Xie, Yaojie. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 171-185). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese; appendix in Chinese.

by Yeung Yuk-Ching. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-129). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract in English --- p.ii / Abstract in Chinese --- p.v / Glossary --- p.viii / Acknowledgements --- p.x / Publications Arising From this Thesis --- p.xii / List of Tables --- p.xviii / List of Figures --- p.xix / Chapter 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Definition of Heart Rate Variability --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Physiology --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Review of Autonomic Nervous System and Influence of Heart Rate --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- The Role of Baroreceptors in the Control of Circulation --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- The Control and Physiological Importance of Heart Rate --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2.3.1 --- Normal Heart Rate --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2.3.2 --- Autonomic Control of Heart Rate --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.3.2.1 --- Sympathetic Effects --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.3.2.2 --- Vagal Effects --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.3.3 --- Reflexes Influencing Heart Rate --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.3.3.1 --- Baroreceptors --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.3.3.2 --- Chemoreceptors --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.3.3.3 --- Atrial Receptors --- p.11 / Chapter 1.2.3.3.4 --- Coronary Chemoreflex --- p.11 / Chapter 1.2.3.3.5 --- Other Reflexes --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2.3.4 --- Influence of Complex Events on Heart Rate --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2.3.4.1 --- Respiratory Influence --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2.3.4.2 --- Effects of Decreases in Venous Return --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2.3.4.3 --- Exercise --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2.3.5 --- Physiological Importance of Heart Rate --- p.14 / Chapter 1.3 --- Spectral Analysis of Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Variability in Evaluating Cardiovascular Regulation --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4 --- Clinical Relevance --- p.15 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Increased Sympathetic Activity --- p.15 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Reduced Parasympathetic Activity --- p.15 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Low Heart Rate Variability --- p.16 / Chapter 1.4.4 --- Depressed Baroreflex Sensitivity --- p.17 / Chapter 1.4.5 --- Prognostic Value of Heart Rate Variability in Disease States --- p.17 / Chapter 1.4.6 --- Abnormality of Autonomic Nervous System in Heart Failure --- p.17 / Chapter 2 --- METHODS FOR ASSESSING HEART RATE VARIABILITY --- p.20 / Chapter 2.1 --- Time Domain Analysis of Heart Rate Variability --- p.20 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Statistical Methods --- p.21 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Geometric Methods --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2 --- Spectral Analysis of Heart Rate Variability --- p.23 / Chapter 2.3 --- "Nonlinear Indices (fractal, entropy, chaos theory)" --- p.27 / Chapter 3 --- HEART FAILURE --- p.28 / Chapter 3.1 --- Heart Rate Variability in Heart Failure --- p.28 / Chapter 3.2 --- Effect of Changes in Respiratory Frequency and Posture on Heart Rate Variability Analysis in Heart Failure --- p.34 / Chapter 3.3 --- Effect of Respiratory Rates on Baroreceptor Function in Heart Failure --- p.34 / Chapter 3.4 --- Effect of Treatment on Heart Rate Variability in Heart Failure Patients --- p.35 / Chapter 4 --- AIMS --- p.39 / Chapter 4.1 --- Effect of Changes in Respiratory Frequency and Posture on Heart Rate Variability --- p.39 / Chapter 4.2 --- Effect of Slow Breathing --- p.39 / Chapter 4.3 --- Effect of Therapeutic Interventions in Chronic Heart Failure --- p.39 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- A Comparison of Celiprolol with Metoprolol --- p.39 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- A Comparison of Carvedilol with Metoprolol --- p.40 / Chapter 5 --- STUDIES --- p.41 / Chapter 5.1 --- Impact of Changes in Respiratory Frequency and Posture on Power Spectral Analysis of Heart Rate and Systolic Blood Pressure Variability in Normal Subjects and Patients with Heart Failure --- p.41 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Subjects --- p.41 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Recording Technique and Protocol --- p.42 / Chapter 5.1.3 --- Signal Acquisition --- p.42 / Chapter 5.1.4 --- Power Spectral Analysis --- p.43 / Chapter 5.1.5 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.46 / Chapter 5.1.6 --- Results --- p.46 / Chapter 5.1.7 --- Discussion --- p.52 / Chapter 5.1.8 --- Summary --- p.56 / Chapter 5.2 --- Slow Breathing Increases Arterial Baroreflex Sensitivityin Patients with Chronic Heart Failure --- p.57 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Subjects --- p.57 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Assessment of Baroreflex Sensitivity --- p.57 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.58 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Results --- p.59 / Chapter 5.2.5 --- Discussion --- p.62 / Chapter 5.2.6 --- Summary --- p.63 / Chapter 5.3 --- β-Blockers in Heart Failure: a Comparison of a Vasodilating β- Blocker with Metoprolol on Heart Rate Variability by 24 Hour ECG Recordings (Time-Domain & Spectral Analysis) --- p.65 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Trial Design --- p.65 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Study Patients --- p.65 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Study Measurements --- p.66 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.67 / Chapter 5.3.5 --- Results --- p.67 / Chapter 5.3.6 --- Discussion --- p.80 / Chapter 5.3.7 --- Summary --- p.81 / Chapter 5.4 --- Effect of β-Blockade on Baroreceptor and Autonomic Function in Heart Failure-Assessment by Short Term Spectral Analysis --- p.83 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Trial Design and Study Patients --- p.83 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Recording Technique and Protocol --- p.83 / Chapter 5.4.3 --- "Signal Acquisition, Power Spectral Analysis and Cross Spectral Analysis" --- p.83 / Chapter 5.4.4 --- Reproducibility --- p.84 / Chapter 5.4.5 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.84 / Chapter 5.4.6 --- Results --- p.84 / Chapter 5.4.7 --- Discussion --- p.93 / Chapter 5.4.8 --- Summary --- p.97 / Chapter 5.5 --- β-Blockade in Heart Failure: A Comparison of Carvedilol with Metoprolol on HRV by 24 hour ECG Recordings (Time-Domain & Spectral Analysis) --- p.98 / Chapter 5.5.1 --- Trial Design and Patient Demographics --- p.98 / Chapter 5.5.2 --- Study Measurements --- p.98 / Chapter 5.5.3 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.99 / Chapter 5.5.4 --- Results --- p.99 / Chapter 5.5.5 --- Discussion --- p.105 / Chapter 5.5.6 --- Conclusions --- p.107 / Chapter 5.6 --- Comparison of Carvedilol and Metoprolol on Baroreceptor Gain in Heart Failure by Short Term Spectral Analysis --- p.108 / Chapter 5.6.1 --- Study Design --- p.108 / Chapter 5.6.2 --- Study Patients --- p.108 / Chapter 5.6.3 --- Recording Technique and Protocol --- p.108 / Chapter 5.6.4 --- "Signal Acquisition, Power Spectral Analysis and Cross Spectral Analysis" --- p.108 / Chapter 5.6.5 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.109 / Chapter 5.6.6 --- Results --- p.109 / Chapter 5.6.7 --- Discussion --- p.112 / Chapter 5.6.8 --- Summary --- p.112 / Chapter 6 --- "GENERAL DISCUSSION, LIMITATIONS & CONCLUSIONS" --- p.113 / Chapter 6.1 --- Discussion --- p.113 / Chapter 6.2 --- Conclusions --- p.117 / Chapter 7 --- REFERENCES --- p.119

ABSTRACTnformation and telecommunication technologies have been used for medical applications for almost a century: the radio, the phone and the television have been used to provide medical assistance to remote areas like boats located in the sea, oil rigs and other isolated locations. This new use of ICT was given the name of Telemedicine. ISince the 90`s, health care systems have been looking for new ways and alternatives to provide health care than the traditional hospital centers. Information technologies and communication systems have been developed, especially with the deployment of Internet access to most of residential areas, and have brought health care to the electronic age; Carving a new term E-Health.Nowadays Telemedicine is used in several E-health applications for teleconsultation, telediagnosis, telemonitoring and has been successfully tested in teleradiology, telecardiology, teledermatology, telepsychiatry, etc. This technology is used in rural areas, health areas, prisons, home cares, emergencies, wars, etc.This project implements two different parts. The first one is an user application to measure weight and blood pressure from the patient using two Bluetooth-enable measurement devices: the UC-321PBT Precision Health Scale and UA-767PBT Blood Pressure Monitor. The second one implements a web server to store all patients reports with updated information in real time. This information can be consulted through a web page for medical staff in HL7 patient’s report format. / Uppsatsnivå: D

Thesis (B.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering; and, (B.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mathematics, 1982. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING / Includes bibliographical references and index. / by Richard J. Tello. / B.S.

INTRODUÇÃO: Prévios estudos demonstraram que o treinamento físico melhora o controle barorreflexo da freqüência cardíaca em ratos geneticamente hipertensos. Contudo, o efeito do treinamento físico no controle barorreflexo da atividade nervosa simpática e da freqüência cardíaca em pacientes com hipertensão não é conhecido. Desta forma, foram objetivos deste estudo testar as hipóteses de que o treinamento físico poderia melhorar o controle barorreflexo da atividade nervosa simpática muscular (ANSM) e da freqüência cardíaca em pacientes hipertensos, e que o treinamento físico poderia reduzir os níveis de ANSM e pressão arterial nesses pacientes. MÉTODOS: Vinte pacientes hipertensos, sem uso de medicamentos, foram subdivididos em dois grupos: grupo hipertenso treinado (n=11, idade: 46±2 anos) e grupo hipertenso sedentário (n=9, idade: 42±2 anos). Um grupo de indivíduos normotensos pareados por idade (n=12, idade: 42±2 anos) também foi estudado. O controle barorreflexo da ANSM (microneurografia) e da freqüência cardíaca (ECG) foram avaliados pelo método de infusão venosa de doses crescentes de fenilefrina e nitroprussiato de sódio, e analisados pela equação de regressão linear. A pressão arterial foi medida batimento a batimento pelo método oscilométrico automático. O treinamento físico consistiu de três sessões por semana, com duração de 60 minutos cada, por um período de 4 meses. RESULTADOS: Antes das intervenções, em condições basais, os níveis de pressão arterial e ANSM foram semelhantes entre os grupos hipertensos, mas significativamente aumentados quando comparados com o grupo normotenso. O controle barorreflexo da ANSM e da freqüência cardíaca foi semelhante entre os grupos hipertensos, mas significativamente diminuídos quando comparados ao grupo normotenso. Nos pacientes hipertensos, o treinamento físico reduziu os níveis de pressão arterial (P<0,01) e ANSM (P<0,01), e significativamente aumentou o controle barorreflexo da ANSM e da freqüência cardíaca durante aumentos (P<0,01 e P<0,03, respectivamente) e diminuições (P<0,01 e P<0,03, respectivamente) na pressão arterial. Além disso, após o treinamento físico, não foi mais observada, a diferença inicial na sensibilidade barorreflexa arterial entre os pacientes hipertensos e indivíduos normotensos. Nenhuma mudança significativa foi observada no grupo hipertenso sedentário. CONCLUSÔES: O treinamento físico restaura o controle barorreflexo da ANSM e da freqüência cardíaca em pacientes hipertensos. Adicionalmente, o treinamento físico normaliza os níveis da ANSM e reduz os níveis de pressão arterial nesses pacientes. / Previous studies demonstrated that exercise training improves the baroreflex control of heart rate in spontaneously hypertensive rats. However, the effects of exercise training on baroreflex control of sympathetic nerve activity and heart rate in patients with hypertension are unknown. We hypothesized that exercise training would improve baroreflex control of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and heart rate in hypertensive patients and that exercise training would reduce MSNA and blood pressure in these patients. Twenty never-treated hypertensive patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: exercise-trained (n=11, age: 46±2 years) and untrained (n=9, age: 42±2 years) patients. An age-matched normotensive exercise-trained group (n=12, age: 42±2 years) was also studied. Baroreflex control of MSNA (microneurography) and heart rate (ECG) was assessed by stepwise intravenous infusions of phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside and analyzed by linear regression. Blood pressure was monitored on a beat-to-beat basis. Exercise training consisted of three 60-minute exercise sessions per week for 4 months. Under baseline conditions (before training), blood pressure and MSNA were similar between hypertensive groups but significantly increased when compared with the normotensive group. Baroreflex control of MSNA and heart rate was similar between hypertensive groups but significantly decreased when compared with the normotensive group. In hypertensive patients, exercise training significantly reduced blood pressure (P<0.01) and MSNA (P<0.01) levels and significantly increased baroreflex control of MSNA and heart rate during increases (P<0.01 and P<0.03, respectively) and decreases (P<0.01 and P<0.03, respectively) in blood pressure. The baseline (preintervention) difference in baroreflex sensitivity between hypertensive patients and normotensive individuals was no longer observed after exercise training. No significant changes were found in untrained hypertensive patients. In conclusion, exercise training restores the baroreflex control of MSNA and heart rate in hypertensive patients. In addition, exercise training normalizes MSNA and decreases blood pressure levels in these patients.

Objetivos: Avaliar o comportamento da pressão arterial (PA) e da frequência cardíaca (FC) durante a fase de dor da migrânea em pacientes sem hipertensão arterial sistêmica (HAS). Avaliar essas variáveis em função da intensidade de dor e se elas sofrem influência do uso agudo de ibuprofeno. Métodos: Dez pacientes (nove mulheres), entre 21 e 43 anos, com diagnóstico de migrânea foram selecionados. Todos tinham diagnóstico de migrânea sem aura e quatro deles também tinha diagnóstico de migrânea com aura. Eles apresentavam de 3 a 11 dias de dor por mês, não tinham qualquer outro problema de saúde e não estavam em tratamento profilático para migrânea. Além disso, não utilizavam medicamentos que pudessem interferir na PA ou FC. Os pacientes foram submetidos à anamnese e exame físico. Para descartar HAS, foram submetidos a medições convencionais da PA e Medidas Ambulatoriais da Pressão Arterial por 24h. A aquisição das medidas de PA e FC nos períodos livres de dor (interictal) foram realizadas por meio de Medidas Residenciais da Pressão Arterial (MRPA) por quatro a cinco dias consecutivos, com a obtenção de seis medidas ao dia. Para a aquisição das medidas de PA e FC no período de dor da migrânea (ictal), os pacientes foram orientados a fazer MRPA a cada 10 minutos nas duas primeiras horas de dor e, após, a cada 15 minutos até o final da crise. Ainda, deveriam assinalar em um tipo de diário de cefaleia as características da dor a cada hora. Permitiu-se o uso de 400mg de ibuprofeno como tratamento de resgate após o final da segunda hora de dor. Para análise estatística, comparamos os valores de pressão arterial sistólica (PAS), pressão arterial diastólica (PAD), pressão arterial média (PAM) e FC realizadas no período interictal com as realizadas no período ictal. As variáveis obtidas durante a cefaleia foram comparadas em função da intensidade de dor e em função do uso de ibuprofeno. Resultados: As médias de PAS, PAD, PAM do período ictal foram significativamente menores que as do período interictal (p0,01). Comparando as médias dos valores de PAS, PAD, PAM e FC do período interictal com as do período ictal divididas por hora para as primeiras quatro horas de dor, observamos que houve uma redução progressiva dos valores de PAS, PAD e PAM durante todo esse período (p0,01). Quanto à FC, observamos que houve aumento de seus valores na primeira hora de dor (p0,02). Houve uma tendência de redução dos valores das médias de PAS, PAD e PAM nas dores de moderada e forte intensidade. Com relação ao ibuprofeno, não notamos diferenças nas variáveis. Conclusões: Durante a fase de dor da migrânea ocorre uma redução da PA desde a primeira hora de dor. Por outro lado, há um aumento dos valores da FC apenas na primeira hora de dor. Houve uma tendência de que os valores de PA reduzissem à medida que a dor progredisse de leve para moderada e forte intensidades. O uso de 400mg de ibuprofeno não promoveu alterações nas variáveis analisadas. / Objectives: To analyse the behavior of blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) during migraine headache in patients without hypertension (HBP). To assess the values of BP and HR according to the intensity of pain, and to check if those variable are influenced by 400 mg of ibuprofen. Methods: Ten patients (nine women), 21 to 43 years-old, with migraine diagnosis were select. All of them had migraine without aura and four of them also had migraine with aura. They had from 3 to 11 days of headache a month, no other healthy problem, and werent on migraine prophylactic treatment. Also, they werent using other drugs that could interfere on BP and HR. Patients were submitted to anamnesis and physical examination. Hypertension was ruled out through office and ambulatory BP measurements for 24 hours. To obtain the values of pain-free period, BP and HR were measured through home measurements which were done from 4 to 5 consecutives days, 6 times a day. To obtain the values of migraine headache period, patients were asked to measure their BP and HR from the beginning to the end of the attack. During the first two hour of pain, they should do the measures each 10 minutes, and after that each 15 minutes until the end of the attack. During the last procedure, patients should write in a kind of headache diary their headache characteristics each hour. Using of 400 mg of ibuprofen was just allowed at the end of the second hour of pain. To statistical analysis, the values of systolic (SBP), diastolic DBP), mean (MBP) blood pressure and HR from pain-free period were compared with the values of these variables from headache period. The values of these variables from headache period were also compared according the intensity of pain and the intake of ibuprofen. Results: The mean values of SBP, DBP and MBP from headache period were statistically lower than those from pain-free period (p0,01). Comparing mean values of SBP, DBP, MBP and HR from pain-free period to means from the headache period, separated by hour, for the first 4 hours of pain, we verified there were a progressive reduction of SBP, DBP, MBP during this phase (p0,01). About the HR, we noticed its values raised during the first hour of pain (p0,02). There was a trend of SBP, DBP and MBP values to be lower during moderate and severe pain. Regarding the use of ibuprofen, we didnt notice differences on BP or HR values. Conclusions: During migraine headache, BP values are lower since the first hour of pain. On the other hand, HR values were different just in the first hour of pain where they were higher. There was a trend of BP lowering as the pain progressed from mild to moderate and severe intensity. Ibuprofen (400 mg) didn\'t change the variables values.

Introdução: As diretrizes atuais recomendam restrições no sódio dietético para o tratamento de insuficiência cardíaca agudamente descompensada (ICAD), contudo sem embasamento em evidências científicas sólidas. Estudos recentes sugerem que a dieta normossódica é comparável à dieta hipossódica no tocante à resolução da congestão dos pacientes com ICAD. Levanta-se a hipótese de que o emprego de dieta não restrita em sódio pode adicionalmente preservar os níveis de natremia no tratamento dos pacientes com ICAD. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito de dois níveis de ingestão dietética de sódio em pacientes hospitalizados para o tratamento de ICAD. Casuística e Métodos: Investigamos prospectivamente 44 pacientes internados com ICAD, randomizados em 2 grupos: grupo DH (dieta hipossódica): com dieta restrita em sódio, com 3 g de cloreto de sódio por dia (n = 22; 59,5±11,9 anos, 50% masculinos, FEVE = 30,0±13,6%); e grupo DN (dieta normossódica): com dieta sem restrição de sódio, com 7 g de cloreto de sódio por dia (n = 22; 56,4±10,3 anos; 68,2% masculinos; FEVE = 27,8±11,7%), ambos submetidos à restrição hídrica de 1.000 ml/dia. No tempo basal e no 7° dia de intervenção ou final, caso a pesquisa fosse interrompida antes dos sete dias de intervenção, avaliamos o NT-proBNP sérico, aplicamos uma escala analógica visual de dispneia e outra de bem-estar geral. Diariamente coletamos dados de peso corpóreo, sódio e potássio séricos, creatinina e ureia séricas (função renal), balanço hídrico (BH), dose diária e acumulada de diuréticos e demais medicações para o tratamento de ICAD, pressão arterial sistólica (PAS), diastólica (PAD) e média (PAM), e frequência cardíaca (FC). Resultados: Os grupos DH e DN apresentaram, respectivamente: graus semelhantes de diminuição percentual de peso corpóreo (3,9±3,0% vs 3,0±3,4%, p = 0,39), semelhantes doses médias diárias de furosemida (76,9±32,3 mg vs 67,1±20,7 mg, p = 0,5), redução comparável dos níveis de NTproBNP (15,2±40,4% vs 22,8±55,5%, p = 0,6), semelhantes BH acumulados (-3614,8±2809,2 ml vs -2801,5±1962,5 ml, p = 0,3) e melhora dos níveis de escalas visuais de dispneia (3,4±2,1 e 3,0±1,9, p = 0,6) e bem-estar geral (2,7±2,1 e 2,6±2,9, p = 0,9). No 7° dia de intervenção o grupo DH apresentou menores níveis de sódio sérico (135,4±3,5 mmol/L) em comparação ao grupo DN (137,5±1,9 mmol/L; p = 0,05). Houve 4 casos de hiponatremia no 7° dia de intervenção, todos pertencentes ao grupo DH(25%). O grupo DN exibiu valores mais preservados de PAM durante a internação (79,4±2,4 mmHg) quando comparados ao grupo DH (75,5±3,0 mmHg), p = 0,03 e de FC, 73,2±1,6 bpm vs 75,5±2,1 bpm, respectivamente, p = 0,02. A função renal e o potássio sérico não apresentaram diferença significativa entre os grupos. Conclusão: Em pacientes com ICAD, o emprego de dieta normossódica, associou-se à melhor preservação dos níveis de sódio sérico e dos valores de pressão arterial quando comparada à dieta hipossódica. Adicionalmente, o emprego da dieta hipossódica não se associou a benefícios adicionais no tocante à redução da congestão, melhora dos sintomas e na redução da ativação neurohumoral. Esses resultados sugerem que a dieta hipossódica não deva ser usada como rotina no tratamento dos pacientes com ICAD. / Background: The current guidelines endorse the use of low dietary sodium intake for the treatment of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). However, this recommendation is not based on robust scientific evidence. New researches suggest that normal sodium diet is comparable to a low sodium diet regarding the congestion resolution in patients of ADHF. We hypothesize that a normal sodium diet is associated with more preserved levels of serum sodium during the hospitalization. Purpose: This study aimed at assessing the effect of two levels of dietary sodium intake in hospitalized patients with ADHF. Methods: We investigated prospectively 44 patients hospitalized for ADHF, randomized to 2 groups: LS (low sodium diet), receiving 3 g/day of dietary sodium chloride (n = 22, 59.5±11.9 y.o., 50% male, LVEF = 30.0±13.6%); and NS (normal sodium diet), receiving 7 g/day of dietary sodium chloride (n = 22, 56.4±10.3 y.o., 68% male; LVEF = 27.8±11.7%). Both groups were submitted to a limit of fluid intake of 1000 ml/day. The primary endpoint was the serum sodium level at day 7. The NT-proBNP levels, a visual analogy scale about dyspnea and wellbeing were measured at baseline and at day 7 or ending, if the search was interrupted before the seven days of intervention. Daily monitoring included: body weight, accumulated fluid balance, daily and cumulative diuretic dose and other medications for treating ICAD, systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and serum levels of sodium, potassium, ureic nitrogen and creatinine (renal function). Results: LS and NS groups presented, respectively, similar amount of accumulated fluid balance (-3614.8±2809.2 ml vs - 2801.5±1962.5 ml, p = 0.3), percent body weight reduction(3.9±3.0% vs 3.0±3.4%, p = 0.39) , cumulative furosemide dose (76.9±32.3 mg vs 67.1±20.7 mg, p = 0.5), percent reduction of NT-proBNP levels (15.2±40.4% vs 22.8±55.5%, p = 0.6), improvement in visual analogic scale of dyspnea (3.4±2.1 e 3.0±1.9, p = 0.6) and well-being (2.7±2.1 vs 2.6±2.9, p = 0.9). Additionally, at day 7, the LS group presented lower levels of serum sodium (135.4±3.5 mmol/L) in comparison to the NS (137.5±1.9 mmol/L; p = 0.05). During hospitalization, 4 cases of hyponatremia were observed in seventh day of intervention, all in the LS diet group (25%). The NS group exhibited more preserved values of mean BP (79.4±2.4 mmHg), as compared to the LS group (75.5±3.0 mmHg), p = 0.03, and HR, 73.2±1.6 bpm vs 75.5±2.1 bpm, respectively, p = 0.02. The renal function and serum potassium tests presented no significant difference between groups. Conclusions: In patients with ADHF, the use of low dietary sodium intake is not associated to additional benefits when compared to a normal sodium diet in regard to reduction of congestive manifestations, symptoms resolution and decrease of the neurohumoral activation. In addition, the normal sodium diet was associated to preservation of serum sodium and blood pressure levels. These results suggest that a low sodium diet should not be routinely used for ADHF treatment.

INTRODUÇÃO: A cineangiocoronariografia é um procedimento médico invasivo que envolve sentimentos de medo e ansiedade. Estudos internacionais têm avaliado o efeito da música como técnica de intervenção para redução da ansiedade utilizando-a antes, durante e depois da cineangiocoronariografia. Contudo, os resultados de sua aplicação durante o procedimento não são consensuais. OBJETIVO: A proposta do presente estudo foi avaliar o efeito da música, aplicada durante a realização do procedimento, na ansiedade de pacientes submetidos à cineangiocoronariografia pela primeira vez. MÉTODOS: Os desfechos estudados foram o nível de ansiedade medido pelo Inventário de Ansiedade Beck, a frequência cardíaca e pressão arterial, ambas medidas pelo método intra-arterial. Participaram do estudo 300 pacientes randomizados entre o grupo controle (procedimento padrão) ou grupo música (cineangiocoronariografia realizada com a intervenção musical). Foi realizado o cegamento da pesquisadora durante toda a coleta e análise estatística dos dados. RESULTADOS: Os grupos eram semelhantes em relação às características de base, bem como dados sobre os hábitos musicais dos pacientes e dados da cineangiocoronariografia. Não foram observadas diferenças entre os grupos controle e música para todos os desfechos estudados: nível de ansiedade (p=0,072), pressão arterial sistólica (p=0,379), pressão arterial diastólica (p=0,152) e frequência cardíaca (p=0,853). Notou-se também que, mesmo antes da realização do procedimento, 80,9% do grupo controle e 76,9% do grupo música já apresentavam o menor nível de ansiedade (mínima). As mulheres mostraram-se mais ansiosas do que os homens (p=0,000 pré-exame e p=0,022 pós-exame). Não houve relação na comparação entre ansiedade e diferentes faixas etárias (p=0,352 pré-exame, p=0,198 pós-exame). CONCLUSÃO: A música aplicada no presente estudo durante a cineangiocoronariografia não se mostrou efetiva na redução dos níveis de ansiedade, pressão arterial e frequência cardíaca dos pacientes submetidos ao procedimento pela primeira vez. Constatou-se também que as mulheres são mais ansiosas do que os homens e que não houve relação entre o nível de ansiedade e faixas etárias / BACKGROUND: Coronary angiography is an invasive medical procedure that involves feelings of fear and anxiety. International studies have evaluated the effects of music intervention to reduce anxiety by using it before, during and after coronary angiography. However, the results of this strategy are not clear. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of music, employed during the procedure, on anxiety of patients undergoing coronary angiography for the first time. METHODS: Outcomes were anxiety level measured by the Beck Anxiety Inventory, heart rate and blood pressure, both measured by intra-arterial method. The study included 300 patients randomized between the control group (standard procedure) or music group (standard procedure with a music intervention). The researcher was blinded throughout the data collection and statistical analysis. RESULTS: Baseline variables were adequatly balanced between both groups, as well as data on musical habits and coronary angiography. No differences were observed between the control group and music group in any of the outcomes: level of anxiety (p = 0.072), systolic blood pressure (p = 0.379), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.152) and heart rate (p = 0.853). It was also noted that even before the procedure, 80.9% of the control group and 76.9% of the music group had low level of anxiety. Women were more anxious than men (p = 0.000 pre-test and p = 0.022 post-test). No relationship was found between anxiety and age (p = 0.352 pre-test, p = 0.198 post-test). CONCLUSION: The music used in this study during coronary angiography was not effective in reducing anxiety levels, blood pressure or heart rate in patients undergoing the procedure for the first time. It was also found that women are more anxious than men and that there was no relationship between anxiety levels and age

Slow and deep breathing (SDB) has long been regarded as a nonpharmacological method for dealing with several physiological and emotional imbalances, and widely used for relaxation purposes. There is, however, limited understanding of the putative mechanisms by which SDB acutely impacts the cardiovascular and autonomic systems to elicit chronic adaptations. The present thesis explored how the manipulation of breathing pattern and intrathoracic pressure during SDB could further the understanding of the regulatory mechanisms that underpin the acute cardiovascular response to SDB. This thesis makes an original contribution to the existing knowledge by reporting a previously undescribed inversion of normal within-breath (inspiration vs. expiration) left ventricular stroke volume (LVSV) pattern for breathing frequencies < 8 breaths∙min-1. This finding might reflect the influence of a lag between enhanced right atrial filling and right ventricular stroke volume during inspiration, and its expression in left ventricular stroke volume; this lag results from the time required for blood to transit the pulmonary circulation. Furthermore, blood pressure variability (BPV) was reduced significantly at the lowest breathing frequencies, likely due to the involvement of baroreflex mediated responses. The pattern of responses was consistent with the buffering of respiratory-driven fluctuations in left ventricular cardiac output (Q̇) and arterial blood pressure (ABP) by within breath fluctuations in heart rate (fc), i.e., respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) (Chapter 4). Chapter 5 demonstrated that magnifying negative intrathoracic pressure with inspiratory loading during SDB increased inspiratory pressure-driven fluctuations in LVSV and fc, and enhanced Q̇, independently of changes in VT and fR. The data support an important contribution to the amplification of RSA, during SDB, of previously underappreciated reflex, and/or 'myogenic', cardiac response mechanisms. The findings in Chapter 6 confirmed that inspiratory loading during SDB amplified the effects observed with un-loaded SDB (reported in chapter 5). In contrast, expiratory loading increased ABP and attenuated RSA, LVSV and Q̇ during SDB. A lower RSA for higher ABP, supports the presence of a formerly underappreciated contribution of sinoatrial node stretch to RSA, and throws into question the clinical benefits of expiratory resisted SDB, particularly in hypertensive populations. In conclusion, the findings of the present thesis provide novel information regarding the mechanisms contributing to acute cardiovascular response to SDB. These new insights may contribute to the development of more effective SDB interventions, geared towards maximising the perturbation to the cardiovascular control systems.

Zhang Ye. / "October 2001." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 200-224). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.