Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular responses to urodynamics testing after spinal cord injury: The influence of autonomic injury.

Autonomic dysfunction is a prominent concern following spinal cord injury (SCI). In particular, autonomic dysreflexia (AD; paroxysmal hypertension and concurrent bradycardia in response to sensory stimuli below the level of injury) is common in autonomically-complete injuries at or above T6. AD is currently defined as a >20 mmHg increase in systolic arterial pressure (SAP) from baseline, without heart rate (HR) criteria.

Clusters, Gaps, and Randomness: Vasovagal Syncope Recurrence Patterns.

Objectives: This study elucidated the temporal recurrence patterns of syncope in patients with frequent vasovagal syncope (VVS).

Background: Understanding the temporal distribution of fainting spells in syncope patients may illuminate biological processes and inform decision making.

Methods: Patients from the POST 2 (Prevention of Syncope Trial 2) were included; all had VVS and fainted ≥4 times in the study year, providing ≥3 interevent intervals (IEIs).

Dynamic wheelchair seating positions impact cardiovascular function after spinal cord injury.

Background: Innovative wheelchairs allow individuals to change position easily for comfort and social situations. While these wheelchairs are beneficial in multiple ways, the effects of position changes on blood pressure might exacerbate hypotension and cerebral hypoperfusion, particularly in those with spinal cord injury (SCI) who can have injury to autonomic nerves that regulate cardiovascular control. Conversely, cardiovascular benefits may be obtained with lowered seating.

Prevalence of Chronic Mountain Sickness in high altitude districts of Himachal Pradesh.

Introduction: Chronic Mountain Sickness (CMS) is a maladaptation condition that can affect people who reside permanently at high altitude (HA). It is characterized by polycythemia, hypoxemia and dyspnea and can be fatal. Over 140 million people live permanently at HA around the world.

A pilot study on the prevalence of Acute Mountain Sickness at the Sikh pilgrimage of Hemkund Sahib in the Indian Himalayas.

Background: Hemkund Sahib is a popular pilgrimage located at 4,330 m in the Garhwal range of the Indian Himalayas. Many travelers to the region have observed pilgrims exhibiting Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)-like symptoms. However, no systematic study on its prevalence at Hemkund has been conducted.

Acute mountain sickness, chemosensitivity, and cardiorespiratory responses in humans exposed to hypobaric and normobaric hypoxia.

We examined the control of breathing, cardiorespiratory effects, and the incidence of acute mountain sickness (AMS) in humans exposed to hypobaric hypoxia (HH) and normobaric hypoxia (NH), and under two control conditions [hypobaric normoxia (HN) and normobaric normoxia (NN)]. Exposures were 6 h in duration, and separated by 2 wk between hypoxic exposures and 1 wk between normoxic exposures. Before and after exposures, subjects (n = 11) underwent hyperoxic and hypoxic Duffin CO2 rebreathing tests and a hypoxic ventilatory response test (HVR).

The perspectives of educators, regulators and funders of massage therapy on the state of the profession in British Columbia, Canada.

Background: Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) are valuable members of the healthcare team who assist in health promotion, disease prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliation. RMT visits have increased across Canada over the past decade with the highest increase in British Columbia (BC). Currently, RMTs are private practitioners of healthcare operating within a largely publicly funded system, positioning them outside of the dominant system of healthcare and making them an important case study in private healthcare.

Cerebrovascular responses to orthostatic stress after spinal cord injury.

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a debilitating condition affecting individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) that may be associated with cerebral hypoperfusion. We studied orthostatic cerebral control in individuals with SCI with different levels and severities of injury to spinal cardiovascular autonomic pathways. We measured beat-to-beat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular responses to passive orthostatic stress in 16 controls and 26 subjects with chronic SCI.