Exaggerated vasopressor response to exercise and cerebral blood flow velocity.

We studied 10 young adults, normotensive at rest, comprising a control group (n = 5) with normal blood pressure responsiveness to exercise and an experimental group exhibiting greater percentage of body fat and body mass index (BMI) than the controls, with exaggerated blood pressure (vasopressor) responsiveness to exercise (EEBPR) (n = 5). Lower absolute and varying oxygen consumption/body weight normalized units of middle cerebral arterial blood flow velocity (MCAV) were found during exercise in the experimental group (P < .01).

Metabolic energy correlates of heart rate variability spectral power associated with a 900-calorie challenge.

We studied healthy males challenged with a 900 Cal test beverage and correlated EE with the raw (ms(2)) and normalized units (nu) of total power (TP), low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) and VLF spectral power of heart rate variability (HRV). The correlations were evaluated during 20 min of normal breathing (NB, control) and 20 min of paced breathing (PB) at 12 breaths·min(-1) (0.2 Hz).

Association of body fat percentage and heart rate variability measures of sympathovagal balance.

Aims: We tested the hypothesis that body fat percentage determines cardiac sympathovagal balance in healthy subjects.

Main Methods: Heart rate variability (HRV) measurements were made of the standard deviation of the normal-normal RR intervals (SDNN) and the low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio, from time domain and fast Fourier transform spectral analysis of electrocardiogram RR intervals during trials of uncontrolled and controlled (paced) breathing at 0.2Hz.

Effects of high-carbohydrate and high-fat dietary treatments on measures of heart rate variability and sympathovagal balance.

Aims: We tested the hypothesis that respiratory quotient (RQ) determines sympathovagal balance associated with metabolism of stored and dietary energy substrates.

Main Methods: Six 18-20 year-old African-American males were studied after two control pretreatments of fasting and post-treatments of metabolizing high-fat and high-carbohydrate beverages. RQ, heart rate (HR), energy expenditure (EE) and blood pressure (BP) were recorded at rest and repeated 1 h-3 h after ingesting isocaloric high-carbohydrate and high-fat beverages.

Mechanisms of human complement factor B induction in sepsis and inhibition by activated protein C.

To investigate the potential role of the local expression of alternative complement factor B (hBf) in human sepsis, we examined the induction of Bf gene expression in human peripheral blood monocytes (PBMCs) from patients with septic shock and the mechanisms of hBf gene regulation by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in human monocytes. PBMCs from septic shock patients showed increased hBf mRNA expression when compared with control patients. Costimulation with TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma or stimulation with LPS demonstrated a time- and dose-dependent induction of hBf mRNA expression in human PBMCs.

Characterization of S. pneumoniae pneumonia-induced multiple organ dysfunction syndrome: an experimental mouse model of gram-positive sepsis.

Streptococcus pneumoniae, a gram-positive bacteria, is the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia. It is a common cause of septic shock with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) resulting in significant mortality. Gram-positive mouse models of sepsis with MODS are required to examine mechanisms of immune responses in severe sepsis.

Sleep disordered breathing in hospitalized patients.

Study Objective: There is a relatively small body of literature looking at sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in acutely ill inpatients. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of SDB in acutely ill patients admitted to tertiary care centers referred for an inpatient polysomnogram and to identify associations between SDB and patient characteristics.

Methods: The study was a retrospective chart review of 100 polysomnograms and medical records of all patients who had polysomnography while hospitalized at 2 tertiary care centers between January 2003 and September 2004.