Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “CLAMPS”

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 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

Systemic and mesenteric hemodynamics, metabolism, and intestinal tonometry in a rat model of supraceliac aortic cross-clamping and declamping.

OBJECTIVE: To describe systemic and mesenteric hemodynamics, metabolism, and intestinal tonometry in a rat model of supraceliac aortic cross-clamping and declamping. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, experimental study. SETTING: University cardiovascular research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Twelve male anesthetized and ventilated Sprague-Dawley rats. INTERVENTION: Supraceliac aortic cross-clamping was performed for 30 minutes, followed by declamping and reperfusion for 180 minutes or sham clamping and sham declamping. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Mean arterial blood pressure; abdominal aortic, superior mesenteric, and carotid artery blood flow; intestinal mucosal tonometry; hemoglobin; lactate; and blood gases were measured before and after 30 minutes of aortic cross-clamping and 15, 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes after declamping during reperfusion. Aortic cross-clamping induced an increase in mean arterial pressure (117+/-20 mm Hg to 147+/-12 mm Hg), an increase in right atrial hemoglobin saturation(66%+/-11% to 81%+/-6%), an increase in lactate levels (1.7+/-0.7 mmol/L to 4.3+/-1.3 mmol/L), and an increase in tonometric PCO2 (49.6+/-5.0 mm Hg to 75.6+/-8.6 mm Hg). Three hours of reperfusion after declamping resulted in significantly decreased mean arterial pressure (38+/-10 mm Hg); decreased aortic (101+/-12 mL/min/kg to 57+/-32 mL/min/kg), mesenteric (19+/-4 to 13+/-6 mL/min/kg), and carotid (12+/-4 mL/min/kg to 5+/-3 mL/min/ kg) blood flows; and elevated lactate levels (4.2+/-2.0 mmol/L). Tonometric PCO2 had normalized to baseline levels (51.9+/-3.8 mm Hg), but PCO2 gap was significantly higher than in sham clamped rats (17.9+/-7.8 mm Hg v. 7.0+/-2.6 mm Hg). CONCLUSIONS: Hemodynamic and metabolic effects of aortic cross-clamping and declamping known from large animal models are reproducible using a rat model. Intestinal tonometry indicated mesenteric ischemia during aortic cross-clamping, which was reversible to preclamp values within 30 minutes of reperfusion after declamping.

Animals↗

Distinct roles for ATP binding and hydrolysis at individual subunits of an archaeal clamp loader.

Circular clamps are utilised by replicative polymerases to enhance processivity. The topological problem of loading a toroidal clamp onto DNA is overcome by ATP-dependent clamp loader complexes. Different organisms use related protein machines to load clamps, but the mechanisms by which they utilise ATP are surprisingly different. Using mutant clamp loaders that are deficient in either ATP binding or hydrolysis in different subunits, we show how the different subunits of an archaeal clamp loader use ATP binding and hydrolysis in distinct ways at different steps in the loading process. Binding of nucleotide by the large subunit and three of the four small subunits is sufficient for clamp loading. However, ATP hydrolysis by the small subunits is required for release of PCNA to allow formation of the complex between PCNA and the polymerase, while hydrolysis by the large subunit is required for catalytic clamp loading.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Locking the DNA topoisomerase I protein clamp inhibits DNA rotation and induces cell lethality.

Eukaryotic DNA topoisomerase I (Top1) is a monomeric protein clamp that functions in DNA replication, transcription, and recombination. Opposable "lip" domains form a salt bridge to complete Top1 protein clamping of duplex DNA. Changes in DNA topology are catalyzed by the formation of a transient phosphotyrosyl linkage between the active-site Tyr-723 and a single DNA strand. Substantial protein domain movements are required for DNA binding, whereas the tight packing of DNA within the covalent Top1-DNA complex necessitates some DNA distortion to allow rotation. To investigate the effects of Top1-clamp closure on enzyme catalysis, molecular modeling was used to design a disulfide bond between residues Gly-365 and Ser-534, to crosslink protein loops more proximal to the active-site tyrosine than the protein loops held by the Lys-369-Glu-497 salt bridge. In reducing environments, Top1-Clamp was catalytically active. However, contrary to crosslinking the salt-bridge loops [Carey, J. F., Schultz, S. J., Sission, L., Fazzio, T. G. & Champoux, J. J. (2003) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 100, 5640-5645], crosslinking the active-site proximal loops inhibited DNA rotation. Apparently, subtle alterations in Top1 clamp flexibility impact enzyme catalysis in vitro. Yet, the catalytically active Top1-Clamp was cytotoxic, even in the reducing environment of yeast cells. Remarkably, a shift in redox potential in glr1Delta cells converted the catalytically inactive Top1Y723F mutant clamp into a cellular toxin, which failed to induce an S-phase terminal phenotype. This cytotoxic mechanism is distinct from that of camptothecin chemotherapeutics, which stabilize covalent Top1-DNA complexes, and it suggests that the development of novel therapeutics that promote Top1-clamp closure is possible.

Camptothecin↗

Mechanism of proliferating cell nuclear antigen clamp opening by replication factor C.

The eukaryotic replication factor C (RFC) clamp loader is an AAA+ spiral-shaped heteropentamer that opens and closes the circular proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) clamp processivity factor on DNA. In this study, we examined the roles of individual RFC subunits in opening the PCNA clamp. Interestingly, Rfc1, which occupies the position analogous to the delta clamp-opening subunit in the Escherichia coli clamp loader, is not required to open PCNA. The Rfc5 subunit is required to open PCNA. Consistent with this result, Rfc2.3.4.5 and Rfc2.5 subassemblies are capable of opening and unloading PCNA from circular DNA. Rfc5 is positioned opposite the PCNA interface from Rfc1, and therefore, its action with Rfc2 in opening PCNA indicates that PCNA is opened from the opposite side of the interface that the E. coli delta wrench acts upon. This marks a significant departure in the mechanism of eukaryotic and prokaryotic clamp loaders. Interestingly, the Rad.RFC DNA damage checkpoint clamp loader unloads PCNA clamps from DNA. We propose that Rad.RFC may clear PCNA from DNA to facilitate shutdown of replication in the face of DNA damage.

Chromatography, Gel↗

A new clamping technique for biomechanical testing of tendons in small animals. aprobst@uni-muenster.de.

When biomechanical properties of tendons are studied, the technique of clamping the tendons in the testing machine presents a methodological challenge, especially when murine tendons are examined. These short tendons tend to rupture at the transition line to the fixation, leading to false interpretations. Therefore a new clamping technique for investigation of healthy murine Achilles tendons (n = 50) was developed, in which the intramuscular tendon fibers were fixed between two paper strips and the calcaneus was wedged into a conical slot in a wooden block and then mounted in the testing machine (n = 20). This technique was compared with the conventional clamping technique that fixes both ends of the tendon by clamps (n = 15) and an earlier described method that used glue or plastic cement for the fixation of the intramuscular tendon fibers and calcaneus in the testing machine (n = 15). When tested by the new clamping technique, 17 tendons ruptured intratendinously at a mean tensile force of 8.4 +/- 1.1 N. Three Achilles tendons (17%) tore at the site of paper fixation and had to be excluded from investigation. Data from 73% of the measurements fixed by gluing had to be excluded because slippage of the proximal tendon fibers and contamination of the tendon with glue occurred. All the conventionally clamped tendons ruptured at the site of fixation at a mean tensile force of 6.1 +/- 2.3 N (p < .05). This was 30% lower than with the new clamping technique. Thus, the newly developed clamping technique enables investigators to obtain more valid biomechanical studies of the murine Achilles tendon.

Achilles Tendon↗

Evolutionary clues to eukaryotic DNA clamp-loading mechanisms: analysis of the functional constraints imposed on replication factor C AAA+ ATPases.

Ring-shaped sliding clamps encircle DNA and bind to DNA polymerase, thereby preventing it from falling off during DNA replication. In eukaryotes, sliding clamps are loaded onto DNA by the replication factor C (RFC) complex, which consists of five distinct subunits (A-E), each of which contains an AAA+ module composed of a RecA-like alpha/beta ATPase domain followed by a helical domain. AAA+ ATPases mediate chaperone-like protein remodeling. Despite remarkable progress in our understanding of clamp loaders, it is still unclear how recognition of primed DNA by RFC triggers ATP hydrolysis and how hydrolysis leads to conformational changes that can load the clamp onto DNA. While these questions can, of course, only be resolved experimentally, the design of such experiments is itself non-trivial and requires that one first formulate the right hypotheses based on preliminary observations. The functional constraints imposed on protein sequences during evolution are potential sources of information in this regard, inasmuch as these presumably are due to and thus reflect underlying mechanisms. Here, rigorous statistical procedures are used to measure and compare the constraints imposed on various RFC clamp-loader subunits, each of which performs a related but somewhat different, specialized function. Visualization of these constraints, within the context of the RFC structure, provides clues regarding clamp-loader mechanisms--suggesting, for example, that RFC-A possesses a triggering component for DNA-dependent ATP hydrolysis. It also suggests that, starting with RFC-A, four RFC subunits (A-D) are sequentially activated through a propagated switching mechanism in which a conserved arginine swings away from a position that disrupts the catalytic Walker B region and into contact with DNA thread through the center of the RFC/clamp complex. Strong constraints near regions of interaction between subunits and with the clamp likewise provide clues regarding possible coupling of hydrolysis-driven conformational changes to the clamp's release and loading onto DNA.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Tenderization of hot-boned broiler breast meat by clamping during chilling.

Hot-boned broiler breast fillets were tightly clamped between rigid aluminum plates during chilling to determine whether tenderness is increased if breast fillets are not allowed to shorten during rigor. In two experiments, 6-wk-old broilers were processed in a pilot plant. Approximately 5 min after evisceration, the breast fillets (pectoralis major) were deboned, and each fillet was subjected to one of two treatments while chilling for 2 h in ice slush. Fillets were placed in perforated plastic bags (hot-boned control) or clamped between rigid aluminum plates that compressed the meat to a uniform thickness of 7.2 mm during chilling. In Experiment 2, chilling time in ice slush was 1 h, and a third treatment was added to make an incomplete block design in which one breast half was left intact on the carcass and was deboned immediately after chilling. All breast fillets were sealed in plastic bags after the chilling period, held overnight at 4 C, and then cooked at 85 C for 30 min in a steam kettle. In Experiment 1, clamping for 2 h reduced Warner-Bratzler shear values of hot-boned fillets from 11.4 to 2.7 kg. In Experiment 2, shear values for the treatments were 13.0, 9.2, and 5.1 kg for the hot-boned, cold-boned, and hot-boned clamped treatments, respectively, with significantly lower shear values for the clamped fillets. Clamped fillets were significantly thinner than the control fillets in both experiments. Cooked yield as a percentage of postchill weight was significantly higher for the clamped compared to the hot-boned control pieces, 81.1 versus 77.3%, with cold-boned pieces being intermediate and not different from the other treatments. Shear values were reduced, and cooked yield was increased by clamping hot-boned fillets during chilling.

Animals↗

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) prevents hypotension after hemorrhagic shock and aortic cross clamping.

To determine if superoxide dismutase (SOD) administration attenuates injury caused by supraceliac aortic cross clamping, a randomized controlled study on 12 taconic rats was performed at the university hospital research center at Syracuse, New York. All animals were anesthetized and placed on a ventilator through a tracheotomy. Surgical preparation included catheterization of carotid and femoral arteries, and the jugular vein. A midline laparotomy was performed through which the supraceliac aorta was exposed and isolated. Animals were allowed to stabilize after surgery and baseline measurements [systemic pressure (Psys), central venous pressure, and blood gases] were recorded. Then, animals were subjected to 60 minutes of hemorrhagic shock (mean Psys = 35 mm Hg), followed by 45 minutes of supraceliac aortic cross clamping. After the release of the aortic cross clamp, shed blood was reinfused. After stabilization, all animals were monitored for 60 minutes. Rats were separated into two groups: the experimental group (n = 6) that received intravenous SOD before and during aortic cross clamping, and the control group (n = 6) that received an equivalent volume of saline at the same time periods. No difference was detected in overall arterial pH, partial arterial carbon dioxide pressure, or base excess at any time period between the groups. A significant increase in Psys was measured in the experimental group compared with the control group from the time of aortic cross-clamp release until the experiment was terminated. One hour after aortic cross-clamp release, the Psys for the experimental group was 69.2 +/- 10.6 mm Hg vs. 36.7 +/- 3.8 mm Hg for the control group (P < 0.05). These data demonstrate that superoxide dismutase significantly improves postaortic cross-clamp Psys. This suggests that oxygen-derived free radicals play a role in postaortic cross-clamp hypotension.

Animals↗

Temporary incomplete ischemia of the legs induced by aortic clamping in man: effects on central hemodynamics and skeletal muscle metabolism by adrenergic block.

The hemodynamic changes which occur when clamping and unclamping the aorta during reconstructive surgery might be a threat to the elderly patient with concomitant cardiac disease. In addition, the cross-clamping induces a temporary ischemia of the legs, with severe metabolic derangement after the release of the aortic clamp. We have studied the effect of a intraoperative adrenergic block (phenoxybenzamine plus metoprolol) on the central circulation and the skeletal metabolism in 14 patients undergoing aortic reconstruction to treat occlusive arteriosclerotic disease. Cardiac output, heart rate, arterial and pulmonary artery pressures, and cardiac filling pressures, as well as femoral venous blood flow were studied. Biopsy specimens of the lateral vastus muscle and blood samples from the radial artery and iliac vein were taken before aortic clamping, and before, 30 minutes, four and 16 hours after the aorta was unclamped, as well as five days postoperatively. In addition, intramuscular temperature and pH were measured. Glycogen, glucose, lactate, pyruvate, ATP, ADP, AMP, phosphocreatine (PCr) and creatine (Cr) contents of the muscle and lactate and pyruvate concentrations in iliac venous and radial arterial blood were determined using enzymatic fluorometric techniques. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) averaged 80 mmHg before clamping, chiefly because of the low systemic vascular resistance (SVR), and left ventricular stroke work (LVSW) was normal. At clamping MAP, SVR, LVSW, remained unchanged. MAP and LVSW were unaffected even though SVR decreased slightly after the aorta was unclamped and resulted in an increased cardiac output, mainly due to a higher stroke volume. No major change in the pulmonary circulation was observed. During clamping the muscle lactate/pyruvate ratio increased, intramuscular pH and femoral venous blood flow decreased indicating insufficient tissue perfusion. Energy charge (EC), the adenylate (ATP + ADP + AMP) and creatine (PCr + Cr) pools were, however, unchanged. In spite of a restored blood flow to the legs, a severe metabolic derangement of the muscle was observed after declamping, with lowered EC, ATP + ADP + AMP and PCr + Cr indicating cellular damage. No improvement in the condition of the cells was observed 16 hours after operation. In conclusion, we found that by using neurolept anesthesia and an intraoperative adrenergic block in combination with a differentiated fluid therapy the central circulation stabilized and was largely unaffected by the clamping and unclamping procedures. In spite of the improved central hemodynamics no favorable effect on the skeletal muscle metabolism was observed.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

The parp-1 inhibitor ino-1001 facilitates hemodynamic stabilization without affecting DNA repair in porcine thoracic aortic cross-clamping-induced ischemia/reperfusion.

Inhibition of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) improved hemodynamics and organ function in various shock models induced by sepsis or ischemia/reperfusion. PARP-1, however, is also referred to play a pivotal role for the maintenance of genomic integrity. Therefore, we investigated the effect of the PARP-1 blocker INO-1001 on hemodynamics, kidney function, and DNA damage and repair during porcine thoracic aortic cross-clamping. The animals underwent 45 min of aortic cross-clamping after receiving vehicle (n=9) or i.v. INO-1001 (n=9; total dose, 4 mg.kg, administered both before clamping and during reperfusion), data were recorded before clamping, before declamping, and 2 and 4 h after declamping. During reperfusion, continuous i.v. norepinephrine was incrementally adjusted to maintain blood pressure greater than or equal to 80% of the pre-clamping level. The plasma INO-1001 levels analyzed with high-pressure liquid chromatography were 1 to 1.4 micromol/L and 0.4 to 0.6 micromol/L before and after clamping, respectively. Although INO-1001-treated animals required less norepinephrine support, kidney function was comparable in the 2 groups. There was no intergroup difference either in the time course of DNA damage and repair (comet assay) as assessed both in vivo in whole blood before surgery, before clamping, before declamping, 2 h after declamping, and ex vivo in isolated lymphocytes (Ficoll gradient) sampled immediately before clamping and analyzed before, immediately, and 1 and 2 h after exposure to 4 bar 100% O2 for 2 h. There was no difference either in the expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor gene, p27, in the kidney (immunohistochemistry). The reduced norepinephrine requirements during reperfusion suggest a positive inotropic effect of INO-1001, as demonstrated by other authors. In our model, INO-1001 proved to be safe with respect to DNA repair.

Animals↗

Mutant forms of the Escherichia colibeta sliding clamp that distinguish between its roles in replication and DNA polymerase V-dependent translesion DNA synthesis.

The Escherichia colibeta sliding clamp is proposed to play an important role in regulating DNA polymerase traffic at the replication fork. As part of an ongoing effort to understand how organisms manage the actions of their multiple DNA polymerases, we examined the ability of several mutant forms of the beta clamp to function in DNA polymerase V- (pol V-) dependent translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) in vivo. Our results indicate that a dnaN159 strain, which expresses a temperature sensitive form of the beta clamp, was impaired for pol V-dependent TLS at the permissive temperature of 37 degrees C. This defect was complemented by a plasmid that expressed near-physiological levels of the wild-type clamp. Using a dnaN159 mutant strain, together with various plasmids expressing mutant forms of the clamp, we determined that residues H148 through R152, which comprise a portion of a solvent exposed loop, as well as position P363, which is located in the C-terminal tail of the beta clamp, are critically important for pol V-dependent TLS in vivo. In contrast, these same residues appear to be less critical for pol III-dependent replication. Taken together, these findings indicate that: (i) the beta clamp plays an essential role in pol V-dependent TLS in vivo and (ii) pol III and pol V interact with non-identical surfaces of the beta clamp.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The effect of infrarenal aortic cross clamping and declamping on renal function in the pig.

Renal insufficiency following periods of infrarenal aortic cross clamping has been reported by some investigators but not by others, and conflicting views have been expressed concerning the ability of renal autoregulation to overcome the adverse circulatory effects of cross clamping. The object of this study was to examine the blood flow distribution to four layers within the renal cortex (subcapsular to juxtamedullary) and measure global renal function following application and release of an aortic cross clamp after 90 min. Nine juvenile female pigs weighing 25 to 50 kg were anaesthetized and subjected to intensive physiological monitoring. Throughout the study the blood pressure and cardiac output were maintained as close as possible to control levels by fluid administration and varying the depth of anaesthesia. Renal cortical blood flow was estimated by means of radionuclide labelled microspheres and global renal function was determined by the measurement of creatinine clearance. The aortic cross clamp was applied for 90 min immediately distal to the renal arteries and proximal to the inferior mesenteric artery. Cardiovascular and renal parameters were recorded on four occasions during each experiment, prior to, 10 and 60 min after cross clamping, and 30 min after clamp release. No significant changes in cardiac output, systemic blood pressure of global renal function were recorded during the study. There was, however, a significant fall in renal blood flow following release of the aortic cross clamp but this was not associated with any significant redistribution of blood flow within the renal cortex. In the pigs studied, the application of an infrarenal aortic cross clamp did not have any adverse effects on the cardiovascular system or on global renal function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

The effect of arterial clamp duration on endothelial injury: an experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Arterial clamp-related endothelial damage was investigated in an animal model to quantify the surface area of endothelial disruption. The influence of the duration of clamp application on this damage was evaluated. METHODS: Four identical angled DeBakey vascular clamps were applied on each of eight carotid arteries in four heparinized adult sheep for durations of 15, 30, 45 and 60 min. The applied clamping forces were measured and kept constant. After the last clamp was removed, the areas of endothelial loss were identified by in vivo staining with Evan's blue dye. The vessels were excised and the blue stained areas measured by computer-assisted analysis. The morphological appearance of the specimens was assessed by scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: Endothelial damage following clamping for 15 min (10.6 +/- 4.3 mm2) was significantly less than for 30 min (19.0 +/- 4.7 mm2), 45 min (19.8 +/- 4.6 mm2) and 60 min (20.4 +/- 4.9 mm2, P = 0.005), but there were no significant differences between the areas of endothelial loss observed for 30, 45, and 60 min. These results corresponded to the damage seen using scanning electron microscopy, which showed partial disruption of endothelium at 15 min compared to more complete destruction at longer durations. CONCLUSIONS: Evan's blue staining combined with computer-assisted surface area measurement is an accurate method for quantifying endothelial damage. The extent of damage caused by vascular clamps is partly time-dependent, being less for 15 min than for 30 min of clamping, but not significantly increasing for durations greater than 30 min.

Animals↗

Peptide nucleic acid-mediated PCR clamping as a useful supplement in the determination of microbial diversity.

Peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-mediated PCR clamping (H. Orum, P. E. Nielsen, M. Egholm, R. H. Berg, O. Buchardt, and C. Stanley, Nucleic Acids Res. 21:5332-5336, 1993) was introduced as a novel procedure to selectively amplify ribosomal DNAs (rDNAs) which are not frequently found in clone libraries generated by standard PCR from complex microbial consortia. Three different PNA molecules were used; two of these molecules (PNA-ALF and PNA-EUB353) overlapped with one of the amplification primers, whereas PNA-1114F hybridized to the middle of the amplified region. Thus, PCR clamping was achieved either by competitive binding between the PNA molecules and the forward or reverse primers (competitive clamping) or by hindering polymerase readthrough (elongation arrest). Gene libraries generated from mixed rDNA templates by using PCR clamping are enriched for clones that do not contain sequences homologous to the appropriate PNA oligomer. This effect of PCR clamping was exploited in the following two ways: (i) analysis of gene libraries generated by PCR clamping with PNA-ALF together with standard libraries reduced the number of clones which had to be analyzed to detect all of the different sequences present in an artificial rDNA mixture; and (ii) PCR clamping with PNA-EUB353 and PNA-1114F was used to selectively recover rDNA sequences which represented recently described phylogenetic groups (NKB19, TM6, cluster related to green nonsulfur bacteria) from an anaerobic, dechlorinating consortium described previously. We concluded that PCR clamping might be a useful supplement to standard PCR amplification in rDNA-based studies of microbial diversity and could be used to selectively recover members of undescribed phylogenetic clusters from complex microbial communities.

Bacteria↗

[Early or late umbilical cord clamping? A systematic review of the literature].

INTRODUCTION: There is wide variability in clinical practice in the moment of clamping the umbilical cord. Opinions in the medical community differ on the harm and/or benefits, both for the mother and for the newborn, of early versus late cord clamping. Currently, the debate among those who defend and/or criticize one or other of these practices continues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of early versus late clamping of the umbilical cord in full-term newborns on maternal and neonatal outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A literature search of randomized clinical trials was carried out in the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and Lilacs. It was completed with a hand search of references in relevant articles. All randomized controlled clinical trials of good methodological quality that compared early versus late cord clamping in term newborns were selected. RESULTS: Of seven identified studies, four had the required characteristics for inclusion in this systematic review. Comparison of early versus late clamping in these studies revealed that late clamping could diminish the prevalence of children with low iron reserves at 3 months of age by 50%, but this result comes from a study that lost more than 40% of the patients during follow-up. The results concerning anemia at 3 months of age showed statistical heterogeneity since the two studies that analyzed this outcome had opposite results. For other outcomes such as birth weight, Apgar < 5, and tachypnea the studies were too small for significant differences to be detected. CONCLUSIONS: This review shows that there is no clear evidence for defending any of the modalities of cord clamping in full-term newborns. Further research is needed to identify the best moment for cord clamping.

Constriction↗

Myocardial ischemia due to infrarenal aortic cross-clamping during aortic surgery in patients with severe coronary artery disease.

Hemodynamic measurements were performed and ECG recorded before and shortly after infrarenal aortic cross-clamping during operation for abdominal aortic aneurysm in five patients without evidence of heart disease (group I) and in ten patients with severe coronary artery disease (group II). All patients sustained an increase in systemic arterial pressure. Group I demonstrated a decrease in pulmonary artery, pulmonary capillary wedge (PCW), and central venous pressures when the aorta was clamped, whereas group II demonstrated an increase. The difference in response of the groups is significant (P less than 0.05). All three patients who responded to cross-clamping with increases of 7 mm Hg or greater in PCW demonstrated myocardial ischemia during cross-clamping. None of the values measured prior to cross-clamping predicted with certainty the response to cross-clamping. Sodium nitroprusside reversed the elevation of left ventricular filling pressure in all three patients, and in two patients, relieved evidence of myocardial ischemia concurrently. In the third patient, ventricular irritability was abolished by lidocaine and did not recur. We conclude that infrarenal aortic cross-clamping may cause myocardial ischemia in patients with severe coronary artery disease. This ischemia may be predicted by a rise in PCW at the time of cross-clamping, and vasodilator therapy is indicated in such patients.

Aged↗

An assessment of tonometry and regional splanchnic blood flow during aortic cross-clamping in the pig.

We aimed to evaluate the tonometer in the assessment of gastrointestinal ischaemia induced by an infrarenal aortic cross-clamp. Nine anaesthetized pigs were cannulated for haemodynamic monitoring and radionuclide labelled microsphere (RLM) injection. Gastric and sigmoid tonometers were positioned. After haemodynamic stabilization an infrarenal aortic cross-clamp was applied. Animals were sacrificed at the completion of the study and tissue sampled from the stomach and sigmoid colon for regional blood flow measurements. Measurements were made pre-clamp, post-clamp, pre-release and post-release. Haemodynamic parameters, gastric intramucosal pH (pHi) and blood flow did not change throughout the experiment. Arterial pH increased during cross-clamp and returned to baseline post-release. Arterial bicarbonate fell post release. Sigmoid blood flow fell during cross-clamp. The sigmoid pHi fall, delayed until pre-release, remained low post-release. Although there was a consistent fall in sigmoid pHi, 63% of post-clamp values remained within the baseline range. We conclude that maintaining haemodynamic parameters around baseline values resulted in maintenance of gastric mucosal perfusion as indicated by a steady gastric pHi. However, below the aortic cross-clamp, delay between change in sigmoid colon blood flow and change in pHi and wide variation in sigmoid pHi limits the value of an individual pHi measurement in detecting ischaemia.

Animals↗

The effect of clamping a tensioned wire: implications for the Ilizarov external fixation system.

This study demonstrates that clamping a tensioned wire can cause a reduction in wire tension. Tension (about 1275 N) was applied to a wire that was subsequently clamped, using cannulated bolts, to the steel half-ring of an Ilizarov external fixator. The tension in the wire was monitored before, during and after clamping. The apparatus was disassembled and the deformations in the wire caused by the clamps were measured. This experiment was repeated 15 times. When the wire was clamped to the frame, the wire tension was reduced by 22 +/- 7 per cent (mean +/- standard deviation, SD). The drop in wire tension was linearly correlated (r = 0.96; p < 0.001) with the deformation caused by the bolts. A finite element (FE) model of the wire was also constructed. The model was pre-stressed (tensioned), and the clamping effect replicated. This analysis showed that clamping the wire could be considered to squeeze the wire outwards (like toothpaste from a tube) and so reduce its tension during fixator assembly. To assess the magnitude of this effect in the clinical situation, the FE model analysis was repeated to replicate clamping a 1.8-mm-diameter wire to a 180-mm-diameter steel Ilizarov ring component. The analysis showed that for these conditions the tension reduced by 8-29 per cent. The results of this study highlight a general engineering problem: how can a tensioned wire be secured to a structure without an appreciable loss of tension? If the performance of the structure depends on the wire tension, this performance will change when the wire is secured.

Bone Wires↗