Atrial natriuretic peptide blockade exacerbates high altitude pulmonary edema in endotoxin-primed rats

High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is associated with increases in pulmonary arterial and hydrostatic pressures and an increase in pulmonary vascular permeability. There is evidence to suggest that inflammatory mediators may cause some forms of HAPE, and Salmonella enteritidis endotoxin (ETX) is known to activate neutrophils and inflammatory mediators, such as TNF-alpha and IL1-beta. Since HAPE has been produced in rats primed with ETX, we hypothesized that ANP release and action may ameliorate HAPE and that ANP blockade may exacerbate HAPE in ETX-primed rats exposed to high altitude (HA). Plasma ANP, right atrial ANP mRNA, and indexes of lung injury were measured in rats primed with endotoxin (ETX) (0.1 mg/kg BW, i.p.) and exposed to simulated HA (4267 m; P(B) = 440 mmHg) for either 12 or 24 h. Catheters were chronically inserted into the right carotid artery, pulmonary artery, and jugular vein for assessment of hemodynamic parameters in response to ETX and/or HA. In addition, some rats were injected with an antibody against ANP (alphaANP) prior to normoxic (NX) or HA exposure. Pulmonary arterial pressure increased in the alphaANP group (50 +/- 20%; p < or = 0.05) and in the HA + alphaANP (51 +/- 15%; p < or = 0.05) group at 12 h compared to NX sham rats injected with normal rabbit serum. In addition, systemic arterial pressure was significantly lower in the HA + ETX rats compared to HA + ETX + alphaANP rats (p < or = 0.001). Plasma ANP levels were significantly higher at 12 and 24 h in ETX, HA, and HA + ETX groups (p <or = 0.05) compared to NX controls. There was an inverse relationship (p <or = 0.001) between plasma ANP levels and lung wet to dry (W/D) weight when data from NX, ETX, HA, and HA + ETX groups were pooled. The HA + alphaANP rats had significantly higher lung W/D ratios (p < 0.001) compared to sham rats. These results support the hypothesis that ANP, at physiological levels, modulates the development of pulmonary edema in HA-exposed ETX-primed rats.

Anesthesia protocol for hyperpnea-induced airway obstruction in the guinea pig

Guinea pigs (GP; Cavia porcellus) are used extensively as an experimental animal model in a wide range of disciplines including respiratory physiology. Guinea pigs are difficult to anesthetize, and many investigators use paralytic agents to eliminate spontaneous respiratory movements; however, strict federal regulations and institutional policies governing use of paralytic agents are few. We report an anesthesia protocol, using the injectable anesthetic agents sodium pentobarbital (SP) and xylazine (XYL) for the GP that induces consistent anesthesia while eliminating use of paralytic agents. Sixty percent of the calculated SP dose (45 mg/kg of body weight) was given for anesthesia induction, followed by 50% of the calculated XYL dose (7 mg/kg) 15 min later. Depth of anesthesia was monitored by response to toe pinch, ECG, and spontaneous respiratory movements. The animals were given additional boosts of SP (5 to 15% of the original dose, i.p. or i.v.) if a change in anesthesia depth was noted. Thirty-one animals completed the hyperpnea-induced bronchoconstriction (HIB) study with no fatalities. Using this protocol, we collected consistent, repeatable, and reliable data without use of propranolol or skeletal muscle paralytics. We believe that this protocol is not restricted to the GP and could be adapted for use in other terminal experiments.

Intraoperative auditory assessments as predictors of hearing preservation after vestibular schwannoma surgery

The purpose of this study was to determine the association of intraoperative auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) and near-field cochlear nerve action potentials (CNAPs) with postoperative hearing preservation in acoustic tumor surgery. Thirty-three consecutive patients undergoing middle fossa surgery had intraoperative surface ABR and direct CNAP assessments. Postoperatively, hearing was assessed. Hearing preservation was defined as any measurable hearing at any frequency and also by the American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) hearing preservation classification system. The presence of an ABR or CNAP was associated with hearing preservation and the absence of an ABR, and CNAP was associated with no hearing preservation in 75.6 percent of the cases. The presence of either the ABR or CNAP was not related to AAO-HNS class outcome. ABR and CNAP had a useful rate of prediction of hearing preservation surgery outcome. However, in nearly one-quarter of the cases, no association between ABR or CNAP responses and hearing preservation was found. This finding must be taken into account when determining the clinical usefulness of these techniques.

Role of vascular smooth muscle in the development of high altitude pulmonary hypertension: an interspecies evaluation

There is a marked variability in the degree of pulmonary hypertension induced by long-term exposure to altitudes above 3000 m among low altitude species, ranging from hyporesponders (sheep and dogs) to hyper-responders (cattle and pigs). The amount of inherent muscularization of small pulmonary arteries appears to be a determinant of this hypertensive response, as does the presence or absence of collateral ventilation. Hyper-responders also exhibit marked pulmonary vascular hypertrophy when exposed to long-term hypoxia. Humans exhibit similar inter- and intra-population variability. Animal species indigenous to high altitudes exhibit less variable, attenuated pulmonary hypertensive responses with little pulmonary vascular hypertrophy. This attenuated response is also apparent among human high altitude populations, particularly in Andean and Tibetan populations. Thus, successful adaptation to high altitudes is evident in species that do not sustain the acute cardiopulmonary compensations that occur upon initial exposure to high altitude.

Elevating dietary salt exacerbates hyperpnea-induced airway obstruction in guinea pigs

Previous studies have indicated that increased dietary salt consumption worsens postexercise pulmonary function in humans with exercise-induced asthma (EIA). It has been suggested that EIA and hyperpnea-induced airway obstruction (HIAO) in guinea pigs (an animal model of EIA) are mediated by similar mechanisms. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether altering dietary salt consumption also exacerbated HIAO in guinea pigs. Furthermore, the potential pathway of action of dietary salt was investigated by blocking leukotriene (LT) production during HIAO in guinea pigs. Thirty-two male Hartley strain guinea pigs were split into two groups. One group (n = 16) of animals ingested a normal-salt diet (NSD) for 2 wk; the other group (n = 16) ingested a high-salt diet (HSD) for 2 wk. Thereafter, animals were anesthetized, cannulated, tracheotomized, and mechanically ventilated during a baseline period and during two dry gas hyperpnea challenges. After the first challenge, the animals were administered either saline or nordihydroguaiaretic acid, a LT inhibitor. Bladder urine was analyzed for electrolyte concentrations and urinary LTE(4). The HSD elicited higher airway inspiratory pressures (Ptr) than the NSD (P < 0.001) postchallenge. However, after infusion of the LT inhibitor and a second hyperpnea challenge, HIAO was blocked in both diet groups (P < 0.001). Nonetheless, the HSD group continued to demonstrate slightly higher Ptr than the NSD group (P < 0.05). Urinary LTE(4) excretion significantly increased in the HSD group compared with the NSD group within treatment groups. This study has demonstrated that dietary salt loading exacerbated the development of HIAO in guinea pigs and that LT release was involved in HIAO and may be moderated by changes in dietary salt loading.

Evaluation of the early conception factor (ECF) test for the detection of nonpregnancy in dairy cattle

The ability to detect conception and/or conception failure in cattle would be beneficial to producers in formulating reproductive management plans. A new diagnostic test, the early conception factor (ECF) test, has been developed forthis application yetthe accuracy of this test has not been adequately determined. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of the ECF test for detecting the nonpregnant cow, and to compare the reliability of serum versus milk ECF tests relative to actual pregnancy rates. In Trial 1, Holstein heifers were synchronized, the animals were bred (timed-AI), and serum ECF tests were performed 72 h later. Heifers exhibiting a negative ECF test after AI were re-synchronized, bred again, and re-tested for ECF for up to three services. Relative to actual pregnancy rates, a negative ECF test was correct (i.e., true negative) 38.5% of the time over the three services. In Trial II, Holstein heifers were bred (AI) after observed estrus and serum ECF tests conducted between Days 1 and 3 and Days 7 and 9 after AI. In this trial, only 44.4% and 55.6% of the confirmed nonpregnant heifers were identified correctly by serum ECF analysis at Days 1 to 3 and Days 7 to 9 post-AI respectively. In Trial III, 40 lactating cows were synchronized, the animals were bred (AI), and serum and milk ECF tests were performed on Days 3, 9, 15, 21 and 30 after AI. Pregnancy diagnosis (ultrasound on Day 30 and palpation on Day 51) confirmed that 50% of the cows were pregnant to AI, while serum and milk ECF analysis indicated a 100% and 37.5% predicted pregnancy rate, respectively, at 30 d post-AI. Moreover, results of the serum and milk ECF tests disagreed with one another 36.9% of the time overall, while agreement between ECF and actual pregnancy rates were 50.6% and 45.6% for milk and serum respectively. Additionally in Trial III, a negative ECF result only identified 5% and 28.8% of nonpregnant cows overall for serum and milk tests respectively (i.e., true negatives), with a high incidence of false positive ECF results noted (47.5% and 31.3% for serum and milk, respectively). Collectively, these data indicate that the current ECF test cannot accurately identify the nonpregnant cow with the precision needed by the dairy producer.

Pecam-1 is a modulator of stat family member phosphorylation and localization: lessons from a transgenic mouse

PECAM-1 (CD31) is a member of the immunoglobin (Ig) superfamily of cell adhesion molecules whose expression is restricted to hematopoietic and vascular cells. PECAM-1 can recruit adapter and signaling molecules via its immunoreceptor tyrosine activation motif (ITAM), suggesting that PECAM-1 plays a role in signal transduction pathways. To study the involvement of PECAM-1 in signaling cascades in vivo, we used the major histocompatibility (MHC) I gene promoter to target ectopic PECAM-1 expression in transgenic mice. We noted an attenuation of mammary gland development at early stages of virgin ductal branching morphogenesis. STAT5a, a modulator of milk protein gene expression during lactation, was localized to the nuclei of ductal epithelial cells of 6-week-old virgin PECAM-1 transgenics, but not in control mice. This correlated with decreases in ductal epithelial cell proliferation and induction of p21, an inhibitor of cell cycle progression. Using in vitro model systems we demonstrated PECAM-1/STAT5a association and found that residue Y701 in PECAM-1's cytoplasmic tail is important for PECAM-1/STAT5 association and that PECAM-1 modulates increases in STAT5a tyrosine phosphorylation levels. We suggest that by serving as a scaffolding, PECAM-1 can bring substrates (STAT5a) and enzymes (a kinase) into close proximity, thereby modulating phosphorylation levels of selected proteins, as previously noted for beta-catenin.

Placebo-controlled trial of indole-3-carbinol in the treatment of CIN

OBJECTIVE

Most precancerous lesions of the cervix are treated with surgery or ablative therapy. Chemoprevention, using natural and synthetic compounds, may intervene in the early precancerous stages of carcinogenesis and prevent the development of invasive disease. Our trial used indole-3-carbinol (I-3-C) administered orally to treat women with CIN as a therapeutic for cervical CIN.

METHODS

Thirty patients with biopsy proven CIN II-III were randomized to receive placebo or 200, or 400 mg/day I-3-C administered orally for 12 weeks. If persistent CIN was diagnosed by cervical biopsy at the end of the trial, loop electrocautery excision procedure of the transformation zone was performed. HPV status was assessed in all patients.

RESULTS

None (0 of 10) of the patients in the placebo group had complete regression of CIN. In contrast 4 of 8 patients in the 200 mg/day arm and 4 of 9 patients in the 400 mg/day arm had complete regression based on their 12-week biopsy. This protective effect of I-3-C is shown by a relative risk (RR) of 0.50 ((95% CI, 0. 25 to 0.99) P = 0.023) for the 200 mg/day group and a RR of 0.55 ((95% CI, 0.31 to 0.99) P = 0.032) for the 400 mg/day group. HPV was detected in 7 of 10 placebo patients, in 7 of 8 in the 200 mg/day group, and in 8 of 9 in the 400 mg/day group.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a statistically significant regression of CIN in patients treated with I-3-C orally compared with placebo. The 2/16 alpha-hydroxyestrone ratio changed in a dose-dependent fashion.

Vaccine preventable diseases and vaccination coverage in Australia, 1993-1998

BACKGROUND

Since the introduction of childhood vaccination for diphtheria in 1932 and the widespread use of vaccines to prevent tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) and poliomyelitis in the 1950s, deaths in Australia from vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) have declined by more than 99%. It is important, however, that the downward trend in morbidity and mortality from VPDs is maintained and carefully monitored, and that changes are interpreted in relation to vaccination coverage.

AIM

This report aimed to bring together three national sources of routinely collected data on the morbidity and mortality (notifications, hospitalisations and deaths) from VPDs during the period 1993-1998 for the 8 diseases then on the routine childhood vaccination schedule, and for 4 other diseases potentially preventable by childhood vaccination. It also examined vaccination coverage for the same period.

METHODS

Data sources included notifications from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS), hospitalisation data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) National Hospital Morbidity Database, deaths from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Causes of Death Collection and vaccination coverage according to the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR). All data sources were expected to have some limitations, the most important being under-reporting for notifications and vaccination encounters, and coding errors in the hospital morbidity data.

RESULTS

Notifications for the 8 diseases covered by the routine schedule declined by 42%, from an average of 11,537 cases each year in 1993-1997 to 6700 in 1998, and hospitalisations fell by 12%, from an average of 1745 per year to 1536 in 1997/1998, while deaths remained unchanged at 7 each year over the period of review (Table 1). Tetanus caused 1 or 2 of the deaths each year. However, 6 of the 7 deaths in 1997 were in infants during a major outbreak of pertussis. Pertussis caused most of the notifications, hospitalisations and deaths during the review period. While most of these were in children, 46% of the notifications and 13% of the hospitalisations occurred in persons aged 15 years or more. There were notable declines in the numbers of notifications of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease in children under 5 years of age (77%), measles (87%) and rubella (75%), and there were no notifications of diphtheria or poliomyelitis. Vaccination coverage estimated using ACIR data increased during the review period. Coverage for the first 3 doses of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and Hib vaccines, assessed at 1 year of age, increased from 75% to 85%, while coverage for measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, assessed at 2 years of age, increased from 83% to 86%. It is likely that these data underestimated coverage by 5-10%, and that the increase in coverage partly reflected better reporting to the ACIR by providers.

Adenomyosis: symptoms, histology, and pregnancy terminations

OBJECTIVE

To correlate symptoms of uterine adenomyosis with histopathologic features.

METHODS

One hundred eleven specimens of uteri and cervices that weighed under 280 g were reevaluated. When adenomyosis was identified, assessment included depth of adenomyotic foci, graded as deep (above 80%), intermediate (40-80%), and superficial (under 40%), and number of adenomyotic foci. Clinical data were collected from patient records.

RESULTS

Specimens were categorized in four groups, 17 with adenomyosis alone, 19 with adenomyosis with leiomyomas, 39 with leiomyomas alone, and 36 with neither. Among women with adenomyosis alone, 58.8% had pregnancy terminations and 47.4% of women with adenomyosis and leiomyomas had terminations, compared with 20.5% of women with leiomyomas alone (P <.01) and 22.2% in those with neither (P <.01). The number of foci correlated significantly with depth within the myometrium in specimens with adenomyosis alone (r =.46, P =.05) or combined with leiomyomas (r =.66, P <.001). The median number of foci associated with dysmenorrhea was 10 compared with 4.5 without it (P <.003); in menorrhagia the respective median numbers were 7 and 7 (P =.25). Menorrhagia and dysmenorrhea presented in 36.8% and 77.8% of deep, compared with 13.3% (P <.001) and 12.5% (P <.001) of intermediate depths, respectively. Superficial depth was not associated with menorrhagia or dysmenorrhea.

CONCLUSION

Pregnancy termination might affect the pathogenesis of adenomyosis. The number of foci and their myometrial depths correlated to each other and to dysmenorrhea, but only myometrial depth correlated to menorrhagia.

HIV+ patients have increased lymphocyte infiltrates in CIN lesions

OBJECTIVE

The objective of our study was to analyze immunocyte infiltrates in CIN lesions from HIV+ patients to assess whether local immunosuppression, defined as a decrease in T cell infiltrates, could explain the aggressive nature of CIN in HIV-infected patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cervical tissue was obtained from 6 HIV+ CIN patients, 6 HIV- CIN patients, who underwent LLETZ (large loop excision of the transformation zone) for CIN, and 17 normal patients who underwent hysterectomy for benign indications. The following cell surface markers were analyzed: CD20 (B cells), CD4 (T helper cells), and CD8 (T suppressor/cytotoxic cells). Each tissue section was visualized with a Leica microscope at 400x and the image was captured for analysis by Harmony Group image analysis software.

RESULTS

A significantly higher number of lymphocytes (both B and T cells) was detected in the stroma of HIV+/CIN tissue compared to either HIV-/CIN or normal tissue. There was also a significant increase in CD8+ cells in the HIV+/CIN group compared to HIV-/CIN or normal tissue. There was a trend toward a decreased CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the HIV+/CIN compared to the other two groups; however, this did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates that HIV+/CIN cervical tissue has a greater number of tissue lymphocytes recruited to the neoplastic site compared to HIV- individuals. In addition, HIV+ patients may have a decreased CD4/CD8 ratio in locally infiltrating immunocytes in CIN lesions. The local immunomodulatory effects of HIV may be detectable early in infection and therefore may explain the aggressive nature of CIN in the HIV+ patient.

Evolutionary stable strategy: a test for theories of retroviral pathology which are based upon the concept of molecular mimicry

The genetic makeup of animal and plant populations is determined by established principles and concepts. Ecology and evolution provide a basic theoretical framework for understanding how genetic changes occur in populations. Whether these rules can be applied to host retroviral populations is unknown. Individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) contain within their bodies a viral population. This population is known as a viral quasispecies. Located in the transmembrane protein of HIV-1 is the viral sequence Gly-Thr-Asp-Arg-Val. Previous immunological studies have shown that viral antibody is produced in response to this five-amino-acid sequence. Antibody to this viral sequence also crossreacts and binds to a related peptide sequence found on certain immune cells. This related sequence, Gly-Thr-Glu-Arg-Val, is found on immune cells bearing a structure known as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The viral transmembrane sequence, Gly-Thr-Asp-Arg-Val, can be substituted with alanine residues utilizing site-directed mutagenesis. This creates a viral clone devoid of the genetic similarity with the MHC. Chimpanzees progressing to AIDS contain both sequences of interest. Suppression of the chimpanzee quasispecies utilizing anti-retroviral drugs is proposed. This action serves to suppress the presence of the viruses containing the sequence Gly-Thr-Asp-Arg-Val. When viral load has been reduced significantly, a drug resistant, alanine altered clone is to be introduced in large numbers. The concept of evolutionary stable strategy predicts that a viable HIV clone with alanine residues can genetically dominate the viral population. Immune system recognition of the alanine sequence is likely to result in renewed antibody production. Antibodies to the alanine containing viral sequence should not recognize or bind to the MHC. Immunological parameters can then be measured to determine the physiological impact of eliminating a sequence responsible for molecular mimicry between virus and host.

Selective impairment of corticotropin-releasing factor1 (CRF1) receptor-mediated function using CRF coupled to saporin

CRF is the main component in the brain neuropeptide effector system responsible for the behavioral, endocrine, and physiological activation that accompanies stress activation. Reduced CRF system activation plays a role in the etiology of a variety of psychiatric and metabolic disease states. We have developed a novel protein conjugate that joins native rat/human CRF to a ribosome-inactivating protein, saporin (CRF-SAP), for the purpose of targeted inactivation of CRF receptor-expressing cells. Cytotoxicity measurements revealed that CRF-SAP (1-100 nM) produced concentration-dependent and progressive cell death over time in CRF1 receptor-transfected L cells, but at similar concentrations had no effect on CRF2alpha receptor-transfected cells. The CRF-SAP-induced toxicity in CRF1-transfected cells was prevented by coincubation with the competitive CRF1/CRF2 receptor peptide antagonist, [D-Phe12]CRF-(12-41), or the selective nonpeptide CRF1 receptor antagonist, NBI 27914. Finally, in cultured rat pituitary cells that express native CRF1 receptors, CRF-SAP suppressed CRF-induced (1 nM) ACTH release. GnRH (1-10 nM) stimulated LH release was also assessed in the same pituitary cultures. Although there was a slight decrease in LH release from these cultures, this decrease was observed with CRF-SAP or SAP alone, suggesting that the response was nonspecific. Taken together, these results suggest the utility of CRF-SAP as a specific and subtype-selective tool for long term impairment of CRF1 receptor-expressing cells.

Medical students and infection control: risks and precautions

PURPOSE

To investigate factors associated with medical students' use of infection control measures to protect themselves from HIV and other blood-borne infections.

METHODS

All clinical students in the academic year of 1993-94 at the University of Washington, Seattle, were surveyed on the percent of time they use Universal Precautions (UPs), their sense of control and concern over HIV risk, estimates of occupational HIV risk and career plans.

RESULTS

Responses of 294 students (86%) were studied. Most students use UPs most of the time but only 25% do so universally. Women (88.1%) use UPs more often than men (82.8%). Use of UPs was not related to the factors that actually predict risk of infection: incidence of exposure accidents and prevalence of HIV among patients. UP use was not associated with demographic characteristics of the student, specialty choice or level of concern about HIV. Students with greater sense of control over their risk reported greater use of UP. Those who plan to restrict patient services because of HIV risk use UP less often than others.

CONCLUSION

Students use UPs but could do more to protect themselves. Infection control among young clinicians may be improved by education about the reality of the risk and the efficacy of precautionary measures.

Children's eyewitness memory for a repeated event

OBJECTIVE

This study examined a significant issue for chronic sexual abuse investigations: Children's eyewitness testimony about repeated events. The few previous studies focused on preschoolers and none used the present methodology of presenting repeated events differing slightly in their details, as would happen in chronic abuse.

METHOD

One group of 6- to 7-year-olds played individually with an experimenter on one occasion; the other group experienced three such events, with some details remaining the same and others changing. In a phased interview, children were questioned about the initial event.

RESULTS

For details which stayed the same, the children who experienced three events had more accurate memories. They had poorer memories than the single-event group for details which were changed in the later events; however, this was due to interference errors, with errors of omission and commission being lower than in the single-event group. Children conveyed clearly that inappropriate touching did not occur.

CONCLUSIONS

Children who experience repeated events have increased recall for repeated details but confuse the timing of details which change across events. The findings support previous suggestions that (a) it is unrealistic to expect children to be able to report repeated events without some confusion about timing of details and (b) children are resistant to misleading questions about abuse.

Moderate sodium restriction does not alter lower body negative pressure tolerance

HYPOTHESIS

Space travel with exposure to microgravity leads to a significant reduction in orthostatic tolerance on return to Earth, for which countermeasures are only partially successful. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of moderate dietary sodium restriction on tolerance to LBNP.

METHODS

Eight healthy men, age 25.1+/-1.3 yr, volunteered for the study. Subjects were exposed to presyncopal LBNP after consuming their "typical" diet (C) for 5 d and after consuming a sodium restricted (SR) diet for 5 d. Diet sequence was randomized and adherence was verified by 24-h urine collection on the 4th and 5th days of each diet.

RESULTS

All subjects reached presyncope during the LBNP, regardless of diet. Urinary sodium excretion was 3390+/-950 mg on the C diet and 1174+/-560 mg on the SR diet. Urinary potassium was not different between the diets. Cumulative stress index scores were 655+/-460 (mm Hg x min) on the C diet and 639+/-388 (mm Hg x min) during SR. Cardiac volumes, BP and total peripheral resistance were not different at any stage of the LBNP between the diets, nor were catecholamines. Plasma renin activity, determined by radioimmunoassay, was significantly higher during SR at rest, and during all stages of LBNP in comparison with the control diet.

CONCLUSION

Moderate dietary sodium restriction is not detrimental to orthostatic tolerance.

The heart is not necessarily empty at syncope

BACKGROUND

Although extensively investigated, the mechanism(s) of post-spaceflight orthostatic intolerance has not been elucidated. Several researchers have proposed that the "trigger" for syncope is an empty ventricle, initiated when a hypercontractile state, possibly due to a sudden surge in epinephrine, causes the walls of the left ventricle to touch leading to a profound sympatho-inhibition and intense vagal stimulation.

HYPOTHESIS

A markedly reduced left ventricular end systolic volume (LVESV) achieved during progressive, presyncopal-limited lower body negative pressure (LBNP) is the trigger for syncope.

METHODS

Eight healthy men, age 25.1+/-1.3 yr, volunteered for the study. Changes in left ventricular end-diastolic volume and LVESV were measured, using two-dimensional echocardiography, at each stage of LBNP from rest up to presyncope (PS). Plasma venous catecholamine concentrations were measured at the end of each stage by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection.

RESULTS

All subjects reached PS. Three men became bradycardic at presyncope while five remained tachycardic. LVESV decreased by 28% at PS with no evidence of ventricular cavity obliteration. Norepinephrine increased by 44% from rest to PS, but no epinephrine surge was detected (35% increase from rest to PS).

CONCLUSION

These data indicate that it is possible to initiate syncope with only a 28% decrease in LVESV, and that sympatho-inhibition and bradycardia are not required elements for syncope to occur.

Validation of impedance cardiography during lower body negative pressure

BACKGROUND

Both echocardiographic and impedance cardiographic techniques have been used individually for the determination of stroke volume (SV) during lower body negative pressure (LBNP). Impedance cardiography has not been validated during LBNP.

HYPOTHESIS

The purpose of this study was to determine both the absolute values for SV and the change in SV for each stage of LBNP using both impedance and echocardiographic techniques during staged LBNP to presyncope. The hypothesis was that there would be no difference between the two techniques for either the absolute values of SV or for the change in SV with each stage of LBNP.

METHODS

There were 16 men who volunteered to undergo LBNP. LBNP was lowered in 10 mmHg stages for 5 min per stage until presyncope was reached. Left ventricular SV was determined by two-dimensional echocardiography and impedance cardiography. Both the absolute values for SV and the change in SV from baseline at each stage of LBNP were compared for the two methods.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the two techniques for the measurement of either the absolute SV or the change in SV with LBNP. The two methods correlated highly with r = 0.89 for the absolute SV values and r = 0.93 for the change in SV. Graphical analysis with the Bland-Altman analysis showed little bias in the impedance measurement for SV (-0.031 ml) and the change in SV (-2.7 ml).

CONCLUSIONS

Impedance cardiography was a reliable measure of SV, as well as the change in SV, during LBNP stress to presyncope.

Venoconstrictive thigh cuffs impede fluid shifts during simulated microgravity

BACKGROUND

This study determined the efficacy of venoconstrictive thigh cuffs, inflated to 50 mmHg, on impeding fluid redistributions during simulated microgravity.

METHODS

There were 10 healthy male subjects who were exposed to a 2-h tilt protocol which started in the standing position, and was followed by 30 min supine, 30 min standing, 30 min supine, 30 min of -12 degrees head down tilt (HDT, to simulate microgravity), 15 min of HDT with venoconstrictive thigh cuffs inflated, a further 10 min of HDT, 5 min supine, and 10 min standing. To increase the sensitivity of the techniques in an Earth-based model, 12 degrees HDT was used to simulate microgravity effects on body fluid shifts. Volume changes were measured with anthropometric sleeve plethysmography.

RESULTS

Transition to the various tilt positions resulted in concomitant decrements in leg volume (Stand [STD] to Supine [SUP], -3.0%; SUP to HDT, -2.0%). Inflation of the venoconstrictive thigh cuffs to 50 mmHg, during simulated microgravity, resulted in a significant 3.0% increase in leg volume from that seen in HDT (p < 0.01). No significant changes in systemic cardiovascular parameters were noted during cuff inflation.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that venoconstrictive thigh cuffs, inflated to 50 mmHg for 15 min during 12 degrees HDT, can create a more Earth-like fluid distribution. Cuffs could potentially be used to ameliorate the symptoms of cephalad edema seen with space adaptation syndrome and to potentiate existing fluid volume countermeasure protocols.

Phosphotyrosine phosphatase and tyrosine kinase inhibition modulate airway pressure-induced lung injury

We determined whether drugs which modulate the state of protein tyrosine phosphorylation could alter the threshold for high airway pressure-induced microvascular injury in isolated perfused rat lungs. Lungs were ventilated for successive 30-min periods with peak inflation pressures (PIP) of 7, 20, 30, and 35 cmH2O followed by measurement of the capillary filtration coefficient (Kfc), a sensitive index of hydraulic conductance. In untreated control lungs, Kfc increased by 1.3- and 3.3-fold relative to baseline (7 cmH2O PIP) after ventilation with 30 and 35 cmH2O PIP. However, in lungs treated with 100 microM phenylarsine oxide (a phosphotyrosine phosphatase inhibitor), Kfc increased by 4.7- and 16.4-fold relative to baseline at these PIP values. In lungs treated with 50 microM genistein (a tyrosine kinase inhibitor), Kfc increased significantly only at 35 cmH2O PIP, and the three groups were significantly different from each other. Thus phosphotyrosine phosphatase inhibition increased the susceptibility of rat lungs to high-PIP injury, and tyrosine kinase inhibition attenuated the injury relative to the high-PIP control lungs.