UNLABELLED Stress is a complex phenomenon coordinated by two main neural systems: the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system with cortisol as classical stress biomarker and the autonomic nervous system with heart rate variability (HRV) as recently suggested stress marker. To test low HRV (5 minute measurements) as stress indicator in young children (5-10 y), associations with self-reported chron...

This laboratory study explored buffering and recovery effects of viewing urban green and built spaces on autonomic nervous system activity. Forty-six students viewed photos of green and built spaces immediately following, and preceding acute stress induction. Simultaneously recorded electrocardiogram and impedance cardiogram signal was used to derive respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and pre-e...

PURPOSE Objective is to evaluate cardiovascular autonomic function in SLE by simple non-invasive tests. METHODS A case control study was carried out involving 18-50 yrs old previously diagnosed SLE patients and same number of age and sex-matched controls. Parasympathetic function was assessed by heart rate (HR) response to Valsalva maneuver, deep breathing and standing. Sympathetic function w...

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls body functions that can proceed independent of volitional activity . The system consists of a somatic afferent pathway, a central nervous system (CNS) integrating complex (brain and spinal cord), and two distinct efferent limbs (sympathetic and parasympathetic) each made up of preganglionic and postganglionic neurones . The viscera are innervated by b...

OBJECTIVE Dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system is thought to be involved in craniopharyngioma-related hypothalamic obesity (CRHO). Increased parasympathetic activity and decreased sympathetic activity have been suggested. We aimed to study autonomic activity using heart rate variability (HRV) and biochemical measures in youth with CRHO compared with controls and to explore relationship...

BACKGROUND Chronic renal failure is frequently associated with a high risk of sudden cardiac death due to dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. The pathogenic mechanisms underlying the parasympathetic cardiac dysautonomia are not fully elucidated yet. METHODS Chronic renal failure was induced in rats by 5/6 nephrectomy. Blood pressure, resting heart rate and plasma levels of creatinine...

In guinea-pig isolated airways, nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) neural responses converge towards a similar level of smooth muscle tone, via a contraction when the tone is low prior to stimulation, and via a relaxation when the tone is high prior to stimulation. We wanted to assess the effect of simultaneous parasympathetic activation on these converging NANC responses, with and without th...

Some parasympathetic ganglionic cells are located in the epicardial fat pad between the medial superior vena cava and the aortic root (SVC-Ao fat pad) of the dog. We investigated whether the ganglionic cells in the SVC-Ao fat pad control the right atrial contractile force, sinus cycle length (SCL), and atrioventricular (AV) conduction in the autonomically decentralized heart of the anesthetized...

In anesthetized cats, we 1) compared the effects of antihypertensive agents (nifedipine, clonidine, phentolamine, propranolol, and nitroprusside) on the parasympathetic vasodilations elicited by lingual nerve (LN) stimulation in the lower lip and tongue and 2) investigated the mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effect of nifedipine on parasympathetic lower lip vasodilation. At the doses used,...

A case-control study was performed to investigate the autonomic nervous function in vibration syndrome. The subjects were 20 patients with a history of Raynaud's phenomenon (vibration white finger (VWF) (+) group), 20 patients without such a history (VWF(-) group), and 20 healthy workers (control group). Their ages and years under medical treatment for vibration syndrome were matched individual...