Enhanced plasma catecholamine and cAMP response during the head-up tilt test in patients with vasovagal syncope.

Aims: Vasovagal syncope appears related to transient changes in sympathetic neural outflow. Several studies have documented sympathetic inhibition at the time of syncope. However, data on the activity of the sympathetic nervous system a short time before the onset of syncope are controversial.

Serotonin levels in the small bowel mucosa as a marker of ischemic injury during small bowel preservation.

Of the serotonin occurring in the small bowel mucosa, 95% is present in enterochromaffine cells. The cold ischemia during small bowel transplantation results in mucosal injury and releasing of serotonin into the lumen. Because of it, the mucosal concentration of serotonin is decreasing.

Preservation injury of jejunal grafts and its modulation by custodiol and university of wisconsin perfusion solutions in wistar rats.

Background: The two preservation solutions most commonly used in human transplantation surgery are University of Wisconsin (UW) and Custodiol (histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate; HTK). The aim of our study was to compare the protective effect of UW and HTK solutions on preservation-induced injury of jejunal grafts, as evaluated by the histological changes (semiquantitative method) and small bowel mucosal serotonin levels (as a possible new quantitative method).

Methods: Male Wistar rats (n = 50) weighing 316 +/- 52 g were divided into two main groups according to which preservation solution was used, i.

Humoral mechanisms in the pathogenesis of postprandial hypotension in patients with essential hypertension.

Objective: To examine the role of catecholamines and insulin in the development of postprandial hypotension (PPH) in hypertensive patients.

Patients: Forty patients with essential hypertension (25 men, 15 women, mean age 68 +/- 2 years).

Method: Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded in all subjects immediately after a 1903 kJ test meal and at 15-minute intervals for up to 1 hour after the meal.

[Catecholamine plasma levels during the tilt-table test in patients with vasovagal syncope].

Background: The head-up tilt test (HUT) makes it possible to diagnose vasovagal syncope. The objective of the trial was to follow up changes of catecholamine plasma levels during HUT and test their importance in the pathogenesis of vasovagal syncope.

Methods And Results: In 25 patients with syncope of obscure etiology during HUT the noradrenalin, adrenalin and dopamine levels were followed up.