Respiration rate, heart rate, and body temperature values in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) during barbiturate anesthesia

Respiration rate, heart rate, and body temperature values were obtained from 14 cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) during neurosurgery under barbiturate anesthesia. Vital sign values markedly declined below baseline during the early stages of surgery, steadily increased as surgery progressed and neared completion, and finally returned to baseline by the end of the postsurgical recovery period. There was considerable variability among the 14 monkeys, but the ranking of each monkey relative to the others remained constant across the period of observation. The findings suggested that the cynomolgus monkey may be more sensitive to barbiturates than the rhesus monkey, and cynomolgus monkeys may exhibit considerable individual differences in their sensitivity to barbiturates.     

The effect of harp music on heart rate, mean blood pressure, respiratory rate, and body temperature in the African green monkey

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of recorded harp music as a tool for relaxation for non-human primates is explored in this study. METHODS: Konigsberg Instruments Model T27F-1B cardiovascular telemetry devices were implanted into nine African green monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops). After post-surgical recovery, animals were exposed to recorded harp music. Telemetry data were collected on heart rate, mean blood pressure, respiratory rate, and body temperature for a 30-minute baseline period before music exposure; a 90-minute period of music exposure; and a 90-minute post-exposure period, where no music was played. RESULTS: No statistical differences were noted in heart rate, mean blood pressure, respiratory rate, and body temperature between pre-exposure, exposure, and post-exposure periods. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of response in these African green monkeys may be attributable to their generally calm demeanor in captivity; experiments with a more excitable species such as the rhesus macaque might demonstrate a significant relaxation response to music.     

The genetic contribution to heart rate and heart rate variability in quiescent mice

Recent studies have suggested a genetic component to heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV). However, a systematic examination of the genetic contribution to the variation in HR and HRV has not been performed. This study investigated the genetic contribution to HR and HRV using a wide range of inbred and recombinant inbred (RI) mouse strains. Electrocardiogram data were recorded from 30 strains of inbred mice and 29 RI strains. Significant differences in mean HR and total power (TP) HRV were identified between inbred strains and RI strains. Multiple significant differences within the strain sets in mean low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) power were also found. No statistically significant concordance was found between strain distribution patterns for HR and HRV phenotypes. Genomewide interval mapping identified a significant quantitative trait locus (QTL) for HR [LOD (likelihood of the odds) score = 3.763] on chromosome 6 [peak at 53.69 megabases (Mb); designated HR 1 (Hr1)]. Suggestive QTLs for TP were found on chromosomes 2, 4, 5, 6, and 14. A suggestive QTL for LF was found on chromosome 16; for HF, we found one significant QTL on chromosome 5 (LOD score = 3.107) [peak at 53.56 Mb; designated HRV-high-frequency 1 (Hrvhf1)] and three suggestive QTLs on chromosomes 2, 11 and 15. In conclusion, the results demonstrate a strong genetic component in the regulation of resting HR and HRV evidenced by the significant differences between strains. A lack of correlation between HR and HRV phenotypes in some inbred strains suggests that different sets of genes control the phenotypes. Furthermore, QTLs were found that will provide important insight to the genetic regulation of HR and HRV at rest.     

The effect of chlorpromazine on the mechanogram, electrocardiogram and membranopotential of the frog heart]

The action of chloropromazine in concentrations between 10(-6) and 10(-3) M was studied with regard to its effect on contractility, ECG, and membrane potential of the isolated frog heart. In concentrations above 10(-6) a depressive influence on the amplitude of contraction was observed; the speed of contraction was reduced. The heart rate showed negatively chronotropic changes. In the ECG there was a striking expansion of the PQ interval. The membrane potential was reduced under the effect of chloropromazine depending on the concentration used. The negative influence on mechanical and bioelectrical parameters of the myocardium is interpreted to be due to membrane-related factors. A vagus-like effect is discussed, particular importance being attached to the mechanisms of the "slow-channel" system.     

A new 2D-based method for myocardial velocity strain and strain rate quantification in a normal adult and paediatric population: assessment of reference values

Background

Cardiac time intervals have been described as a measure of cardiac performance, where prolongation, shortening and delay of the different time intervals have been evaluated as markers of cardiac dysfunction. A relatively recently developed method with improved ability to measure cardiac events is Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI), allowing accurate measurement of myocardial movements.

Methods

We propose the state diagram of the heart as a new visualization tool for cardiac time intervals, presenting comparative, normalized data of systolic and diastolic performance, providing a more complete overview of cardiac function. This study aimed to test the feasibility of the state diagram method by presenting examples demonstrating its potential use in the clinical setting and by performing a clinical study, which included a comparison of the state diagram method with established echocardiography methods (E/E' ratio, LVEF and WMSI). The population in the clinical study consisted of seven patients with non ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and seven control subjects, individually matched according to age and gender. The state diagram of the heart was generated from TDI curves from seven positions in the myocardium, visualizing the inter- and intraventricular function of the heart by displaying the cardiac phases.

Results

The clinical examples demonstrated that the state diagram allows for an intuitive visualization of pathological patterns as ischemia and dyssynchrony. Further, significant differences in percentage duration between the control group and the NSTEMI group were found in eight of the totally twenty phases (10 phases for each ventricle), e.g. in the transition phases (Pre-Ejection and Post-Ejection). These phases were significantly longer (> 2.18%) for the NSTEMI group than for the control group (p < 0.05). No significant differences between the groups were found for the established echocardiography methods.

Conclusion

The test results clearly indicate that the state diagram has potential to be an efficient tool for visualization of cardiac dysfunction and for detection of NSTEMI.     

正常人左心室功能指标的参考值及其预计公式的初步研究报告*

目的: 当前评估左心室容量和功能仍常用正常值范围,个体化分析也仅使用体表面积进行校正。尚缺少个体化因素相关的大样本参考值和预计公式。方法: 本研究纳入美国加州洛杉矶县南湾地区1200名健康志愿者,其中男807女393,年龄20岁-94岁,心脏CT造影（CTA）,经过高精度三维成像技术处理,计算左心室容积在收缩和舒张过程中的连续动态变化,测定左心室（LV）容量和功能指标：舒张末期容积（EDV)、收缩末期容积(ESV)、每搏输出量(SV)、射血分数(EF)和心输出量(CO)。将以上指标与一般特征指标进行多因素相关分析,以探索正常人预计值计算公式。结果: 男性除LVEF小于女性外（P<0.001）,其余各指标均大于女性（P<0.001）。多元线性回归分析提示, 性别、年龄、身高和体质量均为EDV、ESV、SV的独立影响因子(P<0.001); 而CO仅受年龄、性别、体质量显著影响(P<0.001),但与身高无关(P>0.05)。CO的预测公式CO (L·min^-1)= 6.963+0.446(Male) -0.037×年龄(yr)+0.013×体质量(kg)。结论: 性别、年龄、身高、体质量均影响左心室容量和功能,建立预测值计算公式,对心血管疾病的无创评估和个体化精准医疗具有重要参考价值。     

The effect of straw size, freezing rate and thawing rate upon post-thaw quality of dog semen

Optimal freeze-thaw processes for dog semen will yield a maximal number of insemination doses from an ejaculate. The objectives of this study were to compare the effects of two straw sizes (0.25- and 0.5-mL French), two freezing rates (straws suspended 3.5 and 8 cm above liquid nitrogen) and two thawing rates (in water at 37 and 70 degrees C) upon post-thaw quality of dog semen, and to determine the best treatment combination. Quality was expressed in terms of the percentage progressively motile sperm 5 and 60 min after thawing and the percentage of abnormal acrosomes 5 min after thawing. One ejaculate from each of eight dogs was frozen. Two straws from each ejaculate were exposed to each of the eight treatment combinations. Data were analyzed by means of a repeated measures factorial analysis of variance and means compared using Bonferroni's test. Dog affected each response variable (P < 0.01). Neither straw size, nor freezing rate, nor thawing rate affected motility 5 min after thawing (P > 0.05). Half-milliliter straws resulted in 5.7% more progressively motile sperm 60 min after thawing and 6.5% fewer abnormal acrosomes than 0.25-mL straws (P < 0.05, n = 64). The percentage progressively motile sperm 60 min after thawing tended to be higher for semen thawed at 70 degrees C compared to 37 degrees C (P < 0.06, n = 64). Semen thawed in water at 70 degrees C had 6.6% fewer abnormal acrosomes than semen thawed in water at 37 degrees C (P < 0.05, n = 64). Freezing rate interacted with thawing rate (P < 0.05) in their effects upon acrosomal morphology and freezing 8 cm above liquid nitrogen and thawing in water at 70 degrees C was best. Dog semen should be frozen in 0.5-mL straws, 8 cm above liquid nitrogen and thawed in water at 70 degrees C.     

The daily rhythm of body temperature, heart and respiratory rate in newborn dogs

We asked whether, during the postnatal period, the daily patterns of body temperature (Tb), heart rate (HR) and breathing frequency (f) begin and develop in synchrony. To this end, measurements of HR, f and Tb were performed weekly, on two consecutive days, for the first two postnatal months on puppies of three breeds of dogs (Rottweiler, Cocker Spaniel and Carlino dogs) with very different birth weights and postnatal growth patterns. Ambient conditions and feeding habits were constant for all puppies. The results indicated that (1) the 24-h average Tb increased and average HR and f decreased with growth, (2) the daily rhythms in Tb were apparent by 4 weeks, irrespective of the puppy’s growth pattern, (3) the daily rhythm of Tb in the puppy was not necessarily following that of the mother; in fact, it could anticipate it. (4) The daily rhythms in HR and f were not apparent for the whole study period. We conclude that in neonatal dogs the onset of the daily rhythms of Tb has no obvious relationship with body size or rate of growth and is not cued by the maternal Tb rhythm. The daily rhythms of HR and f do not appear before 2 months of age. Hence, they are not in synchrony with those of Tb.