This study designs an intermittent pneumatic pressurization device with STM32 series single chip as the core. The working state of the air pump and the plurality of air chambers is controlled by the IO port of the single chip microcomputer, and the circulating inflation of the plurality of air bags is realized. The pressure monitoring system consists of a silicon piezoresistive pressure sensor, a high-precision operational amplifier and a 12-bit AD converter which monitors the gas pressure of each gas path in real time to ensure the safety of the equipment. The system is easy to operate, simple in function, and has strong practicability.
Blood Circulation ; Cardiovascular System/physiopathology* ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Microcomputers ; Pressure

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

Cardiovascular diseases are life-threatening illnesses with high morbidity and mortality. Suppressed vagal (parasympathetic) activity and increased sympathetic activity are involved in these diseases. Currently, pharmacological interventions primarily aim to inhibit over-excitation of sympathetic nerves, while vagal modulation has been largely neglected. Many studies have demonstrated that increased vagal activity reduces cardiovascular risk factors in both animal models and human patients. Therefore, the improvement of vagal activity may be an alternate approach for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, drugs used for vagus nerve activation in cardiovascular diseases are limited in the clinic. In this review, we provide an overview of the potential drug targets for modulating vagal nerve activation, including muscarinic, and β-adrenergic receptors. In addition, vagomimetic drugs (such as choline, acetylcholine, and pyridostigmine) and the mechanism underlying their cardiovascular protective effects are also discussed.
Acetylcholine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; drug therapy ; Cholinergic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Receptors, Muscarinic ; drug effects ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Vagus Nerve ; drug effects ; physiopathology

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a member of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily. GDF-15 expression is dramatically upregulated during acute brain injury, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and inflammation, suggesting its potential value as a disease biomarker. It has been suggested that GDF-15 has neurotropic effects in the nervous system. Our studies showed that GDF-15 modulated the expression of neuronal Kand Caion channels and increased the release of excitatory transmitter in the medial prefrontal cortex of mice. GDF-15 is also involved in the complex modulation of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Here, we reviewed studies involving the modulation of GDF-15 expression and its mechanisms, the primary pathological and physiological functions of GDF-15 in neurological and cardiovascular systems, and its role in cancer progression. The biological effects and the values of GDF-15 in basic research and clinical applications were also addressed.
Animals ; Brain Injuries ; physiopathology ; Calcium Channels ; metabolism ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; physiopathology ; Disease Progression ; Growth Differentiation Factor 15 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Mice ; Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; Nervous System ; metabolism ; Potassium Channels ; metabolism ; Prefrontal Cortex ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Up-Regulation

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

Cardiovascular System ; physiopathology ; Child ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo study the value of Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) in diagnosing the severity and cardiovascular function of the critically ill children. Method A total of 178 patients who were older than 28 days, with acute infection of respiratory or neurological system, excluding chronic or special disease, and admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of Hunan Children's Hospital from October 1, 2013 to April 30, 2014 were enrolled, including 102 male cases and 76 female cases. The ages ranged from 1 month to 13 years and 1 month, 78 of them were less than 1 year old ; 58 cases were between 1 to 3 years old; 42 cases were above 3 years old; 101 cases were diagnosed as respiratory system diseases, 77 cases had nervous system diseases. PTX3 was detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) within 1 d after enrollment, at 3 days and 7 days, meanwhile, troponin, myocardial enzyme, brain-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma calcitonin (PCT) and WBC etc. Were measured. According to the plasma PTX3 value which were measured within 24 h after enrollment the patients were divided into three groups: mildly elevated group (< 44 µg/L) 41 cases; moderately elevated group (44 - < 132 µg/L) in 66 cases; severely elevated group 71 cases (132 µg/L or higher). Those 178 patients were divided into 3 groups according to the degree of infection: non-sepsis group (78 cases), sepsis group (70 cases), severe sepsis group (30 cases), and in each group, those with heart failure were respectively 19 cases, 28 cases, 17 cases. Analysis of the plasma PTX3 expression changes in different clinical manifestations, different condition, different degrees of organ damages and prognosis for the patient. The continuous variables were analyzed with t-test, F-test, H-test, the categorical variables were analyzed with Chi-square test, and the correlation analysis was performed to calculate Pearson coefficients.

RESULTThe PTX3 value measured within 24 h after enrollment increased with the degree of infection (50. 4(35. 2,70. 4) µg/L; 175. 8 (99. 6, 309. 9) µg/L;419. 9 (168. 3, 468. 6) µg/L; H = 88. 345, P = 0. 000). PTX3 level gradually declined, while in severe sepsis group decreased slowly (P <0. 05); the area under the ROC curve of Plasma PTX3 was larger than that of other inflammatory markers such as CRP and PCT, white blood cells and neutrophils in the diagnosis of sepsis; while the former three are PTX3, PCT and CRP (the sensitivity and specificity respectively were 0. 77, 0. 68; 0. 66, 0. 6; 0. 47, 0. 55); the PTX3 value of the severely elevated group was significantly higher than those of the mildly and moderately elevated groups (P <0. 05). The proportion of having 3 or more organs failure increased as the PTX3 rising among the groups of mildly elevated group, moderately elevated group and severely elevated group (1(2. 4%), 4(6. 1%), 14(19. 7%) χ2 =16. 16,P = 0. 000); and in each group, the proportion of having good and poor prognosis for these three groups were different (33 (80.5%) and 8 (19. 5%), 35 (53%) and 31 (47%), 28 (39.4%) and 43 (60.6%), χ = 17. 663, P = 0. 000). The K-M curve for these three groups had statistically significant difference (χ2 = 7. 086, P = 0. 029). Those with heart failure had higher PTX3 value than those in non-heart failure at the same degree of infection. PTX3 value increased with myocardial enzyme (troponin, creatine kinase isoenzyme, BNP) levels. In the diagnosis of heart failure, the area under the ROC curve were respectively PTX3 0. 824; BNP 0. 772; CM-KB 0. 643; CNTIO. 671, the sensitivity and specificity were PTX3 0. 8, 0. 58; CK-MB 0. 56,0. 79; CTNI 0. 60,0. 69; BNP 0. 73, 0. 58. In terms of predicting the prognosis of sepsis with heart failure complications, the PTX3 value's area under ROC curve was larger than that of BNP (respectively 0. 844, 0. 472).

CONCLUSIONThe PTX3 is an objective biochemical marker in diagnosis of sepsis; it is helpful in assessment of severity and prognosis of sepsis; it also has a certain clinical value in the assessment of sepsis cardiovascular function damage.

Adolescent ; Biomarkers ; blood ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Calcitonin ; blood ; Cardiovascular System ; physiopathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Prognosis ; Protein Precursors ; blood ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sepsis ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Serum Amyloid P-Component ; analysis ; Troponin ; blood

Animals ; Cardiovascular System ; physiopathology ; Fatigue ; drug therapy ; Mice ; Oxidative Stress ; Periplaneta ; chemistry ; Physical Conditioning, Animal

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of underground work on cardiovascular system health in coal miners.
 METHODS: Male coal miners, who received electrocardiographic examinations between June, 2013 and August, 2014 in Hunan Prevention and Treatment Institute for Occupational Diseases to exclude pneumoconiosis, were enrolled for this study (n=3 134). Miners with 2 years or more underground work experience were selected as the exposed group (n=2 370), while miners without underground work experience were selected as the control group (n=764). The prevalence of electrocardiographic abnormalities and the influential factors were compared between the 2 groups.
 RESULTS: The prevalences of electrocardiographic abnormalities, hypertension, heart rate abnormalities and cardiovascular system abnormalities in the exposed group vs the control group were 37.6% vs 25.4%, 20.5% vs 13.4%, 5.7% vs 6.0%, 49.8% vs 35.2%, respectively. The cardiovascular system abnormalities were correlated with the underground work (OR=3.128, 95% CI: 1.969-4.970), the underground work experience (OR=1.205, 95% CI: 1.070-1.358) and the type of works (mining worker OR=1.820, 95% CI: 1.527-2.169; auxiliary worker OR=1.937, 95% CI: 1.511-2.482; other worker OR=3.291, 95%CI: 2.120-5.109).
 CONCLUSION Underground work may increase the prevalence of cardiovascular system abnormalities for coal miners. The longer the coal miners work in underground, the higher the risk of the cardiovascular system abnormalities they are.
Cardiovascular System ; physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Coal Mining ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Male ; Miners ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Pneumoconiosis ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVETo explore the perioperative cardiovascular dysfunction and its relevance to age in patients with silent coronary heart disease (or silent myocardial ischemia), and explore the clinical treatment and recovery of perioperative arrhythmias.

METHODSOne hundred and eighty cases were selected from selective surgery patients with silent myocardial ischemia (SMI). Among the cases, 130 patients older than 51 years old were divided into 51 - 60 year-old group, 61- 70 year-old group and 71 - 80 year-old group. Control group was set up by other 50 patients younger than 51 years old. Electrocardiogram data of 24 h before the operation, 24 h after the operation and 48 h after the operation were continuously monitored by dynamic electrocardiogram (DCG). The electrocardiogram data of ST shifting, arrhythmia incidences of different type and at different time were analyzed by professional doctors. At the same time, the treatment and recovery of perioperative arrhythmia were recorded.

RESULTSAs the age increase, the magnitude and duration of ST shifting appeared upward trend compared to the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The incidence of ST elevation in 71 - 80 year-old group was higher than the control group (P < 0.05). The ST depression duration in 61 - 70 and 71 - 80 year-old group and ST elevation magnitude in 71 - 80 year-old group were higher than 51 - 60 year-old group (P < 0.05). Compared to the control group, the incidence of accelerated idioventricular rhythm (AIR) in 61 - 70 year-old group and the incidence of sinus bradycardia (SB), ventricular premature beat (VPB), ventricular tachycardia (VT) in 71 - 80 year-old group were higher (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared to the 51 - 60 year-old group, the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in 61 - 70 year-old group and the incidence of VP, VT, AF in 71 - 80 year-old group were higher (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The arrhythmia incidences in 24 h after operation were higher than 48 h after operation and 24 h before operation (P < 0.01). As the age increase, the recovery incidence by removing inducement was decreased, but the recovery incidences by drug and electric-shock treatment were increased (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOld SMI patients have high levels of perioperative myocardial ischemia and arrhythmia, and 24 h after operation is the period of high incidence.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cardiovascular System ; physiopathology ; Coronary Disease ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perioperative Period