Mean Respiratory Frequency Research Articles

Effects of Supplemental Oxygen on Cardiovascular and Respiratory Interactions by Extended Partial Directed Coherence in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and restrictive disease characterized by fibrosis and inflammatory changes in lung tissue producing a reduction in diffusion capacity and leading to exertional chronic arterial hypoxemia and dyspnea. Furthermore, clinically, supplemental oxygen (SupplO2) has been prescribed to IPF patients to improve symptoms. However, the evidence about the benefits or disadvantages of oxygen supplementation is not conclusive. In addition, the impact of SupplO2 on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation in respiratory diseases needs to be evaluated. In this study the interactions between cardiovascular and respiratory systems in IPF patients, during ambient air (AA) and SupplO2 breathing, are compared to those from a matched healthy group. Interactions were estimated by time series of successive beat-to-beat intervals (BBI), respiratory amplitude (RESP) at BBI onset, arterial systolic (SYS) and diastolic (DIA) blood pressures. The paper explores the Granger causality (GC) between systems in the frequency domain by the extended partial directed coherence (ePDC), considering instantaneous effects. Also, traditional linear and nonlinear markers as power in low (LF) and high frequency (HF) bands, symbolic dynamic indices as well as arterial baroreflex, were calculated. The results showed that for IPF during AA phase: 1) mean BBI and power of BBI-HF band, as well as mean respiratory frequency were significantly lower (p < 0.05) and higher (p < 0.001), respectively, indicating a strong sympathetic influence, and 2) the RESP SYS interaction was characterized by Mayer waves and diminished RESP BBI, i.e., decreased respiratory sinus arrhythmia. In contrast, during short-term SupplO2 phase: 1) oxygen might produce a negative influence on the systolic blood pressure variability, 2) the arterial baroreflex reduced significantly (p < 0.01) and 3) reduction of RSA reflected by RESP BBI with simultaneous increase of Traube-Hering waves in RESP SYS (p < 0.001), reflected increased sympathetic modulation to the vessels. The results gathered in this study may be helpful in the management of the administration of SupplO2.

Cardiorespiratory and Emotional Responses During Balance Exercises

ABSTRACT Purpose: Physical exercises on unstable surfaces have been largely applied for clinical practice as well as in sports training. Although the unsteadiness can lead to physiological and psychological adaptations, little is known about the autonomic and emotional acute responses during the practice of balance exercises. This study aimed to evaluate both cardiorespiratory and emotional responses while standing on different unstable surfaces. Methods: Eighty-eight healthy participants performed postural balance tasks in three experimental conditions: (1) a rigid surface (control); (2) balance pad; and (3) the Both Sides Up (BOSU) ball. Respiratory activity was recorded through the thoracic movement and the heart rate variability by the electrocardiographic signal during the balance tasks. After the participants evaluated the level of perceived stability and emotional aspects related to each experimental condition. Results: The main results showed that BOSU condition was perceived as more unstable, unpleasant, with higher arousal and lower dominance levels (p < .05). Accordingly, participants had also an increase in the mean respiratory frequency and heart rate (p < .05). Conclusion: These results showed that the postural task with greater instability prompted congruent physiological adjustments to ensure the homeostasis in the more challenging condition. Therefore, the cardiorespiratory and emotional responses should be considered to ensure the safety and benefits in rehabilitation programs in which the exercise progression is based on unstable surfaces.

Effects of intramuscular and intranasal administration of midazolam–dexmedetomidine on sedation and some cardiopulmonary variables in New Zealand White rabbits

ObjectiveTo compare the sedative and cardiopulmonary effects of intranasal (IN) and intramuscular (IM) administration of dexmedetomidine and midazolam combination in New Zealand White rabbits. Study designA randomized, crossover experimental study. AnimalsA total of eight healthy New Zealand White rabbits, aged 6–12 months, weighing 3.1 ± 0.3 kg (mean ± standard deviation). MethodsThe animals were randomly assigned to administration of dexmedetomidine (0.1 mg kg–1) with midazolam (2 mg kg–1) by either IN or IM route separated by 2 weeks. The electrocardiogram, pulse rate (PR), peripheral haemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO2), mean noninvasive arterial pressure (MAP), respiratory frequency (fR) and rectal temperature were measured before drug administration (baseline), T0 (onset of sedation) and at 5 minute intervals until recovery. The onset of sedation, duration of sedation and sedation score (SS) were also recorded. ResultsThe PR was significantly lower in treatment IM than in treatment IN over time (p = 0.027). MAP < 60 mmHg developed in two and four rabbits in treatments IN and IM, respectively. SpO2 progressively decreased over time in both treatments. fR was lower than baseline at several time points in both treatments. Onset of sedation was shorter in treatment IN (90 ± 21 seconds) than in treatment IM (300 ± 68 seconds) (p = 0.036). Duration of sedation was longer in treatment IM (55.2 ± 8.7 minutes) than in treatment IN (39.6 ± 2.1 minutes) (p = 0.047). No significant difference in SS was observed between treatments (p > 0.05). Conclusions and clinical relevanceCombination of dexmedetomidine (0.1 mg kg–1) and midazolam (2 mg kg–1) decreased fR, PR and SpO2 regardless of the administration route in New Zealand White rabbits. A more rapid action and shorter duration of sedation were observed after treatment IN than after treatment IM administration.

Antinociceptive, physiologic and biochemical effects of electroacupuncture combined with xylazine in hybrid goats

ObjectiveTo elucidate the antinociceptive, physiologic and biochemical effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and xylazine in hybrid goats. Study designProspective experimental study. AnimalsA total of 30 female hybrid goats aged 1–2 years and weighing 25 ± 2.9 kg (mean ± standard deviation). MethodsThe goats were divided into five groups and administered xylazine (0.1 mg kg−1; group XYL.1), xylazine (0.3 mg kg−1; group XYL.3), EA (group EA), EA + xylazine (0.1 mg kg−1; group XYL.1-EA) and 0.9% saline (0.3 mL; control group CON). Nociceptive threshold and serum glucose concentration were measured at time 0 and at 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes and 24 hours after treatment. Nociceptive threshold was measured by passing potassium ions through the skin using potassium iontophoresis. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), respiratory frequency (fR) and rectal temperature (RT) were recorded at times 0 and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60 minutes and 24 hours. Repeated-measures analyses were performed for each response variable; p < 0.05 was considered significant for all analyses. ResultsAntinociceptive effects in groups XYL.1 and XYL.3 were increased significantly at 15–60 minutes compared with group CON. Antinociceptive effect was higher in group XYL.1-EA than groups XYL.1 or EA at 15–60 minutes (p < 0.05). No significant difference in the nociceptive threshold was recorded in groups XYL.1-EA and XYL.3, except at 30 minutes. HR, MAP, fR, RT values were higher in group XYL.1-EA than in groups XYL.1 or XYL.3. Serum glucose concentration was higher in group XYL.3 at 15–60 minutes than in CON. Conclusions and clinical relevanceThe XYL.1 and EA combination was effective for antinociception with minimum physiologic alteration, suggesting that the combination may be a new and effective strategy for pain relief during clinical procedures in goats.

Changes in the autonomic and respiratory patterns in mice submitted to short-term sustained hypoxia.

What is the central question of this study? Do mice submitted to sustained hypoxia present autonomic and respiratory changes similarly to rats? What is the main finding and its importance? Arterial pressure in the normal range, reduced baseline heart rate and tachypnoea were observed in behaving sustained hypoxia mice. Recordings in the in situ preparation of mice submitted to sustained hypoxia show an increase in cervical vagus nerve activity and a simultaneous reduction in thoracic sympathetic nerve activity correlated with changes in the respiratory cycle. Therefore, mice are an important model for studies on the modulation of sympathetic activity to the cardiovascular system and the vagus innervation of the upper airways due to changes in the respiratory network induced by sustained hypoxia. Short-term sustained hypoxia (SH) in rats induces sympathetic overactivity and hypertension due to changes in sympathetic-respiratory coupling. However, there are no consistent data about the effect of SH on mice due to the different protocols of hypoxia and difficulties associated with the handling of these rodents under different experimental conditions. In situ recordings of autonomic and respiratory nerves in SH mice have not been performed yet. Herein, we evaluated the effects of SH ( =0.1 for 24h) on baseline mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), respiratory frequency (fR ) and responses to chemoreflex activation in behaving SH mice. A characterization of changes in cervical vagus (cVN), thoracic sympathetic (tSN), phrenic (PN) and abdominal (AbN) nerves in SH mice using the in situ working heart-brainstem preparation was also performed. SH mice presented normal MAP, significant reduction in baseline HR, increase in baseline fR , as well as increase in the magnitude of bradycardic response to chemoreflex activation. In in situ preparations, SH mice presented a reduction in PN discharge frequency, and increases in the time of expiration and incidence of late-expiratory bursts in AbN activity. Nerve recordings also indicated a significant increase in cVN activity and a significant reduction in tSN activity during expiration in SH mice. These findings make SH mice an important experimental model for better understanding how changes in the respiratory network may impact on the modulation of vagal control to the upper airways, as well as in the sympathetic activity to the cardiovascular system.

Effects of maternal protein restriction on central and peripheral renin-angiotensin systems in male rat offspring

AimsWe investigated the involvement of the renin angiotensin system (RAS) on the cardiorespiratory control in rats from dams fed with a low-protein diet. Main methodsMale offspring were obtained from dams fed a normoprotein diet (NP, 17% casein) and low-protein diet (LP, 8% casein) during pregnancy and lactation. Direct measurements of arterial pressure (AP), heart rate (HR) and respiratory frequency (RF) were recorded in awake 90-day-old at resting and after losartan potassium through either intracerebroventricular (ICV) microinjections or intravenous (IV) administration. Cardiovascular variability was evaluated by spectral analysis. Peripheral chemoreflex sensitivity was assessed through the potassium cyanide (KCN; 40 μg/0.1 ml/rat, IV). Gene expression was evaluated by qPCR, and MAPK (Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase) expression was evaluated by western blot. Key findingsThe LP offspring had higher mean AP (MAP) and RF than NP offspring. In the spectral analysis, the LP rats also showed higher low frequency of systolic AP (NP: 2.7 ± 0.3 vs. LP: 5.0 ± 1.0 mmHg). After ICV losartan, MAP and RF in LP rats remained higher than those in NP rats, but without changes in HR. The peripheral chemoreflex was similar between the groups. LP group had lower gene expression of Rac1 (Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1) (NP: 1.13 ± 0.06 vs. LP: 0.88 ± 0.08). Peripherally, LP rats had larger delta of MAP after IV losartan (NP: −9.8 ± 2 vs. LP: −23 ± 6 mmHg), without changes in HR and RF. SignificanceIn rats, the RAS participates peripherally, but not centrally, in the maintenance of arterial hypertension in male offspring induced by maternal protein restriction.

Role of vagus nerve in algogen-induced vasosensory reflex responses in anesthetized rats

Background: It has been shown by various workers that intra-arterial (i.a.) instillation of algogens produced reflex cardiorespiratory (CVR) changes in anesthetized rats, substantiating the role of medium sized peripheral blood vessels in regulation of CVR system. Aim and Objective: The aim of this study was to understand the role of vagus nerve in algogen- induced vasosensory reflex responses altering CVR parameters. Material and Methods: Femoral artery was cannulated retrogradely and was utilized for the instillation of saline/bradykinin and recording of blood pressure (BP), using a double-ported 24G cannula. BP, respiration and electrocardiogram were recorded for 30 min after instillation of bradykinin with or without vagotomy. Bradykinin (1 μM) was used as an algogen for the elicitation of vasosensory reflex responses altering CVR parameters. Results: Instillation (i.a.) of bradykinin produced immediate (5–8 s) hypotensive (40% of initial), bradycardiac (17% of initial), tachypnoeic (45% of initial), and hyperventilatory (96% of initial) responses. In the vagotomized rats, bradykinin-induced hypotensive (18% of initial), bradycardiac (1% of initial), tachypnoeic (5% of initial), and hyperventilatory (10% of initial) responses attenuated significantly. Conclusion: Pre-treatment with bilateral vagotomy significantly attenuated the mean arterial pressure, heart rate, respiratory frequency and respiratory minute volume responses indicating the role of vagus in producing these responses.

Maternal protein restriction affects cardiovascular, but not respiratory response to L-glutamate microinjection into the NTS of conscious rats

ABSTRACT Purpose: Dysregulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission (GN) is linked to sympathetic-respiratory overactivity and hypertension. We investigated whether maternal protein restriction is able to alter GN into the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) in adult offspring. Methods: Wistar rat dams were fed with control (NP; 17% protein) or low-protein (LP; 8% protein) diet during pregnancy and lactation, and their offspring were evaluated at 70-90d old. Direct measurements of mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), respiratory frequency (RF) and respiratory (RV) and cardiac (CV) variabilities were assessed in consciousness. The evaluation of GN into NTS over cardiovascular system were assessed by microinjections of unilateral glutamate (L-glu 0.5 nmol/100nL) and bilateral kynurenic acid (Kyn 2.5 nmol/50nL). The NP and LP groups were compared using unpaired Student's t-test where p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The LP exhibited higher MAP at rest (p = 0.03) and after L-glu microinjection (p = 0.04), as well as an increase over HR after Kyn microinjection when compared to the NP (p = 0.049). In the RV, the LP group showed an increase of the component-standard deviation 1 (p = 0.037) at rest. In the CV, the LP presented an increase of the low frequency (LF) component of the pulse interval (PI) (p = 0.034), a decrease of high frequency (HF) of the PI (p = 0.034), beyond an increased LF/HF ratio of the PI (p = 0.027) when compared to the NP. The kynurenic acid microinjection did not produce changes in RV or CV (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Altered GN into the NTS may contribute to augmented blood pressure in protein-restricted offspring.

Antiemetic effect of oral maropitant treatment before the administration of brimonidine ophthalmic solution in healthy cats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the antiemetic, behavioural and physiological effects of oral maropitant treatment before the administration of brimonidine ophthalmic solution in healthy cats. Five cats received oral maropitant 8 mg or no treatment (control) 18 h before the administration of one drop of brimonidine solution in both eyes. Each cat was administered each of the two treatments, with a washout period of 1 week. The incidence of emesis, retching, sialorrhoea and lip-licking after brimonidine administration was recorded, while behavioural and physiological parameters, including heart rate, mean blood pressure, respiratory frequency and rectal temperature, were recorded before and 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 and 240 mins after brimonidine administration. Emesis and retching were not observed when maropitant was administered. However, 4/5 cats exhibited vomiting and retching in the absence of maropitant pretreatment. The incidence of emesis and retching after brimonidine administration was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group. Sialorrhoea occurred in one cat in the control group, while all cats showed lip-licking after brimonidine administration. There were no significant differences in the incidence of sialorrhoea and lip-licking between the two groups. Although behaviour scores were comparable between the two groups, those obtained during heart rate, mean blood pressure and respiratory frequency measurements were significantly lower than the baseline scores; this indicated a sedative effect after brimonidine administration. The heart rate and mean blood pressure significantly decreased after brimonidine administration in both groups, while there were no intergroup differences in the heart rate, mean blood pressure, respiratory frequency and rectal temperature. Oral maropitant treatment before the administration of brimonidine ophthalmic solution in cats can alleviate emesis and retching without affecting the sedative effects of brimonidine and important physiological parameters.

Respiration-related cerebral blood flow variability increases during control-mode non-invasive ventilation in normovolemia and hypovolemia.

Increased variability in cerebral blood flow (CBF) predisposes to adverse cerebrovascular events. Oscillations in arterial blood pressure and PaCO2 induce CBF variability. Less is known about how heart rate (HR) variability affects CBF. We experimentally reduced respiration-induced HR variability in healthy subjects, hypothesizing that CBF variability would increase. Internal carotid artery (ICA) blood velocity was recorded by Doppler ultrasound in ten healthy subjects during baseline, control-mode, non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIV), i.e., with fixed respiratory rate, hypovolemia induced by lower body negative pressure, and combinations of these. ICA beat volume (ICABV) and ICA blood flow (ICABF) were calculated. HR, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), respiratory frequency (RF), and end-tidal CO2 were recorded. Integrals of power spectra at each subject's RF±0.03Hz were used to measure variability. Phase angle/coherence measured coupling between cardiovascular variables. Control-mode NIV reduced HR variability (-56%, p=0.002) and ICABV variability (-64%, p=0.006) and increased ICABF variability (+140%, p=0.002) around RF. NIV+hypovolemia reduced variability in HR and ICABV by 70-80% (p=0.002) and doubled ICABF variability (p=0.03). MAP variability was unchanged in either condition. Respiration-induced HR and ICABV oscillations were in inverse phase and highly coherent (coherence >0.9) during baseline, but this coherence decreased during NIV, in normovolemia and hypovolemia (p=0.01). Controlling respiration in awake healthy humans reduced HR variability and increased CBF variability in hypovolemia and normovolemia. We suggest respiration-induced HR variability to be a mechanism in CBF regulation. Maintaining spontaneous respiration in patients receiving ventilatory support may be beneficial also for cerebral circulatory purposes.

Infrared thermography as a method for evaluating the heat tolerance in dairy cows

The objective of this study was to determine whether infrared thermography is a useful tool for the recognition of dairy cows in a state of thermal heat stress, as well as to identify the best region of the animal to be evaluated for this recognition. Physiological variables, including rectal temperature, respiratory frequency, cardiac frequency, and panting score were recorded in 38 lactating cows. For the assessment of environmental parameters, a digital black globe thermometer (TGD-200 model) was used. Thermographic photographs of different regions of the body of cows were taken using an infrared camera (FLIR® System T300) and indicated respective superficial temperature. Physiological variables and superficial body temperature in different regions varied between genetic groups (Girolando: ½ Holstein × ½ Gir and ¾ Holstein × ¼ Gir; purebred Holstein). The environmental temperature ranged from 20.7 to 37.9 °C with a relative humidity reaching 95%. The mean rectal temperature (40.84 °C), respiratory frequency (111.36 breaths/min), and cardiac frequency (99.22 beats/min) were higher for pure Holstein than for Girolando cows. Positive correlations were found between the physiological parameters and thermographic measures. The highest positive correlation (0.74) was found between the temperature in the lateral region of the udder and rectal temperature. Thermography is a good indicator of thermal comfort. The best region to identify heat stress in cows using thermography is the lateral region of the udder.

Analgesic and physiological effect of electroacupuncture combined with epidural lidocaine in goats

ObjectiveTo investigate physiological and antinociceptive effects of electroacupuncture (EA) with lidocaine epidural nerve block in goats. Study designProspective experimental trial. AnimalsForty-eight hybrid male goats weighing 27 ± 2 kg. MethodsThe goats were randomly assigned to six groups: L2.2, epidural lidocaine (2.2 mg kg−1); L4.4, epidural lidocaine (4.4 mg kg−1); EA; EA-L1.1, EA with epidural lidocaine (1.1 mg kg−1); EA-L2.2, EA with epidural lidocaine (2.2 mg kg−1); and EA-L4.4, EA with epidural lidocaine (4.4 mg kg−1). EA was administered for 120 minutes. Epidural lidocaine was administered 25 minutes after EA started. Nociceptive thresholds of flank and thigh regions, abdominal muscle tone, mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), respiratory frequency (fR) and rectal temperature were recorded at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 minutes. ResultsLidocaine dose-dependently increased nociceptive thresholds. There were no differences in nociceptive thresholds between L4.4 and EA from 30 to 120 minutes. The threshold in EA-L2.2 was lower than in EA-L4.4 from 30 to 120 minutes, but higher than in EA-L1.1 from 30 to 150 minutes or in L4.4 from 30 to 180 minutes. The abdominal muscle tone in EA-L2.2 was higher at 30 minutes, but lower at 90 and 120 minutes than at 0 minutes. There were no differences in muscle tone between L4.4 and L2.2 or EA-L4.4, and between any two of the three EA-lidocaine groups from 0 to 180 minutes. The fR and HR decreased in L4.4 at 60 and 90 minutes compared with 0 minutes. No differences in fR, HR, MAP and temperature among the groups occurred from 30 to 180 minutes. Conclusions and clinical relevanceEA combined with 2.2 mg kg−1 epidural lidocaine provides better antinociceptive effect than 4.4 mg kg−1 epidural lidocaine alone in goats. EA provided antinociception and allowed a decrease in epidural lidocaine dose.

Changes in cardiovascular responses to chemoreflex activation of rats recovered from protein restriction are not related to AT1 receptors.

What is the central question of this study? In this study, we sought to investigate whether cardiovascular responses to peripheral chemoreflex activation of rats recovered from protein restriction are related to activation of AT1 receptors. What is the main finding and its importance? This study highlights the fact that angiotensinergic mechanisms activated by AT1 receptors do not support increased responses to peripheral chemoreflex activation by KCN in rats recovered from protein restriction. Also, we found that protein restriction led to increased resting ventilation in adult rats, even after recovery. The effects of a low-protein diet followed by recovery on cardiorespiratory responses to peripheral chemoreflex activation were tested before and after systemic angiotensinII type1 (AT1 ) receptor antagonism. Male Fischer rats were divided into control and recovered (R-PR) groups after weaning. The R-PR rats were fed a low-protein (8%) diet for 35 days and recovered with a normal protein (20%) diet for 70 days. Control rats received a normal protein diet for 105 days (CG105 ). After cannulation surgery, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, respiratory frequency, tidal volume and minute ventilation were acquired using a digital recording system in freely moving rats. The role of angintensin II was evaluated by systemic antagonism of AT1 receptors with losartan (20mgkg-1 i.v.). The peripheral chemoreflex was elicited by increasing doses of KCN (20-160μgkgmin-1 , i.v.). At baseline, R-PR rats presented increased heart rate and minute ventilation (372±34beatsmin-1 and 1.274±377mlkg-1 min-1 ) compared with CG105 animals (332±22beatsmin-1 and 856±112mlkg-1 min-1 ). Mean arterial pressure was not different between the groups. Pressor and bradycardic responses evoked by KCN (60μgkg-1 ) were increased in R-PR (+45±13mmHg and -77±47beatsmin-1 ) compared with CG105 rats (+25±17mmHg and -27±28beatsmin-1 ), but no difference was found in the tachypnoeic response. These differences were preserved after losartan. The data suggest that angiotensinII acting on AT1 receptors may not be associated with the increased heart rate, increased minute ventilation and acute cardiovascular responses to peripheral chemoreflex activation in rats that underwent postweaning protein restriction followed by recovery.

Heart rate and respiration influence on macroscopic blood and CSF flows.

Background Changes in blood volume in the intracranial arteries and the resulting oscillations of brain parenchyma have been presumed as main initiating factors of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pulsations. However, respiration has been recently supposed to influence CSF dynamics via thoracic pressure changes. Purpose To measure blood and CSF cervical flow and quantify the contribution of cardiac and respiratory cycles on the subsequent signal evolution. Material and Methods Sixteen volunteers were enrolled. All participant underwent two-dimensional fast field echo echo planar imaging (FFE-EPI). Regions of interest were placed on internal carotids, jugular veins, and rachidian canal to extract temporal profiles. Spectral analysis was performed to extract respiratory and cardiac frequencies. The contribution of respiration and cardiac activity was assessed to signal evolution by applying a multiple linear model. Results Mean respiratory frequency was 14.6 ± 3.9 cycles per min and mean heart rate was 66.8 ± 9 cycles per min. Cardiac contribution was higher than breathing for internal carotids, explaining 74.68% and 10.27% of the signal variance, respectively. For the jugular veins, respiratory component was higher than the cardiac one contributing 44.28% and 6.53% of the signal variance, respectively. For CSF, breathing and cardiac component contributed less than half of signal variance (12.61% and 23.23%, respectively). Conclusion Respiration and cardiac activity both influence fluid flow at the cervical level. Arterial inflow is driven by the cardiac pool whereas venous blood aspiration seems more due to thoracic pressure changes. CSF dynamics acts as a buffer between these two blood compartments.

Human emotion recognition using heart rate variability analysis with spectral bands based on respiration.

The work presented in this paper aims at assessing human emotion recognition by means of the analysis of the heart rate variability (HRV) with varying spectral bands based on respiratory frequency (RF). Three specific emotional states are compared corresponding to calm-neutral state (Relax), positive elicitation (Joy) and negative elicitation (Fear). Standard HRV analysis in time and frequency domain is performed. In order to better characterize the HRV component related to respiratory sinus arrhythmia, the high frequency (HF) band is centered on RF. Results reveal that the power content in low band (PLF), the normalized power content in HF band (PHFn) and the sympathovagal ratio (LF/HF) can be suitable indices to distinguish Relax and Joy. Mean heart rate and RF are significantly different between Relax and Fear. Different HRV indices show significant differences between Joy and Fear, such as pNN50, PLF, PHFn and LF/HF. Statistical analysis of HRV indices with HF centered in the RF results in a lower p-value than the ones with a HF standard band.

Improved oxygenation in patients with acute respiratory failure: the prone position.

To assess the potential benefits of the prone position for gas exchange in patients with acute respiratory failure, we turned 6 patients from supine to prone, supporting the upper thorax and pelvis and allowing the abdomen to protrude. Arterial PO2 increased by a mean of 69 mm Hg (range, 2 to 178 mm Hg) at the same tidal volume, same inspired oxygen concentration, and same level of positive end-expiratory pressure. The maneuver made it possible to reduce the inspired oxygen concentration in 4 of the 5 patients who required mechanical ventilation of the lungs and to defer intubation in the patient who was breathing spontaneously. After subsequent turns from supine to prone, arterial PO2 increased by a mean of 35 mm Hg (range, 4 to 110 mm Hg), permitting a decrease in inspired oxygen concentration or positive end-expiratory pressure when prone (4 patients); arterial PO2 decreased in 12 of 14 instances after the patient was turned from prone to supine. No significant change in mean arterial carbon dioxide tension, respiratory frequency, or effective compliance was observed.

Hypoxia, not hypercapnia, induces cardiorespiratory failure in rats

Mechanical respiratory loads induce cardiorespiratory failure, presumably by increasing O2 demand concurrently with decreases in O2 availability (decreased PaO2). We tested the hypothesis that asphyxia alone can cause cardiorespiratory failure (“failure”) in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. We also tested the hypothesis that hypoxia, not hypercapnia, is responsible by supplying supplemental O2 during mechanical loading in a separate group of rats. Asphyxia (mean PaO2 and PaCO2 of 43 and 69mmHg, respectively) resulted in failure, evident as a slowing of mean respiratory frequency (133–83breaths/min) and a sudden and large drop in mean arterial pressure (71–47mmHg), after 214±66min (n=16; range 117–355min). Neither respiratory drive nor heart rate decreased, indicating that failure was peripheral, not central. Of 8 rats tested after 3h of asphyxia for the presence in blood of cardiac troponin T, all were positive. In an additional 6 rats, normocapnic hypoxia (mean PaCO2 and PaO2 were 39±2.2 and 41±3.1mmHg, respectively) caused failure after an average 205min (range 181–275min), no different from that of asphyxic rats. In the 6 rats that breathed O2 during an initially moderate inspiratory resistive load, endurances exceeded 7h (failure occurring only because we increased the load after 6h) and tracheal pressure and left ventricular dP/dt were maintained despite supercarbia (PaCO2>150mmHg). Thus, asphyxia alone can induce failure, the failure is due to hypoxia, not hypercapnia, and hypercapnia has minimal effects on cardiac and respiratory muscle function in the presence of hyperoxia.

Different respiratory behaviors disclosed by induced bronchoconstriction in mild asthma patients

Respiratory responses to bronchoconstriction in asthma have been partially assessed and their significance is unclear. In 44 mild asthma patients we investigated respiratory responses during increasing levels of methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction. Inspiratory muscle activity, tidal volume, inspiratory and expiratory times were continuously monitored; breathing discomfort was rated. Mean inspiratory flow, respiratory frequency and ventilation were calculated. Lung function was assessed prior to and at maximum bronchoconstriction. Bronchoconstriction “dose-dependently” increased inspiratory muscle activity and breathing discomfort (P<0.01). In 37 patients (84.1%), the increase in inspiratory muscle activity was associated with increases in mean inspiratory flow and ventilation (P<0.01) because of selective rises in breathing depth (volume responders), or rate (frequency responders) or both (dual responders). In seven patients (15.9%) ventilation was unchanged. Individual respiratory responses were reproducible. With bronchoconstriction, frequency responders displayed greater hyperinflation and stronger breathing discomfort than volume responders (P<0.01). Analysis of the responses to induced bronchoconstriction disclosed distinctive and reproducible respiratory adjustments that may identify functionally different asthma subpopulations.

Impaired chemoreflex sensitivity during septic shock induced by cecal ligation and perforation

In this study, we sought to determine the effects produced by cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) on the autonomic responses to the activation of peripheral chemoreflexes in conscious rats. The peripheral chemoreflex was activated with potassium cyanide (KCN; 40 μg·(0.1 mL)(-1); intravenous injection (i.v.)) in male Wistar rats 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after CLP or sham surgery. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and respiratory frequency (fR) were recorded simultaneously. CLP surgery reduced the baseline MAP when compared with the sham animals. In the animals of the sham group, the autonomic responses to KCN produced increases in MAP and fR as well as a decrease in HR. However, 12 and 24 h after CLP surgery, the autonomic responses to KCN were attenuated. The restoration of MAP by i.v. injected l-NAME or phenylephrine did not restore the autonomic response to KCN in rats subjected to CLP. These data show that septic shock induced by CLP compromised the autonomic responses to peripheral chemoreflex activation in conscious rats, suggesting that an important regulatory mechanism is impaired during the course of this condition.

Respostas fisiológicas de caprinos nativos mantidos em temperatura termoneutra e em estresse térmico

Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, analisar as respostas fisiológicas de duas raças de caprinos nativos do semiárido brasileiro submetidos a ambiente com temperatura e umidade relativa controladas; utilizaram-se 12 animais machos, 6 Canindés e 6 Moxotós, com pesos médios iniciais de 19,6 ± 1,9 kg e 20,4 ± 1,6 kg, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial (2 x 4), duas raças e quatro níveis de temperatura (20,6, 24,8, 27,8 e 31,6°C), com 6 repetições, e umidade relativa média do ar de 60 ± 5% e velocidade do vento de 0,5m s-1. Na temperatura entre 20,6 e 27,8°C a média da frequência respiratória (25,7 mov min-1) e frequência cardíaca (76,7 mov min-1) dos animais ficaram dentro da normalidade, sendo que a 31,6°C ocorreu elevação da frequência respiratória (134,5 mov min-1) e da frequência cardíaca (104,3 mov min-1). A temperatura retal foi semelhante em todas as temperaturas com média de 39,5°C, dentro da faixa de normalidade para a espécie. A temperatura superficial elevou-se com o aumento da temperatura ambiente. A faixa de temperatura de 20,6 a 27,8 °C pode ser considerada a zona de conforto térmico para caprinos nativos Moxotó e Canindé.