Assessment of colonic motor dysfunction is rarely done because of inadequate methodology and lack of knowledge about normal motor patterns. Here we report on elucidation of intraluminal pressure patterns using High Resolution Colonic Manometry during a baseline period and in response to a meal, in 15 patients with constipation, chronically dependent on laxatives, 5 healthy volunteers and 9 patients with minor, transient, IBS-like symptoms but no sign of constipation. Simultaneous pressure waves (SPWs) were the most prominent propulsive motor pattern, associated with gas expulsion and anal sphincter relaxation, inferred to be associated with fast propagating contractions. Isolated pressure transients occurred in most sensors, ranging in amplitude from 5–230 mmHg. Rhythmic haustral boundary pressure transients occurred at sensors about 4–5 cm apart. Synchronized haustral pressure waves, covering 3–5 cm of the colon occurred to create a characteristic intrahaustral cyclic motor pattern at 3–6 cycles/min, propagating in mixed direction. This activity abruptly alternated with erratic patterns resembling the segmentation motor pattern of the small intestine. High amplitude propagating pressure waves (HAPWs) were too rare to contribute to function assessment in most subjects. Most patients, dependent on laxatives for defecation, were able to generate normal motor patterns in response to a meal.

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Preeclampsia (PE) is associated with increased total peripheral resistance (TPR), reduced cardiac output (CO), and diminished uterine and placental blood flow. We have developed an animal model that employs chronic reductions in uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) in pregnant rats to generate a "preeclamptic-like" state during late gestation that is characterized by hypertension, proteinuria, and endothelial dysfunction. Although this animal model has many characteristics of human PE, the systemic hemodynamic and regional changes in blood flow that occur in response to chronic RUPP remains unknown. Therefore, we hypothesized that RUPP would decrease uteroplacental blood flow and CO, and increase TPR. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), CO, cardiac index (CI), TPR, and regional blood flow to various tissues were measured using radiolabeled microspheres in the following two groups of conscious rats: normal pregnant rats (NP; n = 8) and RUPP rats (n = 8). MAP was increased (132 +/- 4 vs. 99 +/- 3 mmHg) in the RUPP rats compared with the NP dams. The hypertension in RUPP rats was associated with increased TPR (2.15 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.98 +/- 0.08 mmHg x ml(-1) x min(-1)) and decreased CI (246 +/- 20 vs. 348 +/- 19 ml x min(-1) x kg(-1), P < 0.002) when contrasted with NP dams. Furthermore, uterine (0.16 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.38 +/- 0.09 ml x min(-1) x g tissue(-1)) and placental blood flow (0.30 +/- 0.08 vs. 0.70 +/- 0.10 ml x min(-1) x g tissue(-1)) were decreased in RUPP compared with the NP dams. These data demonstrate that the RUPP model of pregnancy-induced hypertension has systemic hemodynamic and regional blood flow alterations that are strikingly similar to those observed in women with PE.

There is little information on changes in overall and regional hemodynamics in obesity-associated hypertension. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine alterations in overall and regional blood flows and resistances in adipose and nonadipose tissues in a new model of obesity-associated hypertension in rabbits. Sixteen female New Zealand White rabbits were fed either a maintenance or high-fat diet; after 8 to 12 weeks cardiac output and regional blood flows were measured with the use of radioactive microspheres. Obese rabbits (5.22 +/- 0.14 versus 3.66 +/- 0.04 kg) had higher blood pressure (113 +/- 3 versus 95 +/- 1 mm Hg), cardiac output (812 +/- 59 versus 593 +/- 47 mL/min), and heart rate (269 +/- 12 versus 219 +/- 9 beats per minute) and lower overall peripheral resistance (0.14 +/- 0.01 versus 0.17 +/- 0.01 mm Hg/[mL/min]) than lean rabbits. Compared with lean controls, obese rabbits had higher weights of the ventricles, kidneys, liver, ovaries, adrenals, diaphragm, and spleen. Absolute blood flows were greater in the ventricles, kidneys, lungs, and ovaries, but differences were minimized when flows were normalized for organ weight. Adipose tissue flow per gram weight was significantly lower and resistance higher in obese rabbits. However, calculated total adipose tissue flow was higher in obese rabbits (86 versus 45 mL/min). Absolute resistances were lower in the left ventricle, kidneys, and large intestine, but when resistances were indexed for organ weight, kidney resistance tended to be higher in obese rabbits. These results indicate that even short periods of obesity-associated hypertension result in marked overall and regional hemodynamic changes.

Background and Purpose: The administration of glucose has been shown to worsen brain injury in adult animals but has no effect on the severity of injury in newborn rats. We wished to see whether the results in newborn rats could be extended to another newborn animal.Methods: In 44 0-to 3-day-old piglets, hypoxic-ischemic central nervous system damage was induced by ligation of both carotid arteries and reduction of their blood pressure to two-thirds normal for one-half hour. In the last 15 minutes of this half hour, oxygen concentration was reduced to 6%. The piglets were randomized to receive either 2 mLVkg 50%o dextrose in water followed by 2 mLlkg per hour for 2.5 hours beginning before ischemia or enough insulin to reduce their resting blood sugar to approximately 2 mmol/L.

SU11248 is a selective inhibitor of certain protein kinases including VEGFR types 1-3 that are expressed in human breast cancer. The present study determines whether the anti-tumor activity of SU11248 results from the inhibition of angiogenesis, as well as direct anti-proliferation and anti-migration effects on breast tumors. Eight-wk old female mice (C57BL/6) were given SU11248 at 20-40 mg/kg/d in drinking (distilled) water for 4 wks. Control mice received drinking water only. In the 2nd wk, 10(6) E0771 (mouse breast cancer) cells were injected in the left fourth mammary gland. Tumor size was monitored using dial calipers. At the end, tumors were isolated for measuring tumor size and intratumoral microvessel density (IMD) using CD31 immunohistochemistry. SU11248 significantly reduced tumor weight over the control (1.22 ± 0.28 vs. 3.28 ± 0.31 g; n = 8; p < 0.01) and IMD (111 ± 10 vs. 155 ± 6 IM#/mm2; p < 0.01). RT-PCR indicated that VEGFR1 and R2 were expressed in cultured E0771 cells. VEGF (10 ng/ml) caused a 42% increase in proliferation of E0771 cells, compared to the control (p < 0.01; n = 8), and there was a significant decrease in proliferation of E0771 cells treated with VEGF plus SU11248 (10 μmol/L) vs. the control (65%, p < 0.01). VEGF caused a 2-fold increase in the proliferation of HUVEC vs. the control (p < 0.01; n = 8), but its action was completely eradicated by SU11248. Neither VEGF nor SU11248 had any effect on the proliferation of cultured HAS MC. Migration assay showed that SU11248 (10 μmol/L) significantly inhibited the migration of cultured E0771 cells. SU11248 significantly inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 and MDAMB-231 cells in a dose-related manner. These findings support the hypothesis that the antitumor activity of SU11248 on breast cancer is possibly mediated by targeting the paracrine and autocrine effects of VEGF on breast cancer to suppress tumor angiogenesis, proliferation and migration.

Clinicians can utilize the BESTest and its short versions to evaluate balance problems in community-dwelling older cancer survivors and apply the established MDC to assess the intervention outcomes.