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We conclude that in rat lung, acidosis causes an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance at normal and elevated tone conditions. Furthermore, the response is limited primarily to the small arteries, and is not mediated by nitric oxide. Alkalosis tends to cause the opposite effects. The effects of acidosis and alkalosis were abolished when vascular tone was elevated with a low dose of KCl, suggesting that vascular response to pH may involve changes in membrane potential.

Raynaud's phenomenon is characterized by episodes of arterial vasospasm precipitated by cold stress, usually affecting the digits of the hands. There is controversy about the occurrence of vasospasm in internal organ systems. In this report, we present a case of Raynaud's peripheral vasospasm accompanied by cerebral oxygen desaturation as detected by near infrared cerebral oximetry after separation from cardiopulmonary bypass.

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