scholarly journals Biomedical Teleacupuncture between China and Austria Using Heart Rate Variability, Part 1: Poststroke Patients

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Wang ◽  
Jan Valentini ◽  
Kazuo Sugimoto ◽  
Weiping Cheng ◽  
Guangyu Cheng ◽  
...  

Background. Acupuncture has been reported to affect the human autonomic system. Within this pilot study, teleacupuncture between China and Austria is used for the first time for quantifying the effects of heart rate variability (HRV) in poststroke rehabilitation.Methods. In 29 Chinese post-stroke patients (15 f, 14 m; mean age ± SD64.7±11.3years; range 40–80 years) electrocardiographic signals before, during, and after acupuncture at the acupoint Tongli (HT 5) were recorded in Harbin and analyzed in Graz using teleacupuncture via internet. HRV data were analyzed in the time and frequency domain, and a protocol from Austria was sent to the team in China immediately after the treatment and recording session.Results. Acupuncture does not change heart rate in the post-stroke patients; however, total HRV increased significantly (P<.05) during and 5–10 minutes after acupuncture. In addition, balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic activity (low frequency/high frequency HRV ratio) changes markedly during treatment.Conclusions. Based on innovative HRV analysis, it could be demonstrated that teleacupuncture between China/Harbin and Austria/Graz over a distance of about 8,500 km is no longer a future vision; it has become reality.

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a useful measure to evaluate activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and monitor both pathological and psychological conditions. However, HRV analysis still has difficulties with changes in HRV parameters due to an increase or decrease in the average heart rate. At present, the interpretation of the average changes in HRV datasets and their HRV parameters is not fully understood. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze how much deviation in HRV parameters occurs from rescaling tachograms and normalizing HRV datasets. Four rescaled tachograms and their corresponding normalized HRV datasets were created by increasing the average heartbeat from 50 to 110 bpm in 20 bpm steps. The difference in low frequency powers (Ln LFs) calculated between two successive rescaled groups was 0.89, 1.03, and 1.04, as the average heartbeat increased from slow to fast, while the difference in high frequency powers (Ln HFs) was 1.06, 1.53, and 1.37. However, in the four normalized HRV datasets, the difference in Ln LFs and Ln HFs between two successive normalized groups was -0.28 and -0.12, 0.31 and 0.27, and 0.31 and 0.37, respectively. The results suggest that the normalized HRV datasets are more valuable than the individual rescaled-tachogram HRV dataset for obtaining measurements using frequency-domain HRV parameters for HRV analysis in clinical applications.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-125
Author(s):  
Soroor Behbahani ◽  
Nader Jafarnia Dabanloo ◽  
Ali Motie Nasrabadi ◽  
Antonio Dourado

Recently, heart rate variability (HRV) analysis has been used as an indicator of epileptic seizures. As women have a lower sudden, unexpected death in epilepsy risk and greater longevity than men, the authors postulated that there are significant gender-related differences in heart rate dynamics of epileptic patients. The authors analyzed HRV during 5-minute segments of continuous electrocardiogram recording of age-matched populations. The middle-aged epileptic patients included males ( n = 12) and females ( n = 12), ranging from 41 to 65 years of age. Relatively high- (0.15 Hz-0.40 Hz) and low-frequency (0.01 Hz-0.15 Hz) components of HRV were computed using spectral analysis. Poincaré parameters of each heart rate time series were considered as nonlinear features. The mean heart rate markedly differed between gender groups including both right- and left-sided seizures. High-frequency heart rate power and the low-frequency/high-frequency ratio increased in the pre-ictal phase of both male and female groups ( p < .01), but men showed more increase especially in right-sided seizures. The standard deviation ratio, SD2/ SD1, of pre-ictal phase was greater in males than females ( p < .01). High-frequency spectral power and parasympathetic activity were higher in the female group with both right- and left-sided seizures. Men showed a sudden increase in sympathetic activity in the pre-ictal phase, which might increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in comparison to women. These complementary findings indicate the need to account for gender, as well as localization in HRV analysis.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reuben Howden ◽  
Eva Gougian ◽  
Marcus Lawrence ◽  
Samantha Cividanes ◽  
Wesley Gladwell ◽  
...  

Nrf2protects the lung from adverse responses to oxidants, including 100% oxygen (hyperoxia) and airborne pollutants like particulate matter (PM) exposure, but the role ofNrf2on heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) responses is not known. We hypothesized that genetic disruption ofNrf2would exacerbate murine HR and HRV responses to severe hyperoxia or moderate PM exposures.Nrf2-/-andNrf2+/+mice were instrumented for continuous ECG recording to calculate HR and HRV (low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and total power (TP)). Mice were then either exposed to hyperoxia for up to 72 hrs or aspirated with ultrafine PM (UF-PM). Compared to respective controls, UF-PM induced significantly greater effects on HR (P<0.001) and HF HRV (P<0.001) inNrf2-/-mice compared toNrf2+/+mice.Nrf2-/-mice tolerated hyperoxia significantly less thanNrf2+/+mice (~22 hrs;P<0.001). Reductions in HR, LF, HF, and TP HRV were also significantly greater inNrf2-/-compared toNrf2+/+mice (P<0.01). Results demonstrate thatNrf2deletion increases susceptibility to change in HR and HRV responses to environmental stressors and suggest potential therapeutic strategies to prevent cardiovascular alterations.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne W. Y. Chung ◽  
Vincent C. M. Yan ◽  
Hongwei Zhang

Aim.To summarize all relevant trials and critically evaluate the effect of acupuncture on heart rate variability (HRV).Method.This was a systematic review with meta-analysis. Keyword search was conducted in 7 databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Data extraction and risk of bias were done.Results.Fourteen included studies showed a decreasing effect of acupuncture on low frequency (LF) and low frequency to high frequency ratio (LF/HF ratio) of HRV for nonhealthy subjects and on normalized low frequency (LF norm) for healthy subjects. The overall effect was in favour of the sham/control group for high frequency (HF) in nonhealthy subjects and for normalized high frequency (HF norm) in healthy subjects. Significant decreasing effect on HF and LF/HF ratio of HRV when acupuncture was performed on ST36 among healthy subjects and PC6 among both healthy and nonhealthy subjects, respectively.Discussion.This study partially supports the possible effect of acupuncture in modulating the LF of HRV in both healthy and nonhealthy subjects, while previous review reported that acupuncture did not have any convincing effect on HRV in healthy subjects. More published work is needed in this area to determine if HRV can be an indicator of the therapeutic effect of acupuncture.


1997 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gervais Tougas ◽  
Markad Kamath ◽  
Geena Watteel ◽  
Debbie Fitzpatrick ◽  
Ernest L. Fallen ◽  
...  

1. The heart and the oesophagus have similar sensory pathways, and sensations originating from the oesophagus are often difficult to differentiate from those of cardiac origin. We hypothesized that oesophageal sensory stimuli could alter neurocardiac function through autonomic reflexes elicited by these oesophageal stimuli. In the present study, we examined the neurocardiac response to oesophageal stimulation and the effects of electrical and mechanical oesophageal stimulation on the power spectrum of beat-to-beat heart rate variability in male volunteers. 2. In 14 healthy volunteers, beat-to-beat heart rate variability was compared at rest and during oesophageal stimulation, using either electrical (200 μs, 16 mA, 0.2 Hz) or mechanical (0.5 s, 14 ml, 0.2 Hz) stimuli. The power spectrum of beat-to-beat heart rate variability was obtained and its low- and high-frequency components were determined. 3. Distal oesophageal stimulation decreased heart rate slightly (both electrical and mechanical) (P < 0.005), and markedly altered heart rate variability (P < 0.001). Both electrical and mechanical oesophageal stimulation increased the absolute and normalized area of the high-frequency band within the power spectrum (P < 0.001), while simultaneously decreasing the low-frequency power (P < 0.005). 4. In humans, oesophageal stimulation, whether electrical or mechanical, appears to amplify respiratory-driven cardiac vagoafferent modulation while decreasing sympathetic modulation. The technique provides access to vagoafferent fibres and thus may yield useful information on the autonomic effects of visceral or oesophageal sensory stimulation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 1080-1085 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sakari Simula ◽  
Tomi Laitinen ◽  
Tiina M Laitinen ◽  
Tuula Tarkiainen ◽  
Päivi Hartikainen ◽  
...  

Background: Fingolimod modulates sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors that are also found in cardiovascular tissue. Objective: To investigate the effects of fingolimod on cardiac autonomic regulation prospectively. Methods: Twenty-seven relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis patients underwent 24-hour electrocardiogram recording before, at the first day of fingolimod treatment (1d) and after three months of continuous dosing (3mo). The time interval between two consecutive R-peaks (RR-interval) was measured. Cardiac autonomic regulation was assessed by the various parameters of heart rate variability. Parasympathetic stimulation prolongs the RR-interval and increases heart rate variability while the effects of sympathetic stimulation are mainly the opposite. The low frequency/high frequency ratio reflects sympathovagal balance. Results: From baseline to 1d, a prolongation of the RR-interval ( P<0.001), an increase in the values of various heart rate variability parameters ( P<0.05 to P<0.001) and a decrease in the low frequency/high frequency ratio ( P<0.05) were demonstrated. At 3mo, although the RR-interval remained longer ( P<0.01), the values of various heart rate variability parameters were lower ( P<0.01 to P<0.001) as compared to baseline. At 3mo, the low frequency/high frequency ratio ( P<0.05) was higher in men than in women although no such difference was found at baseline or at 1d. Conclusions: After an initial increase in parasympathetic regulation, continuous fingolimod dosing shifts cardiac autonomic regulation towards sympathetic predominance, especially in men. Careful follow-up of fingolimod-treated relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis patients is warranted as sympathetic predominance associates generally with impaired outcome. ClinicalTrials.cov: NCT01704183


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 658-666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ching-Hsiang Chen ◽  
Kuo-Sheng Hung ◽  
Yu-Chu Chung ◽  
Mei-Ling Yeh

Background: Stroke, a medical condition that causes physical disability and mental health problems, impacts negatively on quality of life. Post-stroke rehabilitation is critical to restoring quality of life in these patients. Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of a mind–body interactive qigong intervention on the physical and mental aspects of quality of life, considering bio-physiological and mental covariates in subacute stroke inpatients. Methods: A randomized controlled trial with repeated measures design was used. A total of 68 participants were recruited from the medical and rehabilitation wards at a teaching hospital in northern Taiwan and then randomly assigned either to the Chan-Chuang qigong group, which received standard care plus a 10-day mind–body interactive exercise program, or to the control group, which received standard care only. Data were collected using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Short Form-12, stroke-related neurologic deficit, muscular strength, heart rate variability and fatigue at three time points: pre-intervention, halfway through the intervention (day 5) and on the final day of the intervention (day 10). Results: The results of the mixed-effect model analysis showed that the qigong group had a significantly higher quality of life score at day 10 ( p<0.05) than the control group. Among the covariates, neurologic deficit ( p=0.04), muscle strength ( p=0.04), low frequency to high frequency ratio ( p=0.02) and anxiety ( p=0.04) were significantly associated with changes in quality of life. Conversely, heart rate, heart rate variability (standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals, low frequency and high frequency), fatigue and depression were not significantly associated with change in quality of life ( p >0.05). Conclusions: This study supports the potential benefits of a 10-day mind–body interactive exercise (Chan-Chuang qigong) program for subacute stroke inpatients and provides information that may be useful in planning adjunctive rehabilitative care for stroke inpatients.


1996 ◽  
Vol 271 (2) ◽  
pp. H455-H460 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. P. Davy ◽  
N. L. Miniclier ◽  
J. A. Taylor ◽  
E. T. Stevenson ◽  
D. R. Seals

Coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiac sudden death (CSD) incidence accelerates after menopause, but the incidence is lower in physically active versus less active women. Low heart rate variability (HRV) is a risk factor for CHD and CSD. The purpose of the present investigation was to test the hypothesis that HRV at rest is greater in physically active compared with less active postmenopausal women. If true, we further hypothesized that the greater HRV in the physically active women would be closely associated with an elevated spontaneous cardiac baroreflex sensitivity (SBRS). HRV (both time and frequency domain measures) and SBRS (sequence method) were measured during 5-min periods of controlled frequency breathing (15 breaths/min) in the supine, sitting, and standing postures in 9 physically active postmenopausal women (age = 53 +/- 1 yr) and 11 age-matched controls (age = 56 +/- 2 yr). Body weight, body mass index, and body fat percentage were lower (P < 0.01) and maximal oxygen uptake was higher (P < 0.01) in the physically active group. The standard deviation of the R-R intervals (time domain measure) was higher in all postures in the active women (P < 0.05) as were the high-frequency, low-frequency, and total power of HRV. SBRS also was higher (P < 0.05) in the physically active women in all postures and accounted for approximately 70% of the variance in the high-frequency power of HRV (P < 0.05). The results of the present investigation indicate that physically active postmenopausal women demonstrate higher levels of HRV compared with age-matched, less active women. Furthermore, SBRS accounted for the majority of the variance in the high-frequency power of HRV, suggesting the possibility of a mechanistic link with cardiac vagal modulation of heart rate. Our findings may provide insight into a possible cardioprotective mechanism in physically active postmenopausal women.


2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 975-985 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ren-Jing Huang ◽  
Ching-Hsiang Lai ◽  
Shin-Da Lee ◽  
Wei-Che Wang ◽  
Ling-Hui Tseng ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document