Autonomic Nervous System Diseases ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; physiopathology

Autonomic Nervous System ; physiopathology ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; therapy ; Cardiovascular System ; physiopathology ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; therapy ; Humans

Adult ; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Biopsy ; adverse effects ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Vagus Nerve ; physiopathology ; Vasomotor System ; physiopathology

Recently, with application of evoked potentials technology in the test of somatic and autonomic nerves, quantitative sensory testing in the detection of small nerve fiber function, and functional magnetic resonance imaging in the detection of senior central function, the detection of neural function has become more accurate. This article reviews the progress and application of diagnostic methods about neurogenic erectile dysfunction in order to provide a reference for forensic diagnosis and research in the future.
Autonomic Nervous System/physiopathology* ; Autonomic Pathways/physiopathology* ; Erectile Dysfunction/physiopathology* ; Evoked Potentials/physiology* ; Humans ; Male ; Nervous System Diseases/complications* ; Neural Conduction ; Neurologic Examination/methods* ; Penile Erection/physiology* ; Penis/innervation* ; Sensory Thresholds

Constipation and the use of laxatives are relatively common in patients with diabetes mellitus. However, the mechanisms responsible for the constipation are unclear. Even though autonomic neuropathy is regarded as one of the important mechanisms of constipation, it requires further clarification. In addition, the colonic function in diabetic patients requires further investigation. The aim of this study was to compare the colonic transit time between patients with diabetes mellitus and healthy subjects, and correlate it to the presence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy. The colonic transit time was measured by a noninvasive, radio-opaque marker method, and the presence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy was evaluated by the beat-to-beat variation and the orthostatic hypotension. Constipation was defined by the Rome II criteria. The mean total colonic transit time of the 28 diabetic patients (34.9 +/- 29.6 h, mean +/- S.D.) was significantly longer than that of the 28 healthy subjects (20.4 +/- 15.6 h, p < 0.05). Among the diabetic patients, 9/28 (32%) had constipation and 14/28 (50%) had cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy. The diabetic patients with constipation showed longer total, left and recto-sigmoid colonic transit times than those without constipation. However, the mean colonic transit time of diabetic patients with and those without cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy was similar. In conclusion, other mechanisms than the mere presence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy might be more relevant to the development of constipation in patients with diabetes mellitus.
Adult ; Aged ; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases/*physiopathology ; Colon/*physiopathology ; Constipation/physiopathology ; Diabetic Neuropathies/*physiopathology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Transit ; Human ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Time Factors

Harlequin syndrome is characterized by unilateral hyperhidrosis and flushing, which are predominantly induced by heat or exercise. Usually, the sympathetic deficits confine to the face. Rarely, the autonomic deficits involve the arm or the parasympathetic neurons in the ciliary ganglia. We report a 43-yr-old woman who presented with facial flushing and sweating in the right side, which were mainly induced by exercise. The facial flushing accompanied relative coldness in the right arm. Valsalva maneuver, cold pressure and 0.125% pilocarpine test, and computed tomography of the chest were normal. The crossed sympathetic deficit in the left face and right arm suggested that the lesions were multifocal. The sympathetic impairment in our patient may lie on a spectrum of pre- and postganglionic autonomic dysfunction, which was observed in Holmes-Adie, Ross, and Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Adult ; Arm/innervation/*physiopathology ; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases/*physiopathology ; Face/innervation/*physiopathology ; Female ; Flushing/*physiopathology ; Humans ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Sweating/*physiology ; Syndrome

Heart rate variability (HRV) is the difference between the successive changes in the heartbeat cycle, and it is produced in the autonomic nervous system modulation of the sinus node of the heart. The HRV is a valuable indicator in predicting the sudden cardiac death and arrhythmic events. Traditional analysis of HRV is based on a multielectrocardiogram (ECG), but the ECG signal acquisition is complex, so we have designed an HRV analysis system based on photoplethysmography (PPG). PPG signal is collected by a microcontroller from human's finger, and it is sent to the terminal via USB-Serial module. The terminal software not only collects the data and plot waveforms, but also stores the data for future HRV analysis. The system is small in size, low in power consumption, and easy for operation. It is suitable for daily care no matter whether it is used at home or in a hospital.
Autonomic Nervous System ; physiopathology ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; diagnosis ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Monitoring, Ambulatory ; instrumentation ; Photoplethysmography ; instrumentation ; Sinoatrial Node ; physiopathology ; Software

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of acute panautonomic neuropathy (APN).

METHODSWe reviewed the history, clinical findings, electrophysiological characteristics, laboratory features of CSF and treatment of 4 patients with APN.

RESULTSAll these patients showed acute onset with apparent involvement of the autonomic nervous system. The clinical features of autonomic involvement included fixed dilated pupils, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and anhidrosis. Electromyography showed evidence of peripheral neuropathy. Early treatment with corticosteroid and intravenous immunoglobulins resulted in improved prognosis of the patients.

CONCLUSIONAPN is a rare autonomic nervous system disorder, and understanding of the clinical features may help in early diagnosis and treatment of the patients.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the sympathetic skin response (SSR) to the effects of N-hexane on autonomic nerves function in patients with chronic N-hexane poisoning.

METHODSThe subjects in present study included 30 controls and 37 cases with chronic N-hexane poisoning. Also 37 patients were divided into 3 subgroups (mild, moderate and severe poisoning) according to diagnostic criteria of occupational diseases. All subjects were examined by SSR test and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test. All patients were reexamined by SSR and NCV every 1 ∼ 2 months. The differences in SSR parameters (latency, amplitude) among groups were observed. In the severe poisoning subgroup, the changes of SSR and NCV parameters (conduction velocity, amplitude) in different poisoning stages were observed.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in SSR latency of upper extremity among groups and the significant differences in SSR amplitude of upper and lower extremity among groups (P < 0.05). No significant differences in SSR parameters were found between the adjacent groups (P > 0.05). There were significant differences in SSR latency of upper extremity during different periods and the significant differences in SSR amplitude of upper and lower extremity during different periods among all groups (P < 0.05). The change of SSR parameters consistent with that in NCV. The longest SSR latency of upper extremity and the smallest SSR amplitudes of upper and lower extremity appears 1 - 2 months earlier than that of the smallest action potential amplitude.

CONCLUSIONThe damage of autonomic nerves induced by N-hexane increased with poisoning progresses. The damage of autonomic nerves corresponded with the damage of myelin sheath of large myelinated nerves, but which appeared 1 - 2 months earlier than the damage of axon of large myelinated nerves. SSR test may serve as a method to detect the damage of autonomic nerves function in patients with chronic N-hexane poisoning.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Autonomic Pathways ; physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Galvanic Skin Response ; Hexanes ; poisoning ; Humans ; Male ; Neural Conduction ; Occupational Diseases ; physiopathology ; Skin ; innervation ; physiopathology ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy difference in dysantonomia between transcutaneous electrical stimulation at Renying(ST 9) combined with stellate ganglion block(SGB) and simple SGB.

METHODSSixty patients in accord with the diagnostic criteria of dysantonomia were randomly divided into two groups,30 cases in each group. In the observation group,transcutaneous electrical stimulation at Renying(ST 9) combined with SGB were adopted; in the control group,simple SGB was applied. In the two groups, treatment was used three times a week,and nine treatments were considered as one course. There was an interval of one week between courses,and two courses were treated. Total seven weeks were required. Scores were evaluated according to subjective symptoms before treatment,one month and three months after treatment in the two groups.

RESULTSThe scores of subjective symptoms were not statistically different before treatment in the two groups(P>0. 05). The scores of subjective symptoms one month and three months after treatment were all lower than those before treatment(all P< 0. 01), and subjective symptoms scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group(both P<0. 01).

CONCLUSIONTranscutaneous electrical stimulation at Renying(ST 9) combined with SGB could obviously enhance the clinical effects for dysantonomia, and the control and improvement for clinical symptoms are apparently superior to simple SGB.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Anesthetics ; administration & dosage ; Autonomic Nerve Block ; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stellate Ganglion ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation ; Young Adult