Blood Oxygen Capacity Research Articles

The impact of hypoxic training at different altitudes on human physiology, biochemistry, and cytogenetics

This study investigated the impact of dosed hypoxic normobaric exercises on the physio-biochemical parameters of blood and lymph circulation, as well as cytogenetic changes in red blood cells (RBC), using a Sprague Dawley Rat Model. Hypoxic training was conducted in an animal hypoxic chamber. The session lasted 34-35 minutes. The O2 content was 20.5% at the beginning of the session; then, it dropped to 14.8% within 4-5 minutes, corresponding to a rise to an altitude of 2,900-3,000 m, and was maintained at that level until the end of the session. The hypoxic training cycle increased the RBC count by 4.1%, the hemoglobin count by 4.2%, the blood oxygen capacity by 8.3%, the circulating blood volume by 16.7%, and interstitial metabolism and lymph circulation by 30.6%. A cytogenetic study revealed an increase in erythropoiesis-reticulocyte count by 40.3% and a slightly higher frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes. We observed economization of the heart, respiration, activation of glucose transport by 33.5%, increased lipid utilization, and increased antioxidant protection. These parameters especially changed when hypoxic training was combined with physical activity. Hypoxic training with physical activity expands the body’s compensatory and adaptive capabilities by increasing the reserves of the respiratory, cardiovascular, and lymphatic systems.

Effect of sulfate on the osmoregulatory and physio-biochemical responses of GIFT (Oreochromis niloticus) juveniles reared in potassium-deficient medium saline waters.

The inland saline waters were continuously observed to have low potassium concentrations compared to their seawater counterpart of the same salinity. We hypothesize that the toxic effect of sulfate may manifest in low potassium saline (LPSW) waters compared to brackish water of the same salinity. Thus, LC50 trials were performed in GIFT (genetically improved farmed tilapia) fry (0.5 ± 0.02 g) to determine the acute sulfate toxicity in freshwater (FW, 0.5 g L-1), artificial seawater (ASW, 10 g L-1), and LPSW (10 g L-1). The median lethal concentrations (96h LC50) of sulfate ion in FW, LPSW, and ASW for the GIFT were 5.30 g L-1, 2.56 g L-1, and 2.98 g L-1, respectively. A second experiment was conducted for 21 days, exposing fish to a sub-lethal level of sulfate ion (SO42-) concentration (1000 mg L-1, one-fifth of FW LC50) with different types of waters (FW, freshwater, 0.5 g L-1; ASW, artificial seawater, 10 g L-1; LPSW, low potassium saline water, 10 g L-1) with and without sulfate inclusion to constitute the treatments as follows, (FW, FW + SO4, ASW, ASW + SO4, LPSW, LPSW + SO4). The effect of sulfate on GIFT reared in sulfate-rich potassium-deficient medium saline water was evaluated by focusing on the hematological adjustments, stress-induced oxidative damage, and osmoregulatory imbalances. The survival was not altered due to the sulfate concentration and K+ deficiency; however, there were significant changes in branchial NKA (Na+/K+-ATPase) activity and osmolality. The increase in NKA was highest in LPSW treatment, suggesting that internal ionic imbalance was triggered due to an interactive effect of sulfate and K+ deficiency. The cortisol levels showed a pronounced increase due to sulfate inclusion irrespective of K+ deficiency. The antioxidant enzymes, i.e., SOD (superoxide dismutase), catalase, GST (glutathione-S-transferase), and GPX (glutathione peroxidase), reflected a similar pattern of increment in the gills and liver of the LPSW + SO4 groups, suggesting a poor antioxidant status of the exposed group. The hepatic peroxidation status, i.e. TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances), and the peroxide values were enhanced due to both K+ deficiency and sulfate inclusion, suggesting a possible lipid peroxidation in the liver due to handling the excess sulfate anion concentration. The hematological parameters, including haemoglobin, total erythrocyte count, and hematocrit level, reduced significantly in the LPSW + SO4 group, indicating a reduced blood oxygen capacity due to the sulfate exposure and water potassium deficiency. The hepatic acetylcholine esterase activity was suppressed in all the treatments with sulfate inclusion, while the highest suppression was observed in the LPSW + SO4 group. Thus, it is concluded that sulfate-induced physiological imbalances manifest more in potassium-deficient water, indicating that environmental sulfate is more detrimental to inland saline water than freshwater or brackish water of the same salinity.

Determination of possible microRNA-markers of cobalt abuse by real-time qPCR using hypoxia signaling pathway panels

Objectives. Cobalt mimics the state of hypoxia to prevent degradation of the alpha subunit of hypoxia-inducible factor, resulting in an increase in blood oxygen capacity and endurance. Athletes can use this property to gain competitive advantage. Nowadays, direct methods of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry are used to determine total cobalt levels in the body. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency is yet to establish a maximum allowable threshold concentration of this element in biofluids. The lack of clear identification criteria complicates the interpretation of the obtained results for the purposes of doping control. In this regard, the present work proposes a new approach for the indirect determination of possible cobalt abuse based on changes in the expression levels of miRNAs involved in the regulation of hypoxia signaling pathways. Here, the aim is to identify possible microRNA markers whose expression does not depend on exercise-induced hypoxia, but changes markedly when taking cobalt preparations.Methods. MicroRNA isolation was performed from blood plasma samples using the PAXgene Blood miRNA Kit. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on CFX96 Bio-Rad (USA) analyzer using miScript® SYBR® Green PCR Kits and panels for studying the expression profiles of mature microRNAs of the hypoxia signaling pathway miScript® miRNA PCR Array.Results. Based on the statistical analysis of the data, it was found that the expression of hsa-miR-15b-5p in the blood plasma of the subjects does not depend on physical activity, but increases when taking cobalt preparations.Conclusions. The difference in expression levels during anaerobic exercise-induced hypoxia and cobalt-induced hypoxia makes hsa-miR-15b-5p a potential candidate to be a marker of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent abuse.

Определение кобальта в образцах плазмы крови методом масс-спектрометрии с индуктивно-связанной плазмой после перорального приема содержащих кобальт биологически активных добавок к пище

Salts of inorganic cobalt (Со) prevent the degradation of the alpha subunit of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), imitating the state of hypoxia in the body and increasing the production of the endogenous hormone erythropoietin (EPO), and are used as doping substances that increase blood oxygen capacity and endurance, which give competitive advantages in sports. Currently, a large number of dietary supplements, including Co-containing ones, are offered on free sale. Their uncontrolled intake can affect not only the professional career of athletes, but also their health, due to the fact that this trace element and its salts are the strongest inorganic poisons and carcinogens. Despite this, their availability on the pharmaceutical market, a noticeable effect of erythropoiesis stimulation and a convenient oral form of administration lead to the need for their detection in modern doping control. The purpose of this research was to develop an approach to differentiate cobalt from vitamin B12, present in the body in its natural state, from the intake of cobalt salts by quantifying and comparing blood levels of vitamin B12 and total cobalt. Methods. The study involved 9 healthy volunteers (women and men) aged 25 to 45 years, leading an active lifestyle. Three of them took 2500 μg/day of cobalamin for 20 days (comparison group), three - dietary supplement containing cobalt asparaginate (100 μg/day in terms of pure cobalt), and the rest - dietary supplements with cobalt sulfate heptahydrate (100 μg/day in terms of pure cobalt) (administration groups) at the same time after meals. Blood samples were taken at baseline and on days 5, 9, 14 and 20. The concentrations of total cobalt in blood plasma samples of volunteers were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS), the levels of cobalamin were determined on a Cobas 6000 immunochemical analyzer using the Elecsys Vitamin B12 II Assay ELISA kits. Results. It was found that oral intake of of cobalamin at a therapeutic dose significantly exceeding the recommended daily intake (3 μg), there was a regular slight increase in the blood concentration of total cobalt (1.1 times). At the same time intake of dietary supplements containing cobalt in the form of sulfate or asparaginate (about 100 μg per day in terms of pure cobalt) was accompanied by 4-6.7 fold increase in the concentration of total cobalt while unchanged vitamin B12 plasma concentration was observed. The detection of such changes can reliably indicate the use of prohibited salts and, of course, will be in demand for anti-doping control. Conclusion. Long-term monitoring of vitamin B12 and total cobalt levels, similar to hematological module of the Athlete Biological Passport program, will unambiguously detect possible abuse of cobalt salts and can be an additional evidence of the presence of these doping substances to other analytical methods, such as a combination of liquid chromatography and ICP-MS (LC-ICP-MS).

Миокардиальный станнинг в медицине неотложных и критических состояний, ассоциированных с системной гипоксией

Актуальность. Миокардиальный станнинг — феномен, заключающийся в продолжительном снижении сократительной способности миокарда после краткого периода ишемии/реперфузии, при котором не происходит омертвения ткани сердечной мышцы. Если изначально феномен станнинга ассоциировали исключительно с проявлениями ишемической болезни сердца, то в настоящее время имеется все больше свидетельств о том, что миокардиальный станнинг может осложнять совсем другую патологию. Цель: изучение результатов работ оте-чественных и зарубежных ученых, посвященных наблюдению феномена станнинга в медицине неотложных состояний, и систематизация накопленного клинического материала. Материалы и методы. Детальное изучение результатов современных клинических исследований, посвященных диагностике снижения сократительной способности миокарда у пациентов, находящихся в критических состояниях, которые развились не вследствие манифестации острого коронарного синдрома, обсуждению механизмов патогенеза миокардиальной дисфункции при этих состояниях и принципам оказания таким больным экстренной и специализированной медицинской помощи. Результаты. Для феномена миокардиального станнинга характерны следующие отличительные признаки: 1. Коронарный кровоток после перенесенного эпизода ишемии практически полностью восстанавливается. После ишемии очень часто регистрируется кратковременный период гиперперфузии. 2. Несмотря на восстановление коронарного кровотока, имеет место продолжительное снижение сократимости миокарда. 3. Необратимого повреждения кардиомиоцитов в период ишемии не происходит. 4. Снижение сократительной способности сердца, наблюдающееся после ишемии и последующей реперфузии, является полностью обратимым. Основными механизмами развития миокардиального станнинга являются: усиленная генерация активных форм кислорода в период реперфузии; перегрузка кардиомиоцитов кальцием; снижение сопряженности между процессами электрического возбуждения миокарда и его сократимостью. Продукция простациклина, активность ангиотензина I, II и ангиотензинпревращающего фермента, продукция брадикинина моделируют тяжесть мио-кардиальной дисфункции при станнинге. Причиной станнинга может быть индуцированная катехоламинами кардиотоксичность. Миокардиальный станнинг можно наблюдать у пациентов с геморрагическим, септическим шоком, субарахноидальными кровоизлияниями, на фоне проведения гемодиализа, после криза при феохромоцитоме, после реанимационной акции. Выводы. Миокардиальный станнинг требует своевременной диагностики, поскольку проведение гемодинамической коррекции не с помощью инотропной поддержки, а по другим направлениям, а именно за счет увеличения скорости объемной нагрузки (агрессивная инфузионная терапия) или применения вазопрессоров, может резко ухудшить состояние пациента вследствие увеличения нагрузки на ослабленное сердце.

Features of current and intensive therapy of new coronavirus infection in children with comorbidities (clinical cases)

The risk of a severe course of new coronavirus infection(COVID-19) due to the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome is extremely high, which is especially true forpatients with comorbidities.The aimof the study is to demonstrate the peculiarities ofthe course and intensive care measures in new coronavirusinfection COVID-19 in children with comorbidities.Patients and methods:On the example of clinical cases,the characteristics of the course of a new coronavirus infection of COVID-19 in children with systemic lupus erythematosus and bronchopulmonary dysplasia are considered.Results:The main data from the history and clinical laboratory examination are reflected, which made it possible toidentify a cytokine storm in a timely manner, a high risk ofadverse course and begin timely specific pathogenetic therapy, including immunoglobulins for intravenous administration, hydroxychloroquine, ritonavir in combination withlopinavir, azithromycin and dexamethasone. Particular attention is paid to the need to limit infusion therapy, maintaina negative water balance and optimal blood oxygen capacity,ambiguity of opinions on the need for routine use of albuminand dexamethasone solutions in patients with COVID-19 hasbeen demonstrated.Conclusion:Children with comorbidities are characterized by a severe course of a new coronavirus infection COVID-19, which requires timely pathogenetic therapy takinginto account the individual characteristics of the patient.

Interspecific Differences in the Metabolic Rate, Gill Dimension and Hematology of Fish in an Amazonian Floodplain Lake

It has been hypothesized that respiratory physiology in fish is closely associated with ecological traits. Therefore, data on gill morphometrics (lamellae frequency, gill surface area and barrier thickness), metabolic rate (oxygen consumption) and blood oxygen capacity (hematology) were analyzed in several fish, including benthic, bentho-pelagic and pelagic species collected in an Amazon floodplain lake. Similar to other teleostean species, the 2nd and 3rd gill arches have numerous large filaments in both pelagic and benthic species, as these characteristics tend to increase the gill surface area. A large gill area (4 to 7 cm2 g-1, mass-specific) is associated with a high (100 to 300 mg O2 h-1 kg-1) routine oxygen consumption rate and has been observed in active pelagic swimmers, such as Cichla monoculus and Pygocentrus nattereri. Benthic dwelling fish (e.g., Pterygoplichthys pardalis and Sorubim lima) have low metabolic rates (20 to 50 mg O2 h-1 kg-1), small gill dimensions (2 to 3 cm2 g-1, mass-specific), low hemoglobin levels (3 to 5 g dL-1), reduced numbers of circulating red blood cells (1 to 2 Í106 mm-3) and low hematocrit values (25 to 35%) compared to pelagic species. These results demonstrated that pelagic fish have high routine oxygen consumption rates compatible with their large gill surface area and high blood oxygen capacity, whereas benthic species have low metabolic rates, small gill dimensions and reduced blood oxygen capacity.

The impact of birth anesthesia on the parameters of oxygenation and acid–base balance in umbilical cord blood

Background: There is a great number of studies dealing with the impact of birth anesthesia on the course of labor and condition of the newborn. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of birth anesthesia on the parameters of oxygenation and acid-base balance in umbilical cord blood.Methods: Subjects were divided into four groups: vaginal delivery without anesthesia, vaginal delivery with epidural anesthesia, delivery by cesarean section under a subarachnoid block, and delivery by cesarean section under general anesthesia. The study included mothers aged 18–45 and their newborns born from a singleton normal pregnancy lasting 37–42 weeks, calculating the date of birth according to Naegele's Rule, which was confirmed by ultrasound assessment. The inclusion criteria were a birth weight between 2800 and 4100 gResults: Hematocrit, total hemoglobin, blood oxygen capacity and carboxyhemoglobin content (umbilical artery and vein mean values respectively in all study groups: 41.9 and 42.6%, 14.3 and 14.5 g/dl, 19.3 and 19.6 ml/dl) were similar in all groups and did not correlate with pH in either group. The mean pH value of umbilical cord arterial blood in the “vaginal delivery with epidural anesthesia” group was 7.27 and was significantly the lowest (p < .05) of all the examined groups, in the remaining groups, the mean values ranged between 7.29 and 7.30. Hemoglobin oxygen saturation, oxygenated hemoglobin content, and total oxygen content in umbilical cord blood were statistically significant (p < .001), almost twice as high in cesarean sections under general anesthesia than in cases of regional anesthesia regardless of the method of delivery. Vaginal deliveries had intermediate values of oxygenation parameters.Conclusion: Blood oxygenation of the fetus is a very good parameter to evaluate the clinical state of the baby. Due to most common hypotension of the mother by the regional anesthesia (subarachnoid or epidural), which is compensated by the application of the vasoconstrictors or only by the fluids, it comes to decrease in the oxygen supply of the fetus. We consider in this study that the general anesthesia can be, in some cases, more indicated than the regional anesthesia. The decision of which kind of anesthesia should be used needs to be made by the anesthetists and also by the obstetrician because it can affect the neonatal state after the delivery. It also needs to be mentioned that the time between the start of the anesthesia and the extraction of the fetus by the cesarean section should be as short as possible.

Эритроциты циркулирующей крови морского ерша Scorpaena porcus L. 1758 в условиях острой экспериментальной гипоксии

В условиях краткосрочного эксперимента исследовали влияние острой гипоксии на морфофункциональное состояние эритроцитов морского ерша (Scorpaena porcus L. 1758). Рыб содержали при 8,5–8,7 мг O2·л-1 (100 % насыщение, контроль), 2,6 мг O2·л-1 (30 % насыщение) и 1,3 мг O2·л-1 (15 % насыщение) в течение 90 минут. При 30 % насыщении воды кислородом не наблюдали каких-либо изменений, показатели состояния эритроцитов сохранялись на уровне контрольных значений. При 15 % насыщении воды кислородом происходило угнетение эритропоэтических процессов, выраженное в преимущественном снижении содержания в крови наименее дифференцированных эритроидных форм (базофильных нормобластов). Одновременно отмечались набухание циркулирующих эритроцитов и лизис осмотически низкостойких и аномальных клеток, что приводило к снижению кислородной ёмкости крови и к росту осмотической резистентности циркулирующей эритроцитарной массы. Выявленный порядок изменений в системе красной крови способен индуцировать продукцию эритропоэтинов в почках и активизировать эритроидный росток в гемопоэтической ткани.

The blood preservation in surgical treatment of the mitral disease of the heart

Objective. Investigation of modern possibilities of the bloodless technique of surgical treatment of the mitral valve failure (МVF) in environment of artificial blood circulation (ABC).&#x0D; Маterials and methods. There were examined 727 patients, suffering MVF. All the patients were divided into two groups: the main and a comparative one. The main group have consisted of 637 patients, in whom various variants of the blood preservation without its transfusion were applied, without application of a cell-saver, hemoconcentrating columns and the blood ultrafiltration; and a comparative one group have consisted of 90 patients, to whom the blood preparations were transfused. The procedure depicted have provided the anesthesia and the perfusion measures during operation of the mitral valve change, including аs well the peculiarities of the intraoperative infusion therapy management in the ABC conditions.&#x0D; Results. In the main group of patients the rate of postoperative infectious complications have constituted 1.2%, while in a comparative one - 9.9%. Median duration of stay on the artificial pulmonary ventilation have constituted (6.7 ± 2.3) and (12.3 ± 8.4) hours accordingly. The average duration of stay in reanimation department was (58.4 ± 12.4) and (116.3 ± 45.2) hours, accordingly (р &lt; 0.05). The intraoperative blood loss volume in the main group was significantly lesser, than in a comparative one: (261.2 ± 33.8) and (533.1 ± 131.6) ml, accordingly (р &lt; 0.05).&#x0D; On all stages of the operation and in postoperative period the level of hemoglobin have persisted in a compensation period range, what constitutes a safe level of the blood oxygen capacity.&#x0D; Conclusion. Introduction of intraoperative variants of the autologous blood reservation without application of the donor’s blood, сеll-saver and hemoconcentration columns is not accompanied with lowering of the oxygen delivery and consumption, as well as development of lactate-acidosis.&#x0D; The improved procedure of anesthesiological support consisted of the infusion-transfusion therapy conduction with stimulation of diuresis, the water balance control, applying combination of an acute normovolemic hemodilution with ABC, and lowering of hemodilution due to retrograde filling of oxygenator by autologous blood. As well there were applied various methods of the autologous blood exfusion and its components combinations, change of tactics in the infusion hemostatic therapy; a central venous pressure control and support of median arterial pressure.&#x0D; Introduction of the procedure depicted have guaranteed a good clinical effect without complications of transfusion on a hospital stage of the patients’ management.

Balancing personal maintenance with parental investment in a chick-rearing seabird: physiological indicators change with foraging conditions.

Seabird parents use a conservative breeding strategy that favours long-term survival over intensive parental investment, particularly under harsh conditions. Here, we examine whether variation in several physiological indicators reflects the balance between parental investment and survival in common murres (Uria aalge) under a wide range of foraging conditions. Blood samples were taken from adults during mid-chick rearing from 2007 to 2014 and analysed for corticosterone (CORT, stress hormone), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BUTY, lipid metabolism reflecting ongoing mass loss), and haematocrit (reflecting blood oxygen capacity). These measures, plus body mass, were related to three levels of food availability (good, intermediate, and poor years) for capelin, the main forage fish for murres in this colony. Adult body mass and chick-feeding rates were higher in good years than in poor years and heavier murres were more likely to fledge a chick than lighter birds. Contrary to prediction, BUTY levels were higher in good years than in intermediate and poor years. Murres lose body mass just after their chicks hatch and these results for BUTY suggest that mass loss may be delayed in good years. CORT levels were higher in intermediate years than in good or poor years. Higher CORT levels in intermediate years may reflect the necessity of increasing foraging effort, whereas extra effort is not needed in good years and it is unlikely to increase foraging success in poor years. Haematocrit levels were higher in poor years than in good years, a difference that may reflect either their poorer condition or increased diving requirements when food is less available. Our long-term data set provided insight into how decisions about resource allocation under different foraging conditions are relating to physiological indicators, a relationship that is relevant to understanding how seabirds may respond to changes in marine ecosystems as ocean temperatures continue to rise.

糖化血红蛋白的检测方法

糖尿病是世界上发病率最高的疾病之一。目前，检测糖化血红蛋白已经成为糖尿病监控的标准诊断方法。血红蛋白在人体中承担着重要作用，是主要担负着运载氧的功能的大分子蛋白质，糖尿病患者过高的血糖会诱使葡萄糖和血红蛋白结合，生成没有功能的糖化血红蛋白，影响血液的输氧能力，因此血液中的糖化血红蛋白的检测意义重大。临床实验室常用的测定糖化血红蛋白的方法有30多种，根据反应原理的不同可分为两大类：第一类基于GHb与非GHb的电荷不同，包括离子交换色谱法、电泳法、等电聚焦法等；第二类基于GHb的结构特点，包括亲和色谱法、离子捕获法、免疫法等。本文主要对临床常用的糖化血红蛋白检测方法进行了综述。 Diabetes mellitus is one of the highest morbidity in the world. At present, the detection of glyco-sylated hemoglobin has become the standard diagnostic method of diabetes monitoring. Hemo-globin plays an important role in human body, as a macromolecular protein which is mainly re-sponsible for carrying oxygen. And the combination of high blood glucose in patients with diabetes will induce glucose and hemoglobin in HbA1c generation function, blood oxygen capacity, so the determination of glycosylated hemoglobin in blood shows great significance. There are more than 30 methods used for the determination of glycosylated hemoglobin in clinical laboratories. According to the principle of the reaction, which can be divided into two categories, the first category is based on the different charge of GHb and non GHb, including ion exchange chromatography, electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, etc. The second category is based on the structural characteristics of GHb, including affinity chromatography, ion capture, immunization, etc. This article overviewed detection methods of glycosylated hemoglobin in clinical practice.

Diabetic peripheral angiopathy treatment using a multi-laser therapy device

Diabetic peripheral angiopathy treatment using a multi-laser therapy device

Electrical activity and circulatory effects of nitrite in the rat cerebrum

An association between the cerebrum electrical activity (CEA) in rats, blood supply of its cortex microregions (linear blood flow), and general cerebrum blood flow under acute nitrite hypoxia was studied. The phase character of the change in hemodynamic indices and the total capacity of electroencephalography (EEG) spectrum for 75 min after sodium nitrite introduction (30 mg/kg of body weight) was detected. The first phase (30 min) was associated with cerebrum adaptation to hypotension caused by nitrite and was completed by EEG normalization. The second phase was characterized by pathological EEG changes (in spite of restoration of hemodynamics in the cerebrum) caused by the growth of oxygen debt in the nervous tissue as a result of a decrease in the blood oxygen capacity by 60-75 min of the effect of nitrite.

General Anesthesia in the Surgical Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease

The paper deals with the problem of anesthetic maintenance during surgical correction of coronary blood flow. The basis for this is the results of the investigations conducted at the V. A. Negovsky Research Institute of General Reanimatology, the objective of which was to improve the results of surgical treatment in patients with different forms of coronary heart disease (CHD), by optimizing the anesthetic maintenance of open heart surgery. Clinical and special examinations were made in 367 patients who had undergone surgical treatment (aortocoronary bypass surgery; formation of a mammary coronary anastomosis; resection and plastic repair of left ventricular aneurysms; thrombectomy from the heart chambers) for CHD and its complications. The main methodological approach to this study is to personalize intensive therapy and general anesthesia, which are relied on both evidence-based medicine and an individual pathophysiological approach. The paper details how to choose the basic mode of general anesthesia depending on the form of CHD and myocardial contractile function. Furthermore, the authors propose methods for optimizing the perioperative period: postoperative analgesia; correction of the aggregate state of blood; operative hemodilution; prevention and correction of critically reduced blood oxygen capacity

Haematological and genotoxic responses in an urban adapter, the banana bat, foraging at wastewater treatment works

Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTWs) are a ubiquitous feature of the urban landscape. The Banana Bat, Neoromicia nana specifically exploits the high abundance of chironomid midge prey available at WWTWs but these populations also have higher levels of non-essential metals (Cd, Cr and Ni) in their tissues than bats foraging at unpolluted sites. Pollutant exposure may elicit primary physiological responses such as DNA damage and haematological changes. We investigated whether pollutant exposure from foraging at WWTWs impacts haematological and genotoxic parameters in N. nana. We compared four measures of haematological/genotoxic damage between N. nana foraging at three WWTWs and two unpolluted sites located in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: DNA damage measured by the Comet assay, total antioxidant capacity as indicated by the FRAP assay, chromosomal aberration indicated by micronuclei formation and blood oxygen capacity based on haematocrits. There was significantly higher DNA damage in N. nana at WWTWs than in bats from unpolluted sites, suggesting inadequate repair to double stranded DNA breaks. In addition, WWTW bats had a significantly lower antioxidant capacity than bats from unpolluted sites. This suggests that bats at WWTWs may have a diminished capacity to cope with the excess reactive oxidative species (ROS) produced from pollutants such as metals. There was no increase in micronucleus frequency in WWTW bats, indicating that cellular functioning has not yet been disrupted by chemical exposure. Haematocrits, however, were significantly higher in WWTW bats, possibly due to erythrocyte production in response to certain pollutants. Thus, effects of pollutant exposure in bats foraging at WWTWs elicit sub-lethal haematological and genotoxic responses which may pose serious long-term risks. This provides evidence that WWTWs, that are aimed to remove pollutants from the environment, can themselves act as a source of contamination and pose a threat to animals exploiting these habitats.

Effects of temperature on hardhead minnow (Mylopharodon conocephalus) blood-oxygen equilibria

Habitat perturbations, including dam construction with consequent temperature changes and the introduction of non-native species to California’s mid- to low-elevation streams, have negatively influenced some native fish populations’ historic distribution and abundance. Populations of hardhead, Mylopharodon conocephalus (Cyprinidae), have experienced such population declines, but environmental temperature effects on this large (to 60 cm SL), native species are poorly documented. We measured temperature effects on in vitro blood-oxygen affinity and equilibrium curve shape, key dynamics of the species’ oxygen-transport system, derived from blood collected from wild-caught hardhead. Over an 11–30 °C temperature range, the half-saturation value (P50, an inverse measure of affinity) increased with the temperature from 0.51 to 1.80 kPa for low-PCO2 (“arterial”) treatments and from 2.02 to 2.92 kPa for high-PCO2 (“venous”) treatments. The apparent heat of oxygenation (temperature effect) was higher at temperatures > (absolute value) 19 °C. Therefore, hardhead’s blood has a decreased ability to bind oxygen at its gills at temperatures ≥25 °C, compared to that at temperatures ≤19 °C. The hardhead’s Bohr factors (Ф), non-bicarbonate buffer values (β), nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) concentrations, blood oxygen capacities (CBO2), and mildly sigmoid-shaped oxygen equilibrium curves showed no relationship with temperature. Overall, their blood-oxygen equilibria suggest that hardhead can tolerate moderate hypoxia and temperature variations in its environment and that they have some capacity for sustained, high-aerobic activity.

Hemoglobin concentrations in waders vary with their strategies of migration: A comparative analysis

The aim of this study was to determine whether blood oxygen capacity of waders varies with respect to migration at both inter-specific and individual level. To verify this hypothesis we measured hemoglobin concentration in 875 waders from 14 species during their autumn migration through central Poland. In most of the species we found an increase in the hemoglobin levels along with increasing fat loads during the stopover period, which suggests that individual birds are able to elevate their oxygen-carrying capacity of blood prior to departure on a migratory flight. Positive relationship between hemoglobin concentrations of waders and their fat loads was confirmed at the inter-specific level by the comparative analysis of independent contrasts. Comparative analysis also demonstrated that hemoglobin concentrations were positively related with theoretical flight range and mean refueling rate during stopovers. The results indicate that species traveling according to the strategy of energy-minimization (short-distance migrants, low fat reserves, low refueling rates) have lower blood oxygen capacity in comparison to time-selected species (long-distance migrants, high fat reserves, high refueling rates). It remains uncertain whether high hemoglobin levels in long-distance migrants are a fixed evolutionary trait or a temporal physiological adaptation associated with carrying considerable fat load.

Changes of gas exchange parameters and of functional-biochemical properties of erythrocytes in dynamics of experimental anemia in rats

In experiments on Wistar male rats, on a specially constructed computer installation, O2 consumption by the animals in comparison with changes of hematological, biochemical, and rheological blood properties is studied after anemization--acute bloodletting (12-15% of the total blood mass). An increase of the O2 consumption by the organism and tissues by 18-28% has been revealed for the first 7 days after the bloodletting, in spite of a pronounced decrease of hematocrit, and of the amount of erythrocytes and hemoglobin in peripheral blood by 20-25% of the initial level. There was a 5-10-fold increase of the content of immature erythrocyte forms--reticulocytes and a progressive rise of cell acidic resistance, which is characteristic of young erythrocyte forms. An increase of O2 consumption at a decrease of the blood oxygen capacity (a low hemoglobin level) seems to be due to the more efficient transport and yield of O2 to tissues. At the 3rd 7th day after the bloodletting, activity of Na,K-ATPase has been shown to increase by 60% and 20%, respectively. Analysis of the erythrocyte rheological properties has shown that the maximal firmness of aggregates (Uq) and the aggregation rate (1/T) decrease progressively beginning from 3 days after the bloodletting; index of deformability (I(max)) turned out to be elevated by 7-11%, probably due to an increase of the cell membrane elasticity. The conclusion is made that changes of erythrocyte rheological properties are interconnected with changes of the Na,K-ATPase activity and are directed to optimization of blood circulation in large vessels and the capillary network.

How chicken embryo survives after half of shell is sealed?

The goal of this study was to explore the development of the gas transport systems in chick embryos after half of the shell surface is closed on incubation day 11. By the end of day 3 of the experiment (incubation day 14), the vascular reduction in the chorioallantois under the covered zone is fully compensated by the vessel dilatation and growth in the intact half. In parallel, the oxygen capacity of blood elevates and hematopoiesis increases: the indices of hematocrit, hemoglobin, and erythrocyte count increase by half. The development of the left ventricular myocardium accelerates through the myocyte hyperplasia and their more mature ultrastructure. The obtained data indicate that hypoxia accelerates the embryonic development and leads to earlier and faster differentiation of the gas transport systems. However, the efficiency of antihypoxic responses is limited by the upper bound of capillary density in the chorionic respiratory network. After 1 week of the experiment (incubation day 18), the total vascular volume in the chorioallantois is halved relative to control, while the arterial walls substantially thicken in the open part, which increases the peripheral resistance. Atherosclerosis and dystrophy of cardiomyocytes developed in the left ventricle. These general hemodynamic abnormalities are accompanied by a notable embryonic growth inhibition. Thus, the structural compensation of the gas transport systems in the experiment becomes exhausted and cannot provide for increasing metabolic demands of the growing embryo.