Biomechanical properties of the rectal wall were studied in 17 healthy adult volunteers (nine men and eight women). With impedance planimetry it is possible to obtain simultaneous measurements of pressure and rectal cross sectional area (CSA) during balloon inflations. Rectal distensions were done with an intraluminal balloon using specified pressures up to 40 cmH2O above baseline rectal pressure. Balloon inflation elicited a phase of rapid increase in rectal This study concerns a method named impedance planimetry by which it is possible to obtain segmental information on biomechanical properties at one specific circumference of the rectal wall. The aim was to describe these properties by measuring rectal cross sectional area (CSA) at the site ofdistension upon graded isobaric distension in healthy volunteers. We have used the technique in human and animal studies of intestinal wall properties." Methods SUBJECTSWe studied 17 healthy volunteers without any history of bowel disease. The volunteers were nine men (age 28 (27-29) years, height 185 (179-187) cm, weight 80 (75-85) kg) and eight women (26 (23-29) years, 169 (166-172) cm, 58 (53-63) kg). Before the study we obtained informed consent from all subjects. The study was performed according to the second declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Ethical Committee of Aarhus county.The study was conducted between 8 00 am and 1 00 pm. There was a period of at least 12 hours of fasting before the investigations. No laxative was used and subjects were asked to empty the rectum and bladder. Before the investigation a digital examination confirmed an empty rectum. TECHNIQUE AND EXPERIMENTAL PROBE DESIGNWe used a specially constructed four electrode impedance measuring system located inside a balloon on a 20 cm long probe with an 8 mm external diameter (Fig 1). Two outer ring electrodes for excitation were placed with an interelectrode distance of 6 cm. A generator delivered a constant alternating current of 100 microamperes at 5 kHz for excitation.9 5 Midway between the excitation electrodes we placed two ring electrodes with an interelectrode distance of 0-2 cm for measurement of impedance. We used copper electrodes wound around the probe in 0 5 mm wide grooves to ensure a smooth surface. The distance between the excitation and detection electrodes was chosen on the basis that the CSA can be measured up to a diameter of 4 to 5 times the interelectrode distance. 3We measured CSA according to the field gradient principle from the measurement of impedance of the fluid inside the balloon.'3'I_8Rise time for measurement of CSA was 0-02

The propagation speed (C) of surface acoustic waves (SAW), e.g. Rayleigh (R-waves) and longitudinal lateral waves (L-waves), the latter being the surface manifestation ofthe longitudinal waves, strongly reflect mechanical properties of materials. In view of an increasing interest in ultrasonic methodology in the field of bone biomechanics, we tested the hypothesis that both R-and L-waves can be excited in trabecular bone using an acoustic microscope at 1 GHz and that their speeds ( C , and C,) can be extracted from V(z)-curves, i.e. plots of lens output voltage as a function of the lens focal point position with respect to the specimen surface. In accordance with V(z)-curves theoretically synthesized on the basis of incident field theory, experimental curves for canine femoral trabecular bone showed evidence of both R-and L-waves in almost all regions of recording. The measured CR ranged between I .93 and 2.07 km/s (mean & SD.: 2.00 i 0.06 kmls) and the CL ranged between 2.33 and 4.33 km/s (3.37 & 0.61 km/s). Knowledge of both speeds allowed computation of a number of material constants by means of simple theory of elasticity and assumptions of the material density. We found values of Poisson ratio ( u ) ranging from 0.14 to 0.32 (0.23 & 0.07). Young's modulus ( E ) from I5 to 22.8 GPa (19.9 I 2.5 GPa) and the shear modulus (C) from 7.6 to 8.9 GPa (8.4 k 0.5 GPa). Anisotropy in the trabecular bone material was clearly detected at the micrometer level. In conclusion, the V(z)-curve method was successfully used to determine the distribution of material elastic constants of trabecular bone with micrometer resolution.

The aims of the study were to evaluate characteristics of spontaneous motility and of the ascending excitatory peristaltic reflex (AEPR) and intraluminal cross-sectional area in the isolated perfused porcine duodenum. The parameters were measured by an intraluminal catheter by use of the perfused side-hole technique and impedance planimetry. Respiratory parameters such as pH and oxygen consumption and the arterial perfusion pressure were monitored and did not vary significantly throughout the study time. Spontaneous motility was intense at the beginning but declined and disappeared within 45-90 min. It was abolished by atropine, epinephrine, and UK-14,304 (an alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist). Secondary motility was evoked by intraluminal balloon distensions by raising the balloon pressure to 1.5 kPa for 1-min periods. Reproducible results regarding the AEPR, external balloon diameters to elicit the AEPR, and intraluminal cross-sectional area were obtained. The order of potency (pD2 values) for inhibition of the AEPR was the selective M3-receptor antagonist 4-DAMP greater than atropine greater than the selective M2-receptor antagonist AFDX-116 greater than the selective M1-receptor antagonist pirenzepine greater than hexamethonium. 4-DAMP was 16 and 29 times more potent than AFDX-116 (P less than 0.02) and pirenzepine (P less than 0.02). None of the drugs altered the intraluminal cross-sectional area during the balloon distensions. The model provides the opportunity for physiological and pharmacological studies of duodenal motility and duodenal cross-sectional area devoid of extrinsic neural and endocrine effects. The abolishment of the AEPR by atropine is caused by blockade of the M3-receptor in the porcine duodenum.

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In comparison with the intensive research on the direct effects of energy supply on dairy cow lactation performance, little attention has been paid to the effect of early lactation feeding on subsequent production. The present paper reviews 9 studies carried out with the aim of quantifying the immediate and subsequent responses in milk production and body weight to early lactation feeding. Most results showed that a more generous feeding in early lactation caused a positive carryover effect on subsequent production, whereas an inadequate level of feed in early lactation has been shown to reduce subsequent milk yield. The carryover periods ranged from 3 to 12 wk and the difference in milk yield between cows in the carryover periods ranged between 1.5 and 4.5kg of milk/cow per day. When calculated as a percentage of the immediate effect, the carryover effect ranged from 22 to 63%. In 2 of the 9 papers reviewed, the authors found no carryover effect, probably due to the long post-treatment periods in these studies. This is supported by the other studies in which the carryover effect was only significant in a limited period after end of treatment. The magnitude of the carryover effect seems to be determined by several factors including duration of the treatment and post-treatment feeding level. The most important factor though appears to be the magnitude of over- or underfeeding (i.e., a strong relationship between the treatment period feeding level and the subsequent response in production).

The aim was to investigate biomechanical wall properties of the porcine rectum by way of manometry and impedance planimetry. Distension of a balloon inserted into the rectum with definite pressure steps up to 80 cm H₂0 was done for simultaneous recording of pressure and the balloon cross-sectional area (Bcsa). Viscoelastic wall properties were derived in terms of compliance. Besides eliciting the ascending peristaltic reflex and relaxation of the internal anal sphincter, the balloon inflation elicited a phase of rapid Bcsa increase followed by an accommodation phase of slow Bcsa increase to a steady-state Bcsa, reached within 3 min. The Bcsa increased in a nonlinear way with increasing balloon pressures with only a minimal increase from 70 to 80 cm H₂O. Rectal compliance decreased in a nonlinear way with increasing distension pressure.

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Scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM) was equipped to assess the acoustic properties of normal and atherosclerotic coronary arteries. The SAM image in the atherosclerotic lesion clearly demonstrated that the sound speed was higher than that in the normal intima, and that the variation of elasticity was found within the fibrous cap of the plaque. Young's elastic modulus of each region was calculated and the finite element analysis was applied to derive the stress distribution in these arterial walls. In a case of normal coronary artery, the stress was dominant in the intima and the distribution was rather homogeneous and in a case of atherosclerosis, high stress was concentrated to the relatively soft lesion in the fibrous cap overlying lipid pool. SAM provides information on the physical properties, which cannot be obtained by the optical microscope. The results would help in understanding the pathological features of atherosclerosis.