Aging affects the phase coherence between spontaneous oscillations in brain oxygenation and neural activity.

The risk of neurodegenerative disorders increases with age, due to reduced vascular nutrition and impaired neural function. However, the interactions between cardiovascular dynamics and neural activity, and how these interactions evolve in healthy aging, are not well understood. Here, the interactions are studied by assessment of the phase coherence between spontaneous oscillations in cerebral oxygenation measured by fNIRS, the electrical activity of the brain measured by EEG, and cardiovascular functions extracted from ECG and respiration effort, all simultaneously recorded.

Glyceryl trinitrate-induced blood pressure variability decrease during head-up tilt test predicts vasovagal response.

Purpose: Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) provoked cardioinhibitory syncope during the head-up tilt test is preceded by a period of disrupted blood pressure variability (BPV). Endogenous nitric oxide (NO) attenuates BPV independently of blood pressure (BP). We hypothesized that exogenous NO donor GTN might decrease BPV during the presyncope period.

Hemodynamic responses to low-level transcutaneous auricular nerve stimulation in young volunteers.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to characterize cardiovascular autonomic responses during two constant current intensities below sensory threshold of transcutaneous auricular nerve stimulation (taNS). On this basis, a protocol for taNS with autonomic modulatory potential could be proposed.

Subjects And Methods: We included 26 men and 24 women, mean age 26.

Cardiovascular responses to low-level transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation.

Aims: The aim was to determine cardiovascular responses to an arbitrary protocol of transcutaneous low-level vagus nerve electrical stimulation (tVNS).

Methods: Study was performed in 15 male volunteers, mean age 23 years. Data were collected during two sessions - sham stimulation (no stimulation) and stimulation.

The diabetic brain and cognition.

The prevalence of both Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) is increasing with the aging of the population. Studies from the last several years have shown that people with diabetes have an increased risk for dementia and cognitive impairment. Therefore, the authors of this consensus review tried to elaborate on the role of diabetes, especially diabetes type 2 (T2DM) in both AD and VaD.

Resting heart rate variability and heart rate recovery after submaximal exercise.

Purpose: Aerobic training accelerates Heart Rate Recovery after exercise in healthy subjects and in patients with coronary disease. As shown by pharmacological autonomic blockade, HRR early after exercise is dependent primarily on parasympathetic reactivation. Thus, accelerated HRR early after exercise in endurance-trained athletes may be attributed to augmented parasympathetic reactivation.

Comparison of active standing test, head-up tilt test and 24-h ambulatory heart rate and blood pressure monitoring in diagnosing postural tachycardia.

Protocols for the assessment of postural tachycardia differ in both type of orthostatic challenge and test duration. We therefore compared heart rate (HR) and blood pressure responses during an active standing test (AST) and a head-up tilt test (HUT) in 34 patients with orthostatic intolerance and 31 asymptomatic subjects. A subset also performed 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM).

Importance of erythropoietin in brain protection after cardiac surgery: a pilot study.

Background: Neurologic complications after cardiac operations present an important medical problem, as well as a financial burden. They increase the morbidity and hospital stays of patients who have otherwise undergone successful heart operations. The current protocols for perioperative brain protection against ischemic events are not optimal.