To track evolution of autonomic responses during orthostasis in men and women, we used discrete pseudo-Wigner distribution based time-frequency analysis to compute dominant frequencies and spectral powers in RR intervals and Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP). Data were collected from 38 healthy volunteers (22 men, 16 women) during 10 min supine posture followed by 30 min of 700 head up tilt. The RR intervals were computed from ECG and systolic blood pressure was and spectral amplitudes of RR intervals were integrated in two regions viz., Low Frequency (LF) region defined between 0.05-0.15 Hz and High Frequency region (HF), sometimes referred to as respiratory frequency region, defined as mean breathing frequency of the individual +/- one standard deviation. Dominant frequencies of RR intervals in the LF region decreased in both men and women. There were no significant differences between men and women as far as the SBP data were concerned for the dominant frequencies, however women had higher values than men. Dominant frequencies of RR intervals in the HF region increased both in men and women from supine to tilt. No significant differences in dominant frequencies were found between men and women. Also there were no significant differences even for the SBP data, however men had higher values than women Integrated powers within the auto spectra of RR showed that in the HF region, power decreased significantly for both men (pandlt;0.005), and women (pandlt;0.001) during tilt compared to supine. However, the HF power in women was significantly higher for men during both supine (pandlt;0.001), and tilt (pandlt;0.005). In LF region integrated power spectrum showed no significant difference between men and women although women showed a slight increase from supine to tilt. These results suggest that men have a higher sympathetic control while women have greater para-sympathetic influence.

Cavitating flow through five perforated plates with different number of holes with preserved constant flow cross-section area in sum were experimentally examined. Dynamic characteristics such as dependence of pressure amplitudes and dominant frequencies on cavitation number in all regimes of cavitating flow: incipient cavitation, partial cavitation, fully developed cavitation and supercavitation are obtained. For determination of dominant frequencies several pressure transducers in two regimes of measurement were used. Results were validated with frequency spectra obtained from picture analysis based on high-speed camera records.

Fond : Le substrat de fibrillation auriculaire (FA) vagale et celui secondaire à remodelage par tachycardie auriculaire (RTA) partagent beaucoup des caractéristiques : période réfractaire efficace (PRE) réduite, hétérogénéité accrue de PRE et quelques mécanismes moléculaires communs. Cette étude a comparé les 2 substrats à une abréviation comparable de PRE. Méthodes : Chez chacun de 6 chiens de groupe de stimulation vagal (SV), les paramètres de stimulation cervicale bilatérale de nerves vagaux ont été ajustés pour produire la même PRE moyenne (calculé à 8 sites des oreillettes gauche et droite) avec 6 chiens de groupe de RTA assorti à sexe et poids. Des paramètres électrophysiologiques, la durée moyenne de la fibrillation auriculaire (DAF) et les fréquences dominantes (FD) locales ont étés calculés. Résultats : En dépit des PREs assorties (SV: 80±12msec contre RTA: 79±12msec) la DAF était plus longue (*), l’hétérogénéité de conduction était plus élevée (*), la FD était plus rapide (*) et la variabilité de FD plus grande (*) chez les chiens SV. Les zones de maximum FD qui reflètent les zones d’origine de FA étaient à côté de ganglions autonomes chez les chiens SV. Conclusions : Pour un PRE atriale comparable, la FA secondaire à SV est plus rapide et plus persistante que la FA avec un substrat de RTA. Ces résultats sont consistants avec des modèles de travail suggérant que l'hyperpolarisation SV-induite contribue de façon important à la stabilisation et à l'accélération des rotors qui maintiennent la FA. La similitude de la distribution de FD du groupe vagal avec la distribution des lésions d’ablation après cartographie des électrogrammes atriales fragmentés suggère des nouvelles techniques d’ablation. La distribution des FD entre le SV et le RTA fournit de nouvelles idées au sujet de possible rémodelage neuroreceptorial et indique des différences importantes entre ces substrats de FA superficiellement semblables. / Background: Vagal nerve stimulation (VS) and atrial tachycardia remodeled (ATR) atrial fibrillation (AF) substrates share many features: reduced effective refractory period (ERP), increased ERP heterogeneity and some common molecular mechanisms. This study compared VS and ATR substrates at comparable ERP abbreviation. Methods: In each of 6 VS dogs, bilateral cervical VS parameters were adjusted to produce the same mean ERP as a sex and weight matched ATR dog. Electrophysiological parameters, mean duration of AF (DAF) and local dominant frequencies (DF) were determined (before (CTL) and after VS in VS dogs). Results: Despite matched ERPs (VG: 80±12msec vs ATR: 79±12msec) DAF was greater (*), conduction heterogeneity was greater (*), DF was faster (*) and DF variability greater (*) in VS dogs. AF drivers reflected by maximum DF zones were adjacent to autonomic ganglia in VS dogs; there was a tendency (p<0.07) to faster driver zones in the left atrium comparing to the right in ATR dogs. Conclusions: For a comparable atrial ERP, VS AF is faster and more persistent than AF with an ATR substrate. These results are consistent with modeling work suggesting that VS-induced hyperpolarization is an important contributor to AF-maintaining rotor stabilization and acceleration. Similarities in DF distribution in VS dogs with distribution of ablation lesions performed after Complex Fractionated Atrial Electrograms mapping suggests new curative ablation methods. DF distribution differences between VS and ATR provides new ideas about possible neuroreceptorial remodeling and indicates important differences between these superficially similar AF substrates.

Fond : Le substrat de fibrillation auriculaire (FA) vagale et celui secondaire à remodelage par tachycardie auriculaire (RTA) partagent beaucoup des caractéristiques : période réfractaire efficace (PRE) réduite, hétérogénéité accrue de PRE et quelques mécanismes moléculaires communs. Cette étude a comparé les 2 substrats à une abréviation comparable de PRE. Méthodes : Chez chacun de 6 chiens de groupe de stimulation vagal (SV), les paramètres de stimulation cervicale bilatérale de nerves vagaux ont été ajustés pour produire la même PRE moyenne (calculé à 8 sites des oreillettes gauche et droite) avec 6 chiens de groupe de RTA assorti à sexe et poids. Des paramètres électrophysiologiques, la durée moyenne de la fibrillation auriculaire (DAF) et les fréquences dominantes (FD) locales ont étés calculés. Résultats : En dépit des PREs assorties (SV: 80±12msec contre RTA: 79±12msec) la DAF était plus longue (*), l’hétérogénéité de conduction était plus élevée (*), la FD était plus rapide (*) et la variabilité de FD plus grande (*) chez les chiens SV. Les zones de maximum FD qui reflètent les zones d’origine de FA étaient à côté de ganglions autonomes chez les chiens SV. Conclusions : Pour un PRE atriale comparable, la FA secondaire à SV est plus rapide et plus persistante que la FA avec un substrat de RTA. Ces résultats sont consistants avec des modèles de travail suggérant que l'hyperpolarisation SV-induite contribue de façon important à la stabilisation et à l'accélération des rotors qui maintiennent la FA. La similitude de la distribution de FD du groupe vagal avec la distribution des lésions d’ablation après cartographie des électrogrammes atriales fragmentés suggère des nouvelles techniques d’ablation. La distribution des FD entre le SV et le RTA fournit de nouvelles idées au sujet de possible rémodelage neuroreceptorial et indique des différences importantes entre ces substrats de FA superficiellement semblables. / Background: Vagal nerve stimulation (VS) and atrial tachycardia remodeled (ATR) atrial fibrillation (AF) substrates share many features: reduced effective refractory period (ERP), increased ERP heterogeneity and some common molecular mechanisms. This study compared VS and ATR substrates at comparable ERP abbreviation. Methods: In each of 6 VS dogs, bilateral cervical VS parameters were adjusted to produce the same mean ERP as a sex and weight matched ATR dog. Electrophysiological parameters, mean duration of AF (DAF) and local dominant frequencies (DF) were determined (before (CTL) and after VS in VS dogs). Results: Despite matched ERPs (VG: 80±12msec vs ATR: 79±12msec) DAF was greater (*), conduction heterogeneity was greater (*), DF was faster (*) and DF variability greater (*) in VS dogs. AF drivers reflected by maximum DF zones were adjacent to autonomic ganglia in VS dogs; there was a tendency (p<0.07) to faster driver zones in the left atrium comparing to the right in ATR dogs. Conclusions: For a comparable atrial ERP, VS AF is faster and more persistent than AF with an ATR substrate. These results are consistent with modeling work suggesting that VS-induced hyperpolarization is an important contributor to AF-maintaining rotor stabilization and acceleration. Similarities in DF distribution in VS dogs with distribution of ablation lesions performed after Complex Fractionated Atrial Electrograms mapping suggests new curative ablation methods. DF distribution differences between VS and ATR provides new ideas about possible neuroreceptorial remodeling and indicates important differences between these superficially similar AF substrates.