[A novel posturographic method to differentiate sway patterns of patients with Parkinson's disease from patients with cerebellar ataxia].

Nigrostriatal and cerebellar systems are important postural subsystems in neurologic rehabilitation. In this study, we investigated the ability to differentiate both systems via posturography and spectral analysis. This cross-sectional study included 156 study subjects with 52 individuals in each group (healthy controls, Parkinson's disease and cerebellar disease patients).

Capacitive ECG system with direct access to standard leads and body surface potential mapping.

Capacitive electrodes provide the same access to the human electrocardiogram (ECG) as galvanic electrodes, but without the need of direct electrical skin contact and even through layers of clothing. Thus, potential artifacts as a result of poor electrode contact to the skin are avoided and preparation time is significantly reduced. Our system integrates such capacitive electrodes in a 15 sensor array, which is combined with a Tablet PC.

[Heart rate variability and physical exercise. Current status].

Heart rate variability (HRV) has long been used in risk stratification for sudden cardiac death and diabetic autonomic neuropathy. In recent years, both time and frequency domain indices of HRV also gained increasing interest in sports and training sciences. In these fields, HRV is currently used for the noninvasive assessment of autonomic changes associated with short-term and long-term endurance exercise training in both leisure sports activity and high-performance training.

Patients with persistent atrial fibrillation taking oral verapamil exhibit a lower atrial frequency on the ECG.

Background: While there is agreement that verapamil attenuates the AF- induced refractory period shortening when given before AF induction, controversy exists regarding its effects when given after the onset of persistent AF. This study aimed to compare atrial fibrillatory frequency obtained from the surface ECG in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) with oral verapamil treatment to those without this treatment.

Methods And Results: Surface ECG recordings were performed in 57 patients (34 male, 23 female, mean age 59 +/- 11 years) with persistent AF (> 7 days).