Cardiovascular and applied physiology

1. Cardiovascular dynamics: Study of mechanical properties of the isolated and beating (open chest preparation) guinea pig left ventricle concerns the developement of measuring methods: for studying epicardial strains (video image analysis in time domain using optical markers positioned on the epicardial wall), study of mechanism of slow relaxation of the left ventricle and influence of coronary microcirculation with our own mathematical models (porous fluid fiber collagen model of the left ventricle). 2. Studies in the field of microcirculation in physiological (influence of physical exertion and local cooling on laser Doppler flow and reactivity of cutaneous microcirculation) and pathological conditions (developement of hypertension, development of cold hypersensitivity in the replanted fingers). They are devoted to elucidate mechanism of primary and secondary microvascular changes accompanying important vascular pathology, and those to elucidate one of the most important population pathology. 3. Noninvasive measurement of small artery compliance, particularly its dependence on transmural pressure in the broader range of arterial pressures concerns the development of measuring methods and study of physiological and pathophysiological factors that affect reactivity of elastic and muscular component of the arterial compliance. 4. Cardiac electrophysiology concerns measurement of variability of PQ and QT intervals and study in normal and pathological conditions including coronary heart disease, age differences and postmenopausal effects in women. It is based on development of own measuring methods and mathematical models for understanding measuring data. 5. Baromedicine concerns hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) and development of methods, particularly those connected with microcirculatory studies for prognosis and evaluation of HBO therapy. 6. Aviation medicine is connected with education of medical doctors, licenced as aeromedical examiners according to European Joint Aviation Authority criteria.