Differential effects of sympathetic activity on AV junctional automaticity and AV conduction

Summary Rapid ventricular response during episodes of supraventricular tachycardia are often followed, on abrupt cessation of the tachycardia, by prolonged pauses terminated by a sluggish and sometimes erratic escape of a supraventricular pacemaker. Such chronotropic-dromotropic paradoxes are readily reproduced in the animal laboratory following elimination of the sinus node and bilateral decentralization of the stellate ganglia and vagi. This study examined whether left stellate stimulation (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 Hz) or lack thereof differentially affected AV junctional automaticity and AV conduction. In the absence of any sympathetic neural activity (maximal sympathetic deficit), the AV junctional rate averaged a mere 22±2 percent of its peak performance, whereas under the same conditions, anterograde AV conduction averaged 73±5 percent and retrograde VA conduction 56 ±13 percent of their respective peak performances. On comparing the response curve (normalized responses) for AV junctional automaticity with that obtained for anterograde AV conduction the differences were significant at all frequencies between 0 and 4 Hz. Retrograde VA conduction (as assessed by the fastest ventricular pacing rate still conducted 11 to the atria) was always significantly less than anterograde AV conduction (as assessed by the fastest atrial pacing still conducted 11 to the ventricles). These results indicate that AV junctional automaticity is considerably more affected by sympathetic deficit than are either anterograde or retrograde AV conduction. In other words, AV junctional automaticity is far more dependent upon sympathetic input than AV conduction. While sympathetic influence is critical to the escape and maintenance of AV junctional automaticity both anterograde and retrograde AV conduction are remarkably resilient even under conditions of severe sympathetic deficit.     

Electromyography and nerve conduction study in autosomal dominant olivopontocerebellar atrophy

Summary Electromyographic examination and studies of motor and sensory conduction velocities were performed in 11 patients with a presumptive diagnosis of olivopontocerebellar atrophy with autosomal dominant transmission. Peripheral nervous system involvement was shown in eight. In two patients with early onset of disease, electrophysiological alterations clearly pointed to severe axonal degeneration, whereas in six they were compatible with slight demyelination.

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Zusammenfassung Bei elf Patienten, bei welchen eine olivopontocerebelläre Atrophie mit autosomal dominanter Übertragung angenommen wurde, führten wir eine elektromyographische Untersuchung und eine Bestimmung der motorischen und sensiblen Erregungsleitungsgeschwindigkeit durch. Bei acht dieser Patienten wurde eine Mitbeteiligung des peripheren Nervensystems nachgewiesen. In zwei Fällen mit frühem Krankheitsbeginn wiesen die elektrophysiologischen Veränderungen eindeutig auf eine schwere axonale Degeneration hin, während bei sechs die Befunde mit einer leichten Demyelinisation vereinbar waren.

     

Investigations on neurotoxicity of chemical substances at the workplace

Summary A cross-sectional study was performed in order to investigate the influence of chronic lead-exposure on the peripheral nervous system. We examined 148 male workers of a storage battery manufacturing plant, who had been exposed to lead metal and inorganic lead compounds for 1 to 28 years (mean 11 years). Fifteen workers with non-occupational risks of peripheral neuropathy (former diseases, alcohol abuse, medication) were excluded from the study. The investigation program comprised: case history, physical examination, analyses of blood- and urine-samples and determination of maximal motor, mixed and sensory conduction velocity (NCV) of the ulnar and median nerve of the right forearm. Objectively no worker showed any signs of health effects related to lead exposure. The Biological Monitoring included the determination of (1) Blood-lead level (Pb-B), (2) Free erythrocyte porphyrins (FEP), (3) -Aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) and (4) -Aminolevulinic acid in urine (ALA-U). Further time-weighted-average (TWA)-values of Pb-B were calculated on the basis of several determinations over the period 1975–1981. The following actual (TWA) median values resulted: Pb-B 53 g/dl (54 g/dl), ALA-U 5.6 mg/l (8.4 mg/l), FEP 2.0 mg/l (2.0 mg/l). The Biologischer Arbeitsstoff Toleranz Wert (BAT) of 70 g//dl for Pb-B was exceeded in 15 workers (11%), and of 15 mg/l for ALA-U in 30 cases (23%). In comparison with age-matched controls, the lead workers showed a mild slowing of NCV with mean values between 0.8 and 2.0 m/s. Multiple stepwise regression analyses revealed statistically significant correlations between the four NCV and age as well as Pb-B. There were better correlations by using TWA than actual data of Pb-B. Consideration of the results of the regression analyses, together with an evaluation of the individual neurophysiological status as a function of internal lead exposure, a dose-effect-relationship was found only in the case of Pb-B exceeding 70 g/dl. From our study it is concluded that chronic lead exposure resulting in blood-lead levels of below 70 g/dl is no occupational risk causing a functionally significant slowing of nerve conduction velocities.With Grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bonn (Project no. Va 23/19-1)     

膈神经传导时间的测定及其影响因素

目的:探讨用经皮电刺激双侧膈神经法测定膈神经传导时间(ＰＮＣＴ)的正常值及其影响因素。方法:对１３例肺功能正常者和７例慢性阻塞性肺疾病(ＣＯＰＤ)患者用经皮电刺激双侧膈神经法测定ＰＮＣＴ。结果:①１３例肺功能正常者左、右侧ＰＮＣＴ分别为:(７．０２±０．８６)ｍｓ和(８．１３ ±０．９１)ｍｓ,右侧显著长于左侧(Ｐ＜０．００１);②７例ＣＯＰＤ患者左、右侧ＰＮＣＴ分别为:(７．１９ ±０．７２)ｍｓ和(８．０８ ±０．８４)ｍｓ,右侧同样长于左侧(Ｐ＜０．０５);③肺功能正常组ＣＯＰＤ组间,双侧ＰＮＣＴ均没有统计学上的差异(双侧Ｐ＞０．０５);④ＰＮＣＴ与年龄和身高呈直线相关,而与体重无显著性相关;⑤ＰＮＣＴ不随电流刺激量增高而变化。结论;左、右侧ＰＮＣＴ的正常值分别为:(７．０２ ± ０．８６)ｍｓ和(８．１３ ±０．９１)ｍｓ;ＣＯＰＤ肺功能异常者的ＰＮＣＴ基本无变化;ＰＮＣＴ与受试者的身高和年龄相关,不受电刺激强度的影响。     

阵发性心房颤动者心房内及房室结电生理特性

【目的】比较阵发性心房颤动(简称阵发性房颤)者及正常人心房内及房室结的电生理特性差异,通过调搏刺激研究两者的房颤诱发成功率。【方法】用食道心房调搏技术对182例阵发性房颤者及30例健康成年人进行程序刺激并作电生理测定。【结果】①食道心房调搏术对阵发性房颤者的诱发成功率高达95.6%;②窦律及基础起搏情况下两组的房内传导及房室传导无统计学差别;③早搏刺激下阵发性房颤者以心房有效不应期缩短、相对不应期延长、及房间传导时间延长为主要特点,与正常人比较有高度显著性差异。【结论】①房颤患者这些电生理异常有利于房颤时微小折返的形成;②对于临床高度怀疑房颤但又缺乏心电图证据的患者食道心房调搏术有助于诊断的确立。     

室房间期差值对间隔部旁道与快径逆传心动过速的鉴别诊断价值

[目的]研究间隔部旁道参与的和房室结功能连续曲线性快径逆传的室上性心动过速的电生理特征,为射频治疗提供准确的定位依据.[方法]选择10例间隔旁道介导的房室折返性心动过速(AVRT,旁道组)与10例房室结功能连续曲线的房室结折返性心动过速(AVNRT,房室结组)病人,分别在与心动过速相同的频率起搏右心室及心动过速发作时,测量希氏束(HBE)、冠状窦近端(CS9-10)导联记录的室房传导间期(VAVP和VASVT)及两者差值△VA(VAVP-VASVT).[结果]①房室结组心室起搏与心动过速时VA间期差异显著(P＜0.001),而旁道组差异无显著性(P＞0.05);②心室起搏时旁道组与房室结组的VAVP相比差异无显著性(P＞0.05);③心动过速时VA间期旁道组明显长于房室结组,两者相比VASVT差异显著(P＜0.001);④旁道组△VA与房室结组比较差异显著(P≤0.001).[结论]CS9-10导联△VA是鉴别隐性间隔部旁道介导的AVRT与AVNRT的重要参考指标,特别对房室结功能连续曲线性房室结折返性心动过速的鉴别有较高价值.     

房室结慢径路消融——有效放电过程的心电监测

【目的】探讨房室结慢径路消融有效放电过程心电监测的意义。【方法】58例慢-快型房室结折返性心动过速在有效靶点以低射频能量(15～25W)放电,监测心电变化,出现①交界区心律>150min     

基于TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB通路探究桃红四物汤对糖尿病周围神经病变大鼠炎症反应的影响

目的:探究桃红四物汤对糖尿病周围神经病变(DPN)大鼠炎症反应及对Toll样受体4(TLR4)/髓样分化因子88(MyD88)/核转录因子kappan B(NF-κB)通路的影响。方法:从45只SD大鼠中随机选取10只为对照组,其余35只大鼠建立DPN模型,3只大鼠建模失败,其余随机分为模型组,桃红四物汤低、高剂量组及α-硫辛酸组,每组各8只。桃红四物汤低、高剂量组分别给予4.5、18 g/(kg·d)的桃红四物汤,α-硫辛酸组给予α-硫辛酸20 mg/(kg·d),对照组及模型组给予等量的0.9%氯化钠溶液,均灌胃给药。连续给药8周后,检测大鼠血清炎症因子、血糖及血脂指标及神经传导情况,观察坐骨神经病理学变化,检测TLR4相关通路蛋白表达情况。结果:与对照组比较,模型组血清肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)及白细胞介素-6(IL-6)水平升高,血糖、糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)、甘油三酯(TG)及血清总胆固醇(TC)水平升高,感觉神经传导速度(SNCV)及运动神经传导速度(MNCV)水平降低,TLR4、MyD88、NF-κB蛋白表达上调(P<0.05)...     

Nerve Conduction Studies in Surgical Cubital Tunnel Syndrome Patients

Background: Electrodiagnostic studies (EDX) serve a prominent role in the diagnostic workup of cubital tunnel syndrome (CBTS), but their reported sensitivity varies widely. The goals of our study were to determine the sensitivity of EDX in a cohort of patients who responded well to surgical cubital tunnel release (CBTR), and whether the implementation of the Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) criteria improves the sensitivity. Methods: We identified 118 elbows with clinical CBTS who had preoperative EDX and underwent CBTR. The EDX diagnoses were CBTS, ulnar neuropathy (UN), and normal ulnar nerves. We divided the 118 elbows into those that received above-elbow stimulation (XE group) and those that did not (non-XE group). We calculated the sensitivities for all groups and reinterpreted the results according to the AANEM guidelines. Results: Cubital tunnel release provided significant relief in 93.6% of the elbows. Based on the EDX reports, 11% patients had clear CBTS, 23% had UN, and 66% showed no UN. The sensitivities were 11.7% for CBTS and 34.2% for any UN. In the XE group, the sensitivity of the EDX reports for CBTS and UN climbed to 33.3% and 58.3%, respectively. When we calculated the across-elbow motor nerve conduction velocity, the sensitivity for CBTS and UN was 87.5% and 100%, respectively. The XE and non-XE groups showed no difference except for sex, bilaterality, concomitant carpal tunnel release, and obesity (P < .05). Conclusion: Implementing AANEM guidelines results in significant improvement in correlation of clinical and electrodiagnostic findings of CBTS.     

Lack of Influence of Atrioventricular Delay on Stroke Volume at Rest in Patients with Complete Atrioventricular Block and Dual Chamber Pacing

Dual chamber pacing (DDD) maintains atrioventricular (AV) sequence; AV delay programmability modifies the relationship between atrial and ventricular contraction. To evaluate the hemodynamic effects of such a modification, ten patients with a DDD unit for complete AV block were studied by time-motion (M-mode) and Doppler echocardiography during inhibited ventricular pacing (VVI), atrial-triggered ventricular pacing (VDD) and atrioventricular sequential pacing (DVI) at different AV delay (90, 140, 190, 240 msec). A significant improvement in stroke volume (SV) (15%-20%, P less than 0.05) was seen during DDD versus VVI pacing; no changes, however, were observed in the same patient with different AV delay or during DVI versus VDD pacing. These data suggest that programming of AV delay does not affect systolic performance at rest; longer diastolic filling times recorded during DDD pacing with "short" AV delay (90-140 msec) do not seem to be a hemodynamically relevant epi-phenomenon of PM programming.