Normal Pressure Values Research Articles

Pineapple Drying Analysis in Packing Plants Through Computational Fluid Dynamics

The aim of this research is to determine the average fluid velocity values and the average total pressure at the outlet of the ventilation system conduit for the drying, by air impulsion, of pineapples in packing plants, in order to ensure the required humidity level of the crown for its proper packaging. The CAD model of the air conduction was obtained in Solidworks and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques were applied to simulate the performance of the ventilation system. Air was indicated as the type of fluid, and an internal analysis of the pipe with roughness Rz = 3.2 μm. As a computational domain, the pipeline was established, from the connection to the fan to the outlet diffuser. As boundary conditions were established; a W and Z Manufacturing regenerative fan at the inlet of the flow pipe 618,439 m3/h, and at the outlet of the pipe the value of atmospheric pressure. As a result of the simulation, an average velocity value at the diffuser outlet of 127.294 m/s was obtained, higher than the required 96.06 m/s. An average total pressure value of 111718.73 Pa was obtained in the conduit suitable for the proposed purposes. For the conveyor belt, it is recommended to use, in each row of pineapples, the simulated fan with a simple diffuser with a rectangular section of 1 x 20 cm, or a regenerative fan with a flow of 1248.77 m3/h and a diffuser with two-outlet bifurcation.

High normal blood pressure value, is the patient at increased CV risk?

High normal blood pressure value, is the patient at increased CV risk?

Development of a low-cost textile sensor based insole to monitor foot pressure of diabetic patients

A common but preventable complication of diabetes is diabetic foot ulcer. If appropriate care is not provided such foot lesions progress to the most severe diabetic foot complication, like infection, gangrene, amputation and even death. Diabetic neuropathy results abnormal planter pressure points under the foot and triggers the tendency of foot ulcer. The aim of this paper is to present the development of a low cost, power efficient, soft, lightweight and simple in-shoe planter pressure measurement system. The system is capable to determine the average static pressure under ball and heel of the foot. The insole is comfortable due to the use of textile pressure sensor and its simple data acquisition method makes operation easy for the users. An experiment with 10 participants with and without diabetes was carried out to observe the outcome of the system. The practical implication of this study is to minimise the damage caused by foot ulcer by determining the pressure abnormality at earliest with a fully developed cost effective design. The system is capable to identify the difference in average planter pressure values in different groups of participants. To monitor the foot health proactively, the proposed system is found to be a useful device and can successfully scan the planter pressure under ball and heel of the foot.

AMBULATORY BLOOD PRESSURE VARIABILITY IN YOUNG ADULTS WITH LONG-COVID SYNDROME.

The aim: To perform an overall assessment of BP and BP variability using ambulatory measurements in young adults with long COVID syndrome. Materials and methods: We enrolled young patients with diagnosed long-COVID syndrome (n = 58, mean age 23.07 ± 1.54 years), compared with an age-matched healthy subjects who had not suffered from COVID-19 (n = 57, mean age 22.9 ± 1.83 years). Patients with long-COVID syndrome had recovered from mild/moderate illness and none had required hospitalization. Ambulatory 24 hours blood pressure (AMBP) parameters (mean BP, daytime BP, nighttime BP, pulse pressure, nocturnal systolic BP dipping, dipper status) were measured in all participants. The variability of systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) values was assessed by the following common metrics, including the average real variability (ARV), the coefficient of variation (CV), the standard deviation (SD), and the weighed SD of SBP and DBP. Results: The average values of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure, mean BP, daytime and nighttime systolic BP, diastolic BP and pulse pressure were found to be significantly different among patients with long COVID syndrome and control group. Group analyses showed that this difference was in SBP mean values (127.1 ± 6.65 mmHg and 115.93 ± 6.24 mmHg respectively) and DBP mean values (73.31 ± 5.30 mmHg and 68.79 ± 5.5 mmHg respectively) mainly at night. PP values at daytime were almost similar among groups, but PP values at nighttime were higher in patients with long-COVID syndrome (53.8 (52.44- 55.14) mmHg and 47.14 (46.45 - 47.88) mmHg respectively). Nocturnal SBP dipping was better in control group than in patients with long-COVID syndrome ( 5.3 ± 5.68 and 3.1 ± 3.79 mmHg respectively). Only 13 (22.4%) patients with long-COVID syndrome had normal dip-per status while more than half - 38 (66.7%) in healthy subjects. The values of ARV of SBP and DBP over 24-hour, awake, and asleep time frames were found to be greater in patients with long COVID syndrome than healthy controls (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Patients with long- COVID syndrome have higher BP mean values of 24-hour ABPM particularly at nightime, significant blood pressure BP variability, which increases the risk of cardiovascular events in future. Nevertheless, the further prospective investigations is warranted to investigate the potential mechanisms and causality associations.

PROGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR THE SELECTION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DIFFERENT HEAT SENSITIVITY.

The aim: To establish criteria for individual thermal sensitivity in almost healthy individuals aged 17-20 years. Materials and methods: We surveyed 150 people aged 17-20 years. Heat sensitivity was previously assessed using our adapted questionnaire «Levels of heat sensitivity», in which according to the scale the number of points 0-6 indicates reduced heat sensitivity, 7-16 points - increased). All respondents underwent thermal testing. The subjects had auscultatory determination of pulse rate and blood pressure, after which the hands of both hands were immersed in a container with warm water (45° C) for 3 minutes. At the 2nd minute, pulse rate and blood pressure were determined. this procedure was repeated after the hands were removed from the water, and every 2 minutes until the pulse and blood pressure recovered over time. Before and after the heat test, a mathematical analysis of heart rate was performed using a computer software package, according to the manufacturer›s instructions. Results: After conducting a thermal test in people with hypersensitivity, an increase in the average values of heart rate and blood pressure. In the group of people with lower sensitivity to heat, heart rate and blood pressure after the heat test decreased or did not change. As a result of statistical processing of data from mathematical analysis of heart rate, it was found that in persons with hypersensitivity after the thermal test increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system, while in subjects with reduced sensitivity to heat showed a slight advantage of parasympathetic nervous system. Conclusions: Increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system in response to heat in people with hypersensitivity indicates the development of stress, and given the current trend towards long-term and constant increase in average annual temperature, this will lead to overstrain of regulatory mechanisms, depletion of functional reserves and reduced adaptability . Therefore, people with high heat sensitivity are particularly vulnerable to global climate change.

The Features of Post-infarction Period in Patients of Law Tolerance to Physical Activity and Chronic Heart Failure

Aim: To determine the features of the early post-infarction period in patients after acute coronary syndrome with concomitant arterial hypertension, depending on the response to dosed physical activity. Materials and Methods: 120 patients with a reduced response to dosed physical activity, with Q, QS MI and concomitant hypertension, who were at the stage of rehabilitation and recovery treatment, were examined. Results: In the course of the study, during the 6-minute walk test, a decrease in oxygen consumption was found in the group of patients of an adequate tolerance to physical activity by 18.42% compared to 15.21% in the group of patients of low tolerance to activity. During the analysis of ABPM (Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring) indicators, it was found that in patients who made up the group of low tolerance to DPA (Dosed Physical Activity), significantly higher average values of systolic blood pressure (SBP) (159.24}3.4) mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (96.26}2 .49) mm Hg, as well as heart rate. During urgent coronary angiography, it was found that in patients of an adequate response to DPA, one vascular lesion was detected in most cases (73.3%), in the group of patients of low tolerance to DPA, one vascular lesion of CA was detected in (14.5%), in (55.5%) recorded two vascular lesions of the CA, and (30%) patients had three or more vascular lesions of the CA. The level of troponin I in blood serum at the time of hospitalization in the group of patients of low tolerance to DPA was 36.38}6.79 ng/ml, the level of NT-proBNP – 726.4}36.32 pg/ml, the level of endothelin-1-9,37}1.34 pmol/L. Conclusions: During the recovery period of treatment of patients after an acute myocardial infarction with concomitant arterial hypertension, a low tolerance to dosed physical activity occurs (in 63.7% of cases), which is accompanied by the appearance of anginal pain, changes in clinical indicators in the early and late post-infarction period and prevents the conducting a full range of rehabilitation measures.

INFLUENCE OF PRESSURE ON POROSITY–PERMEABILITY RELATIONSHIP IN SOUTHERN NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA

Well logs data comprising of comprising of gamma ray, spontaneous potential, density and neutron logs from four oil wells were analysed for determining the influence of pressure on porosity–permeability relationship in the study area. Porosity values were deduced from well log whereas permeability and pressure values were computed using empirical equations. The average porosity, permeability and pressure values for the four wells range from 0.1% to 30.9%, 34.9mD to 306.4mD, 61926.9psi to 109928.1psi respectively. The lithostratigraphic correlation section of the wells revealed a sand – shale sequence which is a characteristic of a typical Niger Delta formation. The results of this work show that three reservoirs (sand A, sand B and sand C) were identified and correlated across the four wells, each reservoir sand unit spread across the wells and differs in thickness ranging from 8ft to 155ft, with some unit occurring at greater depth than their corresponding unit. The analysis of the wells show that wells OTIG9 and OTIG11 have better reservoirs indicating high potentiality and productivity due to their more porous and permeable nature, reflecting well sorted coarse grained sandstone and linearity in the relationship between porosity, permeability and pressure. The reservoir of well OTIG7 is the least porous but most permeable, thus is highly productive but less potential. The reservoir of OTIG2 has moderate potentiality and good productivity, hence is said to have average production capacity. The results of this work can be used as an evaluation tool for reservoir engineering activities, structural engineering, well stability analysis, blowout and lost circulation prevention

Assessment of pulmonary hemodynamics and stress-induced pulmonary hypertension in clinical practice

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is currently determined by the mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAPmean) increase, which in turn is associated with a number of parameters, such as cardiac output (CO), pulmonary vascular resis-tance (PVR) and left atrial pressure. Therefore, changes in PAP mean during exercise cannot be discussed apart from the listed indicators. Probably, this was one of the reasons for the absence of an accurate hemodynamic de-termination of stress-induced PH. However, today it has been revealed that PAP at rest increases only when ≥50% of pulmonary microcirculation is off, and for the earliest detection of the problem it is advisable to use factors that lead to increase of CO and PVR, one of them is exercise. Moreover, clinicians often observe that the anamnesis of PH starts from complaints, associated with exercise. Mo-dern non-invasive technologies (stress-echocardiogra-phy, cardiopulmonary exercise testing) provide very de-tailed data not only about the pulmonary circulation, but also about ventilator function, blood gas composition, structural and functional changes in the heart. Stress-in-duced PH is defined as combination of normal mean pulmonary artery pressure values (PAPmean &lt;25 mm Hg) at rest and increase of PAPmean &gt;30 mm Hg during exercise, as well as PVR &gt;3 WU, however, this definition isn’t generally accepted. As an alternative, to determine stress-induced PH, it was proposed to evaluate PAPmean/CO curve, that excludes the influence of peak hemody-namic parameters. The pulmonary vessels distensibility and ventriculo-arterial coupling represent promising pa-rameters for complete characterization of the pulmonary circulation changes during exercise.

MLP-Based Model for Estimation of Methane Seam Pressure

One of the principal indicators of the methane hazard in coal mines is gas pressure. This parameter directly affects the methane content in the seam as well as the rate of its release resulting from mining operations. Because of limitations in the existing methods for methane seam pressure measuring, primarily technical difficulties associated with direct measurement and the time-consuming nature of indirect measurement, this parameter is often disregarded in the coal and gas outburst forecasts. To overcome the above-mentioned difficulties, an attempt was made to estimate the methane seam pressure with the use of artificial neural networks. Two MLP-based models were developed to estimate the average and maximum methane seam pressure values, respectively. The analyses demonstrated high correlation between the values indicated by the neural models and the reference values determined on the basis of sorption isotherms. According to the adopted fit criterion, the prediction errors for the best fit were 2.59% and 3.04% for the average and maximum seam pressure values, respectively. The obtained determination coefficients (exceeding the value of 0.99) confirmed the very good predictive abilities of the models. These results imply a great potential for practical application of the proposed method.

Development of latex foam pillows from deproteinized natural rubber latex

Currently, there is significant demand for pillows with improved pressure-relief features made from natural materials, alternatives to petrochemical-based foams. To meet the requirements, this study’s approach is to develop latex foam pillows from deproteinized natural rubber (DPNR) latex with a unique dual-density cervical-shaped structure. In this work, DPNR latex foam pillows were produced at three different density levels which are high-density, medium-density and low-density. Extractable protein content of latex foam made from DPNR was confirmed lower than latex foam made from low ammonia NR latex (LATZ) and of commercial NR latex foams, making DPNR pillows more hypoallergenic than others. The physical properties of the produced DPNR latex foams were examined in accordance with Malaysian Standard MS679, and were found to comply with all requirements stipulated in standard specifications. A novel dual-density cervical-shaped DPNR latex foam pillow prototype was produced, where the pillow has lower density at the upper part and higher density at the lower part. Pressure-mapping was used to visualize the pressure distribution patterns and to measure the average peak pressure when a mannequin head was placed on top of the pillow. The study observed that decreasing the density increases the softness of the DPNR latex foam. Softer latex foams led to larger surface contact area, and hence a reduced average peak pressure value. This cervical-shaped structure further increased the surface contact area between the pillow and mannequin head, and thus reduced further the average peak pressure value.

A Portable Pressure and Force Line Trajectory Measuring System for Unicondylar Knee Arthroplasty.

The pressure and force line trajectory of the distal femoral prosthesis relative to the prosthesis gasket are key factors in judging the appropriate position of implants in unicondylar knee arthroplasty (UKA) surgeries, which is critical to the success of UKA surgeries. In this paper, we propose a portable pressure and force line trajectory measurement system, which includes a pressure sensors array, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and a microcontroller unit (MCU). Data from twenty sensors is obtained through time-sharing scanning and transmitted to the host computer through the USB interface. We put forward an algorithm to calculate pressure value and fit the force line trajectory for better accuracy. Both the pressure value and force line trajectory are calculated and displayed on the screen of the host computer by developed software in real-time. The experiments results show that the root mean square error of fitting force line trajectory in the experiments is ±0.342mm, which has 63% reduction compared with that in the previous work, and the average pressure value measurement error is 10.03%. Besides, the pressure sensors array, the ADC and the MCU in the system are integrated in a portable handle, which is easier for clinic trial.Clinical Relevance-This system can assist doctors to improve the success rate of unicondylar knee arthroplasty and reduce patient's pain.

March, September and December months with the greatest influence of atmospheric pressure on blood pressure in patients with hypertension

Abstract Objectives For a long time, science has searched for the relationship between weather and human health. Atmospheric pressure is the most objective weather factor because, regardless of whether the objects are outdoors or indoors, it affects all objects in the same way. In cardiology, we often look for factors that worsen blood pressure control. Could atmospheric pressure be one of them? The main objective of our research was to assess the relationship between atmospheric pressure and blood pressure in patients with treated hypertension in different months in the moderate climate of Central Poland. Material and methods The study group consisted of 4191 patients with arterial hypertension, divided into 2 near equal groups due to a lower or higher average value of atmospheric pressure when blood pressure was recorded. Blood pressure was monitored by a means of 24-h ABPM. Atmospheric pressure was recorded with the frequency of 1 measurement per minute using a meteorological station. The observations were conducted in the years 2009–2019. Comparisons between blood pressure values in the 2 groups were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results We observed a significant difference in blood pressure recorded during the periods of lower and higher atmospheric pressure: for systolic blood pressure during the days of September (125.01±14.99 vs 120.14±12.83, p&amp;lt;0.001) and December (124.22±15.45 vs 127.50±14.35, p&amp;lt;0.05), for diastolic pressure during the days of March (72.24±10.92 vs 69.81±9.13, p&amp;lt;0.02) and for diastolic pressure during the nights of March (61.53±8.96 vs 59.58±9.17, p&amp;lt;0.04). Conclusions A significant inverse relationship between atmospheric pressure and blood pressure was observed; during March days and nights for diastolic blood pressure and during September and December days for systolic blood pressure. This finding may be important for the understanding of why during some months the pharmacological control of blood pressure is poor, and of the consequences of this fact. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): own resources

Numerical study of continuously rotating detonation in two-fuel gaseous mixture

Numerical simulation of continuously rotating detonations of stoichiometric two-fuel mixture with air has been carried out for the cylindrical annular detonation chamber (DC) of the rocket-type engine. The syngas (1-α)СO+αH2, a binary mixture of hydrogen H2 and carbon monoxide CO, is taken. We studied the global flow structure in DC, and the detailed structure of the transverse wave (TW) front in the continuous rotating regime. Integral characteristics of the detonation process − the distribution of average values of static and total pressure along the length of the DC, and the value of specific impulse have been obtained. The region of existence of stable continuous detonation regime in coordinates of the stagnation pressure - temperature in injection manifold (receiver) and the geometric limit of stable TW have been determined.

Determination of the average intraocular pressure values, optimum anesthesia dose and phenotypic characteristics in Oscar fish (Astronotus ocellatus)

This research was carried out to determine the intraocular pressure values, optimum anesthesia dose and phenotypic characteristics in Oscar fish (Astronotus ocellatus). A total of 11 adult, male Oscar fish were used in the study. Optimum anesthesia dose, pre-and post-anesthesia intraocular pressure values and phenotypic measurements (total length, fork length, standard length, dorsal fin base length, head length, body length, eye diameter, body depth, pectoral length, pelvic fin bottom length, anal fin bottom length) were determined and reference values specific to this fish species were obtained by performing a statistical analysis. When exposed to 3 cc/L of the concentrations, fish achieved a deep state of anesthesia (induction time 1.31 min; recovery time 6.42 min). The most balanced anesthesia without risking vital functions was achieved using Clove oil with a dose of 2.5 cc/L. Compared to the other dimensions, total length, fork length and standard length were the most consistent body measurements with high positive correlations. No statistically significant difference (p &gt; 0.05) was seen in both eyes between the intraocular pressure values before (5.36-5.86) and after (5.59-5.36) anesthesia. It is recommended that the ideal concentration of clove oil was 2.5 cc/L to reduce stress and injury damage during handling procedures. Additionally, intraocular pressure values, body measurements and Clove oil optimum anesthesia dose obtained in this study can be used as reference values for Oscar fish raised in aquarium conditions.

Comparison of interface pressures on three operating table support surfaces during surgery

Aim of the studyTo investigate the effect of support surface usage and positions on interface pressure during surgery. Materials and methodsThis randomized controlled experimental study was conducted between October 2018 and June 2019. The study included patients who had planned surgery in supine and prone positions. The sample size was 72 patients. Patients were assigned to three groups (gel support surface, viscoelastic support surface and standard operating table) according to the determined randomization table. During the surgery, the pressure in the patients' body was recorded. The statistics program IBM SPSS Statistics 25.0 packaged software was used in the analyses of data. ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference between the total body average interface pressure (mmHg) values between the supporting surfaces in the prone position. There was a statistically significant difference between the total body average interface pressure (mmHg) values between the support surfaces in the supine position, and the average interface pressure measured on the viscoelastic foam support surface was significantly lower than the gel support surface and the standard operating table. ConclusionIn the study, the use of viscoelastic foam support surface was found to be more effective than the use of a standard operating table and gel support surface. Viscoelastic foam support surface is recommended for patients at risk for pressure injury in the operating room.

Efficacy of modified pressure cuff for thrombolytic treatment on lower extremity deep venous thrombosis.

To compare the effectiveness and patient comfort between two methods that block superficial venous blood flow during the thrombolytic treatment of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT) to provide evidence that informs clinical choice.One hundred twenty patients with lower extremity DVT were randomly divided into sphygmomanometer (group A, n = 40), tourniquet (group B, n = 40), and control group (no blocking, n = 40). All the patients were treated with a daily dosage of urokinase using a dial sphygmomanometer cuff and tourniquet to block lower extremity superficial vein blood flow. The pressure of the dial sphygmomanometer blocking lower extremity superficial vein blood flow was measured during lower extremity venography. Leg swelling reduction rate, venous patency, thrombus removal rate, and average comfort index were observed during the blocking process.The average pressure value for group A was 70 ± 10 mm Hg. The differences in the swelling reduction rate and venous patency were significant between the groups. Comparing the two groups at different time points, the average thrombus clearance rate of group A was higher than that of group B and control group. The leg pain scores of group A were lower than those of group B and control group. The postoperative comfort ratio of group A was higher than that of group B, and the proportion of severe discomfort in group A was lower than that in group B.Compared with the tourniquet, using a dial sphygmomanometer cuff to block lower extremity superficial vein blood flow achieved a better thrombolytic effect on DVT and provided higher patient comfort during treatment.

EFFECTS OF GLYCOSYLATED HEMOGLOBIN LEVEL ON BLOOD PRESSURE VARIABILITY IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Objective: To investigate the effect of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels on blood pressure variability in hypertensive patients. Design and method: From September 2018 to April 2019, in the Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 429 case of hypertensive patients with complete basic information, medical records, HbA1c measures and other biochemical indicators, as well as the 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure result were enroll in and divided into two groups (119 in the high HbA1c group with HbA1c more than 6.1 mg/dl and 310 in the normal HbA1c group with HbA1c less than 6.1 mg/dl). The blood variability, night drop rate, and fluctuations were compared between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and Pearson correlation analysis were used to explore the relationship between HbA1c level and blood pressure variability. Results: In hypertensive patients, the level of systolic and diastolic pressure during 24-hour, daytime, nighttime and the proportion of non-dipping blood pressure in the high HbA1c group was higher than that in the normal HbA1c group (p &lt; 0.05); There was no significant difference between the two groups in blood pressure load, variability, and nocturnal blood pressure drop rate (p &gt; 0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that nocturnal mean systolic blood pressure was a risk factor for increased HbA1c levels, with OR (95% CI) of 1.031 (1.017 to 1.045). Pearson correlation analysis implied that the level of HbA1c was positively correlated with the maximum, the minimum and the average value of 24-hour systolic pressure and mean systolic pressure of daytime and nighttime (r = 0.131, 0.129, 0.155, 0.151, 0.164; p &lt; 0.05). Further analysis of grade 3 hypertensive patients, the high HbA1c group of had the higher value of night systolic pressure load and non-dipping blood pressure ratio. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the mean nocturnal systolic pressure was a risk factor for elevated HbA1c levels, with OR (95% CI) being 3.774 (1.086 to 13.117). Conclusions: HbA1c is closely related to hypertension (especially systolic blood pressure). In the grade 3 hypertensive patients, the elevated HbA1c might increase the value of the nocturnal systolic blood pressure load.

Thermal performance of a single stage double inlet pulse tube refrigerator: experimental investigation and CFD simulation

ABSTRACT The pulse tube refrigerator is a closed cycle mechanical refrigerator with no mobile components working in a low-temperature area. The pulse tube refrigerator provides significant potential and has certain benefits viz., vibration-free, huge reliability, and economical for long span performance. In this paper, the experimental investigations performed on a single-stage Gifford-McMahon type double inlet pulse tube refrigerator (DIPTR) are reported. The experimental test-rig is built and operated to characterize the system performance at different values of average pressure, orifice valve opening, and double inlet valve opening. A three-dimensional comprehensive time-related computational fluid dynamic (CFD) DIPTR model is developed and the numerical simulation is performed in FLUENT to predict the performance with helium gas as a refrigerant. The CFD study helped to explain the thermal periodic characteristics occurring in the system and determined the cooling rate and phase relation between the pressure and flow rate. Experimental studies indicated that with an increase in the pressure (1.2 MPa) and at optimal valve openings of the double inlet (80%) and orifice (35%), 198 K lower temperature is attained. The computational outcome has been corroborated with the experimental observations. The comparison showed that the experimental observation is quite comparable with the computational prediction.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension: guidelines and unmet clinical needs.

The term pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) identifies a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by a progressive increase in pulmonary arterial resistance (PVR), which causes a significant burden in terms of quality of life, right heart failure and premature death. The pathogenesis of PAH is not completely clear: the remodeling of the small pulmonary vessels is crucial, causing an increase in the resistance of the pulmonary circle. Its diagnosis is based on cardiac catheterization of the right heart. According to the present hemodynamic definition of pulmonary hypertension (PH) proposed by the Guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology/European Respiratory Society (ESC-ERS), the mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) values are ≥25 mmHg. In case of PAH, apart from an mPAP value ≥25 mmHg, patients must have a >3 Wood units increase in PVR and normal pressure values of the left heart. PH is a pathophysiological condition observed in more than 40 different diseases, while PAH is a primary disease of the pulmonary bloodstream potentially treatable with specific drugs. PAH is a severe complication of systemic sclerosis (SSc) affecting about 10% of the patients. Due to the devastating nature of SSc-PAH, there is a clear need to systematically adopt appropriate screening programs. In fact, despite awareness of the negative impact of SSc-PAH on quality of life and survival, as well as on the severity of lung function, at the moment standardized and shared guidelines and/or screening programs for the diagnosis and the subsequent early treatment of PAH in SSc are not available. The aim of the present paper is to highlight the lights and shadows of SSc-PAH, unraveling the unmet clinical needs on this topic with a proposal of clinical-diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines.

Procena efekata energetskih napitaka na kardiovaskularni sistem kod studenata medicinskih nauka

Introduction: Energy potion is non-alcoholic drink, which is mostly used by young people to achieve wanted effects. But, these drinks can cause unwanted effects as well, such as cardiovascular disorder, CNS disorder and gastro-interstinal system disorder. The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of consumption of energy drinks and the knowledge of medical students regarding possible side effects, as well as to determine the acute effects after consuming energy drinks on arterial blood pressure, hemoglobin oxygen saturation, pulse and respiration. Material and methods: This study was conducted as an analytical, observational cross-sectional study at the Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad. The Questionnaire on the level of knowledge and experience about the desired and unwanted effects of energy drinks was used as a research instrument. Results: Students consume energy drinks (80%) and have knowledge of possible side effects (88%). After consuming the energy drink, the differences between the average values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, hemoglobin oxygen saturation and respiration rate were determined. Conclusion: The results of the study show that most students, although they have knowledge about side effects, still consume energy drinks. Changes in cardiorespiratory function after consuming an energy drink were most pronounced in the values of arterial blood pressure.