Physiological Reaction (physiological + reaction)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


The role of ultrasound and magnetic resonance in local drug delivery

JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING, Issue 2 2008
Roel Deckers MS
Abstract Local drug delivery has recently attracted much attention since it represents a strategy to increase the drug concentration at the target location and decrease systemic toxicity effects. Ultrasound can be used in different ways to trigger regional drug delivery. It can cause the local drug release from a carrier vehicle and the local increase of cell membrane permeability either by a mechanical action or by a temperature increase. Ultrasound contrast agents may enhance these effects by means of cavitation. Ultrasound can be focused deep inside the body into a small region with dimensions on the order of 1 mm. Several types of drug microcarriers have been proposed, from nano- to micrometer sized particles. The objective of real-time imaging of local drug delivery is to assure that the delivery takes place in the target region, that the drug concentration and the resulting physiological reaction are sufficient, and to intervene if necessary. Ultrasound and nuclear imaging techniques play an important role. MRI is rather insensitive but allows precise targeting of (focused) ultrasound, can provide real-time temperature maps, and gives access to a variety of imaging biomarkers that may be used to assess drug action. Examples from recent articles illustrate the potential of the principles of ultrasound-triggered local drug delivery. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008;27:400,409. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


UV-induced Immunosuppression in the Balance,

PHOTOCHEMISTRY & PHOTOBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2008
Frank R. De Gruijl
Around 1980, experiments with hairless mice showed us that UV-induced actinic keratoses (AK) and ensuing skin carcinomas did not arise independently: the rate of occurrence in one skin area was increased considerably if AKs had already been induced separately in another distant skin area, i.e. a systemic effect. The ground laying work of Margaret Kripke in the 1970s provided a fitting explanation: UV-induced immunosuppression and tolerance toward the UV-induced tumors. From Kripke's work a new discipline arose: "Photoimmunology." Enormous strides were made in exploring and expanding the effects from UV carcinogenesis to infectious diseases, and in elucidating the mechanisms involved. Stemming from concerns about a depletion of the ozone layer and the general impact of ambient UV radiation, the groups I worked in and closely collaborated with explored the anticipated adverse effects of UV-induced immunosuppression on healthy individuals. An important turning point was brought about in 1992 when the group of Kevin Cooper reported that immunosuppression could be induced by UV exposure in virtually all human subjects tested, suggesting that this is a normal and sound physiological reaction to UV exposure. This reaction could actually protect us from illicit immune responses against our UV-exposed skin, such as observed in idiopathic polymorphic light eruption. This premise has fruitfully rekindled the research on this common "sun allergy," affecting to widely varying degrees about one in five Europeans with indoor professions. [source]


Stereoselective effects of (R)- and (S)-carvedilol in humans

CHIRALITY, Issue 7 2001
Kurt Stoschitzky
Abstract Carvedilol is currently used as the racemic mixture, (R,S)-carvedilol, consisting of equal amounts of (R)-carvedilol, an alpha-blocker, and (S)-carvedilol, an alpha- and beta-blocker, which have never been tested in their optically pure forms in human subjects. We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study in 12 healthy male volunteers. Subjects received single oral doses of 25 mg (R,S)-carvedilol, 12.5 mg (R)-carvedilol, 12.5 mg (S)-carvedilol, and placebo at 8 AM as well as at 8 PM. Exercise was performed at 11 AM, and heart rate and blood pressure were measured at rest and after 10 min of exercise. Urine was collected between 10 AM and 6 PM, as well as between 10 PM and 6 AM, and the amounts of urinary 6-hydroxy-melatonin sulfate (aMT6s) were determined by RIA. Compared to placebo, (R)-carvedilol increased heart rate during exercise (+4%, P < 0.05) and recovery (+10%, P < 0.05); (S)-carvedilol decreased heart rate during exercise (,14%, P < 0.05) and recovery (,6%, P < 0.05), and systolic blood pressure during exercise (,12%, P < 0.05); (R,S)-carvedilol decreased heart rate during exercise (,11%, P < 0.05), and systolic blood pressure at rest (,7%, P < 0.05) and during exercise (,10%, P < 0.05). None of the agents had any significant effect on the release of aMT6s. Our results indicate that only (S)-carvedilol causes beta-blockade, whereas (R)-carvedilol appears to increase sympathetic tone, presumably as a physiological reaction to the decrease of blood pressure caused by alpha-blockade. None of the drugs had any influence on melatonin release. The weak clinical net effect of beta-blockade of (R,S)-carvedilol at rest might be one reason why this drug causes fewer side effects than other beta-blockers, such as a reduction of nocturnal melatonin release. Chirality 13:342,346, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Intensity of Nordic Walking in young females with different peak O2 consumption

CLINICAL PHYSIOLOGY AND FUNCTIONAL IMAGING, Issue 5 2009
Toivo Jürimäe
Summary The purpose of this cross - sectional study was to determine the physiological reaction to the different intensity Nordic Walking exercise in young females with different aerobic capacity values. Twenty-eight 19,24-year-old female university students participated in the study. Their peak O2 consumption (VO2 peak kg,1) and individual ventilatory threshold (IVT) were measured using a continuous incremental protocol until volitional exhaustion on treadmill. The subjects were analysed as a whole group (n = 28) and were also divided into three groups based on the measured VO2 peak kg,1 (Difference between groups is 1 SD) as follows: 1. >46 ml min,1 kg,1 (n = 8), 2. 41,46 ml min,1 kg,1 (n = 12) and 3. <41 ml min,1 kg,1 (n = 8). The second test consisted of four times 1 km Nordic Walking with increasing speed on the 200 m indoor track, performed as a continuous study (Step 1 , slow walking, Step 2 , usual speed walking, Step 3 , faster speed walking and Step 4 , maximal speed walking). During the walking test expired gas was sampled breath-by-breath and heart rate (HR) was recorded continuously. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were asked using the Borg RPE scale separately for every 1 km of the walking test. No significant differences emerged between groups in HR of IVT (172·4 ± 10·3,176·4 ± 4·9 beats min,1) or maximal HR (190·1 ± 7·3,191·6 ± 7·8 beats min,1) during the treadmill test. During maximal speed walking the speed (7·4 ± 0·4,7·5 ± 0·6 km h,1) and O2 consumption (30·4 ± 3·9,34·0 ± 4·5 ml min,1 kg,1) were relatively similar between groups (P > 0·05). However, during maximal speed walking, the O2 consumption in the second and third groups was similar with the IVT (94·9 ± 17·5% and 99·4 ± 15·5%, respectively) but in the first group it was only 75·5 ± 8·0% from IVT. Mean HR during the maximal speed walking was in the first group 151·6 ± 12·5 beats min,1, in the second (169·7 ± 10·3 beats min,1) and the third (173·1 ± 15·8 beats min,1) groups it was comparable with the calculated IVT level. The Borg RPE was very low in every group (11·9 ± 2·0,14·4 ± 2·3) and the relationship with VO2and HR was not significant during maximal speed Nordic Walking. In summary, the present study indicated that walking is an acceptable exercise for young females independent of their initial VO2 peak level. However, females with low initial VO2 peak can be recommended to exercise with the subjective ,faster speed walking'. In contrast, females with high initial VO2 peak should exercise with maximal speed. [source]


Electrophysiological study of infant and adult rats under acute intoxication with fluoroacetamide

JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue 6 2007
Sergey V. Kuznetsov
Abstract A study was conducted of acute intoxication of infant and adult Wistar rats with fluoroacetamide (FAA), an inhibitor of oxidative metabolism. FAA was administered orally to adult rats at 1/2 LD50 and subcutaneously to infant rats at LD100 or 1/10 LD50. Electrocardiogram (ECG), respiration and motor activity were registered for 7 days. Clinical analysis of ECG and the heart rate variability (HRV) was carried out to assess the state of the vegetative nervous system. In adult rats, FAA caused marked disturbances in the activity of cardiovascular and respiratory systems, including the development of a potentially lethal acute cor pulmonale. Conversely, there were no significant changes of cardiac function and respiration in infant rats; they died because of extreme emaciation accompanied by retardation of development. In adult rats, bursts of associated cardiac and respiratory tachyarrhythmia, as well as regular high amplitude spasmodic sighs having a deca-second rhythm were observed. In both infant and adult rats, FAA caused short-term enhancement of humoral (metabolic) and sympathetic activities, followed by a gradual and stable predominance of parasympathetic influence on HRV. Under conditions of FAA inhibition of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, the observed physiological reactions may be explained by activation of alternative metabolic pathways. This is also supported by a lack of ontogenetically caused inhibition of spontaneous motor activity in infant rats poisoned with FAA, which highlights the significance of the alternative metabolic pathways for implementation of deca-second and minute rhythms and a lack of a rigid dependence of these rhythms upon activity of neuronal networks. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Cognitive-behavioral treatment for chronic nightmares in trauma-exposed persons: assessing physiological reactions to nightmare-related fear

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 4 2010
Jamie L. Rhudy
Abstract Cognitive-behavioral treatments (CBTs) that target nightmares are efficacious for ameliorating self-reported sleep problems and psychological distress. However, it is important to determine whether these treatments influence objective markers of nightmare-related fear, because fear and concomitant physiological responses could promote nightmare chronicity and sleep disturbance. This randomized, controlled study (N=40) assessed physiological (skin conductance, heart rate, facial electromyogram) and subjective (displeasure, fear, anger, sadness, arousal) reactions to personally relevant nightmare imagery intended to evoke nightmare-related fear. Physiological assessments were conducted at pretreatment as well as 1-week, 3-months, and 6-months posttreatment. Results of mixed effects analysis of variance models suggested treatment reduced physiological and subjective reactions to nightmare imagery, gains that were generally maintained at the 6-month follow-up. Potential implications are discussed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 66: 1,18, 2010. [source]


Cardiorespiratory effects of warm water immersion in elderly patients with chronic heart failure

CLINICAL PHYSIOLOGY AND FUNCTIONAL IMAGING, Issue 6 2005
Åsa Cider
Summary Background:, Hydrotherapy might be included in the rehabilitation of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), but little is known about the acute cardiorespiratory reaction in warm water. The aim of this study was to assess the acute cardiorespiratory effect of immersion in warm water, in a clinical setting, in elderly patients with CHF compared with healthy age and sex matched persons. Methods:, Twelve patients (three females) with CHF, NYHA II,III, age 64 ± 6 years, and 12 healthy subjects were studied. Cardiorespiratory changes, on land and in a temperature-controlled swimming pool (33,34°C) were assessed during rest and exercise, in a sitting position, using continuous gas analyses. Results:, There were no significant differences, land versus water, in carbon dioxide production, total ventilation, respiratory frequency, respiratory exchange ratio, heart rate or blood pressure in either of the groups. A significant difference was found in oxygen uptake, at rest, land versus water in patients with CHF in comparison with healthy subjects (,0·2 ± 0·4 versus +0·3 ± 0·6 ml kg,1 min,1, P<0·01). Oxygen kinetics (,) increased significantly (P = 0·01) in both groups during exercise in water. Conclusion:, Hydrotherapy was well tolerated and the vast majority of the cardiorespiratory responses, during warm water immersion in a clinical setting, are similar in patients with CHF compared with healthy subjects. However, further larger studies, are needed to better understand the physiological reactions during hydrotherapy. [source]