Are Small Hyperbolic Universes Observationally Detectable?

Using recent observational constraints on cosmological density parameters, together with recent mathematical results concerning small volume hyperbolic manifolds, we argue that, by employing pattern repetitions, the topology of nearly flat small hyperbolic universes can be observationally undetectable. This is important in view of the facts that quantum cosmology may favour hyperbolic universes with small volumes, and from the expectation coming from inflationary scenarios, that $\Omega_0$ is likely to be very close to one.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, LaTeX2e. A reference and two footnotes added. To appear in Class. Quantum Grav. 18 (2001) in the present for

Fonctionnalisation de protéines végétales par les transglutaminases

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Blood pressure monitoring during arrhythmia: agreement between automated brachial cuff and intra-arterial measurements

International audienceBACKGROUND:Since arrhythmia induces irregular pulse waves, it is widely considered to cause flawed oscillometric brachial cuff measurements of blood pressure (BP). However, strong data are lacking. We assessed whether the agreement of oscillometric measurements with intra-arterial measurements is worse during arrhythmia than during regular rhythm.METHODS:Among patients of three intensive care units (ICUs), a prospective comparison of three pairs of intra-arterial and oscillometric BP readings was performed among patients with arrhythmia and an arterial line already present. After each inclusion in the arrhythmia group, one patient with regular rhythm was included as a control. International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard validation required a mean bias 10 mm Hg) in our ICU population. The ability of oscillometry to detect hypotension (systolic BP 10% increase in mean BP after cardiovascular intervention) and hypertension (systolic BP >140 mm Hg) was good and similar during arrhythmia and regular rhythm (respective areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves ranging from 0.89 to 0.96, arrhythmia vs regular rhythm between-group comparisons all associated with P>0.3).CONCLUSIONS:Contrary to widespread belief, arrhythmia did not cause flawed automated brachial cuff measurements

Increased β2-adrenergic vasorelaxation at the early phase of endotoxemic shock in rats

International audienceBACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The early management of the cardiovascular dysfunction of septic shock is critical as it is associated with a poor outcome. Although the use of catecholamines is a common therapy in this syndrome, no data are available on the involvement of β-adrenoceptor (β-AR) subtypes and only few studies report an alteration of β-adrenergic-induced vasodilation in septic shock. The purpose of the study was to evaluate vascular β1, β2 and β3-AR expression and function in an endotoxemic rat model. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Endotoxemia was induced in rats by intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). β1, β2 and β3-AR mRNA expression was evaluated by RT-PCR in aorta and vascular β1, β2 and β3-AR responses were determined on conducting (aorta) and/or resistance (mesenteric and renal) arteries by constructing relaxation curves in response to different β-AR agonists. RESULTS: The maximal effect of isoproterenol decreased by 31 to 61% in the three vascular beds of LPS-treated rats compared to controls. In aortas from LPS-treated rats, β1 and β3-AR mRNA expression was decreased and associated to a reduced β1 and β3-induced vasodilation. Conversely, albeit β2-AR mRNA was unchanged, the maximal β2-AR-induced vasodilation increased by 49% in aortas from LPS-treated rats compared to controls. This increase was not affected by endothelium removal but was abolished in the presence of a β2-AR antagonist or an adenylate cyclase inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: In endotoxemia, β2-AR vasodilation was increased by a potential recruitment of β2-AR located on smooth muscle cells. This study suggests that vascular β2-AR should be a putative new therapeutic target in septic shock