Evidence for altered vascular responses to exogenous endothelin-1 in patients with advanced cirrhosis with restoration of the normal vasoconstrictor response following successful liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There is evidence that dampened responses to endogenous vasoconstrictors contribute to the hyperdynamic circulation that is characteristic of advanced cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an altered vascular responsiveness to the endothelium derived constricting factor endothelin-1 (ET-1) in patients with decompensated chronic liver disease which might contribute to this abnormal circulatory state, and whether normal endothelin responses are restored following liver transplantation. METHODS: Using forearm plethysmography, we studied the vascular response to an intra-arterial ET-1 infusion in six patients with end stage cirrhosis, before and after liver transplantation, compared with six normal control subjects. Responses to the selective endothelin A (ET(A)) receptor subtype antagonist, BQ123, were also examined. RESULTS: The forearm vessels of patients with cirrhosis vasodilated in response to ET-1 infusion while in healthy controls a marked vasoconstriction response was observed (p<0.0001, area under the curve time-blood flow was normal compared with the cirrhosis groups, ANOVA). Prior to commencement of liver transplant surgery, cirrhotic patients were confirmed to have a hyperdynamic circulation with a high cardiac index (4.07 (0.23) l/min/m(2) (normal range 2.8-3.6 l/min/m(2))) and low systemic vascular resistance index (1284 (115) dynxs/cm(5)/m(2) (normal range 1760-2600 dynxs/cm(5)/m(2))). Following transplantation, normal vasoconstrictor responses to ET-1 were restored. Responses to BQ123 were not different in patients with advanced cirrhosis compared with controls. CONCLUSION: In patients with end stage cirrhosis, ET-1 produces vasodilatation at a dose that causes marked vasoconstriction in normal control subjects. This effect is not attributable to impairment of ET(A) receptor responses. Our findings suggest that altered endothelin responses may contribute to the generalised dilatation of the circulation that occurs in patients with advanced liver disease.

Loudness balance calibration of bone conduction vibrators.

An improved monaural loudness balance method of transferring calibration data among three physically dissimilar bone conduction vibrators was compared with the threshold method. In 19 of 21 possible comparisons, absolute differences between the transfer factors obtained with the two methods were 2.5 dB or less, showing that the monaural loudness balance procedure compares favorably with the threshold method.

Ectopic ossification after total hip arthroplasty. Predisposing factors, frequency, and effect on results.

In a statistical analysis of 398 consecutive patients with 507 total hip arthroplasties which was designed to identify factors predisposing to ectopic ossification and to determine the frequency of ossification and its effect on the results, it was found that male patients with considerable bilateral osteophytic osteoarthritis were statistically most likely to have ectopic ossification, especially if ossification had existed before arthroplasty consequent to previous surgery. Ectopic ossification which was first noted six weeks after total hip arthroplasty in 96 per cent of the cases did not change in amount thereafter, though the bone did mature. Both the range of motion of the hip and the function of the patient were affected by the ectopic bone during the first postoperative year, but after that only the range of hip motion was influenced.