Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome: JACC Focus Seminar

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), the most common form of orthostatic intolerance in young people, affects approximately 500,000 people in the United States alone, typically young women at the peak of their education and the beginning of their working lives. This is a heterogeneous disorder, the pathophysiology and mechanisms of which are not well understood. There are multiple contributing factors and numerous potential mimics. This review details the most current views on the potential causes, comorbid conditions, proposed subtypes, differential diagnoses, evaluations, and treatment of POTS from cardiological and neurological perspectives.     

Decreased Basal Metabolic Rate Can Be an Objective Marker for Sarcopenia and Frailty in Older Males

Objectives

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the ability of the basal metabolic rate (BMR) to detect frailty and sarcopenia in older males.

Forehead sympathetic skin responses in determining autonomic involvement in Parkinson’s disease

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate forehead sympathetic skin response (SSR) and demonstrate any differences with extremity SSR in determining autonomic nervous system (ANS) involvement in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).MethodsTwenty early stage, 20 advanced stage idiopathic PD patients and 20 healthy controls participated in this study. SSR of forehead, hands and feet, heart rate variability (HRV), orthostatic intolerance, QT intervals and dysautonomic symptoms were evaluated.ResultsAbsent forehead SSR was determined unilaterally in 4, bilaterally in 7 early stage patients, and unilaterally in 4, bilaterally in 8 advanced stage PD patients; there was significant difference between early and advanced stage PD and control groups in terms of the lack of SSR (p = 0.000). Absent extremity SSR was determined in at least 1 extremity of 3 advanced stage PD patients, and none of the early stage PD patients. No difference was noted in HRV at rest between early and advanced stage PD and control groups (p = 0.218); but HRV at deep breathing was lower in both early and advanced PD patients compared to controls (p = 0.014, p = 0.002, respectively).ConclusionForehead SSR is more sensitive in determining ANS dysfunction not only in late but also in early stage of PD.SignificanceWith further supportive research, forehead SSR might be used as a simple diagnostic electrophysiological test in the early diagnosis of ANS dysfunction enabling proper treatment and increasing the quality of life of PD patients.     

电子胎心监护Ⅱ类图形反复性变异减速产妇分娩终止时限对新生儿结局的影响

目的探讨电子胎心监护(EFM)Ⅱ类图形反复性变异减速(VD)产妇的分娩终止时限对新生儿结局的影响。 方法选择2015年1月1日至2018年12月31日在北京市通州区妇幼保健院住院分娩，并且胎儿心率出现EFM Ⅱ类图形反复性VD的829例产妇为研究对象。其中，胎儿心率发生轻、中、重度反复性VD的产妇分别为392、246及191例。按照分娩终止时限不同，将其分为3组，A组(n＝380，分娩终止时限≤30 min)，B组(n＝251，分娩终止时限为30～60 min)和C组(n＝198，分娩终止时限≥60 min)。392例轻度反复性VD产妇中，分娩终止时限≤30 min、30～60 min和≥60 min者分别为98、163、131例；246例中度VD产妇中，分娩终止时限≤30 min、30～60 min和≥60 min者分别为152、62和32例；191例重度VD产妇中，分娩终止时限≤30 min、30～60 min和≥60 min者分别为96、62和33例。采用χ²检验，对3组不同分娩终止时限产妇的新生儿不良结局进行统计学分析，进一步对轻、中、重度反复性VD产妇不同分娩终止时限所致新生儿不良结局发生率分别进行统计学比较。本研究遵循的程序符合2013年修订的《世界医学协会赫尔辛基宣言》要求。 结果①829例EFM Ⅱ类图形反复性VD产妇的年龄为(29.3±3.7)岁，人体质量指数(BMI)为(22.6±3.5) kg/m²；存在脐带异常为578例(69.7%)。②A、B、C组新生儿不良结局发生率分别为2.6%(10/380)、8.8%(22/251)和20.2%(40/198)，3者比较，差异有统计学意义(χ²＝50.675，P<0.001)。③392例轻度反复性VD产妇中，分娩终止时限≤30 min、30～60 min和≥60 min者分娩新生儿不良结局发生率分别为1.0%(1/98)、0.6%(1/162)和1.5%(2/129)，3者比较，差异无统计学意义(χ²＝0.600，P＝0.741)。④246例中度反复性VD产妇中，分娩终止时限≤30 min、30～60 min和≥60 min者分娩新生儿不良结局发生率分别为2.0%(3/152)、9.7%(6/56)和50.0%(16/32), 3者比较，差异有统计学意义(χ²＝66.805，P<0.001)。⑤191例重度反复性VD产妇中，分娩终止时限≤30 min、30～60 min和≥60 min者分娩新生儿不良结局发生率分别为6.2%(6/96)、24.2%(15/62)和66.7%(22/33)，3者比较，差异有统计学意义(χ²＝51.535，P<0.001)。 结论EFM Ⅱ类图形中反复性VD产妇，随着分娩终止时限延长，可增加新生儿不良结局发生率。EFM Ⅱ类图形为中至重度反复性VD产妇，应分别在60 min和30 min内及时娩出新生儿。