Cardiovascular System Commons^™

A Cytochemical Evaluation Of Blood-Brain Barrier Sodium, Potassium- And Calcium-Adenosine Triphosphatase Polarity, Panya Steve Manoonkitiwongsa

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is formed by cerebral vascular endothelial cells. Brain ion and fluid homeotasis essential for proper neural functioning is due to the BBB. Sodium-potassium and calcium-activated adenosine triphosphatase (Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase and Ca²⁺-ATPase) serve as one of the main mechanisms controlling brain Na⁺, K⁺, and Ca²⁺ concentrations. The present accepted concept is that both of these enzymes are localized to the abluminal plasma membrane of endothelial cells although there have been contrary results from some studies. Because of these discrepancies, further work was needed. Various cytochemical procedures …

Evaluation Of Accelerated Plethysmography As A Measure Of Health And Fitness, Angela Marie Humble

Dissertations and Theses

Plethysmography is a technique used for measuring alterations in the volume of organs or limbs. Japanese researchers have developed a relatively new application of plethysmography (accelerated plethysmography) that uses information from the pulse wave measured at the fingertip to make inferences about health and fitness status. The instrument used to collect data -- the Precaregraph (accelerated plethysmograph) -- provides an accelerated pulse waveform and APG index, a mathematical representation of the waveform. It was the purpose of this study to evaluate the validity of the Precaregraph by examining the relationship between the APG index and previously validated measures of health …

The Optimal Fontan Connection: A Growing Extracardiac Lateral Tunnel With Pedicled Pericardium., S R. Gundry, A J. Razzouk, M J. Del Rio, Girish S. Shirali, L L. Bailey

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE: The concept of a lateral tunnel for the Fontan operation is now widely accepted. Most lateral tunnels are constructed intraatrially with the use of aortic crossclamping. Construction of extracardiac lateral tunnels with the use of homografts or other nonviable tubes eliminates aortic crossclamping but lacks growth potential in length or width. The native pericardium, which is "sealed" posteriorly along the pulmonary artery, atrium, and inferior vena cava, could be turned down onto the right atrium to form a viable extracardiac lateral tunnel.

METHODS: We designed and successfully constructed extracardiac lateral tunnels using viable autologous pericardium, pedicled on its lateral …

Comparison Of Cardiovascular Disease Risk In Japanese Natives And Japanese Americans, Mayumi Takeda

Dissertations and Theses

This research examined potential differences in cardiovascular disease risk (CVR) in two groups: Japanese Natives living in Saga, Japan and Japanese Americans living in or near Portland, Oregon. It explored data gathered in an effort to build a theoretical framework for future studies. Environmental, nutritional, and lifestyle differences were also examined to compare the health status of Japanese residents in the two countries. The history of Japan from World War II to present, and the history of Japanese Americans both first and second generation, are discussed in the literature review.

Accelerated plethysmography (APG) is a technique which presumably allows the …

Effect Of Cocaine On Rabbit Renin Angiotensin System: Cocaine Detection In Adult And Fetal Tissue And Adult Plasma Using Ion Mobility Spectrometry, Barbara Belinda Guinn

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) was used to detect cocaine and/or the metabolite ecgonine methyl ester (EME) in tissue and plasma samples from male, maternal, and fetal New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. EME was consistently detected in all adult plasma samples 5 minutes after the injection of cocaine hydrochloride (cocaine•HCI, 2 mg/kg). EME was also in the liver, kidneys, testicles, and ovaries. Five minutes after the injection of cocaine•HCI, the male arterial pressure (MAP) increased from a mean control value of 79 ± 3.2 mmHg to 88 ± 4.1 mmHg, and the pCO₂ increased from a control value of28 ± …

Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase And Growth Factor Regulation Of Flow-Mediated Vascular Remodeling, David Anthony Tulis

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

This study was designed to characterize structural remodeling of male Wistar rat mesenteric arteries exposed to elevated blood flow in vivo for 1, 3, or 7 days. A series of arterial ligations induced blood flow increases in ileal and second-order branch arteries compared to same animal control vessels. Neither mean carotid nor local mesenteric arterial pressures changed significantly pre- to post-ligation. The primary flow-mediated force in both vessels was shear stress with possible involvement of acute stretch-induced wall stress in the ileal artery. Significant luminal expansion and medial wall hypertrophy occurred in the ileal and second-order arteries in a time-dependent …