Short-term effects on heart rate variability of occipito-mastoid suture normalization in healthy subjects.

Occipito-mastoid structure normalization (OMSN) is an osteopathic manipulative treatment aimed at reducing tension around the jugular foramen, where cranial nerves IX, X, and XI exit the skull. The purpose of this study was to observe how heart rate variability (HRV), a marker of autonomic cardiac regulation, was modulated after an OMSN vs. a sham technique (SHAM). Pre- and post-intervention HRV was analyzed in two randomly chosen groups of 15 participants (OMSN vs. SHAM group). HRV was collected in the supine position 5 min before and 5 min after a 10-min application of either OMSN or SHAM. The time and group effect was analyzed using a two-way ANOVA. Independently from group intervention, a significant time effect induced increased HRV. No group effect differences were observed. Multiple comparisons for time and group interaction showed that the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), a vagally mediated HRV variable, increased to a greater extent for the OMSN group (p = 0.03) than for the SHAM group. However, both OMSN and SHAM techniques had a significant effect on HRV. Compared to a SHAM technique, OMSN had a significant effect on HRV vagally related metric RMSSD in the short term. We conclude that 10 min of OMSN may be used to induce a short-term influence on parasympathetic autonomic nervous system modulations.

Post-exercise Heart Rate Variability: Whole-body Cryotherapy vs. Contrast Water Therapy.

High-intensity training sessions are known to alter cardiac autonomic modulation. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of whole-body cryotherapy, contrast water therapy and passive recovery on the time course of cardiac autonomic markers following a standardized HIT session. Eleven runners completed a high intensity session followed by one of the following recovery interventions: whole-body cryotherapy, contrast water therapy or passive recovery. Changes in cardiac autonomic modulation were assessed in supine and standing positions during an active tilt test at pre-, post-14 h and post-38 h. In supine, high-frequency power increased from pre- to post-14 h following whole-body cryotherapy (1661.1±914.5 vs. 2799.0±948.4 ms2, respectively; p=0.023) and contrast water therapy (1906.1±1327.9 vs. 4174.3±2762.9 ms2, respectively; p=0.004) whereas high frequency power decreased in response to passive recovery (p=0.009). In standing, low-frequency power increased from pre-to post-38 h (1784.3 ± 953.7 vs. 3339.8±1862.7 ms2, respectively; p=0.017) leading to an increase in total power from pre- to post-38 h (1990.8 ± 1089.4 vs. 3606.1±1992.0 ms2, respectively; p=0.017). Spectral analysis revealed that contrast water therapy appears to be a more efficient recovery strategy than whole-body cryotherapy in restoring cardiac autonomic homeostasis.

The importance of drug-drug interactions as a cause of adverse drug reactions: a pharmacovigilance study of serotoninergic reuptake inhibitors in France.

PURPOSE: To quantify the importance of drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in the occurrence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported with serotoninergic reuptake inhibitors in a pharmacovigilance database. METHODS: All spontaneous reports of ADRs registered in 2008 by the Midi-Pyrénées PharmacoVigilance Centre that contained mention of one of the serotoninergic reuptake inhibitor (SRI) antidepressants marketed in France were reviewed. DDIs were identified according to the French National Drug Formulary (Vidal) and the interaction supplement of the French independent drug bulletin La Revue Prescrire. ADRs explained by DDIs were characterised. RESULTS: Among the 2,101 spontaneous reports recorded, 177 involved at least one SRI antidepressant. Among the 156 ADRs with at least one theoretical DDI, 41% (95% confidence interval 34-49%) could be explained by a DDI. The most frequent antidepressant involved in DDIs was escitalopram, followed by fluoxetine and citalopram. Among the 65 ADRs related to DDIs, 37 (52.9%) were "serious", mainly bleedings, confusion and falls, hyponatremia and serotoninergic syndromes. The most frequent drug interactions occurred with psychotropics (antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, among others), followed by antithrombotic agents (antagonists of vitamin K, antiplatelets), diuretics and angiotensin II antagonists. The group with ADRs related to DDIs was older than the group with ADRs not related to DDIs. ADRs were threefold more "serious" in the case of DDIs. CONCLUSION: Around 40% of ADRs reported with SRIs were related to DDIs. Most of these occurred after association with psychotropics, antithrombotics, or diuretics, especially in the elderly.

Opuntia ficus indica's effect on heart-rate variability in high-level athletes.

Opuntia ficus indica (OFI) has many physiological effects, but a relationship between OFI and heart-rate variability (HRV) has never been established. The aim of this study was to describe the effects of a diet supplement of OFI on HRV in athletes. The first day, heart rate (HR) was measured at rest in supine (SU) and standing (ST) positions to analyze HRV in 10 athletes, followed by a randomized assignment to an OFI (5) or placebo (5) group. The next day, the athletes repeated the HRV test. One month later the crossover protocol was applied. In OFI, the high-frequency-activity HF(SU) (1,773 +/- 2,927 vs. 5,856 +/- 8,326 ms(2), p < .05), HF(ST) (295 +/- 313 vs. 560 +/- 515 ms(2), p < .05), and low-frequency LF(SU) (1,621 +/- 1,795 vs. 6,029 +/- 9,007 ms(2), p < .01) increased. HR(SU) (66 +/- 13 vs. 57 +/- 11 beats/min, p < .01) and HR(ST) (87 +/- 11 vs. 76 +/- 9 beats/min, p < .01) decreased. A diet supplement of OFI increases HF and LF activities and decreases HR.