Therapeutic possibilities of coriaria myrtifolia L. in high dilutions

Background: Homeopathy literature shows references about Coriaria myrtifolia L. at some important Homeopathic Materia Medica: Allen,TF [1], Voisin H [2] and Vijnovsky B [3]. Those reports are unsatisfactory to fulfill a contemporary standardized study basis on: origin and description, preparation, medicine general action, sensations and modalities; demanding a broader investigation. Aims: Identify therapeutic possibilities on Coriaria myrtifolia L. from ratifying and broadening the homeopathic materia medica knowledge. Methodology: Literature review on botanical, biochemical and pharmacological data [4-12]. The use of plant in various fields since XVIII century and analyzes of clinical-toxicological reports described in medical reviews published. Results: Coriaria myrtifolia L. is a toxic shrub, growing wild in western Mediterranean region. The entire plant contains a sesquiterpene-lactone called coriamyrtin, a potent convulsivant neurotoxin. Clinical manifestations of acute intoxication includes: Central Nervous System – generalized tonic-clonic seizures, recurrent, which may evolve to status epilepticus, coma, apnea and death. Respiratory Tract – respiratory depression due to anoxia, respiratory arrhythmia alternating with apnea, respiratory muscles tetanization evolving to respiratory arrest. Cardiovascular System – central excitatory action which may initially promote increased blood pressure followed by heart failure, as a result of the seizures, due to anoxia and acidosis, leading to cardiac arrest. Gastrointestinal Tract – nausea, vomiting and stomach pains that precede seizures; since there is no evidence of toxin direct action on mucosa, those symptoms may relate to Central Nervous System action (attributed to impairment of cranial nerve VIII). Knowledge of these aspects gave us possibility to build a Coriaria myrtifolia L. materia medica with broader clinical indications. Conclusion: Coriaria myrtifolia L. is a valuable source to be used in high dilutions as medicine indicated for epileptic syndromes treatment, characterized by tonic-clonic seizures, mainly presenting a malignant tendency, with recurrent seizures, which may evolve to status epilepticus and potential mortality risk. Among the clinical indications proposed stand out etiologies of great incidence at emergency rooms such as metabolic or vascular primary disorders, or resulting from systemic diseases (diabetes, hepatopathy, nephropathy), encephalitis and meningitis with or without Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, withdrawal syndrome from alcohol or drugs, exogenous poisoning, poisoning or overdose of alcohol or drugs, traumatic brain injury and intracranial expanding lesions.

Estimation of the efficiency of measures of correction of the functional state of the cardiovascular system of operators of deep water technical means during the course of the voyage

During the course of the voyage, divers experience the effect of the wide range of adverse factors of operator labor and ship's habitability.The objective of the study is to estimate the state of cardiovascular system of operators of deep water technical means after using the complex of measures aimed at correction of function al state of operators during the course of the voyage.Materials and methods. The study was conducted with the participation of 38 operators of deep water technical means from among the crew of nuclear submarine engaged in operator labor activity. The study was performed twice: before the voyage and after return to base and included: cardiorhythmogram and psychophysiological study methodologies of functional state. Patients were divided into two groups: main (n = 13) and control (n = 25).Results and discussion. The control group shows sympathicotonia (reducing heart rate variability, intensity of respiratory arrhythmia). The main group, on the contrary, shows relative balance of regulatory systems. Thus, the conducted assessment of the state of cardiovascular system showed positive effects of using the complex of measures aimed at correction of functional state of operators during the course of the voyage.

Heart Rate Variability During a Standard Dive: A Role for Inspired Oxygen Pressure?

Introduction: Heart rate variability (HRV) during underwater diving has been infrequently investigated because of environment limitations and technical challenges. This study aims to analyze HRV changes while diving at variable hyperoxia when using open circuit (OC) air diving apparatus or at constant hyperoxia using a closed-circuit rebreather (CCR). We used HRV analysis in time and frequency domain adding nonlinear analysis which is more adapted to short-time analysis and less dependent on respiratory rate (Sinus respiratory arrhythmia).Materials and Methods: 18 males, 12 using OC (30 mfw for 20 min) and 6 using CCR (30 mfw for 40 min.). HRV was recorded using a polar recorder. Four samples of R-R intervals representing the dive were saved for HRV analysis. Standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN), square root of the mean squared differences between successive RR intervals (rMSSD), and average RR intervals (RR) in time-domain; low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) in frequency domain were investigated. Nonlinear analysis included fractal dimension (FrD).Results: SDNN and rMSSD were significantly increased during descent and at depth with OC, not with CCR. Mean RR interval was longer at depth with OC, but only during ascent and after the dive with CCR. HF power was higher than baseline during the descent both with OC and CCR and remained elevated at depth for OC. The LF/HF ratio was significantly lower than baseline for descent and at depth with both OC and CCR. After 30 min of recovery, the LF/HF ratio was higher than baseline with both OC and CCR. Nonlinear analysis detected differences at depth for OC and CCR.Discussion: Increased parasympathetic tone was present during diving. RR duration, SDNN; rMSSD, HF spectral power all increased during the dive above pre-dive levels. Conversely, HF power decreased (and the LF/HF increased) 30 min after the dive. Using FrD, a difference was detected between OC and CCR, which may be related to differences in partial pressure of oxygen breathed during the dive.

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia in young men and women at different chest wall configurations

Heart rate accelerates during inspiration and decelerates in expiration. This normal respiratory arrhythmia in humans could depend on information on the configuration of the chest. However, the current results excluded this possibility, meaning that pulmonary mechanoreceptors are the primary afferents.

Diagnosing arrhythmias while screening schoolchildren

The study involved 420 children of school age. The children underwent screening determination of arterial pressure and heart rate using automatic blood pressure manometer with arrhythmias sensors. The results were specified by means of recording ECG on a portable cardiograph. The most common heart rhythm disturbances in schoolchildren were respiratory arrhythmia and bundle branch block.

Cardiorespiratory interactions in patients with atrial flutter

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is generally known as the autonomically mediated modulation of the sinus node pacemaker frequency in synchrony with respiration. Cardiorespiratory interactions have been largely investigated during sinus rhythm, whereas little is known about interactions during reentrant arrhythmias. In this study, cardiorespiratory interactions at the atrial and ventricular level were investigated during atrial flutter (AFL), a supraventricular arrhythmia based on a reentry, by using cross-spectral analysis and computer modeling. The coherence and phase between respiration and atrial (γ[Formula: see text], φAA) and ventricular (γ[Formula: see text], φRR) interval series were estimated in 20 patients with typical AFL (68.0 ± 8.8 yr) and some degree of atrioventricular (AV) conduction block. In all patients, atrial intervals displayed oscillations strongly coupled and in phase with respiration (γ[Formula: see text]= 0.97 ± 0.05, φAA = 0.71 ± 0.31 rad), corresponding to a paradoxical lengthening of intervals during inspiration. The modulation pattern was frequency independent, with in-phase oscillations and short time delays (0.40 ± 0.15 s) for respiratory frequencies in the range 0.1–0.4 Hz. Ventricular patterns were affected by AV conduction type. In patients with fixed AV conduction, ventricular intervals displayed oscillations strongly coupled (γ[Formula: see text]= 0.97 ± 0.03) and in phase with respiration (φRR = 1.08 ± 0.80 rad). Differently, in patients with variable AV conduction, respiratory oscillations were secondary to Wencheback rhythmicity, resulting in a decreased level of coupling (γ[Formula: see text]= 0.50 ± 0.21). Simulations with a simplified model of AV conduction showed ventricular patterns to originate from the combination of a respiratory modulated atrial input with the functional properties of the AV node. The paradoxical frequency-independent modulation pattern of atrial interval, the short time delays, and the complexity of ventricular rhythm characterize respiratory arrhythmia during AFL and distinguish it from normal RSA. These peculiar features can be explained by assuming a direct mechanical action of respiration on AFL reentrant circuit.

Respiratory modulation of the autonomic nervous system during Cheyne–Stokes respirationThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in this Special Issue, entitled Young Investigator's Forum.

Cheyne–Stokes respiration (CSR) is associated with increased mortality among patients with heart failure. However, the specific link between CSR and mortality remains unclear. One possibility is that CSR results in excitation of the sympathetic nervous system. This review relates evidence that CSR exerts acute effects on the autonomic nervous system during sleep, and thereby influences a number of cardiovascular phenomena, including heart rate, blood pressure, atrioventricular conduction, and ventricular ectopy. In patients in sinus rhythm, heart rate and blood pressure oscillate during CSR in association with respiratory oscillations, such that both peak heart rate and blood pressure occur during the hyperpneic phase. Inhalation of CO2 abolishes both CSR and the associated oscillations in heart rate and blood pressure. In contrast, O2 inhalation sufficient to eliminate hypoxic dips has no significant effect on CSR, heart rate, or blood pressure. In patients with atrial fibrillation, ventricular rate oscillates in association with CSR despite the absence of within-breath respiratory arrhythmia. The comparison of RR intervals between the apneic and hyperpneic phases of CSR indicates that this breathing disorder exerts its effect on ventricular rate by inducing cyclical changes in atrioventricular node conduction properties. In patients with frequent ventricular premature beats (VPBs), VPBs occur more frequently during the hyperpneic phase than the apneic phase of CSR. VPB frequency is also higher during periods of CSR than during periods of regular breathing, with or without correction of hypoxia. In summary, CSR exerts multiple effects on the cardiovascular system that are likely manifestations of respiratory modulation of autonomic activity. It is speculated that the rhythmic oscillations in autonomic tone brought about by CSR may ultimately contribute to the sympatho-excitation and increased mortality long observed in patients with heart failure and CSR.

Influence of Cheyne-Stokes respiration on ventricular response to atrial fibrillation in heart failure

In subjects with sinus rhythm, respiration has a profound effect on heart rate variability (HRV) at high frequencies (HF). Because this HF respiratory arrhythmia is lost in atrial fibrillation (AF), it has been assumed that respiration does not influence the ventricular response. However, previous investigations have not considered the possibility that respiration might influence HRV at lower frequencies. We hypothesized that Cheyne-Stokes respiration with central sleep apnea (CSR-CSA) would entrain HRV at very low frequency (VLF) in AF by modulating atrioventricular (AV) nodal refractory period and concealed conduction. Power spectral analysis of R-wave-to-R-wave (R-R) intervals and respiration during sleep were performed in 13 subjects with AF and CSR-CSA. As anticipated, no modulation of HRV was detected at HF during regular breathing. In contrast, VLF HRV was entrained by CSR-CSA [coherence between respiration and HRV of 0.69 (SD 0.22) at VLF during CSR-CSA vs. 0.20 (SD 0.19) at HF during regular breathing, P < 0.001]. Comparison of R-R intervals during CSR-CSA demonstrated a shorter AV node refractory period during hyperpnea than apnea [minimum R-R of 684 (SD 126) vs. 735 ms (SD 147), P < 0.001] and a lesser degree of concealed conduction [scatter of 178 (SD 56) vs. 246 ms (SD 72), P = 0.001]. We conclude that CSR-CSA entrains the ventricular response to AF, even in the absence of HF respiratory arrhythmia, by inducing rhythmic oscillations in AV node refractoriness and the degree of concealed conduction that may be a function of autonomic modulation of the AV node.