The regulation of the general circulation rate in man

A century of exercise physiology: concepts that ignited the study of human thermoregulation. Part 3: Heat and cold tolerance during exercise

In this third installment of our four-part historical series, we evaluate contributions that shaped our understanding of heat and cold stress during occupational and athletic pursuits. Our first topic concerns how we tolerate, and sometimes fail to tolerate, exercise-heat stress. By 1900, physical activity with clothing- and climate-induced evaporative impediments led to an extraordinarily high incidence of heat stroke within the military. Fortunately, deep-body temperatures > 40 °C were not always fatal. Thirty years later, water immersion and patient treatments mimicking sweat evaporation were found to be effective, with the adage of cool first, transport later being adopted. We gradually acquired an understanding of thermoeffector function during heat storage, and learned about challenges to other regulatory mechanisms. In our second topic, we explore cold tolerance and intolerance. By the 1930s, hypothermia was known to reduce cutaneous circulation, particularly at the extremities, conserving body heat. Cold-induced vasodilatation hindered heat conservation, but it was protective. Increased metabolic heat production followed, driven by shivering and non-shivering thermogenesis, even during exercise and work. Physical endurance and shivering could both be compromised by hypoglycaemia. Later, treatments for hypothermia and cold injuries were refined, and the thermal after-drop was explained. In our final topic, we critique the numerous indices developed in attempts to numerically rate hot and cold stresses. The criteria for an effective thermal stress index were established by the 1930s. However, few indices satisfied those requirements, either then or now, and the surviving indices, including the unvalidated Wet-Bulb Globe-Thermometer index, do not fully predict thermal strain.

A century of exercise physiology: concepts that ignited the study of human thermoregulation. Part 1: Foundational principles and theories of regulation

This contribution is the first of a four-part, historical series encompassing foundational principles, mechanistic hypotheses and supported facts concerning human thermoregulation during athletic and occupational pursuits, as understood 100 years ago and now. Herein, the emphasis is upon the physical and physiological principles underlying thermoregulation, the goal of which is thermal homeostasis (homeothermy). As one of many homeostatic processes affected by exercise, thermoregulation shares, and competes for, physiological resources. The impact of that sharing is revealed through the physiological measurements that we take (Part 2), in the physiological responses to the thermal stresses to which we are exposed (Part 3) and in the adaptations that increase our tolerance to those stresses (Part 4). Exercising muscles impose our most-powerful heat stress, and the physiological avenues for redistributing heat, and for balancing heat exchange with the environment, must adhere to the laws of physics. The first principles of internal and external heat exchange were established before 1900, yet their full significance is not always recognised. Those physiological processes are governed by a thermoregulatory centre, which employs feedback and feedforward control, and which functions as far more than a thermostat with a set-point, as once was thought. The hypothalamus, today established firmly as the neural seat of thermoregulation, does not regulate deep-body temperature alone, but an integrated temperature to which thermoreceptors from all over the body contribute, including the skin and probably the muscles. No work factor needs to be invoked to explain how body temperature is stabilised during exercise.

[Anesthesia in thoracic surgery]

Thoracic surgery represents a special challenge for anesthesia and requires a high level of human and material resources. Accurate knowledge of the pathophysiology is essential for selection of the anesthetic procedure, the separation of the lungs, monitoring and treatment of hemodynamics as well as for postoperative follow-up care. The increasing number of thoracic interventions and patients who are often suffering from complex diseases require close interdisciplinary cooperation between surgeons, anesthesiologists and intensive care specialists. In addition to the anesthetic techniques particular attention must be paid to the prevention of perioperative complications that can have a relevant effect on patient outcome. In particular hypoxemia during one-lung ventilation influences postoperative morbidity and mortality. Protective pulmonary ventilation strategies play an important role in prevention of postoperative acute lung injury.

Accuracy of feedback-controlled oxygen delivery into a closed anaesthesia circuit for measurement of oxygen consumption

BACKGROUND

Oxygen consumption (V*O2) is rarely measured during anaesthesia, probably because of technical difficulties. Theoretically, oxygen delivery into a closed anaesthesia circuit (V*O2-PF; PhysioFlex Draeger Medical Company, Germany) should measure V*O2. We aimed to measure V*O2-PF in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

Three sets of experiments were performed. V*O2-PF was assessed with five values of V*O2 (0-300 ml min(-1)) simulated by a calibrated lung model (V*O2-Model) at five values of FIO2 (0.25-0.85). The time taken for V*O2-PF to respond to changes in V*O2-Model gave a measure of dynamic performance. In six healthy anaesthetized dogs we compared V*O2-PF with V*O2 measured by the Fick method (V*O2-Fick) during ventilation with nine values of FIO2 (0.21-1.00). V*O2-PF and V*O2-Fick were also compared in three dogs when V*O2 was changed pharmacologically [102 (SD 14), 121 (17) and 200 (57) ml min(-1)]. In patients during surgery, we measured V*O2-PF and V*O2-Fick simultaneously after induction of anaesthesia (n=21) and during surgery (n=17) (FIO2 0.3-0.5).

RESULTS

Compared with V*O2-Model, V*O2-PF values varied from time to time so that averaging over 10 min is recommended. Furthermore, at an FIO2 >0.8, V*O2-PF always overestimated V*O2. With FIO2 <0.8, averaged V*O2-PF corresponded to V*O2-Model and adapted rapidly to changes. Averaged V*O2-PF also corresponded to V*O2-Fick in dogs at FIO2 <0.8. V*O2 measured by the two methods gave similar results when V*O2 was changed pharmacologically. In contrast, V*O2-PF systematically overestimated V*O2-Fick in patients by 52 (SD 40) ml min-1 and this bias increased with smaller arteriovenous differences in oxygen content.

CONCLUSION

V*O2-PF measures V*O2 adequately within specific conditions.

Pulmonary gas exchange during intermittent ventilation in the American alligator

The present study characterized pulmonary gas exchange in the American alligator, Alligator mississipiensis during ventilation and apnea at a body temperature (Tb) of 25 degrees C. Pulmonary gas exchange parameters were measured on a breath-by-breath basis utilizing a computer-assisted data acquisition system. In addition, paired blood samples were analyzed from left and right atrium during ventilation and voluntary apneas (1, 2, 5 and 10 min). Measurements of lung PO2 and PCO2 indicated that as apnea progressed, CO2 flux into the lung decreased rapidly while O2 was continuously removed at a constant and steady rate. The reduction in VCO2 resulted in a decrease in R (less than 0.4). Blood gas measurements indicated that the pulmonary arterial-pulmonary venous PCO2 difference, (Ppa-Ppv)CO2 was 4.9 +/- 0.9 mmHg during ventilation, decreased and became negative within 2 min of apnea, reaching -3.9 +/- 0.6 mmHg after 10 min. It is postulated that during apnea the Haldane effect accounts for both the blood gas behavior across the lung and insures a continued CO2 flux into the lung during apnea.

Biology as social theory: John Scott Haldane and physiological regulation

During the first forty years of this century, the concept of a living organism was discussed widely and publicly by biologists and philosophers. Two questions in particular excited discussion. In what ways should organisms be considered different from or the same as dead matter? And what can we learn about the nature of human society by regarding it as analogous to a living organism? Inevitably, these questions were closely related; the conclusions to be drawn about the social organism would depend upon the particular properties attributed to the biological organism. In more recent years, discussion of these issues has largely been in abeyance, as biologists have with-drawn from debate over social policy into a more remote academia. A few biologists who still see their work as relevant to a wider social agenda have continued to treat the nature of life as a contentious issue. But the focus of interest has shifted away from the organismic analogy, which concerns the organization of society as a whole, to issues like sociobiology and evolutionary theory, which emphasize social differentiation and the treatment of out-groups and minorities.

Microprocessor-controlled mixing system for rebreathing equilibration

A simple, economic, and accurate microprocessor system for the determination of mixed venous PCO2 has been described. Through the automatic gas mixing system, it is possible to facilitate the use of the rebreathing equilibration technique for the purpose of cardiac output calculations. It was also possible to flush the rebreathing bag within a brief time, providing the investigator with an automatic three-way valve driven by a solenoid.

Cerebral hypoxia from bicarbonate infusion in diabetic acidosis

To study the delivery of oxygen to the cerebral tissue during metabolic acidosis and its therapy with bicarbonate (NaHCO3), oxygen partial pressure of the cisternal fluid was measured in 12 experiments of HCl-induced acidemia and eight experiments of diabetic ketoacidosis in 16 unanesthetized dogs. Full correction of acidosis with bicarbonate caused a significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in Pcsf 2: in the HCl acidotic dogs, Pcsfo2 decreased from 53.9 +/- 2.2 torr to 45.9 +/- 2.3 torr within one hour; in the ketoacidotic dogs, Pcsfo2 decreased for 48.5 +/- 5.4 torr to 26.7 +/- 6.6 torr within six hours. In the ketoacidotic dogs not treated with bicarbonate, there was no significant change in Pcsfo2. An inverse relationship (P less than 0.01) between the cisternal lactic acid level and the cisternal PO2 was also observed. It is concluded that NaHCO3 therapy in diabetic ketoacidosis decreases the cerebral O2 availability and that cerebral hypoxia contributes to the brain dysfunction encountered after the initiation of such therapy in acidemia.

CO2 dissociation curves of oxygenated whole blood obtained at rest and in exercise

In vitro CO2 dissociation curves for oxygenated whole blood were determined in 19 healthy male subjects at rest and during submaximal and maximal bicycle work. Hemoglobin concentration and blood lactate increased with increasing work load and accordingly buffer value of the whole blood increased while bicarbonate and Base Excess (BE) decreased, resulting in a downward shift of the CO2 dissociation curve during exercise. Despite the marked increase in buffer values of the blood, the slopes of the CO2 dissociation curves during exercise were found to be about the same as those obtained at rest. It was inferred that the increasing effect of increased buffer value, on the dissociation slope, was essentially compensated by the decreasing effect of diminished bicarbonate content. The advantages of this relatively constant CO2 dissociation slope for the indirect measurement of cardiac output by the Fick principle are discussed.

Evaluation of the CO2 rebreathing cardiac output method in seriously ill patients

The CO2 rebreathing cardiac output method is a totally noninvasive Fick procedure needing validation in various disease states to become clinically applicable. Simultaneous measurements of cardiac output by CO2 rebreathing and dye-dilution or direct Fick techniques were performed in 53 patients. In nine patients with pulmonary disease rebreathing cardiac output averaged 4.85 L/min compared to 5.18 L/min by dye-dilution or Fick (r = 0.16). In 14 instances of acute myocardial infarction cardiac output was 5.53 L/min by rebreathing and 5.87 L/min by dye-dilution (r = 0.95), while in nine shock cases it averaged 3.98 L/min by dye-dilution or Fick and 3.75 L/min by CO2 rebreathing (r = 0.94). In five heart failure cases with mitral insufficiency, which may distort dye durves, correlation between standard and rebreathing methods was r = 0.09, but in 16 cases without mitral regurgitation, r = 0.89. Acute interventions in ten patients increased dye-dilution cardiac output by 0.92 L/min and rebreathing outputs by 0.60 L/min (r = 0.87). The data suggest that the CO2 rebreathing cardiac output method may be useful in the CCU-MICU setting.

Effect of beta-adrenergic blockade with alprenolol on ST-segment depression and circulatory dynamics during exercise in patients with effort angina

1. Nine subjects with severe coronary artery disease were studied during graded "sprint" and "steady-state" exercise before and after intravenous administration of the beta-receptor antagonist alprenolol. During "sprint" workload was increased every minute until maximum work capacity (Wmax) was reached. "Steady-state" exercise was performed at work rates of 0.250, 0.50, and 0.75 of each subject's sprint Wmax. Variables measured included ST-segment depression, changes in heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory gas exchange, and arterial blood composition. Cardiac output (indirect Fick) was measured during "steady-state" exercise. 2. Alprenolol did not alter Wmax during "sprint" but reduced the incidence of angina in both types of exercise. After the drug work capacity was limited by symptoms and signs suggestive of mild left ventricular failure. 3. The relationship between workload (normalized in terms of Wmax) and ST-segment depression was curvilinear. Under control conditions a given rate of work during "steady-state" exercise was assocaited with more marked ST-segment depression than during "sprint". Alprenolol displaced the work-ST-depression curve to the right in each type of exercise; now a given rate of work produced similar ST-depressing during "steady-state" and "sprint" exercise. 4. Alprenolol attentuated the exercise tachycardia during both types of exercise. Cardiac output was lower in "steady-state" exercise after the drug than under control conditions. Metabolic effects included significant reduction in body oxygen consumption after alpreprenolol at 0.25 Wmax and diminished arterial lactate at 0.75 Wmax. The beneficial effects of the drug thus appeared to involve not only cardiac but peripheral effects on beta receptors. 5. Before alprenolol cardiac output was relatively fixed at all workloads, but after the drug there was a work-related rise in output in five out of nine subjects. Comparison with data in normal subjects suggested that in anginal subjects cardiac output at low "steady-state" workloads was inappropriately high.

The variability of the human striate cortex

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A. Effect of exercise on muscle blood blow in normal and sympathectomized limbs. B. Collateral circulation before and after sympathectomy

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