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A prospective observational study (ClinicalTrial ID: NCT05771415) was conducted to compare placental oxygenation in low-risk, uncomplicated term pregnancies measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in relation to the placental maturity grade determined by ultrasound assessment according to the Grannum scale. We included 34 pregnancies divided into two groups according to placental maturation. For each pregnancy, measurements were taken at the site above the central part of the placenta (test) and at the site outside of the placenta on the lower abdomen (control). Student’s t-test was used to compare tissue oxygenation index (TOI) values among the study groups. The normality of distribution was proven by the Kolmogorov‒Smirnov test. In women with low placental maturity grade, the mean TOI value above the placenta was 70.38 ± 3.72, which was lower than the respective value in women with high placental maturity grade (77.99 ± 3.71; p < 0.001). The TOI values above the placenta and the control site were significantly different in both groups (70.38 ± 3.72 vs 67.83 ± 3.21 and 77.99 ± 3.71 vs 69.41 ± 3.93; p < 0.001). The results offer a new perspective on placental function based on specific non-invasive real-time oxygenation measurements. Unfortunately, and because of technical limitations, NIRS cannot yet be implemented as a routine clinical tool.

The mammalian dive reflex, characterized by bradycardia and peripheral vasoconstriction, occurs in all mammals, including humans, in response to apnea. However, the dive reflex to a single, maximal, dry, dynamic apnea (DYN) and how it compares to a time-matched exercise control trial (EX) or dry static apnea (SA) has not been studied. We examined the hypotheses that, compared with EX and SA, the magnitude of the 1) cardiovascular response and 2) hematological response to DYN would be greater. Cardiovascular parameters [heart rate (HR), systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), and mean arterial (MAP) blood pressure] were continuously collected in 23 (F = 6 females) moderate and elite freedivers, first during a maximal DYN, then during a time-matched SA and EX on a swimming ergometer in randomized order. Venous blood draws were made before and following each trial. The change in calculated oxygen saturation (DYN: −17 ± 13%, EX: −2 ± 1%, ΔSA: −2 ± 1%; P < 0.05, all comparisons) was greater during DYN compared with EX and SA. During DYN, ΔSBP (DYN: 104 ± 31 mmHg; EX: 38 ± 23 mmHg; and SA: 20 ± 11 mmHg), ΔDBP (DYN: 45 ± 12 mmHg; EX: 14 ± 10 mmHg; and SA: 15 ± 8 mmHg), and ΔMAP (DYN: 65 ± 17 mmHg; EX: 22 ± 13 mmHg; and SA: 16 ± 9 mmHg) were increased compared with EX and SA, while ΔHR was greater during EX (DYN: −24 ± 23 beats/min; EX: 33 ± 13 beats/min; and SA: −1 ± 10 beats/min) than either DYN or SA (P < 0.0001, all comparisons). Females had a greater pressor response to EX (ΔSBP: 59 ± 30 mmHg; ΔDBP: 24 ± 14 mmHg; and ΔMAP: 35 ± 8 mmHg) than males (ΔSBP: 31 ± 15 mmHg; ΔDBP: 11 ± 6 mmHg; and ΔMAP: 18 ± 8 mmHg; P < 0.01, all comparisons). Together, these data indicate that DYN elicits a distinct, exaggerated cardiovascular response compared with EX or SA alone. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: This study performed a dry dynamic apnea with sport-specific equipment to closely mimic the physiological demands of competition diving. We found the cardiovascular and hematological responses to dynamic apnea were more robust compared with time-matched exercise and dry static apnea control trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite elite human free divers achieving incredible feats in competitive free diving, there has yet to be a study that compares consummate divers, (i.e. northern elephant seals) to highly conditioned free divers (i.e., elite competitive free-diving humans). Herein, we compare these two diving models and suggest that hematological traits detected in seals reflect species-specific specializations, while hematological traits shared between the two species are fundamental mammalian characteristics. Arterial blood samples were analyzed in elite human free divers (n = 14) during a single, maximal volitional apnea and in juvenile northern elephant seals (n = 3) during rest-associated apnea. Humans and elephant seals had comparable apnea durations (∼6.5 min) and end-apneic arterial P o 2 [humans: 40.4 ± 3.0 mmHg (means ± SE); seals: 27.1 ± 5.9 mmHg; P = 0.2]. Despite similar increases in arterial P co 2 (humans: 33 ± 5%; seals: 16.3 ± 5%; P = 0.2), only humans experienced reductions in pH from baseline (humans: 7.45 ± 0.01; seals: 7.39 ± 0.02) to end apnea (humans: 7.37 ± 0.01; seals: 7.38 ± 0.02; P < 0.0001). Hemoglobin P50 was greater in humans compared to elephant seals (29.9 ± 1.5 and 28.7 ± 0.6 mmHg, respectively; P = 0.046). Elephant seals overall had higher carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels (5.9 ± 2.6%) compared to humans (0.8 ± 1.2%; P < 0.0001); however, following apnea, COHb was reduced in seals (baseline: 6.1 ± 0.3%; end apnea: 5.6 ± 0.3%) and was slightly elevated in humans (baseline: 0.7 ± 0.1%; end apnea: 0.9 ± 0.1%; P < 0.0002, both comparisons). Our data indicate that during static apnea, seals have reduced hemoglobin P50, greater pH buffering, and increased COHb levels. The differences in hemoglobin P50 are likely due to the differences in the physiological environment between the two species during apnea, whereas enhanced pH buffering and higher COHb may represent traits selected for in elephant seals. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: This study uses similar methods and protocols in elite human free divers and northern elephant seals. Using highly conditioned divers (elite free-diving humans) and highly adapted divers (northern elephant seals), we explored which hematological traits are fundamentally mammalian and which may have been selected for. We found differences in P50, which may be due to different physiological environments between species, while elevated pH buffering and carbon monoxide levels might have been selected for in seals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathogenesis of predominantly neurological decompression sickness (DCS) is multifactorial. In SCUBA diving, besides gas bubbles, DCS has been linked to microparticle release, impaired endothelial function, and platelet activation. This study focused on vascular damage and its potential role in the genesis of DCS in breath-hold diving. Eleven breath-hold divers participated in a field study comprising eight deep breath-hold dives with short surface periods and repetitive breath-hold dives lasting for 6 h. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation of the brachial artery, via flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and the number of microparticles (MPs) were assessed before and after each protocol. All measures were analyzed by two-way within-subject ANOVA (2 * 2 ANOVA; factors: time and protocol). Absolute FMD was reduced following both diving protocols (p < 0.001), with no interaction (p = 0.288) or main effect of protocol (p = 0.151). There was a significant difference in the total number of circulating MPs between protocols (p = 0.007), where both increased post-dive (p = 0.012). The number of CD31+/CD41- and CD66b+ MP subtypes, although different between protocols (p < 0.001), also increased by 41.0% [+ or -] 56.6% (p = 0.050) and 60.0% [+ or -] 53.2% (p = 0.045) following deep and repetitive breath-hold dives, respectively. Both deep and repetitive breath-hold diving lead to endothelial dysfunction that may play an important role in the genesis of neurological DCS. Key words: endothelial function, flow-mediated dilation, microparticles, venous gas emboli, repetitive breath-hold dive, apnea. La pathogenese du mal de decompression, neurologique de facon predominante, est multifactorielle. En plongee sous-marine, hormis les bulles de gaz, on a lie le mal de decompression a la liberation de microparticules, a un mauvais fonctionnement de l'endothelium, ainsi qu'a l'activation des plaquettes. Cette etude etait centree sur les lesions vasculaires et leur role eventuel dans la genese du mal de decompression pendant la plongee en apnee. Onze plongeurs en apnee ont participe a une etude de terrain comprenant huit plongees en apnee en profondeur avec de courtes periodes a la surface, ainsi que des plongees en apnee repetitives pour une duree totale de 6 h. Nous avons evalue la vasodilatation dependante de l'endothelium de l'artere brachiale par la vasodilatation mediee par le flux et le nombre de MP avant et apres chaque protocole. Nous avons etudie toutes les mesures a l'aide d'une analyse de variance bidirectionnelle avec facteurs << within >> (ANOVA 2 * 2; facteurs : duree et protocole). La vasodilatation mediee par le flux absolue diminuait apres les deux protocoles de plongee (p < 0,001), sans interaction (p = 0,288) ni effet principal du protocole (p = 0,151). Nous avons observe une difference notable dans le nombre de MP en circulation d'un protocole a l'autre (p = 0,007), avec une augmentation post-plongee dans les deux cas (p = 0,012). Les nombres de sous-types CD31+/CD41- et CD66b+ de microparticules, bien que differents d'un protocole a l'autre (p < 0,001), augmentaient aussi de 41,0 % [+ or -] 56,6 % (p = 0,050) et de 60,0 % [+ or -] 53,2 % (p = 0,045) a la suite des plongees en profondeur et repetitives, respectivement. Les plongees en apnee en profondeur et repetitives menent toutes deux a un dysfonctionnement de l'endothelium, lequel pourrait jouer un role important dans la genese du mal de decompression neurologique. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : fonction endotheliale, vasodilatation mediee par le flux, microparticules, embolies gazeuses veineuses, plongee en apnee repetitive, apnee., Introduction Decompression sickness (DCS) in SCUBA diving was related to gas bubbles created in tissues, in venous blood (venous gas emboli (VGE) or arterialized gas emboli (AGE)), arising from the [...]

Due to cannabidiol's health benefits and absence of serious side effects, its use is constantly growing. This is a survey-based cross-sectional study that was conducted to determine Croatian pharmacists', physicians', and students' knowledge and attitudes about cannabidiol (CBD). Two questionnaires were created, one for students and the other for physicians and pharmacists. Our participants (in total 874: 473 students and 401 physicians and pharmacists) generally had positive attitudes towards CBD therapy as approximately 60% of them believe that CBD treatment is generally efficacious. Participants had positive attitudes toward the therapeutic value of CBD, especially pharmacists and pharmacy students (63.8% and 72.2%, respectively). Pharmacists were significantly more convinced that CBD could reduce the use of opioids prescribed for chronic pain (p < 0.05). Only 17.5% of students had read scientific papers about CBD, compared to a significantly higher percentage of physicians and pharmacists (43.0% and 47.8%, respectively) (p < 0.05). This study revealed a gap in knowledge regarding CBD, since 89.3% of pharmacists and physicians, as well as 84.8% of students, believe they need more education about CBD. We conclude that it is important to improve the educational curricula so that medical professionals can recommend CBD use to their patients when needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with an increased risk and prevalence of cardiopulmonary and cerebrovascular disease-related morbidity and mortality. The factors that initiate, promote, and accelerate vascular diseases and events in SCI are poorly understood. Clinical interest in circulating endothelial cell-derived microvesicles (EMVs) and their microRNA (miRNA) cargo has intensified due to their involvement in endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and cerebrovascular events. The aim of this study was to determine whether a subset of vascular-related miRNAs is differentially expressed in EMVs isolated from adults with SCI. We assessed eight adults with tetraplegia (7 male/1 female; age: 46±4 years; time since injury: 26±5 years) and eight uninjured (6 male/2 female; age: 39±3 years). Circulating EMVs were isolated, enumerated, and collected from plasma by flow cytometry. The expression of vascular-related miRNAs in EMVs was assessed by RT-PCR. Circulating EMV levels were significantly higher (~130%) in adults with SCI compared with uninjured adults. The expression profile of miRNAs in EMVs from adults with SCI were significantly different than uninjured adults and were pathologic in nature. Expression of miR-126, miR-132, and miR-Let-7a were lower (~100–150%; p <.05), whereas miR-30a, miR-145, miR-155, and miR-216 were higher (~125–450%; p <.05) in EMVs from adults with SCI. This study is the first examination of EMV miRNA cargo in adults with SCI. The cargo signature of vascular-related miRNAs studied reflects a pathogenic EMV phenotype prone to induce inflammation, atherosclerosis, and vascular dysfunction. EMVs and their miRNA cargo represent a novel biomarker of vascular risk and a potential target for intervention to alleviate vascular-related disease after SCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]