Effects of cellular phone use on ear canal temperature measured by NTC thermistors.

The earlier studies using phantom models and human subjects concerning warming effects during cellular phone use have been controversial, partly because radiofrequency (RF) exposures have been variable. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, 30 healthy subjects were submitted to 900 MHz (2W) and 1800 MHz (1W) cellular phone RF exposure, and to sham exposure in separate study sessions. Temperature signals were recorded continuously in both ear canals before, during and after the 35-min RF exposure and the 35-min sham exposure sessions. Temperature was measured by using small-sized NTC thermistors placed in the ear canals through disposable ear plugs. The mean temperature changes were determined during a set cardiovascular autonomic function studies: during a 5-min controlled breathing test, during a 5-min spontaneous breathing test, during 7-min head-up tilting, 1-min before, during and after two consecutive Valsalva manoeuvres and during a deep breathing test. Temperatures in the exposed ear were significantly higher during RF exposures compared with sham exposure in both 900 and 1800 MHz studies with maximum differences of 1 x 2 +/- 0 x 5 degrees C (900 MHz exposure) and 1 x 3 +/- 0 x 7 degrees C (1800 MHz exposure). Temperatures in the RF-exposed ear were also significantly higher during the postexposure period compared with post-sham exposure period with maximum differences of 0 x 6 +/- 0 x 3 degrees C for 900 MHz and 0 x 5 +/- 0 x 5 degrees C for 1800 MHz. The results of this study suggest that RF exposure to a cellular phone, either using 900 or 1800 MHz with their maximal allowed antenna powers, increases the temperature in the ear canal. The reason for the ear canal temperature rising is a consequence of mobile phone battery warming during maximal antenna power use. The earlier published articles do not indicate that temperature rising in the ear canal has any significant contribution from the RF fields emitted from mobile phones.

Efficacy and systemic side-effects of topical 0.5% timolol aqueous solution and 0.1% timolol hydrogel.

PURPOSE: The objective of this randomized, double-blind, controlled crossover trial was to compare 0.1% timolol hydrogel formulation eyedrops with 0.5% timolol aqueous solution in terms of systemic effects, hypotensive efficacy and pharmacodynamics. METHODS: Twenty-four healthy subjects underwent careful ocular, cardiovascular and pulmonary function evaluation before and after 2 weeks of topical treatment with 0.1% timolol hydrogel or 0.5% aqueous timolol maleate. Intraocular pressure (IOP), heart rate, blood pressure, forced expiratory volume and plasma levels of timolol were measured. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the systemic absorption of timolol between these two ophthalmic timolol solutions. The peak concentration and mean area under the plasma drug concentration-time curve (AUC) were about 10-fold higher after 0.5% timolol aqueous solution. The mean peak heart rate during exercise was reduced by 19 bpm (SD 6.4 bpm) after 0.5% timolol aqueous solution and by only 4.6 bpm (SD 3.8 bpm) after 0.1% timolol hydrogel (p < 0.0001). There was no difference between the two formulations in efficacy in reducing IOP. No differences between treatments were found in respect of pulmonary function. CONCLUSIONS: The lower timolol concentration in the hydrogel vehicle and its better bioavailability resulted in reduced systemic absorption and side-effects without loss of efficacy.

Cellular phone use does not acutely affect blood pressure or heart rate of humans.

A recent study raised concern about increase of resting blood pressure after a 35 min exposure to the radiofrequency (RF) field emitted by a 900 MHz cellular phone. In this randomized, double blind, placebo controlled crossover trial, 32 healthy subjects were submitted to 900 MHz (2 W), 1800 MHz (1 W) cellular phone exposure, and to sham exposure in separate sessions. Arterial blood pressure (arm cuff method) and heart rate were measured during and after the 35 min RF and sham exposure sessions. We evaluated cardiovascular responses in terms of blood pressure and heart rate during controlled breathing, spontaneous breathing, head-up tilt table test, Valsalva manoeuvre and deep breathing test. Arterial blood pressure and heart rate did not change significantly during or after the 35 min RF exposures at 900 MHz or 1800 MHz, compared to sham exposure. The results of this study indicate that exposure to a cellular phone, using 900 MHz or 1800 MHz with maximal allowed antenna powers, does not acutely change arterial blood pressure and heart rate.

Alteraciones dinámicas de la variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca y sensibilidad barorrefleja determinan la respuesta al estímulo ortostático en sujetos con síncope neurocardiogénico

Objetivo: evaluar el patrón autonómico en sujetos sometidos a dos protocolos consecutivos de mesa basculante usnado vasodilatadores sublinguales (VASO) e isoproterenol a bajas dosis (ISO). Métodos: 80 pacientes con episodio(s) sincopale(es) durante los últimos seis meses fueron aleatorizados a dos protocolos de mesa basculante con VASO (nitroglicerina 400 ug, n=40) o dinitrato de isosorbide ECG y presión arterial no invasiva. Fueron calculados RMSSD, poder total, baja y alta frecuencia normalizadas (LFn, HFn), e índice LF/HF en reposo (5 min) y a 60 grados (primeros 3 min). La sensibilidad barorrefleja (analisis espectral cruzado), con coherencia y fase, el índice a de baja y alta frecuencia (aLF-aHF) y el retardo barorreflejo fueron calculados en reposo (5 min) y a 60 grados (5-10 min). Los pacientes fueron analizados en grupos de acuerdo con su respuesta a la prueba: 1) VASO+/ISO-,2)VASO-/ISO+,3)VASO+/ISO+ y 4)VASO-/ISO-. Resultados: se encontraron diferencias estadistícamente significativas (p<0.05) en ereposo entre los grupos 1 y 2 en LF/HF (1.04ñ0.14 vs 2.66ñ0.10), aHF (23.02ñ3.2 vs 10.0ñ2.3 ms/mmHg), retardo barorreflejo (1598ñ287 vs 3473ñ880 ms). A 60 grados se encontraron diferencias significativas en LF/HF (1.26ñ1.76 vs 3.14ñ1.04), LFn (49.4ñ4.7 vs 76.1ñ3.9 ms²) y retardo barorreflejo (1740ñ215 vs 3307ñ274 ms). La utilización de ambos protocolos incremento el rendimiento diagnostico de la prueba en 30 por ciento. conclusiones: la suceptibilidad a agentes inductores puede indicar diferentes mecanismos moduladores de la respuesta refleja neurocardiogénica. Estos hallazgos fisiológicos pueden proveer información para el uso individualizado de protocolos de mesa basculante

Efectos autonómicos de la administración aguda de metoprolol en sujetos asintomáticos seropositivos a T. cruzi

Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto agudo del metoprolol sobre la función autonómica cardiaca en sujetos seropositivos para T. cruzi asintomáticos. Métodos: Un estudio aleatorizado doble ciego, cruzado, placebo controlado fue realizado en 18 sujetos asintomáticos con serología positiva para T. cruzi. Presión arterial no invasiva y frecuencia cardíaca (FC) fueron registradas continuamente. Las intervenciones al azar fueron: 1 Bolos sucesivos de metoprolol de 5 mg i.v (5 cc) cada 5 minutos, máximo 15 mg (15 cc) buscando disminuir en un 20 por ciento la FC y 2. Bolos sucesivos de solución salina normal (SSN) de 5 cc hasta 3 dosis cada 5 minutos utilizando el mismo criterio. Los marcadores autonómicos calaculados previo y posterior a la intervención: 1. variabilidad de la FC en reposos durante 5 minutos, poder total (TP), poder de baja (LFn) y alta frecuencia (HFn) en unidades normalizadas, ïndice LF/HF y RMSSD. 2. Sensibilidad barorrefleja (BRS) utilizando bolos de fenilefrina (FNF) 150 Mg y nitropusiato (NTP) 100 Mg. El estudio se realizó en dos días consecutivos. Resultados: Los marcadores de la actividad tónica vagal (promedioñSD) antes y después de de la intervención con metoprolol fueron: FC 62.3ñ1.7 vs 55.6ñ1.6 lat/min, LFn 62.8ñ4.4 vs 49.8ñ4.7 ms², LF/HF 2.67ñ0.4 vs 1.42ñ0.2 y RMSSD 26.8ñ3.6 vs 41.9ñ6.4 ms, con valores de p<0.05. Conclusiones: La administración de metoprolol mejoró los marcadores de actividad tónica vagal, sin alterar el tono vagal fásico evaluado por la SBR. Los reflejos cardiovagales pueden ser modificados por la administración aguda de metoprolol en sujetos asintomáticos seropositivos para T. cruzi. Palabras clave: Enfermedad de Chagas, metoprolol, sistema nervioso autónomo, barorreflejo