Potential Role of Yoga in the Management of Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Retrospective Study

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory spondyloarthropathy with unclear pathogenesis. The inflammatory pain in AS leads to restricted spinal mobility and significant disability. Yoga is a nonpharmacological intervention that has positive effects on various musculoskeletal-related problems. However, its role in AS is unknown. Objective: The present retrospective study assessed the efficacy of a two-week residential yoga intervention on spinal flexibility among AS patients. Methods: The records for 24 male AS patients within the age range 30 to 50 years (average age 38.3 ± 10.5 years) who underwent a two-week residential yoga retreat between 2015 and 2020 were obtained from a yoga center located in South India. Yoga intervention consisted of yoga postures, breathing practices, meditation, a healthy diet, and devotional sessions. Pre and Post data of the sit-and-reach test, blood pressure, heart rate, and symptom score were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: Compared to the baseline, the post scores of the sit-and-reach test, systolic blood pressure and heart rate were found to be significantly ( P < .05) lower. The symptom score and analgesic medication score also showed significant improvement after two-weeks compared to the baseline. Conclusion: This retrospective study indicates the positive impact of on and analgesic use among AS patients. However, additional studies using robust research designs are warranted.

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Caffeine and Placebo Expectation

Journal of Psychophysiology ◽

10.1027/0269-8803.21.2.91 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 91-99 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Yunfeng Sun ◽

Yinling Zhang ◽

Ning He ◽

Xufeng Liu ◽

Danmin Miao

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Sleep Deprivation ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Cognitive Functions ◽

Cardiovascular Regulation ◽

Double Blind ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Pressure Tests ◽

Healthy Males

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.

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Paleolithic Diet—Effect on the Health Status and Performance of Athletes?

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13031019 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 1019

Author(s):

Barbara Frączek ◽

Aleksandra Pięta ◽

Adrian Burda ◽

Paulina Mazur-Kurach ◽

Florentyna Tyrała

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Body Mass ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Model Assessment ◽

Paleolithic Diet ◽

Short Term ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Short And Long Term ◽

The Impact

The aim of this meta-analysis was to review the impact of a Paleolithic diet (PD) on selected health indicators (body composition, lipid profile, blood pressure, and carbohydrate metabolism) in the short and long term of nutrition intervention in healthy and unhealthy adults. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials of 21 full-text original human studies was conducted. Both the PD and a variety of healthy diets (control diets (CDs)) caused reduction in anthropometric parameters, both in the short and long term. For many indicators, such as weight (body mass (BM)), body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC), impact was stronger and especially found in the short term. All diets caused a decrease in total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides (TG), albeit the impact of PD was stronger. Among long-term studies, only PD cased a decline in TC and LDL-C. Impact on blood pressure was observed mainly in the short term. PD caused a decrease in fasting plasma (fP) glucose, fP insulin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in the short run, contrary to CD. In the long term, only PD caused a decrease in fP glucose and fP insulin. Lower positive impact of PD on performance was observed in the group without exercise. Positive effects of the PD on health and the lack of experiments among professional athletes require longer-term interventions to determine the effect of the Paleo diet on athletic performance.

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Cetirizine versus diphenhydramine in the prevention of chemotherapy-related hypersensitivity reactions

Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice ◽

10.1177/1078155218811505 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 (6) ◽

pp. 1396-1401 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Charis G Durham ◽

Deepthi Thotakura ◽

Lauren Sager ◽

Jennifer Foster ◽

Jon D Herrington

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Retrospective Study ◽

Prospective Studies ◽

Clinical Setting ◽

Hypersensitivity Reactions ◽

Efficacy And Safety ◽

Infusion Reactions

Objective This study evaluated the role of cetirizine compared to diphenhydramine as premedications for patients receiving paclitaxel, cetuximab, and rituximab infusions. Historically, diphenhydramine has been linked with more sedation in comparison to cetirizine; however, it is unknown if cetirizine can replace diphenhydramine in the prevention of hypersensitivity reactions in patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods This is a retrospective study designed to assess infusion reactions occurring in patients receiving diphenhydramine or cetirizine premedication for rituximab, paclitaxel, or cetuximab therapies. Infusion reactions were defined as various symptoms such as flushing, itching, alterations in heart rate and blood pressure, and dyspnea plus the clinical setting of a concurrent or very recent infusion. Results A total of 207 patients were evaluated in this study with 83 patients receiving cetirizine and 124 diphenhydramine patients. Overall, the percentage of patients with at least one chemotherapy-related infusion event in the cetirizine group was 19.3% (95% CI 11.4–29.4) compared to diphenhydramine group 24.2% (95% CI 17.0–32.7), P = 0.40. Of the patients who received cetirizine and then experienced an event in the first cycle, 41.7% (95% CI 13.7–74.3) of the events were due to paclitaxel, 50.0% (95% CI 19.4–80.6) were due to rituximab, and 8.3% (95% CI 0.1–43.6) were due to cetuximab. Of the patients who received diphenhydramine and then experienced an event in the first cycle, 26.1% (95% CI 5.7–51.4) were due to paclitaxel, 73.9% (95% CI 48.6–94.3) were due to rituximab and none due to cetuximab. Conclusion Cetirizine appears to be a viable substitute for diphenhydramine for the prevention of infusions reactions with cetuximab, paclitaxel, and rituximab infusions in adults. Prospective studies are needed to determine the efficacy and safety of cetirizine compared with diphenhydramine in the prevention of chemotherapy-related infusion reactions.

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Acupuncture on Lactate, Perceived Exertion in Recreational Athletes Submitted to HIIT

10.20944/preprints202008.0034.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Carlos Soares Pernambuco ◽

Rodrigo Gomes de Souza Vale ◽

João Rafael Valentim-Silva ◽

Carlos Alberto de Souza Filho ◽

Vinicius do Espirito Santo de Jesus ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Acupuncture Points ◽

Acute Effects ◽

Recreational Athletes ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Activity Intensity ◽

Lactate Levels

Studies have demonstrated the positive effects of acupuncture on athletic performance. The aim of this study was to determine the acute effects of acupuncture on heart rate, the perceived exertion scale and lactate levels in recreational athletes. Fifteen competitive males engaged in HIIT. The characteristic was 29.86±2.51 years old, heart rate reserve 59.00±3.33, lactate 3.17±0.50 mM/DL. The subjects were submitted to two exercise sessions. Both training sessions consisted of 10 burpees, 12 thrusters and 14 box jumps (75 cm high) for 12 minutes. Activity intensity was between 85 and 95% of maximum heart rate. Acupuncture points: ST36, L3, LI11. The student’s t-test was adopted, Shapiro-Wilk test was applied for normality, and Pearson correlation. There was a positive correlation of r = 0.69 between lactate levels and heart rate. Lactate: Lac1 15.00±1.18 – Lac2 19.59± 1.46 p= 0.0001*; Heart 1rate: HRF 163.71±7.27 – HRF2 177.60±6.99 p=0.0001*; Blood pressure: SBP1 174.86±1.57 – SBP2 180.86±1.77 p= 0.0001*; PES1: 19.4±1.14; PES2 16.8±0.84 p= 0.0001*; weight1 – 182,57±12,05; weight 2 206,43±11,39 p=0.0325*. Acupuncture increased lactate accumulation, heart rate and blood pressure, suggesting that the exertion reached after acupuncture is higher than without acupuncture. The acupuncture technics improved the athlete performance.

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Abstract P204: Sinusoidal Galvanic Stimulation Improves Orthostatic Symptoms In Patients With Postural Tachycardia.

Hypertension ◽

10.1161/hyp.78.suppl_1.p204 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 78 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Vasile Urechie ◽

Emily Smith ◽

Dmitri Ogorodnikov ◽

Italo Biaggioni ◽

Andre Diedrich

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Symptom Score ◽

Rate Increase ◽

Vestibular Stimulation ◽

Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation ◽

Orthostatic Tolerance ◽

Heart Rate Increase ◽

Postural Tachycardia ◽

Orthostatic Symptoms

Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is characterized by frequent orthostatic symptoms and excessive heart rate increase (>= 30 bpm) on standing in the absence of orthostatic hypotension for more than 6 months. We and others have described a vestibulo-sympathetic reflex that can be engaged by galvanic vestibular stimulation to modulate sympathetic activity (Biaggioni et al., 2000; Kaufmann et al., 2002; Monahan & Ray, 2002; Ray & Carter, 2003, Bent, Macefield et al. 2006). We hypothesize that habituation to sinusoidal galvanic vestibular stimulation will improve orthostatic tolerance. We studied 6 patients with POTS (30.5+/6.0 years, BMI 22.8+/-2.9 kg/m 2 ) in two sessions using sinusoidal galvanic vestibular stimulation (sGVS 0.025 Hz, 2mA) or sham (0.01 mA). Stimulation was applied near mastoid process for 30 min in semi-recumbent position before orthostatic challenge. Patient were upright for a maximum of 15 minutes after each stimulation. Orthostatic change in Vanderbilt Orthostatic Symptom Score (dVOSS), orthostatic heart rate increase (dHR) and blood pressure response were recorded. Non-parametric Wilcoxon test for paired measures with significance level p<0.05 was used. sGVS stimulation reduced overall orthostatic symptom score (dVOSS sham: 32.5+/-9.3 bpm vs dVOSS sGVS: 10.5+/-5.5, p=0.03) and tended to reduce orthostatic HR increase (dHR sham: 65.83+/-11.5 vs dHR sGVS: 46.5+/-10.7 bpm, p=0.06). Blood pressure and tilt time did not change. This pilot study suggests that habituation to sinusoidal vestibular could be used to improve orthostatic symptoms and orthostatic tolerance.

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Effect of Acute Mild Hypoglycaemia on Counterregulatory Responses to Moderate Hypoglycaemia Induced Immediately Afterwards in Healthy Men

Clinical Science ◽

10.1042/cs0850537 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 85 (5) ◽

pp. 537-542 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

K. T. Moriarty ◽

E. J. Simpson ◽

N. S. Brown ◽

I. A. MaCdonald ◽

R. B. Tattersall

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Blood Glucose ◽

Symptom Score ◽

Random Order ◽

Sweating Rate ◽

Hormonal Responses ◽

Healthy Men ◽

Mild Hypoglycaemia ◽

Single Blind

1. This study was designed to determine whether a 1 h period of mild hypoglycaemia (33 or 3.7 mmol/l) affected the response to an episode of moderate hypoglycaemia (2.5 mmol/l) immediately afterwards. 2. Eleven non-obese healthy men (age 26 + 1 years, mean + SEM) underwent three separate 3 h hyperinsulinaemic glucose clamps in single-blind, random order. On all three occasions, blood glucose was 4.5 mmol/l for the first hour, and on a control visit was maintained at this level for the second hour. In the other two visits, blood glucose was lowered to 3.7 or 33 mmol/l during the second hour. In the third hour, blood glucose was lowered to 2.5 mmol/l on all three visits. 3. In the second hour, adrenaline rose significantly (P <0.05, analysis of variance) with a blood glucose of 33 and 3.7 mmol/l, as did cortisol and heart rate at 33 mmol/l, but glucagon, prolactin, sweating rate, symptom score and blood pressure were the same during the second hour on all three visits. 4. In the final hour at 2.5 mmol/l, there were no differences in adrenaline, noradrenaline, glucagon, prolactin, cortisol, symptom score, heart rate, blood pressure or sweating rate. 5. Thus, the overall magnitude of hormonal responses to moderate hypoglycaemia (2.5 mmol/l) are not modified by exposure to mild hypoglycaemia (33 or 3.7 mmol/l) for 1 h immediately beforehand.

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Intermittent vagus nerve stimulation allows preventing the “escape” effect of heart rhythm changes

Arterial’naya Gipertenziya (Arterial Hypertension) ◽

10.18705/1607-419x-2018-24-6-674-683 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (6) ◽

pp. 674-683

Author(s):

Ya. I. Poleshchenko ◽

D. A. Oleynikov ◽

V. Yu. Lukichev ◽

D. A. Khromikhin ◽

M. A. Krylova ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Vagus Nerve ◽

Nerve Stimulation ◽

Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽

Pulse Generator ◽

Nerve Damage ◽

Rate Decrease ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Heart Rate Decrease

Background.Vagus nerve stimulation has been proposed for the treatment of a number of diseases. The positive effects of vagus nerve stimulation on ischemic and reperfusion myocardial injury has been tested in experimental models. However, the escape effect of vagus activation on heart rate and the methodology to overcome this effect have not been reported properly.Objective. The purpose of the study is to evaluate parameters of prolonged stimulation that decrease heart rate and allow overcoming the escape effect of vagus nerve activation.Design and methods. We used Wistar rats (n = 9). Cervical section was performed under general anesthesia. Left vagus nerve isolated from adjacent tissue was contacted with custom stimulation electrodes and a custom pulse generator. Blood pressure was measured in the right common carotid artery. Limb electrocardiogram was continuously recorded. First, stimulation parameters repeatedly evoking vagal reaction (decrease in heart rate) without nerve damage were evaluated. Second, parameters of intermittent stimulation that allowed repeat and consistent heart rate decrease were assessed.Results. During experiments, in 5 animals the following parameters leading to sustained 30 ± 20 % heart rate reduction were found: rectangular pulse, 30 Hz, 0,5 ms, 1–2 V (0,6– 0,8 mA). Stimulation with 50 Hz frequency led to nerve damage in 1 case. Stimulation with 20 Hz frequency led to heart rate over-suppression of heart rate and blood pressure. Intermittent nerve stimulation was tested in 4 animals and led to repeated heart rate decrease by 38 ± 15 %. The parameters which helped to avoid escape effect on heart rate change were the following: the length of stimulation episode of 45 s and interruption of stimulation for 15 s.Conclusion. Intermittent electrical stimulation evokes vagal reactions on heart rate and allows overcoming the escape effect of vagal activation.

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The Impact of Marathons on the Recovery of Heart Rate and Blood Pressure in Non-Professional Male Marathoners’ (≥45 Years)

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina57121346 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 57 (12) ◽

pp. 1346

Author(s):

Ülle Parm ◽

Anna-Liisa Tamm ◽

Andras Laugamets ◽

Margus Viigimaa

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Blood Pressure ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Recovery Time ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Risk Group ◽

High Risk Group ◽

Descriptive Data ◽

Before And After ◽

The Impact

Background and Objectives: Physical activity has a positive impact on health, and the participation in exercise and sports, including marathons, has increased in popularity. This kind of sport requires extreme endurance, which can cause different health problems and even lead to death. Participants without sufficient preparation and, in particular, men 45 years of age and older belong to a high risk group. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of marathons and cofactors associated with marathons on the recovery of heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) of non-professional ≥ 45 years old male marathoners. Materials andMethods: A total of 136 ≥ 45 year old, non-professional (amateur marathoner), male participants were recruited. Data collection involved a questionnaire, body composition measures, and BP and HR results before and after finishing the marathon. Descriptive data, t-test, Mann–Whitney or χ2 test, and Pearson’s correlation were applied. Results: Participants (skiing n = 81, cycling n = 29, running n = 26; mean age 51.7 ± 7.1 years old) had previously attended a median of 35 (IQR 17.5–66) marathons and travelled 2111.5 (IQR 920–4565) km. Recovery of HR and BP after finishing and recovery time was insufficient and not associated with marathon preparation. Running was the most burdensome for HR, and cycling was most taxing for BP. Chronic diseases did not influence participation in the marathon. Conclusions: The preparation for the marathon was mainly sufficient, but recovery after the marathon was worrisome. Marathons are demanding for ≥45 year old males and may be too strenuous an activity that has deleterious effects on health.

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Effects of music on behaviour and the cardiovascular system in animals and human beings

Music and Medicine ◽

10.47513/mmd.v13i1.760 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 36-46

Author(s):

Eva-Maria Voelkel ◽

Gerald Reiner ◽

Hans-Joachim Trappe

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Study Protocol ◽

Classical Music ◽

Human Beings ◽

Large White ◽

Cardiovascular Parameters ◽

Sound Exposure ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Behavioural Patterns

AbstractBackground Music plays an important role during life. However, there is little known whether music of different styles can directly alter behavioural patterns in animals or cardiovascular parameters in humans.Objective To study the potential effects of classical music (CL) and heavy metal (HM) in comparison to silence (S) on behavioural patterns or cardiovascular parameters blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR).Method Behavioural patterns were examined in six German Large White pigs. More than 11.000 distinct singular behaviours were analyzed. Cortisol levels, heart rate and blood pressure were recorded in 60 healthy volunteers. In animals and in human beings an identical study protocol was used. In both groups, CL (Bach, Suite No. 3, BWV 1068), HM (Disturbed, Indestructible) S was applied. Sound exposure of CL, HM or the S period was 21 minutes. All data of the studied volunteers were compared to 60 healthy “control” (CO) participants who underwent an identical study protocol but without music application (S).Results In animals, we clearly could demonstrate that CL leads to significantly more activity and attention of the pigs (e,g. playing ball) compared to HM or S (p<0.001). In contrast, HM was significantly more associated with unexpected, stress related behavioural patterns (excitation, trying to escape) compared to CL or S (p<0.001). In humans, systolic, diastolic BP (mm Hg) and HR (beats per min) decreased mostly when CL was played compared to HM or controls (p<0.001), prior to and after sound exposure.Conclusions The results provide clear evidence for the potential of music styles to improve or deteriorate welfare in this farm animal species. It is obvious that CL (Bach) leads to both positive behavioural patterns in animals and decreased values of BP and HR. In HM or S we could not observe similar findings. Therefore, due to these experimental and clinical data, sound exposure with classical music has positive effects on cardiovascular parameters and will positively influence behavioural patterns in animals.

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“AMPE” Exercise Programme Has Positive Effects on Anthropometric and Physiological Parameters of School Children: A Pilot Study

Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences ◽

10.4314/ejhs.v30i1.18 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

Author(s):

MOSES M. Omoniyi1 ◽

AFIFA Daniel ◽

ASAMOAH M. Anthony ◽

SARPONG Priscilla ◽

SARPONG Emmanuel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Blood Pressure ◽

Body Mass Index ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Systolic Blood Pressure ◽

School Children ◽

Exercise Programme ◽

Physiological Parameters ◽

Positive Effects

BACKGROUND: Projection of the effectiveness of house-hold physical activity may be a vital tool to improve active lifestyle. Although ampe is a common house-hold recreational physical activity among all population groups especially school children in Ghana, no empirical evidence of its effects on the anthropometric and physiological parameters of the children. This pilot study examined the effect of ampe exercise programme on the anthropometric and physiological parameters of school children.METHODS: Purposive and stratified sampling techniques were applied to recruit 78 school children (ages of 9 to 12, mean age of 10.65±0.94 years). The participants attended 40 minutes of ampe exercise program three times per week, for four weeks consecutively. Body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio; % body fat, diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure and heart rate were measured prepost training.RESULTS: Ampe exercise programme produced positive effects on all parameters. Body weight (0.31%) and body mass index (0.58%) decreased significantly (P<0.05). Systolic blood pressure (3.15%), diastolic blood pressure (1.92%) and heart rate (2.13) significantly improved (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Ampe exercise programme is effective as paediatric obesity house-hold intervention to provide the impetus for active lifestyles of school children.

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