Abnormalities of the ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide in patients with chronic heart failure

Introduction. The relation between minute ventilation (VE) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2) can be characterised by the instantaneous ratio of ventilation to carbon dioxide production, the ventilatory equivalent for CO2 (VEqCO2). We hypothesised that the time taken to achieve the lowest VEqCO2 (time to VEqCO2 nadir) may be a prognostic marker in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods. Patients and healthy controls underwent a symptom-limited, cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) on a treadmill to volitional exhaustion. Results. 423 patients with CHF (mean age 63±12 years; 80% males) and 78 healthy controls (62% males; age 61±11 years) were recruited. Time to VEqCO2 nadir was shorter in patients than controls (327±204 s versus 514±187 s; P=0.0001). Univariable predictors of all-cause mortality included peak oxygen uptake (X 2 =53.0), VEqCO2 nadir (X 2 =47.9), and time to VEqCO2 nadir (X 2 =24.0). In an adjusted Cox multivariable proportional hazards model, peak oxygen uptake (X 2 =16.7) and VEqCO2 nadir (X 2 =17.9) were the most significant independent predictors of all-cause mortality. Conclusion. The time to VEqCO2 nadir was shorter in patients with CHF than in normal subjects and was a predictor of subsequent mortality. © 2012 Lee Ingle et al

Letter to Andrew Inglis Clark, Tasmania from Joseph G. Witton, Melbourne, dated 13 September 1905

From letters exchanged between Andrew Inglis Clark, Tasmania and Joseph G. Witton, Melbourne, 19 Jan 1886 - 11 Oct 1905. Letter to Andrew Inglis Clark in Tasmania from Joseph G. Witton from Melbourne, 13 September 1905 -Glad to hear that he will be paying a visit to Melbourne in the new year. Looking forward to a visit by Willie and his son later in the year. Read Clark's first edition of Constitutional Studies and will now read second edition, it was well received in the American States and surprised that it did not pay better. C4/C374.......Letter transcribed by Jessica Baker, University of Tasmania

Regional circulatory distribution of novel cardiac bio-markers and their relationships with haemodynamic measurements.

© 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.Background Regional sampling may identify sites of production or removal of novel biomarkers in the circulation; their relationship to haemodynamic measurements may clarify their association with the pathophysiology of heart failure. Methods Samples were obtained from up to eight circulatory sites from 22 patients with left ventricular dysfunction undergoing elective cardiac catheterisation. The plasma concentrations (PC) of six biomarkers [mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP), C-terminal pro-endothelin-1 (CT-proET-1), mid-regional pro-adreno-medullin (MR-proADM), high sensitivity pro-calcitonin (hsPCT), copeptin and galectin-3 (Gal-3)] were measured. Results Plasma concentrations of MR-proANP were highest in the pulmonary artery (PA) and left ventricle, suggesting myocardial production. Lower concentrations of copeptin, CT-proET-1, MR-proADM and hsPCT were found in the supra-renal inferior vena cava (SRIVC) sample suggesting renal extraction. Plasma concentrations of Galectin-3 varied little by sampling site. Plasma concentrations of MR-proANP (R = 0.69, P = 0.002), MR-proADM (R = 0.51, P = 0.03), CT-proET-1 (R = 0.60, P = 0.009) and Copeptin (R = 0.47, P < 0.05) measured from PA samples correlated with PA systolic pressure. There was no relation between any measured marker and cardiac index. Conclusions Regional sampling shows variation in the plasma concentration of various novel peptides that provides clues to sites of net production and removal. Plasma concentrations of several biomarkers were positively correlated with pulmonary artery pressure

Telegram to Andrew Inglis Clark, Tasmania from Joseph G. Witton, Melbourne, dated 11th October 1883

Telgram advising that Smythe was interviewed this morning. Will wire immediately an answer received. C4/C32

Telegram to Andrew Inglis Clark, Tasmania from Joseph G. Witton, Melbourne, dated 11th October 1883 (no. 2)

Conway accepts 4 consecutive nights commencing first week November. C4/C32

Letter to Andrew Inglis Clark, Tasmania from Joseph G. Witton, Melbourne, dated 17th April 1883

Has arrived safely at the wharf in Melbourne and describes the trip across and activities happening at Williamstown. Walter met him and accompanied him to his lodgings and then took a tour of some of the court houses and law chambers in the city, sighting familiar faces and also had a flying visit to the public library. Caught up with Walter's family and all are well. Sad to see the flutter of handkerchiefs at Rosebanks when he left. C4/C316-34

Letter to Andrew Inglis Clark in Tasmania from Joseph G. Witton from Melbourne, Victoria dated 4 May 1891

Letter to Andrew Inglis Clark, Tasmania from Joseph G. Witton, Melbourne, Victoria thanking A I Clark specifically for paying the money to get his family at home out of financial difficulty. Money matters have been a problem lately and Dave has not been of any help. He requests that the repayment be held over.alter Gill's wife presented him with a baby daughter, was hurt that Clark had not seen him during his recent visits. C4/C37

Letter to Andrew Inglis Clark, Tasmania from Joseph G. Witton, Melbourne dated 22 March 1887

Have finally ordered Freeman's book from Robertson for you, although they tried to tell me that they had not told me they had never had it. Good news of RP's elevation to the bench and that Dobbie has been offered the Solicitor-Generalship. The venture with Dave fell through and he has now gone to Camperdown but not heard what he is doing. C4/C36

Disfluency in dialogue:an intentional signal from the speaker?

Disfluency is a characteristic feature of spontaneous human speech, commonly seen as a consequence of problems with production. However, the question remains open as to why speakers are disfluent: Is it a mechanical by-product of planning difficulty, or do speakers use disfluency in dialogue to manage listeners' expectations? To address this question, we present two experiments investigating the production of disfluency in monologue and dialogue situations. Dialogue affected the linguistic choices made by participants, who aligned on referring expressions by choosing less frequent names for ambiguous images where those names had previously been mentioned. However, participants were no more disfluent in dialogue than in monologue situations, and the distribution of types of disfluency used remained constant. Our evidence rules out at least a straightforward interpretation of the view that disfluencies are an intentional signal in dialogue. © 2012 Psychonomic Society, Inc

Letters to Andrew Inglis Clark, Tasmania from Walter Gill, Melbourne dated May 18 1883

Have been searching for the book you wanted but without success. Witton is settling down and enjoying the hustle and bustle of big city life. I have yet to find him cheaper lodgings. Have been preoccupied with my wretched health and entaining my brother and his wife. C4/C14