Para avaliação da sincope neurocardiogênica, testes ativos e passivos de mudança postural são utilizados, e verificar o comportamento da musculatura e da oscilação do corpo pode auxiliar no melhor entendimento das respostas cardiovasculares e biomecânicas. O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar protocolos ativo e passivo de mudança postural, padronizado de 15 minutos, associado a três manobras de Valsalva intervaladas, para os testes de mudança postural ativa, Acive Standing test (AS) e passiva, Head-Up Tilt test (HUT), utilizados no diagnóstico da síncope neurocardiogênica (SNC), em relação às mudanças nos valores de frequência cardíaca, pressão arterial sistólica e diastólica, atividade eletromiográfica dos músculos reto abdominal (RA), eretores da espinha (EE), tibial anterior (TA) e gastrocnêmio porção medial (GM) bilateral, em 23 mulheres saudáveis, além de analisar o deslocamento e velocidade média do centro de pressão do corpo sobre uma plataforma de força. Verificamos alterações com relevância estatística para todas variáveis ao longo dos testes, principalmente durante o período onde as manobras de Valsalva eram realizadas, sendo estas alterações maiores durante o teste ativo, além do centro de pressão do corpo demonstrar um maior deslocamento e velocidade de movimento durante o mesmo período. Concluímos que este protocolo proposto para os dois testes causa mudanças tanto cardiovasculares quanto biomecânicas, mas que foram mais evidentes no teste de mudança postural ativa. / To evaluate the neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS), active and passive postural change tests are used and verify the muscles and body oscilation behavior´s can be helpful to better understand the cardiovascular and biomechanics responses. The aim of the present study was compare a standard 15 minute tilt test protocol associated with three Valsalva maneuver during both Active Standing (AS) and passive Head-Up tilt test (HUT). These tests are used to diagnosis of neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS). We analysed the effects of orthostatic position in relation to changes in the values of heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, electromyographic activity of the rectus abdominis (RA), erector of spinae (ES), tibialis anterior (TA) and medial gastrocnemius (MG) bilateral in 23 healthy women, and analyze the displacement and average velocity of the body\'s center of pressure on a force platform. We found changes with statistical significance for all variables during the tests, especially around the period where the Valsalva maneuvers were performed, and these major changes occurred during the active test, beyond the center of body pressure what indicates a greater movement and speed of movement during the same period. We conclude that the proposed protocol for the two tests produce both cardiovascular and biomechanical changes and these alterations were more evident in active postural test.

Para avaliação da sincope neurocardiogênica, testes ativos e passivos de mudança postural são utilizados, e verificar o comportamento da musculatura e da oscilação do corpo pode auxiliar no melhor entendimento das respostas cardiovasculares e biomecânicas. O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar protocolos ativo e passivo de mudança postural, padronizado de 15 minutos, associado a três manobras de Valsalva intervaladas, para os testes de mudança postural ativa, Acive Standing test (AS) e passiva, Head-Up Tilt test (HUT), utilizados no diagnóstico da síncope neurocardiogênica (SNC), em relação às mudanças nos valores de frequência cardíaca, pressão arterial sistólica e diastólica, atividade eletromiográfica dos músculos reto abdominal (RA), eretores da espinha (EE), tibial anterior (TA) e gastrocnêmio porção medial (GM) bilateral, em 23 mulheres saudáveis, além de analisar o deslocamento e velocidade média do centro de pressão do corpo sobre uma plataforma de força. Verificamos alterações com relevância estatística para todas variáveis ao longo dos testes, principalmente durante o período onde as manobras de Valsalva eram realizadas, sendo estas alterações maiores durante o teste ativo, além do centro de pressão do corpo demonstrar um maior deslocamento e velocidade de movimento durante o mesmo período. Concluímos que este protocolo proposto para os dois testes causa mudanças tanto cardiovasculares quanto biomecânicas, mas que foram mais evidentes no teste de mudança postural ativa. / To evaluate the neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS), active and passive postural change tests are used and verify the muscles and body oscilation behavior´s can be helpful to better understand the cardiovascular and biomechanics responses. The aim of the present study was compare a standard 15 minute tilt test protocol associated with three Valsalva maneuver during both Active Standing (AS) and passive Head-Up tilt test (HUT). These tests are used to diagnosis of neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS). We analysed the effects of orthostatic position in relation to changes in the values of heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, electromyographic activity of the rectus abdominis (RA), erector of spinae (ES), tibialis anterior (TA) and medial gastrocnemius (MG) bilateral in 23 healthy women, and analyze the displacement and average velocity of the body\'s center of pressure on a force platform. We found changes with statistical significance for all variables during the tests, especially around the period where the Valsalva maneuvers were performed, and these major changes occurred during the active test, beyond the center of body pressure what indicates a greater movement and speed of movement during the same period. We conclude that the proposed protocol for the two tests produce both cardiovascular and biomechanical changes and these alterations were more evident in active postural test.

The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of two existing pulse contour analysis (PCA) models for estimating cardiac stroke volume from the arterial pressure waveform during kicking ergometer exercise and head-up tilt manoeuvres. Secondly, one of the existing models was modified in an attempt to enhance its performance. In part I, seven healthy young adults repeated two submaximal exercise sessions on a kicking ergometer, each with three different sets of steady-state cardiac output comparisons (pulsed Doppler vs. pulse contour). Across all exercise trials regression results were found to be PCA = 1. 23 x Doppler-1. 38 with an r2 = 0. 51. In part II, eight young and eight older male healthy subjects participated in a head-up tilt experiment. Cardiac output comparisons were again performed during the supine and tilt conditions using pulsed Doppler and pulse contour cardiac output. Regression results revealed that PCA performed best during supine conditions and preferentially on the older subjects. In all instances, impedance-calibrated pulse contour analysis will provide reasonable beat-by-beat cardiac output within very narrow confines and will result in a progressively more significant bias as cardiovascular dynamics change. In addition, it appears that heart rate variability negatively influences beat-by-beat pulse contour cardiac output results, further limiting application of existing models.

The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of two existing pulse contour analysis (PCA) models for estimating cardiac stroke volume from the arterial pressure waveform during kicking ergometer exercise and head-up tilt manoeuvres. Secondly, one of the existing models was modified in an attempt to enhance its performance. In part I, seven healthy young adults repeated two submaximal exercise sessions on a kicking ergometer, each with three different sets of steady-state cardiac output comparisons (pulsed Doppler vs. pulse contour). Across all exercise trials regression results were found to be PCA = 1. 23 x Doppler-1. 38 with an r2 = 0. 51. In part II, eight young and eight older male healthy subjects participated in a head-up tilt experiment. Cardiac output comparisons were again performed during the supine and tilt conditions using pulsed Doppler and pulse contour cardiac output. Regression results revealed that PCA performed best during supine conditions and preferentially on the older subjects. In all instances, impedance-calibrated pulse contour analysis will provide reasonable beat-by-beat cardiac output within very narrow confines and will result in a progressively more significant bias as cardiovascular dynamics change. In addition, it appears that heart rate variability negatively influences beat-by-beat pulse contour cardiac output results, further limiting application of existing models.

The potential role of lower limb blood pooling in reducing venous return to the heart during orthostasis and elevated venous pressure is investigated. This study compares lower limb capacitance, microvascular filtration, and peripheral resistance between a group of highly trained endurance athletes and a group of their sedentary peers. Seven endurance trained males were selected between the ages of 23-33 [(29.1 4.1 yr), mean SD]. The subjects weekly cycling mileage ranged from 80 to 150 miles per week with an average of 125 8.5 miles/week. Nine healthy, age-matched sedentary subjects (25.8 4.8 yr.) were selected for the control group, based upon their reporting they had not participated in repeated lower-body or cardiovascular exercise in the months prior to their study. Results show that both subject groups had similar calf venous capacitances, rates of capillary fluid filtration, and local flow shunting (vascular resistance change) in response to venous thigh occlusion and 70 head-up tilt (HUT). The only significant difference found between groups was the cyclist groups smaller rise in heart rate in response to HUT. The findings of this study suggest that cyclists are not predisposed to orthostatic intolerance due to any changes in lower limb function.

Various models of simulated weightlessness and resulting cardiovascular effects have been researched in the last 50 years of space exploration. Examples of such models are the Alter-G (Alt-G) treadmill used for body unweighting and head-up-tilt (HUT) model each providing similar cardiovascular effects, but differing in their stimulation of vestibular centers . Advantages of using the Alt-G include: use of lower body positive pressure (LBPP) to simulate hypogravity, it acts as a countermeasure to alleviate negative cardiovascular effects of standing and provides a constant vestibular stimulus. In addition, the Alt-G shorts themselves may be providing a certain degree of LBPP, acting as a compression garment. Therefore the purpose of this study was to determine the cardiovascular effects of Alt-G shorts and how effective they are as countermeasure to deconditioning effects of space flight. This study tested cardiovascular changes in 12 men and women at 0 and 80 degrees head-up-tilt (HUT0 / HUT80) with and without Alt-G shorts using 5-lead ECG, 10-lead impedance, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements at finger and arm. The tilt-induced increase in mean heart rate (HR) was significantly smaller when subjects wore the Alt-G shorts. Shorts ended up reducing HR by 2.3 bpm in supine control and by 6.7 bpm at HUT80 (p0.05. Other cardiovascular variables did not show any significant effect from shorts. In conclusion, this study was in line with results from other studies that used compression garments to determine cardiovascular effects of LBPP.

Orthostatic hypotension is a common problem for individuals with spinal cord lesions, especially in the acute period after spinal cord injury. The first part of this study deals with the theoretical analysis of the pathophysiology of cardiovascular control after spinal cord injury, the definition of orthostatic hypotension and its inclusion within the classification of the syncopal conditions. An important part of the theoretical part is the management of orthostatic hypotension, which brings non-pharmacological therapeutic approaches, and marginally pharmacology, to decrease the severity of this condition. The experimental part focuses on testing of a group of probands with spinal cord injury (11 quadriplegics) on two different types of tilt tables according to the same protocol. The first tilt table is a standard; the second one is Erigo, tilt table with integrated robotic mechanism, which moves the legs to simulate walking. The parameters, such as blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and the occurrence and severity of pre-synkopal symptoms, were compared. The study is based on the assumption that passive leg movement, which is mediated by the Erigo, will maintain venous return, cardiac output, and a significant drop in blood pressure and development of orthostatic hypotension,...

Introdução: Síncope e sintomas ortostáticos são comuns em pessoas saudáveis. A suplementação de sal é utilizada em pacientes com melhora na resposta pressora e aumento da tolerância ortostática. Nós testamos à hipótese de que uma suplementação de sal aumentaria a tolerância ortostática em voluntários saudáveis. Métodos e Resultados: Vinte voluntários saudáveis (13 do sexo feminino, idade 29 ± 5,6 anos), sem história de síncope, foram submetidos ao teste inclinação ortostática, em um ângulo de 70 graus, por 35 minutos ou até que sintomas de pré-síncope ou síncope fossem observados. Foram randomizados e cruzados para receber 6g de sal em um dos exames e placebo no outro, 3 horas antes, em um protocolo duplo-cego. Para avaliar para-efeitos, foram avaliados índices clínicos e laboratoriais. A ingestão de sal melhorou a tolerância ortostática em 11 de 12 voluntários (55%) que apresentaram présincope ou síncope (variação de 1 a 6 minutos). O tempo com a suplementação de sal foi de 33,35 ± 4,1 minutos e com placebo 31,95 ± 4,4 minutos (média ± DP; p = 0,009), a tolerância ortostática diferiu em 1,4 ± 2,09 minutos (IC 95%, 0,42 - 2,37 minutos). A pressão arterial sistólica, a diastólica e a freqüência cardíaca na posição supina não alteraram de forma significativa. No entanto, a pressão arterial sistólica e a diastólica (120,85 ± 30,9 e 78,75 ± 20,6 mmHg) mantiveram-se mais elevadas ao término do exame com a suplementação de sal quando comparadas com o placebo (99,2 ± 29,8 e 64 ± 21 mmHg; p = 0,006 e p = 0,007, respectivamente). Conclusão: A suplementação de sal parece melhorar a tolerância ortostática em voluntários saudáveis, sem alterar as variáveis clínicas em repouso. / Background: Orthostatic symptoms and syncope are common in healthy subjects. Salt supplementation can be used in patients showing improvement in the pressor response and increase in the orthostatic tolerance. We tested the hypothesis that single salt supplementation increases the orthostatic tolerance in healthy subjects. Methods e Results: Twenty healthy volunteers (13 females, 29.05 ± 5.57 years old), without syncope history, were submitted to head-up tilt test, at an angle of 70 degrees, for 35 minutes or until presyncope or syncope were observed. They were randomized and crossover to receive 6g of salt in one of the exams and placebo in the other, 3 hours before, in a double-blind protocol. To evaluate for side effects, there were evaluate clinical and laboratorial indexes. Ingestion of salt improved orthostatic tolerance in 11 out of 12 volunteers who presented presyncope or syncope (variation from 1 to 6 minutes). The time with salt supplementation was of 33.35 ± 4.1 minutes and with placebo it was of 31.95 ± 4.4 minutes (mean ± SD; p = 0.009), orthostatic tolerance differed in 1.4 ± 2.09 minutes (95% CI, 0.42 - 2.37 minutes). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate in the supine position did not change significantly with salt or with the placebo. However, Systolic and diastolic blood pressure with salt supplementation (120.85 ± 30.9 mmHg and 78.75 ± 20.6 mmHg) were higher at the end of the exam when compared to placebo (99.2 ± 29.8 and 64 ± 21 mmHg; p = 0.006 and p = 0.007, respectively). Conclusion: Salt supplementation seems to improve orthostatic tolerance in healthy volunteers without changing clinical variables at rest.

Introdução: Síncope e sintomas ortostáticos são comuns em pessoas saudáveis. A suplementação de sal é utilizada em pacientes com melhora na resposta pressora e aumento da tolerância ortostática. Nós testamos à hipótese de que uma suplementação de sal aumentaria a tolerância ortostática em voluntários saudáveis. Métodos e Resultados: Vinte voluntários saudáveis (13 do sexo feminino, idade 29 ± 5,6 anos), sem história de síncope, foram submetidos ao teste inclinação ortostática, em um ângulo de 70 graus, por 35 minutos ou até que sintomas de pré-síncope ou síncope fossem observados. Foram randomizados e cruzados para receber 6g de sal em um dos exames e placebo no outro, 3 horas antes, em um protocolo duplo-cego. Para avaliar para-efeitos, foram avaliados índices clínicos e laboratoriais. A ingestão de sal melhorou a tolerância ortostática em 11 de 12 voluntários (55%) que apresentaram présincope ou síncope (variação de 1 a 6 minutos). O tempo com a suplementação de sal foi de 33,35 ± 4,1 minutos e com placebo 31,95 ± 4,4 minutos (média ± DP; p = 0,009), a tolerância ortostática diferiu em 1,4 ± 2,09 minutos (IC 95%, 0,42 - 2,37 minutos). A pressão arterial sistólica, a diastólica e a freqüência cardíaca na posição supina não alteraram de forma significativa. No entanto, a pressão arterial sistólica e a diastólica (120,85 ± 30,9 e 78,75 ± 20,6 mmHg) mantiveram-se mais elevadas ao término do exame com a suplementação de sal quando comparadas com o placebo (99,2 ± 29,8 e 64 ± 21 mmHg; p = 0,006 e p = 0,007, respectivamente). Conclusão: A suplementação de sal parece melhorar a tolerância ortostática em voluntários saudáveis, sem alterar as variáveis clínicas em repouso. / Background: Orthostatic symptoms and syncope are common in healthy subjects. Salt supplementation can be used in patients showing improvement in the pressor response and increase in the orthostatic tolerance. We tested the hypothesis that single salt supplementation increases the orthostatic tolerance in healthy subjects. Methods e Results: Twenty healthy volunteers (13 females, 29.05 ± 5.57 years old), without syncope history, were submitted to head-up tilt test, at an angle of 70 degrees, for 35 minutes or until presyncope or syncope were observed. They were randomized and crossover to receive 6g of salt in one of the exams and placebo in the other, 3 hours before, in a double-blind protocol. To evaluate for side effects, there were evaluate clinical and laboratorial indexes. Ingestion of salt improved orthostatic tolerance in 11 out of 12 volunteers who presented presyncope or syncope (variation from 1 to 6 minutes). The time with salt supplementation was of 33.35 ± 4.1 minutes and with placebo it was of 31.95 ± 4.4 minutes (mean ± SD; p = 0.009), orthostatic tolerance differed in 1.4 ± 2.09 minutes (95% CI, 0.42 - 2.37 minutes). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate in the supine position did not change significantly with salt or with the placebo. However, Systolic and diastolic blood pressure with salt supplementation (120.85 ± 30.9 mmHg and 78.75 ± 20.6 mmHg) were higher at the end of the exam when compared to placebo (99.2 ± 29.8 and 64 ± 21 mmHg; p = 0.006 and p = 0.007, respectively). Conclusion: Salt supplementation seems to improve orthostatic tolerance in healthy volunteers without changing clinical variables at rest.

Introdução: Síncope e sintomas ortostáticos são comuns em pessoas saudáveis. A suplementação de sal é utilizada em pacientes com melhora na resposta pressora e aumento da tolerância ortostática. Nós testamos à hipótese de que uma suplementação de sal aumentaria a tolerância ortostática em voluntários saudáveis. Métodos e Resultados: Vinte voluntários saudáveis (13 do sexo feminino, idade 29 ± 5,6 anos), sem história de síncope, foram submetidos ao teste inclinação ortostática, em um ângulo de 70 graus, por 35 minutos ou até que sintomas de pré-síncope ou síncope fossem observados. Foram randomizados e cruzados para receber 6g de sal em um dos exames e placebo no outro, 3 horas antes, em um protocolo duplo-cego. Para avaliar para-efeitos, foram avaliados índices clínicos e laboratoriais. A ingestão de sal melhorou a tolerância ortostática em 11 de 12 voluntários (55%) que apresentaram présincope ou síncope (variação de 1 a 6 minutos). O tempo com a suplementação de sal foi de 33,35 ± 4,1 minutos e com placebo 31,95 ± 4,4 minutos (média ± DP; p = 0,009), a tolerância ortostática diferiu em 1,4 ± 2,09 minutos (IC 95%, 0,42 - 2,37 minutos). A pressão arterial sistólica, a diastólica e a freqüência cardíaca na posição supina não alteraram de forma significativa. No entanto, a pressão arterial sistólica e a diastólica (120,85 ± 30,9 e 78,75 ± 20,6 mmHg) mantiveram-se mais elevadas ao término do exame com a suplementação de sal quando comparadas com o placebo (99,2 ± 29,8 e 64 ± 21 mmHg; p = 0,006 e p = 0,007, respectivamente). Conclusão: A suplementação de sal parece melhorar a tolerância ortostática em voluntários saudáveis, sem alterar as variáveis clínicas em repouso. / Background: Orthostatic symptoms and syncope are common in healthy subjects. Salt supplementation can be used in patients showing improvement in the pressor response and increase in the orthostatic tolerance. We tested the hypothesis that single salt supplementation increases the orthostatic tolerance in healthy subjects. Methods e Results: Twenty healthy volunteers (13 females, 29.05 ± 5.57 years old), without syncope history, were submitted to head-up tilt test, at an angle of 70 degrees, for 35 minutes or until presyncope or syncope were observed. They were randomized and crossover to receive 6g of salt in one of the exams and placebo in the other, 3 hours before, in a double-blind protocol. To evaluate for side effects, there were evaluate clinical and laboratorial indexes. Ingestion of salt improved orthostatic tolerance in 11 out of 12 volunteers who presented presyncope or syncope (variation from 1 to 6 minutes). The time with salt supplementation was of 33.35 ± 4.1 minutes and with placebo it was of 31.95 ± 4.4 minutes (mean ± SD; p = 0.009), orthostatic tolerance differed in 1.4 ± 2.09 minutes (95% CI, 0.42 - 2.37 minutes). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate in the supine position did not change significantly with salt or with the placebo. However, Systolic and diastolic blood pressure with salt supplementation (120.85 ± 30.9 mmHg and 78.75 ± 20.6 mmHg) were higher at the end of the exam when compared to placebo (99.2 ± 29.8 and 64 ± 21 mmHg; p = 0.006 and p = 0.007, respectively). Conclusion: Salt supplementation seems to improve orthostatic tolerance in healthy volunteers without changing clinical variables at rest.