Imaging-Assisted Single-Photon Doppler-Free Laser Spectroscopy and the Ionization Energy of Metastable Triplet Helium

Skimmed supersonic beams provide intense, cold, collision-free samples of atoms and molecules and are one of the most widely used tools in atomic and molecular laser spectroscopy. High-resolution optical spectra are typically recorded in a perpendicular arrangement of laser and supersonic beams to minimize Doppler broadening. Typical Doppler widths are nevertheless limited to tens of MHz by the residual transverse-velocity distribution in the gas-expansion cones. We present an imaging method to overcome this limitation that exploits the correlation between the positions of the atoms and molecules in the supersonic expansion and their transverse velocities, and thus their Doppler shifts. With the example of spectra of (1s)(np) ^{3}P_{0-2}←(1s)(2s) ^{3}S_{1} transitions to high Rydberg states of metastable triplet He, we demonstrate the suppression of the residual Doppler broadening and a reduction of the full linewidths at half maximum to only about 1 MHz in the UV. Using a retroreflection arrangement for the laser beam and a cross-correlation method, we determine Doppler-free spectra without any signal loss from the selection, by imaging, of atoms within ultranarrow transverse-velocity classes. As an illustration, we determine the ionization energy of triplet metastable He and confirm the significant discrepancy between recent experimental [G. Clausen et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 093001 (2021)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.127.093001] and high-level theoretical [V. Patkós et al., Phys. Rev. A 103, 042809 (2021)PLRAAN2469-992610.1103/PhysRevA.103.042809] values of this quantity.

Long-range model of vibrational autoionization in core-nonpenetrating Rydberg states of NO

In high orbital angular momentum (ℓ ≥ 3) Rydberg states, the centrifugal barrier hinders the close approach of the Rydberg electron to the ion-core. As a result, these core-nonpenetrating Rydberg states can be well described by a simplified model in which the Rydberg electron is only weakly perturbed by the long-range electric properties (i.e., multipole moments and polarizabilities) of the ion-core. We have used a long-range model to describe the vibrational autoionization dynamics of high-ℓ Rydberg states of nitric oxide (NO). In particular, our model explains the extensive angular momentum exchange between the ion-core and the Rydberg electron that had been previously observed in vibrational autoionization of f (ℓ = 3) Rydberg states. These results shed light on a long-standing mechanistic question around these previous observations and support a direct, vibrational mechanism of autoionization over an indirect, predissociation-mediated mechanism. In addition, our model correctly predicts newly measured total decay rates of g (ℓ = 4) Rydberg states because for ℓ ≥ 4, the non-radiative decay is dominated by autoionization rather than predissociation. We examine the predicted NO⁺ ion rotational state distributions generated by vibrational autoionization of g states and discuss applications of our model to achieve quantum state selection in the production of molecular ions.

Ionization Energy of the Metastable 2 ^{1}S_{0} State of ^{4}He from Rydberg-Series Extrapolation

In a recent breakthrough in first-principles calculations of two-electron systems, Patkóś, Yerokhin, and Pachucki [Phys. Rev. A 103, 042809 (2021)PLRAAN2469-992610.1103/PhysRevA.103.042809] have performed the first complete calculation of the Lamb shift of the helium 2 ^{3}S_{1} and 2 ^{3}P_{J} triplet states up to the term in α^{7}m. Whereas their theoretical result of the frequency of the 2 ^{3}P←2 ^{3}S transition perfectly agrees with the experimental value, a more than 10σ discrepancy was identified for the 3 ^{3}D←2 ^{3}S and 3 ^{3}D←2 ^{3}P transitions, which hinders the determination of the He^{2+} charge radius from atomic spectroscopy. We present here a new measurement of the ionization energy of the 2 ^{1}S_{0} state of He [960 332 040.491(32) MHz] which we use in combination with the 2 ^{3}S_{1}←2 ^{1}S_{0} interval measured by Rengelink et al. [Nat. Phys. 14, 1132 (2018).NPAHAX1745-247310.1038/s41567-018-0242-5] and the 2 ^{3}P←2 ^{3}S_{1} interval measured by Zheng et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 119, 263002 (2017)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.119.263002] and Cancio Pastor et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 023001 (2004)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.92.023001] to derive experimental ionization energies of the 2 ^{3}S_{1} state [1152 842 742.640(32) MHz] and the 2 ^{3}P centroid energy [876 106 247.025(39) MHz]. These values reveal disagreements with the α^{7}m Lamb shift prediction by 6.5σ and 10σ, respectively, and support the suggestion by Patkóš et al. of an unknown theoretical contribution to the Lamb shifts of the 2 ^{3}S and 2 ^{3}P states of He.

SI-traceable frequency dissemination at 1572.06 nm in a stabilized fiber network with ring topology

Frequency dissemination in phase-stabilized optical fiber networks for metrological frequency comparisons and precision measurements are promising candidates to overcome the limitations imposed by satellite techniques. However, in an architecture shared with telecommunication data traffic, network constraints restrict the availability of dedicated channels in the commonly-used C-band. Here, we demonstrate the dissemination of an SI-traceable ultrastable optical frequency in the L-band over a 456 km fiber network with ring topology, in which data traffic occupies the full C-band. We characterize the optical phase noise and evaluate a link instability of 4.7 × 10^-16 at 1 s and 3.8 × 10^-19 at 2000 s integration time, and a link accuracy of 2 × 10^-18. We demonstrate the application of the disseminated frequency by establishing the SI-traceability of a laser in a remote laboratory. Finally, we show that our metrological frequency does not interfere with data traffic in the telecommunication channels. Our approach combines an unconventional spectral choice in the telecommunication L-band with established frequency-stabilization techniques, providing a novel, cost-effective solution for ultrastable frequency-comparison and dissemination, and may contribute to a foundation of a world-wide metrological network.

Longevity of anterior resin-bonded bridges: survival rates of two tooth preparation designs

BACKGROUND

Significant developments have occurred in the design of resin-bonded bridges (RBB) over the past two decades. They are commonly used as an alternative treatment option for a single missing tooth. The longevity of these bridges needs to be further investigated to evaluate long-term outcomes for this option to remain relevant.

METHODS

A cohort of patients who received anterior resin-bonded bridges (ARBB) over two decades was studied retrospectively. Longevity of 206 ARBB was assessed using Kaplan-Meier probability estimates. The two modified tooth preparation designs investigated were: (A) mesial and distal vertical grooves only; and (B) one proximal groove adjacent to the pontic and two palatal grooves. Age and gender of the patient cohort were also recorded.

RESULTS

Overall survival rate of ARBB was 98% at 5 years, 97.2% at 10 years, and 95.1% from 12 years till 21 years. Survival curves showed minor differences when compared for the two designs, age groups and gender of ARBB recipients. Differences in the proportion of surviving bridges for design A (95.96%) and design B (98.13%) were not statistically significant (Fisher's exact test).

CONCLUSIONS

Anterior RBB with described tooth preparation designs demonstrate a high survival rate.

Dermal uptake of nicotine from air and clothing: Experimental verification

This study aims to elucidate in greater detail the dermal uptake of nicotine from air or from nicotine-exposed clothes, which was demonstrated recently in a preliminary study. Six non-smoking participants were exposed to gaseous nicotine (between 236 and 304 μg/m³ ) over 5 hours while breathing clean air through a hood. Four of the participants wore only shorts and 2 wore a set of clean clothes. One week later, 2 of the bare-skinned participants were again exposed in the chamber, but they showered immediately after exposure instead of the following morning. The 2 participants who wore clean clothes on week 1 were now exposed wearing a set of clothes that had been exposed to nicotine. All urine was collected for 84 hours after exposure and analyzed for nicotine and its metabolites, cotinine and 3OH-cotinine. All participants except those wearing fresh clothes excreted substantial amounts of biomarkers, comparable to levels expected from inhalation intake. Uptake for 1 participant wearing exposed clothes exceeded estimated intake via inhalation by >50%. Biomarker excretion continued during the entire urine collection period, indicating that nicotine accumulates in the skin and is released over several days. Absorbed nicotine was significantly lower after showering in 1 subject but not the other. Differences in the normalized uptakes and in the excretion patterns were observed among the participants. The observed cotinine half-lives suggest that non-smokers exposed to airborne nicotine may receive a substantial fraction through the dermal pathway. Washing skin and clothes exposed to nicotine may meaningfully decrease exposure.

Measurements of dermal uptake of nicotine directly from air and clothing

In this preliminary study, we have investigated whether dermal uptake of nicotine directly from air or indirectly from clothing can be a meaningful exposure pathway. Two participants wearing only shorts and a third participant wearing clean cotton clothes were exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), generated by mechanically "smoking" cigarettes, for three hours in a chamber while breathing clean air from head-enveloping hoods. The average nicotine concentration (420 μg/m³ ) was comparable to the highest levels reported for smoking sections of pubs. Urine samples were collected immediately before exposure and 60 hour post-exposure for bare-skinned participants. For the clothed participant, post-exposure urine samples were collected for 24 hour. This participant then entered the chamber for another three-hour exposure wearing a hood and clothes, including a shirt that had been exposed for five days to elevated nicotine levels. The urine samples were analyzed for nicotine and two metabolites-cotinine and 3OH-cotinine. Peak urinary cotinine and 3OH-cotinine concentrations for the bare-skinned participants were comparable to levels measured among non-smokers in hospitality environments before smoking bans. The amount of dermally absorbed nicotine for each bare-skinned participant was conservatively estimated at 570 μg, but may have been larger. For the participant wearing clean clothes, uptake was ~20 μg, and while wearing a shirt previously exposed to nicotine, uptake was ~80 μg. This study demonstrates meaningful dermal uptake of nicotine directly from air or from nicotine-exposed clothes. The findings are especially relevant for children in homes with smoking or vaping.

Potentially harmful secondary metabolites produced by indoor Chaetomium species on artificially and naturally contaminated building materials

The presence of the fungal genus Chaetomium and its secondary metabolites in indoor environments is suspected to have a negative impact on human health and well-being. About 200 metabolites have been currently described from Chaetomium spp., but only the bioactive compound group, chaetoglobosins, have been screened for and thus detected in buildings. In this study, we used a liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry approach to screen both artificially and naturally infected building materials for all the Chaetomium metabolites described in the literature. Pure agar cultures were also investigated to establish differences between metabolite production in vitro and on building materials as well as in comparison with non-indoor reference strains. On building materials, six different chaetoglobosins were detected in total concentrations of up to 950 mg/m² from Chaetomium globosum along with three different chaetoviridins/chaetomugilins in concentrations up to 200 mg/m² . Indoor Chaetomium spp. preferred wood-based materials over gypsum, both in terms of growth rate and metabolite production. Cochliodones were detected for the first time on all building materials infected by both C. globosum and Chaetomium elatum and are thus candidates as Chaetomium biomarkers. No sterigmatocystin was produced by Chaetomium spp. from indoor environment.

Associations between selected allergens, phthalates, nicotine, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and bedroom ventilation and clinically confirmed asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and atopic dermatitis in preschool children

Previous studies, often using data from questionnaires, have reported associations between various characteristics of indoor environments and allergic disease. The aim of this study has been to investigate possible associations between objectively assessed indoor environmental factors and clinically confirmed asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and atopic dermatitis. The study is a cross-sectional case-control study of 500 children aged 3-5 years from Odense, Denmark. The 200 cases had at least two parentally reported allergic diseases, while the 300 controls were randomly selected from 2835 participating families. A single physician conducted clinical examinations of all 500 children. Children from the initially random control group with clinically confirmed allergic disease were subsequently excluded from the control group and admitted in the case group, leaving 242 in the healthy control group. For most children, specific IgE's against various allergens were determined. In parallel, dust samples were collected and air change rates were measured in the children's bedrooms. The dust samples were analyzed for phthalate esters, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), nicotine, and various allergens. Among children diagnosed with asthma, concentrations of nicotine were higher (P < 0.05) and cat allergens were lower (P < 0.05) compared with the healthy controls; air change rates were lower for those sensitized (specific IgE+) compared with those not sensitized (specific IgE-, P < 0.05); and dust mite allergens were higher for specific IgE+ cases compared with healthy controls (P < 0.05). When disease status was based solely on questionnaire responses (as opposed to physician diagnosis), significant associations were found between di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and dog allergens in dust and current wheeze.

Children's health and its association with indoor environments in Danish homes and daycare centres - methods

The principle objective of the Danish research program 'Indoor Environment and Children's Health' (IECH) was to explore associations between various exposures that children experience in their indoor environments (specifically their homes and daycare centers) and their well-being and health. The targeted health endpoints were allergy, asthma, and certain respiratory symptoms. The study was designed with two stages. In the first stage, a questionnaire survey was distributed to more than 17,000 families with children between the ages of 1 and 5. The questionnaire focused on the children's health and the environments within the homes they inhabited and daycare facilities they attended. More than 11,000 questionnaires were returned. In the second stage, a subsample of 500 children was selected for more detailed studies, including an extensive set of measurements in their homes and daycare centers and a clinical examination; all clinical examinations were carried out by the same physician. In this study, the methods used for data collection within the IECH research program are presented and discussed. Furthermore, initial findings are presented regarding descriptors of the study population and selected characteristics of the children's dwellings and daycare centers.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

This study outlines methods that might be followed by future investigators conducting large-scale field studies of potential connections between various indoor environmental factors and selected health endpoints. Of particular note are (i) the two-stage design - a broad questionnaire-based survey followed by a more intensive set of measurements among a subset of participants who have been selected based on their responses to the questionnaire; (ii) the case-base approach utilized in the stage 2 in contrast to the more commonly used case-control approach; (iii) the inclusion of the children's daycare environment when conducting intensive sampling to more fully capture the children's total indoor exposure; and (iv) all clinical examinations conducted by the same physician. We recognize that future investigators are unlikely to fully duplicate the methods outlined in this study, but we hope that it provides a useful starting point in terms of factors that might be considered when designing such a study.

Reflections on the state of research: indoor environmental quality

More than 30 years after the First International Indoor Climate Symposium, ten researchers from the USA, Slovakia, Sweden, and Denmark gathered to review the current status of indoor environmental research. We initiated our review with discussions during the 1-day meeting and followed that with parallel research and writing efforts culminating with internal review and revision cycles. In this paper, we present our choices for the most important research findings on indoor environmental quality from the past three decades followed by a discussion of the most important research questions in our field today. We then continue with a discussion on whether there are research areas for which we can 'close the book' and say that we already know what is needed. Finally, we discuss whether we can maintain our identity in the future or it is time to team up with new partners.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

In the early years of this field, the accumulated knowledge was small and it was possible for any researcher to acquire a complete understanding. To do so has become impossible today as what we know has grown to exceed the learning capacity of any person. These circumstances challenge us to work collectively to synthesize what we do know and to define clearly what remains to be learned. If we fail to do these things well, we risk repeating research without memory, an inefficiency that we cannot afford.

Sensory pollution from bag filters, carbon filters and combinations

Used ventilation filters are a major source of sensory pollutants in air handling systems. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the net effect that different combinations of filters had on perceived air quality after 5 months of continuous filtration of outdoor suburban air. A panel of 32 subjects assessed different sets of used filters and identical sets consisting of new filters. Additionally, filter weights and pressure drops were measured at the beginning and end of the operation period. The filter sets included single EU5 and EU7 fiberglass filters, an EU7 filter protected by an upstream pre-filter (changed monthly), an EU7 filter protected by an upstream activated carbon (AC) filter, and EU7 filters with an AC filter either downstream or both upstream and downstream. In addition, two types of stand-alone combination filters were evaluated: a bag-type fiberglass filter that contained AC and a synthetic fiber cartridge filter that contained AC. Air that had passed through used filters was most acceptable for those sets in which an AC filter was used downstream of the particle filter. Comparable air quality was achieved with the stand-alone bag filter that contained AC. Furthermore, its pressure drop changed very little during the 5 months of service, and it had the added benefit of removing a large fraction of ozone from the airstream. If similar results are obtained over a wider variety of soiling conditions, such filters may be a viable solution to a long recognized problem.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

The present study was designed to address the emission of sensory offending pollutants from loaded ventilation filters. The goal was to find a low-polluting solution from commercially available products. The results indicate that the use of activated carbon (AC) filters downstream of fiberglass bag filters can reduce the degradation of air quality that occurs with increasing particle loading. A more practical solution, yet comparably effective, is a stand-alone particle filter that incorporates AC. In either case, further testing under a variety of conditions is recommended before making design decisions regarding the type of filters best suited to efficient building operation.

[Patient satisfaction and geriatric care - an empirical study]

Patients' satisfaction has become a central concept in quality assurance. Despite progress in research in this area is still a lack of data for geriatric patients. Referring to the consumer model, satisfaction can be described as a difference between expectations and assessed performance. The aim of this study is to analyze satisfaction among geriatric patients in an in-patient setting. A personal interview was performed 1-2 days before discharge. Patients suffering for dementia or with problems to communicate were excluded. 124 of 268 geriatric patients who were discharged in 2003 were included (inclusion rate 46.3%). 119 were willing to participate (response rate 96.0%). Respondents were between 61 and 96 years old, 39% were male and 42% had serious functional limitations at time of admission. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed three significant predictors of a combined index of satisfaction and expectations: a) quality of hotel services; b) experience of neglect; c) provision of medical information and skills. In summary, standardized personal questionnaires can provide valid and reliable data of geriatric patients. Satisfaction of elderly patients is negatively affected by neglect and positively influenced by provision of medical information and a good hotel services.

Initial studies of oxidation processes on filter surfaces and their impact on perceived air quality

Used filters can be a strong sensory pollutant source. Oxidation processes, especially those initiated by ozone, may contribute to the pollutants emitted from such filters. In the present study, ozone was added to the airstream passing through used ventilation filters. Two flow rates were examined. While the upstream ozone concentration was approximately 75 ppb, the concentrations downstream of the filter were initially 35-50% lower. However, within an hour downstream concentrations were only 5-10% lower than those upstream. These filter samples were then placed for 48 h in nitrogen, ambient air containing less than 5 ppb ozone, or ambient air at an elevated temperature. This resulted in partial regeneration of the ozone removal capability of the filter. In analogous experiments, lower ozone removal occurred when the filter samples were first ventilated for 24 h with ozone-free air before making the measurements. Samples from a new filter removed <10% of the ozone in the airstream, and removal remained relatively constant over time. In companion studies, human subjects assessed the air passing through various used filter samples. In the initial evaluation each of the four filter samples, taken from the same filter and ventilated for 24 h, were assessed to be equivalent. The next evaluation was immediately after the samples had been kept for 24 h in either nitrogen, air, air at an elevated temperature or ozone. The nitrogen-treated filter was assessed to be best, while the ozone-treated filter was assessed to be the worst. The final evaluation occurred after ambient air had passed through the 'treated' filters for 2 h. All such ventilated filters were assessed to be more acceptable than immediately after the 24-h treatments; the ozonized and air-treated filters were the most polluting of the four. Practical Implications The present paper supports previous findings that loaded ventilation filters can be significant sources of sensory pollution. Replacing a loaded filter with a new filter temporarily removes this source of pollution. However, the present study does not provide an answer to how frequently changes are needed under different conditions. The results indicate that in cases of intermittent operation of ventilation systems, the airflow through the polluted filters should be restarted in sufficient time prior to occupancy to purge odorous pollutants that have accumulated on the filter surface. Removal of ozone upstream of the particle filters may further improve perceived air quality in the space downstream of the filter bank. Future efforts related to the development and application of low-polluting filtration systems are warranted.

[Effectiveness and efficiency of stationary geriatric treatment of old and very old patients]

In this study we compared characteristics and treatment results in patients of 60 to 79 (group I, n = 682) and of 80 to 100 years of age (group II, n = 593) treated in a geriatric hospital. Neurologic diseases (mainly stroke) predominated in group I (38%), and patients with fractures in group II (53%). Diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia were less frequent in patients of group II, but overt cardial insufficiency was more frequent than in group I. While the effectiveness of geriatric treatment was identical in both groups, the efficiency-defined as progress per day-was in some parts slightly higher in group II. There are three independent variables strongly related to the decision of transfer into a nursing home: 1) Barthel Index on discharge; 2) Household-Size (living alone/living not allone); 3) Age.

Ventilation filters and indoor air quality: a review of research from the International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy

The presence of a used filter in a ventilation system can have an adverse impact on perceived air quality, SBS symptoms, and performance of office work. The present paper reviews the studies leading to this conclusion and discusses recent work that has been performed in a search for the mechanisms involved. One promising hypothesis involves chemical reactions on the surface of the collected particles in the formation of noxious compounds. Finally, a discussion on engineering solutions is presented.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Loaded particle filters provide a significant source of air pollution. To counteract this, filters should be changed frequently or an alternative method of removing particles from the air should be applied.

Impact of indoor air temperature and humidity in an office on perceived air quality, SBS symptoms and performance

Perceived air quality (PAQ), sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms and performance of office work were studied in a real office space at three levels of air temperature and humidity and two levels of ventilation rate (20 degrees C/40%, 23 degrees C/50%, 26 degrees C/60% RH at 10 l s(-1) p(-1) outside air, and 20 degrees C/40% RH at 3.5 l s(-1) p(-1) outside air). Thirty female subjects participated in the experiment. They were exposed to each environmental condition for 280 min. Thermal comfort was maintained at different thermal environments by self-adjustment of clothing. The subjects performed simulated office work throughout each exposure and repeatedly marked a set of visual-analog scales to indicate their perception of environmental conditions and of the intensity of SBS symptoms at the time. The study confirmed the previously observed impact of temperature and humidity on perceived air quality and the linear correlation between acceptability and enthalpy. The impact on perceived air quality of decreasing the ventilation rate from 10 to 3.5 l s(-1) per person could be counteracted by a decrement of temperature and humidity from 23 degrees C/50% RH to 20 degrees C/40% RH. Performance of office work was not significantly affected by indoor air temperature and humidity. However, several SBS symptoms were alleviated when the subjects worked at low levels of air temperature and humidity, which implies that a longer term exposure to low indoor air temperature and humidity might help to improve the performance of office work.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

The findings of this study indicate the importance of indoor air temperature and humidity on perceived air quality and SBS symptoms. In practice, the required ventilation rate for comfort and health should no longer be independent of indoor air temperature and humidity.

The effects of outdoor air supply rate in an office on perceived air quality, sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms and productivity

Perceived air quality, Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) symptoms and productivity were studied in a normally furnished office space (108 m3) ventilated with an outdoor airflow of 3, 10 or 30 L/s per person, corresponding to an air change rate of 0.6, 2 or 6 h-1. The temperature of 22 degrees C, the relative humidity of 40% and all other environmental parameters remained unchanged. Five groups of six female subjects were each exposed to the three ventilation rates, one group and one ventilation rate at a time. Each exposure lasted 4.6 h and took place in the afternoon. Subjects were unaware of the intervention and remained thermally neutral by adjusting their clothing. They assessed perceived air quality and SBS symptoms at intervals, and performed simulated normal office work. Increasing ventilation decreased the percentage of subjects dissatisfied with the air quality (P < 0.002) and the intensity of odour (P < 0.02), and increased the perceived freshness of air (P < 0.05). It also decreased the sensation of dryness of mouth and throat (P < 0.0006), eased difficulty in thinking clearly (P < 0.001) and made subjects feel generally better (P < 0.0001). The performance of four simulated office tasks improved monotonically with increasing ventilation rates, and the effect reached formal significance in the case of text-typing (P < 0.03). For each two-fold increase in ventilation rate, performance improved on average by 1.7%. This study shows the benefits for health, comfort and productivity of ventilation at rates well above the minimum levels prescribed in existing standards and guidelines. It confirms the results of a previous study in the same office when the indoor air quality was improved by decreasing the pollution load while the ventilation remained unchanged.

[Asthma caused by methylene-diphenyl-diisocyanate cast in a nurse]

A case of a 35 year-old female nurse without atopic disposition is presented. For one year (1990-1991), she worked in an emergency room, applying synthetic casts containing MDI 0-3 times daily. She developed rhinitis, itchy eyes and nightly wheezing, during employment in the emergency room, with subsequent serious asthma attacks in 1992 and 1996. Just before the last attack, the patient's husband had used insulation foam containing MDI. A specific bronchial provocation test was performed with MDI-based synthetic cast material. The patient developed an asthma attack after seven hours, with a 48% drop in FEV1, suggesting that MDI is the causative agent.

Perceived air quality, sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms and productivity in an office with two different pollution loads

Perceived air quality, Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) symptoms and productivity were studied in an existing office in which the air pollution level could be modified by introducing or removing a pollution source. This reversible intervention allowed the space to be classified as either non-low-polluting or low-polluting, as specified in the new European design criteria for the indoor environment CEN CR 1752 (1998). The pollution source was a 20-year-old used carpet which was introduced on a rack behind a screen so that it was invisible to the occupants. Five groups of six female subjects each were exposed to the conditions in the office twice, once with the pollution source present and once with the pollution source absent, each exposure being 265 min in the afternoon, one group at a time. They assessed the perceived air quality and SBS symptoms while performing simulated office work. The subject-rated acceptability of the perceived air quality in the office corresponded to 22% dissatisfied when the pollution source was present, and to 15% dissatisfied when the pollution source was absent. In the former condition there was a significantly increased prevalence of headaches (P = 0.04) and significantly lower levels of reported effort (p = 0.02) during the text typing and calculation tasks, both of which required a sustained level of concentration. In the text typing task, subjects worked significantly more slowly when the pollution source was present in the office (P = 0.003), typing 6.5% less text than when the pollution source was absent from the office Reducing the pollution load on indoor air proved to be an effective means of improving the comfort, health and productivity of building occupants.

Impact of temperature and humidity on chemical and sensory emissions from building materials

The chemical and sensory emissions from five building materials (carpet, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) flooring, sealant, floor varnish and wall paint) were tested under different combinations of temperature and relative humidity in the ranges 18-28 degrees C and 30-70% relative humidity (RH). The experiment was performed in a climate chamber where a specially designed test system was built to study emissions from the five materials. The test system could provide different temperatures and humidities of air around the materials, while the air, after being polluted by the emissions from the materials, could be reconditioned to 23 degrees C and 50% RH for sensory assessments. The experiment was designed to separate the direct impact of temperature and humidity on perception from the impact on sensory emission. The study found little influence of temperature on the emissions from the five materials whether expressed in chemical or sensory terms. The effect of humidity was found to be significant only for the waterborne materials--floor varnish and wall paint. Compared with the direct impact of temperature and humidity on the perception of air quality, the impact of temperature and humidity on sensory emissions from the building materials has a secondary influence on perceived air quality.

[How does subjective well-being of elderly patients during inpatient geriatric rehabilitation change?]

During rehabilitation of patients suffering from a recent hip fracture, we evaluated the development of several aspects of their subjective well-being (n = 87, age: 70 to 94)). In most cases, a deterioration of subjective well-being due to the consequences of the hip fracture could be prevented; the well-being improved in most cases. When discharged, the subjective well-being of our patients was comparable to the well-being of similar-aged people living at home.

[Method and organization of geriatric assessment]

The intention of a Geriatric Assessment (GA) is a more systematic and exact way to examine a wide range of activities of daily life. This can be achieved by the help of scientifically proved and standardized investigations which complete the medical judgment with objective and comparable results. This type of examination controls the selective observation of the investigator and makes reexamination easier. Moreover, this way of gaining information gives reliable hints about non-apparent or difficult-to-estimate risks of a patient. The methods of GA have to be adapted to different qualities of resources which will be assessed: physical resources should be assessed by standardized ways of observation; the patient's subjective well-being should be examined by standardized interviews. The standardized instruments of measurement are fairly independent from personal qualifications of the investigator.

Glomerular filtration and tubular absorption of the basic polypeptide aprotinin

The basic polypeptide aprotinin (Ap), mol. wt 6500, pI 10.5, is filtered in the glomeruli, virtually completely taken up by the proximal tubular cells and retained there for many hours. This process was studied in rats by determining the renal plasma clearance (CAp) as the amount of [125I]Ap accumulated in the kidney plus that excreted in the urine per unit of time divided by the integrated plasma concentration. In periods lasting 4-20 min after i.v. bolus injection or infusion to constant plasma concentration, CAp was 65% of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimated as kidney plus urinary clearance of [51Cr]EDTA (Ccr-EDTA). Less than 0.8% of the filtered Ap appeared in the urine. CAp varied inversely with plasma protein concentration in mg ml-1: CAp/Ccr-EDTA = 0.98-0.0058 x Ppr, corresponding to a glomerular Gibbs-Donnan distribution for a net molecular charge of +6, in agreement with the amino acid composition of Ap. CAp (kidney + urinary) was not altered by inhibiting tubular uptake of [125I]Ap by maleate or by exceeding the uptake capacity with large doses of unlabelled Ap. Neutralized Ap (malonylated) did not accumulate in the kidney, but showed a urinary clearance indistinguishable from that of [51Cr]EDTA. Both CAp and Ccr-EDTA were reduced to 0.04 ml min-1 when glomerular filtration pressure was lowered by ureteral stasis and increased Ppr (80-90 mg ml-1). These findings indicate: (1) no steric or charge restriction to filtration of Ap in the glomerular membrane, (2) the Gibbs-Donnan equilibrium should be considered when estimating glomerular sieving of charged polypeptides in intact animals (3) charge dependent tubular uptake, (4) little or no transtubular transport of intact Ap, (5) no appreciable tubular uptake of Ap from the peritubular side and (6) local renal accumulation of Ap in a period of up to 20 min may be used to estimate local glomerular filtration and/or local proximal tubular reabsorption rates. Model analysis based on the appearance of 125I in plasma, the time course of renal Ap content, and literature data on subcellular Ap distribution are consistent with two populations of endosomes, transporting Ap at widely different rates from the proximal tubular brush border to the lysosomes where breakdown occurs at a high rate.

Myogenic vasoconstriction in the rat kidney elicited by reducing perirenal pressure

Autoregulation of renal blood flow is generally believed to result from tubuloglomerular feedback and/or a vascular myogenic mechanism, but there is no consensus on the relative importance of these mechanisms. We designed an experiment in which tubuloglomerular feedback would tend to oppose a myogenic response: the denervated kidney in situ was enclosed in an airtight chamber and exposed to a 35 mmHg subatmospheric pressure for 1 to 10 minutes. Renal blood flow recorded by an electromagnetic flowmeter fell by 33% in the course of a few seconds. Renal venous concentration of inulin showed no consistent change, indicating similar reduction in glomerular filtration rate. Since urine flow also fell, it is likely that the tubular flow rate was reduced. The kidney volume expanded by 10-20%, and subcapsular interstitial fluid pressure was reduced from 6.8 to -8.6 mmHg. Arterial pressure remained unchanged, while renal venous pressure inside the chamber fell from 9.4 to 5.8 mmHg. Normalization of perirenal pressure gave rapid normalization of all parameters. Elevation of ureteral pressure attenuated or even prevented the renal blood flow reduction. Renal decapsulation or sympathetic blockade by phentolamine, or infusion of furosemide or 0.9% NaCl to inactivate tubuloglomerular feedback, did not prevent the renal blood flow reduction. We interpret the results to indicate that myogenic vasoconstriction greatly overpowered TGF and even surpassed the constriction predicted by a mathematical model based on maintenance of the preglomerular wall tension as estimated from transmural pressure.

Relative flow of blood cells, platelets, and microspheres in outer and inner renal cortex

Blood platelets (Pl) may attain a relatively high marginal concentration in arterioles, perhaps also in arteries. Along a renal interlobular artery, blood passes several successive arterioles, each arteriole receiving a small flow fraction from a narrow zone adjacent to the artery wall. Thus, in theory, the Pl concentration should cumulatively decrease as the blood approaches the outer cortex, contrary to the concentration of red and white blood cells (RBC and WBC). This was tested by assessing the concentrations of these blood elements, and for comparison, the concentrations of 0.3-, 1.8- and 3.5-micron microspheres (MS), in serial blood samples from veins separately draining the outer and inner cortex in cat kidney. The outer-to-inner cortical concentration ratio was 1.28 for WBC, 1.04 for RBC, and 0.75 for Pl, confirming the working hypothesis. The RBC demargination corresponded to that of MS smaller than 1.8 micron, the demargination of WBC to that of MS larger than 3.5 micron. In contrast to Pl the even smaller 0.3-micron MS were not marginated. Thus, the margination of platelets may not be due merely to their small size.

The double-priming paradigm: a tool for analyzing the functional significance of endogenous event-related brain potentials

A new paradigm to study the functional significance of 'P300' is presented. Its advantages are: The precise definition and manipulation of cognitive operations which are triggered by the very same events as used for ERP extraction; and a systematic control over the probability of events known to affect endogenous event-related potential components (probabilities of single events, event categories, and event sequences). By employing the paradigm in two experiments with visual stimuli, three subcomponents of 'P300' were identified: P3a; P3b; and positive Slow Wave (pSW). Experimental manipulations revealed that P3b is related to the information processing resources required to alter a perceptual set and pSW to the resources required when abstract information permanently stored in memory must be retrieved. The data further revealed that the same-different disparity in response latency for matching letters has at least two ERP correlates: A difference in P3b latency; and a difference in the amplitude of a negative recess between P3a and P3b.

Effect of reduced perfusion pressure and acetylcholine on local blood flow in tumors in the rat kidney

The local blood flow (LBF) in a sarcoma and a hepatoma implanted into the rat kidney was examined during renal vasodilation, with and without increased total renal blood flow (RBF). Both tumor types had a control LBF of about 0.7 ml/min per g, i.e. 35 per cent or less as compared with the renal LBF, as simultaneously determined by the H2 gas clearance technique. The RBF averaged 4.6 ml/min per g as recorded electromagnetically. During about 20 mmHg reduction of renal arterial pressure the tumor LBF was maintained relative to the renal LBF, whether the RBF was autoregulated or not. Provided neoplastic vessels account for most of the vascular resistance to tumor blood flow, they must therefore possess autoregulatory ability. The tumor LBF was maintained when the RBF was maximally increased by continuous renal arterial infusion of acetylcholine. This may suggest that a neoplastic vessel vasodilatory response to acetylcholine prevented reduction of the tumor flow.

Tumor uptake of vincristine during close arterial vs systemic constant-rate infusion: experiments on sarcoma transplants in the rat kidney

The uptake of vincristine (VCR) by normal tissues and by sarcomas transplanted to both kidneys in rats was studied at 10 min after constant rate infusion of 1 mg/kg body wt into one renal artery for 3, 10 and 30 min. Since the selectively infused kidney extracted only 2.5% of the total dose at the first renal passage, the present model provides a direct comparison between systemic and selective i.a. infusion of VCR in each animal. Tumor VCR uptake was 2.8 times higher and the corresponding blood VCR concentration time product about 4 times higher on the selectively infused side than on the contralateral side. Reduction of renal blood flow by clamping the selectively infused renal artery raised the local VCR blood concentration by another 10 times during 10 min infusion and further doubled the tumor uptake of VCR. Thus a 5-6 times higher VCR concentration in the tumor was achieved as compared to that obtainable by systemic administration of the same total dose. The results are compatible with a saturable mechanism of VCR uptake by renal tissue and tumors.

Renal blood flow and vasodilatory ability prior to and following release of 24 hours bilateral ureteral obstruction in rats

Increased renal vascular resistance (RVR) is evident after 24 hours of uni- and bilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO and BUO). However, to what extent the RVR increase is due to vascular damage versus functional vasoconstriction, or whether obstructed kidneys possess the ability to reduce RVR in response to vasodilatory stimuli, is not clear. During 24 hours of BUO renal blood flow (RBF), recorded electromagnetically, was reduced to about 70% of control and continued to fall by another 18% during 1/2-1 hour after release of BUO. Infusion of imidazole, a thromboxane A2 synthetase blocker, did not reduce RVR after release of BUO. Whereas RBF autoregulation in response to reduced perfusion pressure was impaired, maximal proportional renal vasodilation induced by acetylcholine was increased, both prior to and after release of BUO, as compared to control and UUO. These different renal vasodilatory responses indicate that the RVR increase during BUO is largely due to a functional vasoconstriction that impairs autoregulatory vasodilation. In contrast, the RVR increase during UUO is probably mainly due to structural damage which does not prevent autoregulation of the RBF level attained.

Renal blood flow during unilateral ureteral obstruction. Effects of reduced perfusion pressure, acetylcholine, and thromboxane A2 blockers in obstructed and unobstructed rat kidneys

Renal blood flow (RBF) is markedly reduced in kidneys with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), possibly due to vascular constriction. Whether obstructive nephropathy is associated with impaired RBF autoregulation is unknown. We therefore investigated RBF autoregulation in obstructed and contralateral unobstructed rat kidneys during and following release of 24 h and 6 days of UUO, using stepwise reduction of renal arterial pressure and electromagnetic recording of RBF. The lower pressure limit of autoregulation was increased and the maximal vasodilatory ability in response to infusion of acetylcholine into the renal artery was reduced only in the unobstructed kidney at 24 h of UUO. Thus, we conclude that the vasodilatory reactions to both these maneuvres, previously observed to be markedly reduced during acutely elevated ureteral pressure (Hope & Clausen 1982), were reestablished: In the obstructed kidneys in less than 24 h (RBF approximately 70% of control) and in the contralateral unobstructed kidneys in less than 6 days (RBF approximately 140% of control). Infusion of the thromboxane A2 (TXA) synthetase inhibitors imidazole and 3-ethyl pyridine in controls and at 24 h and 6 days of UUO did not produce renal vasodilation. These results do not support the suggestion that TXA contributes directly to the increase in renal vascular resistance observed during or following release of UUO in the rat.

Intrarenal flow of microspheres and red blood cells: skimming in slit and tube models

Microspheres (MS) provide somewhat erroneous estimates of intrarenal blood flow distribution due to a variable MS skimming. The errors were computed from two sets of model experiments. Skimming of 3.5-, 10-, and 15-micron MS and normal and hardened red blood cells (RBC and HRBC, respectively) were studied in a slit model simulating an interlobular artery (ila) with variable diameter from 40 to 160 micron, having as a side branch of constant diameter one afferent arteriole with variable fractional flow. The corresponding afferent arteriole capture zones in the ila were determined in a tube model. All particles except 3.5-micron MS were skimmed, RBC having an effective diameter of 5 micron compared with 8 micron for HRBC. Skimming was greater in tubes than in slits at a given afferent arteriole flow fraction and was predominantly determined by the particle-to-ila diameter ratio. Intrarenal MS and RBC skimming in dog and rat kidneys was predicted on the basis of the number of afferent arterioles along the ila, ila diameter and tapering. The predictions agreed fairly well with available in vivo data. In conclusion, previously observed redistribution of MS, induced by vasodilation and vasoconstriction in the dog kidney, may be quantitatively ascribed to changes in the ila diameters and MS skimming in the inner cortex without redistribution of fractional blood flow between deep and superficial renal zones.

Uptake of adriamycin by sarcoma transplants in the rat kidney: effects of renal arterial vs systemic constant rate infusion and of combination with ricin

The uptake of adriamycin (Adm) by normal tissues and by sarcomas transplanted to both kidneys in rats was studied at 10 min following constant rate infusion of Adm 5 mg/kg body wt into one renal artery, during 3 and 10 min. Since the selectively infused kidney extracted only about 20% of the total dose, the present model provides a direct comparison of systemic versus selective i.a. infusions in each individual. Tumor Adm uptake was about 6 times higher on the selectively infused side. Adm uptake by tumor and normal renal tissue was proportional to the concentration X time product of Adm in arterial blood, in spite of highly different blood peak concentrations at different infusion rates. Ten-minute systemic intravenous infusion of the Adm dose, with concurrent infusion of ricin, 3 micrograms/kg, into one renal artery tended to increase Adm uptake by the tumors on both sides. This indicates a systemic rather than a local effect of ricin: ricin reduced Adm uptake by red blood cells and normal solid tissues and thus resulted in a delayed Adm clearance from the total plasma volume. In contrast, the relationship between tumor uptake and the concentration X time product of Adm in plasma was not affected by ricin, explaining the increased tumor uptake.

The effect of hemorrhagic hypotension on total and local renal blood flow in the rat

The effect of hemorrhagic hypotension (HH) on local and total renal blood flow was studied in rats. Cortical blood flow, measured as H2 gas clearance, was determined before and during HH with a mean arterial blood pressure of 50 mm Hg. During the initial 10-15 min of bleeding renal cortical vascular resistance was unchanged, and total renal blood flow autoregulatory ability was abolished. Cortical vascular resistance thereafter increased steadily to twice the control level after 90 min of HH. At this time, retransfusion of the shed blood improved cortical blood flow due to increased arterial blood pressure, not to reduced cortical vascular resistance. In a second group, total and local renal blood flows were obtained from 125I-iodoantipyrine uptake rate after 2 h of HH with arterial blood pressure maintained at 50 mm Hg. Total renal blood flow was reduced to 20% of control with no change in blood flow distribution between outer and inner cortical or medullary zones. Both cortical blood flow and intrazonal local renal blood flow heterogeneity had increased at the end of the HH period. However, ischemic and extremely low flow sectors comprising cortex and outer medulla were observed only in 1 of the 10 kidneys studied with the 125I-iodoantipyrine technique. In only 1 of 8 animals studied with the H2 gas method were intermittent sudden changes in cortical blood flow observed during HH. Since hematocrit tended to fall during HH, these observations support the concept that local flow intermittence is predominantly associated with high hematocrit shocks.

Effect of adriamycin on blood flow in renal tumour and normal renal tissue

The effect of adriamycin (Adm) on local blood flow was simultaneously measured in neoplastic tumour, diameter 3-5 mm, and intact tissue in rat kidneys using the H2 gas washout technique. Constant rate i.v. infusion of Adm, 0.3-6 mg/kg/min for 3-15 min, increased mean arterial blood pressure (AP) by 20%, a maximum already obtained at the lower infusion rate, without affecting heart rate. Control tumour flow averaged 0.9 (0.4-1.1) ml/min/g. Flow was inversely related to Adm infusion rate in both tissues, but tumour flow tended to be relatively less affected. In another series of experiments total renal blood flow (RBF) was recorded electromagnetically during constant rate infusion of Adm into the renal blood stream, 0.03-3 mg/kg/min for 3-20 min. AP increased and RBF decreased during the first 2 min of infusion, whereafter steady levels were maintained. Both parameters returned to control levels within 4 min after completed infusion, irrespective of infusion rate and duration. High i.a. infusion rates, 2-3 mg/kg/min, almost stopped RBF but gave no further AP increase (max at approximately 0.5 mg/kg/min), indicating a direct constrictor effect on renal vessels. On the other hand, the AP response persisted when renal circulation was excluded, suggesting a general pressor response evoked by Adm. A 60% RBF reduction was obtained by 1 mg/kg/min i.a. as compared to 4-6 mg/kg/min i.v. infusions. This indicates that a several times higher Adm concentration was maintained in renal blood during i.a. infusion. Taken together with the recovery time, this observation also suggests a post-infusion blood clearance of Adm with an initial half-time of about 2 min or less. This was confirmed in additional experiments where [3H]-labelled Adm was determined in timed blood samples.

Distribution of blood flow in the dog kidney. IV. Reversed net inward postglomerular capillary flow in the cortex after blocking interlobular arteries by 50 mum microspheres

Simultaneous measurement of glomerular flow by 15 mum microspheres (Ms) and postglomerular capillary flow by 125I-iodoantipyrine (I-Ap) suggest that about 10% of total RBF flow inward through the entire cortex in the postglomerular capillaries of the dog kidney. This flow fraction might be variable (Clausen et al. 1978, 1980) and perhaps even reversible. To test this possibility we injected 50 mum Ms into the renal artery in order to obstruct interlobular arteries and produce a selective reduction of outer cortical glomerular blood flow and postglomerular pressure. The 50 mum Ms reduced total RBF by 50%. In the outer cortex, postglomerular flow measured by I-Ap was significantly less reduced than glomerular flow as measured by 15 mum Ms: Whereas the inward flow fraction from inner cortex to the medulla was maintained, about 5% of RBF now drained from midcortex to outer cortex. This observation support the theory of a variable net postglomerular capillary flow of radial direction in the cortex of the dog kidney.

Total and local renal blood flow and filtration in the rat during reduced renal arterial blood pressure

Discrepancies concerning the lower pressure limit of renal blood flow (RBF) autoregulation, different autoregulatory adjustments in deep and superficial renal zones and dissociation of RBF and filtrate production stimulated the present study. Autoregulation of renal blood flow was investigated at reduced renal arterial blood pressure (RAP) in Sprague-Dawley rats using 4 different flow methods: uptake of 125I-iodoantipyrine (I-Ap) and 86Rb, local detection of hydrogen gas washout rate (H2) and, in the autoperfused kidney, electromagnetic flowmetry (FM). With I-Ap and 86Rb, RBF was maintained at a RAP as low as 80 mmHg, compared to contralateral RBF. However, with the other two methods where each kidney serves as its own control, a 15% RBF reduction was obtained at this RAP. This discrepancy (p less than 0.001) infers a contralateral renal vasoconstriction during ipsilateral renal hypotension and vasodilation. Arterial blood pressure increased during unilateral renal hypotension, suggesting that contralateral renal constriction was part of a general increase in total body vascular resistance. Following abrupt RAP reduction RBF was immediately readjusted (2-3 s) and maintained for up to 40 min. No significant change in intrarenal blood flow distribution was observed with I-Ap. Superficial and deep cortical single nephron glomerular filtration rates were equally reduced at lowered RAP as determined by the ferrocyanide technique. However, a dissociation between the autoregulation of RBF and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in the direction of less well maintained GFR was observed. Renal arterial acetylcholine infusion increased RBF by about 40% and effectively abolished RBF autoregulation.

Distribution of blood flow in the dog kidney. III. Local uptake of 10 mum and 15 mum microspheres during renal vasodilation and constriction

Recent studies indicate that intrarenal distribution of blood flow measured with microspheres (Ms) during control conditions depends on Ms size. We therefore compared local flow in outer and middle cortex (C1 and C2) and inner cortex plus the medulla (C3M) using 10.5-12.0 and 13.9-15.0 mum Ms (Ms 10 and Ms 15). One pair of Ms 10 and Ms 15 was injected during control and a second pair at 80% increased or 50% decreased total renal vascular conductance (RVC), as induced by infusion of acetylcholine (Ach) and angiotensin II (Ang) or noradrenaline (NA). All zones participated in dilation and constriction, as indicated by both Ms sizes. Ms 15 underestimated C3M flow as compared to Ms 10, by 19% during control or Ang, and by 3% during Ach (P less than 0.02). The C3M flow fractions increased during Ach and decreased during Ang, whereas NA gave greatly variable results, on average no change. Renal Ms extraction averaged 97.0 +/- 3% for Ms 10, 98.6 +/- 2.4% (S.D.) for Ms 15. About 8% of Ms 10 and less than 1% of Ms 15 were located in peritubular capillaries in each cortical zone. Neither total Ms extraction nor zonal extraglomerular Ms fraction changed over the present RVC range. Thus, the Ms 10 to Ms 15 differences as well as the observed redistribution must be due to differences in local entry of Ms into the afferent arterioles. However, steric restriction of Ms at arteriolar inlets did not play a significant role. The measured redistribution of fractional flow could in part be due to skimming of Ms at arteriolar inlets along the interlobular arteries (i.l.a.), depending on the C3M flow fraction, Ms size and i.l.a. diameter. If the observed fractional flow redistributions were solely due to variable Ms skimming, Ms 15 underestimated C3M flow by 53%, Ms 10 by 43%, during Ang as compared to Ach. Although Ms 10 and Ms 15 may correctly indicate the direction of fractional glomerular flow redistribution, at least Ms 15 overestimates this phenomenon quantitatively.

Skimming of microspheres in vitro: implications for measurement of intrarenal blood flow

Skimming could result in erroneous estimation of renal cortical blood flow distribution as measured by microspheres. Skimming of microspheres with diameters 10, 12, and 15 micrometers and red blood cells was therefore studied in a model in which an interlobular artery and its first arteriolar branch were simulated by 80- and 30-micrometers-wide slits between glass prisms. The experiments were performed with citrated blood at a hematocrit (Hct) of 40, flow velocities of 3 and 6 cm/s, and branch flow varying from 2 to 25%. At a branch flow fraction comparable to that of a deep arteriole in the dog kidney (3%), Hct in branch blood was 24% lower than that of input blood, whereas 10-, 12-, and 15-micrometers microsphere concentrations were 75, 81, and 87% lower, respectively. The size-dependent skimming was probably caused by wall exclusion in the main channel. Differences in particle inertia did not affect skimming. The results suggest that the disparate local flow values obtained by use of microspheres of different sizes in dog and rat kidneys are due to a size-dependent skimming of the microspheres.

Incomplete and flow dependent extraction of 86Rb in the rat kidney. Errors in local flow estimation

Renal uptake of 86Rb, lasting for 30s after intravenous bolus injection, and uptake of 15 micrometer radioactive microspheres (Ms) simultaneously injected in the left ventricle were measured in rats. Calculated from renal blood flow (RBF) determined by Ms and 86Rb clearance, the renal extraction ratio of 86Rb (ERb) was 0.81 +/- 0.07 (SD). With increasing RBF, ERb decreased significantly. Total body 86Rb extraction ratio nearly equalled ERb as determined 30s after injection. In another group of rats 86Rb was injected into an extracorporal circuit from the carotid artery perfusing the left kidney only. Renal recovery of 86Rb averaged 0.76 +/- 0.13 15-20s after injection. As in the first group, ERb was inversely related to RBF. At increased RBF, calculated local cortical flow is seriously underestimated unless ERb as well as ERb flow dependency are taken into account. However, the relative local flow rates calculated for cortical zones are not appreciably affected by ERb and its flow dependency.

Effect of exogenous angiotensin-II on local blood flow in kidneys with neoplasm. Experiments in the rat

The effect of angiotensin-II on the local renal blood flow and arterial blood pressure was investigated in the rat with the H2 gas washout technique. Increasing intravenous infusion rates gave a decreasing blood flow and increasing blood pressure, renal vascular resistance being close to proportional to the log of infusion rate. In kidneys with experimental neoplasm, the flow reduction was proportionally less in the tumor than in intact renal tissue. The respective flow levels were maintained for 10 to 45 min without tendency to change.

Distribution of blood flow in the dog kidney. II. Saturation rates of inert diffusible tracers versus uptake of 15 mu microspheres during vasodilation and vasoconstriction

While 15 mu microspheres (Ms) in principle provide a measure of glomerular flow, uptake rate of inert diffusible tracers indicates "effective" or "nutrient" flow, i.e. essentially postglomerular capillary flow. Paired measurements of glomerular and postglomerular flow were made in tissue samples from outer, middle and inner cortex (C1, C2, C3) and medullary zones. After a control Ms injection, renal vascular conductance (RVC) was altered in one kidney whereupon a second Ms injection was made, immediately followed by infusion of the 125I-iodoantipyrine and tritiated water. RVC was increased maximally by i.a. infusion of acetylcholine with and without reduced renal arterial pressure, whereas moderate vasodilation was produced by lowering renal arterial or rising ureteral pressure. RVC was reduced by i.a. or i.v. infusion of angiotensin II. Within a mean RVC range of 50 to 180% of control the fractional distribution of zonal postglomerular flow remained unaltered, in agreement with previous results obtained from local H2 gas desaturation rate. Glomerular flow was about 20% higher in C1, equal in C2 and 40% lower in C3 as compared to postglomerular flow in control kidneys. This disparity nearly disappeared during maximal vasodilation and tended to increase during vasoconstriction. The results might suggest a variable net postglomerular effective flow in radial direction through the renal cortex. Alternatively, the fractional redistribution of Ms might reflect a variable degree of Ms skimming at the afferent arteriolar inlets along the interlobular arteries.

Partition of 125I-iodoantipyrine among erythrocytes, plasma, and renal cortex in the dog

The tissue/blood partition coefficient, lambda tb, defined as the amount of blood having the same tracer content as one unit of tissue at diffusion equilibrium, was determined for 125I-iodoantipyrine (I-Ap) and tritiated water (THO) in the dog kidney cortex. Measurements were made after in vivo equilibration for 75 to 300 s and with liver circulation excluded. In 18 kidneys, lambda tb for I-Ap averaged 1.38 (S.D. 0.13) w/w (weight/weight), without significant correlation to hematocrit (range: 23-43) or to urine pH (range 5.5-8.6). The lambda tb for THO averaged 0.97 (S.D. 0.06) v/w (volume/weight), close to the relative water contents. Erythrocyte/plasma partition for I-Ap was 0.82 w/w, compared to a water partition of 0.72. Thus, at diffusion equilibrium the apparent I-Ap concentration in renal cortical and red cell water exceeds that of plasma water by 14 and 60%, respectively. It follows that I-Ap cannot be used as a general indicator for total tissue water content. When used for measurement of local blood flow and modum Kety, lambda tb must be determined for each tissue and species.

Distribution of blood flow in the dog kidney. I. Saturation rates for inert diffusible tracers, 125I-iodoantipyrine and tritiated water, versus uptake of microspheres under control conditions

Disparate reports on intrarenal blood flow distribution prompted a direct comparison between microspheres (Ms) and inert diffusible tracers (DT). The "tissue sampling technique" for estimating local flow with DT (Kety) was adapted for the dog kidney, using 125I-iodoantipyrine (1-Ap) and tritiated water (THO). Ms (15 micron) were injected 2-3 min prior to 10-15 s DT infusion made during continuous 1 s arterial blood sampling. Tracers were measured in 7 to 20 samples from each of the following zones: Outer, middle and inner cortex (C1, C2, C3), outer and inner halves of outer medulla (OM1, OM2), and inner medulla (IM). I-Ap and THO gave closely similar flow distribution, and average total renal blood flow (RBF) of 3.90 and 3.78 as compared to 3.94 ml/min . g with Ms. Flow in C2 (ml/min . g) was similar with all tracers, and in per cent thereof average local flows were: C1 102, C3 70, OM1 34, OM2 12, and IM 2 with DT versus 117, 53, 12, 3, and 0 with Ms. Zonal flow fractions of total RBF obtained with DT were: C1 0.41, C2 0.33, and C3+medulla 0.26 versus 0.51, 0.33 and 0.16 with Ms. Thus, a Ms surplus in C1 relative to DT flow, representing 10% of total RBF, matched a Ms deficit in C3+medulla. This disparity might result from: (1) Failure of Ms to enter deep afferent arterioles in proportion to blood flow, (2) diffusion of DT from deep portions of the interlobular arteries, and/or (3) postglomerular inward flow of blood and DT.

Intrarenal distribution of blood flow and glomerular filtration during chronic unilateral ureteral obstruction

Paired hydronephrotic (HN) and hypertrophic (HT) rat kidneys were studied after 6 days with complete unilateral ureteral obstruction without exposing the kidneys. Total HN renal blood flow (RBF), estimated by total microsphere (MS) uptake and from local 125I-antipyrine (Ap) uptake, averaged about 3/4 of control. HN kidney GFR was reduced to about 1/2 of control level as estimated from inulin clearance of HT kidney times the HN to HT ratio for mean single nephron filtration rate, determined by 14C-ferrocyanide. Whereas blood flow (Ap) was proportionately reduced in outer and inner cortex (OC and IC), fractional flow to the outer medulla (OM) was doubled as compared to controls (p less than 0.01). Filtration was well preserved in deep as compared to superficial glomeruli with a smaller deep nonfiltering fraction (p less than 0.02). Thus the results oppose the current concept that HN is characterized by disproportionate circulatory damage to IC and OM with little or no filtration in deep nephrons. In HT kidneys average RBF (MS) and GFR rose by about 1/2. Whereas total blood flow (Ap) rose proportionately in OC and IC, it remained at control level in OM, indicating dissociation between the total RBF and GFR and the effective blood flow to the OM zone.