Differential blood pressure and heart rate responses to supramedullary brain stimulation in cats

The purpose of this study was to compare the cardiovascular responses to electrical stimulation of different supramedullary brain regions. Arterial blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) effects were elicited by electrical stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus (LH), mamillary bodies (Mm), substantia nigra (SN), globus pallidus (GP), and the subthalamic nucleus (Sub) in conscious, freely moving cats. Pressor responses were obtained from all of these regions. The higher intensity of stimulation the higher increase in BP and HR was obtained. However, clear-cut differences occurred in the effects both during and after the termination of stimulations. Namely, a continuous increase in BP and HR was obtained from the LH and SN. In contrast, the initial increase in BP and HR was followed by a reduction compared to the peak value of the effects of stimulation in the GP and the Sub. However, the BP and HR never reduced to the pre-stimulaion level during the stimulation. Also the changes following the cessation of stimulation at the different brain loci were dissimilar. The BP and HR either returned gradually to the pre-stimulation level, or long-lasting oscillation occurred. The electrical activity of the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) and the vagus nerve co-varied with the changes in BP and HR. It is concluded that the supramedullary stimulations produce differential cardiovascular effects, and these effects are modified by the baroreflexes that are activated by the electrically elicited rise in blood pressure.     

Heart rate and blood pressure responses to isometric exercise in young and older men

The aim of this study was to examine the isometric endurance response and the heart rate and blood pressure responses to isometric exercise in two muscle groups in ten young (age 23–29 years) and seven older (age 54–59 years) physically active men with similar estimated forearm and thigh muscle masses. Isometric contractions were held until fatigue using the finger flexor muscles (handgrip) and with the quadriceps muscle (one-legged knee extension) at 20%, 40%, and 60% of the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Heart rate and arterial pressure were related to the the individual's contraction times. The isometric endurance response was longer with handgrip than with one-legged knee extension, but no significant difference was observed between the age groups. The isometric endurance response averaged 542 (SEM 57), 153 (SEM 14), and 59 (SEM 5) s for the handgrip, and 276 (SEM 35), 94 (SEM 10) and 48 (SEM 5) s for the knee extension at the three MVC levels, respectively. Heart rate and blood pressure became higher during one-legged knee extension than during handgrip, and with increasing level of contraction. The older subjects had a lower heart rate and a higher blood pressure response than their younger counterparts, and the differences were more apparent at a higher force level. The results would indicate that increasing age is associated with an altered heart rate and blood pressure response to isometric exercise although it does not affect isometric endurance. Accepted: 23 October 1997     

Hematologic, iron-related, and acute-phase protein responses to sustained strenuous exercise

This study was undertaken to gain insight into the mechanisms responsible for the hypoferremia occurring after severe exercise. To this end, 18 athletes who were competing in a 160-km triathlon involving canoeing, cycling, and running were evaluated before the race, immediately after the finish, and thereafter at 30 min, 24 h, and 48 h. The evaluation included plasma iron, total iron-binding capacity, lactoferrin, ferritin, haptoglobin, cortisol, various enzymes, and white cell count. The cortisol, white cell count, and lactoferrin were significantly increased immediately after the race, while the plasma iron and transferrin saturation were significantly decreased. There was a 40% but nonsignificant rise in the plasma ferritin at the completion of the race, while the C-reactive protein was raised by nearly 300% at 24 h. In contrast, haptoglobin declined significantly by 24 h but was normal again 24 h later. Quantitative considerations suggested that the lactoferrin was not responsible for removing transferrin iron from circulation and hence causing the hypoferremia. Instead, it seemed more likely that the iron-related changes were occurring as part of an acute phase response initiated by muscle injury.     

Infants with univentricular heart have reduced heart rate and blood pressure responses to side motion and altered responses to head-up tilt.

Cardiovascular control was studied in infants with univentricular heart (UVH). Side motion tests and 45-s 45 degrees head-up tilt tests were performed in 11 control and 9 UVH infants at the age of 13 +/- 3.2 wk. In addition, heart rate (HR) reactions to spontaneous arousals and HR variability during slow-wave sleep (SWS) were determined. All UVH infants had been hypoxic for several weeks, and during the sleep study the mean arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation was 82 +/- 5%. Tests were done at night during SWS, confirmed by polysomnographic recording. Continuous beat-to-beat blood pressure (BP) was measured. In the side-motion tests, control infants consistently showed a transient increase in HR and BP. This response was markedly reduced in all of the UVH infants (P < 0.0001). In tilt tests, the UVH infants showed normal BP responses, but, although a sustained 2.0% decrease in HR was observed in the controls, the UVH infants presented with a sustained 2.6% mean HR increase (P = 0.005). The UVH infants also showed attenuated HR acceleration during spontaneous arousals (P = 0.01), but HR variability did not differ significantly from the controls. In conclusion, UVH infants with chronic hypoxia exhibit defective vestibulosympathetic pathways, as expressed by an absence of acute HR and BP reactivity to side motion. HR reactions to postural challenge and spontaneous arousal are also altered. Autonomic function abnormalities in these infants are suggested to be secondary to hypoxia.     

Cerebral blood flow velocity response to induced and spontaneous sudden changes in arterial blood pressure

The influence of different types of maneuvers that can induce sudden changes of arterial blood pressure (ABP) on the cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) response was studied in 56 normal subjects (mean age 62 yr, range 23-80). ABP was recorded in the finger with a Finapres device, and bilateral recordings of CBFV were performed with Doppler ultrasound of the middle cerebral arteries. Recordings were performed at rest (baseline) and during the thigh cuff test, lower body negative pressure, cold pressor test, hand grip, and Valsalva maneuver. From baseline recordings, positive and negative spontaneous transients were also selected. Stability of PCO2 was monitored with transcutaneous measurements. Dynamic autoregulatory index (ARI), impulse, and step responses were obtained for 1-min segments of data for the eight conditions by fitting a mathematical model to the ABP-CBFV baseline and transient data (Aaslid's model) and by the Wiener-Laguerre moving-average method. Impulse responses were similar for the right- and left-side recordings, and their temporal pattern was not influenced by type of maneuver. Step responses showed a sudden rise at time 0 and then started to fall back to their original level, indicating an active autoregulation. ARI was also independent of the type of maneuver, giving an overall mean of 4.7 +/- 2.9 (n = 602 recordings). Amplitudes of the impulse and step responses, however, were significantly influenced by type of maneuver and were highly correlated with the resistance-area product before the sudden change in ABP (r = -0.93, P < 0.0004). These results suggest that amplitude of the CBFV step response is sensitive to the point of operation of the instantaneous ABP-CBFV relationship, which can be shifted by different maneuvers. Various degrees of sympathetic nervous system activation resulting from different ABP-stimulating maneuvers were not reflected by CBFV dynamic autoregulatory responses within the physiological range of ABP.     

着两种防护装备加压呼吸时的心血管反应

在 12 0 0 0ｍ以上飞行时 ,如座舱失密封 ,为防止缺氧必需采取吸纯氧加压呼吸 (ｐｏｓｉｔｉｖｅｐｒｅｓｓｕｒｅｂｒｅａｔｈｉｎｇ ,ＰＰＢ)。ＰＰＢ对机体产生一系列的不良影响 ,其中最主要的是对心血管的影响。ＰＰＢ同时使用防护装备 ,能够对抗ＰＰＢ的影响。这种防护装备按其结构分为囊式和管式两种 ,囊式装备在西方国家已应用多年。我国长期沿用前苏联的管式装备。随着高性能战斗机的发展 ,囊式装备在抗荷方面的优势已得到证实 ,代偿性能尚不明确。为此我们对我国新研囊式防护装备 (ＤＫＴ ｓｕｉｔ 1)样件 ,进行地面加压呼吸 ,以管…     

Heart rate and blood pressure biofeedback

The experimental literature on the use of biofeedback with heart rate and blood pressure, published since 1972, was reviewed and summarized along several dimensions: magnitude of change, effects of extended training, type of feedback, temporal feedback factors, motivational factors, instructional effects, individual differences, and the mediation/specificity issue. The research on biofeedback and heart rate was found to be fairly well developed. Research on biofeedback and blood pressure, however, was found to be much less advanced. Moreover, most of the studies were done with hypertensive subjects.     

高血压患者心电图左心室高电压和左心室肥厚与血压的关系

目的:探讨原发性高血压患者常规心电图检测左心室高电压和左心室肥厚与血压的关系.方法:回顾分析我科2009年1月～2009年12月门诊及住院就医的各期原发性高血压患者92例临床资料,并与同期76例健康体检者对比.结果:高血压组心电图对左心室肥厚的检出率为15.22%,明显高于对照组,有统计学差异(x2=19.07,P<0.01);高血压组心电图对左心室高电压的检出率为20.65%,明显高于对照组,有统计学差异(x2=4.23,P<0.05).高血压组左心室肥厚率随着病情的加重逐渐加重,各级之间相比差异有统计学意义(P<0.01).左心室高电压情况各级之间相比差异亦有统计学意义(P<0.01),但与病情无明显的相关性.结论:心电图监测左心室肥厚和左心室高电压,简便易行,高血压患者应定期复查心电图,发现异常,积极降压等治疗.     

Changes in blood pressure, heart rate and blood constituents during heat exposure in men with elevated blood pressure

Although the vascular volume response of hypertensive men during exercise has been rather well characterized, the effect of resting heat exposure in this patient population has not been examined. This was done in the present report in seven men with high blood pressure (BP) (i.e., diastolic pressure greater than 12 kPa (90 mmHg) upon initial interview) and 5 normotensive control subjects. 50 min after each subject had consumed an amount of water equal to 1% of his body weight, he reclined on a cot. 10 min later the subject was carried into an environmental chamber equilibrated at Tdb = 45 degrees C, Twb = 28 degrees C. Free-flowing venous blood samples were obtained from a cubital vein, and BP and heart rate were measured, before the heat exposure and at 15 min intervals during the experiment. Within 30 min systolic, diastolic and mean BP of the high BP subjects had decreased to normal levels; no BP changes were detected in normotensive subjects. Accompanying this depressor response was an exaggerated elevation in plasma glucose concentration. No alterations were found with haematocrit, plasma osmolality or electrolytes, or total protein and albumin. The data suggest that heat exposure may have been more stressful for the subjects with high BP than for their controls. This finding implies that phasic depressor responses may be as important as phasic pressor episodes in the aetiology of established essential hypertension.     

Indomethacin modulates circulating cytokine responses to strenuous exercise in humans

Physical stress is associated with circulating cytokinemia. However the mechanisms of cytokine regulation during such stress are not clearly defined. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including indomethacin, are widely used in countering the effects of excessive exercise, but their impact on circulating pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production in healthy humans also remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of five days of oral indomethacin treatment (75 mg per day) on the serum concentrations of IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, and TNF-alpha induced by exercising healthy volunteers. The results demonstrate that indomethacin does not alter resting serum cytokine concentrations. Increased circulating levels were noted, however, for all four cytokines with exercise, but with a different time-course. During and after strenuous physical exercise, indomethacin treatment blunted serum IL-6, and augmented TNF-alpha and IL-10. These findings may have important implications for both host defense and the injuries associated with excessively vigorous exercise.     

A multichannel telemetry system for autonomic neural signals, blood flow velocity, blood pressure, and ECG measurements]

A radio multichannel telemetry system has been developed for use with chronically instrumented, unrestrained, small animals. The system can simultaneously record autonomic neural signals, blood flow velocity, blood pressure, and ECG. The system is time-multiplexed and pulse width modulation (PWM)/FM device, which employs two sampling frequencies. The system is designed with 10 standard low power integrated circuits, a 3 terminal voltage regulator, and a transistor. The size is 53 x 42 x 20 mm, and the weight, including two batteries is 40 grams. The system is powered by two lithium cells, which provide 60 hours of continuous operation.     

Cardiovascular responses to lower body negative pressure in trained and untrained older men.

To determine whether aerobic conditioning alters the orthostatic responses of older subjects, cardiovascular performance was monitored during graded lower body negative pressure in nine highly trained male senior athletes (A) aged 59-73 yr [maximum O2 uptake (VO2 max) = 52.4 +/- 1.7 ml.kg-1 x min-1] and nine age-matched control subjects (C) (VO2 max = 31.0 +/- 2.9 ml.kg-1 x min-1). Cardiac volumes were determined from gated blood pool scintigrams by use of 99mTc-labeled erythrocytes. During lower body negative pressure (0 to -50 mmHg), left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volume indexes and stroke volume index decreased in both groups while heart rate increased. The decreases in cardiac volumes and mean arterial pressure and the increase in heart rate between 0 and -50 mmHg were significantly less in A than in C. For example, end-diastolic volume index decreased by 32 +/- 4 ml in C vs. 14 +/- 2 ml in A (P < 0.01), mean arterial pressure declined 7 +/- 5 mmHg in C and increased by 5 +/- 3 mmHg in A (P < 0.05), and heart rate increased 13 +/- 3 beats/min in C and 7 +/- 1 beats/min in A (P < 0.05). These data suggest that increased VO2 max among older men is associated with improved orthostatic responses.     

Propranolol and the respiratory, circulatory, and ECG responses to high altitude

The role of the sympatho-adrenal system in the acute respiratory and cardiovascular responses to high altitude was studies in 20 volunteers during ascent to 6,000 m in a low pressure chamber, once without (control) and once with beta-adrenergic blockade. Special attention was paid to the hypoxia-induced ECG changes. Propranolol lowered the level of hypoxia-induced cardiovascular reactions, whereas it had no effect on hypoxic hyperventilation and alveolar gases. At altitude, ECG changes during myocardial depolarization occurred in both the propranolol and the control groups, probably due to the direct effects of hypoxia. During the repolarization phase, propranolol led to an almost complete abolition of S-T depression and to significant reduction of T wave flattening. The minor but still significant flattening of the T wave as well as the relative (to the heart rate) lengthening of Q-T is probably due to the direct effects of hypoxia. Propranolol abolishes or diminishes the signs of cardiac hypoxia by antagonizing the effects of catecholamine release and/or by reducing myocardial oxygen consumption, thus probable increasing the ability to withstand oxygen-want at altitude.     

Blood pressure and heart rate responses to sudden change of posture during 20 days of simulated microgravity (-6 degrees head-down tilt)

The cardiovascular function buffering the disturbance of blood pressure caused by postural changes may be deconditioned after exposure to microgravity (microG). However, total picture of the deconditioning including its longitudinal process is still unknown. The aim of this study was to determine time-dependent changes in the feedback regulation system of blood pressure as exposed to simulated microG (-6 degrees head-down tilt (HDT)) for 20 days.     

Simultaneous acquisition of ECG, BCG, and blood pressure from chick embryos in the egg

The applicability of the audiocartridge system to simultaneous measurements of the ballistic movements from multiple points of the egg was examined in late chick embryos. Despite direct contact between the cartridges and the egg, minute movements of the egg attributable to cardiac contractions of the embryo (ballistocardiogram, BCG) could be simultaneously detected from at least three points. The results showed that the amplitude of BCG waves was dependent on the site of detection, indicating that the BCG was a directional wave. The cartridge system for BCG measurement was incorporated in the electrocardiography and arterial catheterization to acquire simultaneously electrocardiogram (ECG), BCG, and blood pressure from the embryo confined in the egg. Isochronal comparison of these waves indicated that the ballistic movements of the embryo might be caused not only by the ventricular contraction but also by the atrial excitation, i.e., the BCG comprised waves appearing in the ventricular presystolic, contraction, and ejection periods. For wide changes in the heart rate, the approximate isometric ventricular contraction period remained almost constant.