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Biomedical subjects

P Ask

Publications and source records attributed to P Ask.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Sciatic nerve blood flow measured by laser Doppler flowmetry and [14C]iodoantipyrine.

Blood flow was examined in sciatic nerves of pentobarbital-anesthetized rats by means of laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and intravenous [14C]iodoantipyrine infusion. Continuous LDF signals demonstrated slow oscillations and acute, pressure-related changes in flow. The steady-state LDF signal was related linearly to nerve blood flow, as measured with [14C]iodoantipyrine, in intact nerves and nerves stripped of the epineurium. In 14 intact nerves, nerve blood flow averaged 0.27 +/- 0.03 (SE) ml X min-1 X g-1, whereas it averaged 0.13 +/- 0.01 in 5 stripped nerves. Autoradiographs of [3H]-nicotine-infused nerves and intra-arterial injection of 57Co-labeled microspheres demonstrated that flow was not uniform throughout the nerve cross section. The results indicate that LDF can be used to examine nerve blood flow in vivo, demonstrate a linear relation between the LDF signal and flow, and establish absolute values for blood flow in intact and stripped nerves of the anesthetized rat.

Animals↗

Peripheral nerve as an osmometer: role of the perineurium in frog sciatic nerve.

Measurements of volume and hydrostatic pressure in the frog sciatic nerve in vitro demonstrate that the nerve acts as an osmometer, in large part because the perineurium is a semipermeable membrane for water flow. Endoneurial hydrostatic pressure in nerves in isotonic Ringer exceeds bath pressure by about 7 mmHg. In Ringer made hypertonic by addition of sucrose, nerve volume and endoneurial pressure fall linearly in relation to 1/osmolality. The slope of the plot of pressure against volume provides a value for nerve compliance equal to 0.006 mm2/mmHg. Calculations based on the model of the nerve as an osmometer indicate that the nerve has an osmotically "inactive" volume equal to 0.19 mm3/mm, which is about 75% of the total volume of a nerve segment of unit length in normal Ringer. Perineurial hydraulic conductivity (Lp) equals 7.5 x 10(-13) cm3.s-1.dyn-1, a value characteristic of nonleaky epithelia. The perineurium is an elastic tissue with a constant modulus of elasticity equal to 3 x 10(6) dyn/cm2 when not markedly stretched and may limit nerve swelling under pathological conditions of nerve edema.

Animals↗

Evaluation of a new method for abdominal compression for use in oesophageal investigation.

The use of conventional extra-abdominal compression with a constant cuff pressure was shown to give various pressures intra-abdominally in different subjects. A feedback system was therefore used, in which the extra-abdominal pressure is controlled by the intra-abdominal pressure. For an intra-abdominal pressure increase of 15 mm Hg the external cuff pressure in 20 subjects varied from 21 to 98 mm Hg. There was, however, an almost linear relationship between increased intra-abdominal pressure and cuff pressure. The extra-abdominal pressure required to obtain a certain intra-abdominal pressure also varied with the size of the cuff. To obtain relevant and comparable results in studies of hiatal incompetence and gastro-oesophageal reflux, the feedback system is recommended and the size of the intra-abdominal cuff should be stated.

Abdomen↗

Effect of time interval between swallows on esophageal peristalsis.

Esophageal peristaltic pressure amplitude, peristaltic incidence, speed of peristalsis, and wave duration were investigated as a function of swallow interval. In the distal half of the esophagus, the amplitude decreased at swallow intervals of 8 s and shorter. At intervals of 8 and 4 s, dropouts of contractions that were obtained were most frequent in the distal esophagus and for the 4-s interval. At continuous swallows no contractions were obtained below the upper esophageal sphincter until the end of the swallow sequence, after which a peristaltic wave of high amplitude propagated along the esophagus. The peristaltic speed increased toward a level 5 cm above the lower esophageal sphincter. The peristaltic wave duration was approximately the same in different parts of the esophagus and at different swallow intervals. The findings indicate an impairment of esophageal transport function by short swallow intervals.

Adult↗

ECG electrodes. A study of electrical and mechanical long-term properties.

The long-term properties of commercially available ECG-electrodes were studied by investigating the parameters: polarization potential, electrical impedance, adhesion, and skin reactions during a period of 7 days. As expected, the most stable polarization potentials were obtained for Ag/AgCl electrodes. Certain simple disposable electrodes showed large polarization potential variations. The most stable electrode impedance was obtained for disposable electrodes with stable adhesion and equipped with an electrode cup or similar. Unchanged adhesion and mechanical properties during the test period were shown by the disposable electrodes with a large self-adhesive collar.

Adhesiveness↗

Frequency content of esophageal peristaltic pressure.

Fourier analysis of esophageal peristaltic pressure waves was performed by computer fast Fourier transform. The highest power spectral density was obtained in the frequency range below 1 Hz. The Fourier analysis showed spectral components up to about 12 Hz in the upper esophageal sphincter (UES). The significance of different frequency components was investigated by low-pass filtering at different cut-off frequencies. A reduction in the amplitude of UES contractions was obtained at a cut-off frequency of 4 Hz, whereas the cut-off frequency of 8 Hz did not show any distortion. For perfused manometry systems, only a low-compliance perfusion pump will have sufficient bandwidth for accurate recording of esophageal peristaltic pressures.

Adult↗

Clinical evaluation of different fluid-filled systems for oesophageal manometry.

In a clinical study of oesophageal manometry with fluid-filled catheters, both a non-perfused system and a perfused system with a syringe pump have been compared to a system with a low-compliance perfusion pump, which served as a reference. Significantly lower values of motility amplitudes, motility derivatives, and partly of LES pressures, and a time delay of up to 0.5 sec of the amplitude maximum were obtained with the non-perfused system and the system with a syringe pump in comparison to the low-compliance system. Since the oesophageal function can be erroneously evaluated by use of a non-perfused system or a perfused system with a syringe pump, such systems cannot be recommended for clinical use.

Adult↗

Mechanisms affecting lower oesophageal sphincter opening and oesophageal retention. A combined X-ray and manometry study.

Using simultaneous manometry and cineradiography, oesophageal evacuation was studied while contrast medium was infused via a catheter. The distal half of the oesophagus could be filled with contrast medium without triggering peristalsis. The hydrostatic pressure necessary to open the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) was of approximately the same magnitude as the pressure gradient between oesophagus and LES. No significant relaxation of the LES could be observed at the initiation of swallowing. The LES may be looked upon not only as a sphincter preventing reflux but also as a gate which must be forced open by food.

Adult↗

Static and dynamic characteristics of fluid-filled esophageal manometry systems.

Esophageal manometric systems with water-filled catheters have been characterized by the use of model experiments. The examined parameters have been: catheter dimension, catheter compliance, catheter resistance, pump type, pump compliance, and perfusion flow. Accurate static pressure measurements have been obtained for perfused systems independently of the investigated parameters. The dynamic characteristics vary with catheter diameter and perfusion flow. For catheters with low diameter, a narrow bandwidth is obtained for the investigated perfusion flows. The results have been expressed in terms of an electric model of the measurement system. Perfusion pumps with low compliance are recommended to improve the dynamic properties of the measurement system.

Catheterization↗

Estimation of volume flow rate by surface integration of velocity vectors from color Doppler images.

A new Doppler echocardiographically based method has been developed to quantify volume flow rate by surface integration of velocity vectors (SIVV). Electrocardiographic-gated color Doppler images acquired in two orthogonal planes were used to estimate volume flow rate through a bowl-shaped surface at a given time and distance from the probe. To provide in vitro validation, the method was tested in a hydraulic model representing a pulsatile flow system with a restrictive orifice. Accurate estimates of stroke volume (+/- 10%) were obtained in a window between 1.2 and 1.6 cm proximal to the orifice, just before the region of prestenotic acceleration. By use of the Bernoulli's equation, the estimated flows were used to generate pressure gradient waveforms across the orifice, which agreed well with the measured flows. To demonstrate in vivo applicability, the SIVV method was applied retrospectively to the determination of stroke volume and subaortic flow from the apical three-chamber and five-chamber views in two patients. Stroke volume estimates along the left ventricular outflow tract showed a characteristic similar to that in the in vitro study and agreed well with those obtained by the Fick oxygen method. The region where accurate measurements can be obtained is affected by instrumental factors including Nyquist velocity limit, wall motion filter cutoff, and color flow sector angle. The SIVV principle should be useful for quantitative assessment of the severity of valvular abnormalities and noninvasive measurement of pulsatile volume flows in general.

Animals↗

The shape of the proximal isovelocity surface area varies with regurgitant orifice size and distance from orifice: computer simulation and model experiments with color M-mode technique.

The hemispheric proximal isovelocity surface area method for quantification of mitral regurgitant flow (i.e., Qc = 2 pi r2v), where 2 pi r2 is the surface area and v is the velocity at radius r, was investigated as distance from the orifice was increased. Computer simulations and steady flow model experiments were performed for orifices of 4, 6, and 8 mm. Flow rates derived from the centerline velocity and hemispheric assumption were compared with true flow rates. Proximal isovelocity surface area shape varied as distance from each orifice was increased and could only be approximated from the hemispheric equation when a certain distance was exceeded: > 7, > 10, and > 12 mm for the 4, 6, and 8 mm orifices, respectively. Prediction of relative error showed that the best radial zone at which to make measurements was 5 to 9, 6 to 14 and 7 to 17 mm for the 4, 6, and 8 mm orifices, respectively. Although effects of a nonhemispheric shape could be compensated for by use of a correction factor, a radius of 8 to 9 mm can be recommended without the use of a correction factor over all orifices studied if a deviation in calculated as compared with true flow of 15% is considered acceptable. These measurements therefore have implications for the technique in clinical practice.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

Two-dimensional color Doppler flow velocity profiles can be time corrected with an external ECG-delay device.

Although two-dimensional ultrasound color flow imaging is often considered to be a real-time technique, the acquisition time for two-dimensional color images may be up to 200 msec. Time correction is therefore necessary to obtain correct flow velocity profiles. We have developed a time-correction method in which a specially designed unit detects the QRS complex from the patient and creates a trig pulse that is delayed incrementally in relation to the QRS complex. This trig pulse controls the acquisition of the ultrasound images. A number of consecutively delayed images, with known incremental delay between the sweeps, can thus be stored in the memory of the echocardiograph and transferred digitally to a computer. The time-corrected flow velocity profile is obtained by interpolation of data from the time-delayed profiles. The system was evaluated in a Doppler string phantom test. With this technique it is possible to study time-corrected flow velocity profiles without the need to alter existing ultrasound Doppler equipment.

Blood Flow Velocity↗