy. Minimally invasive option in pulmonary resections

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary resections are usually performed through posterolateral thoracotomy. However this approach has been associated largely with early and late incidence of postoperative morbidity. Several lateral chest approaches have been reported in the medical literature with the objective to decrease morbidity due to thoracotomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of pulmonary resection, performed by means of a minor thoracotomy in the posterior axillary region. METHODS: The skin incision was longitudinal and scapular; shoulder and chest wall muscles were not cut, a subperiosteally lateral portion of rib was removed and the thoracic wall was opened in the rib bed. The approach in this place allowed a smaller skin incision, skin flaps were not necessary and the chest wall opening stayed in a better position in relation to the pulmonary hilum, facilitating the exposition of its anterior and posterior faces. From January 1994 to December 1996 seventy-eight consecutively non-selected patients underwent eighty surgical procedures for several kinds of pulmonary resections. RESULTS: All surgical procedures occurred without difficulties and with a lower number of postoperative complications. A very good aesthetic result was reached. CONCLUSIONS: We believe this chest approach may be a good choice for pulmonary resection.     

Clearance of lead-212 ions from rabbit bronchial epithelium to blood

The absorption of 212Pb ions from bronchial epithelium to blood has been investigated in anaesthetized rabbits. The 212Pb ions were introduced by intubation either into the trachea or into smaller, more distal bronchi. Removal from lung was followed by external gamma-counting. Mucociliary clearance to the GI tract was blocked by tracheostomy. Two distinct phases of clearance from bronchial epithelium to blood were observed. Approximately 20% of deposited 212Pb is rapidly absorbed with a half-time of about 4 min, the remainder with a biological half-time of about 9 h, irrespective of the site of instillation in the bronchial tree. Two hours after deposition, the 212Pb remaining in lung was found to be partitioned between mucus and the bronchial epithelium, with a substantial but minor fraction in the epithelium. Uptake of 212Pb in the skeleton was estimated to be about 20% of the 212Pb entering the blood circulation. Removal by the kidneys, at 25%, was comparable with skeletal uptake. These results are compared with previously published work using rodents, dogs and man which demonstrated either rapid or slow absorption but not both phases occuring together.     

The acute and chronic effect of oxprenolol and propranolol on peripheral blood flow in hypertensive patients

1 The effects of oxprenolol and propranolol on peripheral blood flow were compared in patients with mild and moderate essential hypertension. 2 In an acute double-blind crossover study in which eight patients participated there was a significant reduction in resting forearm blood flow (RFBF) 2 h after 80 mg propranolol (mean +/- s.e. mean) (-0.87 +/- 0.13 microliter min-1 100 g-1) and after 80 mg oxprenolol (-0.30 +/- 0.12) but not after placebo. This reduction was significantly greater after propranolol (P = 0.022). 3 Seven patients continued into a double-blind crossover study comparing the above dose of the two drugs twice a day. On both the beta-adrenoceptor blockers there was a significant reduction in blood pressure after 2 weeks of treatment and also a significant reduction in RFBF. 4 After 6 weeks treatment with propranolol the reduction in RFBF persisted and was significantly less (P = 0.04) than after 6 weeks treatment of oxprenolol, at which time RFBF was back to control. 5 There were no consistent changes in skin temperature. 6 Neither propranolol nor oxprenolol should be used in patients with severe peripheral vascular disease. 7 If beta-adrenoceptor blockade is necessary in patients with mild peripheral vascular disease oxprenolol should be used in preference to propranolol but should be prescribed with caution.     

Renal and intrarenal blood flow distribution in swine during severe exercise

It is known that a compensatory reduction and diversion of renal flow occurs in severe exercise in humans but not in dogs. We investigated this in miniature swine by measuring changes in total renal blood flow (TRF) and intra-renal blood flow (IRBF) distribution with tracer microspheres (15 +/- 5 mum) at rest and during steady-state exercise at 4.8-7.2 kph and 0% grade, and during severe exercise at 4.8-7.2 kph and 10% grade. We measured heart rate and cardiac output (Q) via implanted probes. TRF was determined as a percent of Q and as ml/100 g per min. IRBF was determined for the outer cortex, inner cortex, outer medulla, and inner medulla. Our results show that renal blood flow is significantly (P less than 0.05) reduced in pigs with exercise. Steady-state exercise reduced flow to about 66% of control and severe exercise reduced renal flow to 30% of control. IRBF was unchanged throughout. These results show that the exercising pig augments blood flow to skeletal muscle by reducing blood flow to kidneys, a response known to occur in man.     

Effects of intraaortic balloon pumping on septal arterial blood flow velocity waveform during severe left main coronary artery stenosis

OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate the effect of intraaortic balloon pumping on the phasic blood velocity waveform into myocardium with severe coronary artery stenosis. BACKGROUND: In the presence of severe coronary artery stenosis, it is not clear whether intraaortic balloon pumping augments intramyocardial inflow during diastole or changes systolic retrograde blood flow from the myocardium to the extramural coronary arteries. METHODS: Using anesthetized open chest dogs (n=7), we introduced severe stenosis in the left main coronary artery to reduce the poststenotic pressure to approximately 60 mm Hg (>90% diameter stenosis). Septal arterial blood flow velocities were measured with a 20-MHz, 80-channel ultrasound pulsed Doppler velocimeter. Left anterior descending arterial flow, aortic pressure and poststenotic distal coronary pressure were measured simultaneously. The diastolic anterograde flow integral and systolic retrograde flow integral were compared in the presence and absence of intraaortic balloon pumping. RESULTS: Although intraaortic balloon pumping augmented diastolic aortic pressure, this pressure increase was not effectively transmitted through stenosis. Septal arterial diastolic flow velocity was not augmented, and left anterior descending arterial flow was unchanged during intraaortic balloon pumping. CONCLUSIONS: In the presence of severe coronary artery stenosis, intraaortic balloon pumping failed to increase diastolic inflow in the myocardium and did not enhance systolic retrograde flow from the myocardium to the extramural coronary artery. Thus, the major effect of intraaortic balloon pumping on the ischemic heart with severe coronary artery stenosis may be achieved by reducing oxygen demand by systolic unloading.     

An autopsy case of severe tuberculosis associated with anal fistula and intestinal perforation

A 55 year-old man was admitted to the department of the gastroenterology of the hospital because of severe weakness and appetite loss for the past one month. In the last two months, he has been suffering from recurrent fistula of the anus. He left his symptoms without therapy. A gastric ulcer was found out with gastric endoscopy. At the same time, chest X-ray film showed bilateral abnormal shadows, which were suspected of severe pulmonary tuberculosis by a chest physician. After the admission, the patient immediately developed respiratory failure. Both sputa and discharge from anal fistula were positive for acid fast bacillus. Despite of anti-tuberculosis therapy and mechanical ventilation, he died of respiratory failure. At the autopsy, severe pulmonary tuberculosis, tuberculous fistula of the anus, intestinal tuberculosis with perforation, miliary tuberculosis and peptic ulcer of the stomach were defined. We suspected that the extensive disease caused by hematogeneous spread and the late diagnosis of tuberculosis was owing to patient's delay.     

Effects of solcoseryl on the cerebral blood flow, intracranial pressure, systemic blood pressure and EEG in acute intracranial hypertensive cats (author's transl)

The experiment was performed on 86 cases under intraperitoneal pentobarbital anesthesia. One balloon was placed in the extradural space of right frontal region, and the other balloon was placed in the left extradural space and the intracranial pressure was measured. A needle was stereotaxically inserted into the subcortical area in order to measure the cerebral blood flow. Systemic blood pressure was recorded by inserting a catheter into the femoral artery, and electrocorticogram was also recorded. An expanding intracranial lesion was made by inflating the extradural balloon with physiological saline. The animals were arbitrarily divided into two groups.: 1) light or moderate groups which intracranial pressure before the injection of drug was below 400 mmH2O. 2) severe groups above 400 mmH2O. After the maintenance of the pressure, Solcoseryl was infused intravenously. The investigation was focused to observe whether Solcoseryl reveales any potent effect on cerebral blood flow, intracranial pressure, systemic blood pressure and on electroencephalogram in acute intracranial hypertension. Results 1) Intravenous injection of Solcoseryl had the effect of lowering intracranial pressure in the light or moderate and severe groups. Particularly, dose of 80 mg/kg showed the marked effect, though with a rebound phenomenon in the light or moderate groups. Furthermore, the effect was more marked and lasting by drip infusion of Solcoseryl and also by intravenous injection of Solcoseryl after pretreatment with hydrocortisone, and at this time no rebound phenomenon was recognized. 2) Solcoseryl had the effect of increasing the cerebral blood flow accompained with the lowering of intracranial pressure. 3) Systemic blood pressure was transiently lowered by the injection of Solcoseryl 20 mg/kg or 80 mg/kg and recovered immediately. 4) Solcoseryl had no effect on electroencephalogram in the severe groups. Conclusion On the basis of these results, it is rational to conclude that Solcoseryl could be superior agent render to lower intracranial pressure and to improve cerebral blood flow in acute intracranial hypertension.     

How to control the blood glucose level in the surgical diabetic patient

Plasma activities of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were studied, along with hematological changes, in rats suffering from various degrees of experimental decompression sickness (DS). By 1 h after decompression, LDH and CPK activities were elevated in moderate and severe DS whereas GOT and GPT were elevated only in severe DS. ALP was reduced in all decompressed rats. Hematological changes indicated hemoconcentration, the degree of which paralleled the severity of DS. By 24 h after decompression, all enzyme activities were approaching control levels with the exception of GOT, which was further elevated from the 1-h value. The observed lung damage in rats with severe DS in conjunction with the hematologic and enzyme data suggested that hypoxemic-hypoxia, incident to bubble embolization of pulmonary vasculature, was a major factor in altering the blood enzyme pattern in DS. Serum enzyme data from two inadequately decompressed divers are also reported.     

Traffic multiple trauma patient with head injuries: a study of 146 cases

146 cases of traffic multiple trauma associated with head injuries were studied. There was a significant difference in the ratio of associated injuries in various parts of the body. The three most encountered parts were chest, shoulder and leg. Death were mainly due to severe head injury, chest injury and shock. Atypical ushing syndrome was due to severe blood loss, even intracranial hypertension existed. The blood pressure decreased rapidly after operation. Since comatous patients were unable to provide chief complaint, misdiagnosis occurred during emergency stage.     

Calcitonin and calcium content of the blood of patients with thyroid pathology

The blood calcitonin and calcium content was studied in 38 patients with thyrotoxicosis, 20 subjects with endemic euthyroid goiter and 7 persons with primary hypothyrosis. The blood calcium and calcitorim levels were not changed in males and females with endemic euthyroid goiter in comparison with those of 19 healthy controls. Calcitonin content was markedly decreased in patients with hypothyrosis. Calcium level was significantly increased in males, remaining practically unchanged in females. Calcium and calcitonin levels were dependent on thyrotoxicosis severity. Calcitonin content remained unchanged in moderate thyrotoxicosis and lowered in the severe stage of the disease. The blood calcium level remained unchanged both in males and females suffering from severe thyrotoxicosis and in males with the moderate form of the disease. Calcium content diminished in the blood serum of females with moderate thyrotoxicosis.     

Toxicity of methylmercury chloride in rats. III. Long-term toxicity study

In the range-finding test, 6 groups of 4 male and 4 female weanling rats were given dietary levels of 0, 0.1,0.5, 2.5, 12.5 and 250 ppm methylmercury chloride (MeHgCl) for 2 weeks. Signs of central nervous system toxicity, weight loss and high mortality appeared at 250 ppm but not at lower levels. No haematological changes were observed at 0.1-12.5 ppm. The relative weights of the liver in females on 2.5 and 12.5 ppm and of the kidneys in females on 12.5 ppm were significantly increased; the effects in males were less marked. Total mercury concentration in the kidneys increased proportionally with increasing dietary levels of MeHgCl. In the short-term test, 5 groups of 15 male and 10 female weanling rats were given dietary levels of 0, 0.1, 0.5, 2.5 and 25 ppm MeHgCl for 12 weeks. Toxic signs, weight loss and restricted food intake were observed at 25 ppm starting from week 9 onwards. Haematological, serum enzyme and urinalysis changes were seen at 25 ppm. Liver microsomal enzyme activity was increased non-significantly and liver glycogen was depressed at 25 ppm. Organ weight changes were evident at 25 ppm and histological changes seen in the spleen, kidneys, brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves were confined to the 25 ppm level. Histochemical changes in kidney enzymes occured at 2.5 and 25 ppm. Hg concentrations in blood, hair, kidneys, liver and brain were higher at 12 weeks than 6 weeks and generally increased with increasing MeHgCl level in the diet.     

Gastric antral vascular ectasia (the watermelon stomach): a brief case report

Herein, the endoscopic and histological features of a case of gastric antral vascular ectasia (watermelon stomach) occurring in a 76-year-old woman are described. The condition, first recognized by Jabbari et al in 1984, is a rare but important cause of severe gastrointestinal blood loss and chronic iron deficiency anemia. Differential diagnosis from portal hypertensive gastropathy, treatment and outcome of the watermelon stomach are discussed.     

What is the blood flow to resting human muscle?

1. An investigation was carried out in five healthy lean adults to assess whether forearm and calf plethysmography largely reflect muscle blood flow as measured by 133Xe and whether there is substantial variability in the blood flow to muscles located at different sites in the body. 2. Blood flow to forearm and calf flexors and extensors, biceps, triceps and quadriceps was assessed using the 133Xe clearance technique. Blood flow to forearm skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue was also measured using the 133Xe clearance technique, whereas blood flow to the forearm and calf was measured using strain gauge plethysmography. 3. The mean blood flow to different muscles ranged from 1.4 +/- 0.6 (gastrocnemius) to 1.8 +/- 0.7 (forearm extensor) ml min-1 100 g-1 muscle (1.4 +/- 0.6 and 1.9 +/- 0.8 ml min-1 100 ml-1 muscle, respectively) but there were no significant differences between them. Forearm and calf blood flows (2.7 +/- 0.3 and 3.0 +/- 0.7 ml min-1 100 ml-1 limb tissue, respectively) were about 50% to more than 100% greater (P < 0.025) than blood flow to the muscles within them (1.7 +/- 0.5 and 1.4 +/- 0.5 ml min-1 100 g-1 muscle, respectively, or 1.8 +/- 0.6 and 1.5 +/- 0.5 ml min-1 100 ml-1 muscle, respectively). In contrast, the blood flows to 100 g of forearm skin (9.1 +/- 2.6 ml min-1 100 g-1) and adipose tissue (3.8 +/- 1.1 ml min-1 100 g-1) were higher than the blood flow to 100 g of forearm (P < 0.01 and not significant, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Comparative evaluation of acute and subacute toxic action of aniline and O-isopropoxyaniline

The comparison of acute and subacute toxic action of aniline and o-isopropoxyaniline (o-IPA) has been carried out. In the course of acute experiment, the following results were obtained: DL50 values for aniline and o-IPA established for rats after administration by stomach-tube were--0,45 g/kg and 0,84 g/kg, after intraperitoneal administration--0,34 g/kg and 0,23 g/kg, after superficial coating of the skin surface--0,67 g/kg and 2,20 g/kg body weight, respectively. O-IPA, similarly as aniline, exerts a methemglobinopoietic effect. The both substances have local irritant effect on the skin and the eye of rabbit, causing reactions of middle degree of intensity. The examinations of aniline and o-IPA, performed after Lima's method, have revealed no comulataive action. During the 6 months exposure consisting in administration to animals of doses amounting to 1/10 and 1/2 of DL50 value by stomach tube, changes in the picture of peripheral blood were found as well as statistically significant increase of phenol red urine excretion, the inhibition of body weight increase and statistically significant increase of relative and absolute weight of liver and spleen. The both compounds damage the liver and kidneys parenchyma. The degree of liver injury is greater due to aniline action, o-IPA, however, has a stronger action on the excretion of renal cortex epithelium. In the spleen, a similar type of changes was observed, but the number of erthroblasts and reticuloendothelial system cells as well as the degree of hemosyderine deposition in this organ was greater after aniline administration. These results demonstrate that the toxic character of o-IPA and of aniline is similar, but the changes provoked by o-IPA are less intensive.     

Platelet function, coagulation tests, and cardiopulmonary bypass: lack of correlation between pre-operative and intra-operative whole blood lumiaggregometry and peri-operative blood loss in patients receiving autologous platelet-rich plasma

Platelet function and blood coagulation were studied and correlated with the post-operative red blood cell (RBC) loss in 41 patients that underwent cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Before and after surgery, whole blood platelet aggregation and secretion were tested with different agonists, and the platelet count, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time measured simultaneously. Post-operatively, RBC loss in chest fluid was also calculated. Platelet aggregation and secretion with different agonists (except with ristocetin and adenosine diphosphate (ADP)) were decreased significantly after protamine and platelet-rich plasma administration. There were no significant differences in aggregation and secretion immediately after cardiopulmonary bypass compared with after platelet-rich plasma administration With ADP, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release was decreased significantly after the platelet-rich plasma infusion compared with post-protamine. Platelet count decreased significantly during surgery and remained low after platelet-rich plasma infusion. The clotting times were increased significantly after surgery, and after platelet-rich plasma infusion, the prothrombin time decreased significantly relative to the post-protamine value, the activated partial thromboplastin time being essentially unchanged. Postoperatively, the total volume of RBC collected after 36 h was 158 +/- 13 ml and there was no significant correlation with the above parameters. We conclude that pre-operative or intra-operative whole blood lumi-aggregometry is not a predictor of post-operative blood loss in patients receiving platelet-rich plasma intra-operatively.     

Primitive neuroectodermal tumors of the minor pelvis in women--case report]

A primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET) of the minor pelvis is a rare malignant small-cell tumour developing from the neural groove. It metastatizes into the lungs, bones, liver and brain. Treatment involves radical surgical extirpation followed by chemotherapy and actinotherapy. The author presents the case-history of PNET of the pelvis minor in a 33-year-old woman.