Adv Exp Med Biol
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Mathematical models of the transport of oxygen, glucose, carbon dioxide and lactic acid in the human brain have been developed and solved for both steady-state and dynamic cases which include normal conditions, arterial and venous hypoxia, reduced flow and hematocrit, hypocapnia, reduced glucose and transient arterial upsets. Results indicate that local concentration deficits of oxygen and/or glucose and excesses of lactic acid can exist within the system described by the models and therefore possibly could exist in the tissues of the human brain under similar conditions.
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A new method to estimate arterial oxygen saturation is suggested based on the presence of the plethysmographic pulse. A prototype skin reflectance oximeter system utilizing a miniature solid state optical transducer has been constructed. ⋯ This study has demonstrated for the first time that arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation can be measured quantitatively using transcutaneous reflectance techniques. However, more extensive work is needed to further develop this technique into a viable clinical tool.
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31P NMR technique was applied to monitor changes in the energy metabolism of the brain and heart of unanesthetized cats during shock, stroke, hypoxia and increased functional activity. The results show that in these tissues content of inorganic phosphate, sugar phosphates, phosphocreatine and of ATP can be measured decently in awake animals. At the same time this technique has the great advantage over the disruptive biochemical methods that it gives a semi-continuous reading and it is non-invasive. ⋯ The ATP levels of the brain as it was indicated by 31p NMR spectra were not affected by hemorrhagic shock and stroke which can be attributed probably by the reduced rate of ATP consumption. The verification of this hypothesis needs further work. During increased mechanical performance the levels of SP, and Pi increased, ATP decreased, while CP was not influenced in the heart.