Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Renal Intro

Renal Intro


This is the best ever figure for understanding nephrons



Extracellular fluid volume includes interstitial and plasma.  why not red cells?
because they are part of the intracellular fluid compartment.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Microcirculation

Microcirculation


Fluid movement (Jv) = Κf [(Pc-Pi)-σ(πc-πi)] 

this applies to GFR in kidneys

Pc
Increased Pc 
  • dilation of arterioles
  • constriction of veins
Decreased Pc
  • constriction of arterioles
  • constriction of veins

σ
Reflection coefficient  (0 to 1)  0 = leaky and oncotic pressure doesn't have an effect (multiplied by zero)

*can also be increased under pathophysiological conditions (burns and inflammation)*
should  be "decreased"

Kf  
= hydraulic conductivity (permeability to water)
*can also be increased under pathophysiological conditions (burns and inflammation)*


Edema

  • cardiogenic
    • increased Pc 
  • noncardiogenic
    • decreased capillary oncotic pressure
    • obstructed lymphatics

Ascites (malnutrition - low protein edema)

Local Control of Blood Flow

Active Hyperemia  -  metabolites dilate arterioles

Reactive hyperemia  -  after reduced flow, flow increases (low O2, metabolites)

Hypoxia vasodilates in peripheral circulation but vasoconstricts in pulmonary circulation

  • alveolar hypoxia triggers inhibition of voltage gated K+ channels in arterioles leading to depolarization then activation of voltage gated Ca++ channels = vasoconstriction.


Hemodynamic Forces on Vasculature

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

muscle types; endothelin; pulse pressure



no troponin in smooth muscle.  Calcium binds to calmodulin, activates MLCK, phosphorylation triggers actin-myosin crossbridge = contraction.

Beta agonists lead to increased cAMP which inhibits MLCK = relaxation.  Same receptor but opposite effects on vascular and cardiac muscle.


Viagra targets  PDE5  Mainly in groin and lungs.

Good reference for this stuff


Part 2:  Endothelium

ET-1  most potent vasoconstrictor of any




compliance = delta Vol/delta P

pulse pressure = delta P    stroke volume = delta V

pulse pressure = stroke volume/compliance

decreased compliance (aterosclerosis) = increased pulse pressure



Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Electrolytes and ECG; Pressure Volume Loops; Reflex control of the heart


electrolytes and ECG

K+   Nernst equation shows that hypoK = hyperpolarization and hyperK = hypopolarization
Major effect, hower, is due to changes in ion currents

Mg++
hypoMg++ similar to hypoK+  for ECG changes

Ca++
hyperCa++  

  • shortens QT
  • ST segment abolished
Ischemia
  • depolarization of resting membranes
  • inactivates fast Na channels = slows phase 0 = slows conduction cell to cell
  • local acidosis
  • K leakage from cell
  • arrythmias due to dispersion of refractoriness in different parts of heart
  • ST segment elevation in infarct zones and depression in reciprocal leads

Arrhythmia mechanisms associated with ischemia 

  • A-V Block, Bundle Branch & Fascicular Blocks 
  •  Bradyarrhythmias 
  • Enhanced Automaticity 
  • PVCs 
  • Triggered Activity 
  • Polymorphic VT 
  • Reentry 
  • Monomorphic VT 
  • Ventricular Fibrillation
Hypothermia

  • Osborn or J wave: A hump-like elevation of the J-point at the onset of ST segment. 
    • Caused by dispersion of endocardial to epicardial phase 1 repolarization. 
  • Shivering (muscle) artifact. 
  • QT prolongation.

Pressure - Volume loops

Positive inotropic agents (digoxin, dopamine, dobutamine, eicosanoids, epinephrine, inamrinone, isoprenaline, milrinone, norepinephrine, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, theophylline)


Negative inotropic agents (beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, disopyramide, flecainide, procainamide, quinidine)




Reflex control of the heart

read more


Of these two sites for arterial baroreceptors, the carotid sinus is quantitatively the most important for regulating arterial pressure. The carotid sinus receptors respond to pressures ranging from 60-180 mmHg 

important to know that carotid baroreceptor activity is proportional to blood pressure.



switch from sympathetic stimulation to sympathetic inhibition due to GABA release by CVLM


summary figure  P = QR





















Efferent Limb: Autonomic Responses

MABP = CO x TPR          

memory tool: alphabet rule  ABC 

PQR   or P = QR




Monday, March 17, 2014

Cardiac Pathology

Cardiac Pathology


dilation = loss of overlap of actin and myosin = weaker contraction
            = distorted gap junctions

Heart Failure = defined as decreased cardiac output

  • pressure overload -  concentric hypertrophy = sarcomeres added in parallel
  • volume overload - dilated ventricle = sarcomeres added in series - eccentric hypertrophy
Cardiomegaly
  • bigger is not better
  • increased size does not come with increased capillaries
  • Exception - physiological hypertrophy


Heart Failure

dead myocytes are replaced by scar tissue

Chronic ischemic heart disease

at autopsy:
  • Enlarged, heavy hearts 
  • Left ventricular hypertrophy and dilation 
  • Discrete scars = healed infarcts 
  • Increased fibrosis 
  • Subendocardial vacuolization

Acute MI

at autopsy:
  • normal

Hypertensive Heart Disease


Cardiomyopathies - mechanical & electrical (gap junction) problems



Dilated = systolic dysfunction (decreased overlap of actin-myosin); 
  • Genetic - 20-50%
  • Infections – VIRAL 
  • Toxins - ALCOHOL 
  • Metabolic – thyroid disorders 
  • Neuromuscular disease – muscular dystrophy 
  • Storage disorders – glycogen storage disease 
  • Infiltrates – leukemia 
  • Immunological; e.g, lupus
  • Peripartum
  • Restrictive 
Hypertrophic
  • myocyte disarray
  • outflow obstruction due to hypertrophy
  • genetic - mutations in genes that encode sarcomeres
Restrictive
  • decrease in ventricle compliance (deltaV/deltaP
  • Causes 
    • Radiation fibrosis 
    • Amyloidosis -amyloid deposited between myofibrils
    • Sarcoidosis - granulomas
    • Metastatic tumors - multiple transfusions - iron overload
    • Inborn errors of metabolism 




Myocarditis - inflammation of myocardium

Viral myocarditis 
  • Causes MOST cases in the US 
    • Coxsackie viruses A and B most common 
    • Also see other enteroviruses, CMV, HIV, etc 
    • Presentation ranges from sudden death to heart failure 
  • Other 
    • Rickettsiae, bacteria (diphtheria, Lyme disease), fungal 
      (candidal), protozoal (Chagas disease and 
      toxoplasmosis) 
    • Hypersensitivity myocarditis - eosinophils present
    • Giant-cell myocarditis - giant cells = collection of macrophages
Miscellaneous Myocardial Disease
  • Cardiotoxic drugs 
  • Catecholamines 
  • Amyloid 
  • Iron overload 
  • Hyper and hypothyroidism

Cardiac Tumors
  • myxoma - most common - usually in left atrium
  • etc.

Pericardial Disease
  • fluid volume in pericardium normally < 50 ml
  • pericarditis = inflammation of pericardium = increased fluid (effusion)
    • serous = non infectious inflammation
    • fibrinous = most common; acute MI, radiation, autoimmune, trauma
    • purulent = infections

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Cardiac Muscle

 Cardiac Muscle

actin - thin   regulated by calcium in cardiac muscle
Myosin - thick - regulated by calcium in smooth muscle






Autonomic Control of Heart Rate


NB: factors other than autonomic tone affect heart rate

  • adenosine and high K lower heart rate by moving resting membrane potential toward K equilibrium potential.  from Katzung:potassium concentration has more to do with the permeability rather than resting membrane potential!
  • Hyperkalemia: reduces eq. potential for K+ but on the other hand increases permeability therefore potassium current will be higher and RMP will come closer to K+ eq. potential!  significance: in cardiac pacemaker cells during phase IV ,due to high K+ permeability it will effectively counteract hyperpolarization induced depolarizing current via rectifier channels therefore late approach towards threshold!
  • Hypokalemia: increases eq. potential for K+ but on the other hand reduces permeability ;therefore K+ current will be low and RMP will be farther away from the eq. potential (K+ eq. pot. has the major influence on RMP) in other words membrane will be destabilized!  significance: in cardiac pacemaker cells low K+ current during phase IV will not be able to effectively counteract the depolarizing current and therefore early approach towards threshold [enhanced automaticity]
  • Hypoxia - interferes with If - slows inward Na current and slows heart rate
  • Thyroid hormone (T3)  - upregulated beta receptors (1 and 2), increase chronotropy, inotropy, vasodilation.  (results in increased stroke volume SBP and decreased DBP  = increased pulse pressur ("bounding pulse")
does calcium channel blocker slow heart rate?  yes


In normal subject with resting HR of 60, the intrinsic heart rate is about 100 (blockade of sympathetic and parasympathetic tone).  e.g., resting HR is determined mainly by vagal tone.


Cardiac Signal Transduction Mechanisms




Beta agonists produce increased inotropy (contractility) AND lusitropy (relaxation) due to inhibition of phospholamden and increased activity of SERCA




Frank-Starling Law of the Heart - 

increased preload causes increased stroke volume

Myocardial Response to Increased Afterload

will reduce stroke volume initially.  However, smaller SV means larger ESV.  Then, when normal venous return enters ventrical, the EDV will now be greater, and SV will return to normal.  e.g., people with hypertension do not have low SV and high heart rate.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Cardiovascular Intro; Hemodynamics; Cardiac Cycle



Cardiovascular Physiology

systemic circulation arteries branch ultimately into 40 billion capillaries (huge surface area for diffusion between blood and tissues)

compliance of elastic structure = delta volume/delta pressure

  • aorta compliance allows steady flow through vessels (hydraulic filtering)
  • can rearrange this to look at delta pressure (called pulse pressure = systolic - diastolic)*
  • pulse pressure = delta volume/compliance  e.g., goes up with increasing stroke volume and goes up with decreasing compliance (e.g., hardening or aorta)
  • Hyperthyroidism upregulates beta receptors causes increase and stroke volume AND decreased resistance (peripheral vasodilation) = increased Systolic and decreased diastolic pressures = increased stroke volume ("bounding pulse")
venous return to the heart - alpha 1 mediated venoconstriction = increased cardiac output

Pressures in CV system

Mean arterial pressure = 2/3 diastolic + 1/3 systolic  (because 2/3 of time is spent in diastole during one cardiac cycle).  Mean = 100 for 120/90.

*Pulse Pressure

what could elevate pulse pressure?  decreased compliance or increased stroke volume

diastolic pressure = pressure in aorta when aortic valve closes.  if compliance were zero (never true in elastic structures but can be really low; e.g., golf ball) with completely rigid aorta, systolic pressure would go way up but diastolic pressure would not change (aortic valve closes when pressure in ventricle falls below aortic pressure)

Velocity of Flow vs. Cross Sectional Area

  • flow cm3/min =  Velocity cm/min x Cross Sectional Area cm2  = cm3/min
  • slow velocity in capillaries helps exchange.
  • Flow is the same in aorta and all capillaries, but velocity is much different.
Determinants of Blood Pressure

  • alphabet rule  =  PQR   use algebra to rearrange
  • P = QR
  • Q = P/R
  • R = P/Q  or TPR/cardiac output   (Q = cardiac output)

Poiseuille's Law  - R = 8nl/pi r4

radius to 4th power dominates
  • vasoconstriction
  • thickening of vessel wall
  • viscosity can be important with anemia or polycythemia (downside of blood doping)  other name for polycythemia = erythrocytosis
natives of high altitude: = higher in Himalayan and Andean natives - mean hematocrit of 50% in Himalayans and 54.1% in Andeans. 
click on: 

Brain blood flow in Andean and Himalayan high-altitude populations: evidence of different traits for the same environmental constraint



Series and Parallel Resistors

Rt = R1 + R2 + R3   for R=1  Rt = 3.  add an R4 = 1 and Rt = 4 (higher)

1/Rt = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3   for R1  1/Rt = 3 so Rt = 1/3   add an R4 = 1 and Rt = 1/4 (smaller)

Laminar vs. Turbulent Flow

clarify delta P with turbulent flow.  Tom said no flow with turbulent flow.  If turbulence is not infinitely high, there is flow but requires higher driving pressures.

when rivers make noise, flow is turbulent.  same in vessels (bruits) and heart (murmurs)

Shear Stress = important for releasing nitric oxide (NO)  


Regulation of Resistance     R = deltaP/flow


  • intrinsic
  • extrinsic
    • sympathetic NS  alpha 1 and beta 2
    • epinephrine and other circ. hormone
    • local metabolites
  • Flow
    • intrinsic - Starling's Law of the heart
    • extrinsic - neural, hormonal

Cardiac Cycle

nice outside resources for this


Note that with tachycardia, diastole shortens much more than systole.  Impact = reduced filling time.  Not a problem in exercise (increased venous return) but IS a problem with resting tachycardia (e.g., cocaine).



Right Heart Pressures Lower but may equal left heart in normal individuals at high altitude or patients with lung hypoxia due to disease.

Coronary blood flow in cardiac cycle.


  • greatest during diastole (muscles relaxed).  additional risk of tachycardia (reduced filling time AND reduced coronary flow during shortened diastolic period)  at same time oxygen demand is increased.
  • flow is regulated in the coronary arteries primarily by adenosine.  Adenosine increases if oxygen falls (decreased ATP production = increased adenosine)




Monday, March 10, 2014

Electrophysiology

 Electrophysiology 

channels

  • ionotropic; e.g., Na, K channels
  • metabotropic; e.g., beta receptors
electrochemical equilibria = membrane potential that would keep any ion at its observed concentration inside and outside
-example; if K channels open the membrane will become hyperpolarized to its equilibrium potential which is - 95 mv.  this is how most inhibitory neurotransmitters work.

Ohm's Law  I = V/R  where I = current; V=voltage; R=resistance

Rectifying currents deviate from Ohm's law; i.e., current is not linear with voltage.
  • inward
  • outward
Conduction velocity = f(rate of change of voltage) - substances that block Na channels will slow conduction; e.g., high potassium; cocaine

Action potentials

all of heart action potentials summated to ECG




slow cells - pacemaker cells 

T type Ca channels activation by hyperpolarization
L type by depolarization


slope of phase 4, threshold, and resting potential determine heart rate


Another good figure below and explanation (from Lilly)
The maximum negative voltage of pace-maker cells is approximately -60 mV, substantially less negative than the resting potential of ventricular muscle cells (-90 mV). The persistently less negative membrane voltage of pacemaker cells causes the fast sodium channels within these cells to remain inactivated.



fast cells (myocytes; purkinje fibres)


this is a very helpful figure to understand fast action potentials:


Here is another way to understand ion currents in the fast action potential:

From Lilly; Pathophysiology of Heart Disease. Schematic representation of a myocyte action potential (AP) and relative net ion currents for Na+, Ca++, and K+. The resting potential is represented by phase 4 of the AP. Following de-polarization, Na+ influx results in the rapid upstroke of phase 0; a transient outward potassium current is responsible for partial repolarization during phase 1; slow Ca++ influx (and relatively low K+ efflux) results in the plateau of phase 2; and final rapid repolarization largely results from K+ efflux during phase 3.


Conduction velocity (dromotropy) determined by dV/dT

myocardium = .3-1 m/sec
av node = .02 - .1 m/sec  (important to allow time for filling of ventricles)


Thursday, May 16, 2013

Congenital cyanotic heart disease

congenital cyanotic heart disease

DDx - five "Ts"



90% of all  congenital heart defects are ToF (75%) or TGA (15%)









Treatment
TGA
PGE1 - keep PDA open
Fluids - needs volume for continued operation of atrial septal defect
Do not use oxygen -  want to keep pulmonary vascular resistance high
(+/- BAS)
Surgery: Switch

ToF

PGE1
+/- Oxygen
Fluids
Chromosomes - deGeorge syndrome
*Irradiate & wash blood*  -  kill white cells to avoid graph vs. host reaction

Surgery - Shunt or Repair

Total Anomolous Pulmonary Vascular Connection (TAPVC)


When should you NOT start with PGE1?  NEVER
Concerns re: PGE1
  • Apnea
  • Fever
  • PVR
  • O2 effect

PGE1 Dosing & PVR
PGE1 in obstructed TAPVC
PGE1 in TGA…& lasix. NEEDS FLUIDS


PDA



PDA Notes
#1 Determining factor – intervene or not – is…
Clinical trend line

“Severe” PAH ≠≠ elevated PVR  (REMEMBER P = Q x R)   inc.  P due to increased Q

Indomethacin - opposite of PGE1 = closes PDA (but side effects - close renal flow)
Indometacin (INN) or indomethacin (USAN and former BAN) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug(NSAID) commonly used as a prescription medication to reduce feverpain, stiffness, and swelling. It works by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins, molecules known to cause these symptoms




CHF = congestive heart failure: clinical 
manifestations of inadequate cardiac output.




Differential Diagnosis
Primary




Myocardial
Rhythm
Blood 



Secondary



Shunt*
Obstruction
Both
A-V valve regurgitation










Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Acquired Heart Disease

Acquired Heart Disease

Kawasaki's Disease

 First described in Japan by Dr. Kawasaki in 1967.
 Toxic shock for younger patients?
• Immune response to a gram positive infection
 Self limited disease
 Most serious complication is the development of coronary artery aneurysms.
• Untreated 20 % incidence
• Treated with IVIGg, incidence goes down to 1-2 %
• Must treat within first 10 days of fever to be effective.


Kawashocki

Older age (>8 years)
Typically girls
Higher band counts and CRP, lower albumin
64 % are refractory to IVIG
Higher incidence of coronary artery aneurysms

Coronary Artery Aneurysms


  • Typically seen in the first to weeks after the initial presentation.
  • Of the patients that develop aneurysms
    • ½ will regress back to normal
  • More likely in patient < 1 year of age, small and fusiform in shape and distal.
  • Of those that do not regress to normal
    • ½ will enlarge and go on to giant aneurysms
  • Giant aneurysms are at risk development of coronary thrombosis and stenosis leading to MI
Rheumatic Fever
Infection of the upper respiratory system by group A, beta hemolytic streptococci.
Toxin mediated immune response?
Diagnosis is made by using Jones criteria.

Rheumatic Heart Disease
Very common world wide
Less common in this country due to more aggressive management of strep pharyngitis
Still seen in this country however.
Children 5-15 years of age.
Shift to non-rheumtogenic strain leading to less classic presentations.

Jones Criteria
  • Erythema Marginatum 3-5 %- Macular, non-pruritic with a serpiginous border. 
  • Typically on thighs and trunk. Difficult to see on darker skin. Begins 1-2 weeks after initial infection. Usually gone when evaluated for other symptoms.
  • Polyarthritis 80 %- Large Joints and migratory. Begins 2-5 weeks after infection. Painful and swollen. If just painful, not arthritis. Self-limited.
  • Less responsive to ASA 
  • Carditis 40-50 %(may be higher)- Typically valve changes. Mitral and aortic are the most common. Clinical symptoms early are typically only if myocardial or pericardial involvement. Valve involvement is the long term concern. Carey Coombs murmur.
  • • Aschoff bodies in myocardium
  •  Subcutaneous nodules 1%- Located on the extensor surfaces of joints- elbows, knees, hands and ankles. Freely movable 0.5 cm-2.0 cm.
  • Sydenham’s Chorea (St. Vitus’s Dance)-Inflammation of the basal ganglia. 10-15%. Non-purposeful and rapid movements. Usually face and upper extremities. 6 months to a couple of years.

Treatment
  • All patients get 10 days of Penicillin 
  • If no or mild carditis
    • • high dose ASA for 2-3 weeks, cut the dose in half and treat another 2-3 weeks.
  • Moderate to severe carditis
    • • Course of steroids with the addition of ASA when taper the steroids
  • No strenuous activity until out of acute inflammatory stage.
  • • Then based on severity of carditis


Pericarditis
  • Typically not a problem with systolic function.
    • • Low stroke volume due to diminished preload 
  • Entrapment of the heart limiting filling during diastole.
    • • JVD and hepatomegaly
  • Respiratory influence on filling more pronounced
  • Decreased heart sounds or a rub on examination.
Don't treat with diuretics (need preload)

Myocarditis
  • Viral etiology is most common
    • • Children most often have entero (Coxsackie B) or adenoviris.
    •  Almost any virus has been seen.
    • • Patchy lymphocytic infiltrate with myoctye necrosis
    • • Damage from pathogen and resultant immune response
  • Other etiologies
    • • Bacterial- Lyme’s disease, meningococcal, typhoid
    • • Toxin mediated- C diptheria, S pyogenes, S aureus
    • • Parasites- Typanosoma cruzi (chagas), toxoplasmosis, trichinella
  • Diagnostic Findings
    • • Abnormal Echo in 98 %
    • • Cardiomegaly on CXR in 60 %
    • • Elevated troponin and ALT in 70-85 %
    • • ECG changes noted in 93-100 % of cases.
      •  ST flattening and T-wave inversion, low QRS voltages, axis deviation, LVH
    •  Arrythmias
      •  Major reason for death in these patients
    •  Be attentive to low magnesium in these patients
    • • MRI with gadolinium can detect patchy myocardial involvement.
  • Treatment
    • Immune therapies have had limited data to show any clinical role.
    • IVIG may improve long term survival in chronic but no acute situation.
    • • Biopsy can at times be helpful in guiding management.
    • • Then again, maybe not due to patchy involvement
    • • Remember MRI