Autonomic Nervous System Parameters Research Articles

Effects of Acupuncture on Autonomic Nervous System Parameters and Salivary Cortisol Level Among Mental Stress University Students: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Stress is a common and often unavoidable aspect of daily life that can negatively impact the autonomic nervous system, which controls the functions of internal organs and glands. Chronic stress has been associated with an imbalance in autonomic nervous system function, leading to a range of health conditions. Acupuncture is a medical treatment modality that has been applied to health care in different dimensions including physical, mental, and spiritual. This study aimed to investigate the effect of acupuncture on blood pressure, heart rate, and salivary cortisol level in mild stress university students, a population particularly vulnerable to stress. Twenty-eight university students were recruited and divided into two groups, a real acupuncture group and a sham acupuncture group. Heart rate, blood pressure, and salivary cortisol level were evaluated before and after a 30-minute acupuncture session on the ST36 acupoint. The results showed that the real acupuncture group had a significant decrease in blood pressure and heart rate, whereas the sham acupuncture group showed no change. Both groups had a slightly decrease in salivary cortisol level with no statistically significant. There was a statistically significant difference in the decrease of systolic blood pressure and heart rate after acupuncture between the two groups, but there was no significant difference between the groups in salivary cortisol level after acupuncture. The findings suggest that the acupuncture can be a valuable treatment for restoring balance to the symptoms of the autonomic nervous system in university students experiencing stress. A larger sample size, a non-intervention control, as well as different sources and times of cortisol collection, could contribute to the validation of the findings in this study.

Immediate effect of physical activity on the autonomic nervous system in individuals with autism spectrum disorders of different age groups: a randomised trial

BackgroundAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one of the most complex neurodevelopmental disorders. It affects almost all human physiological systems. Individuals with ASD often display dysregulation in their autonomic nervous system...

Cardiac remodeling in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction and metabolic disorders: association with biomarkers and autonomic nervous system parameters

Aim. The high prevalence of obesity in a cohort of patients with heart failure and mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) determines the relevance of clarifying the role of biomarkers and autonomic imbalance in myocardial remodeling, taking into account metabolic risk factors.Material and methods. We examined 19 men with postinfarction cardiosclerosis and class II HFmrEF (median age 62 years), overweight/class I-II obesity, type 2 diabetes in 53/47%, 48% of cases, respectively, who received therapy. The biomarker panel included N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), galectin-3, pro-collagen I C-terminal propeptide (PICP), N-terminal propeptide of procollagen type III (PIIINP), C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of matrix proteinase-1 (TIMP-1), leptin and adiponectin. Heart rate variability (HRV) and turbulence were obtained using 24-hour Holter monitoring. We assessed the time and frequency domains of HRV (24 h) and 5 min recordings of wakefulness at rest, calculated TO (turbulence onset) and TS (turbulence slope).Results. Significant positive associations of leptin and TIMP-1 levels with left ventricular hypertrophy markers were confirmed. Positive correlations of peak e' with following HRV indicators were revealed: SDNN (r=0,68; p=0,02) and RMSSD (r=0,69; p=0,003). Lower TS values were associated with higher index parameters of left ventricular mass (p<0,05 for all). Associations of biomarkers with autonomic nervous system (ANS) were observed: MMP-9 with RMSSD (r=0,54) and pNN50 (r=0,51); TIMP-1 with TO (r=0,46); PICP/PIIINP ratio with HFn (5 min) (r=-0,49); NT-proBNP/adiponectin ratio with SDNN (r=-0,49); leptin level with TS (r=-0,54) (p<0,05 for all).Conclusion. In patients with HFmrEF of ischemic origin and additional metabolic risks, serum biomarkers of fibrosis, adipokines, and ANS parameters are associated mainly with markers of increased left ventricular filling pressure. The study results predetermine the further search for potential risk-stratification markers of unfavorable myocardial remodeling and prognosis in large samples of patients with metabolic deviations and HF with EF >40% against the background of modern drug therapy.

(072) Effect of Diafragmatic Breathing Exercises on Individual with Premature Ejaculation

Abstract Introduction Premature ejaculation (PE) is defined as an intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) of less than 60 seconds and the most common sexual dysfunction among men. There is no published study researching the effect of diafragmatic breathing exercises (DBE) on PE and also no optimal training protocol has been identified. Objective Investigate the effect of DBE on PE and to create a new treatment protocol. Methods Sixty two men with PE aged between 20–45 years were included in the study and randomly divided into Group I or Group II (n=1:1). Both groups underwent the treatment protocol includes behavioral therapy (BT) and pelvic floor rehabilitation (PFR) in 4 steps: 1) awareness of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM), 2) PFM specific contraction, 3) using the BT for learning the timing of pre-orgasmic sensation and maintenance of PFM contraction during sensation of the pre-orgasm, 4) PFM strengthening exercises. PFM strengthening exercises were given 3 days/week, 2 times/day for 8 weeks. Group I also underwent DBE that were given as 3 s inspiration-7 s expiration, at least 10 times/session for each day, 2 sessions/day, for 8 weeks. For awareness and specific contraction of PFM, patient was asked to contract his PFM with the cue to stop to urine while performing a digital rectal examination in supine. In order to learn the timing of pre-orgasmic sensation, masturbation exercises were given to the patient with start-stop tecnique. During the cycle of the pre-orgasmic sensation contraction of PFM was requested. After 4 or 5 cycles the patient can let himself reach ejaculation. Result of this training discussed with the patient once a month by phone-call. PFM strengthening exercises comprised sustained for slow (10 s submax. contraction-10 s relaxation x15 times) and fast twitch muscle fibers (1 s contraction-10 s relaxation x10 times). Outcome measurements were made by a blinded assessor at pre-treatment and at the end of the 8 week (post-treatment). Stop watch was used to calculate IELT, Ultrasound was used to measure PFM strength (US-S) and PFM endurance (US-E) and Elite-HRV device was used to measure autonomic nervous system parameters (Root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), proportion of NN50 (PNN50), Low frequency power (LF-Power), High frequency power (HF-power), Low frequency/high frequency ratio (LF/HF-ratio)). Results Twenty nine (mean age=31.4±6.5) in Group I and 30 (mean age=31.3±7.6) in Group II (total 59) completed the study. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of demographic characteristics and pre-treatment IELT. Both groups showed significant improvement in all measurement parameters (all p<0.001), except LF/HF at post-treatment. When the differences between pre-treatment and posttreatment were compared, IELT (p=0.016), RMSDD (p<0.001), PNN50 (p=0.001), LF Power (p=0.001), HF Power (p=0.006), US-S (p<0.001), US-E (p<0.001) were significant in favor of Group I. Conclusions BT and PFR combined protocol, showed increase in IELT, PFM strentgh and endurance and improvements at autonomic nervous system parameters. Adding DBE to this protocol showed better improvements in all parameters. Disclosure No.

Stress‐related fluctuations in personality functioning in daily life: Pilot data from an ambulatory monitoring study in outpatients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder

AbstractThis pilot study aimed to test a comprehensive experience sampling method (ESM) protocol for investigating the relationship between stress and personality functioning (PF) in the daily lives of outpatients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Participants (N = 22) responded to a 32‐item ESM questionnaire 10 times a day for 1 week while wearing two stress detection devices. Results showed that the protocol was feasible. There was a high level of compliance (i.e. average of 85%), and no serious adverse events. The main indices, that is, Stress and PF, demonstrated acceptable to excellent internal consistency and provisional evidence for their validity. We found that 64% of the variability in PF was due to within‐subject differences. Mixed modelling showed that the momentary changes in stress (p < .001) and body position (i.e. active vs passive; p < .001) explained an estimated 46% of this within‐subject variance. We found no significant within‐subject effects when we used parameters of autonomic nervous system (ANS)–activity as predictors. Data loss during recording and artefact detection of electrophysiological data were substantial but not related to momentary changes in PF. The preliminary findings suggest that PF is a volatile aspect of personality pathology and that there is a strong, concurrent relationship between stress and PF in daily life. This pilot study constitutes the first demonstration of PF fluctuations within a clinical sample and initiates an examination of their association with ANS activity.

Impact of CPAP Therapy on the Autonomic Nervous System.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) with increasing prevalence. An important mechanism of CVD development is a dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). This prospective and controlled cohort study aimed to investigate ANS function in OSA including the response to long-term continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy by analyzing 24 h Holter electrocardiogram and 24 h Holter ambulatory blood pressure recording parameters. The study enrolled 57 patients who were newly diagnosed with severe OSA. After 6 months of CPAP therapy, 37 patients had a good therapy adherence (usage of CPAP device >4 h per night), and their data were analyzed. The difference in nocturnal diastolic blood pressure values before and after CPAP therapy reached statistical significance (76 (68-84) vs. 74 (63-80) mmHg, p = 0.0439). Lower nocturnal values after CPAP therapy of SDNN (101.5 vs. 95 ms, p = 0.0492) and RMSSD (29.5 vs. 26 ms, p = 0.0193) were found. An increase in diurnal spectral power (1742 vs. 2112 ms2, p = 0.0282) and a decrease in nocturnal spectral power (3256 vs. 2124 ms2, p = 0.0097), nocturnal VLF band (2493 vs. 1485.4 ms2, p = 0.0176), nocturnal LF band (638.7 vs. 473 ms2, p = 0.0097), and nocturnal HF band (234.9 vs. 135.7 ms2, p = 0.0319) was found. The results showed an imbalance of the ANS with a sympathetic predominance, especially during the night hours and in those with arterial hypertension. The impact of CPAP therapy on the improvement in ANS parameters was more pronounced at night, in men, and those with arterial hypertension.

Machine learning using multimodal and autonomic nervous system parameters predicts clinically apparent stroke-associated pneumonia in a development and testing study.

Stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) is a preventable determinant for poor outcome after stroke. Machine learning (ML) using large-scale clinical data warehouses may be able to predict SAP and identify patients for targeted interventions. The aim of this study was to develop a prediction model for identifying clinically apparent SAP using automated ML. The ML model used clinical and laboratory parameters along with heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and blood pressure (BP) values obtained during the first 48h after stroke unit admission. A logistic regression classifier was developed and internally validated with a nested-cross-validation (nCV) approach. For every shuffle, the model was first trained and validated with a fixed threshold for 0.9 sensitivity, then finally tested on the out-of-sample data and benchmarked against a widely validated clinical score (A2DS2). We identified 2390 eligible patients admitted to two-stroke units at Charité between October 2020 and June 2023, of whom 1755 had all parameters available. SAP was diagnosed in 96/1755 (5.5%). Circadian profiles in HR, HRV, and BP metrics during the first 48h after admission exhibited distinct differences between patients with SAP diagnosis vs. those without. CRP, mRS at admission, leukocyte count, high-frequency power in HRV, stroke severity at admission, sex, and diastolic BP were identified as the most informative ML features. We obtained an AUC of 0.91 (CI 0.88-0.95) for the ML model on the out-of-sample data in comparison to an AUC of 0.84 (CI 0.76-0.91) for the previously established A2DS2 score (p < 0.001). The ML model provided a sensitivity of 0.87 (CI 0.75-0.97) with a corresponding specificity of 0.82 (CI 0.78-0.85) which outperformed the A2DS2 score for multiple cutoffs. Automated, data warehouse-based prediction of clinically apparent SAP in the stroke unit setting is feasible, benefits from the inclusion of vital signs, and could be useful for identifying high-risk patients or prophylactic pneumonia management in clinical routine.

The effectiveness of the physical therapy program for patients with metabolic syndrome based on the study of the dynamics of the functional state of the autonomic nervous system and hemodynamic parameters

Purpose: determination of the influence of the physical therapy program on the dynamics of blood pressure, heart rate and vegetative Kerdo index in patients with metabolic syndrome. Material &amp; Methods: the study was conducted on the basis of the Municipal institution of health care "Kharkiv City Hospital No. 3". 28 young women were under observation, randomly divided into two groups: the main group (MG) – 14 patients and the control group (CG) – 14 patients. The mean age of patients in the MG was 31,49±0,71 years, in the CG – 31,06±0,57 years. The patients of the main group underwent rehabilitation measures according to the author's program of physical therapy, which included a hypocaloric diet with a lipid-lowering orientation (lipid-lowering diet No. 1), the basic principles of which are developed by the American Heart Association, therapeutic massage for patients with alimentary-constitutional obesity; kinesitherapy using elements of sports-oriented aerobics and special physical exercises based on Pilates gymnastics using fitballs and expanders; dosed walking in combination with breathing exercises, taking into account the activity of the autonomic nervous system, for patients in the control group – according to the program used for metabolic syndrome in the indicated medical institution. To identify the effectiveness of the author's program, a comparison was made of heart rate, arterial tonometry, vegetative Kerdo index (V.I.) at the beginning and end of the study. Results: in the determination and analysis of blood pressure, heart rate and vegetative Kerdo index during the second study, we noted the normalization of heart rate, SBP, DBP in women of the main group (р&gt;0,05), in the control group, the dynamics of DBP was statistically insignificant (р&gt;0,05). In women of the main group, the heart rate during the second examination compared with the primary one decreased by 19,8%, the SBP level decreased by 9,1%, the DBP level decreased by 11,0%. In CG patients, the heart rate during the second study decreased by 8.8% compared to the primary one, the SBP level decreased by 5,2%, the DBP level decreased by 3,9% (р&gt;0,05). Conclusions: comparison of the obtained results of the study showed the normalization of hemodynamic parameters and the tone of the autonomic nervous system, there was also a tendency towards balance of the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the ANS in patients of the main group, in the physical rehabilitation of which therapeutic exercises were applied with the use of regulated breathing exercises, taking into account the tone of the sympathetic or parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system, which helps to improve the quality of life of patients with metabolic syndrome.

Baroreflex sensitivity but not microvolt T-wave alternans can predict major adverse cardiac events in ischemic heart failure.

Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) constitutes the main cause of morbidity and mortality in ischemic heart failure (HF) patients. The prognostic value of the autonomic nervous system parameters and microvolt T-wave alternans (MTWA) in this issue has not been identified to date. The aim herein, was to assess the usefulness of the abovementioned parameters in the prediction of MACE in HF patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction of ischemic origin. Baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), heart rate variability (HRV), MTWA and other well-known clinical parameters were analyzed in 188 ischemic HF outpatients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 50%. During 34 (14-71) months of follow-up, 56 (30%) endpoints were noted. Univariate Cox analyses revealed BRS (but not HRV), MTWA, age, New York Heart Association functional class III, LVEF, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator presence, use of diuretics and antiarrhythmic drugs, diabetes, and kidney insufficiency were defined as significant predictors of MACE. Pre-specified cut-off values for MACE occurrence for the aforementioned continuous parameters (age, LVEF, and BRS) were: ≥ 72 years, ≤ 33%, and ≤ 3 ms/mmHg, respectively. In a multivariate Cox analysis only BRS (HR 2.97, 95% CI 1.35-6.36, p < 0.006), and LVEF (HR 1.98, 95% CI 0.61-4.52, p < 0.038) maintained statistical significance in the prediction of MACE. Baroreflex sensitivity and LVEF are independent of other well-known clinical parameters in the prediction of MACE in patients with HF of ischemic origin and LVEF up to 50%. BRS ≤ 3 ms/mmHg and LVEF ≤ 33% identified individuals with the highest probability of MACE during the follow-up period.

Atypical Response to Affective Touch in Children with Autism: Multi-Parametric Exploration of the Autonomic System.

This study aimed at evaluating the autonomic response to pleasant affective touch in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and age-matched typically developing (TD) peers, thanks to multiple autonomic nervous system (ANS) parameters and by contrasting CT (C-tactile fibers) high- vs. low-density territory stimulations. We measured pupil diameter, skin conductance, and heart rate during gentle stroking of two skin territories (CT high- and low-density, respectively, forearm and palm of the hand) in thirty 6-12-year-old TD children and twenty ASD children. TD children showed an increase in pupil diameter and skin conductance associated with a heart rate deceleration in response to tactile stimulations at the two locations. Only the pupil was influenced by the stimulated location, with a later dilation peak following CT low-density territory stimulation. Globally, ASD children exhibited reduced autonomic responses, as well as different ANS baseline values compared to TD children. These atypical ANS responses to pleasant touch in ASD children were not specific to CT-fiber stimulation. Overall, these results point towards both basal autonomic dysregulation and lower tactile autonomic evoked responses in ASD, possibly reflecting lower arousal and related to social disengagement.

STATE OF REGULATORY MECHANISMS AND VASCULAR PARAMETERS OF FIRST YEAR STUDENTS OF NORTHERN UNIVERSITY WITH DIFFERENT LEVEL OF ADAPTATION RESERVES

The study of the autonomic nervous system parameters and assessment of the adaptive reserves of the students’ organism allows to determine the key markers of changes in the functioning of the cardiovascular system at the prenosological level.&#x0D; Objective. To estimate regulatory mechanisms and state of vascular system of 1st year students depending on the level of adaptive reserves.&#x0D; Materials and methods. The total number of 245 freshmen of Surgut State Pedagogical University was examined: 18.3±0.33 years old on average. Heart rate variability at rest and during orthostatic test were measured by cardiointervalography (“VNS-spectrum”, Neurosoft company). We used hardware-software complex “Angioscan-01P” to assess the state of vascular bed. Statistical processing of the obtained data was performed using Statistica 10.0 program.&#x0D; Results. The results showed that during the active orthostatic test the number of intersex differences in the comparison groups significantly decreased in comparison with the background recording. The parameters describing the state of the vascular bed were the following: central pressure value, vascular age and stress level depending on the level of adaptive reserves.&#x0D; Conclusion. The adaptation reserves of the organism of 1st year students of the Northern HEI determine the regulatory features of male and female students as well as the value of vascular tone and the age of the vascular system.

Relationship between Body Composition and Cardiac Autonomic Regulation in a Large Population of Italian Olympic Athletes.

Athletic performance is determined by many factors, such as cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and psychological features, which all interact simultaneously. The large Italian National Olympic Committee database of Olympic athletes offers a unique healthy population to verify the strength of the interplay among a number of major elements of training, including autonomic nervous system (ANS) modulation, biochemical indicators and body composition, in a system medicine approach. This observational, retrospective study involved 583 individuals. As part of the yearly precompetitive examination, cardiac autonomic (heart rate variability), psychological, physical (cycloergometer stress test), biochemical and body composition (BOD POD) evaluations were performed. In subsequent analysis, we first considered the relationship between body composition and single individual variables in a simple correlation matrix, including a multitude of variables; then, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) restricted the information to six latent domains, each combining congruent information in relation to body composition. Finally, we employed a multiple quantile regression model to evaluate possible relationships between ANSIs (index capable of synthetizing ANS regulation) and the latent domains indicated by EFA reflecting body composition. We observed a clear relationship between ANS and body mass composition parameters, as indicated by both bivariate correlations and the quantile regression result of ANSIs versus the latent domain aggregating mainly body composition data expressed in % (p = 0.002). In conclusion, these results suggest that specific training may elicit parallel adaptation of ANS control and body composition. The analysis of Olympic athletes’ data allowed us to obtain a better understanding of the complex, multidimensional factors involved in determining sport performance. The latter appears to be determined by the simultaneous interaction not only of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and psychological features, but also of ANS cardiovascular modulation and body composition.

Https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/AIHD-MU/article/view/258521

This study aims to investigate the effects of d-camphor inhalation on psychophysiological parameters among healthy participants. Twenty-four healthy volunteers participated in the trials. d-Camphor was administered to determine the effects on autonomic nervous system (ANS), central nervous system (CNS) through electroencephalography (EEG) recordings as well as psychological parameters through emotional states. EEG recordings were conducted based on 10-20 system and EEG band power was calculated by Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT). For data analysis, d-camphor was inhaled and compared with sweet almond oil as base oil. Paired t-test was employed to measure the oil inhalation. The findings indicated that d-camphor inhalation caused significant changes in ANS parameters, psychological parameters through emotional states and central nervous system (CNS) through electroencephalography (EEG) recordings. After d-camphor inhalation, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and the respiratory rate decreased significantly. Relaxed and calm feelings increased significantly while active and stressed feelings decreased significantly. The power of the alpha wave over all the brain areas including left anterior, right anterior, center, left posterior and right posterior brain areas increased significantly. d-Camphor caused significant changes in psychophysiological parameters indicating its sedative effects.

The Lack of Systemic and Subclinical Side Effects of Botulinum Neurotoxin Type-A in Patients Affected by Post-Stroke Spasticity: A Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Botulinum Neurotoxin type-A (BoNT-A) is the treatment of choice for focal post-stroke spasticity (PSS). Due to its mechanism of action and the administration method, some authors raised concern about its possible systemic diffusion leading to contralateral muscle weakness and autonomic nervous system (ANS) alterations. Stroke itself is a cause of motor disability and ANS impairment; therefore, it is mandatory to prevent any source of additional loss of strength and adjunctive ANS disturbance. We enrolled 15 hemiparetic stroke survivors affected by PSS already addressed to BoNT-A treatment. Contralateral handgrip strength and ANS parameters, such as heart rate variability, impedance cardiography values, and respiratory sinus arrythmia, were measured 24 h before (T0) and 10 days after (T1) the ultrasound (US)-guided BoNT-A injection. At T1, neither strength loss nor modification of the basal ANS patterns were found. These findings support recent literature about the safety profile of BoNT-A, endorsing the importance of the US guide for a precise targeting and the sparing of “critical” structures as vessels and nerves.

Could autonomic nervous system parameters be still helpful in identifying patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction at the highest risk of all-cause mortality?

BackgroundAutonomic imbalance is associated with poor prognosis of patients with systolic dysfunction. Most of the previous data were written several years ago and constituted to cardiovascular or arrhythmic mortality. The current treatment of these patients has improved substantially over the last decades, and thus, the population at risk of death may have altered as well. Consequently, data on high-risk patients with systolic dysfunction in the modern era are sparse and those from previous trials may no longer be applicable. The aim herein, was to verify whether well-known autonomic indices — baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and heart rate variability (HRV) — remain accurate predictors of mortality in patients with systolic dysfunction.MethodsNon-invasively obtained BRS and HRV were analyzed in 205 clinically stable patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40%. 28 patients died within 28 ± 9 month follow-up.ResultsBaroreflex sensitivity, low-frequency (LF) in normalized units, LF to high-frequency ratio and standard deviation of average R-R intervals were significantly associated with mortality; cut-off values of the highest discriminatory power for abovementioned parameters were ≤ 3.0 ms/mmHg, ≤ 41, ≤ 0.7 and ≤ 25 ms, respectively. In bivariate Cox analyses (adjusted for LVEF, New York Heart Association [NYHA] or absence of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator [ICD]) autonomic indices remain significant predictors of death.ConclusionsBaroreflex sensitivity and HRV — may still be helpful in identifying patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction at the highest risk of all-cause mortality, independently of LVEF, NYHA class, and ICD implantation.

NEUROLOGICAL AND PSYCHOEMOTIONAL STATE OF THE POPULATION OF THE DONETSK REGION AND THE INFLUENCE OF "V-OMEGA-3" ON IT

Relevance. The armed conflict is taking place on the territory of the Donetsk region. Such eco-crisis conditions may have an additional negative impact on the nervous system and psychoemotional state of the population. It is important to take fat-soluble vitamins which simultaneously have antioxidant properties during ecological problems.&#x0D; Objective: to assess the neurological and psychoemotional state of the population of the Donetsk region before and after taking "V-Omega-3".&#x0D; Materials and methods. The study involved 105 apparently healthy persons aged 21-56 years, living in the cities of Kramatorsk and Mariupol. The participants of the main group (n = 45) took the food dietary supplement product "V-Omega-3" for 21 days, and the participants of the control group (n = 60) did not take any drugs. The neurological state of all individuals was examined twice - at the beginning of the experiment and after 21 days, that is, after the course of taking the product by the main group. The neurological exam was organized into the following categories: cranial nerves, reflexes, sensory system, in conducting coordination tests. The tone in autonomic nervous system (ANS) was assessed using the Wayne Scale. Psychoemotional state was assessed according to “Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale” (HADS).&#x0D; Results. The mild organic and functional neurological microsymptoms were found in all 105 apparently healthy persons. After taking the "V-Omega-3", the main group showed objective and subjective improvement of health. The neurological status of the main group showed positive dynamics, such as: normalization of tendon reflexes by 50%, normalization of oculomotor disorders in the form of weak convergence and accommodation - by 46%, coordination of movements improved by 60%, metacarpal joint tremor decreased by 36%; cerebral asthenia syndrome - by 45%, astheno-neurotic syndrome - by 5%, while no positive changes were observed in the control group. At the beginning of the experiment, in the main group, sympathicotonia prevailed in 21 people, vagotonia in 9, and mixed tonus in 15. After treatment, normalization of the ANS parameters was noted: a decrease of the level of sympathicotonia and parasympathicotonia. Sub-clinical anxiety (8-10 points) was found in 19 people and no significant symptoms (3-7 points) in 26 people when assessing emotional state and well-being using the HADS scale before treatment. After treatment, there was an improvement in the emotional state (absence of significant symptoms of 0-7 points) in 8 people, i.e. subclinical anxiety decreased by 18%.&#x0D; Conclusions. The drug "V-Omega-3" has a positive effect on the state of the autonomic nervous system and psychoemotional state, which is manifested by a decrease in headache, dizziness, asthenia, normalization of reflexes, reduction of oculomotor disorders, improved coordination, disappearance of hand tremor, reducing of the cerebroasthenic syndrome and emotional lability.

Stand Up to Excite the Spine: Neuromuscular, Autonomic, and Cardiometabolic Responses During Motor Imagery in Standing vs. Sitting Posture.

Motor imagery (MI) for health and performance strategies has gained interest in recent decades. Nevertheless, there are still no studies that have comprehensively investigated the physiological responses during MI, and no one questions the influence of low-level contraction on these responses. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the neuromuscular, autonomic nervous system (ANS), and cardiometabolic changes associated with an acute bout of MI practice in sitting and standing condition. Twelve young healthy males (26.3 ± 4.4 years) participated in two experimental sessions (control vs. MI) consisting of two postural conditions (sitting vs. standing). ANS, hemodynamic and respiratory parameters, body sway parameters, and electromyography activity were continuously recorded, while neuromuscular parameters were recorded on the right triceps surae muscles before and after performing the postural conditions. While MI showed no effect on ANS, the standing posture increased the indices of sympathetic system activity and decreased those of the parasympathetic system (p < 0.05). Moreover, MI during standing induced greater spinal excitability compared to sitting posture (p < 0.05), which was accompanied with greater oxygen consumption, energy expenditure, ventilation, and lower cardiac output (p < 0.05). Asking individuals to perform MI of an isometric contraction while standing allows them to mentally focus on the motor command, not challenge balance, and produce specific cardiometabolic responses. Therefore, these results provide further evidence of posture and MI-related modulation of spinal excitability with additional autonomic and cardiometabolic responses in healthy young men.

Neurophysiological features in patients with migraine at risk for epilepsy

Objective: to study the electrophysiological parameters of brain bioelectric activity and features of the autonomous nervous system assessing heart rate variability, sympathetic skin response, clinical and physiological tests depending on the lateralization of migraine pain syndrome in the right or left brain hemisphere in patients with epileptic electroencephalogram (EEG) signs and migraine.Material and methods. Thirty six patients with aura-free episodic migraine at risk of developing epilepsy and 9 age-matched healthy subjects were examined. All participants underwent EEG, clinical and physiological tests, assessment of heart rate variability and sympathetic skin response.Results. Patients with right-hemisphere migraine headache had signs of activated sympathetic nervous system at baseline level and during exercise, lower baseline EEG epileptiform activity and in provocative tests. In contrast to the subjects of this group, patients of other group featured with a more stable migraine pain syndrome in the left hemisphere tended to dominate with functional activity of the parasympathetic system such as increased trophotropic support during exercise, as well as greater magnitude of baseline epileptiform bioelectric activity and during load tests.Conclusion. Values of heart rate variability in combination with objective results of clinical and physiological assessment of the autonomous nervous system and electrophysiological parameters of brain bioelectric activity are reliable prognostic indicators for varying functional conditions in patients with episodic migraine.

Correlation of peripheral pulse wave features and pulse rate variability parameters with hospitalization of COVID-19 patients – the scientific aspect of a tele-pulse oximetry project study design

Abstract Introduction The Operational Group, leading the fight against COVID-19 in Hungary, has approved a pilot program, in December 2020, to monitor high risk COVID-19 patients in 40 family practices. The main goal of this project is to connect family physicians to their COVID-19 patients through a telemedicine system, in order to ensure patients' security and support for personalized telemedical-care and on-time hospitalization of the patients. 200 special pulse-oximeters were distributed and are continuously rotated among patients with acute phase of infection. Every patient is required to install a smartphone application on their phones to capture and transfer the oxygen saturation (SpO2), heart rate and raw pulse wave data. The peripheral pulse wave is used for calculating more than 30, cardiovascular and autonomic nervous system parameters by a proprietary algorithm. Most of these parameters are well described in the medical literature but not used for decision support in this project. Research question Do remote pulse wave analysis parameters have a predictive value on hospitalization above SpO2 recordings in COVID-19 patients? Methods Retrospective observational cohort study. The data analysis will be performed on the pulsewave database collected during the above mentioned project and correlated with endpoints. The parameters are measured with a special pulse oximeter; transferred, stored, processed and calculated by a remote patient monitor platform. The information about primary and secondary endpoints will be collected from the primary care physician of the patient. Study population Patients with diagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infection who have been monitored with a certain remote patient monitor system between November 2020 and September 2021. Expected number of participants: 100–150 patients. Primary endpoint Hospitalization due to acute COVID-19 infection Secondary endpoints Death connected to SARS-CoV-2 infection, presence of long-COVID symptoms during the monitoring period- maximum one month after the start of the infection Expected outcome According to literature data pulse wave features show correlation with cardiovascular status of the patient, while pulse rate variability parameters can be descriptive of the autonomic nervous system status of the subject. These parameters are described to possibly alter during and after an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. To our knowledge there was no similar telemedical pulsewave data collection and analysis relation to COVID-19 before. However this is an easy to use methodology to explore more details about the patient's status. In this research we aim to explore these parameter's clinical utility in COVID-19 patients. Results will help to determine if pulse wave analysis and pulse rate variability parameters can be used as indicators of higher risk of hospitalization in COVID-19 patients. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): E-Med4All Europe Kft., Budapest, Hungary

Ethnic Differences on Cardiac Rhythms and Autonomic Nervous System Responses During a High-Altitude Trek: A Pilot Study Comparing Italian Trekkers to Nepalese Porters

Altitude hypoxia exposure results in increased sympathetic activity and heart rate due to several mechanisms. Recent studies have contested the validity of heart rate variability (HRV) analysis on sympathetic activity measurement. But the plethora of HRV metrics may provide meaningful insights, particularly if linked with cardiovascular and autonomic nervous system parameters. However, the population-specific nature of HRV and cardiorespiratory response to altitude hypoxia are still missing. Six Italian trekkers and six Nepalese porters completed 300 km of a Himalayan trek. The ECG analysis was conducted at baseline, and before (bBC) and after (aBC) the high-altitude (HA) circuit. Urine was collected before and after the expedition in Italians, for assessing catecholamines. Heart rate increased with altitude significantly (p < 0.001) in the Italian group; systolic (p = 0.030) and diastolic (p = 0.012) blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure (p = 0.004) increased with altitude. Instead, pulse pressure did not change, although the Nepalese group showed lower baseline values than the Italians. As expected, peripheral oxygen saturation decreased with altitude (p < 0.001), independently of the ethnic groups. Nepalese had a higher respiratory rate (p = 0.007), independent of altitude. The cardiac vagal index increased at altitude, from baseline to bBC (p = 0.008). Higuchi fractal dimension (HFD) showed higher basal values in the Nepalese group (p = 0.041), and a tendency for the highest values at bBC. Regarding the urinary catecholamine response, exposure to HA increased urinary levels, particularly of norepinephrine (p = 0.005, d = 1.623). Our findings suggest a better cardiovascular resilience of the Nepalese group when compared with Italians, which might be due to an intrinsic adaptation to HA, resulting from their job.