Gastrointestinal pH and Transit Time Profiling in Healthy Volunteers Using the IntelliCap System Confirms Ileo-Colonic Release of ColoPulse Tablets.

Introduction: ColoPulse tablets are an innovative development in the field of oral dosage forms characterized by a distal ileum and colon-specific release. Previous studies in humans showed release in the ileo-colonic region, but the relationship between gastrointestinal pH and release was not experimentally proven in vivo. This information will complete the in vivo release-profile of ColoPulse tablets.

ColoPulse tablets perform comparably in healthy volunteers and Crohn's patients and show no influence of food and time of food intake on bioavailability.

ColoPulse tablets are an innovative development in the field of oral drug delivery and are characterized by a colon-specific release. Until now ColoPulse dosage forms (only capsules) have been studied in healthy volunteers having a standardized breakfast three hours after administration but not in specific patient groups and not with a shorter interval between administration and breakfast. Information on bioavailability and release characteristics of ColoPulse tablets in Crohn's patients and the influence of food and time of food intake is a prerequisite to properly design future clinical studies with active substances in these patients.

Use of an electronic decision support tool improves management of simulated in-hospital cardiac arrest.

Introduction: Adherence to advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) guidelines during in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) is associated with improved outcomes, but current evidence shows that sub-optimal care is common. Successful execution of such protocols during IHCA requires rapid patient assessment and the performance of a number of ordered, time-sensitive interventions. Accordingly, we sought to determine whether the use of an electronic decision support tool (DST) improves performance during high-fidelity simulations of IHCA.

Virtual arterial blood pressure feedback improves chest compression quality during simulated resuscitation.

Introduction: Quality chest compressions (CC) are the most important factor in successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Adjustment of CC based upon an invasive arterial blood pressure (ABP) display would be theoretically beneficial. Additionally, having one compressor present for longer than a 2-min cycle with an ABP display may allow for a learning process to further maximize CC.

Cleaner LASIK is possible.

LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis) surgery is the most frequently performed refractive procedure for correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Its popularity increased over the late 1990's, rapidly replacing Radial Keratotomy (RK). The LASIK operation and excimer laser surface ablation procedures gained the rapid acceptance of refractive physicians and patients over the RK procedure because of greater predictability, precision, safety, and stable vision.

Short-term carnitine supplementation does not augment LCPomega3 status of vegans and lacto-ovo-vegetarians.

Objective: Long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids (LCPomega3) synthesis, notably that of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), from the precursor alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) proceeds with difficulty. We investigated whether carnitine supplementation augments the LCPomega3 status of apparently healthy vegans and lacto-ovo-vegetarians, who are expected to have low carnitine status.

Methods: Group A (n = 11) took 990 mg/day l-carnitine from weeks 1-4, and 990 mg/day l-carnitine + 4 mL/day linseed oil from weeks 5-8.

[Does method of anesthesia modify postoperative ischemia incidence? A study of patients after aortocoronary bypass operations].

In the postoperative period after coronary artery bypass graft surgery, the physician's enhanced attention should be focused on the incidence of myocardial ischaemia. The increased stress in the awakening patient as well as the return of autonomous reflexes can be the cause of imbalances in myocardial oxygen supply and uptake. Therefore, a probable influence of the pharmacologic profile of the intraoperatively applied anaesthetics on the incidence of postoperative myocardial ischaemia is of importance for adapting therapy on ICU to minimize any ischaemic risk.

Effects of respiratory alkalosis and acidosis on myocardial blood flow and metabolism in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Variation of the arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2) is not uncommon in anesthetic practice. However, little is known about the myocardial consequences of respiratory alkalosis and acidosis, particularly in patients with coronary artery disease. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of variation in PaCO2 on myocardial blood flow (MBF), metabolism, and systemic hemodynamics in patients before elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

The influence of isoflurane on peri-operative endocrine and metabolic stress responses.

Trauma and surgery profoundly affect the circulating concentrations of metabolites and so-called stress hormones, and may thereby directly or indirectly influence recovery. This stress response on the other hand is subject to modification by the anaesthetics employed. We investigated the effects of isoflurane on selected stress parameters in 10 patients undergoing major abdominal surgery and compared them to those in 10 patients receiving halothane.

[Mean equipotent blood pressure-lowering concentrations of halothane, isoflurane and enflurane during balanced anesthesia differ from conventional MAC-values].

Balanced anesthesia is a technique that allows control of blood pressure in patients with coronary artery disease. In order to evaluate the relative requirements of volatile anesthetics during basic opioid analgesia, 51 patients with unimpaired left ventricular function who were undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting during balanced anesthesia were investigated. They were randomly assigned to three groups, i.

Hepatic and extrahepatic disposition of propofol in patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery.

In order to clarify the relative contribution of the liver to the short term disposition of propofol, hepatic blood flow was measured during induction of anaesthesia with an i.v. bolus dose of propofol 2 mg kg-1.

[Continuous measurement of cardiac output based on the Fick principle in cardiac anesthesia].

With the development of fiberoptic and pulse oximetry, as well as the development of the more modern methods of oxygen consumption measurements, the online monitoring of Fick cardiac (FCO) output has become possible in the clinical treatment routine. The aim of this study was to compare fiberoptically measured mixed venous oxygen saturation with values from blood samples and continuously determined Fick cardiac output with intermittent thermodilution cardiac output (TCO). Ten patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting were measured during the perioperative period.

[High-frequency jet ventilation through a modified stomach tube in endobronchial 192 Iridium irradiation].

A case of sufficient high-frequency jet ventilation with a tip-cut nasogastric tube in a patient requiring endobronchial 192iridium irradiation is described. In order to allow the endotracheal introduction of a bronchoscope together with an 192iridium applicator during anesthesia with mechanical ventilation, the nasogastric tube was used instead of an endotracheal tube for jet ventilation. Using a frequency of 60/min and a fresh-gas flow of 15 l/min, FIO2 = 1.

Helium and SF6 washout from dog lungs during high-frequency ventilation.

Simultaneous washout of He and SF6 was studied in anesthetized paralyzed dogs (mean body weight 19 kg) subjected to high-frequency ventilation at varying frequencies (10-40 Hz), stroke volumes (20-40 ml), lung volumes (0.8-1.2 L) and fresh gas flow rates (7-13 L/min).

Brachial plexus lesions following cardiac surgery with median sternotomy and cannulation of the internal jugular vein.

There are many possible complications after cannulation of the internal jugular vein (IJV) including injury to the brachial plexus. Neurologic injuries can also occur from sternal splitting. The present study looked at the incidence of brachial plexus lesions after cardiac surgery with and without IJV cannulation.

Sufentanil does not block sympathetic responses to surgical stimuli in patients having coronary artery revascularization surgery.

The effects of a moderate dose of sufentanil (1 microgram.kg-1 + 0.015 micrograms.

Cerebral effects of anaesthesia and hypothermia.

Cerebral blood flow, cerebral oxygen and glucose consumption, and cerebral lactate and pyruvate release were measured; spectral analysis of the EEG was recorded in 10 male patients who had coronary artery bypass surgery. The measurements were taken to evaluate the effects of fentanyl-midazolam anaesthesia during normothermia and during hypothermic nonpulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass at 26 degrees C venous blood temperature, when a temperature-corrected PaCO2-value of 5.3 kPa was maintained.

[Effect of preoperative continuous nifedipine maintenance medication on hemodynamics and myocardial lactate extraction in coronary surgery patients].

The cardioprotective efficacy of preoperatively maintained long-term oral nifedipine application to 21 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was investigated during fentanyl-N2O-anaesthesia. Two groups were defined at random; one group of patients receiving their normal morning doses together with the premedication, the other, who received the last nifedipine medication in the evening before surgery. Measurements where performed: 1.

[Form of manifestations and course of brachial plexus lesions following medial sternotomy].

A prospective study is reported of the prevalence, the clinical picture and the course of plexus brachialis lesions following median sternotomy during heart operations. The study comprises 1,585 patients. In 22 patients (1.

Effects of propofol on cardiovascular dynamics and coronary blood flow in geriatric patients. A comparison with etomidate.

The cardiovascular and myocardial effects of propofol and etomidate were studied in 20 geriatric patients (age 65-84 years) who underwent major upper abdominal surgery. Ten patients received propofol 1.5 mg/kg for induction of anaesthesia followed by a continuous infusion of 0.

[Non-invasive Doppler-ultrasound determination of cardiac output. Results and experiences with the ACCUCOM].

Because of the invasiveness of the method, the determination of cardiac output (CO) by the thermodilution technique is not without a certain risk to the patient. Previous studies have suggested that noninvasive Doppler technology could be used to determine the velocity of blood in the aorta. With knowledge of the diameter of the aorta, CO can be calculated.

Gas exchange efficacy of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation studied by helium washout from dog lungs.

The gas exchange efficacy of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) was assessed from an analysis of helium washout from lungs in anesthetized paralyzed supine dogs. Piston stroke volumes (Vs) were varied from 20 to 40 ml, frequencies (f), from 10 to 40 Hz and mean airway opening pressures from 2 to 10 cm H2O. The time course of washout could be described as the sum of three exponential components.