scholarly journals Probing Neuro-Endocrine Interactions Through Wireless Magnetothermal Stimulation of Peripheral Organs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Y. Maeng ◽  
Dekel Rosenfeld ◽  
Gregory J. Simandl ◽  
Florian Koehler ◽  
Alexander Senko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Hpa Axis ◽  
Aversive Conditioning ◽  
Temporal Precision ◽  
Adrenal Hormone ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Before And After ◽  
And Control ◽  
Recall Paradigm ◽  
Hpa Function

Exposure to stress alters hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity; however, it is unclear exactly how or where within the HPA pathway these changes occur. Dissecting these mechanisms requires tools to reliably probe HPA function, particularly the adrenal component, with temporal precision. We previously demonstrated magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) technology to remotely trigger adrenal hormone release by activating thermally sensitive ion channels. Here, we applied adrenal magnetothermal stimulation to probe stress-induced HPA axis changes. MNP and control nanoparticles were injected into the adrenal glands of outbred rats subjected to a tone-shock conditioning/extinction/recall paradigm. We measured MNP-triggered adrenal release before and after conditioning through physiologic (heart rate) and serum (epinephrine, corticosterone) markers. Aversive conditioning altered adrenal function, reducing corticosterone and blunting heart rate increases post-conditioning. MNP-based organ stimulation provides a novel approach to probing the function of HPA and other neuro-endocrine axes and could help elucidate changes across stress and disease models.

scholarly journals The Effects of Group Therapeutic Singing on Cortisol and Motor Symptoms in Persons With Parkinson's Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth L. Stegemöller ◽  
Andrew Zaman ◽  
Mack Shelley ◽  
Bhavana Patel ◽  
Ahmad El Kouzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Motor Symptoms ◽  
Control Session ◽  
Before And After ◽  
And Control

The inclusion of music into the treatment plan for persons with Parkinson's disease (PD) may be a viable strategy to target multiple motor symptoms. However, potential mechanisms to explain why music has an impact on multiple motor symptoms in persons with PD remain understudied. The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of 1 h of group therapeutic singing (GTS) on physiological measures of stress and clinical motor symptoms in persons with PD. We posit that improvement in motor symptoms after GTS may be related to stress reduction. Seventeen participants with PD completed 1 h of GTS and eight participants completed 1 h of a quiet reading (control session). Cortisol was collected via passive drool immediately before and after the singing and control session. The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) Part-III (motor examination) was also video-recorded immediately before and after the singing and control session and scored by two raters masked to time and condition. Secondary outcome measures for quality of life, depression, and mood were collected. Results revealed no significant change in cortisol or motor UPDRS scores, as well as no significant relationship between cortisol and motor UPDRS scores. There was a trend for the singing group to report feeling less sad compared to the control group after the 1-h session (effect size = 0.86), and heart rate increased in the singing group while heart rate decreased in the control group after the 1-h session. These results suggest that an acute session of GTS is not unduly stressful and promotes the use of GTS for persons with PD. Multiple mechanisms may underlie the benefits of GTS for persons with PD. Further exploring potential mechanisms by which singing improves motor symptoms in persons with PD will provide greater insight on the therapeutic use of music for persons with PD.

scholarly journals Eight Weeks of Interval Training Led to no Improvement in Cardiovascular Variables in the Elderly

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-80
Author(s):  
Leandro de Oliveira Sant’Ana ◽  
Jeferson Macedo Vianna ◽  
Natália Rodrigues dos Reis ◽  
Aline Aparecida de Souza Ribeiro ◽  
Bruno de Oliveira Soares ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Interval Training ◽  
Training Group ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Significance Level ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Group B ◽  
And Control

Background: Interval training is a method with high acceptance in prescription to increase health and can be an essential intervener in improving cardiovascular function. Objective: This study aimed to verify the effects of eight weeks of interval training with different intensities on hemodynamic and autonomic function, which were assessed through resting heart rate, blood pressure, dual product, and heart rate variability. Methods: The sample consisted of 24 older men (age: 68.8 ± 6.8 years, body mass: 74.4 ± 18.1 kg, height: 1.70 ± 0.8 m; BMI: 25.1 ± 2, 2) who were physically active. Participants were randomized into 3 experimental groups: training group A (TGA, n = 8), training group B (TGB, n = 8) and control group (CG, n = 8). For trained groups, interventions were developed twice a week for eight weeks, with an interval of 48 hours between the sessions. The evaluations were carried out at the pre (baseline) and after the eighth week of intervention. The control group did not perform any intervention. The variables were analyzed for 10 minutes with subjects at rest in the sitting position before and after the intervention. Statistics with a significance level of p <0.05 were applied. Results: After the intervention, no statistically significant results were found in the variables assessed (p> 0.05). Conclusion: The intervention was not sufficient to promote statistical differences in hemodynamic and autonomic variables.

scholarly journals Daily Heart Rate Variability Indices in Subjects with and Without Metabolic Syndrome Before and After the Elimination of the Influence of Day-Time Physical Activity

Medicina ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (10) ◽  
pp. 700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Slušnienė ◽  
Laucevičius ◽  
Navickas ◽  
Ryliškytė ◽  
Stankus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Autoregressive Model ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Holter Monitoring ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Before And After ◽  
And Control

Background and Objectives: The available research shows conflicting data on the heart rate variability (HRV) in metabolic syndrome (MetS) subjects. The discrepancy suggests a methodical shortcoming: due to the influence of physical activity, the standard measuring of HRV at rest is not comparable with HRV assessment based on 24h Holter monitoring, which is preferred because of its comprehensiveness. To obtain a more reliable measure and to clarify to what extent HRV is altered in MetS, we assessed a 24h HRV before and after the elimination of the influence of physical activity. Materials and Methods: We investigated 69 metabolic syndrome (MetS) and 37 control subjects, aged 50–55. In all subjects, 24h monitoring of electrocardiogram, blood pressure, and actigraphy profiles were conducted. To eliminate the influence of day-time physical activity on RR intervals (RRI), a linear polynomial autoregressive model with exogenous terms (ARX) was used. Standard spectral RRI analysis was performed. Results: Subjects with MetS had blunted HRV; the diurnal SDNN index was reliably lower in the MetS group than in control subjects. The elimination of the influence of physical activity did not reveal a significant HRV change in long-term indices (SDNN, SDANN, and SD2), whilst adjacent RRI values (RMSSD, pNN50, and SD1) and SDNN index significantly increased (p < 0.001). An increase in the latter indices highlighted the HRV difference between the MetS and control groups; a significant (p < 0.001) decrease of all short-term HRV variables was found in the MetS group (p < 0.01), and low-frequency spectral components were less pronounced in the MetS group. Conclusion: The application of a polynomial autoregressive model in 24h HRV assessment allowed for the exclusion of the influence of physical activity and revealed that MetS is associated with blunted HRV, which reflects mitigated parasympathetic tone.

scholarly journals Opening the Schrödinger Box: Short- and Long-Range Mammalian Heart Rate Variability

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ido Weiser-Bitoun ◽  
Moran Davoodi ◽  
Aviv A. Rosenberg ◽  
Alexandra Alexandrovich ◽  
Yael Yaniv
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Short Range ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Ecg Data ◽  
General Method

BackgroundThe interactions between the autonomic nervous system (ANS), intrinsic systems (e.g., endocrine), and internal pacemaker mechanisms govern short (milliseconds–seconds)- and long (seconds–minutes)-range heart rate variability (HRV). However, there is a debate regarding the identity of the mechanism underlying HRV on each time scale. We aim to design a general method that accurately differentiates between the relative contribution of the ANS and pacemaker mechanisms to HRV in various mammals, without the need for drug perturbations or organ isolation. Additionally, we aim to explore the universality of the relative contribution of the ANS and pacemaker system of different mammals.MethodsThis work explored short- and long-range HRVs using published ECG data from dogs, rabbits, and mice. To isolate the effects of ANS on HRV, ECG segments recorded before and after ANS-blockade were compared.ResultsDifferentiation of the ANS from extrinsic and intrinsic pacemaker mechanisms was successfully achieved. In dogs, the internal pacemaker mechanisms were the main contributors to long-range and the ANS to short-range HRV. In rabbits and mice, the ANS and the internal pacemaker mechanisms affected both time scales, and anesthesia changed the relative contribution of the pacemaker mechanism to short- and long-range HRVs. In mice, the extrinsic mechanisms affected long-range HRV, while their effect was negligible in rabbits.ConclusionWe offer a novel approach to determine the relative contributions of ANS and extrinsic and intrinsic pacemaker mechanisms to HRV and highlight the importance of selecting mammalian research models with HRV mechanisms representative of the target species of interest.

The influence of osteopathic correction on the rate of various rhythms of the body

2019 ◽  
pp. 64-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. E. Chernikova ◽  
Yu. P. Potekhina
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Respiratory Rate ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Biomechanical Properties ◽  
Dispersion Analysis ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Tissues ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After

Introduction. An osteopathic examination determines the rate, the amplitude and the strength of the main rhythms (cardiac, respiratory and cranial). However, there are relatively few studies in the available literature dedicated to the influence of osteopathic correction (OC) on the characteristics of these rhythms.Goal of research — to study the influence of OC on the rate characteristics of various rhythms of the human body.Materials and methods. 88 adult osteopathic patients aged from 18 to 81 years were examined, among them 30 men and 58 women. All patients received general osteopathic examination. The rate of the cranial rhythm (RCR), respiratory rate (RR) heart rate (HR), the mobility of the nervous processes (MNP) and the connective tissue mobility (CTM) were assessed before and after the OC session.Results. Since age varied greatly in the examined group, a correlation analysis of age-related changes of the assessed rhythms was carried out. Only the CTM correlated with age (r=–0,28; p<0,05) in a statistically significant way. The rank dispersion analysis of Kruskal–Wallis also showed statistically significant difference in this indicator in different age groups (p=0,043). With the increase of years, the CTM decreases gradually. After the OC, the CTM, increased in a statistically significant way (p<0,0001). The RCR varied from 5 to 12 cycles/min in the examined group, which corresponded to the norm. After the OC, the RCR has increased in a statistically significant way (p<0,0001), the MNP has also increased (p<0,0001). The initial heart rate in the subjects varied from 56 to 94 beats/min, and in 15 % it exceeded the norm. After the OC the heart rate corresponded to the norm in all patients. The heart rate and the respiratory rate significantly decreased after the OC (р<0,0001).Conclusion. The described biorhythm changes after the OC session may be indicative of the improvement of the nervous regulation, of the normalization of the autonomic balance, of the improvement of the biomechanical properties of body tissues and of the increase of their mobility. The assessed parameters can be measured quickly without any additional equipment and can be used in order to study the results of the OC.

EFEKTIVITAS METODE DEMONSTRASI DALAM MENINGKATKAN HASIL BELAJAR SISWA SEKOLAH MENENGAH KEJURUAN PADA PENGAJARAN SISTEM KOLOID

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 28
Author(s):  
Hamda Situmorang ◽  
Manihar Situmorang
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Abstract Concept ◽  
Vocational High School ◽  
School Students ◽  
Lecture Method ◽  
Colloid System ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Right ◽  
And Control

Abstract Implementation of demonstration method in the teaching of chemistry is assigned as the right strategy to improve students’ achievement as it is proved that the method can bring an abstract concept to reality in the class. The study is conducted to vocational high school students in SMKN1 Pargetteng getteng Sengkut Pakfak Barat at accademic year 2013. The teaching has been carried out three cycles on the teaching of chemistry topic of colloid system. In the study, the class is divided into two class, experiment class and control class. The demontration method is used to teach students in experimental class while the teaching in control class is conducted with lecture method. Both are evaluated by using multiple choise tests before and after the teaching procedures, and the ability of students to answer the problems are assigned as students’ achievements. The results showed that demonstration method improved students’ achievement in chemistry. The students in experimental class who are taughed with demonstration method (M=19.08±0.74) have higher achievements compare with control class (M=12.91±2.52), and both are significantly different (tcalculation 22.85 > ttable 1.66). The effectivity of demostration method in experimental class (97%) is found higer compare to conventional method in control class (91%).

Effects of Time and Perceptual Orientation on Actors' and Observers' Attributions

1984 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-30
Author(s):  
Donald S. Martin ◽  
Ming-Shiunn Huang
Keyword(s):  
Video Recording ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Video Recordings ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Perceptual Orientation ◽  
Initial Difference ◽  
Variety Show ◽  
And Control ◽  
Unrelated Variety

The actor/observer effect was examined by Storms in a 1973 study which manipulated perceptual orientation using video recordings. Storms' study was complex and some of his results equivocal. The present study attempted to recreate the perceptual reorientation effect using a simplified experimental design and an initial difference between actors and observers which was the reverse of the original effect. Female undergraduates performed a motor co-ordination task as actors while watched by observers. Each person made attributions for the actor's behaviour before and after watching a video recording of the performance. For a control group the video recording was of an unrelated variety show excerpt. Actors' initial attributions were less situational than observers'. Both actors and observers became more situational after the video replay but this effect occurred in both experimental and control groups. It was suggested the passage of time between first and second recording of attributions could account for the findings and care should be taken when interpreting Storms' (1973) study and others which did not adequately control for temporal effects.

The Effect of Using Flipped Classroom Model to Improve Iraqi EFL Learners’ Pronunciation in English at University Level

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (40) ◽  
pp. 631-654
Author(s):  
Khaldoon Waleed Husam Al-Mofti
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Flipped Classroom ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
English Pronunciation ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
University Level ◽  
The University ◽  
And Control ◽  
Experimental Group

For Iraqi EFL learners who are studying English pronunciation in a traditional instruction method often requires more effort and hard work. Thus, using new methods of teaching such as the flipped classroom model (FCM) is necessary to facilitate learning and improve performance. Hence, this study reports on explanatory research that investigates the effect of using the FCM in the teaching of English pronunciation for Iraqi EFL learners at the university level. The study implemented mixed research methods for data collection in a quasi-experimental analysis. Therefore, two tests were conducted on the assigned groups to measure the effect of the FCM before and after the intervention. Besides, a questionnaire and interviews were used on the experiment group students to collect data about their perceptions of the FCM. The study length (lasted)  was 15 weeks and is comprised of 60 students from the department of English, College of Arts at the University of Anbar. The students were divided into two groups, experimental, and control with 30 students in each group. The findings revealed that there was a significant statistical difference between the two groups in favour of the experimental group with better performance, indicating that the FCM has considerably assisted the Iraqi EFL learners to improve their English pronunciation. Moreover, the students expressed their positive feedback and satisfaction on the use of the FCM in their responses to the questionnaire and the interviews. As such, the current study recommends further research to study the effect of applying the FCM in areas and disciplines other than language learning.

Using advanced control, post-denitrification and equalisation to improve the performance of a submerged filter

2000 ◽  
Vol 41 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 177-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.H. Sørensen ◽  
D. Thornberg ◽  
K.F. Janning
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Total N ◽  
Control Loops ◽  
Effluent Quality ◽  
Advanced Control ◽  
Before And After ◽  
And Control ◽  
Side Flow ◽  
Configuration Control ◽  
Control Post

In 1998, the capacity of the BIOSTYR® submerged biofilter at Nyborg WWTP was extended from 48,000 PE to 60,000 PE including advanced sensor based control, post-denitrification in BIOSTYR® and equalization of side flows. The existing configuration with 8 BIOSTYR® DN/N cells is based on pre-denitrification and an internal recirculation of 600–800%. The extended plant comprises 7 BIOSTYR® DN/N cells with 50–225% recirculation followed by 3 BIOSTYR DN cells for post-denitrification. The advanced control loops include blower control, control of the number of active cells (stand-by), automatic switch to high load configuration, control of the side flow equalization, control of the internal recirculation and control of the external carbon source dosing. In this paper, the achieved improvements are documented by comparing influent and effluent data, methanol and energy consumption from comparable periods before and after the extension. Although the nitrogen load to the plant was increased by 20% after the extension, the effluent quality has improved significantly with a reduction of Total-N from 7–8 mg/l to 3–4 mg/l. Simultaneously, the methanol consumption has been reduced by more than 50% per kg removed nitrogen. The energy consumption remained constant although the nitrogen load was increased by 20% and the inflow by 80%.

Melatonin Improves Erythropoietin Hyporesponsiveness via Suppression of Inflammation

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 203-208
Author(s):  
Evan Noori Hameed ◽  
Haydar F. Hadi AL Tukmagi ◽  
Hayder Ch Assad Allami
Keyword(s):  
Iron Status ◽  
Transferrin Saturation ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Base Line ◽  
Inadequate Response ◽  
Inflammatory Parameters ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Before And After ◽  
And Control ◽  
Controlled Clinical Study

Background: Inadequate response to Erythropoietin Stimulating Agents (ESA) despite using relatively larger doses regimen represents a potential risk factor of Cardiovascular (CV) related mortality in addition to health-care economic problems in anemic patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Erythropoietin (EPO) hyporesponsiveness related to inflammation has been increased progressively. Melatonin is well known as a potent anti-inflammatory agent. Therefore, the current study was designed to evaluate whether melatonin could improve anemic patients response to EPO. Methods: This single controlled clinical study was carried out in 41 CKD patients with hemoglobin (Hb) levels less than 11g/dl divided randomly in a 1:1 ratio into 2 groups; treatment group who received 5mg melatonin plus their regular treatments and control group who received their regular treatments only. Hematological and iron status parameters include Hb level, serum iron (S. iron), Transferrin Saturation Ratio (TSAT) and serum ferritin (S. ferritin) in addition to inflammatory parameters that include tissue necrotic factor alfa (TNF-α), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) determined before and after 12 weeks of treatment. Results: Melatonin remarkably increases the Hb level with a significant increase in S. iron and TSAT compared to baseline. The elevation of S. iron and TSAT was significantly higher in the melatonin group. Additionally, all inflammatory markers estimated were reduced significantly by melatonin compared to base line and control group. Conclusion: The results of the current study showed that melatonin has an advantageous effect on improving EPO response in anemic patients with CKD.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document