The effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme polymorphism on hemodynamic response to endotracheal intubation in hypertensive patients.

Endotracheal intubation elicits a hemodynamic response associated with increased heart rate and blood pressure that is influenced by the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion (I)/deletion (D) genetic polymorphism which may be of importance also for the pressure response to anesthesia. A total of 337 patients underwent abdominal surgery in general anesthesia and 16% were D/D-homozygotes, 45% were I/D heterozygotes and 39% of the patients were I/I homozygotes. Before surgery most patients were in treatment for arterial hypertension.

[The effect of propofol preconditioning on cytochrome C release from mitochondria after mild hypothermic ischemia/reperfusion in isolated rat hearts].

Aim: To explore the effect of propofol preconditioning on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and cytochrome C release from mitochondria during mild hypothermic ischemia/reperfusion in isolated rat hearts.

Methods: 50 isolated SD rat hearts perfused on Langendorff apparatus were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=10): control group (C), DMSO group (D), 3 different concentrations of propofol groups of 25 micromol x L(-1) (P1), 50 micromol x L(-1) (P2), 100 micromol x L(-1) (P3) propofol respectively. All of the isolated rat hearts were subjected to 31 degrees C mild hypothermic ischemia for 55 min followed by 60 min reperfusion.