Effects of PEEP on systemic venous capacitance.

The aim of the present study was to determine effects of positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) application on peripheral venous capacitance and relate them to concomitant central hemodynamic disturbances. The venous volume-pressure (V/P) relationships were studied in 6 intact anesthetized pigs to describe the effects of PEEP on systemic venous compliance (computed as the slope of the V/P relationship) and unstressed volume (referred to as the extrapolated volume intercept). Cardiac volumes as well as partitioning of circulating blood volume between central (ITBV) and peripheral (PBV) compartments were assessed by thermo-dye dilution techniques.

Modelling the arterial wall by finite elements.

The mechanical behaviour of the arterial wall was determined theoretically utilizing some parameters of blood flow measured in vivo. Continuous experimental measurements of pressure and diameter were recorded in anesthetized dogs on the thoracic ascending and midabdominal aorta. The pressure was measured by using a catheter, and the diameter firstly, at the same site, by a plethysmograph with mercury gauge and secondly, by a sonomicrometer with ferroelectric ceramic transducers.

Analysis of endotoxin effects on pulmonary circulation in terms of pressure-flow characteristics.

The purpose of the present work was to explore the hypothesis that pulmonary vasoconstriction secondary to endotoxin insult results mainly from an increase in the critical closing pressure of the pulmonary vessels. Specifically, we reasoned that in the face of a Starling resistor located between pulmonary arteries and left atrium, upstream transmission of increased left atrial pressure (Pla) would be inversely related to the level of the pressure intercept (Pi) obtained by extrapolation from the linear pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa)--flow (Q degrees) plot. Six dogs (group E) were infused with Escherichia coli endotoxin (0.

Identification of three-element windkessel model: comparison of time and frequency domain techniques.

The problem of the parameter identification of the three-element windkessel model is studied. Minimization by least-square technique--LSQ--in time domain and frequential techniques--FFT--are compared. Continuous pressure and flow curves were recorded in the proximal aorta of an open chest dog.

[Effects of beta-adrenergic receptor blockade on hyperlactacidemia induced by exercise of different intensity].

The effects of beta-adrenergic blockade on the exercise-induced hyperlactatemia (Lap) have been studied in 31 adult male subjects [age: 25 +/- 1 years; body weight: 69 +/- 1 kg; VO2max: 54 +/- 1 ml O2.kg-1.min-1 (mean values +/- SEM)] randomly divided in 3 groups.