Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Flushing”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Concentration of endometrial protein PP14 in uterine flushings throughout the menstrual cycle in normal, fertile women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the variation in concentration of endometrial protein PP14 in uterine flushings throughout the menstrual cycle comparing this to concentrations in plasma samples. DESIGN: Precise timing of all samples by the luteinising hormone surge. SETTING: Jessop Hospital for Women, Sheffield. SUBJECTS: Twenty-three regularly cycling, previously fertile volunteer women. INTERVENTIONS: Observational study; 10 ml of physiological saline was used to flush the uterine cavity once or serially in the cycle of the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The measurement of PP14 levels by radioimmunoassay in uterine flushings and plasma samples. RESULTS: In uterine flushing, PP14 levels were not detectable in significant amounts in the proliferative phase and the early luteal phase; after day LH + 6, the concentration rises rapidly with a doubling time of only 6.6 to 14.6 h in the midluteal phase. In the late luteal phase, the concentrations in uterine flushing were over a hundred times higher than the corresponding plasma samples. CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of PP14 in uterine flushings is likely to be of greater value than the measurement in plasma samples; it may provide a valuable alternative to the evaluation of endometrial function.

Adult↗

Follicular flushing at oocyte retrieval: a reappraisal.

A survey of Australian assisted reproduction technique (ART) units revealed many (> 50%) use flushing of the follicle in addition to direct aspiration of the fluid during oocyte retrieval. The rationale is that flushing offers an advantage to the patient, with a larger number of oocytes being collected and thus a higher potential for pregnancy Following a complication in a patient, the medical staff determined that flushing might have been implicated. While this was later shown to be unfounded, the unit changed the method of oocyte collection, thus providing an opportunity historically to evaluate the differences between aspiration of follicular fluid alone or with additional flushing of each follicle. Thus the aim of this analysis was to test the hypothesis that aspiration alone does not effect the outcomes of ART with respect to oocyte numbers collected, their quality and subsequent fertilisation, or ultimate pregnancy rate in a large patient group (n = 2378). During the review period (1991-1993) the manufacturer of the aspiration needles; the pump and pressure used for aspiration; the staff involved in all procedures; and the premises, equipment and media used for oocyte collection and culture remained constant. Similarly the two patient groups did not differ in their demographics and physical characteristics. There was no difference (p > 0.5) in the number of oocytes collected, the number of embryos created or the pregnancy rate for that treatment cycle. There was also no significant difference between the two groups in fertilisation rates, irrespective of the type of treatment being used in vitro fertilisation (IVF), gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)). The data presented in this paper are not prospective. They use historical comparison and are confounded by minor changes in ovarian stimulation protocols, but the conclusions are still valid. These data suggest there is no difference in the outcome of ART (from oocyte collection through to pregnancy rate) whether or not aspiration of follicles is accompanied by flushing. First principles of surgery advocate the shortest possible operating time, the simplest procedure and minimum amount of tissue handling as maxims for reducing complication. Therefore, as a routine, flushing would seem superfluous in ART.

Female↗

Rapid induction of mild cerebral hypothermia by cold aortic flush achieves normal recovery in a dog outcome model with 20-minute exsanguination cardiac arrest.

OBJECTIVES: Resuscitation attempts in trauma victims who suffer cardiac arrest (CA) from exsanguination almost always fail. The authors hypothesized that an aortic arch flush with cold normal saline solution (NSS) at the start of exsanguination CA can preserve cerebral viability during 20-minute no-flow. METHODS: Twelve dogs were exsanguinated over 5 minutes to CA of 20-minute no-flow, resuscitated by cardiopulmonary bypass, followed by post-CA mild hypothermia (34 degrees C) continued to 12 hours, controlled ventilation to 20 hours, and intensive care to 72 hours. At CA 2 minutes, the dogs received a 500-mL flush of NSS at either 24 degrees C (group 1, n = 6) or 4 degrees C (group 2, n = 6), using a balloon-tipped catheter inserted via the femoral artery into the descending thoracic aorta. RESULTS: The flush at 24 degrees C (group 1) decreased tympanic membrane temperature [mean (+/-SD)] from 37.5 degrees C (+/-0.1) to 35.7 degrees C (+/-0.2); the flush at 4 degrees C (group 2) to 34.0 degrees C (+/-1.1) (p = 0.005). In group 1, one dog achieved overall performance category (OPC) 2 (moderate disability), one OPC 3 (severe disability), and four OPC 4 (coma). In group 2, four dogs achieved OPC 1 (normal), one OPC 2, and one OPC 3 (p = 0.008). Neurologic deficit scores (0-10% normal, 100% brain death) [median (25th-75th percentile)] were 62% (40-66) in group 1 and 5% (0-19) in group 2 (p = 0.01). Total brain histologic damage scores were 130 (62-137) in group 1 and 24 (10-55) in group 2 (p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Aortic arch flush of 4 degrees C at the start of CA of 20 minutes rapidly induces mild cerebral hypothermia and can lead to normal functional recovery with minimal histologic brain damage. The same model with aortic arch flush of 24 degrees C results in survival with brain damage in all dogs, which makes it suitable for testing other (e.g., pharmacologic) preservation potentials.

Animals↗

Chlorpropamide-alcohol flushing and large-vessel disease in non-insulin-dependent diabetes.

A total of 220 non-insulin-dependent diabetics aged over 45 (139 with a history of chlorpropamide-alcohol flushing and 81 without such a history) were examined for the prevalence of large-vessel disease. Large-vessel disease was significantly more common in the group without a history of flushing (41% v 24% of the two groups respectively; p < 0.05). A history of myocardial infarction was found in 14 (17%) of the patients without flushing but in only 10 (7%) patients with flushing. Similar differences were detected in the prevalences of angina, intermittent claudication, and absent foot pulses. There were, however, no significant differences in the prevalence of cerebrovascular disease or hypertension between the two groups. These results suggest that patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes who flush in response to chlorpropamide and alcohol are significantly less likely to develop large-vessel disease than those who do not. Hence such flushing is probably related to the pathogenesis not only of small-vessel but also of large-vessel disease.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

Nonneural mediation of digital vasodilation during menopausal hot flushes.

Menopausal hot flushes are accompanied by profuse sweating, decreased skin resistance, modest tachycardia and cutaneous vasodilation. With the exception of the last effect, these events are consistent with an abrupt increase in sympathetic outflow. Blood flow in the human finger is controlled through sympathetic vasoconstricting nerves, and increased sympathetic activation results in digital vasoconstriction. We therefore sought to determine if digital vasodilation during hot flushes was mediated through efferent sympathetic nerves. Bilateral finger temperature and blood flow were recorded after the digital nerves on one hand had been blocked with a local injection of lidocaine. The effectiveness of the nerve blocks was verified by a reflex vasoconstriction test. Hot flushes were objectively defined using skin conductance responses recorded from the sternum. Fifteen hot flushes occurred in 8 women. Significant elevations in finger temperature and blood flow occurred during the flushes, in nerve-blocked and intact fingers. These findings suggest that digital vasodilation during hot flushes is due to a circulating vasodilating substance.

Adult↗

Tracheal gas insufflation: catheter effectiveness determined by expiratory flush volume.

Used adjunctively during mechanical ventilation, tracheal gas insufflation (TGI) improves CO2 elimination, principally by decreasing effective anatomic dead space. Continuing lung deflation at end- expiration raises the end-expiratory C02 concentration within the proximal airway, and could theoretically reduce the efficiency of a given catheter flow. To test this possibility, we designed a series of experiments that examined the influence of TGI delivery patterns on the efficiency of CO2 elimination. Using a gating device, catheter flow was delivered selectively during desired portions of expiration. Paralyzed, ventilated dogs were studied at short and extended inspiratory time fractions (TI/TT) with inspiratory tidal volume and ventilator frequency held constant. The expiratory flush volume, not the pattern of gas delivery, determined the observed decline in PaCO2, provided that the end-expiratory period was included in the catheter flush period. Despite continuing end-expiratory lung deflation (extended TI/TT), catheter effectiveness remained the same at matched expiratory flush volumes. To determine if enhanced distal mixing at the higher catheter flows required during the extended TI/TT (to match expiratory flush volume) masked a decrease in efficiency, we repeated the experiment with a tip-inverted catheter. We again found that matched catheter delivered expiratory volumes were similarly effective. With or without ongoing lung deflation, the volume of gas flushed during the expiratory period determined the effectiveness of TGI, provided that inspired minute ventilation remains unchanged and end-expiration is included in the catheter flush period.

Analysis of Variance↗

GPR109A (PUMA-G/HM74A) mediates nicotinic acid-induced flushing.

Nicotinic acid (niacin) has long been used as an antidyslipidemic drug. Its special profile of actions, especially the rise in HDL-cholesterol levels induced by nicotinic acid, is unique among the currently available pharmacological tools to treat lipid disorders. Recently, a G-protein-coupled receptor, termed GPR109A (HM74A in humans, PUMA-G in mice), was described and shown to mediate the nicotinic acid-induced antilipolytic effects in adipocytes. One of the major problems of the pharmacotherapeutical use of nicotinic acid is a strong flushing response. This side effect, although harmless, strongly affects patient compliance. In the present study, we show that mice lacking PUMA-G did not show nicotinic acid-induced flushing. In addition, flushing in response to nicotinic acid was also abrogated in the absence of cyclooxygenase type 1, and mice lacking prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2)) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) receptors had reduced flushing responses. The mouse orthologue of GPR109A, PUMA-G, is highly expressed in macrophages and other immune cells, and transplantation of wild-type bone marrow into irradiated PUMA-G-deficient mice restored the nicotinic acid-induced flushing response. Our data clearly indicate that GPR109A mediates nicotinic acid-induced flushing and that this effect involves release of PGE(2) and PGD(2), most likely from immune cells of the skin.

Adipocytes↗

Objectively recorded hot flushes in patients with pituitary insufficiency.

A study was conducted of 2 young adult women with pituitary insufficiency and complaints of hot flushes. Both underwent continuous recordings of skin temperature of the finger and skin resistance over the sternum as objective indices of flushing episodes. Frequent blood samples were also obtained during the recordings for the measurement of serum LH and FSH levels. During the 10 h of recording, 12 subjective hot flushes occurred and each was associated with a rise of finger temperature of greater than 1 C. Eighty-five percent of the temperature rises were associated with measurable decreases in skin resistance. The mean interval between flushes, the magnitude of the skin temperature and resistance changes, and the relationship of these changes to the onset of subjective flushes were identical to those observed in symptomatic postmenopausal women. Circulating gonadotropin levels were in the low to low normal range in comparison to values observed in premenopausal women and showed minimal pulsatile release. There were no significant correlations between finger temperature changes and LH levels in either subject. These results suggest that the previously described association of pulsatile LH release and the occurrence of hot flushes in postmenopausal women cannot be attributed to augmented LH secretion per se and, therefore, may be due to hypothalamic factors responsible for pulsatile LH release.

Adult↗

Plasma adenosine levels in peri-menopausal women having frequent hot flushes.

BACKGROUND: The effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on plasma adenosine levels was investigated in climacteric women experiencing hot flushes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Plasma adenosine levels were measured in 13 peri-menopausal women with frequent hot flushes (>5 per day) before and 3-4 months after initiating HRT. Thirteen healthy pre-menopausal, 9 peri-menopausal women with few hot flushes (<1 or 2 per day) and 10 healthy postmenopausal women were enrolled as controls. The average plasma adenosine level in the peri-menopausal women was 0.20+/-0.09 micromol/L, which was significantly higher than in the pre-menopausal (0.12+/-0.07 micromol/L, p<0.05), peri-menopausal with few hot flushes (0.10+/-0.09 micromol/L, p<0.05) and postmenopausal women (0.13+/-0.06 micromol/L, p<0.05). Both the increased adenosine level and the hot flushes were decreased by HRT (plasma adenosine: 0.13+/-0.06 micromol/L). CONCLUSIONS: Increased plasma adenosine in peri-menopausal women may be associated with frequent hot flushes.

Adenosine↗

Treatment of hot flushes in breast and prostate cancer.

Hot flushes, the most common health problem reported by menopausal-age women, can lead to significant morbidity and affect the social life, ability to work and sleep pattern of the sufferer. Women treated for breast cancer and men receiving androgen ablation for prostate cancer experience hot flushes that are more frequent, severe and longer lasting than those experienced by the general menopausal population. In women with breast cancer, hot flushes can result from chemotherapy-induced menopause, hormonal therapy, or ovarian suppression. In men with prostate cancer, hot flushes occur after surgical or medical castration. Hormone replacement therapy with oestrogen-based compounds has been a mainstay of treatment for hot flushes during the perimenopausal period. However, recent studies have shown that, in healthy menopausal women, hormone replacement therapy is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, myocardial infarction, thrombo-embolic events and stroke. Thus, identifying nonhormonal agents that can control hot-flush symptoms is essential to the quality of life of a growing population of cancer survivors. The most promising agents act on the CNS and include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, as well as venlafaxine and gabapentin.

Amines↗

Effect of stage of cycle, sampling frequency and recovery of micro-organisms on total protein content of mare uterine flushings.

Mares with sound reproductive tracts were divided into two groups. In Group I (N = 12), uteri were flushed once per oestrous cycle during alternate cycles while in Group II (N = 8) mares were flushed twice in a cycle for 2 contiguous cycles. Total protein concentrations and total recoverable protein of uterine flushings taken on Day 3 of oestrus and Day 8 after ovulation in each of the 2 groups and between the 2 groups did not differ significantly. The length of oestrus and dioestrus was not affected by the flushing procedures. Total recoverable protein and total protein concentrations of flushings were higher at Day 3 of oestrus and Day 8 and 15 after ovulation (P less than 0.01) when a micro-organism was isolated from the uterus before flushing.

Animals↗

The resistance of the mouse uterine lumen to flushing and possible contamination of samples by plasma and interstitial fluid.

The hydrostatic pressures generated during controlled flushing of the mouse uterus increased at implantation and under conditions of uterine closure. These pressures may be responsible for inducing tissue damage during flushing. The possibility that samples collected by flushing might be contaminated with interstitial fluid or plasma was studied using intravenously administered 51Cr-labelled EDTA and 125I-labelled human serum albumin as markers. The presence of both tracers was detected in all flushings and was greatest in flushings from uteri with luminal closure and early implantation sites. These observations raise serious doubts about the validity of the flushing technique for analysing uterine luminal constituents in mice.

Animals↗

Effect of flushing of blastocysts on days 10-13 on the life-span of the corpora lutea in the pig.

Blastocysts were flushed out of both uterine horns of gilts on Days 10, 11, 12 or 13. In mated non-pregnant gilts flushing had no effect on progesterone profile or cycle length (20.8 +/- 0.4 versus 20.6 +/- 0.6 days in the preflush cycle, N = 6, mean +/- s.e.m.). Flushing the blastocysts out of the uterine horns on Day 10 resulted in a cycle with a normal progesterone profile and a normal length (21.2 +/- 0.4 days, N = 5). Flushing on Days 11, 12 or 13 resulted in a normal cycle or in maintenance of the CL for 3-13 days as indicated by elevated progesterone concentrations and an increased interoestrous interval of, respectively, 22.0 +/- 1.2 versus 19.8 +/- 0.6 days (Day 11; N = 6), 24.8 +/- 1.4 versus 21.0 +/- 0.6 days (Day 12; N = 5; P less than 0.05) and 26.3 +/- 2.3 versus 20.5 +/- 0.4 days (Day 13; N = 6; P less than 0.05). There was a positive relationship between the change in interoestrous interval and the interval between the first observed standing oestrus and flushing of the blastocysts (rs = 0.350; n = 22; P less than 0.1). There was a large variation in the diameter of the blastocysts flushed on the same day. Only in those gilts in which the blastocysts were greater than or equal to 8 mm or filamentous were the CL maintained for 3 or more days. These results indicate that a first signal for maternal recognition of pregnancy is generated on Day 12 and that blastocysts greater than or equal to 8 mm are required for prolongation of CL function for 3 or more days. Since CL function is only extended for a maximum of 13 days (mean 7.4 +/- 1.0), a second signal seems necessary to maintain the CL for the whole period of pregnancy.

Animals↗

Increase of plasma acetaldehyde. An objective indicator of the chlorpropamide alcohol flush.

Chlorpropamide alcohol flushing (CPAF) in non-insulin-dependent diabetics (NIDDs) has been reported to be associated with a lower tendency to develop late complications. The flush was thought to be mediated by enkephalins and prostaglandins. Early studies could not correlate CPAF to increased levels of acetaldehyde in blood and the flush was not regarded as an antabuse-like reaction. In this study, the increase of plasma acetaldehyde during the flush in 13 CPAF positive diabetics was significantly (P less than 0.005) higher than in the 13 CPAF negative diabetics during a CPAF challenge test. The increase of plasma acetaldehyde was reduced to the level of CPAF negative diabetics in three CPAF positive diabetics when they were exposed to alcohol without premedication with chlorpropamide and they did not flush. The normal breakdown of ethanol to acetic acid via acetaldehyde appears to be inhibited by chlorpropamide in the flushers. Acetaldehyde measurement is an objective method to study the chlorpropamide alcohol flush and it appears superior to the measurement of skin temperature.

Acetaldehyde↗

Intrauterine migration of the porcine embryo--interaction of embryo, uterine flushings and indomethacin on myometrial function in vitro.

Twenty-four pregnant Landrace and Yorkshire gilts were utilized to examine the relationship between myometrial activity and intrauterine embryo migration. On d 2 (1st day of estrus = d 0), embryos were flushed from one oviduct and transferred to the opposite oviduct. Uterine horns were ligated at the uterotubal junction on the flushed side and 40 and 50 cm posterior to the uterotubal junction on each side. On d 6, 9 or 12 (n = 8), embryo migration was determined by flushing segments of the excised uterus. Strips of myometrium from the pregnant and nonpregnant horn of each gilt were subsequently removed and assigned to one of the three in vitro experiments to examine the effects of the embryo and uterine flushings on myometrial contractility. Myometrial contractility increased concomitantly with embryo migration through the uterine ligations (day x side interaction, P less than .10). Uterine flushings from pregnant horns contained a short-acting substance that mimicked, in part, the stimulatory influence(s) of the in situ embryo on in vitro myometrial contractility. However, only flushings from the uterine segment containing the d 12 embryos could overcome the in vitro inhibitory effects of indomethacin (P less than .01) on myometrial contractility. The porcine embryo coincubated with myometrial strips could not directly stimulate contractions of the myometrium. Results of these experiments indicate that in gilts the stimulatory influence(s) of the migrating embryo on myometrial function may involve a "hormonal" factor of short half-life that does not directly affect the smooth muscle cell.

Animals↗

Characterization of electrolytes and protein content in isthmic and uterine flushings from hens laying shell-less versus hard-shell eggs.

In Experiment 1, hens laying hard-shell (HS) eggs were sacrificed at each of eight stages of egg formation including oviposition (0 h) and 1, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 h after oviposition. In Experiment 2, hens laying either shell-less (SL) or HS eggs were sacrificed at four stages of egg formation (oviposition, 4, 8, and 20 h after oviposition). The isthmus and uterus were flushed with 6 and 10 mL of cold .85% NaCl, respectively, and electrolyte contents were determined. Total flushing contents of calcium, potassium, and magnesium were higher (P less than or equal to .01) in uterine than in isthmic flushings (Experiment 1). In every case, an interaction (P less than or equal to .01) between time of collection and organ (isthmus and uterus) was found, indicating that patterns of change in flushing content of each electrolyte differed in the two organs over time in birds laying HS eggs. In Experiment 2, total recoverable calcium, magnesium, potassium, and total protein were higher in uterine than isthmic flushings (P less than .01). Interactions between time of collection (0, 4, 8, and 20 h) and treatment group (SL or HS) were observed for all electrolytes measured in uterine flushings. Results suggest that calcium, required for shell calcification, does not appear in the isthmic or uterine lumen or both at an appropriate time in SL hens. Thus, production of SL eggs may be related to mechanisms regulating patterns of change or ratios of electrolytes (calcium, magnesium, potassium) or both in the isthmus or uterus of the laying hen.

Animals↗

Intermittent intravenous therapy: a comparison of two flushing solutions.

In the light of evidence which linked heparin induced thrombocytopoenia (HIT) to the prolonged flushing of intermittent i.v. cannula with heparinised saline, a randomised control trial was mounted to determine whether this solution was a superior flushing agent to normal saline. 152 inpatients between the ages of 2 months and 18 years were allocated to a control group which had heparinised saline prescribed as a flushing agent, or an experimental group which was prescribed normal saline. Each day i.v. sites were examined for signs of phlebitis and on removal each cannula was flushed to check for fibrin. In total 200 cannulae representing 510 i.v. days were assessed. No significant differences were detected in either the duration of IV therapy, the patency of the i.v. line or the incidence of phlebitis when normal saline was used to flush the i.v. cannulae. On chi square testing however, highly significant associations emerged between the incidence of phlebitis and the use of the i.v. antibiotics tobramycin (p = 0.05) and/or Timentin (p = 0.008). In addition, young children were found to have a significantly higher incidence of blocked cannulae--regardless of the flushing solution used.

Adolescent↗

Flushing reactions: consequences and mechanisms.

The mechanisms of flushing reactions are pharmacologically and physiologically heterogeneous. Flushing may result from agents acting directly on the vascular smooth muscle or may be mediated by vasomotor nerves. Vasomotor nerves may lead to flushing as a result of events at both peripheral and central sites. In susceptible persons, frequent, intense flushing leads to a cluster of physical signs (rosacea). Flushing provoked by alcohol has been associated with ethnic sensitivity, a possible predisposition to alcoholism, various disulfiramlike agents, one type of diabetes mellitus, and the carcinoid syndrome and other types of neoplasia. Flushing reactions also occur during the menopause, after glutamate ingestion, and in response to oral thermal challenges.

Chlorpropamide↗