bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Patients' dreams and unreal experiences following intensive care unit admission
Authors: Roberts Brigit , Chaboyer Wendy 
Published: June 2004

Summary• Dreams and unreal experiences occur commonly in critically ill patients admitted to intensive care unit• This study describes 31 Patients' dreams and explores the relationship between Patients' subjective recall 12–18 months after intensive care unit discharge and their observed behaviour during their intensive care unit stay• Semi‐structured interviews revealed that 74% of longer‐term ICU patients (≥3 days) reported dreaming, with the majority also describing frightening hallucinations• Only two patients reported long‐term negative psychological sequelae, but the short‐term consequence of hallucinations may also have an undiscovered impact on Patients' recovery
Education and training for acute care delivery: a needs analysis
Authors: Wood Ian , Douglas Julie , Priest Helena 
Published: June 2004

Summary• Technological and clinical advances have led to increased levels of patient dependency and shorter hospital stay, such that they are now often managed on general wards• Have staff been trained or educated for this change in focus?• This project was designed to identify the education and training needs of health care professionals in assessing and managing acutely physically ill hospital patients, within the boundaries of one Strategic Health Authority (SHA) in the UK• Participants identified the knowledge, skills and resources required to assess and manage acutely ill patients• These issues may be addressed through the provision of an appropriate range of structured educational programmes and experiences with the ultimate aim of improving standards of patient care
Continuing professional development: does it make a difference?
Authors: Tennant Shirley , Field Ray 
Published: June 2004

Summary• Continuing professional development (CPD) is costly in terms of both organizational resources and personal time and effort• It forms an important part of the strategy for modernizing the health service and is an expectation of qualified nurses• There is little evidence to demonstrate the impact of CPD in terms of improved patient care and services• A small pilot study was undertaken. A group of intensive therapy unit (ITU) managers developed a goal attainment scale (GAS) to evaluate the impact of an ITU course. Results suggest that the ITU course did make a difference to the development of ITU nurses, but the nurses who did not take the course also developed• This has implications for service providers and educationalists in terms of expectations, timing and content of courses• The GAS was a useful tool as an approach to evaluating the impact of CPD but requires more rigorous testing before it can be described as reliable and valid
Stimulation of glucose utilization and inhibition of protein glycation and AGE products by taurine
Authors: Nandhini A. T. A. , Thirunavukkarasu V. , Anuradha C. V. 
Published: June 2004

AbstractAim:  Pathological effects of the process of non‐enzymatic glycation of proteins are reflected in chronic complications of diabetes mellitus. We investigated the antiglycating effect of taurine in high fructose fed rats in vivo and the inhibiting potency of taurine in the process of in vitro glycation. Additionally, we investigated whether taurine enhances glucose utilization in the rat diaphragm.Methods:  Rats fed a high fructose diet (60% total calories) were provided 2% taurine solution for 30 days. The effects of taurine on plasma glucose, fructosamine, protein glycation and glycosylated haemoglobin in high fructose rats were determined. For in vitro glycation a mixture of 25 mm glucose and 25 mm fructose was used as glycating agent, bovine serum albumin as the model protein and taurine as the inhibitor. Incubations were carried out in a constant temperature bath at 37 °C for 3–30 days. Amadori products and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formed were measured. In vitro utilization of glucose was carried out in the rat diaphragm in the presence and absence of insulin in which taurine was used as an additive.Results:  The contents of glucose, glycated protein, glycosylated haemoglobin and fructosamine were significantly lowered by taurine treatment to high fructose rats. Taurine prevented in vitro glycation and the accumulation of AGEs. Furthermore, taurine enhanced glucose utilization in the rat diaphragm. This effect was additive to that of insulin and did not interfere with the action of insulin.Conclusions:  These results underline the potential use of taurine as a therapeutic supplement for the prevention of diabetic pathology.
Mechanism of activation of the tonic component of contraction in myocytes of guinea pig heart
Authors: Mackiewicz Urszula , Emanuel Krzysztof , Lewartowski Bohdan 
Published: June 2004

AbstractAim:
Contractions of myocytes of guinea pig heart consist of a phasic component relaxing independently on the voltage and a tonic component relaxing upon repolarization. We found previously that Ca2+ activating the tonic component is released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. In this study, we analysed the mechanism of activation and maintenance of this release.Methods:  Experiments were performed at 37 °C in ventricular myocytes of guinea pig heart. Voltage‐clamped myocytes were stimulated by the pulses of the duration of 300 ms to 15–45 s from the holding potential of −40 to +5 mV. [Ca2+]i was monitored as fluorescence of Indo‐1 and contractions were recorded with the TV edge‐tracking system.Results:  Myocytes responded to the short and long pulses with phasic contraction or Ca2+ transient followed by the sustained contraction or increase in [Ca2+]i. Repolarization brought about relaxation. 10 mmol L−1 Ni2+ blocking Na+/Ca2+ exchange superfused during the tonic component increased its amplitude. Superfusion of Ca2+‐free solution during sustained contraction brought about relaxation both in normal cells and in cells superfused with Ni2+ despite preserved sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content assessed with caffeine spritz. Relaxing effect of Ca2+‐free solution was not affected by carboxyeosin, a blocker of sarcolemmal Ca2+‐ATPase. Tonic component of contraction and of Ca2+ transient was inhibited by 200 μmol L−1 ryanodine, a blocker of Ca2+ release channels of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and by 20 μmol L−1 nifedipine, a blocker of L‐type ICa.Conclusion:  Tonic component of contraction results from Ca2+ release via the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ channels activated by sustained, nifedipine‐sensitive and Ni2+‐insensitive Ca2+ influx. Alternatively, the SR Ca2+ release is activated by voltage, the dihydropyridine receptors acting like voltage sensors.
Ischaemia in working muscles potentiates the exercise‐induced sweating response in man
Authors: Eiken O. , Mekjavic I. B. 
Published: June 2004

AbstractAim:  The purpose was to examine whether graded ischaemia in the working muscles affects the rate of sweating and the control of exercise core temperature.Methods:  Eight subjects performed cycle ergometry exercise in the supine position with (ischaemic exercise) and without (control exercise) restriction of blood flow in the contracting muscles, accomplished by exposure of the legs to a supra‐atmospheric pressure of 6.6 kPa. Each subject performed one exhaustive incremental work rate trial and one steady‐state exercise trial (at 33% of control peak work rate), in both the control and ischaemia conditions.Results:  Ischaemia decreased work performance by 45% so that in this condition the steady‐state work rate level corresponded to 63% of ischaemic peak work rate. Ischaemia did not affect the oesophageal temperature equilibrium in the steady‐state trials, but potentiated the exercise sweating response. Exercise responses of mean arterial pressure, heart rate and pulmonary ventilation were potentiated by ischaemia.Conclusion:  During ischaemic exercise sweat secretion was potentiated by non‐thermal and/or local thermal stimuli.
Effect of acute hyperoxia during exercise on quadriceps electrical activity in active COPD patients
Authors: Gosselin N. , Durand F. , Poulain M. , Lambert K. , Ceugniet F. , Préfaut C. , Varray A. 
Published: June 2004

AbstractAims:
This study investigated whether acute hyperoxia improves electrical muscle activity in active chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with mild hypoxemia (rest PaO2 = 9.1 ± 0.4 kPa).Methods:  Two identical incremental exercise tests were performed by nine patients while breathing either air or 30% oxygen. Pulmonary gas exchanges, venous concentrations of lactate and pyruvate, and the electromyographic signal of the quadriceps muscle (vastus lateralis and vastus medialis) were sampled each minute.Results:  Peak working capacity increased significantly in hyperoxia (94.4 ± 5.2W) compared with normoxia (85.4 ± 5.8W, P < 0.01). During hyperoxic exercise and for a given work load, oxygen uptake was increased (P < 0.001) and ventilation decreased (P < 0.05). Lactate concentration was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) at isowork level and during recovery (respectively – 26% and at least – 15%). In the quadriceps muscle, M‐wave amplitude (P < 0.05), root mean square (P < 0.01) and root mean square/oxygen uptake ratio (P < 0.001) were significantly increased during hyperoxic exercise compared with room air. Although median frequency values did not differ between conditions, the median frequency was significantly decreased for higher exercise intensity in hyperoxic condition. These modifications reflected better aerobic metabolism, later emergence of muscle fatigue, and greater muscle excitability and activation for the same level of exercise under hyperoxic condition.Conclusion:  These data suggest that the acute addition of oxygen in active COPD patients improves their muscle electrical activity during dynamic exercise. Hypoxemia‐induced skeletal muscle dysfunction most probably acts through mechanisms based on oxygen availability.
Comparison of vascular distensibility in the upper and lower extremity
Authors: Eiken O. , Kölegård R. 
Published: June 2004

AbstractAim:  Because of the great differences in hydrostatic pressure acting along the blood vessels in the erect posture, leg vessels are exposed to greater transmural pressures than arm vessels. The in vivo pressure–distension relationship of arteries, arterioles and veins in the arm were compared with those of the leg.Methods:  Experiments were performed with the subject (n = 11) positioned in a pressure chamber with an arm or lower leg (test limb) extended at heart level through a hole in the chamber door. Intravascular pressure in the arm/lower leg was increased by stepwise increasing chamber pressure to +180 and +210 mmHg, respectively. Diameters of blood vessels and arterial flow were measured using ultrasonographic/Doppler techniques. Changes in forearm and lower leg volumes were assessed using an impedance technique. The subject rated perceived pain in the test limb.Results:  The brachial and radial arteries were found to be more distensible than the posterior tibial artery (P < 0.001). Likewise, the distension was more pronounced in the cephalic than in the great saphenous vein (P < 0.001). In the brachial artery, but not in the posterior tibial artery, flow increased markedly at the highest levels of distending pressure (P < 0.001). At the highest intravascular pressures, the rate of change in tissue impedance was greater in the forearm than the lower leg (P < 0.01). At any given level of markedly increased pressure, pain was rated higher in the arm than in the leg (P < 0.001).Conclusion:  It seems that the wall stiffness of arteries, pre‐capillary resistance vessels and veins adapts to meet the long‐term demands imposed by the hydrostatic pressure acting locally on the vessel walls.
Arterial blood pressure and carotid baroreflex function during arm and combined arm and leg exercise in humans
Authors: Volianitis S. , Yoshiga C. C. , Vogelsang T. , Secher N. H. 
Published: June 2004

AbstractAim:  During arm cranking (A) blood pressure is higher than during combined arm and leg exercise (A + L), while the carotid baroreflex (CBR) is suggested to reset to control a higher blood pressure in direct relation to work intensity and the engaged muscle mass.Method:  This study evaluated the function of the CBR by using neck pressure and neck suction during upright A, L and A + L in 12 subjects and, in order to evaluate a potential influence of the central blood volume on the CBR, also during supine A in five subjects. Exercise intensities for A and L were planned to elicit a heart rate response of c. 100 and 120 beats min−1, respectively, in the upright position and both workloads were maintained during A + L and supine A.Results:  The CBR operating point, corresponding to the pre‐stimulus blood pressure, was 88 ± 6 mmHg (mean ± SE) at rest. During upright A, L and A + L and supine A it increased to 109 ± 9, 95 ± 7, 103 ± 7 and 104 ± 4 mmHg, respectively, and it was thus higher during upright A than during A + L and supine A (P < 0.05). In addition, the CBR threshold and saturation pressures, corresponding to the minimum and maximum carotid sinus pressure, respectively, were higher during upright A than during supine A, A + L, L and at rest (P < 0.05) with no significant change in the maximal reflex gain.Conclusion:  These findings demonstrate that during combined arm and leg and exercise in the upright position the CBR resets to a lower blood pressure than during arm cranking likely because the central blood volume is enhanced by the muscle pump of the legs.
Efficacy of a gravity‐independent resistance exercise device as a countermeasure to muscle atrophy during 29‐day bed rest
Authors: Alkner B. A. , Tesch P. A. 
Published: June 2004

AbstractAim:  This study determined changes in knee extensor and plantar flexor muscle volume during 29 days of bed rest with or without resistance exercise using a gravity‐independent flywheel ergometer.Methods:  Seventeen men (26–41 years) were subjected to 29 days of bed rest with (n = 8) or without (n = 9) resistance exercise; Supine Squat (SS) and Calf Press (CP) performed every third day. Quadriceps and triceps surae muscle volume was determined before and after bed rest and force and power were measured during training. Prior to these interventions, reproducibility of this device for training and testing was assessed in 23 subjects who performed bilateral maximal concentric, eccentric and isometric (MVC) knee extensions and plantar flexions over repeated sessions with simultaneous measurements of force, power and electromyographic (EMG) activity.Results:  Quadriceps and triceps surae muscle volume decreased (P < 0.05) 10 and 16%, respectively, after 29 days bed rest. Exercise maintained quadriceps volume and mitigated triceps surae atrophy. Thus, either muscle showed different response across subject groups (P < 0.05). Force and power output during training were either maintained (P > 0.05) or increased (P < 0.05). EMG amplitude in the training mode was similar (SS; P > 0.05) or greater (CP; P < 0.05) compared with that elicited during MVC. Peak force and power test‐retest coefficient of variation (CV) ranged 5–6% and 7–8% for SS and CP, respectively.Conclusion:  The present data suggest that this resistance exercise paradigm counteracts quadriceps and abates the more substantial triceps surae muscle atrophy in bedridden subjects, and therefore should be an important asset to space travellers.
Smooth muscle role on pulmonary arterial function during acute pulmonary hypertension in sheep
Authors: Bia D. , Armentano R. , Craiem D. , Grignola J. , Ginés F. , Simon A. , Levenson J. 
Published: June 2004

AbstractAim:  We determined the wall mechanical response of the pulmonary artery (PA) to acute pulmonary hypertension induced pharmacologically and by an occlusion maneuver, to study the vascular response of the local segment and its influence in the whole pulmonary circulation.Methods:  Pulmonary pressure and diameter were measured in six anaesthetized sheep under steady‐state conditions. Transient hypertension in the PA was induced by phenylephrine (PHE) and a high pressure (HP) mechanical occlusion aimed at producing the same pulse and mean pressure responses. A viscoelastic arterial wall model was applied and the elastic (Epd) and viscous (μ) indexes were obtained. The μ/Epd ratio was adopted to quantify the damping performance of the arterial wall segment. The diastolic time constant was used as an indicator of the whole pulmonary buffering function. The systemic pressure was always measured.Results:  The pulmonary mean, systolic and pulse pressure increases (P < 0.05) were similar during PHE and HP, with respect to control. PHE also induced a systemic pressure rise (P < 0.05). The Epd elastic index increased during HP (P < 0.05) and tended to increase during PHE with respect to control. The viscous index μ only increased with PHE (P < 0.05) with respect to control and occlusion. The diastolic time constant increased with PHE with respect to control (P < 0.05).Conclusions:  A pressure rise in the PA, induced by an occlusion maneuver, increased local stiffness. Similar pressure rises with smooth muscle activation (PHE), produced both a stiffness and viscous index increase. In PHE resistance increases more than compliance decreases so that the global net effect is a longer decay time. Smooth‐muscle activation enhances the local damping effect (μ/Epd), concomitant with the buffering function improvement.
Effect of acute exercise and training on metabolism of ceramide in the heart muscle of the rat
Authors: Dobrzyń A. , Knapp M. , Górski J. 
Published: June 2004

AbstractAim:  The sphingomyelin signalling pathway operates in the heart muscle. There are no data on the effect of exercise on the functioning of this pathway in the myocardium and it was the aim of the present study to examine this question.Methods:  The experiments were carried out on male Wistar rats, 300–320 g of body weight. They were divided into three groups: (1) control, (2) run 3 h on a treadmill moving with a speed of 1200 m h−1 and set at +10° incline, and (3) trained on a treadmill for 6 weeks. The rats were anaesthetized and samples of the left ventricle were taken. They were immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen. Thereafter, lipids were extracted and ceramide and sphingomyelin were isolated by means of thin layer chromatography. Their fatty acids were identified and quantified by means of gas‐liquid chromatography. In separate heart samples the activity of neutral, Mg2+‐dependent sphingomyelinase and acid sphingomyelinase was determined using labelled sphingomyelin as a substrate.Results:  Thirteen different ceramides and sphingomyelins were identified based on their fatty acid residue. Exercise markedly reduced the total content of ceramide‐fatty acids and had no effect on the total content of sphingomyelin‐fatty acids. Training did not affect the total content either of ceramide‐, or sphingomyelin‐fatty acids. The activity of both neutral Mg2+‐sphingomyelinase and acid sphingomyelinase was reduced after exercise. Training did not affect the activity of neutral sphingomyelinase and reduced the activity of acid sphingomyelinase.Conclusion:  It is concluded that acute, prolonged exercise, but not training, markedly affects the operation of the sphingomyelin‐signalling pathway in the heart.
Highly selective iNOS inhibition and sphincter of Oddi motility in the Australian possum
Authors: Sandstrom P. , Woods C. M. , Brooke‐Smith M. , Saccone G. T. P. , Toouli J. , Svanvik J. 
Published: June 2004

AbstractAim:
Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) plays a major role in acute pancreatitis. Selective inhibitors of iNOS are being developed as therapeutic agents. Sphincter of Oddi (SO) dysfunction may cause pancreatitis and nitric oxide is necessary for SO relaxation. A new highly selective iNOS inhibitor, AR‐C102222AA (AR‐C), is evaluated together with the established iNOS inhibitor, l‐N6‐(1‐iminoethyl)lysine (l‐NIL), and the selective neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) blocker S‐methyl‐l‐thiocitrulline (SMTC).Methods:  In anaesthetized Australian Brush‐tailed possums, the effect of topical, i.v. or i.a. administration of these drugs was evaluated on spontaneous SO motility, blood pressure (BP) and pancreatic vascular perfusion. SO motility was recorded by manometry and pancreatic vascular perfusion by laser Doppler fluxmetry. Also, the effect of SMTC and AR‐C on electrical field stimulation (EFS)‐induced non‐cholinergic non‐adrenergic (NANC) SO relaxation in vitro was evaluated.Results:  Infusion of AR‐C (0.1–30 μmol kg−1) increased SO contraction frequency (P = 0.026) only at the two highest doses. l‐NIL infusion (0.15 to 14.7 μmol kg−1) also increased SO contraction frequency at 8.8 μmol kg−1 (P < 0.05) and reduced SO contraction amplitude at the two highest doses (P < 0.05). SMTC injections (0.5 nmol–2.4 μmol) produced a dose‐dependent increase in SO contraction frequency (P = 0.009), but no effect was seen on the other parameters. In vitro SMTC (40–400 μm) inhibited EFS‐induced NANC relaxation in a dose‐dependent manner (P < 0.0005). In contrast AR‐C (10–500 μm) had no effect on EFS‐induced NANC relaxation (P > 0.05).Conclusions:  At low doses, AR‐C does not effect SO motility or EFS‐induced NO mediated relaxation. However, high doses of AR‐C and L‐NIL in vivo influenced SO motility by inhibiting nNOS activity and these effects need be considered in relation to therapeutic doses of this agent.
Prevention of postoperative sore throat using capsicum plaster applied at the Korean hand acupuncture point
Authors: Park H. S. , Kim K. S. , Min H. K. , Kim D. W. 
Published: June 2004

SummaryIn a randomised, double‐blind, sham‐controlled study, we compared the efficacy of capsicum plaster (PAS) applied at the Korean hand acupuncture point for the prevention of postoperative sore throat in 150 patients scheduled to undergo abdominal hysterectomy. The K group had PAS applied at the K‐A20 of both hands and placebo tape at both non‐acupoints. The PAS was applied prior to induction of anaesthesia and removed 8 h postoperatively. The sore throat scores of Group K were significantly lower than those of other groups at 24 h following surgery (p = 0.00027). The prevalence of moderate to severe sore throat at 24 h was lower for Group K (0%) than for sham and placebo controls (16%[p = 0.038] and 19%[p = 0.032], respectively). There were no differences in the recovery room of the sore throat scores for all groups. We found that the PAS applied at the K‐A20 was an alternative method for reducing postoperative sore throat.