Most patients with non-hypertensive diseases at a critical care resuscitation unit require arterial pressure monitoring: a prospective observational study

BACKGROUND:Blood pressure(BP)monitoring is essential for patient care.Invasive arterial BP(IABP)is more accurate than non-invasive BP(NIBP),although the clinical signifi cance of this diff erence is unknown.We hypothesized that IABP would result in a change of management(COM)among patients with non-hypertensive diseases in the acute phase of resuscitation.METHODS:This prospective study included adults admitted to the Critical Care Resuscitation Unit(CCRU)with non-hypertensive disease from February 1,2019,to May 31,2021.Management plans to maintain a mean arterial pressure>65 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)were recorded in real time for both NIBP and IABP measurements.A COM was defined as a discrepancy between IABP and NIBP that resulted in an increase/decrease or addition/discontinuation of a medication/infusion.Classification and regression tree analysis identified significant variables associated with a COM and assigned relative variable importance(RVI)values.RESULTS:Among the 206 patients analyzed,a COM occurred in 94(45.6%[94/206])patients.The most common COM was an increase in current infusion dosages(40 patients,19.4%).Patients receiving norepinephrine at arterial cannulation were more likely to have a COM compared with those without(45[47.9%]vs.32[28.6%],P=0.004).Receiving norepinephrine(relative variable importance[RVI]100%)was the most signifi cant factor associated with a COM.No complications were identifi ed with IABP use.CONCLUSION:A COM occurred in 94(45.6%)non-hypertensive patients in the CCRU.Receiving vasopressors was the greatest factor associated with COM.Clinicians should consider IABP monitoring more often in non-hypertensive patients requiring norepinephrine in the acute resuscitation phase.Further studies are necessary to confi rm the risk-to-benefi t ratios of IABP among these high-risk patients.

Influence of random uncertainties of anisotropic fibrous model parameters on arterial pressure estimation

This paper deals with a stochastic approach based on the principle of the maximum entropy to investigate the effect of the parameter random uncertainties on the arterial pressure. Motivated by a hyperelastic, anisotropic, and incompressible constitutive law with fiber families, the uncertain parameters describing the mechanical behavior are considered. Based on the available information, the probability density functions are attributed to every random variable to describe the dispersion of the model parameters. Numerous realizations are carried out, and the corresponding arterial pressure results are compared with the human non-invasive clinical data recorded over a mean cardiac cycle. Furthermore, the Monte Carlo simulations are performed, the convergence of the probabilistic model is proven. The different realizations are useful to define a reliable confidence region, in which the probability to have a realization is equM to 95%. It is shown through the obtained results that the error in the estimation of the arterial pressure can reach 35% when the estimation of the model parameters is subjected to an uncertainty ratio of 5%. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is performed to identify the constitutive law relevant parameters for better understanding and characterization of the arterial wall mechanical behaviors.

The Initial Tangent of the Femoral Arterial Pressure Increase Is an Estimate of Left Ventricular Contractility in Patients Undergoing Cardiacsurgery

Purpose: Assessment of contractile function is a major challenge in patients with left ventricular dysfunction, especially during cardiac surgery. The initial tangent of the femoral arterial pressure increase (tanin) has recently been described to be an estimate of left ventricular (LV) contractility. To confirm these findings tanin was compared to various indices of LV performance in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Methods: Data from 17 patients were evaluated retrospectively. Myocardial performance was estimated by the echocardiographic indices ejection fraction (EF), shortening fraction (FS), circumferential fiber shortening velocity (Vcf), the parameters of pulse contour analysis area under the curve (AUC) and tanin. Measurements were taken before and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Results: Tanin increased significantly (813 ± 216 mmHg/s vs. 1490 ± 450 mmHg/s, p < 0.05) after CPB, as well as Vcf (0.89 ± 0.14 circ/s vs. 1.47 ± 0.27 circ/s, p < 0.05) and EF (65% ± 7% vs. 74% ± 6%, p < 0.05). FS did not change (40.7% ± 7% vs. 46.5% ± 5%, p = 0.30). AUC significantly dropped after CPB (435 ± 54 mmHg*s vs. 263 ± 27 mmHg*s). Tanin and Vcf correlated strongly (r = 0.70, p < 0.001), while tanin showed only weak correlation with EF (r = 0.36, p = 0.037). There was no significant correlation with FS (r = 0.31, p = 0.079). Tanin and AUC correlated inversely (r = -0.62, p < 0.001). Conclusions: While showing little or no correlation with EF and FS respectively, tanin correlated well with the less preload-dependent parameter Vcf, thus suggesting that tanin may be used as an easily accessible estimate of LV contractility during cardiac surgery.

Analyses of Characteristics of Long-Term Monitoring of Arterial Pressure and Pulse

Long-term observations of pulse and arterial blood pressure taken from a patient＇s daily self-control diary have been analyzed in the paper. The diary was kept in the morning and in the evening. It contains regular observational data collected during over 13 years. Statistical estimates of series and their spectral responses were obtained. A difference between the morning and evening series was noted. Spectral harmonics with the period of 7 days was typical of the evening series. The morning series are characterized by a ＂lunar＂ component with the -27.35-day period. The examined series were also compared with the daily series of atmospheric pressure and daily Wolf numbers. Seasonal pulse and arterial pressure pattern and average monthly self-control tabulated data obtained during 13 years are presented in the paper.

Effect of continuous positive airway pressure treatment on serum adiponectin level and mean arterial pressure in male patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Background Recent research suggested that obstructive sleep apnea syndrome （OSAS） might be independently associated with hypoadiponectinemia, which was linked to some complications of OSAS, such as hypertension, diabetes etc. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of continuous positive airway pressure （CPAP） treatment on changes of both serum adiponectin levels and mean arterial pressure and their possible links in male OSAS patients. Methods Twenty-three adult male patients with moderate-to-severe OSAS but without obesity, coronary heart disease and diabetes were recruited. Their blood samples were collected and morning mean arterial pressure （MAP） was measured before CPAP treatment and on day 3, 7, 14 of CPAP treatment respectively. The serum adiponectin concentration was tested with radioimmunoassay. Results Compared with the serum adiponectin level before CPAP treatment, no significant change was found in OSAS patients on day 3 and day 7 of CPAP treatment （P〉0.05）. It was not until day 14 of CPAP treatment did a significant elevation in serum adiponectin level occur （P〈0.01）. Meanwhile, the MAP showed no statistically significant difference among its levels before CPAP, on day 3 and day 7 of CPAP treatment （P〉0.05）. However, on day 14 of CPAP treatment, a significantly lower MAP than that obtained before treatment was observed （P〈0.05）. Conclusions CPAP treatment can gradually reverse hypoadiponectinemia and reduce MAP in OSAS patients. Hypoadiponectinemia might be involved in the pathogenesis of OSAS-mediated hypertension.

Effect of oral garlic on arterial oxygen pressure in children with hepatopulmonary syndrome

AIM： To study the effect of oral garlic on arterial oxygen pressure in children with hepatopulmonary syndrome, METHODS： Garlic powder in a capsule form was given to 15 children with hepatopulmonary syndrome （confirmed by contrast echocardiography） at the dosage of 1 g/1.73 m^2 per day. Patients were evaluated clinically and by arterial blood gas every four weeks. RESULTS： The garlic capsule was administered to 15 patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome. There were 10 boys and 5 girls with a mean age of 9.4 ± 3.9 years. The underlying problems were biliary tract atresia （4 patients）, autoimmune hepatitis （4 patients）, cryptogenic cirrhosis （4 patients） and presinusoidal portal hypertension （3 patients）. Eight patients （53.3%） showed an increase of 10 mmHg in their mean arterial oxygen pressure. The baseline PaO2 was 65.6 ± 12.1 mmHg in the responder group and 47.1 ± 11.2 mmHg in nonresponder group. At the end of treatment the mean PaO2 in responders and non-responders was 92.2 ± 7.75 mmHg and 47.5 ± 11.87 mmHg, respectively （P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： Garlic may increase oxygenation and improve dyspnea in children with hepatopulmonary syndrome.

Impact of Tricuspid Regurgitation Severity on Accuracy of Echocardiographic Estimation of Systolic Pulmonary Artery Pressure in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Objective:This study aims to investigate the impact of tricuspid regurgitation(TR)severity on the accuracy of echocardiographic estimation of systolic pulmonary arterial pressure(sPAP)in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH).Methods:Patients who were diagnosed with PAH and had a right heart catheterization(RHC)and echocardiography examination were selected retrospectively from May 2018 to December 2021.sPAP measured by RHC is used as the gold standard.A difference in sPAP of less than 10 mmHg between echocardiographic estimation by peak TR velocity and RHC measurement was defined as accurate,with a difference≥10 mmHg considered inaccurate.The factors affecting the accuracy of echocardiographic sPAP estimation were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis.Results:A total of 138 patients aged(45.57±15.97)years with PAH were enrolled.sPAP measured by echocardiography and RHC were(80.83±23.46)and(81.62±30.05)mmHg,respectively.The values of the 2 methods were highly correlated(r=0.809,P<0.01)and Bland-Altman plots showed good consistency.The accuracy rate of sPAP estimation by echocardiography was 42.03%(58/138).In the 57.97%(80/138)of patients where echocardiography was inaccurate,sPAP was overestimated in 28.26%(39/138)and underestimated in 29.71%(41/138).Univariate analysis showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the accurate and inaccurate groups in World Health Organization-Function Class,N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide,severity of TR,tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion(TAPSE),sPAP-RHC,mean pulmonary artery pressure,pulmonary vascular resistance(P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analyses identified the TR severity(odds ratio=2.292,95%confidence interval:1.126–4.667,P=0.022)and TAPSE(odds ratio=0.733,95%confidence interval:0.621–0.865,P<0.001)as independent predictors for the accuracy of echocardiographic sPAP estimation.Conclusion:Higher TR severity and lower TAPSE values reduce the accuracy of sPAP estimated by echocardiography.Therefore,TR severity and right heart function should be considered when echocardiography is used to estimate sPAP by the TR velocity.

Ambulatory pulmonary artery pressure monitoring in advanced heart failure patients

Heart failure (HF) is an emerging epidemic associate with significant morbidity, mortality, and health care expenditure. Although there were major advances in pharmacologic and device based therapies for the management of HF, mortality of this condition remains high. Accurate monitoring of HF patients for exacerbations is very important to reduce recurrent hospitalizations and its associated complications. With the failure of clinical signs, tele-monitoring, and laboratory bio-markers to function as early markers of HF exacerbations, more sophisticated techniques were sought to accurately predict the circulatory status in HF patients in order to execute timely pharmacological intervention to reduce frequent hospitalizations. CardioMEMSTM (St. Jude Medical, Inc., Saint Paul, Minnesota) is an implantable, wireless pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) monitoring system which transmits the patient’s continuous PAPs to the treating health care provider in the ambulatory setting. PAP-guided medical therapy modification has been shown to significantly reduce HF-related hospitalization and overall mortality. In advanced stages of HF, wireless access to hemodynamic information correlated with earlier left ventricular assist device implantation and shorter time to heart transplantation.

Correlation analysis between lung ultrasound scores and pulmonary arterial systolic pressure in patients with acute heart failure admitted to the emergency intensive care unit

Background:No convenient,inexpensive,and non-invasive screening tools exist to identify pulmonary hypertension(PH)-left heart disease(LHD)patients during the early stages of the disease course.This study investigated whether different methods of lung ultrasound(LUS)could be used for the initial investigation of PH-LHD.Methods:This was a single-center prospective observational study which was performed in the Zigong Fourth People’s Hospital.We consecutively enrolled patients with heart failure(HF)admitted to the emergency intensive care unit from January 2018 to May 2020.Transthoracic echocardiography and LUS were performed within 24 h before discharge.We used the Spearman coefficient for correlation analysis between ultrasound scores and pulmonary arterial systolic pressure(PASP).Bland-Altman plots were generated to inspect possible bias,and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were calculated to assess the relationship between ultrasound scores and an intermediate and high echocardiographic probability of PH-LHD.Results:Seventy-one patients were enrolled in this study,with an overall median age of 79(interquartile range:71.5–84.0)years.Among the 71 patients,36(50.7%)cases were male,and 26(36.6%)had an intermediate and high echocardiographic probability of PH.All four LUS scores in patients with an intermediate and high probability of PH were significantly higher than in patients with a low probability of PH(P<0.05).The correlation coefficient(r)between different LUS scoring methods and PASP was moderate for the 6-zone(r=0.455,P<0.001),8-zone(r=0.385,P=0.001),12-zone(r=0.587,P<0.001),and 28-zone(r=0.535,P<0.001)methods.In Bland-Altman plots,each of the four LUS scoring methods had a good agreement with PASP(P<0.001).The 8-zone and 12-zone methods showed moderately accurate discriminative values in differentiating patients with an intermediate and high echocardiographic probability of PH(P<0.05).

Correlation between blood pressure changes and AMS, sleeping quality and exercise upon high-altitude exposure in young Chinese men

Background: Excessive elevation of arterial blood pressure(BP) at high altitude can be detrimental to our health due to acute mountain sickness(AMS) or some AMS symptoms. This prospective and observational study aimed to elucidate blood pressure changes induced by exposure to high-altitude hypoxia and the relationships of these changes with AMS prevalence, AMS severity, sleep quality and exercise condition in healthy young men.Methods: A prospective observational study was performed in 931 male young adults exposed to high altitude at 3,700 m(Lhasa) from low altitude(LA, 500 m). Blood pressure measurement and AMS symptom questionnaires were performed at LA and on day 1, 3, 5, and 7 of exposure to high altitude. Lake Louise criteria were used to diagnose AMS. Likewise, the Athens Insomnia Scale(AIS) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale(ESS) were filled out at LA and on day 1, 3, and 7 of exposure to high altitude.Results: After acute exposure to 3,700 m, diastolic blood pressure(DBP) and mean arterial blood pressure(MABP) rose gradually and continually(P【0.05). Analysis showed a relationship with AMS for only MABP(P【0.05) but not for SBP and DBP(P】0.05). Poor sleeping quality was generally associated with higher SBP or DBP at high altitude, although inconsistent results were obtained at different time(P【0.05). SBP and Pulse BP increased noticeably after high-altitude exercise(P【0.05).Conclusions: Our data demonstrate notable blood pressure changes under exposure to different high-altitude conditions: 1) BP increased over time. 2) Higher BP generally accompanied poor sleeping quality and higher incidence of AMS. 3) SBP and Pulse BP were higher after high-altitude exercise. Therefore, we should put more effort into monitoring BP after exposure to high altitude in order to guard against excessive increases in BP.

Modulation by anti-oketsu formulations in Kampo medicine of human arterial stiffness

Objective:In traditional herbal medicine(Kampo medicine in Japan),'sho'is diagnosed by the traditional assessments of clinical conditions.Among a variety of the shos,there is an'oketsu'syndrome,which is a stagnation and disturbance of microcirculation.The prompt effects of four anti-oketsu formulations in Kampo medicine on cardiovascular functions were compared in oketsu and non-oketsu persons.Methods:The arterial pulse wave from radial artery is formed by the combination with ejection and reflection pulses.An augmentation index(AI),a ration of the ejection and reflection pulses,indicates a degree of arteriosclerosis.For both seventy-six students with oketsu and thirty-seven students with non-oketsu,Kampo formulations overcoming oketsu of Tokishakuyakusan(TS,Dang-Gui-Shao-Yao-San),Kamishoyosan(KS,Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San),Keisibukuryogan(KB,Gui-Zhi-Fu-Ling-Wan)and Tokakujokito(TJ,Tao-He-Cheng-Qi-Tang)were taken once,and then,the cardiovascular functions including blood pressure,heart rate,central arterial blood pressure(CBP)and AI were examined for 60 min.Results:At 40-60 min after an intake,these formulations decreased the AI almost by 6-18%(n=76),by 18.3±3.1%(P<0.01,n=15)with TJ.Simultaneously,the CBP was reduced by 9.0±1.8%(P<0.05,n=23)with KS and by 9.1±2.0%(P<0.05,n=15)with TJ.On the other hands,non-oketsu group had less or no effect by any kinds of the formulations.Conclusion:The anti-oketsu formulations can exert the ameliorative action for oketsu persons via decreasing AI and CBP.

Qualitative estimation of pulmonary artery systolic pressure:could right heart catheterization be replaced by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography?

Background Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography is recommended for screening the presence of pulmonary hypertension(PH).However,the accuracy of pulmonary artery systolic pressure(PASP) estimated by Doppler echocardiographic is still unknown.Methods We conducted a retrospective study on 102 patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension who underwent Doppler echocar-diography within 72 hours before right heart catheterization. During this time,all patients were stable without any specific drug therapy.Results There was moderate correlation between Doppler echocardiographic and right heart catheteriza- tion measurements of PASP(r =0.642,P【0.001).Using Bland-Altman analytic methods,the bias for the echocardio-graphic estimates of PASP was 6.65 mm Hg with 95%limits of agreement ranging from -47.62 to 34.30 mm Hg.There were 58.8%cases with absolute differences over 10 mm Hg between the two methods.Overestimation and underestimation of PASP by Doppler echocardiography occurred in 15.7% (16/102) and 43.1%(44),respectively.The magnitude of pressure underestimation and overestimation was insignificant (24.52±12.15 vs.25.69±16.09,P=0.765),while the corresponding diagnostic categories of severity that each subject would fall into for each technique are not in good agreement. The diagnostic categories of 16 overestimated patients were in accordance.During 44 underestimated patients,20.5%of patients had their pressure underestimated within one diagnostic category(minor error);4.5%of the underestimates were with two diagnostic categories(major error).Conclusions Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography may frequently be inaccurate in estimating PASP and could not replace the right heart catheterization.

A Novel Technique to Maintain Radial Arterial Catheter Position: The Arterial Catheter Stabilizer

Despite widespread use of arterial catheters, there is remarkably little described about their stabilization in the literature. A brief review of arterial catheterization techniques is included. The fixation techniques described in the literature and in commercial product information are essentially to tape or suture the arterial catheter flat against the skin. Often the wrist is immobilized in the dorsiflexed position to prevent kinking or dislodging of the catheter. We describe a simple device made from a gauze pad and tape to elevate and protect the arterial line while minimizing its kinking during wrist flexion.

Management of sepsis in a cirrhotic patient admitted to the intensive care unit:A systematic literature review

BACKGROUND Sepsis is a severe medical condition that occurs when the body's immune system overreacts to an infection,leading to life-threatening organ dysfunction.The"Third international consensus definitions for sepsis and septic shock(Sepsis-3)"defines sepsis as an increase in sequential organ failure assessment score of 2 points or more,with a mortality rate above 10%.Sepsis is a leading cause of intensive care unit(ICU)admissions,and patients with underlying conditions such as cirrhosis have a higher risk of poor outcomes.Therefore,it is critical to recognize and manage sepsis promptly by administering fluids,vasopressors,steroids,and antibiotics,and identifying and treating the source of infection.AIM To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing literature on the management of sepsis in cirrhotic patients admitted to the ICU and compare the management of sepsis between cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients in the ICU.METHODS This study is a systematic literature review that followed the PRISMA statement's standardized search method.The search for relevant studies was conducted across multiple databases,including PubMed,Embase,Base,and Cochrane,using predefined search terms.One reviewer conducted the initial search,and the eligibility criteria were applied to the titles and abstracts of the retrieved articles.The selected articles were then evaluated based on the research objectives to ensure relevance to the study's aims.RESULTS The study findings indicate that cirrhotic patients are more susceptible to infections,resulting in higher mortality rates ranging from 18%to 60%.Early identification of the infection source followed by timely administration of antibiotics,vasopressors,and corticosteroids has been shown to improve patient outcomes.Procalcitonin is a useful biomarker for diagnosing infections in cirrhotic patients.Moreover,presepsin and resistin have been found to be reliable markers of bacterial infection in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis,with similar diagnostic performance compared to procalcitonin.CONCLUSION This review highlights the importance of early detection and management of infections in cirrhosis patients to reduce mortality.Therefore,early detection of infection using procalcitonin test and other biomarker as presepsin and resistin,associated with early management with antibiotics,fluids,vasopressors and low dose corticosteroids might reduce the mortality associated with sepsis in cirrhotic patients.

Preliminary study of abnormal increase of postexercise systolic blood pressure in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease

Objectives This study sought to evaluate the diagnostic value of abnormal increase of postexercise systolic blood pressure (SBP) for detecting coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with or without hypertension. Methods Treadmill exercise testing (TET) was conducted in 88 patients (40 CAD patients, 48 control subjects) with or without hypertension, each of whom underwent selective coronary angiography (CAG). The abnormal increase of postexercise SBP was defined as 10mmHg higher than earlier periods during the recovery phase (6 minutes) of exercise testing. Results The abnormal increase of postexercise SBP had higher sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for detecting CAD than those of ST - segment depression in patients with or without hypertension. Its accuracy increased with the severity of CAD while decreased in patients with hypertension, and the increase value of SBP had a positive correlation with the extent of coronary artery lesion. The combination of ST - segment depression and abnormal increase of postexercise SBP diagnosed CAD most accurately in patients with hypertension. Conclusions Abnormal increase of postexercise SBP may be a useful index for diagnosing CAD.

Functional changes of the heart and lung in perioperative period of orthotopic liver transplantation

Objective: To investigate the variation of functions of the heart and lung during orthotopic liver transplan- tation (OLT). Methods: Pulmonary artery cannula and right radial artery cannula were indewelled before anaesthesia and the parameters of hemodynamics in different pe- riods were monitored. Analysis of variance was used to reveal the variation among the groups. T hypothe- sis test in paired data was used to compare the preop- erative parameters with those in each period during operation and after operation respectively, and to compare the parameters immediately after operation with those in each period after operation respective- ly. Results: During the operation, heart rate increased, but blood pressure decreased significantly at the be- ginning of no-liver period, increased again in a short period and then increased progressively 12 h after op- eration. Pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) increased from before the no-liver period to 60 h after opera- tion. Pulmonary wedge pressure changed in accord- ance with the variation of PAP. Cardiac output was maintained at a high-output level from before opera- tion to 60 h after operation. Systemic vascular resist- ance (SVR) was within the normal limits before op- eration, whereas pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was lower than normal. In the no-liver peri- od during the operation, SVR decreased significant- ly. Both SVR and PVR increased progressively and returned to normal postoperatively. Conclusions: The patients undergoing OLT have a high cardiac output and Iow resistance obstacle be- fore and during the operation, and will recover grad- ually after operation. Monitoring hemodynamics during the peri-operative period is of significance in the prevention and treatment of pneumonedema and cardiac functional insufficiency.

Comparison of Cardiac Output and Hemodynamic Responses of Intubation among Different Videolaryngoscopies in Normotensive and Hypertensive Patients

Tracheal intubation with Macintosh laryngoscope（MAC） might result in severe cardiovascular complications. The results of conducted studies investigating the effects of videolaryngoscopies on hemodynamic response of tracheal intubation are conflicting. We know little about the effects of videolaryngoscopies on cardiac output changes during tracheal intubation. We compared cardiac output（COP） and hemodynamic responses in normal blood pressure（n=60） and hypertensive patients（n=60） among 3 intubation devices： the MAC, the UE videolaryngoscopy ？（UE）, and the UE video intubation stylet ？（VS）. Cardiac index（CI）, stroke volume index（SVI）, heart rate（HR）, systolic blood pressure（SBP） and diastolic blood pressure（DBP） were recorded using Lidco Rapid V2？ preinduction, preintubation, and every minute for the first 5 min after intubation. We assessed oropharyngeal and laryngeal structures injury as well. Intubation time was significantly shorter than MAC groups（P〈0.001） only in UE group of normotensive and hypertensive patients. In normotensive patients, there were no significant differences in any of COP variables or hemodynamic variables among the three devices. In hypertensive patients, SBP and DBP in the MAC group were significantly higher（P〈0.05 or 〈0.01） than the UE and VS groups at 1, 2 and 3 min after intubation, but there were no significant differences in CI, SVI and HR among the three devices. There was no significant difference in oropharyngeal and laryngeal structures injury among all groups. It was concluded that both the UE and VS attenuate only the hemodynamic response to intubation as compared with the MAC in hypertensive patients, but not in normotensive patients.

H_1 and H_2 receptors in the locus ceruleus are involved in the intracere-broventricular histamine-induced carotid sinus baroreceptor reflex reset-ting in rats

Objective To investigate the role of H1 and H2 receptors in the locus ceruleus （LC） in carotid sinus baroreceptor reflex （CSR） resetting induced by intracerebroventricular （i.c.v.） injection of histamine （HA）. Methods The left and right carotid sinus regions were isolated from the systemic circulation in 18 male Sprague-Dawley rats anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium. The intracarotid sinus pressure （ISP） was altered in a stepwise manner in vivo. ISP-mean arterial pressure （MAP） relationship curve and its characteristic parameters were constructed by fitting to the logistic function with five parameters. The changes in CSR performance induced by i.c.v. HA and the effects of pretreatment with H1 or H2 receptors selective antagonist, chlorpheniramine （CHL） or cimetidine （CIM） into the LC, on the responses of CSR to HA were examined. Results I.c.v. HA （100 ng in 5 μl） significantly shifted the ISP-MAP relationship curve upwards （P 〈 0.05） and obviously decreased the value of the reflex parameters such as MAP range and maximum gain （P 〈 0.05）, but increased the threshold pressure, saturation pressure and ISP at maximum gain （P 〈 0.05）. The pretreatment with CHL （0.5 μg in 1 μl） or CIM （1.5 μg in 1 μl） into the LC could obviously attenuate the changes mentioned above in CSR performance induced by HA, but the alleviative effect of CIM was less remarkable than that of CHL （P 〈 0.05）. Respective microinjection of CHL or CIM alone into the LC with the corresponding dose and volume did not change CSR performance significantly （P 〉 0.05）. Conclusion Intracerebroventricular administration of HA results in a rapid resetting of CSR and a decrease in reflex sensitivity, and the responses of CSR to HA may be mediated, at least in part, by H1 and H2 receptors activities in the LC, especially by H1 receptors. Moreover, the effects of the central HA on CSR might be related to a histaminergic descending pathway from the hypothalamus to LC.

Role of Nuclear Transcription Factor-кB in Endotoxin induced Shock in Rats

Summary: To investigate the role of NF-κB in endotoxic shock in rats, the model of endotoxin-shock rats was induced by intravenous infusion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). 1 h, 2 h, 4 h and 6 h after LPS injection, the activation of NF-κB in blood mononuclear cells and the content of TNF-α and IL-6 in plasma was detected by enzyme-linked immunoadsordent assay (ELISA). The level of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the histopathological changes of lung and liver were also observed. The activation of NF-κB in mononuclear cells increased 1 h after LPS injection and reached its peak 2 h after the injection, and its level was higher than that of normal group. The level of TNF-α was increased 1 h after the infusion and peaked 2 h after the injection, and its level was higher than that of normal group after LPS infusion. The content of IL-6 increased gradually with time, the IL-6 level was higher than that of normal group after LPS injection. MAP was decreased gradually with time and its level was lower than that of normal group after LPS injection. Pathological examination showed that endotoxic shock could cause pulmonary alveolar hemorrhage, edema and infiltration of inflammatory cell in lung tissue and congestion, edema, capillary dilation and inflammatory cell infiltration in liver tissue. It is concluded that NF-κB can up-regulate the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 in plasma and play an important role in endotoxin-induced shock in rats.

Perioperative risk factors associated with delayed graft function following deceased donor kidney transplantation:A retrospective,single center study

BACKGROUND There is an abundant need to increase the availability of deceased donor kidney transplantation(DDKT)to address the high incidence of kidney failure.Challenges exist in the utilization of higher risk donor organs into what appears to be increasingly complex recipients;thus the identification of modifiable risk factors associated with poor outcomes is paramount.AIM To identify risk factors associated with delayed graft function(DGF).METHODS Consecutive adults undergoing DDKT between January 2016 and July 2017 were identified with a study population of 294 patients.The primary outcome was the occurrence of DGF.RESULTS The incidence of DGF was 27%.Under logistic regression,eight independent risk factors for DGF were identified including recipient body mass index≥30 kg/m^(2),baseline mean arterial pressure<110 mmHg,intraoperative phenylephrine administration,cold storage time≥16 h,donation after cardiac death,donor history of coronary artery disease,donor terminal creatinine≥1.9 mg/dL,and a hypothermic machine perfusion(HMP)pump resistance≥0.23 mmHg/mL/min.CONCLUSION We delineate the association between DGF and recipient characteristics of preinduction mean arterial pressure below 110 mmHg,metabolic syndrome,donorspecific risk factors,HMP pump parameters,and intraoperative use of phenylephrine.