Decrease In Heart Rate Research Articles

Distal paravertebral block anesthesia with a mixture of lidocaine and xylazine has a longer duration than a lidocaine block coupled with intramuscular xylazine in steers

Abstract OBJECTIVE To determine whether the site of administration of xylazine alters its impact on lidocaine’s duration of action when administered as a distal paravertebral block (DPV) in steers. METHODS 6 healthy steers were used. Unilateral DPVs were performed at L1, L2, and L4. Each steer received 2 treatments in a blinded random crossover study. The local xylazine treatment group received 6 mg of lidocaine/kg mixed with 0.02 mg of xylazine/kg as a DPV, followed by an injection of 0.9% NaCl in the cervical musculature. The systemic xylazine treatment group received 6 mg of lidocaine/kg as a DPV and 0.02 mg of xylazine/kg in the cervical musculature. Sensation was assessed by response to needle pricks along the paralumbar fossa with a 22-gauge hypodermic needle. The time of onset, duration of action, sedation score, and heart rate were compared between treatments. Data are reported as mean ± SD. This study was completed over a 2-week period in May 2023. RESULTS The duration of anesthesia was significantly prolonged after DPV in steers treated with local xylazine (186.7 ± 58.7 minutes) compared to systemic xylazine (95 ± 36.3 minutes). Both treatments were associated with mild decreases in heart rate and sedation but were not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSIONS The addition of xylazine to lidocaine when administered as a DPV provides a longer duration of anesthesia than when xylazine is administered at a distant site to local anesthetic solution deposition. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The combination of lidocaine and xylazine when administered as a DPV prolongs the duration of action of lidocaine and is a practical, inexpensive technique.

The effect of self-compassion versus mindfulness interventions on autonomic responses to stress in generalized anxiety disorders

ObjectiveAlthough research on psychological interventions in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) has provided evidence of their effectiveness regarding self-reported outcomes, few studies have examined their psychophysiological effects. Heart rate is emerging as a potential biomarker of efficacy in anxiety disorders. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a self-compassion intervention versus a mindfulness intervention on physiological arousal in response to induced stress.MethodsForty-seven patients with GAD had heart rate data collected during a stress task before and after a 2-week pharmacological treatment (known as treatment as usual, TAU), a self-compassion intervention + TAU or a mindfulness intervention + TAU. They also reported state anxiety, positive affect, and negative affect at pre- and post- intervention before the stress task. ANOVAs were conducted to analyze the effects on electrocardiogram data self-reported measurements.ResultsSelf-compassion intervention uniquely decreased heart rate response to a stressor whereas mindfulness intervention did not. Both treatments decreased state anxiety and negative affect to a stressor, while increased positive affect in this context. We also demonstrated a significant correlation between decreased heart rate response and less negative emotions.ConclusionThe Findings provides novel physiological evidence that self-compassion interventions buffer stress reactivity in individuals with GAD. Attention shall be paid to the limitations in small and unequal sample size and a non-randomized study design.

Neurotoxicity study of cenobamate-induced zebrafish early developmental stages.

Cenobamate (CNB) is a novel anti-seizure medication with significant efficacy in treating epilepsy. However, in clinical trials, the most common adverse reactions observed in patients are central nervous system (CNS) symptoms. In animal studies, administration of CNB during pregnancy or lactation has been associated with adverse effects on neurodevelopment in offspring. To optimize the clinical use of CNB, we investigated the neurotoxicity of different concentrations of CNB (10, 20, 40, 80, and 160μM) on zebrafish embryos. Following exposure, zebrafish embryos exhibited abnormal phenotypes such as shortened body length, impaired yolk sac absorption, and decreased heart rate. Behavioral experiments showed that CNB caused abnormal movements such as decreased spontaneous tail curling frequency, shortened total movement distance, and reduced average movement speed. We also found that CNB leads to increased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity levels in zebrafish embryos, along with differential expression of neurodevelopment-related genes such as nestin, gfap, synapsin IIa, and gap43. In summary, our research findings indicated that CNB may induce developmental and neurotoxic effects in zebrafish embryos by altering neurotransmitter systems and the expression of neurodevelopmental genes, thereby influencing behavior. This study will provide information for the clinical use of CNB, aiming to benefit more epilepsy patients through its appropriate administration.

Heart Rate Recovery after a 6-minute Walk test in Patients with Lower Extremity Artery Disease in Burkina Faso, sub-Saharan Africa

Background: Heart rate recovery (HRR) is a measure of fitness and an indication of cardiac health. The decrease in heart rate occurring immediately after exercise is caused by increased vagal activity and sympathetic withdrawal occurring after exercise.Objective: Our aim was to study the relationship between of the clinical severity of the lower limb artery disease (Fontaine classification) assessed during a 6-minute walking test and the decrease in heart rate (HR) from maximal exercise HR at 1-minute post-exercise (HRR1).Material and method: We studied patients were enrolled from January to December 2021 and screened in the vascular function exploration unit of the Souro SANOU University Hospitalof Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, sub-Saharan Africa.Results: A total of 98 patients were included with a mean age of 53.6 ± 11.2 years, predominantly female (60.2%). The mean values were:0.834 ± 0.16 for ABI, 77± 11 bpm for resting HR, 108 ± 14bpm for end-exercise HR, 15bpm ± 8bpm for HRR1, 296± 95 m for maximum walking distance. Among the groups of the Fontaine classification, group IV walked the least (224±115m) and had the smallest HRR1 (11±8 bpm). Conclusion: Our study showed a significant relationship between HRR1 after a 6-minute walk test and the severity of lower limb ischemia. This could potentially lead to better peripheral arterial disease management strategies based on post-exercise cardiac recovery.

Analysis of the cardiotoxic and myorelaxant effects of camphor on fish of the Nile tilapia species (Oreochromis niloticus) (Linnaeus 1758)

The present study aimed to characterize the behavior and evaluate the electromyographic (EMG), electrocardiographic (ECG), and respiratory responses of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) when exposed to different concentrations of Camphor (CPR) as a potential anaesthetic in immersion and recovery baths. The goal was to determine the impact of CPR on muscle, cardiac, and respiratory functions, and assess its suitability as an anesthetic for tilapia. Therefore, juvenile fish (38.2 ± 5.5 g) were acclimatized in aquaria for 20 days under controlled environmental and water quality conditions. Four concentrations of CPR (150, 200, 250 and 300 mg L−1) were used in immersion baths to evaluate behavioral, EMG, ECG changes and recordings of opercular beats during the short-term treatment (5 min of exposure). The latency time for loss of the postural reflex was dependent on the CPR concentration. The EMG recordings demonstrated muscle activity during treatment and recovery. The ECG and opercular beat recordings demonstrated a decrease in heart and respiratory rates, with changes in the recorded tracings being more evident at higher concentrations. However, the use of a concentration of 300 mg L−1 makes the cardiac and respiratory effects more evident, with changes in the tracing, which can harm the animal’s hemodynamics. However, lower concentrations (150 mg L−1) showed tachycardia and opercular hypermotility, demonstrating changes not compatible with anesthesia. This article demonstrated that CPR in high concentrations can be harmful to the hemodynamics of tilapia, causing electrocardiographic and respiratory changes for a long period, even after recovery of muscular activity and postural reflex.

Comparison of plasma concentration and sedative effect of sublingual and intranasal dexmedetomidine in children: A double-blind randomised controlled study.

Pharmacokinetics and sedative effects of sublingual dexmedetomidine have not been established in children. The primary aim was to compare peak plasma concentration, time to reach peak plasma concentration and area under the curve with 2 μg/kg sublingual and intranasal dexmedetomidine. The secondary aims were to compare the depth of sedation, parental separation anxiety, mask acceptance, heart rate changes, analgesic requirements and recovery time with 2 μg/kg sublingual and intranasal dexmedetomidine in children. Thirty children between 2 and 12 years, weighing 10-30 kg, scheduled for surgeries were divided into two groups. Thirty minutes before the induction of anaesthesia, children were premedicated with 2 μg/kg dexmedetomidine either by intranasal drops (Group N) or sublingual wafer (Group S). Five venous blood samples were collected to measure dexmedetomidine plasma concentrations at 15, 30, 45, 60 and 120 min from dexmedetomidine administration. Sedation, parental separation anxiety, mask acceptance and heart rate were recorded. Recovery, pain and fentanyl requirements were assessed. Demographic data was comparable. Median interquartile range (IQR) dexmedetomidine peak plasma concentration in Group N (0.764 [0.650-0.820]) ng/mL was significantly higher than in Group S (0.593 [0.364-0.754]) ng/mL (p = .014). Plasma concentration was significantly higher at 30 and 45 min in Group N as compared to Group S (p < .05). The median (IQR) time to reach peak plasma concentration was shorter in Group N (45 [45-120]) minutes than in Group S (60 [45-60]) minutes, (p = .814). The median (IQR) area under the concentration-time curve was significantly higher in Group N (1.062 [0.848-1.20]) ng/mL.h in comparison to Group S (0.866 [0.520-1.05]) ng/mL.h (p = .031). Comparable sedation was achieved at 25 min in both groups. No child required treatment for decreased heart rate. Parental separation anxiety, mask acceptance, recovery and analgesic requirements were comparable. Intranasal 2 μg/kg dexmedetomidine resulted in significantly higher peak plasma concentration and time to reach peak plasma concentration than sublingual wafers. Sublingual and intranasal dexmedetomidine resulted in comparable sedation, parental separation and mask acceptance. This study compared the pharmacokinetics and sedative effects of sublingual versus intranasal dexmedetomidine in children, finding that intranasal administration resulted in significantly higher peak plasma concentration and faster time to peak concentration. Both routes achieved comparable sedation, parental separation anxiety scores and mask acceptance, with no significant adverse effects observed.

Розвиток гіпотензії та брадикардії під впливом пропофолу у щурів з цукровим діабетом

Propofol is an anesthetic that is widely used in clinical practice and recommended for patients with diabetes mellitus because it produces less complications compared to other anesthetics. Furthermore, surgical procedures may result in the develop ment of hypoxia. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of propofol on systemic vascular contractility, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR) under normoxia and hypoxia in rats with streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes (DM). The effect of propofol (10-9 - 3×10-4 mol/l) on the aortic segments of rats with DM caused a significant dose-dependent relaxation compared with control rats. A single intravenous injection of propofol caused no alterations in the hemodynamics of control rats. Still, it induced a dosedependent reduction in HR and MAP in rats with DM under the maximum dose of the study at normoxia. The administration of propofol under hypoxic hypoxia (HH) caused no decrease in MAP but reduced HR in control rats. In rats with diabetes, propofol treatment under HH induced a gradual decrease in MAP and HR, and the reduction in HR was significantly larger than in control rats. HH, which was exposed to animals after propofol administration, produced a significant decrease in MAP compared to rats without the treatment in both groups of rats. HH caused no changes in HR in control rats regardless of pretreatment with propofol but in rats with DM after propofol administration, hypoxic exposure induced a significant decrease in HR, which was accompanied by a rapid drop in MAP and bradycardia for 37.5% of the animals. Therefore, propofol caused no alterations in hemodynamic parameters in healthy rats under normoxia but reduced HR and MAP in rats with DM. Especially this effect was manifested under hypoxia. The data obtained can help to develop guidelines for propofol use in patients with DM.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ciprofol after continuous infusion in elderly patients

BackgroundCiprofol, a novel intravenous anesthetic, which has primarily been used for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia in adults, is characterized by rapid onset, short duration of action, and quick and smooth recovery. However, the pharmacokinetic characteristics of continuous infusions and the correlation between the plasma concentration and the bispectral index (BIS) in elderly patients are still unknown.MethodIn this randomized, controlled study, thirty elderly patients (62–78 years old) undergoing elective gastrointestinal tumor resection were treated with propofol (N = 15) or ciprofol (N = 15) as sedatives during anesthesia. After induction, ciprofol/propofol was continuously infused intravenously until the end of the operation. Perioperative vital signs, injection pain, adverse events (AEs), BIS values, eyelid reflex disappearance times, and recovery times were recorded. The plasma concentrations of ciprofol and propofol were measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC‒MS/MS) and the pharmacokinetics were determined by noncompartmental analysis.ResultsBoth drugs caused a decrease in blood pressure and heart rate after induction. Eight cases (53. 3%) of hypotension and 3 cases (20%) of bradycardia occurred in the propofol group, while 8 cases (53. 3%) of hypotension and 5 cases (33. 3%) of bradycardia occurred in the ciprofol group. At intubation, the ciprofol group experienced fewer fluctuations in blood pressure than the propofol group. Ciprofol resulted in only one case (6.7%) of mild injection pain, less than that produced by propofol (10/15, 66.7%) (P < 0.05). Anesthesia induction was successfully completed with both drugs, and there were no significant differences in eyelash reflex disappearance or recovery time between the two groups. The plasma concentrations during maintenance were relatively stable in both groups (propofol 1.78 ± 0.67 μg/mL, ciprofol 0.71 ± 0.23 μg/mL), and a suitable depth of sedation was achieved with a BIS of 40–60. The pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters for ciprofol are listed as follows: Maximum Plasma Concentration (Cmax) 6.02 ± 2.13 μg/ml; Time to Maximum Concentration (Tmax) 0.18 ± 0.62 min; Apparent Volume of Distribution (Vz) 3.96 ± 0.84 L/kg; Total Clearance (CL) 0.83 ± 0.14 L/h/kg; Half-life (t½) 3.47 ± 1.85 h; Area Under the Curve (AUC) 5000 ± 900 L/h/kg; Terminal Elimination Rate Constant (λz) 0.23 ± 0.07 1/h. Similar to propofol, the plasma concentration of ciprofol was linearly correlated with the BIS.ConclusionCiprofol, a novel intravenous anesthetic, can be safely and effectively used in elderly patient continuous infusion with minimal injection pain. Plasma concentrations of ciprofol correlate well with BIS values, helping control sedation depth. For elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal tumor surgery, an optimal maintenance dose of 0.8 mg/kg/h is recommended.Trial registrationThis clinical trial (registration No: ChiCTR2100047580, https://www.chictr.org.cn. The pre-registration date was June 20, 2021, and the review approval and official case solicitation began in December 2021; Retrospectively registered) was conducted in accordance with the World Medical Congress Declaration of Helsinki and Good Clinical Practice guidelines. All study subjects provided written informed consent.

The impact of virtual reality on patient experience during wide-awake surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

This study aimed to establish whether virtual reality can reduce patient anxiety and improve surgical satisfaction during wide-awake local anaesthetic no tourniquet hand procedures. Previously validated questionnaires were used to assess subjective anxiety and patient satisfaction. Objective anxiety was determined using patient blood pressure and heart rate measured four times during the procedure. The median difference in intra-operative minus pre-operative diastolic blood pressure was significantly lower in the virtual reality group compared with the control group (p = 0.003). There was a significant decrease in heart rate from pre-operative to post-operative within the virtual reality group (p < 0.001). No differences were observed in subjective anxiety or surgical satisfaction between the groups. Virtual reality can benefit wide-awake patients during hand procedures, particularly where patient preference exists.Level of evidence: Level I, Randomized Controlled Trial.

КОМБИНИРОВАННОЕ ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЕ ПРЕПАРАТОВ ДЛЯ ИММОБИЛИЗАЦИИ ЕГИПЕТСКИХ ЛЕТУЧИХ СОБАК

The purpose of research is to evaluate the effectiveness of the combination of Zoletil 50 and Medetomidine for the immobilization of Egyptian flying dogs. A literature review on the anesthesia of Egyptian flying dogs and the results of our own research using the Zoletil 50 + Medetomidine anesthesia regimen are given. The effectiveness of the use of the combination of preparations Zoletil 50 + Medetomidine and their effect on the anesthesia process and the organism of animals was evaluated in comparison with the results of various protocols used for fruit bats. The work was carried out on clinically healthy males. It was revealed that when using the Zoletil 50 + Medetomidine regimen during anesthesia, the indicators of heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) decreased. The decrease in heart rate and respiratory rate is less pronounced than with other protocols of injection anesthesia using drugs: Ketamine, Salin, Fentanyl, Morphine and Butorphanol. Some of the fruit bats showed irregular breathing patterns for short periods of time under all types of anesthesia. Respiratory rate and heart rate increased simultaneously with the appearance of the withdrawal reflex and response to noise, reaching the initial values after recovery. When using the Zoletil 50 + Medetomidine scheme, sedation occurs after 10.0 ± 2.3 minutes, after another 2.5 minutes the loss of the corneal reflex is recorded. Recovery from anesthesia occurs in 31.0 ± 5.8 minutes after the introduction of Antipamezol, complete recovery occurs after 69.7 ± 14.5 minutes, which is comparable to anesthesia according to the scheme Medetomidine + Midazolam + Salin. When using the scheme Zoletil 50 + Medetomidine, twitching of the ears and wings is not observed, which was recorded when using other drugs, especially Ketamine. The study proves the effectiveness of using the combination Zoletil 50 + Medetomidine for the immobilization of fruit bats, this scheme is a good alternative to many drugs.

A Plague(d) Tale: Are violent video games effective in reducing stress levels?

Stress relief is often cited as the main motive for playing video games. However, the effectiveness of video games in coping with stress, especially when comparing violent and non-violent genres, remains uncertain. In the present lab experiment with N = 82 participants, we assessed acute stress reduction after playing a violent vs. non-violent video game that followed stress induction using the Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Test. We hypothesized that playing video games causes physiological (i.e., an increase in heart rate variability and a decrease in cortisol) and self-reported effects of stress relief, and a reduction in aggression levels, leading to restoration. Aggressive behavior was measured as self-reports and seconds in the Cold Pressor Test allocated to the next participant. In line with previous studies, participants playing a violent passage of a game reported feeling more stressed and aggressive, while those playing a non-violent passage of the same game felt less stressed and more relaxed. In contrast, however, we found an increase in heart rate variability as well as a decrease in heart rate and cortisol regardless of playing group, which indicates relaxation. This dissociation between self-reported and physiological stress results indicates that the own state of arousal is incorrectly assessed. This may be due to a different cognitive assessment of the characteristics of the respective game groups, as the violent game sequence was judged to be more difficult and challenging. However, the observed physiological relaxation effect might also suggest the potential of video game engagement for stress interventions.

Maternal exposure to tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate induces F0 female reproductive toxicity and offspring developmental toxicity in zebrafish.

The toxicity of tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP) has been extensively investigated because of its prevalence in the environment. Nevertheless, the risk factors associated with maternal transmission are poorly understood. In this study, sexually mature female zebrafish were treated with TBOEP (0, 20, 100, and 500 μg/L) for 30 days and were mated with unexposed males. Reproduction impairment in exposed adults (F0), including retarded gonado-somatic index (GSI), delayed oocyte maturation, inhibition of reproductive behavior, and subfertility was found. The observed impacts on the F0 generation were linked to a marked decrease in 17β-estradiol concentrations and disruptions in the gene expression patterns along the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal-liver (HPGL) axis. Moreover, the accumulation of TBOEP in F0 and their embryos (F1) was observed, indicating significant maternal transfer of TBOEP to the offspring. In F1 larvae, a dose-dependent increase in developmental toxicity (decreased heart rate and swimming behavior, increased larval mortality, and deformity) was observed. Additionally, a notable reduction in protein level in eggs and the gene expression of both the hormone/insulin-like growth factor (GH/IGF) and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) pathways were observed. These results indicated that subacute TBOEP exposure could induce reproductive toxicity in female zebrafish and cause transgenerational toxicity in their offspring via maternal transfer.

Sleep and cardiorespiratory function assessed by a smart bed over 10 weeks post COVID-19 infection

Inadequate information exists regarding physiological changes post-COVID-19 infection. We used smart beds to record biometric data following COVID-19 infection in nonhospitalized patients. Recordings of daily biometric signals over 14 weeks in 59 COVID-positive participants’ homes in 2020 were compared with the same participants’ data from 2019. Participants completed a survey of demographic information, health conditions, COVID exposure and testing, and symptom prevalence/subjective severity. Mean age was 47.5 years (standard deviation [SD] 9.5), mean body mass index was 30.1 kg/m2 (SD 7.1), and 46% were men. During acute infection, 64% exhibited 5–6 h increased sleep duration, 51% had increased movement, and 64% had increased breathing rate (BR). Nearly 34% had paradoxical bradycardia (decreased heart rate by ~ 10 BPM concomitant with elevated BR and/or fever), with more-severe symptoms. Smart beds can detect physiological changes during COVID-19. A subtype of acute response (paradoxical bradycardia) may predict delay recovery from COVID-19.

The use of hyperoxia to accelerate recovery the organism after the floor exercises routines in artistic gymnastics

The research deals with the use of inhalation of concentrated oxygen in the regeneration interval after anaerobic load in Artistic Gymnastics. The aim of research ́s realization was to diagnose the impact of inhalation of concentrated oxygen (hyperoxia) on the recovery ́s duration on reaction of heart rate and the level of the lactate in capillary blood after the floor exercises. The experiment was implemented on three members of nation team of Slovakia in artistic gymnastics. During the experiment ́s realization, the heart rate of gymnasts was continuously monitored. One minute after each specific load and after 3-, 7- and 15-minute recovery, we applied measurements of the lactate levels in capillary blood. The experimental factor was anonymous inhalation of concentrated oxygen respectively air (in form of placebo) during the rest. Gymnasts regenerated after each specific load by the form of inhalation of concentrated oxygen or placebo. Diagnostics ́ results after floor exercises of all professional gymnasts suggest on decrease of anaerobic cover after oxygen´s inhalation and faster lactate ́s remetabolisation when comparing with placebo ́s inhalation. The lactate curve tended downward from the 1st minute in recovery with inhalation of concentrated oxygen. On the contrary inhaling placebo made lactate curve rise till 3rd minute, resp. till 7th minute and then tended downwards. It was also exhibited the decrease of heart rate the average 10 beats per minute less with oxygen ́s inhalation when compared with placebo ́s inhalation in 1st, 2nd and 3rd minute after floor exercises routines. According to this information we can consider that the inhalation of hyperoxic mixture was a method to accelerate the recovery after specific load of elite gymnasts.

The Effectiveness and Safety of Beta Antagonists in Patients With Burns: An Updated Meta-Analysis.

The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the safety and effectiveness of beta antagonists for improving clinical care in burn patients, compared to placebo. Articles from randomized-controlled trials were identified by a literature search on PubMed and Cochrane. We included relevant trials involving patients with burn. Trials were eligible if they evaluated propranolol and compared to usual care or placebo. We conducted a meta-analysis using a random-effects model. A total of 2114 patients were included from 14 RCTs. Beta-blocker-treated patients had decreased heart rates (WMD = -14.73, 95% CIs = [-19.14, -10.32]), mean arterial pressure (WMD = -2.76, 95% CIs = [-3.81, -1.70]), rate pressure product (WMD = -1.13, 95% CIs = [-1.56, -0.71]), reduced time for wound healing (WMD = -5.08, 95% CIs [-8.97, -1.18]), and lower resting energy expenditure (WMD = -168.83, 95% CIs [-232.03, -105.63]). However, use of beta-blockers did not reduce mortality rate (WMD = 0.98, 95% CIs [0.68, 1.41]), incidence of sepsis (RR = 0.82, 95% CIs = [0.50, 1.35]), or length of stay in hospital (WMD = -1.50, 95% CIs [-4.76, 1.77]) compared with placebo. Our findings indicate that the administration of propranolol to burned patients does not contribute to increased mortality rates, reduced length of hospital stays, or heightened sepsis occurrence. It demonstrates a protective effect on heart function by reducing heart rate, resting energy expenditure, rate pressure product, and wound healing. More randomized-controlled and multi-center studies are needed to effectively establish the use of beta antagonists in burn patients.

Sex-specific ultrasound imaging biomarkers of neurodegeneration in a mouse model.

Early detection of neurodegeneration is essential for optimizing interventions. The highly reproducible progression of neurodegeneration in the decrepit (dcr) mouse allows investigation of early biomarkers and mechanisms of brain injury. Using high-frequency ultrasound, the common carotid arteries of female and male dcr and control mice were imaged longitudinally at time points bracketing the disease progression (50, 75, and 125 days of age) (n = 6 mice/group/sex). Over the disease time course, the female dcr mice demonstrated increased carotid artery blood flow and pulse wave velocity while the male dcr mice had a decrease in heart rate and no change in carotid artery ultrasound parameters. Early imaging biomarkers were sex-specific, with decreased carotid artery blood flow in female dcr mice and increased carotid artery diameter and decreased pulse wave velocity in males. Carotid artery and wave reflection ultrasound is a promising screening tool for early detection of neurodegeneration.

Effects of acute cooling and bradycardia on central venous pressure and cardiac function in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

We developed and validated a surgical technique to measure central venous pressure (CVP) in Nile tilapia, and investigated the effects of an acute temperature decrease (from 30 vs. 24°C) and changes in heart rate (fH) using zatebradine hydrocholoride, which decreases intrinsic fH, on this species' cardiac function. As predicted, fH and cardiac output ( ) were ~ 40% lower in the acutely cooled fish, and both groups had very comparable (i.e., within 10%) values for stroke volume (VS). The CVP of fish acutely exposed to 24°C was consistently ~ 0.04kPa higher than in those measured at 30°C across all concentrations of zatebradine (i.e., CVP increased from 0.04 to 0.11kPa vs. - 0.01-0.07kPa for 24 vs. 30°C tilapia, respectively, as fH was reduced). However, this did not result in an increase in VS due to a right-shifted relationship between CVP and VS for the 24°C fish. These data suggest that the VS of tilapia is less sensitive to changes/increases in CVP when temperature is acutely lowered, and that regardless of increases in preload (CVP), is primarily modulated by fH in this species.

Behavioral and Physiological Responses of Therapy Dogs to Animal-Assisted Treatment in an Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Program.

Therapy dogs have been increasingly incorporated into a variety of medical treatment programs to improve patients' treatment outcomes and wellbeing. However, research investigating the stress level of therapy dogs in this setting is limited. This is the first randomized-controlled and prospective study that investigated the wellbeing of therapy dogs in an inpatient stroke rehabilitation program. In this study, 14 therapy dog-handler pairs were embedded in an inpatient stroke rehabilitation program to provide animal-assisted treatment (AAT). These therapy dog-handler pairs actively participated in stroke rehabilitation by walking with the patient, playing fetch with the patient, and being petted/brushed by the patient, amongst various other AAT activities. To measure canine stress responses during the rehabilitation sessions, salivary cortisol and oxytocin concentrations, heart rate and heart rate variability, tympanic membrane temperature, and a behavioral evaluation were recorded before and after interactions with the patient. The results demonstrated that therapy dogs had significantly decreased heart rate and increased heart rate variability after the AAT session. Right tympanic temperature significantly increased after the session, but there was no significant difference in terms of salivary cortisol or oxytocin levels, nor in stress-related behavioral evaluations after the AAT session. Taken together, the results suggest that incorporating AAT into an inpatient stroke rehabilitation program did not induce stress in the therapy dogs, and that the therapy dogs may have been more relaxed after the session.

Fetomaternal Outcomes In Women Scheduled For C-Section In General And Spinal Anesthesia

Objective: Cesarean section (C-section) is one of the most routinely performed surgical procedures globally, with anesthesia having a significant role in deciding maternal and newborn outcomes. Study Design: A Cross sectional study Place and Duration of the Study: Study setting was Allied Health Sciences, Superior University, Lahore and duration of the study was six months jan 2024 to june 2024 Methodology: This comparative study included 100 women scheduled for elective C-sections, evenly divided into GA (n=50) and SA (n=50) groups. Demographic data, including age, BMI, parity, and gestational age, were recorded. Perioperative metrics including anesthetic induction duration, anticipated blood loss, hemodynamic stability, and recovery durations were assessed. Neonatal outcomes, encompassing APGAR scores, NICU admissions, and birth weights, were recorded. Results: Spinal anesthesia (SA) demonstrated superior outcomes compared to general anesthesia (GA) in cesarean sections, evidenced by reduced blood loss (500 ± 80 mL vs. 600 ± 100 mL), abbreviated hospital stays (3 ± 1 days vs. 4 ± 1 days), and enhanced patient satisfaction (9.0 ± 0.8 vs. 7.5 ± 0.8). In SA, neonatal outcomes improved with higher APGAR scores at 1 minute (8.6 ± 0.9 vs. 8.2 ± 1.1) and 5 minutes (9.8 ± 0.5 vs. 9.5 ± 0.7) and fewer NICU admissions (8% vs. 10% South Africa exhibited diminished postoperative systolic and diastolic blood pressure (120 ± 10 mmHg vs. 125 ± 12 mmHg and 72 ± 6 mmHg vs. 75 ± 7 mmHg), along with a decreased heart rate elevation (85 ± 9 beats/min vs. 90 ± 10 beats/min). SA demonstrated a reduced anesthetic induction duration (7 ± 1 min vs. 10 ± 2 min) and expedited postoperative ward transfer (10 ± 2 min vs. 15 ± 3 min). Regression analysis showed that preoperative vitals, age, BMI, and hospital stay duration predicted postoperative results. Cesarean patients exhibited enhanced perioperative stability, expedited recovery, and more satisfaction with spinal anesthesia. Conclusion: General anesthesia (GA) causes more blood loss, slower recovery, and lower patient satisfaction than spinal anesthesia (SA) for cesarean sections. SA also improves newborn outcomes and perioperative stability. Keyword: maternal, fetal, outcomes, Cesarean section, Spinal, General anesthesia

Molecular insights into developmental toxicity induced by PCB77 exposure on zebrafish via integrating transcriptomics with adverse outcome pathway.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a typical type of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), were previously widely employed as insulating and heat exchange fluids in transformers and capacitors. Despite knowledge of its adverse effects, the precise mechanism underlying PCB77 toxicity remains enigmatic. In this study, we utilized zebrafish as a model organism to explore the toxic effects of various concentrations of PCB77 (10, 200, and 1000μg/L) and its molecular toxicity mechanisms. Upon exposure to dosages of PCB77 throughout embryonic and larval stages, the zebrafish exhibited adverse phenotypic manifestations, including deformities, decreased heart rates, increased distances between the bulbus arteriosus (BA) and sinus venosus (SV) and reduced locomotor ability. Transcriptome analysis revealed the common enriched pathways across all PCB77 concentration groups, such as retinol metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450, which are closely related to the activity of cytochrome P450 (cyp1a) enzymes. Furthermore, Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) framework which integrates AOPs and dose-dependent transcriptomics to predict PCB77-induced adverse outcomes (AOs) revealed that aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) associated AOPs triggered by PCB77 exposure may increase early-life stage mortality and decrease cardiac development, indicating that the primary toxic pathways of PCB77 in zebrafish may involve AhR-mediated signaling. Besides, molecular docking modeling demonstrated that PCB77 could bind to the groove within the AhR domain, suggesting that PCB77 induces embryotoxicity in zebrafish through its interaction with AhR. Collectively, these findings not only deliver a thorough examination of PCB77-induced developmental toxicity as well as the underlying mechanisms, but also validate the efficacy of the analytical approach leveraging AOP framework in unraveling toxicity mechanisms of environmental contaminants, which holds promise for risk assessment associated with novel environmental pollutants.