OBJECTIVEThe same person's pulmonary venous blood volume, left atrial volume and stroke volume were measured by lung CT scans and cardiac CT angiography (CTA). Then their relationships were analyzed in order to investigate the mechanism of breathing control.

METHODSAs we described before, full pulmonary vascular (-0.6mm) volume was accurately calculated by three-dimensional imaging technology from lung CT scan; left atrial volume and stroke volume of left ventricle were calculated from the CTA data. Then the relationships among them were analyzed for estimation of the lung-artery time.

RESULTSThe total volume of lung and pulmonary vascular blood was 3486 ± 783 (2156-4418) ml, and the pulmonary vascular blood volume was 141 ± 20 (105-163) ml. The estimated pulmonary venous volume was 71 ± 10 (52-81) ml. Left atrial volume at the end diastolic was 97 ± 39 (53-165) ml, Stroke volume of left ventricle was 86 ± 16 (60-106) ml. Pulmonary venous volume and the left atrial volume were double of stroke volume(1.7-2.4).

CONCLUSIONThe estimated lung-artery time was three heart beat.

Blood Volume ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Stroke Volume

OBJECTIVEBecause the traditional loop of breathing control and regulation effect on blood circulation, there was rare study of pulmonary vein capacity. We need a noninvasive and accurate pulmonary vascular capacity measurement and analysis method.

METHODSTwelve normal volunteers were performed a total lung CT scan, image data analysis processing by computer software, the whole lungs from the apex to the base of lung with 40-50 layers by hand-cut, the connection between adjacent layers automatically by a computer simulation, the full pulmonary vascular (≥ 0.6 mm) were treated by high-accuracy three-dimensional imaging technology after removing the interference, and then calculate the whole lung and pulmonary vascular.

RESULTSThe whole lung of the 12 normal volunteers from the apex to the base of lung CT scan image layers was 530 ± 98 (range, 431-841). The total capacity of lung and pulmonary vascular blood was 3705 ± 857 (range, 2398-5383) ml, and the total volume of the pulmonary vascular blood was 125 ± 32 (range, 94-201) ml. The pulmonary vein vascular blood volume was 63 ± 16 (range, 47-100) ml.

CONCLUSIONThe method of measuring the three-dimensional imaging of pulmonary vascular capacity by analyzing lung CT scan data is available and accurate.

Computer Simulation ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Lung ; blood supply ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Cardiac Catheterization ; instrumentation ; methods ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional ; instrumentation ; methods ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; adverse effects ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; pathology ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; pathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVEAfter performed symptom-limited maximum cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) before and after acute alkalized blood, we repeated CPET with pure oxygen.

METHODSFive volunteers, 3hr after alkalizing blood room air CPET, re-performed CPET inhaling from Douglas bag connected with pure oxygen tank. We compared with those of room air CPETs before and after alkalized blood.

RESULTSAfter alkalized blood oxygen CPET had a similar response pattern as those of CPETs before and after blood alkalization. During the CPET, all breath frequency, minute ventilation and tidal volume at each stage were similar to those of CPETs before and after alkalized blood (P > 0.05),except there was a lower peak tidal volume than those of both CPETs and a slightly higher resting minute ventilation only than CPET after alkalized blood (P > 0.05). After alkalized blood, oxygen CPET, all PaO2 and SaO2 and most Hb were lower than those of both CPETs (P < 0.05). The pHa and [HCO3-]a were higher than those of CPET before alkalized blood (P < 0.05); but were not CPET after alkalized blood (P > 0.05). PaCO2 was similar to that of CPET before alkalized blood (P > 0.05), but was lower than that of CPET after alkalized blood at resting and warm-up (P < 0.05); then was similar to both CPETs at anaerobic threshold (P > 0.05); but was higher at peak exercise higher than those of both CPETs (P < 0.01). Oxygen increased 2,3 volunteers' workload and time at AT and peak exercises.

CONCLUSIONRespiratory response pattern to oxygen CPET after alkalized blood is similar to those of both CPETs before and after alkalized blood. The CPET response is dominantly depended upon metabolic rate, but not levels of pHa, PaCO2 and PaO2.

Blood Gas Analysis ; Exercise Test ; Humans ; Oxygen ; Respiratory Physiological Phenomena

OBJECTIVEBasis on the dynamic changes of the ventilation and arterial blood gas parameters to symptom-limited maximum cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), we further investigate the effect of alkalized blood by drinking 5% NaHCO3 on ventilation during exercise.

METHODSAfter drinking 5% NaHCO3 75 ml (3.75 g) every 5 min, total dosage of 0.3 g/Kg, 5 volunteers repeated CPET. All CPET and ABG data changes were analyzed and calculated. At the same time, CPET and ABG parameters after alkalized blood were compared with those before alkalized blood (control) used paired t test.

RESULTSAfter alkalized blood, CPET response patterns of parameters of ventilation, gas exchange and arterial blood gas were very similar (P > 0.05). All minute ventilation, tidal volume, respiratory rate, oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide elimination were gradually increased from resting stage (P < 0.05-0.001), according to the increase of power loading. During CPET after alkalized blood, ABG parameters were compared with those of control: hemoglobin concentrations were lower, CaCO2 and pHa were increased at all stages (P < 0.05). The PaCO2 increased trend was clear, however only significantly at warm-up from 42 to 45 mmHg (P < 0.05). Compared with those of control, only the minute ventilation was decreased from 13 to 11 L/min at resting (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEven with higher mean CaCO2, PaCO2 and pHa, lower Hba and [H+]a, the CPET response patterns of ventilatory parameters after alkalized blood were similar.

Blood Gas Analysis ; Carbon Dioxide ; Exercise Test ; Humans ; Oxygen ; Oxygen Consumption ; Respiration ; Respiratory Physiological Phenomena ; Tidal Volume

OBJECTIVEUnder the guidance of the holistic integrative physiology medicine, we reanalyzed the data during symptom-limited maximum cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in order to investigate control and regulatory mechanism of breathing.

METHODSThis study investigated 5 normal volunteers who accepted artery catheter, performed CPET room air. Continuous measured pulmonary ventilation parameters and per minute arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis sample parameters during exercise. All CPET and ABG data changes were standard analyzed and calculated.

RESULTSWith gradually increasing power, minute oxygen uptake(every breath oxygen uptake x respiratory rate = O2 paulse x heart rate) and minute ventilation (tidal volume x respiratory rate) showed nearly linear progressive increase during the CPET(compared with the rest stage, P < 0.05 - 0.001); Minute ventilation increased even more significant after the anaerobic threshold (AT) and respiratory compensation point. PaO2 was increased at recovery 2 minutes (P < 0.05); PaCO2 was decreased after anaerobic threshold 2 minutes (P < 0.05); [H+]a was increased from AT (P < 0.05), and rapidly raised at last 2 minutes, remained high at recovery. Lactate was increased rapidly from AT (compared with resting, P < 0.05); bicarbonate decreased rapidly from AT (compared with resting, P < 0.05) and it's changed direction was contrary to lactic acid.

CONCLUSIONIn order to overcome the resistance of the power during exercise, metabolic rate othe body increased, respiratory change depend upon the change metabolism, and the accumulation of acidic products exacerbated respiratory reactions at high intensity exercise.

Anaerobic Threshold ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Exercise Test ; Healthy Volunteers ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Oxygen ; Oxygen Consumption ; Pulmonary Ventilation ; Respiration ; Respiratory Physiological Phenomena ; Tidal Volume

OBJECTIVEFor heart functional parameters, we commonly used normal range. The reference values and predict formulas of heart functional parameters and their relationships with individual characteristics are still lack.

METHODSLeft ventricular (LV) volumes (end-diastolic volume and end-systolic volume), stroke volume (SV), ejection fraction (EF) and cardiac output (CO) were measured by cardiac CT angiography (CAT) in 1 200 healthy Caucasian volunteers, men 807 and women 393, and age 20-90yr. The results are analyzed by high-accuracy three-dimensional imaging technology, and then measured the dynamic changes of the volumes of each atriam and ventricule during their contractions and relaxations. The gender, age, height and weight were analyzed by multiple linear regression to predict LV functional parameters.

RESULTSExcept the LVEF was lower in man than in women (P < 0.001), all other LV functional parameters of EDV, ESV, SV, FE and CO were higher in man (P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression indicated that age, gender, height and weight are all independent factors of EDV, ESV and SV (P < 0.001). CO could be significantly predicted by age, gender and weight (P < 0.001), but not height (P > 0.05). The predict equation for CO (L x min(-1)) = 6.963+0.446 (Male) -0.037 x age (yr) +0.013 x weight (kg).

CONCLUSIONAge, gender, height and weight are predictors of heart functions. The reference values and predict equations are important for noninvasive and accurate evaluation of cardiovascular disease and individualized treatment.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Body Height ; Body Weight ; Cardiac Output ; Female ; Heart ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Sex Factors ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Efforts to predict the progression of chronic renal failure (CRF) in children, using mathematical models based on transformations of serum creatinine (Scr) concentration, have failed. Error may be introduced by age-related variations in creatinine production rate. Height (Ht) is a reliable reference for creatinine production in children. Thus, Scr, factored for Ht, could provide a more accurate predictive model. We examined this hypothesis. METHODS: The progression of CRF was detected in 63 children who proceeded to end-stage renal disease. Derivatives of Scr, including 1/Scr, log Scr and Ht/Scr, were defined for the period Scr was between 2 and 5 mg/dl. Regression equation were used to predict the time, in months, to Scr > 10 mg/dl. The prediction error (PE) was defined as the predicted time minus actual time for each Scr transformation. RESULT: The PE for Ht/Scr was lower than the PE for either 1/Scr or log Scr (median: -0.01, -2.0 and +10.6 mos respectively; p < 0.0001). For children with congenital renal diseases, the PE for Ht/Scr was also lower than for the other two transformations (median: -1.2, -3.2 and +8.2 mos respectively; p < 0.0001). However, the PE's for children with glomerular diseases was not as clearly different (median: +0.9, +0.5 and +9.9 respectively). In children <13 yrs, PE for Ht/Scr was the lowest, while in older children, 1/Scr provided the lowest PE, but not significantly different from that for Ht/Scr. The logarithmic transformation tended to predict a slower progression of CRF than actually occurred. CONCLUSION: Scr, factored for Ht, appears to be a useful model to predict the rate of progression of CRF, particularly in the prepubertal child with congenital renal disease.
Child ; Creatinine* ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Models, Theoretical

No abstract available.
Animals ; Brain* ; Rats*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the failure mode of various types of glass ionomer cements by Hertzian indentation test.

METHODSDiscs of 10 mm diameter and 2 mm thickness were prepared for six glass ionomer cement products (A-D: conventional type setting through an acid-base chemical reaction, A and B without reinforcement, C with silver reinforcement, D with ceramic reinforcement; E and F: resin-modified type), ten for each. These were tested on top of glass-reinforced polyamide-nylon 6, 6 substrates by a universal testing machine, loading centrally with a 20 mm diameter ball. Load at the first crack was recorded. Failure mode was observed under scanning electron microscope.

RESULTSThe former four products presented typical brittle fracture, while the latter two usually fractured incompletely. The failure loads at the first crack of the six glass ionomer cements were (258.86 +/- 10.49), (230.88 +/- 21.66), (281.90 +/- 25.39), (282.11 +/- 9.60), (756.67 +/- 83.50) and (1 148.00 +/- 147.78) N, respectively. Significant difference was found between the former four and the latter two products.

CONCLUSIONSThe type (setting mode) of glass ionomer cement controls its failure mode. Inclusion of metallic or ceramic filler has little effect on increasing the load bearing capacity of glass ionomer cement.

Compressive Strength ; Dental Porcelain ; chemistry ; Glass Ionomer Cements ; chemistry ; Materials Testing ; methods ; Resins, Synthetic ; chemistry ; Silver ; chemistry