scholarly journals Effect of Dog Presence on Stress Levels in Students under Psychological Strain: A Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 2286
Author(s):  
Kristýna Machová ◽  
Radka Procházková ◽  
Mariana Vadroňová ◽  
Michaela Součková ◽  
Eliška Prouzová
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Pressure Gauge ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Psychological Strain ◽  
Final Exam ◽  
Physiological Values

As university students face many stressful situations, especially during the examination period, this study focused on the use of animal-assisted activities (AAAs) with a dog as a means of relieving students’ stress before a final exam. The aim was to determine whether a 10-min interaction with a dog affected subjectively evaluated stress and mood, objective blood pressure, and heart rate. Ninety-three female students (mean age = 22.5 years; standard deviation = 3.8 years) were divided into three groups according to their preference. The first group underwent AAAs (n = 26), the second group chose a relaxation technique (n = 28), and the last one was a control group (n = 39). Physiological values were measured using a pressure gauge and the subjective feelings of stress and mood were evaluated by the Likert scale 1–5. The AAA group showed significant improvement after 10 min of interaction in both mood and stress, with no change in heart rate and blood pressure. The remaining groups showed a significant decrease in blood pressure, but not in heart rate, with different evaluations of mood and stress. AAAs with a dog appear to be effective in improving students’ mood and stress without affecting their physiological parameters.

scholarly journals The Effect of Animal-Assisted Therapy on the State of Patients’ Health After a Stroke: A Pilot Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (18) ◽  
pp. 3272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristýna Machová ◽  
Radka Procházková ◽  
Michal Říha ◽  
Ivona Svobodová
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Barthel Index ◽  
Animal Assisted Therapy ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Physical Constraints ◽  
Significant Aspect ◽  
Experimental Group

A stroke is a condition that can give rise to consequences such as cognitive and physical constraints, which sometimes manifest in the psychological condition of the patient. Such patients commence rehabilitation as soon as is possible, which involves a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment. One aspect of complementary rehabilitation could be animal-assisted therapy (AAT). A total of 15 individuals were split into an experimental group comprising 6 patients (2 males, 4 females), and a control group of 9 patients (3 males, 6 females). The participants in the control group were aged from 43 to 87 years and the experimental group featured participants aged from 45 to 76 years. Both groups received standard physiotherapy and occupational therapy. In addition, the experimental group was supplemented with AAT, with the animal in question being a dog. The tools primarily applied to measure the outcomes were the Barthel index, blood pressure, and heart rate measurements, whereas the Likert scale was employed to discern the mood of the patients. The results showed that changes in the values for heart rate and blood pressure were insignificant. However, a statistically significant aspect of the research pertained to the patients confirming that they felt better after the AAT sessions. Hence, AAT could potentially bolster the effectiveness of other therapies.

scholarly journals Effect of Ice Massage to Head and Spine on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Variability in Patients with Hypertension: a Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 22-26
Author(s):  
Mooventhan A, MD ◽  
Sneha Bharati, BNYS ◽  
Nivethitha L, PhD ◽  
Manjunath NK, PhD
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Systolic Blood Pressure ◽  
Reduce Blood Pressure ◽  
Clinical Impact ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Mean

Background: Ice massage is one of the common hydrotherapeutic procedures. The current study is first of its kind, conducted to evaluate the effect of ice massage to head and spine on blood pressure and heart rate variability in patients with hypertension. Materials and Methods: Fifteen hypertensive subjects with the mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of 48.87 ± 11.17 yrs were recruited and underwent only one session of ice massage to head and spine for 20 min. Blood pressure and heart rate variability were assessed before and immediately after the intervention. Results: Results of this study showed a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (p = <.001), diastolic blood pressure (p < .001) and heart rate (p = .012), and a significant increase in R-R Interval (the intervals between adjacent R waves in the electro cardiogram) (p = .001) in the posttest assessments compared to its respective pre-test assessments. Conclusion: Results suggest that 20 min of ice massage to head and spine may reduce blood pressure and heart rate in patients with hypertension. However, there is no evidence that this provides any significant clinical impact for the patient.

The Effects of a Caffeine Placebo and Experimenter Expectation on Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, Well-Being, and Cognitive Performance

2001 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harald Walach ◽  
Stefan Schmidt ◽  
Yvonne-Michelle Bihr ◽  
Susanne Wiesch
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Being There ◽  
To Receive

We studied the effect of experimenter expectations and different instructions in a balanced placebo design. 157 subjects were randomized into a 2 × 4 factorial design. Two experimenters were led to expect placebos either to produce physiological effects or not (pro- vs. antiplacebo). All subjects except a control group received a caffeine placebo. They were either made to expect coffee, no coffee, or were in a double-blind condition. Dependent measures were blood pressure, heart rate, well-being, and a cognitive task. There was one main effect on the instruction factor (p = 0.03) with the group “told no caffeine” reporting significantly better well-being. There was one main effect on the experimenter factor with subjects instructed by experimenter “proplacebo” having higher systolic blood pressure (p = 0.008). There was one interaction with subjects instructed by experimenter “proplacebo” to receive coffee doing worse in the cognitive task than the rest. Subjects instructed by experimenter “antiplacebo” were significantly less likely to believe the experimental instruction, and that mostly if they had been instructed to receive coffee. Contrary to the literature we could not show an effect of instruction, but there was an effect of experimenters. It is likely, however, that these experimenter effects were not due to experimental manipulations, but to the difference in personalities.

Bifurcation in a Simple Model of the Cardiovascular System

2000 ◽  
Vol 39 (02) ◽  
pp. 118-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Akselrod ◽  
S. Eyal
Keyword(s):  
Nonlinear Dynamics ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Fixed Point ◽  
Cardiovascular System ◽  
Modified Model ◽  
Mayer Waves ◽  
Sustained Oscillations ◽  
Human Cardiovascular System ◽  
Physiological Values

Abstract:A simple nonlinear beat-to-beat model of the human cardiovascular system has been studied. The model, introduced by DeBoer et al. was a simplified linearized version. We present a modified model which allows to investigate the nonlinear dynamics of the cardiovascular system. We found that an increase in the -sympathetic gain, via a Hopf bifurcation, leads to sustained oscillations both in heart rate and blood pressure variables at about 0.1 Hz (Mayer waves). Similar oscillations were observed when increasing the -sympathetic gain or decreasing the vagal gain. Further changes of the gains, even beyond reasonable physiological values, did not reveal another bifurcation. The dynamics observed were thus either fixed point or limit cycle. Introducing respiration into the model showed entrainment between the respiration frequency and the Mayer waves.

The Predictive Role of Biochemical Plasma Factors in Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. 1754-1757
Author(s):  
Marius Toma Papacocea ◽  
Ioana Anca Badarau ◽  
Mugurel Radoi ◽  
Ioana Raluca Papacocea
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
Brain Injuries ◽  
Hematological Parameters ◽  
Group Versus ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Traumatic Brain Injuries ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Control Group

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) represent a high impact public health problem due to a high rate of death , long term disability and occurrence especially in young adults. Despite several promising animal studies, several parameters were proposed as biological markers and were assessed for this aim. Our study proposes the study of the early biochemical changes in association to hematological parameters for severe TBI patients prognosis. 43 patients with acute TBI were included in study based on clinical, laboratory and imagistic findings. The severity of the TBI was established by Glasgow Coma Scale GCS 3-8. In all patients were evaluated hematologic parameters (Red blood cell count - RBC, Hematocrit, blood Hemoglobin, White blood cell - WBC, Platelet count and biochemical parameters (glucose, urea, creatinine, electrolytes). Outcome was expressed as Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), between 1-5. Values were compared to control group -15 cases. Significant early differences in body temperature, heart rate, and systolic blood pressure were observed in TBI group versus control (p[0.05). After correlation, laboratory findings significantly associated to severe outcome - GOS = 1, 2 - (p[0.05) were plasma Na decrease and significant glucose increase. An early increase of temperature and decrease of Na may predict a severe outcome in patients with acute TBI; association with shifts in heart rate and blood pressure, imposes aggressive treatment measures.

scholarly journals Effect of intravenous oxycodone on the physiologic responses to extubation following general anesthesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Menglu Jiang ◽  
Jiawei Ji ◽  
Xin Li ◽  
Zhenqing Liu
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
General Anesthesia ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Clinical Trial Registry ◽  
Blood Oxygen Saturation ◽  
Blood Concentrations ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Blood Hormones

Abstract Background Endotracheal intubation and extubation may cause undesirable hemodynamic changes. Intravenous oxycodone has recently been introduced and used for relieving hemodynamic alterations in response to intubation, but there is insufficient information regarding its application in stabilizing hemodynamics during extubation in the patients emerging from general anesthesia. Methods One hundred patients, who had undergone assorted laparoscopic surgeries under general anesthesia, were randomly assigned to Control group (saline injection, 50 cases) and Study group (intravenous injection of 0.08 mg/kg oxycodone immediately after completion of the surgical procedure, 50 cases). Blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) as well as blood concentrations of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol were recorded or measured immediately before extubation (T0), during extubation (T1), as well as one minute (T2), 5 min (T3), and 10 min after extubation (T4). In addition, coughing and restlessness, time of eye-opening, and duration from completing surgery to extubation as well as Ramsay Sedation Scale were analyzed. Results Blood pressure and heart rate as well as blood concentrations of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol were significantly higher in the Control group compared with the Study group at the time of extubation as well as 1, 5, and 10 min after extubation (P < 0.05). When the patients emerged from general anesthesia, 70 % of the Control group had cough, which was significantly higher than that of Study group (40 %, P < 0.05). Significantly higher number of patients manifested restlessness in the Control group before (40 %) and after extubation (20 %) compared with that in the Study group (20 and 2 %, respectively, P < 0.05). In addition, patients of Control group had lower Ramsay score at extubation (1.7 ± 0.7) as well as 30 min after extubation (2.4 ± 0.9) compared to that of the patients of Study group (2.2 ± 0.9, and 3.0 ± 0.8, respectively, P = 0.003 and 0.001). Conclusions Intravenous oxycodone attenuated alterations of hemodynamics and blood hormones associated with extubation during emergence from general anesthesia. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2000040370 (registration date: 11-28-2020) “‘retrospectively registered”.

Hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus is critical for renal vasoconstriction elicited by elevations in body temperature

2008 ◽  
Vol 294 (2) ◽  
pp. F309-F315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joo Lee Cham ◽  
Emilio Badoer
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Renal Blood Flow ◽  
Core Temperature ◽  
Paraventricular Nucleus ◽  
Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus ◽  
Body Core Temperature ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Body Core

Redistribution of blood from the viscera to the peripheral vasculature is the major cardiovascular response designed to restore thermoregulatory homeostasis after an elevation in body core temperature. In this study, we investigated the role of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in the reflex decrease in renal blood flow that is induced by hyperthermia, as this brain region is known to play a key role in renal function and may contribute to the central pathways underlying thermoregulatory responses. In anesthetized rats, blood pressure, heart rate, renal blood flow, and tail skin temperature were recorded in response to elevating body core temperature. In the control group, saline was microinjected bilaterally into the PVN; in the second group, muscimol (1 nmol in 100 nl per side) was microinjected to inhibit neuronal activity in the PVN; and in a third group, muscimol was microinjected outside the PVN. Compared with control, microinjection of muscimol into the PVN did not significantly affect the blood pressure or heart rate responses. However, the normal reflex reduction in renal blood flow observed in response to hyperthermia in the control group (∼70% from a resting level of 11.5 ml/min) was abolished by the microinjection of muscimol into the PVN (maximum reduction of 8% from a resting of 9.1 ml/min). This effect was specific to the PVN since microinjection of muscimol outside the PVN did not prevent the normal renal blood flow response. The data suggest that the PVN plays an essential role in the reflex decrease in renal blood flow elicited by hyperthermia.

scholarly journals Physical activity in the classroom to prevent childhood obesity: a pilot study in Santiago, Chile

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Mardones ◽  
Pilar Arnaiz ◽  
Johana Soto-Sánchez ◽  
Juana Saavedra ◽  
Angélica Domínguez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Grip Strength ◽  
Statistical Power ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Hand Grip Strength ◽  
Control Group ◽  
High Waist Circumference ◽  
Hand Grip

AbstractThis paper describes a 4-month pilot study that tested the suitability of a physical activity intervention for first graders (children aged 6 and 7 years) in a public school in Santiago, Chile. Teachers were trained to deliver the programme in the classroom during the school day. Teachers were surveyed to determine if this intervention fit within their curriculum and classroom routines and they reported in a focus group that it was suitable for them. All children actively participated in the programme and positive changes in their attitudes towards physical activity were observed by their teachers. Anthropometrics, blood pressure and hand grip strength were measured in the students. A significant reduction was observed in children with high waist circumference ≥ 90th percentile, and in mean systolic blood pressure. However, statistical power values for those comparisons were rather low. Anthropometry and hand grip strength were not modified. The latter calculations and the lack of a control group are showing the weaknesses of this pilot study and that further research with a larger sample size and an experimental design is strongly needed.

scholarly journals Cardiovascular response and backward, upward, right push maneuver during laryngoscopy: comparison between CMAC® video laryngoscopy and conventional Macintosh

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-21
Author(s):  
Arif H.M. Marsaban ◽  
Aldy Heriwardito ◽  
I G.N.A.D. Yundha
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Mean Arterial Pressure ◽  
Cardiovascular Response ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Nociceptive Stimulation ◽  
Cardiovascular Parameters ◽  
Pain Stimulation ◽  
Frequent Response

Background: Increased blood pressure and heart rate are the most frequent response to laryngoscopy which sometimes causes serious complications. Laryngoscopy technique and tools modification lessen the nociceptive stimulation, thus preventing hemodynamic response. BURP maneuver is used to lower Cormack-Lehane level, but it can cause additional pain stimulation during laryngoscopy. The aim of this study was to compare the cardiovascular response and the need of BURP maneuver during laryngoscopy between CMAC® and conventional Macintosh.Methods: A randomized, single blinded, control trial was performed to 139 subjects who underwent general anesthesia with endotracheal tube. Subjects were randomised into a control group (conventional Macintosh) and an intervention group (CMAC®). The cardiovascular parameters (systolic, dyastolic, mean arterial pressure, and heart rate) were measured prior to induction (T1). Midazolam 0.05 mg/kg and Fentanyl 2 micrograms/kg were given 2 minutes before the induction. Moreover, they were given propofol 1 mg/kg followed by propofol infusion of 10 mg/kg/hour and Atracurium 0.8–1 mg/kg. After TOF-0 cardiovascular parameters (T2) were remeasured, it was proceeded to laryngoscopy. When Cormack-Lehane 1–2 was reached (with or without BURP maneuver), cardiovascular parameters were measured again (T3).Results: Unpaired T-test showed that cardiovascular response during laryngoscopy were significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control group (p<0.05). The need of BURP maneuver was significantly lower in the CMAC® group compared to the Convensional Macintosh group (13.9% vs 40.3%; p<0.05).Conclusion: Cardiovascular response and BURP maneuver during laryngoscopy with CMAC® were significantly lower compared to conventional Macintosh.

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