BACKGROUND: Succinylcholine (Sch) has been generally reported not to produce tetanic stimulation fade on train of four in phase I block, except phase II block. But, the prejunctional phenomenon of Sch during onset is rarely reported these days, and so we investigated whether the prejunctional phenomenon of Sch during onset exists in cats. METHODS: We checked train of four ratios (TOF-R) and tetanic fade ratios (TF-R) by using a nerve stimulator before and after 50microgram/kg of Sch less than ED95 was administered, and during recovery in anesthetized cats. We analyzed TOF-R and TF-R before drug administration as a control and during onset and recovery time in order to estimate the statistic significance of fade. RESULTS: TOF fade and tetanic stimulation during the onset of Sch appeared like those in the partial block of nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockades TOF-R and TF-R during Sch onset compared with those in control and recovery time of Sch had statistical significance (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prejunctional phenomenon appeared only during Sch onset in cats and then disappeared during recovery to the control level.
Animals ; Cats* ; Refractory Period, Electrophysiological ; Succinylcholine*

Uremic neuropathy is a distal sensorimotor polyneuropathy caused by uremic toxins. The severity of neuropathy is correlated strongly with the severity of the renal insufficiency. The electrophysiological study is a sensitive test for diagnosis of neuropathy in patients with uremia. Objectives: (1) To assess the clinical characteristics and (2) to describe the electrodiagnostic abnormalities of neuropathy during the haemodialysis. Patients and method: Clinical examination, motor and sensory nerve conduction measurements and an H reflex study (via the Nicolet EMG machine) were performed in 32 non-diabetic uremic patients (16 men and 16 women, mean age 43.5+2.29), who were all treated with chronic maintenance haemodialysis. Results: The incidence of neuropathy in haemodialysis patients was 68.8% on clinical examination and was 96.9% on electrophysiological study. The abnormalities in clinical findings were altered motor-sensory function in 62.8%, predominantly impaired sensibility in 50%, loss of tendon reflexes in 37.5%, symptom of restless legs in 46.9% and carpal tunel syndrome in 9.4% of patients. In the electrophysiological parameters, compared with Vietnamese healthy index, the nerve conduction velocity of all tested nerves was decreased significantly (p<0.05), the highest abnormal rates was the sural nerve (75%), the tibial nerve (71%) and the peroneal nerve (69.4%); H-reflex was also significantly prolonged in 42.9%. Conclusion: The most haemodialysis patients showed clinical and electrophysiological evidence of uremic neuropathy. Electrophysiological findings showed more abnormalities than clinical examination for neuropathy showed on hemodialysis patients.
Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Refractory Period ; Electrophysiological

Age Factors ; Animals ; Atrial Fibrillation ; etiology ; Atrial Function ; physiology ; Dogs ; Female ; Male ; Refractory Period, Electrophysiological ; physiology

BACKGROUND: Succinylcholine causes phase II block by a large dose or a prolonged exposure. There are rare data in a pharmacodynamics of phase II block. The purpose of this study was to investigate a concentration-response relationship, the occurrence and recovery of phase II block, and to clarify whether pretreatment of succinylcholine potentiates muscle relaxation caused by rocuronium. METHODS: Hemidiaphragm-phrenic nerve preparations were dissected from male Sprague-Dawley rats (150-250 g). Preparations were bathed in Krebs' solution, then maintained at 32oC, and saturated with a mixture of 95% O2 and 5% CO2. Isometric forces made with supramaximal stimulations (0.1 Hz, and 50 Hz for 1.9 s) to the phrenic nerve, were measured with a force transducer, before and after each treatment. Succinylcholine, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80microM were cumulatively added to the bath. Succinylcholine 80microM (for 100 min) or succinylcholine 300microM (for 20 min) was washed out. After succinylcholine 300microM (for 20 min), or 0microM as pretreatment was washed out, rocuronium, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20microM were cumulatively added to the bath. RESULTS: The potencies of single twitch, peak tetanic tension and tetanic fade for succinylcholine were 36.1, 26.0, 20.7microM. Irrespective of dose or exposure duration, the recovery of muscle relaxation caused by succinylcholine was almost complete around 20 min after succinylcholine was washed out. CONCLUSIONS: Tetanic fade occurred at a lower concentration of succinylcholine than single twitch. The recovery from phase II block was relatively rapid if the concentration of succinylcholine is sufficiently low.
Androstanols ; Animals ; Baths ; Diaphragm ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle Relaxation ; Phrenic Nerve ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Refractory Period, Electrophysiological ; Succinylcholine ; Transducers

BACKGROUND: Partially paralyzed patients may be placed in the risk of pharyngeal dysfunction. Bupivacaine acts as acetylcholine receptor ion channel blocker and may synergistically interact with rocuronium to augment NM blockade. Thus, this study aims to elucidate whether or not, at a therapeutic concentration, bupivacaine by itself may cause NM blockade and reduce an effective concentration of rocuronium. METHODS: Twenty-two left phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragms (Male SD rats, 150-250 g) were hung in Krebs solution. Three consecutive ST, 0.1 Hz and one TT, 50 Hz for 1.9 s were obtained before drug application and at each new drug concentration. A concentration of bupivacaine in Krebs solution (n = 5) was cumulatively increased by way of 0.01, 0.1, 1, (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) x 10 microM. In a Krebs solution, pre-treated with bupivacaine 0 (n = 5), 0.1 (n = 5), 1.0 (n = 5), 10 (n = 2) microM, and then concentrations of rocuronium were cumulatively increased by way of 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 microM. EC for each experiment were determined by a probit. The EC50's of rocuronium were compared using a Student's t-test with Bonferroni's correction. Differences were considered significant when P < 0.05. RESULTS: The potency of bupivacaine for normalized TF was 11.4 (+/- 1.1) microM. Below 30 microM of bupivacaine, the single twitch potentiation sustained despite the development of tetanic fade and partial inhibition of PTT. Bupivacaine significantly facilitated the NM blockade induced by rocuronium. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should be aware that bupivacaine by itself at its therapeutic concentration inhibit NM conduction and enhances rocuronium-induced muscle relaxation.
Acetylcholine ; Androstanols ; Animals ; Bupivacaine ; Humans ; Ion Channels ; Isotonic Solutions ; Muscle Relaxation ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Rats ; Refractory Period, Electrophysiological

BACKGROUNDNifekalant may prevent atrial fibrillation (AF) and possibly be useful in treatment of atrial tachyarrhythmia in patients with severe heart failure. This study investigated the electophysiologic effect of nifekalant on the acute atrial remodeling in rapid atrial pacing (RAP) model of canine.

METHODSTwelve mongrel dogs subjected to rapid stimulation (400 beats/min) at left atrial appendage (LAA) for 24 hours, were randomized into the control group (rapid pacing only, n = 6) and the nifekalant group (intravenous nifekalant therapy immediately after RAP, n = 6). Atrial electrophysiological parameters were measured in right atrium, coronary sinus, LAA, posterior wall of left atrium (PWLA) and left superior pulmonary vein (LSPV), before and after the RAP.

RESULTSIn the control group, the effective refractory periods (ERP) were shortened greatly at all sites, paced dogs had substantially shorter ERPs in the high right atrium, LAA, and LSPV, but fewer changes in the PWLA, the coefficient variation of ERP (COV ERP) was increased significantly. After rapid atrial stimulation, the inducibility of AF increased significantly [induction number: pre-RAP vs post-RAP, 1.00 +/- 0.89 vs 8.17 +/- 2.79, P < 0.01; duration of AF: pre-RAP vs post-RAP, (450.34 +/- 362.59) ms vs (9975.77 +/- 4376.99) ms, P < 0.01]. In the nifekalant group, although the ERPs were prolonged at all sites compared with those in pre-RAP state, only the value at LSPV differed significantly from that in pre-RAP state [pre-RAP vs post-RAP, (102.50 +/- 5.24) ms vs (132.51 +/- 5.20) ms, P < 0.01]; the COV ERP did not change statistically in this group. The inducibility of AF slightly increased but insignificantly after pacing [induction number: pre-RAP vs post-RAP, 0.83 +/- 0.75 vs 1.67 +/- 0.82, P = 0.19; duration of AF: pre-RAP vs post-RAP, (378.67 +/- 317.88) ms vs (1124.08 +/- 1109.77) ms, P = 0.06]. Conduction time values did not alter significantly in either of the two groups after RAP.

CONCLUSIONSIn canine RAP model, nifekalant inhibited ERP shortening and ERP heterogeneity increasing, decreased AF induction. Nifekalant can reverse acute electrical remodeling effect in this model.

Animals ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; pharmacology ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; Dogs ; Female ; Male ; Pyrimidinones ; pharmacology ; Refractory Period, Electrophysiological ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo observe effects of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) on function of sinoatrial node, so as to provide experimental basis for clinical application of Neiguan (PC 6) to treatment of heart diseases.

METHODSFifty cases of heart diseases were randomly divided into 2 groups, a no-blocking group (n = 35) and a blocking group (n = 15). In the no-blocking group, sinoatrial node recovery time (SNRT), sinoatrial conduction time (SACT), sinoatrial node effective refractory period (SNERP) and heart rate (HR) were determined by using esophagus-left cardiac atrium regulating pulsation technique before and after acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6); and in the blocking group, the vegetative nerve was blocked by intravenous injection of Propanolol and Atropine, and then SNRT, SACT, SNERP and intrinsic heart rate (IHR) were detected before and after acupuncture.

RESULTSIn the no-blocking group there were significant differences in SACT, SNERP and HR (all P < 0.05) and no significant difference in SNRT (P > 0.05) before and after treatment. In the blocking group, there were no significant differences in SNRT, SACT and SNERP and a significant difference in IHR before and after acupuncture (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) has a significant effect on function of sinoatrial node, and the mechanism is possibly related with the bidirectional regulative action of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) on the autonomic nerve in the sinoatrial node.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Refractory Period, Electrophysiological ; Sinoatrial Node ; physiology

BACKGROUND: Neostigmine augments clindamycin-induced neuromuscular block and antagonizes rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block; however, it remains unclear whether neostigmine enhances the neuromuscular blocking (NMB) that is caused by combinations of rocuronium and clindamycin. The intent of this study was to determine whether neostigmine potentiates the muscle relaxation that is induced by combinations of rocuronium and clindamycin and to estimate whether both clindamycin and rocuronium have synergistic actions on NMB. METHODS: Forty-one left phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragms (from male Sprague-Dawley rats, 150-250 g) were mounted in Krebs solution. Three consecutive single twitches (ST, 0.1 Hz) and one tetanic tension (50 Hz for 1.9 s) were obtained for each increase in concentration of rocuronium or clindamycin. The concentrations of rocuronium were cumulatively increased until an 80% to 90% reduction in ST was attained in the Krebs solutions pre-treated with 0 (n = 5), 0.1 (n = 1), 0.25 (n = 1), 0.5 (n = 4), or 1.0 (n = 1) mM clindamycin or with 0 (n = 4), 0.1 (n = 1), 0.5 (n = 5), 1.0 (n = 5), or 2.0 (n = 4) mM clindamycin in combination with 250 nM neostigmine, and so were the concentrations of clindamycin in the Krebs solutions pre-treated with 0 (n = 6) or 250 nM (n = 6) neostigmine. RESULTS: Clindamycin increased the potency of rocuronium for ST and tetanic fade, irrespective of the presence of neostigmine. Neostigmine shifted the concentration-response curve of rocuronium to the right in the presence or absence of clindamycin. The interaction between rocuronium and clindamycin was synergistic when clindamycin concentrations were in excess of 0.5 mM, irrespective of the presence of neostigmine. CONCLUSIONS: Neostigmine may partially antagonize the neuromuscular block that is induced by a combination of clindamycin and rocuronium. Clinicians are advised to be aware that clindamycin synergistically increases the degree of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block, even when neostigmine is present.
Androstanols ; Animals ; Clindamycin ; Humans ; Isotonic Solutions ; Male ; Muscle Relaxation ; Neostigmine ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Refractory Period, Electrophysiological

The effect of acute ischemia on the electrophysiological characteristics of the three layers myocardium of canine in vivo was investigated. Twelve canines were divided into two groups randomly: acute ischemia (AI) group and sham operation (SO) group. By using the monophasic action potential (MAP) technique, MAP and effective refractory period (ERP) of the three layers myocardium were measured by specially designed plunge needle electrodes and the transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR) and transmural dispersion of ERP (TDE) were analyzed. The results showed that in the AI group, MAP duration (MAPD) was shortened from 201.67 +/- 21.42 ms to 169.50 +/- 13.81 ms (P < 0.05), but ERP prolonged to varying degrees and TDE increased during ischemia. In the SO group, MAPD and ERP did not change almost. Among of the three layers myocardium of canine, MAPD was coincident in two groups. It was concluded that during acute ischemia, MAPD was shortened sharply, but there was no significant difference among of the three layers myocardium. The prolonged ERP was concomitant with increased TDE during acute ischemia, which may play an important role in the occurrence of arrhythmias induced by acute ischemia. These findings may have important implications in arrhythmogenesis.
Action Potentials/*physiology ; Electrodes ; Heart/physiopathology ; Myocardial Ischemia/*physiopathology ; Myocardium/*metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Refractory Period, Electrophysiological/*physiology

Background: In the classical psychological refractory period (PRP) paradigm, two stimuli are presented in brief succession, and participants are asked to make separate speeded responses to both stimuli. Due to a central cognitive bottleneck, responses to the second stimulus are delayed, especially at short stimulus-onset asynchrony (SOA) between the two stimuli. Although the mechanisms of dual-task interference in the classical PRP paradigm have been extensively investigated, specific mechanisms underlying the cross-modal PRP paradigm are not well understood. In particular, it remains unknown whether the dominance of vision over audition manifests in the cross-modal PRP tasks. The present study aimed to investigate whether the visual dominance effect manifests in the cross-modal PRP paradigm. Methods: We adapted the classical PRP paradigm by manipulating the order of a visual and an auditory task: the visual task could either precede the auditory task or vice versa, at either short or long SOAs. Twenty-five healthy participants took part in Experiment 1, and thirty-three new participants took part in Experiment 2. Reaction time and accuracy data were calculated and further analyzed by repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results: The results showed that visual precedence in the Visual-Auditory condition caused larger impairments to the subsequent auditory processing than vice versa in the Auditory-Visual condition: a larger delay of second response was revealed in the Visual-Auditory condition (135 ± 10 ms) than the Auditory-Visual condition (88 ± 9 ms). This effect was found only at the short SOAs under the existence of the central bottleneck, but not at the long SOAs. Moreover, this effect occurred both when the single visual and the single auditory task were of equal difficulty in Experiment 1 and when the single auditory task was more difficult than the single visual task in Experiment 2. Conclusion Results of the two experiments suggested that the visual dominance effect occurred under the central bottleneck of cognitive processing.
Acoustic Stimulation ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Attention ; Auditory Perception ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Photic Stimulation ; Reaction Time ; Refractory Period, Psychological ; Young Adult