Evaluation of Cardiovascular System Reactions when Different Muscle Groups are Activated

Research background and hypothesis. In our study, the dynamics of working muscle oxygen saturation of participants in the fi nal stages of provocative bicycle ergometer test was different. According to this, we hypothesized, that different central and peripheral reaction of cardiovascular system would dominate during local and regional exercises, too.Research aim was to evaluate central and peripheral reaction of cardiovascular system when different muscle groups are activated. Research methods. Twenty seven healthy men (age 32 ± 1.8 years, body mass index 25.3 ± 0.6 kg / m 2 ) participated in the study. All participants performed provocative bicycle ergometer test, electrocardiogram and oxygen saturation were registered. The participants performed three exercises activating different muscle groups: calf, forearm and back extension.Research results. Variation of heart rate and oxygen saturation values highlighted the difference between arm and leg training exercises. However, the load for arms and legs was individualised, both Groups A and B were different according to the dynamics of heart rate and oxygen saturation indices. Heart rate reaction to the physical load for the back muscles was unusual - heart rate decreased during the fi rst seconds of the back load. Oxygen saturation was lower in resting back muscles compared to those of resting arm and leg muscles (p < 0.05). Discussion and conclusions. The analysis of heart rate and oxygen saturation values has revealed that each functional muscle group of the human organism contains not only general but also individual activating features both integrating regulatory systems and forming a certain activation of metabolism in working muscles.Keywords: heart rate, oxygen saturation, variation of indices.

Evaluation of the Fetal Heart Rate during Amniocentesis in Fetuses with Normal and Abnormal Karyotype

Introduction. We monitored the fetal heart rate (FHR) during amniocentesis in fetuses at 16-22 weeks of gestation and investigated whether an abnormal FHR was associated with chromosomal abnormalities. Methods. This prospective study involved 600 women at 16-22 weeks of gestation who underwent genetic amniocentesis. The FHR, expressed as beats for minute, was recorded before (FHR1), immediately after (FHR2) and 60 min after (FHR3) the invasive procedure. Structural malformations detected by ultrasound and multiple pregnancy were excluded from the study. Results. Chromosomal abnormalities have been diagnosed in 27 fetuses. Mean FHR decrease after amniocentesis has been observed in normal and in abnormal fetuses. The mean variation during amniocentesis was significant in both groups (P<0.01). The comparison between the mean FHR of the two groups showed no differences in FHR1 and FHR2 (P>0.05) but a significant difference in FHR3 (P<0.05). Conclusion. The FHR decreased after amniocentesis; the decrease was larger in chromosomally abnormal fetuses than in normal fetuses. This difference in heart rate reaction to amniocentesis might be due to cardiac defects or developmental delay associated with the abnormal karyotype.

Noise annoyance with regard to neurophysiological sensitivity, subjective noise sensitivity and personality variables

SynopsisTo evaluate the relation between annoyance to environmental noise, general neurophysiological sensitivity, subjective noise sensitivity and other individual characteristics, experiments were undertaken in which 93 subjects assessed their subjective annoyance after exposure to noise under laboratory conditions. Evaluations were made of the discomfort threshold for pulsating sound, the light discomfort, and heat and cold discomfort. The heart rate and discomfort after exposure to a series of impulse noises was also determined. Subjective noise sensitivity, attitudes to noise, mood and personality characteristics of the subjects were evaluated using questionnaires.The results show that the annoyance after exposure to noise was not closely related to the general neurophysiological sensitivity, measured as discomfort threshold for noise, heat, cold and light; or to the heart rate reaction or discomfort after exposure to impulse noise. The annoyance was highly correlated with subjectively reported noise sensitivity and with the attitude to noise. There was also a relationship with neuroticism, measured with the EPI scale.It is suggested that the subjective noise sensitivity, attitude and neuroticism for the definition of noise sensitivity be defined in future studies of long term effects of noise exposure.