Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on peripheral to central blood pressure ratio in healthy subjects.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on the arterial stiffness in healthy young adult and middle-aged men using the augmentation index (AI-x) and hemodynamic measures. METHODS: Twenty-four men (12 aged 27·25 ± 5·53 years and 12 aged 54·83 ± 5·10 years) were randomly allocated to two subgroups: TENS or placebo in ganglion region for 45 min. The AI-x and hemodynamic measures [late systolic blood pressure (SBP), central blood pressure (CBP), difference between P1 and P2 (ΔP) and tension time index (TTI)] were determined before and after protocols. RESULTS: TENS resulted in reduction of SBP in younger adults (TENSpre: 111 ± 2; post: 105 ± 2·2 mm Hg; PLACEBOpre: 113 ± 1·8; post: 114 ± 2·5 mm Hg; GEE, P<0·01), whereas no difference was found in middle-aged group. TENS also resulted in reduction of AI-x younger adults group (TENSpre: 56 ± 2·8; post: 53 ± 2%; PLACEBOpre: 55 ± 3; post: 58 ± 2·5%; GEE, P<0·01). ΔP and TTI were significantly decreased after the application of TENS in both groups, but significantly greater reductions in TTI and the SBP/CBP ratio were found in the group of younger adults. CONCLUSIONS: The acute application of ganglion TENS attenuated arterial stiffness in younger adults as well as hemodynamic measures in the middle-aged group. This method could emerge as effective therapy for the management of arterial blood pressure.

Respiratory muscle endurance is limited by lower ventilatory efficiency in post-myocardial infarction patients.

BACKGROUND: Reduced respiratory muscle endurance (RME) contributes to increased dyspnea upon exertion in patients with cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to characterize ventilatory and metabolic responses during RME tests in post-myocardial infarction patients without respiratory muscle weakness. METHOD: Twenty-nine subjects were allocated into three groups: recent myocardial infarction group (RG, n=9), less-recent myocardial infarction group (LRG, n=10), and control group (CG, n=10). They underwent two RME tests (incremental and constant pressure) with ventilatory and metabolic analyses. One-way ANOVA and repeated measures one-way ANOVA, both with Tukey post-hoc, were used between groups and within subjects, respectively. RESULTS: Patients from the RG and LRG presented lower metabolic equivalent and ventilatory efficiency than the CG on the second (50± 06, 50± 5 vs. 42± 4) and third part (50± 11, 51± 10 vs. 43± 3) of the constant pressure RME test and lower metabolic equivalent during the incremental pressure RME test. Additionally, at the peak of the incremental RME test, RG patients had lower oxygen uptake than the CG. CONCLUSIONS: Post-myocardial infarction patients present lower ventilatory efficiency during respiratory muscle endurance tests, which appears to explain their inferior performance in these tests even in the presence of lower pressure overload and lower metabolic equivalent.

Respiratory muscle endurance is limited by lower ventilatory efficiency in post-myocardial infarction patients

Background: Reduced respiratory muscle endurance (RME) contributes to increased dyspnea upon exertion in patients with cardiovascular disease. Objective: The objective was to characterize ventilatory and metabolic responses during RME tests in post-myocardial infarction patients without respiratory muscle weakness. Method: Twenty-nine subjects were allocated into three groups: recent myocardial infarction group (RG, n=9), less-recent myocardial infarction group (LRG, n=10), and control group (CG, n=10). They underwent two RME tests (incremental and constant pressure) with ventilatory and metabolic analyses. One-way ANOVA and repeated measures one-way ANOVA, both with Tukey post-hoc, were used between groups and within subjects, respectively. Results: Patients from the RG and LRG presented lower metabolic equivalent and ventilatory efficiency than the CG on the second (50± 06, 50± 5 vs. 42± 4) and third part (50± 11, 51± 10 vs. 43± 3) of the constant pressure RME test and lower metabolic equivalent during the incremental pressure RME test. Additionally, at the peak of the incremental RME test, RG patients had lower oxygen uptake than the CG. Conclusions : Post-myocardial infarction patients present lower ventilatory efficiency during respiratory muscle endurance tests, which appears to explain their inferior performance in these tests even in the presence of lower pressure overload and lower metabolic equivalent. .

Avaliação da frequência cardíaca à medida de pressão expiratória máxima estática e à manobra de Valsalva em jovens saudáveis / Heart rate assessment during maximal static expiratory pressure and Valsalva maneuver in healthy young men

CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: A medida de pressão expiratória máxima (PEmáx) possui algumas contraindicações, pois acredita-se que as respostas obtidas nessa medida são similares às respostas encontradas na manobra de Valsalva (MV). OBJETIVOS: O objetivo principal é avaliar a resposta da frequência cardíaca (FC) durante a medida da PEmáx e da MV em jovens saudáveis, em diferentes posturas, para identificar se e em qual condição a PEmáx reproduz as respostas obtidas na MV e, adicionalmente, estimar o trabalho realizado nas manobras. MÉTODO: Doze jovens saudáveis foram avaliados, orientados e familiarizados com as manobras. A MV foi composta por um esforço expiratório (40 mmHg) durante 15 segundos contra um manômetro. A PEmáx foi executada segundo a American Thoracic Society. Ambas as medidas foram realizadas nas posturas supino e sentado. Para a análise da variação da frequência cardíaca (∆FC), índice de Valsalva (IV), índice da PEmáx (IPEmáx) e o trabalho estimado das manobras (Wtotal, Wisotime, Wtotal/∆FCtotal e Wisotime/∆FCisotime ), utilizou-se ANOVA two-way com post-hoc de Holm-Sidak (p<0,05). RESULTADOS: A ∆FC durante as manobras não foi influenciada pelas posturas; entretanto, durante a MV, a ∆FC e os valores do IV foram maiores (supino: 47±9 bpm, 2,3±0,2; sentado: 41±10 bpm, 2,0±0,2, respectivamente) do que a ∆FC e os valores de IPEmáx observados durante a PEmáx (supino: 23±8 bpm, 1,5±0,2; sentado 24±8 bpm, 1,6±0,3, respectivamente) (p<0,001). Os trabalhos estimados das manobras foram estatisticamente diferentes (p<0,001) entre elas, exceto para o Wtotal/∆FC. CONCLUSÕES: Nas condições estudadas, a PEmáx não reproduz as respostas da FC observadas durante a MV em jovens saudáveis.

BACKGROUND: The measure of the maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) has some contraindications, as it is believed that the responses obtained in this measure are similar to the Valsalva maneuver (VM). OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the heart rate responses (HR) during the MEP and the VM measures in healthy young men into different postures aiming to identify whether and in which situation the MEP reproduces the responses obtained in the VM. Additionally we aim to estimate the workload realized during the maneuvers. METHOD: Twelve healthy young men were evaluated, instructed and familiarized with the maneuvers. The VM was characterized by an expiratory effort (40 mmHg) against a manometer for 15 seconds. The MEP measure has been performed according to the American Thoracic Society. Both measures were performed at sitting and supine positions. ANOVA two-way with Holm-Sidak post-hoc test (p<0.05) was used to analyse the heart rate variation (∆HR); Valsalva index (VI); MEP index (MEPI), and the estimated workload of the maneuvers (Wtotal, Wisotime, Wtotal/∆HRtotal and Wisotime/∆HRisotime ). RESULTS: The ∆HR during the maneuvers was not influenced by the supine and sitting positions. However, the ∆HR during the VM and VI were higher (supine: 47±9 bpm, 2.3±0.2; sitting: 41±10 bpm, 2.0±0.2, respectively) than ∆HR during the MEP and MEPI values (supine: 23±8 bpm, 1.5±0.2; sitting 24±8 bpm, 1.6±0.3, respectively) (p<0.001). The estimated workload of the maneuvers was statistically different (p<0.001) between the maneuvers, except to Wtotal/∆HR. Conclusions: In the studied conditions the MEP does not reproduces the HR response observed in the VM in healthy young men.

Heart rate assessment during maximal static expiratory pressure and Valsalva maneuver in healthy young men.

BACKGROUND: The measure of the maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) has some contraindications, as it is believed that the responses obtained in this measure are similar to the Valsalva maneuver (VM). OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the heart rate responses (HR) during the MEP and the VM measures in healthy young men into different postures aiming to identify whether and in which situation the MEP reproduces the responses obtained in the VM. Additionally we aim to estimate the workload realized during the maneuvers. METHOD: Twelve healthy young men were evaluated, instructed and familiarized with the maneuvers. The VM was characterized by an expiratory effort (40 mmHg) against a manometer for 15 seconds. The MEP measure has been performed according to the American Thoracic Society. Both measures were performed at sitting and supine positions. ANOVA two-way with Holm-Sidak post-hoc test (p<0.05) was used to analyse the heart rate variation (∆HR); Valsalva index (VI); MEP index (MEPI), and the estimated workload of the maneuvers (Wtotal, Wisotime, Wtotal/∆HRtotal and Wisotime/∆HRisotime ). RESULTS: The ∆HR during the maneuvers was not influenced by the supine and sitting positions. However, the ∆HR during the VM and VI were higher (supine: 47±9 bpm, 2.3±0.2; sitting: 41±10 bpm, 2.0±0.2, respectively) than ∆HR during the MEP and MEPI values (supine: 23±8 bpm, 1.5±0.2; sitting 24±8 bpm, 1.6±0.3, respectively) (p<0.001). The estimated workload of the maneuvers was statistically different (p<0.001) between the maneuvers, except to Wtotal/∆HR. CONCLUSIONS: In the studied conditions the MEP does not reproduces the HR response observed in the VM in healthy young men.