Engineering topics

Lance, V. Q.

Publications and source records attributed to Lance, V. Q..

5 records

NASA NTRS1977

Comparative orthostatic responses - Standing vs. head-up tilt

In both physiologic and clinical studies, standing is often loosely equated with head-up tilt (HUT) although the cardiovascular effects of these variants of orthostasis have not been formally compared, except for heart rate. The effects of HUT and standing were measured noninvasively in male volunteers satisfying identical criteria for age and normal status. In both postures, there were significant increases in heart rate, pre-ejection period, isovolumic contraction time, and the ratio of pre-ejection to ejection period, and significant decreases in ejection period and ejection time index. All of these changes were greater for standing than for tilt. Pulse transmission time changed significantly (-14%) only with tilt. We conclude that head-up tilt and standing are rather comparable but not physiologically identical forms of orthostasis.

Spodick, D. H.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Postural effects on the noninvasive baselines of ventricular performance

The effects of posture on time-based noninvasive measurements were determined utilizing the sequence supine-sitting-standing in a formal protocol in which observer biases were eliminated by blinding the measurement and calculation phases. Compared to the supine posture, the sitting and standing postures produced significant increases in heart rate, isovolumic contraction time, pre-ejection period and pre-ejection period/left-ventricular ejection time and significant decreases in ejection time and ejection time index. The response patterns are consistent with the hemodynamic correlates cited in the literature which show increased adrenergic activity and decreased venous return in the sitting and standing postures, the effect on venous return being dominant.

Lance, V. Q.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Heart rate-left ventricular ejection time relations - Variations during postural change and cardiovascular challenges

Experiments were conducted on healthy human subjects to determine HR-LVET (Heart Rate-Left Ventricular Ejection Time) regression relations in different postures, including tilt, and during isometric exercise. The subjects were tested in the resting state in supine and sitting positions, during isometric handgrip in supine and sitting positions and during 70 deg headup tilt. The recordings included a bipolar electrocardiogram and a right external carotid pulse curve. Comparison of the HR-LVET relation for the conditions under analysis revealed differences among the respective regression equations, which can be explained by the well-established differences in stroke volume and ejection rate among these states. These differences appear to account for the fact that under conditions in which stroke volume variations should be the major determinant, slopes will be similar but intercepts will vary. Since substantial differences among intercepts are observed, caution should be exercised whenever the intercept factor is used to predict LVET for HR.

Lance, V. Q.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Noninvasive stress testing - Methodology for elimination of the phonocardiogram

Measurement by systolic time intervals (STI) of cardiac responses requires extremely careful recording during actual stress test performance. Previous work indicated no significant changes in the pulse transmission time (PTT) during exercise and other challenges. Since external STI depend on the carotid pulse offset by the PTT as an aortic curve equivalent, stable PTT implies that timing of the carotid upstroke and the carotid incisura would respectively track the pre-ejection period and the aortic incisura. In ten subjects, STIs were recorded at supine rest, sitting, standing, during prompt and sustained squatting and during isometric and dynamic exercise. The results demonstrated the tracking of both points. Coefficients of correlation and of determination were uniformly high for all challenges except isometric handgrip (IHG). Since left ventricular ejection time is obtained directly from the pulse curve, with the exception of IHG, STI responses during stress testing can be measured without a phonocardiogram.

Spodick, D. H.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Constant-load versus heart rate-targeted exercise - Responses of systolic intervals

Various systolic intervals were measured prior to and during heart rate-targeted bicycle ergometer exercise. There were striking similarities within each matched exercise set for Q-Im, isovolumetric contraction time, preejection period (PEP), and PEP/left ventricular ejection time (LVET). LVET was significantly shorter for rate-targeted exercise. It is concluded that either constant-load or rate-targeted bicycle ergometry may be used with the choice of method determined by the purpose of the protocol, and that systolic intervals (except LVET) should not be much altered owing to the method chosen.

Lance, V. Q.↗