Characteristics of autonomic nervous function in Zucker-fatty rats: investigation by power spectral analysis of heart rate variability.

We investigated the characteristics of autonomic nervous function in Zucker-fatty and Zucker-lean rats. For this purpose, a long-term electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded from conscious and unrestrained rats using a telemetry system, and the autonomic nervous function was investigated by power spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). Although heart rate (HR) in Zucker-fatty rats was lower than that in Zucker-lean rats throughout 24 h, apparent diurnal variation in HR was observed in both strains and HR during the dark period was significantly higher than that in light period. Diurnal variation in locomotor activity (LA) in Zucker-fatty rats was also observed, but LA was lower than that in Zucker lean rats, especially during the dark period. There were no significant differences, however, in high-frequency (HF) power, low-frequency (LF) power, and the LF/HF ratio between Zucker-fatty and Zucker-lean rats. The circadian rhythm of these parameters was mostly preserved in both strains of rats. Moreover, the effect of autonomic blockades on HRV was nearly the same in Zucker-fatty and Zucker-lean rats. These results suggest that the autonomic nervous function of insulin-resistant Zucker-fatty rats remain normal, from the aspect of power spectral analysis of HRV.     

Effects of supine floating on heart rate,blood pressure and cardiac autonomic nervous system activity

It is known that heart rate, oxygen uptake and body temperature during exercise in water are affected by water temperature, buoyancy and so on. Relaxation in water (supine floating) has been performed in hydrotherapy and aqua exercise. But there were few reports about supine floating (Schulz and Kaspar 1994). The purpose of this study was to make clear the effects of supine floating on heart rate, blood pressure and cardiac autonomic nervous system activity in males.     

Power spectral analysis of heart rate variability for assessment of diurnal variation of autonomic nervous activity in miniature swine.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSES: The purpose of the study was to document diurnal variation of autonomic nervous functions by use of power spectral analysis of heart rate (HR) variability. METHODS: To clarify characteristics of power spectral analysis of HR variability, electrocardiogram (ECG), blood pressure (BP), and respiratory (Resp) waveform simultaneously were recorded. RESULTS: Two major spectral components were examined at low (LF)- and high (HF)-frequency bands for HR variability. Coherence between HR and Resp variabilities and HR and BP variabilities was maximal at approximately 0.14 and 0.03 Hz, respectively. On the basis of these data, two frequency bands of interest--LF (0.01 to 0.07 Hz) and HF (0.07 to 1.0 Hz)--were defined. Autonomic blockade studies indicated that the parasympathetic system mediated the HF and LF components, whereas the sympathetic system mediated only the LF component; HR had a diurnal pattern. The LF and HF bands in the dark phase tended to be higher than those in the light phase. The LF-to-HF ratio had a diurnal pattern similar to that of the HR. CONCLUSION: Parasympathetic nervous activity in miniature swine may be predominant in the dark phase. The characteristics of power spectra and diurnal variations of autonomic nervous functions are almost the same as those of humans. Therefore, miniature swine may be a useful animal model for future biobehavioral and pharmacotoxicologic studies.     

Power spectral analysis of heart rate variability for assessment of diurnal variation of autonomic nervous activity in guinea pigs.

We established characteristics of power spectral analysis of heart rate variability, and assessed the diurnal variations of autonomic nervous function in guinea pigs. For this purpose, an electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded for 24 hr from conscious and unrestrained guinea pigs using a telemetry system. There were two major spectral components, at low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) bands, in the power spectrum of HR variability. On the basis of these data, we defined two frequency bands of interest: LF (0.07-0.7 Hz) and HF (0.7-3.0 Hz). The power of LF was higher than that of HF in the normal guinea pigs. Atropine significantly reduced power at HF. Propranolol also significantly reduced power at LF. Furthermore, the decrease in the parasympathetic mechanism produced by atropine was reflected in a slight increase in the LF/HF ratio. The LF/HF ratio appeared to follow the reductions of sympathetic activity produced by propranolol. Autonomic blockade studies indicated that the HF component reflected parasympathetic activity and the LF/HF ratio seemed to be a convenient index of autonomic balance. Nocturnal patterns, in which the values of heart rate in the dark phase (20:00-06:00) were higher than those in the light phase (06:00-20:00), were observed. However, the HF, LF and the LF/HF ratio showed no daily pattern. These results suggest that the autonomic nervous function in guinea pigs has no clear circadian rhythmicity. Therefore, this information may be useful for future studies concerning the autonomic nervous function in this species.     

Role of autonomic nervous system on heart rate in experimental hypertension

Heart rate and the role of the autonomic nervous system in hypertensive conscious rats by subtotal nephrectomy were studied. Heart rate is significantly higher in the hypertensive rats. Sympathetic blockade with an intravenous injection of propranolol produces a higher decrease in heart rate of hypertensive rats than in control rats. Intravenous injection of atropine produces an increase in heart rate in both groups of animals. It is significantly higher in the control rats than in hypertensive animals. When the autonomic nervous system is blocked with atropine and propranolol, intrinsic heart rate is similar in both groups of animals. Similar results are obtained after blocking ganglionic transmission with hexamethonium. No significative differences are observed in heart rate after intracerebroventricular injection of hemicholinium-3 between both groups of rats. Results show an increased cardiac sympathetic tone, reduced parasympathetic activities, no alterations in the pacemaker activity and implications of central acetylcholine. These alterations in the autonomic nervous system have an important role in the maintenance of elevated heart rate in this experimental model of arterial hypertension.     

Osteopathic manipulative treatment and its relationship to autonomic nervous system activity as demonstrated by heart rate variability: a repeated measures study

Background

Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) and ultrasound physical therapy (UPT) are commonly used for chronic low back pain. Although there is evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis that OMT generally reduces low back pain, there are no large clinical trials that specifically assess OMT efficacy in chronic low back pain. Similarly, there is a lack of evidence involving UPT for chronic low back pain.

Methods

The OSTEOPAThic Health outcomes In Chronic low back pain (OSTEOPATHIC) Trial is a Phase III randomized controlled trial that seeks to study 488 subjects between August 2006 and June 2010. It uses a 2 × 2 factorial design to independently assess the efficacy of OMT and UPT for chronic low back pain. The primary outcome is a visual analogue scale score for pain. Secondary outcomes include back-specific functioning, generic health, work disability, and satisfaction with back care.

Conclusion

This randomized controlled trial will potentially be the largest involving OMT. It will provide long awaited data on the efficacy of OMT and UPT for chronic low back pain.

Trial registration

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00315120     

Autonomic control of heart rate during exercise studied by heart rate variability spectral analysis.

Spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) might provide an index of relative sympathetic (SNS) and parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity during exercise. Eight subjects completed six 17-min submaximal exercise tests and one resting measurement in the upright sitting position. During submaximal tests, work rate (WR) was increased for the initial 3 min in a ramp fashion until it reached constant WRs of 20 W, or 30, 60, 90, 100, and 110% of the predetermined ventilatory threshold (Tvent). Ventilatory profile and alveolar gas exchange were monitored breath by breath, and beat-to-beat HRV was measured as R-R intervals of an electrocardiogram. Spectral analysis was applied to the HRV from 7 to 17 min. Low-frequency (0-0.15 Hz) and high-frequency (0.15-1.0 Hz) areas under power spectra (LO and HI, respectively) were calculated. The indicator of PNS activity (HI) decreased dramatically (P less than 0.05) when the subjects exercised compared with rest and continued to decrease until the intensity reached 60% Tvent. The indicator of SNS activity (LO/HI) remained unchanged up to 100% Tvent, whereas it increased abruptly (P less than 0.05) at 110% Tvent. The results suggested that (cardiac) PNS activity decreased progressively from rest to a WR equivalent to 60% Tvent, and SNS activity increased only when exercise intensity exceeded Tvent.     

糖尿病植物神经病变病人心率变异的非线性定量分析

目的：研究糖尿病人植物神经病变与心率变异的关系。对象：正常对照组和根据临床有无糖尿病神经病变（ＤＡＮ）分组的糖尿病病人,方法：应用２４小时动态心电图对正常和糖尿病人进行心率变异的线性,非线性散点图和非线性定量参数分析,结果：单纯糖尿病组ＳＤＮＮ,ＳＤＡＮＮ和ＰＮＮ５０低于正常组（Ｐ〈０．０５）;糖尿病＋ＤＡＮ组各项线性时域分析指标均低于正常和单纯糖尿病组（Ｐ〈０．０１－０．００１）,散点图分析结果     

Spectral analysis and interpretation of spectral components of heart rate variability

Requirements for a fragment of a random process taken for spectral analysis are formulated. It has been demonstrated that both the random process and its periodic components should be stationary within the fragment selected. Only in this case will the results of spectral analysis reflect the actual characteristics of the process studied. Variations in the depth of breathing and other factors have been shown to cause modulatory fluctuations of the HF and LF waves of the cardiac rhythm. The modulatory fluctuations are expressed as the VLF peak in the heart rate variability spectrum, the position of the peak on the frequency axis and its amplitude being determined by the frequency and depth of modulation, respectively. Depending on the modulation depth and the ratio between the modulation period and the length of the sample studied, spectral analysis of the same process may yield considerably different results. The ambiguity of the results of spectral analysis is the cause of discrepancy about the nature of individual spectral components of heart rate variability.     

迷走神经和交感神经系统不同活动状态对心率变异性的影响

实验在氯醛糖加氨基甲酸乙酯麻醉的新西兰兔上进行。记录血压、心率、心电图并对心电Ｒ－Ｒ间期（ＲＲＩ）作功率谱密度（ＰＳＤ）分析。以单调性电刺激和低频率的波动性电刺激分别刺激减压神经、疑核和右侧迷走神经外周端,观察到低频率的波动性刺激对增加ＰＳＤ中低频成分（ＬＦ）的作用比单调性电刺激更大（Ｐ〈０．０５）。注射新福林仅在头一个２５６个心动周期时间内引起总变异性（ＴＶ）、ＬＦ、ＰＳＤ中高频成分（ＨＦ）。Ｌ     

An estimate of fetal autonomic state by time-frequency analysis of fetal heart rate variability.

In this study we present a noninvasive method that enables the investigation of the fetal heart rate (FHR) fluctuations. The objective was to design a quantitative measurement to assess the fetal autonomic nervous system and to investigate its development as a function of the gestational age. Our Medical Physics group has developed a complex algorithm for online beat-to-beat detection of the fetal ECG (FECG), extracted from the maternal abdominal ECG signal. We used our previously acquired FECG data, which includes noninvasive recordings of 200 maternal abdominal ECG signals. From these, we chose 35 cases of healthy pregnancies that we divided into three groups according to gestational age: Group 1, 23 +/- 2 wk; Group 2, 32 +/- 1 wk; and Group 3, 39 +/- 1 wk. The FHR variability was analyzed by a time-frequency decomposition based on a continuous wavelet transform. We showed that, independent of the gestational age, most of the FHR power is concentrated in the very-low-frequency range (0.02-0.08 Hz) and in the low-frequency range (0.08-0.2 Hz). In addition, there is power in the high-frequency range that correlates with the frequency range of fetal respiratory motion (0.4-1.7 Hz). In the intermediate-frequency range (0.2-0.4 Hz), the power is significantly smaller. The changes in the average power spectrum in relation to gestation time were carefully and quantitatively examined. The results imply that there is a neural organization during the last trimester of the pregnancy, and the sympathovagal balance is reduced with the gestational age.     

Identification of development and autonomic nerve activity from heart rate variability in preterm infants

Heartbeat intervals, which are determined basically by regular excitations of the sinoatrial node, show significant fluctuation referred to as the heart rate variability (HRV). The HRV is mostly due to nerve activities through the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). In recent years, it has been recognized that the HRV shows a greater complexity than ever expected, suggesting that it includes much information about ANS activities. In this study, we investigated relationship between HRV and development in preterm infants. To this end, heartbeat intervals were continuously recorded from 11 preterm infants in NICU. The recording periods were ranging from several days to weeks depending on the individuals. The HRV at various ages was then characterized by several indices. They include power spectrum as well as the mean and standard deviation of the series. For the power spectrum, the low-frequency band power (LF), high-frequency band power (HF), LF/HF (the ratio between LF and HF), beta (scaling exponent of the spectrum) were estimated. The detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) was also employed to obtain short- and long-range scaling exponents. Each of these indices showed a correlation with the age. We showed that the long-range scaling exponent, derived from the DFA, was most significantly correlated with the age, suggesting that it could be a robust index to characterize the development of preterm infants.     

Assessment of cardiac autonomic modulation during graded head-up tilt by symbolic analysis of heart rate variability

Two symbolic indexes, the percentage of sequences characterized by three heart periods with no significant variations (0V%) and that with two significant unlike variations (2UV%), have been found to reflect changes in sympathetic and vagal modulations, respectively. We tested the hypothesis that symbolic indexes may track the gradual shift of the cardiac autonomic modulation during an incremental head-up tilt test. Symbolic analysis was carried out over heart period variability series (250 cardiac beats) derived from ECG recordings during a graded head-up tilt test (0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 degrees ) in 17 healthy subjects. The percentage of subjects showing a significant linear correlation (Spearman rank-order correlation) with tilt angles was utilized to evaluate the performance of symbolic analysis. Spectral analysis was carried out for comparison over the same series. 0V% progressively increased with tilt angles, whereas 2UV% gradually decreased. The decline of 2UV% was greater than the increase of 0V% at low tilt angles. Linear correlation with tilt angles was exhibited in a greater percentage of subjects for 0V% and 2UV% than for any spectral index. Our findings suggest that symbolic analysis performed better than spectral analysis and, thus, is a suitable methodology for assessment of the subtle changes of cardiac autonomic modulation induced by a graded head-up tilt test. Moreover, symbolic analysis indicates that the changes of cardiac sympathetic and vagal modulations observed during this protocol were reciprocal but characterized by different absolute magnitudes.     

心率变异性评估运输应激对Beagle犬自主神经功能的影响

目的 基于心率变异性(heart rate variability,HRV)分析评估运输应激对Beagle犬自主神经功能的影响,并界定其恢复期.方法 16只Beagle犬随机分成两组(每组8只),即对照组和运输应激组,利用大动物无创生理信号遥测技术,分别监测清醒自由活动状态下对照组和运输应激组应激4 h后、恢复1、2、...     

Strain-specific patterns of autonomic nervous system activity and heart failure susceptibility in mice

Transgenic mice are widely used to study cardiac function, but strain-dependent differences in autonomic nervous system activity (ANSA) have not been explored. We compared 1) short-term pharmacological responses of cardiac rhythm in FVB vs. C57Black6/SV129 wild-type mice and 2) long-term physiological dynamics of cardiac rhythm and survival in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha transgenic mice with heart failure (TNF-alpha mice) on defined backgrounds. Ambulatory telemetry electrocardiographic recordings and response to saline, adrenergic, and cholinergic agents were examined in FVB and C57Black6/SV129 mice. In FVB mice, baseline heart rate (HR) was higher and did not change after injection of isoproterenol or atropine but decreased with propranolol. In C57Black6/SV129 mice, HR did not change with propranolol but increased with isoproterenol or atropine. Mean HR, but not indexes of HR variability, was an excellent predictor of response to autonomic agents. The proportion of surviving animals was higher in TNF-alpha mice on an FVB background than on a mixed FVB/C57Black6 background. The homeostatic states of ANSA are strain specific, which can explain the interstrain differences in mean HR, pharmacological responses, and survival of animals with congestive heart failure. Strain-specific differences should be considered in selecting the strains of mice used for transgenic and gene targeting experiments.     

Effects of olfactory stimuli on students with different tones of the autonomic nervous system

The effect of olfactory stimuli was determined on students (men and women) with different tones of the autonomic nervous system under moderate psychoemotional stress conditions (before an academic test). It was found that the direction of changes in the heart rate variability values of students after olfactory stimulation is determined by the initial tone of the autonomic nervous system. The conclusion was made that olfactory stimuli may be used for correcting psychoemotional stress in students more efficiently if the tone of the autonomic nervous system is taken into consideration.