Effects of ambient pressure on pulmonary nitric oxide

Pulmonary nitric oxide in astronauts before and during long-term spaceflight

Introduction: During exploratory space flights astronauts risk exposure to toxic planetary dust. Exhaled nitric oxide partial pressure (PENO) is a simple method to monitor lung health by detecting airway inflammation after dust inhalation. The turnover of NO in the lungs is dependent on several factors which will be altered during planetary exploration such as gravity (G) and gas density. To investigate the impacts of these factors on normal PENO, we took measurements before and during a stay at the International Space Station, at both normal and reduced atmospheric pressures. We expected stable PENO levels during the preflight and inflight periods, with lower values inflight. With reduced pressure we expected no net changes of PENO. Material and methods: Ten astronauts were studied during the pre-flight (1 G) and inflight (µG) periods at normal pressure [1.0 ata (atmospheres absolute)], with six of them also monitored at reduced (0.7 ata) pressure and gas density. The average observation period was from 191 days before launch until 105 days after launch. PENO was measured together with estimates of alveolar NO and the airway contribution to the exhaled NO flux. Results: The levels of PENO at 50 mL/s (PENO50) were not stable during the preflight and inflight periods respectively but decreased with time (p = 0.0284) at a rate of 0.55 (0.24) [mean (SD)] mPa per 180 days throughout the observation period, so that there was a significant difference (p < 0.01, N = 10) between gravity conditions. Thus, PENO50 averaged 2.28 (0.70) mPa at 1 G and 1.65 (0.51) mPa during µG (-27%). Reduced atmospheric pressure had no net impact on PENO50 but increased the airway contribution to exhaled NO. Discussion: The time courses of PENO50 suggest an initial airway inflammation, which gradually subsided. Our previous hypothesis of an increased uptake of NO to the blood by means of an expanded gas-blood interface in µG leading to decreased PENO50 is neither supported nor contradicted by the present findings. Baseline PENO50 values for lung health monitoring in astronauts should be obtained not only on ground but also during the relevant gravity conditions and before the possibility of inhaling toxic planetary dust.

Perioperative Hyperoxyphobia: Justified or Not? Benefits and Harms of Hyperoxia during Surgery

The use of an inspiratory oxygen fraction of 0.80 during surgery is a topic of ongoing debate. Opponents claim that increased oxidative stress, atelectasis, and impaired oxygen delivery due to hyperoxic vasoconstriction are detrimental. Proponents point to the beneficial effects on the incidence of surgical site infections and postoperative nausea and vomiting. Also, hyperoxygenation is thought to extend the safety margin in case of acute intraoperative emergencies. This review provides a comprehensive risk-benefit analysis for the use of perioperative hyperoxia in noncritically ill adults based on clinical evidence and supported by physiological deduction where needed. Data from the field of hyperbaric medicine, as a model of extreme hyperoxygenation, are extrapolated to the perioperative setting. We ultimately conclude that current evidence is in favour of hyperoxia in noncritically ill intubated adult surgical patients.

Exhaled nitric oxide is associated with postnatal adaptation to hypoxia in Tibetan and non-Tibetan newborn infants

AIM

This Chinese study assessed partial pressure of exhaled nitric oxide (PeNO) in healthy Tibetan and non-Tibetan newborn infants born at a very high altitude.

METHODS

Full-term Tibetan and non-Tibetan neonates born in Lhasa, 3658 metres above sea level, were compared to non-Tibetan neonates born in Kunming (1891 m) and Huai'an (16 m). The chemiluminiscence technique was used to measure the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide during spontaneous tidal breathing and this was then converted to partial pressure of exhaled nitric oxide (PeNO).

RESULTS

In their first week, Tibetan and non-Tibetan neonates born in Lhasa had persistently higher PeNO levels than non-Tibetan neonates born in Kunming and Huai'an, which was further verified by partial pressure of inspired oxygen adjustment. However, the non-Tibetans born in Lhasa required short-term oxygen therapy to improve their early postnatal oxygenation. The temporal changes of PeNO and cardio-respiratory function measurements demonstrated that Tibetan and non-Tibetan newborns in Lhasa initially needed to adapt to attain homoeostasis in oxygenation and gas exchange.

CONCLUSION

Tibetan and non-Tibetan newborn infants living at the same high altitude demonstrated comparable PeNO levels during postnatal adaptation to hypobaric hypoxia, which warrants further investigation of the mechanism of endogenous nitric oxide and hypoxic tolerance.

Effects of hyperbaric oxygen on nitric oxide generation in humans

BACKGROUND

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) has been suggested to affect nitric oxide (NO) generation in humans. Specific NO synthases (NOSs) use L-arginine and molecular oxygen to produce NO but this signaling radical may also be formed by serial reduction of the inorganic anions nitrate and nitrite. Interestingly, commensal facultative anaerobic bacteria in the oral cavity are necessary for the first step to reduce nitrate to nitrite. The nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway is greatly potentiated by hypoxia and low pH in contrast to classical NOS-dependent NO generation. We investigated the effects of HBO2 on NO generation in healthy subjects including orally and nasally exhaled NO, plasma and salivary nitrate and nitrite as well as plasma cGMP and plasma citrulline/arginine ratio. In addition, we also conducted in-vitro experiments in order to investigate the effects of hyperoxia on nitrate/nitrite metabolism and NO generation by oral bacteria.

METHODS

Two separate HBO2 experiments were performed. In a cross-over experiment (EXP1) subjects breathed air at 130 kPa (control) or oxygen at 250 kPa for 100 minutes and parameters were measured before and after exposure. In experiment 2 (EXP 2) measurements were performed also during HBO2 at 250 kPa for 110 minutes.

RESULTS

HBO2 acutely reduced orally and nasally exhaled NO by 30% and 16%, respectively. There was a marked decrease in salivary nitrite/nitrate ratio during and after HBO2, indicating a reduced bacterial conversion of nitrate to nitrite and NO. This was supported by in vitro experiments with oral bacteria showing that hyperoxia inhibited bacterial nitrate and nitrite reduction leading to reduced NO generation. Plasma nitrate was unaffected by HBO2 while plasma nitrite was reduced during HBO2 treatment. In contrast, plasma cGMP increased during HBO2 as did citrulline/arginine ratio after treatment and control.

CONCLUSION

HBO2-exposure in humans affects NO generation in the airways and systemically differently. These data suggest that the individual NOSs as well as the nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway do not respond in a similar way to HBO2.

Ventilation, oxidative stress, and nitric oxide in hypobaric versus normobaric hypoxia

PURPOSE

Slight differences in physiological responses and nitric oxide (NO) have been reported at rest between hypobaric hypoxia (HH) and normobaric hypoxia (NH) during short exposure.Our study reports NO and oxidative stress at rest and physiological responses during moderate exercise in HH versus NH.

METHODS

Ten subjects were randomly exposed for 24 h to HH (3000 m; FIO2, 20.9%; BP, 530 ± 6 mm Hg) or to NH (FIO2, 14.7%; BP, 720 ± 1 mm Hg). Before and every 8 h during the hypoxic exposures, pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2), HR, and gas exchanges were measured during a 6-min submaximal cycling exercise. At rest, the partial pressure of exhaled NO, blood nitrate and nitrite (NOx), plasma levels of oxidative stress, and pH levels were additionally measured.

RESULTS

During exercise, minute ventilation was lower in HH compared with NH (-13% after 8 h, P < 0.05). End-tidal CO2 pressure was lower (P < 0.01) than PRE both in HH and NH but decreased less in HH than that in NH (-25% vs. -37%, P < 0.05).At rest, exhaled NO and NOx decreased in HH (-46% and -36% after 24 h, respectively, P < 0.05) whereas stable in NH. By contrast, oxidative stress was higher in HH than that in NH after 24 h (P < 0.05). The plasma pH level was stable in HH but increased in NH (P < 0.01). When compared with prenormoxic values, SpO2, HR, oxygen consumption, breathing frequency, and end-tidal O2 pressure showed similar changes in HH and NH.

CONCLUSION

Lower ventilatory responses to a similar hypoxic stimulus during rest and exercise in HH versus NH were sustained for 24 h and associated with lower plasma pH level, exaggerated oxidative stress, and impaired NO bioavailability.