The Southern Ocean ecosystem under multiple climate change stresses--an integrated circumpolar assessment.

A quantitative assessment of observed and projected environmental changes in the Southern Ocean (SO) with a potential impact on the marine ecosystem shows: (i) large proportions of the SO are and will be affected by one or more climate change processes; areas projected to be affected in the future are larger than areas that are already under environmental stress, (ii) areas affected by changes in sea-ice in the past and likely in the future are much larger than areas affected by ocean warming. The smallest areas (<1% area of the SO) are affected by glacier retreat and warming in the deeper euphotic layer. In the future, decrease in the sea-ice is expected to be widespread.

Effects of imiglucerase treatment on traumatic fracture and bone and blood abnormalities in a patient with previously untreated type 1 gaucher disease.

Objective: This letter reports on the effect of enzyme replacement therapy with imiglucerase on bone healing and bone and blood abnormalities in a woman with previously untreated type 1 Gaucher disease (GD).

Methods: The 49-year-old patient had been diagnosed with GD at the age of 28 years and had previously undergone splenectomy. She presented with pseudarthrosis 14 months after sustaining a traumatic fracture of the tibia and fibula.

Endogenous nitric oxide modulates small intestinal nutrient transit and activity in healthy adult humans.

Objective: Nitric oxide (NO) mechanisms have been shown to modulate fasting small intestinal motility in humans, but a role in the regulation of human postprandial small intestinal motility has not been assessed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the NO synthase inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) on the regulation of small intestinal nutrient transit and postprandial small intestinal motility in healthy humans.

Material And Methods: Seven healthy male volunteers (18-27 years) underwent antroduodenal manometry recordings for 4 h on 2 occasions after intraduodenal instillation of a 500 KJ [120 Kcal] test meal.

Influence of sepsis on sevoflurane minimum alveolar concentration in a porcine model.

Sevoflurane is widely used in anaesthetic protocols for patients undergoing surgical procedures. However, there are no reports on the influence of sepsis on minimum alveolar concentration of sevoflurane (MAC(SEV)) in animals or in humans. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that sepsis could alter the MAC(SEV) in a normotensive septic pig model.

Delayed gastric emptying in ventilated critically ill patients: measurement by 13 C-octanoic acid breath test.

Objective: To measure gastric emptying in ventilated critically ill patients with a new noninvasive breath test.

Design: Single-center, open study.

Setting: Combined medical and surgical intensive care unit of a university hospital.

Influence of sepsis on minimum alveolar concentration of desflurane in a porcine model.

The effect of sepsis on the minimum alveolar concentration of desflurane (MAC(DES)) in humans and other animals has not been reported previously. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that sepsis might alter MAC(DES) in a normotensive septic porcine model. Twenty-four young healthy pigs were premedicated with ketamine 10 mg kg(-1 )i.

Estimation of cardiac preload changes by systolic pressure variation in pigs undergoing pneumoperitoneum.

Background: Variations in systolic pressure arterial waveform (SPV) and its component have been shown to be a reasonable indicator of left ventricular preload. Creation of a pneumoperitoneum (PMOP) by insufflation of CO2 increases intrathoracic pressure, leading to overestimation of preload as assessed by pressure methods. The purpose of this study was to compare SPV with other standard methods in anaesthetized pigs.

Measurements of systolic time intervals using a transoesophageal pulsed echo-Doppler.

Measurement of systolic time intervals (STI), an index of left ventricular (LV) systolic function, is usually labour intensive and requires considerable expertise to perform accurately. We have evaluated the accuracy of an automated, continuous and non-invasive STI measurement technique using a descending aortic blood velocity Doppler signal obtained using a transoesophageal echo-Doppler system (TEDS) and an ECG signal. STI were measured in adult pigs using a transoesophageal probe (4 x 4 mm pulsed wave Doppler transducer, 5-MHz frequency and a 3 x 3 mm echo transducer, 10-MHz frequency) associated with an ECG recorder.

Metabolic acidosis and respiratory acidosis impair gastro-pyloric motility in anesthetized pigs.

Unlabelled: Acidosis impairs smooth muscle function in various organs. However, the effects of acidosis on the gastroduodenal tract are unknown while its dysfunction has potential perioperative harmful consequences. We investigated the effects of metabolic (MA) and respiratory acidosis (RA) on upper gut motility in tracheally ventilated pigs whose anesthesia was induced with halothane and maintained with alpha-chloralose-urethane administration (IV).

Lower oesophageal sphincter tone increases after induction of anaesthesia in pigs with full stomach.

Purpose: The lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) is the man mechanism that prevents gastro-oesophageal regurgitation during anaesthesia. The aim of this study was to assess the effect on lower oesophageal sphincter pressure (LOSP) of rapid sequence induction in pigs with full stomachs.

Methods: Lower oesophageal sphincter pressure and oesophageal barrier pressure (BrP = LOSP minus gastric pressure) were measured using a water-perfused manometric catheter method in 12 pigs after gastric filling with 500 ml of liquid nutrient mixture.

Overestimation of low cardiac output measured by thermodilution.

We have investigated the influence of a cold water bolus (CWB) injection on overestimation of cardiac output (CO) in low CO states in anaesthetized dogs. CO was measured using three methods: (1) thermodilution (TD), (2) electromagnetic (EM) flow meter placed on the pulmonary artery and (3) transoesophageal echo-Doppler (OD) placed on the descending aorta. Measurements of CO were obtained before (steady state) and after induction of a low CO state with thiopentone 5 mg kg-1 i.

Cricoid cartilage pressure decreases lower esophageal sphincter tone.

Background: Cricoid cartilage pressure induced to prevent pulmonary aspiration from regurgitation of gastric contents has been recommended, and its efficacy requires a force greater than 40 Newtons. For regurgitation to occur, both an increase in gastric pressure and relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) are necessary. However, the effect of cricoid cartilage pressure on the LES is unknown.

Effect of halothane, isoflurane and desflurane on lower oesophageal sphincter tone.

We have studied the effects of volatile anaesthetics on lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) tone in three groups of eight pigs allocated randomly to receive end-tidal concentrations of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.

Extradural clonidine combined with sufentanil and 0.0625% bupivacaine for analgesia in labour.

We have studied the use of clonidine combined with low doses of sufentanil and bupivacaine in 45 parturients requiring extradural analgesia for the first stage of labour, in a double-blind, randomized study. We gave 0.0625% bupivacaine 10 ml containing 1:200,000 adrenaline and sufentanil 10 micrograms (1 ml) to which was added 0.

Calcium homeostasis during i.v. infusion of 1.5% glycine in anaesthetized pigs.

We have examined changes in plasma concentrations of calcium in seven anaesthetized pigs during i.v. infusion of irrigating fluid containing 1.

Cricoid pressure decreases lower oesophageal sphincter tone in anaesthetized pigs.

Purpose: Previous studies have shown a decrease of lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) tone during stimulation of the upper oesophageal sphincter. Therefore, we hypothesized that during anaesthesia, cricoid pressure could result in a decrease in LOS pressure.

Methods: The LOS and oesophageal barrier pressures (BrP = LOSP minus gastric pressure) were obtained in 11 anaesthetized pigs with intraabdominal pressure of 15 mmHg using a manometric method (perfused catheters) before and during firm application of cricoid pressure.

The effects of neuromuscular block on peak airway pressure and abdominal elastance during pneumoperitoneum.

Administration of muscle relaxants is considered as necessary to prevent high intraabdominal and peak inspiratory pressures induced by pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopy. In the present study, we hypothesized that neuromuscular block does not alter pulmonary or abdominal elastic properties in pigs receiving general anesthesia. To test this hypothesis, changes in peak airway pressure and abdominal elastance during intraabdominal CO(2), insufflation from 0 to 15 mm Hg were recorded in anesthetized pigs, with or without muscle relaxants.

The effect of increase in end-tidal carbon dioxide on lower esophageal sphincter tone.

The lower esophageal sphincter is composed of smooth muscles and is the main barrier against regurgitation during anesthesia. As smooth muscles are usually sensitive to CO2, we investigated the response of lower esophageal sphincter pressure to varying concentrations of CO2 in six anesthetized pigs using a manometric method. CO2 was increased by increasing the dead space at the Y piece of the ventilator.

[Effects of anesthesia on the lower sphincter of the esophagus].

The lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) is the most important structure preventing regurgitation of gastric contents, with the risk of tracheobronchial aspiration, as it occurs in cases of laryngeal incompetence in connection with general anaesthesia. This article reviews anatomical data, means of assessment of the sphincter function, as well as the effects of anaesthetic agents and situations carrying a high risk of regurgitation and tracheobronchial aspiration.

Effect of pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg position on gastro-oesophageal reflux and lower oesophageal sphincter pressure.

We have measured the effect of pneumoperitoneum and the Trendelenburg position on lower oesophageal sphincter (LOSP) and barrier pressures (BrP) in 11 anaesthetized pigs while measuring the incidence of gastro-oesophageal reflux with a pH electrode. Propofol in combination with sufentanil had no effect on LOSP or BrP. Adoption of the Trendelenburg position with a pneumoperitoneum of 15 mm Hg resulted in a significant increase in LOSP (P < 0.

Simultaneous monitoring of noninvasive hemodynamic profile and capnography for tissue perfusion evaluation.

To study the simultaneous variations of end-tidal CO pressure (PetCO) and aortic blood flow (ABF) during modifications of tissue perfusion, continuous noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring and continuous recording of PetCO were performed on 30 patients under general anesthesia and artificial mechanical ventilation. The 30 patients underwent orthopedic surgery on one of the lower limbs using a hemostatic tourniquet. Deflation of the pneumatic tourniquet resulted in a rise of ABF up to 39% (P<0.