scholarly journals Increased Frequency of Skin-to-Skin Contact Is Associated with Enhanced Vagal Tone and Improved Health Outcomes in Preterm Neonates

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (05) ◽  
pp. 505-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Marvin ◽  
Fumiyuki Gardner ◽  
Kristin Sarsfield ◽  
R. Travagli ◽  
Kim Doheny
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Developmental Outcomes ◽  
Vagal Tone ◽  
Neonatal Morbidity ◽  
Preterm Neonates ◽  
Cardiac Vagal Tone ◽  
Skin Contact ◽  
Postmenstrual Age ◽  
Skin To Skin

Objective An estimation of the individual's ability to cope with environmental adversity, that is, stress resiliency, can be extrapolated by measuring cardiac vagal tone, that is, high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV); indeed, higher HF-HRV is associated with health and developmental advantages for preterm neonates. Previous studies show skin-to-skin contact (SSC) improves stress resiliency; however, linkages between SSC and HF-HRV on outcomes have not been assessed. We aimed to test the hypothesis that increased SSC frequency would enhance HF-HRV, reduce neonatal morbidity, and improve developmental outcomes. Study Design Weekly electrocardiograms and clinical data were obtained from 101 preterm neonates. SSC frequency was determined from the electronic medical record. Results At postnatal week 1, frequency of SSC and HF-HRV were positively correlated (p =.02); further, multiple stepwise regressions showed higher HF-HRV and SSC predicted reduced days on ventilation and oxygen, and shorter hospital stay (p < 0.001). Higher HF-HRV predicted lower postmenstrual age (PMA) at discharge (p < 0.01). Conclusion Higher SSC frequency was associated with increased HF-HRV during the first postnatal week. SSC and HF-HRV uniquely predicted diminished neonatal morbidity throughout hospitalization. Additionally, HF-HRV uniquely predicted earlier PMA at discharge. Augmenting SSC early in life enhances stress resiliency and improves health outcomes.

Lesser vagal withdrawal during isometric exercise with age

1995 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 805-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Taylor ◽  
J. Hayano ◽  
D. R. Seals
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Arterial Pressure ◽  
Respiratory Rate ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Isometric Exercise ◽  
Vagal Tone ◽  
Cardiac Vagal Tone ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Lower Baseline ◽  
Vagal Withdrawal

The tachycardia that accompanies isometric exercise decreases with age in humans; however, the mechanism of this decline is unknown. To determine whether less cardiac vagal withdrawal is associated with the age-related decrease in this response, we assessed high-frequency R-R interval variability (0.15–0.40 Hz), an index of cardiac vagal tone, before (control) and during isometric exercise to exhaustion in healthy young (21–29 yr; n = 12) and older (61–72 yr; n = 11) men. During control, the two groups did not differ in respiratory rate, mean arterial pressure, or heart rate, although the older subjects had a lower high-frequency amplitude (12.2 +/- 1.1 vs. 29.4 +/- 4.6 ms/Hz; P < 0.05). During isometric exercise, the respiratory rate and arterial pressure responses did not differ; however, the older men had a lower absolute heart rate and a smaller increase in heart rate, and only the young men demonstrated a significant decline in high-frequency amplitude. The heart rate responses to exercise were correlated with the declines in high-frequency amplitude (initial, r = -0.808; midpoint, r = -0.714; peak, r = -0.632; all P < 0.005), which were, in turn, correlated with the control high-frequency amplitude (initial, r = -0.727; midpoint, r = -0.643; peak, r = -0.610; all P < 0.01). Thus smaller declines in high-frequency amplitude, related to lower baseline amplitude, corresponded to smaller increases in heart rate throughout isometric exercise. Therefore, we conclude that the smaller tachycardiac response to isometric exercise in older humans is associated with an inability to decrease cardiac vagal tone below an already reduced baseline level.

Evaluation of analgesic effect of skin-to-skin contact compared to oral glucose in preterm neonates

Pain ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 139 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nájala Borges de Sousa Freire ◽  
João Batista Santos Garcia ◽  
Zeni Carvalho Lamy
Keyword(s):  
Analgesic Effect ◽  
Preterm Neonates ◽  
Oral Glucose ◽  
Skin Contact ◽  
Skin To Skin

Cardiovascular responses to water drinking: does osmolality play a role?

2005 ◽  
Vol 289 (6) ◽  
pp. R1687-R1692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive M. Brown ◽  
Luc Barberini ◽  
Abdul G. Dulloo ◽  
Jean-Pierre Montani
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Cardiac Output ◽  
Total Peripheral Resistance ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Peripheral Resistance ◽  
Vagal Tone ◽  
Cardiovascular Responses ◽  
Baroreceptor Sensitivity ◽  
Cardiac Vagal Tone ◽  
Water Drinking

Water drinking activates the autonomic nervous system and induces acute hemodynamic changes. The actual stimulus for these effects is undetermined but might be related to either gastric distension or to osmotic factors. In the present study, we tested whether the cardiovascular responses to water drinking are related to water's relative hypoosmolality. Therefore, we compared the cardiovascular effects of a water drink (7.5 ml/kg body wt) with an identical volume of a physiological (0.9%) saline solution in nine healthy subjects (6 male, 3 female, aged 26 ± 2 years), while continuously monitoring beat-to-beat blood pressure (finger plethysmography), cardiac intervals (electrocardiography), and cardiac output (thoracic impedance). Total peripheral resistance was calculated as mean blood pressure/cardiac output. Cardiac interval variability (high-frequency power) was assessed by spectral analysis as an index of cardiac vagal tone. Baroreceptor sensitivity was evaluated using the sequence technique. Drinking water, but not saline, decreased heart rate ( P = 0.01) and increased total peripheral resistance ( P < 0.01), high-frequency cardiac interval variability ( P = 0.03), and baroreceptor sensitivity ( P = 0.01). Neither water nor saline substantially increased blood pressure. These responses suggest that water drinking simultaneously increases sympathetic vasoconstrictor activity and cardiac vagal tone. That these effects were absent after drinking physiological saline indicate that the cardiovascular responses to water drinking are influenced by its hypoosmotic properties.

scholarly journals Co-bedding of Preterm Newborn Pigs Reduces Necrotizing Enterocolitis Incidence Independent of Vital Functions and Cortisol Levels

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Brunse ◽  
Yueming Peng ◽  
Yanqi Li ◽  
Jens Lykkesfeldt ◽  
Per Torp Sangild
Keyword(s):  
Necrotizing Enterocolitis ◽  
Digestive Enzyme ◽  
Blood Gases ◽  
Preterm Neonates ◽  
Clinical Effects ◽  
Skin Contact ◽  
Vital Functions ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
Skin To Skin ◽  
Cardiovascular Functions

Background: Preterm infants are born with immature organs, leading to morbidities such as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a gut inflammatory disease associated with adverse feeding responses but also hemodynamic and respiratory instability. Skin-to-skin contact including “kangaroo care” may improve infant survival and health via improved vital functions (e.g., pulmonary, cardiovascular) and endocrine influences by adrenal glucocorticoids. Clinical effects of skin-to-skin contact for newborn siblings (“co-bedding”) are not known. Using NEC-susceptible Preterm pigs as models, we hypothesized that co-bedding and exogenous glucocorticoids improve vital functions and NEC resistance.Methods: In experiment 1, cesarean-delivered, formula-fed Preterm pigs were reared in incubators with (co-bedding, COB, n = 30) or without (single-bedding, SIN, n = 29) a sibling until euthanasia and tissue collection on day four. In experiment 2, single-bedded Preterm pigs were treated postnatally with a tapering dose of hydrocortisone (HC, n = 19, 1–3 mg/kg/d) or saline (CON, n = 19).Results: Co-bedding reduced NEC incidence (38 vs. 65%, p &lt; 0.05) and increased the density of colonic goblet cells (+20%, p &lt; 0.05) but had no effect on pulmonary and cardiovascular functions (respiration, blood pressure, heart rate, blood gases) or cortisol levels. There were limited differences in intestinal villous architecture and digestive enzyme activities. In experiment 2, HC treatment increased NEC lesions in the small intestine without any effects on pulmonary or cardiovascular functions.Conclusion: Co-bedding may improve gut function and NEC resistance independently of cardiorespiratory function and cortisol levels, but pharmacological cortisol treatment predispose to NEC. Preterm pigs may be a useful tool to better understand the physiological effects of co-bedding, neonatal stressors and their possible interactions with morbidities in Preterm neonates.

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