Fat meals are known to decrease lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure, possibly through postprandial CCK release. Dietary fat consists mainly of long-chain triglycerides (LCT), which potently stimulate CCK secretion. This effect contrasts with that of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), which do not induce CCK release. We recorded LES pressure and gallbladder volume in six healthy subjects on...

Pericardial constraint and ventricular interaction influence left ventricular (LV) performance when preload is high. However, it is unclear if these constraining forces modulate LV filling when the heart is unloaded, such as during upright posture, in humans. Fifty healthy individuals underwent right heart catheterization to measure pulmonary capillary wedge (PCWP) and right atrial pressure (RA...

The objective of this study was to elucidate the role of Kupffer cells during the increase of portal vein pressure caused by ethanol. We measured nitric oxide (NO) in the perfused rat liver using a commercial NO meter. Ethanol perfusion increased NO release and portal vein pressure. Gadolinium chloride pretreatment reduced the increase in portal vein pressure during the early phase of ethanol p...

We investigated the existence of the "no-reflow" phenomenon in focal cerebral ischemia. Regional cerebral blood flow was studied in Mongolian gerbils perfused with a carbon-black particle suspension after cerebral ischemia prior to decapitation and compared with 14C-antipyrine autoradiographic images. The correlation between the occurrence of the "no-reflow" phenomenon and systemic arterial blo...

Acoustic emission before the failure of heterogeneous materials is studied as a function of applied hydrostatic pressure. A formula for the energy release is suggested, which is valid in the whole diapason of pressures, from zero to the critical pressure of rupture. This formula is obtained by employing the extrapolation technique of the self-similar approximation theory. The result is fitted t...

The circulatory responses to high equinalgesic doses of morphine are compared with those of pethidin. The decrease in mean arterial blood pressure in case of morphine was 28p.c., with a paralleled and identical de­crease in total peripheral resistance and no negative inotropic effects.  Pethidine decreased blood pressure 54p.c., as a result of peripheral vasodilation of 46p.c. and a sharp drop...

Background. Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) is a mode of mechanical ventilation that theoretically believed to improve cardiac output by lowering right atrial pressure. However, hemodynamic parameters have never been formally assessed. Methods. Seven healthy swine were intubated and sedated. A baseline assessment of conventional ventilation (assist control) and positive end-expirator...

BACKGROUND Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) is a ventilatory mode, which allows unsupported spontaneous breathing at any phase of the ventilatory cycle. Airway pressure release ventilation as compared with pressure support (PS), another partial ventilatory mode, has been shown to improve gas exchange and cardiac output. We hypothesized whether the use of APRV with maintained unsupport...

To define the role of insulin in blood pressure regulation, the hormone's action on renal sodium handling, potassium balance, pressor reactivity, and the release of catecholamines and aldosterone are summarized. Insulin-stimulated renal sodium reabsorption induces expansion of the extracellular volume, increase in cardiac output, and ultimately, hypertension. On the other hand, the insulin-indu...

Broadband noise absorption, including low frequencies, may be obtained by a hybrid passive-active two-layer system. A porous layer in front of an air layer provides passive absorption, at medium and high frequencies. Active control of the input impedance of the two-layer system yields absorption at low frequencies. The active control system can implement either pressure-release or impedance-mat...