Malnutrition is associated with poor rehabilitation outcome in elderly inpatients with hospital-associated deconditioning a prospective cohort study. (25/28)

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Cardiac atrophy after bed-rest deconditioning: a nonneural mechanism for orthostatic intolerance. (26/28)

BACKGROUND: The cardiovascular adaptation to bed rest leads to orthostatic intolerance, characterized by an excessive fall in stroke volume (SV) in the upright position. We hypothesized that this large fall in SV is due to a change in cardiac mechanics. METHODS AND RESULTS: We measured pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), SV, left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), and left ventricular mass (by echocardiography) at rest, during lower-body negative pressure, and after saline infusion before and after 2 weeks of bed rest with -6 degrees head-down tilt (n=12 subjects aged 24+/-5 years). Pressure (P)-volume (V) curves were modeled exponentially by P=ae(kV)+b and logarithmically by P=-Sln[(Vm-V)/(Vm-V0)], where V0 indicates volume at P=0, and the constants k and S were used as indices of normalized chamber stiffness. Dynamic stiffness (dP/dV) was calculated at baseline LVEDV. The slope of the line relating SV to PCWP during lower-body negative pressure characterized the steepness of the Starling curve. We also measured plasma volume (with Evans blue dye) and maximal orthostatic tolerance. Bed rest led to a reduction in plasma volume (17%), baseline PCWP (18%), SV (12%), LVEDV (16%), V0 (33%), and orthostatic tolerance (24%) (all P<.05). The slope of the SV/PCWP curve increased from 4.6+/-0.4 to 8.8+/-0.9 mL/mm Hg (P<.01) owing to a parallel leftward shift in the P-V curve. Normalized chamber stiffness was unchanged, but dP/dV was reduced by 50% at baseline LVEDV, and cardiac mass tended to be reduced by 5% (P<.10). CONCLUSIONS: Two weeks of head-down-tilt bed rest leads to a smaller, less distensible left ventricle but a shift to a more compliant portion of the P-V curve. This results in a steeper Starling relationship, which contributes to orthostatic intolerance by causing an excessive reduction in SV during orthostasis.  (+info)

Mechanisms of the cardiovascular deconditioning induced by tail suspension in the rat. (27/28)

The aim of the present work was to obtain insights into the pathophysiology of cardiovascular deconditioning (CVD) induced by tail suspension (TS) in the rat: during TS, when central venous pressure (CVP) has been normalized (E. Martel, P. Champeroux, P. Lacolley, S. Richard, M. Safar, and J. L. Cuche. J. Appl. Physiol. 80: 1390-1396, 1996), and during simulated orthostatism (SO), when transient episodes of hypotension and bradycardia are disclosed, bradycardia with SO represents a response that seems peculiar to the rat compared with humans. According to basic physiology, a reduced activity of the sympathetic system induced by increased CVP was suspected but was not supported by data obtained through spectral analysis of blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) variability or measurements of plasma catecholamine concentration during TS. Nonetheless, indirect evidence was obtained. During SO, plasma catecholamine concentration was lower in TS rats than in controls, suggesting a reduced synthesis of catecholamines, itself secondary to reduced activity of the sympathetic system. Furthermore, after 48 h of TS, the number of binding sites and affinity of alpha-receptors in rat aorta were increased, compatible with a reduced level of neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft. A second series of experiments was carried out to study hypotension and bradycardia in TS rats during SO. Hypersensitivity of serotonergic mechanisms was suspected. Two 5-HT3 receptor antagonists (ondansetron and MDL-72222) blocked hypotension and restored tachycardia, basic features of orthostatic adaptation of the circulatory system. Response to the 5-HT3 receptor agonist was measured through dose-response curves of BP and HR after injection of 2-methylserotonin. After low doses, hypotension (10 micrograms/kg) and bradycardia (3 and 10 micrograms/kg) were significantly greater in 48-h TS rats than in controls. Thus CVD in the rat induced by TS appears to implicate at least two mechanisms: reduced activity of the sympathetic system and hypersensitivity of serotonergic mechanisms.  (+info)

Attenuated baroreflex control of sympathetic nerve activity after cardiovascular deconditioning in rats. (28/28)

The effect of cardiovascular deconditioning on baroreflex control of the sympathetic nervous system was evaluated after 14 days of hindlimb unloading (HU) or the control condition. Rats were chronically instrumented with catheters and sympathetic nerve recording electrodes for measurement of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) and recording of lumbar (LSNA) or renal (RSNA) sympathetic nerve activity. Experiments were conducted 24 h after surgery, with the animals in a normal posture. Baroreflex function was assessed using a logistic function that related HR and LSNA or RSNA to MAP during infusion of phenylephrine and nitroprusside. Baroreflex influence on HR was not affected by HU. Maximum baroreflex-elicited LSNA was significantly reduced in HU rats (204 +/- 11.9 vs. 342 +/- 30.6% baseline LSNA), as was maximum reflex gain (-4.0 +/- 0.6 vs. -7.8 +/- 1.3 %LSNA/mmHg). Maximum baroreflex-elicited RSNA (259 +/- 10.8 vs. 453 +/- 28.0% baseline RSNA), minimum baroreflex-elicited RSNA (-2 +/- 2.8 vs. 13 +/- 4.5% baseline RSNA), and maximum gain (-5.8 +/- 0.5 vs. -13.6 +/- 3.1 %RSNA/mmHg) were significantly decreased in HU rats. Results demonstrate that baroreflex modulation of sympathetic nervous system activity is attenuated after cardiovascular deconditioning in rodents. Data suggest that alterations in the arterial baroreflex may contribute to orthostatic intolerance after a period of bedrest or spaceflight in humans.  (+info)