An educational tool for understanding the cardiopulmonary changes associated with aging.

1994 ◽  
Vol 267 (6) ◽  
pp. S17 ◽  
Author(s):  
M P Chandler ◽  
S E DiCarlo

Normal aging is associated with cardiac, vascular, and pulmonary adaptations that significantly affect the individual's ability to maintain homeostasis. To understand the changes associated with aging, we developed a laboratory exercise that compares and contrasts the cardiopulmonary responses to exercise in a young and an older individual. We also developed this interactive tool because it is our experience that learning is better facilitated when students are encouraged, and required, to become an active and integral part of the educational process. This exercise provides a unique opportunity to analyze, integrate, and interpret the changes associated with aging because more is learned about how a system operates when it is forced to perform than when it is idle. In this laboratory exercise, basic anatomical and physiological data about aging are provided. Subsequently, figures are presented that illustrate the responses of specific cardiopulmonary variables during exercise (e.g., heart rate, cardiac output, blood pressure), and the students are challenged to analyze and assimilate information from the figures, answer questions, make calculations, and plot graphs. The laboratory does not require equipment or software, only rules and pencils. Questions, and answers to them, are provided in the appendix. The emphasis is on the application of basic science principles, interpretation of pictorial or tabular material, and problem solving skills. In addition, an evaluation instrument was developed to assess the effectiveness of this instructional tool in an academic setting. Specifically, the evaluation instrument addressed four major components, including aims and objectives, content of materials, components and organization, and summary and recommendations.

1995 ◽  
Vol 269 (6) ◽  
pp. S4 ◽  
Author(s):  
H L Collins ◽  
S E DiCarlo

Diabetes, a syndrome characterized by high plasma glucose and low plasma insulin concentrations, is associated with somatic and autonomic neuropadiabetes as well as cardiac and vascular disorders. These consequences of diabetes significantly affect the organism's ability to maintain homeostasis. To understand the changes associated with diabetes, we developed a laboratory exercise that compares and contrasts the cardiovascular responses to exercise in an individual with diabetes and in an individual without diabetes. This exercise provides a unique opportunity to analyze, integrate, and interpret the changes associated with diabetes, since more is learned about how a system operated when the system is forced to perform than when it is idle. In this laboratory, anatomical and physiological data concerning diabetes are provided. Subsequently, a figure that illustrates the response of a specific cardiovascular variable during exercise (e.g., heart rate, cardiac output, blood pressure) is presented. Students are challenged to analyze and assimilate information from figures, answer questions, make calculations, fill in tables, and plot graphs. The laboratory does not require equipment or software, only rulers and pencils. The answers to the questions and tables are provided in the APPENDIX. Students obtain experience in evaluating and understanding diabetes as well as applying basic cardiovascular concepts. The emphasis is on the application of basic cardiovascular principles, interpretation of pictorial or tabular material, and problem-solving skills.


1994 ◽  
Vol 267 (6) ◽  
pp. S37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Chen ◽  
S E DiCarlo

We wanted a new and innovative method of engaging students in interactive learning. To this end, we developed an educational tool that compares and contracts the cardiopulmonary responses to exercise in an individual with heart failure with an individual with normal cardiac function. This exercise provides a unique opportunity to analyze, integrate, and interpret the changes associated with heart failure because more is learned about how a system operates when it is forced to perform than when it is idle. In this laboratory, basic anatomical and physiological data about heart failure are provided. Subsequently, figures are presented that illustrate the response of specific cardiopulmonary variables during exercise (e.g., heart rate, cardiac output, blood pressure), and the students are challenged to analyze and assimilate information from figures, answer questions, make calculations, and plot graphs. The answers to the questions are provided. The students reported that this tool was an interesting and thoughtful approach to learning cardiopulmonary physiology. We conclude that this method is pedagogically sound inasmuch as students are forced to draw conclusions with directed exercises and questions.


2002 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 309-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresa L. O’Donaughy ◽  
Thomas C. Resta ◽  
Benjimen R. Walker

We have developed a laboratory exercise that demonstrates arterial baroreflex control of heart rate (HR) in the conscious unrestrained rat, incorporating graduate level physiological topics as well as a hands-on exposure to conscious animal research. This demonstration utilizes rats chronically instrumented to measure cardiac output (CO), HR, and arterial blood pressure in response to agents that raise or lower blood pressure. The HR response to progressive increases or decreases in blood pressure is recorded, and a baroreflex curve is generated by plotting mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) vs. HR. Observation of altered CO allows for discussion of the relationship between MAP, CO, HR, stroke volume, and total peripheral resistance. Administration of arginine vasopressin demonstrates the ability of this hormone to alter the sensitivity of the baroreflex. Throughout the demonstration, students answer questions from a handout about general cardiovascular physiology, specific pathways of agonists, and the baroreflex system, encouraging group and individual critical analysis of the results. Interpretation of the data reemphasizes lecture material and allows students to observe the baroreflex response in a physiological setting.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satish Boregowda ◽  
Rod Handy ◽  
Darrah Sleeth ◽  
Andrew Merryweather

The paper presents a novel approach involving the use of Maxwell relations to combine multiple physiological measures to provide a measure of entropy change. The physiological measures included blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), skin temperature (ST), electromyogram (EMG), and electrodermal response (EDR). The multiple time-series physiological data were collected from eight subjects in an experimental pilot study conducted at the Human Engineering Laboratory of NASA Langley Research Center. The methodology included data collection during a relaxation period of eighteen minutes followed by a sixty-minute cognitive task. Two types of entropy change were computed: (a) entropy change (ΔSBP) due to blood pressure, heart rate, and skin temperature and (b) entropy change (ΔSEMG) due to electromyogram, electrodermal response, and skin temperature. The results demonstrate that entropy change provides a valuable composite measure of individual physiological response to various stressors that could be valuable in the areas of medical research, diagnosis, and clinical practice.


2008 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-66
Author(s):  
Jennifer C. Friberg

Abstract The use of podcasting is incredibly widespread, with experts estimating that 60 million Americans will be using podcasting in some form by 2010. The use of podcasting has grown beyond entertainment to become an educational tool, showing promise as a way to disseminate information and create networks of professional learners. However, despite the growing clinical and educational uses of podcasting in other professional disciplines, podcasting is being used primarily as a continuing education tool for speech-language pathologists and audiologists at this time. This article provides guidelines and examines the potential applications for use of podcasting in teaching and learning in communication sciences and disorders.


2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunfeng Sun ◽  
Yinling Zhang ◽  
Ning He ◽  
Xufeng Liu ◽  
Danmin Miao

Abstract. Caffeine placebo expectation seems to improve vigilance and cognitive performance. This study investigated the effect of caffeine and placebo expectation on vigilance and cognitive performance during 28 h sleep deprivation. Ten healthy males volunteered to take part in the double-blind, cross-over study, which required participants to complete five treatment periods of 28 h separated by 1-week wash-out intervals. The treatments were no substance (Control); caffeine 200 mg at 00:00 (C200); placebo 200 mg at 00:00 (P200); twice caffeine 200 mg at 00:00 and 04:00 (C200-C200); caffeine 200 mg at 00:00 and placebo 200 mg at 04:00 (C200-P200). Participants were told that all capsules were caffeine and given information about the effects of caffeine to increase expectation. Vigilance was assessed by a three-letter cancellation test, cognitive functions by the continuous addition test and Stroop test, and cardiovascular regulation by heart rate and blood pressure. Tests were performed bihourly from 00:00 to 10:00 of the second day. Results indicated that C200-P200 and C200-C200 were more alert (p < .05) than Control and P200. Their cognitive functions were higher (p < .05) than Control and P200. Also, C200-P200 scored higher than C200 in the letter cancellation task (p < .05). No test showed any significant differences between C200-P200 and C200-C200. The results demonstrated that the combination of caffeine 200 mg and placebo 200 mg expectation exerted prolonged positive effects on vigilance and cognitive performance.


2009 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 104-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Duschek ◽  
Heike Heiss ◽  
Boriana Buechner ◽  
Rainer Schandry

Recent studies have revealed evidence for increased pain sensitivity in individuals with chronically low blood pressure. The present trial explored whether pain sensitivity can be reduced by pharmacological elevation of blood pressure. Effects of the sympathomimetic midodrine on threshold and tolerance to heat pain were examined in 52 hypotensive persons (mean blood pressure 96/61 mmHg) based on a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind design. Heat stimuli were applied to the forearm via a contact thermode. Confounding of drug effects on pain perception with changes in skin temperature, temperature sensitivity, and mood were statistically controlled for. Compared to placebo, higher pain threshold and tolerance, increased blood pressure, as well as reduced heart rate were observed under the sympathomimetic condition. Increases in systolic blood pressure between points of measurement correlated positively with increases in pain threshold and tolerance, and decreases in heart rate were associated with increases in pain threshold. The findings underline the causal role of hypotension in the augmented pain sensitivity related to this condition. Pain reduction as a function of heart rate decrease suggests involvement of a baroreceptor-related mechanism in the pain attrition. The increased proneness of persons with chronic hypotension toward clinical pain is discussed.


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