ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pulse wave velocity (PWV) and ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) are non-invasive tools to measure atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness. Heart rate variability (HRV) has proven to be a non-invasive powerful tool in the investigation of the autonomic cardiovascular control. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship among PWV, ABI, and HRV parameters in adult males. METHODS: The study was carried out with 117 males who visited a health care center from April, 2009 to May, 2010. We conducted blood sampling (total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, cholesterol, fasting glucose) and physical examination. We studied brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) and ABI. We examined HRV parameters including standard deviation of NN interval (SDNN), low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), LF/HF ratio. We analyzed the relationship among baPWV, ABI, and HRV parameters. RESULTS: SDNN had a significant negative correlation with age, systolic blood pressure and heart rate. LF and HF had a significant negative correlation with age, and age and heart rate, respectively. baPWV was significantly and positively associated with age, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, total cholesterol, fasting glucose and heart rate. ABI was negative correlated significantly with systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rate. After adjusting for all associated variables, baPWV was not correlated with HRV parameters, but there was a significant positive association between SDNN and ABI (r = 0.195, P = 0.014). CONCLUSION: SDNN of HRV parameters had a significant positive correlation with ABI.
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Male , Atherosclerosis , Blood Pressure , Cholesterol , Delivery of Health Care , Fasting , Glucose , Heart , Heart Rate , Lipoproteins , Physical Examination , Pulse Wave Analysis , Vascular StiffnessABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study was performed to investigate the clinical usefulness of acute normovolemic hemodilution to reduce homologous transfusion in revision total hip arthroplasty. To avoid complications of homologous transfusion, many methods are being used in patients who undergo an operation, and autologous transfusion is the most popular modality. METHODS: Fifty-five patients operated on for revision THRA were reviewed. In the hemodilution group (n = 21), 2-4 units of autologous blood were procured immediately after anesthetic induction while Ringer's lactate and 6% Haes-steril were infused to maintain normovolemia. Differences in the amounts of transfusions and postoperative drainage were compared. Statistical analyses were performed by using the Student's t-test. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between groups in terms of preoperative hematocrit and hematocrit at postoperative 7 days. However, in the homologous transfusion group, 10.1 +/- 3.2 units of RBC products were used in 34 patients. In the autologous transfusion group, 7.5 +/- 2.6 units of RBC products were transfused in 21 patients. And this difference in RBC produce usage was significantly different (P < 0.05). The amount of postoperative wound drainage in the two groups was comparable. CONCLUSIONS: ANH could reduce the reqirement for homologous transfusion in revision total hip arthroplasty.
Subject(s)
Humans , Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip , Blood Transfusion , Blood Transfusion, Autologous , Drainage , Hematocrit , Hemodilution , Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives , Lactic Acid , Wounds and InjuriesABSTRACT
Today, low back pain constitutes one of the most difficult medical problems. Chronic back pain in some patients is refractory to medical, surgical, and behavioral therapy. Persistent or recurrent, chronic pain after spine surgery, referred to as failed back surgery syndrome, can present frustrating cases. When conservative treatments, such as physiotherapy, exercise programs, and epidural steroid injection can not alleviate pain, spinal cord stimulation offers a potentially beneficial treatment option. We describe our experiences on the effects of spinal cord stimulation in a patient with failed back surgery syndrome and a patient suffering from chronic intractable low back pain who obtained satisfactory pain relief and reduction of disability after the implantation of a spinal cord stimulator.