Relation Between Vasovagal Tendency and Smoking Among University Students
Vasovagal SyncopeSmoke InhalationAlmost everyone is aware these days is aware about the risk of smoking. Still many people start this habit specially in early life and during college year. We aim to investigate in this study if there is a drive to smoke in people with vasovagal tendency to improve their symptoms, even if not aware of this. Vasovoagal symptoms are common and include dizziness, smoking, sweating, abdominal pain, fatigue and syncope. Some studies have shown correlation between smoking and a positive tilt table test which is indicative of vasovagal tendency. By collecting the information regarding smoking habit and vasovagal symptoms analysis can be done to see if there is correlation between these two factors
Investigating Drop Attacks
Functional DisorderThe aim of this project is to better understand the experiences of people who have idiopathic drop attacks. These falls have no identified medical cause but can cause people injuries such as bruising, facial injuries and, in some cases, broken bones. It can also make them worry about having more falls, and the pain and embarrassment this would cause, and stop them from going out. There has been very little research in this area and there are currently no treatments. In this study, ten people who experience idiopathic drop attacks will be interviewed at an outpatient clinic to understand more about them and the falls. They will be asked in particular about the period of time around when they started having the falls and whether there are aware of any triggers. Participants will also be asked to write accounts of these drop attacks, after they have happened, for a period of eight weeks. They will be asked to describe what they were thinking and feeling, and how they felt in themselves before and after the fall. This information will allow the researcher to look at common experiences that people who experience these falls have. This understanding could help to identify whether a psychological approach to treatment could help individuals to manage and cope with this condition.
Comparison Between Standard and Ultrasound Integrated Approach for Risk Stratification of Syncope...
SyncopeThis is a observational prospective study. For patients presenting to the Emergency Department with loss of consciousness, emergency physicians will be asked to screen the real syncope without an evident and immediate cause for the loss of consciousness (e.g. vasovagal) and/or at least one high risk condition as listed by the European Society of Cardiology in the 2009 Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of syncope (i.e. severe structural or coronary artery disease, clinical or ECG features suggesting arrhythmic syncope, and important co-morbidities). In case of a real syncope not clearly physiopathologically explained and no high risk conditions, the emergency physician in charge will check risk factors for high risk syncope and categorize again every cases. A high risk syncope is characterized by at least one high-risk characteristic (based on 2015 "Syncope clinical management in the emergency department consensus"): syncope during exertion, in supine position, with new onset of chest discomfort, palpitations before the loss of consciousness, family history of sudden death, congestive heart failure, aortic stenosis, left ventricular outflow tract disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, left ventricular ejection fraction <35%, previously documented ventricular arrhythmia, coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, previous myocardial infarction, pulmonary hypertension, previous ICD implantation, anemia (i.e. Hb <9 g/dl), lowest systolic blood pressure in the ED <90 mmHg, sinus bradycardia (<40 bpm), new (or previously unknown) left bundle branch block, bifascicular block plus a first degree AV block, Brugada ECG pattern, ECG changes consistent with acute ischemia, a new non-sinus rhythm, bifascicular block, and a prolonged QTc (>450 ms). Low and intermediate risk syncopes will be enrolled and evaluated using an integrated point-of-care sonographic approach (based on history, physical exam, electrocardiogram, and lung, focus cardiac and venous compression ultrasonography). After discharge, the risk of patient's syncope will be determined by reviewing the entire medical records.
Physiologic Pacing Registry
BradycardiaSinus Node Dysfunction5 moreThe Physiologic Pacing Registry is a prospective, observational, multi-center registry performed to gain a broader understanding of 1) physiologic pacing implant and follow-up workflows, including pacing and sensing measurements and 2) the clinical utility in creating a 3-dimensional electro-anatomical map of cardiac structures prior to physiologic pacing device implants based on the clinical site's routine care.
Validation of a Novel Simplified Head up Tilt Test (HUTT) Protocol Versus the Conventional Protocol...
SyncopeSyncope;Heat InducedThe purpose of the study is to compare the positivity rate associated with a novel simplified Tilt-Table (TT) test protocol versus the conventional TT protocol
Validation of a Non Invasive Blood Marker of SIDS and Vagal Disorders
Vagal SyncopeContext The investigators recently demonstrated a highly significant increase in muscarinic receptor density in the myocardium of infants deceased from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) compared to those of infants deceased from identified causes 1. Muscarinic receptor overexpression was found in all SIDS samples studied to date. It was associated with an average increase in acetylcholinesterase activity, appearing as a compensatory mechanism to oppose the cardiac muscarinic receptor overexpression. Similar vago-cardiac abnormalities were detected in a rabbit model of vagal hyperreactivity that the investigators first described some years ago2. In these hyperreactive animals, expression of muscarinic receptors was also enhanced in blood white cells. Noticeably, the pattern of changes in these cells paralleled the pattern of changes in the heart. Thus, muscarinic abnormalities in cardiac tissues could be inferred with high confidence from those measured in lymphocytes.This was the first report of a vago-cardiac abnormality in sudden infant death syndrome. The investigators findings also provided original and important perspectives for the identification and therapeutic management of infants at risk of sudden death. As such, the publication of the investigators work raised a major interest from the population and from the scientific and medical communities, in particular cardio-pediatricians. ObjectivesThe objective of the present clinical project is to validate, in human lymphocytes, muscarinic receptor expression level (assessed by quantitative RT-PCR) as a circulating biomarker of autonomic nervous system dysfunction and more specifically, of vagal hyperactivity and of risk of sudden death. The project will include 2 major items, conducted in parallel:1. evaluation of the muscarinic receptor expression in lymphocytes from adults with vagal syncopes (n=60 patients from an existing file versus 60 controls) (Cardiology unit + Clinical Investigation Centre (CIC) + Laboratory of Neurobiology and Cardiovascular Pharmacology); 2. evaluation of the muscarinic receptor expression in lymphocytes from children with vagal syncopes (n=60 versus 60 controls) (Pediatry unit + Clinical Investigation Centre + Laboratory of Neurobiology and Cardiovascular Pharmacology).PerspectivesThis project represents the first step of validation of a circulating marker of vagal hyperactivity and of risk of SIDS in human. Once this step is completed, the investigators will start with the prospective study " muscarinic receptor expression in lymphocytes and SIDS " (cord blood collected at birth and follow up of the new-borns) (Maternity ward + CIC + Laboratory of Neurobiology and Cardiovascular Pharmacology). Then therapeutic preventive management becomes a realistic objective. A therapeutic clinical study will then be started with atropinic drugs, in order to test their potential protective action against sudden death. The final objective of the investigators research is the prevention of SIDS through i) identification - as soon as birth - of new-borns at high risk and ii) appropriate prophylactic therapy. The investigators work also opens exciting perspectives in the field of the still poorly understood vagal disorders in children and adults such as vagal pauses.1 Livolsi et coll, Plos One 5, e9464, 2010 ; 2 Livolsi et coll, Circulation 106, 2301-2304, 2002
The Simple ECG Monitoring Trial (Comparison of a Novel Recording System With a Standard Holter Monitor)...
SyncopePre-syncope2 moreThe purpose of this research is to simplify the standard recording system of the heart rhythm. The investigators desire to improve the ease of monitoring the cardiac rhythm for 24 hours. The investigators intent is to use a very small, innovative monitoring patch system that relieves the patient of wearing a cumbersome and uncomfortable recording system. This research trial will carry the title "The Simple ECG Monitoring" for Comparison of a Sternal ECG Recording System with a Standard ECG Recording System for Holter Monitoring. The data from the investigational device is for comparative purposes only. It will not be used by medical personnel for study subject treatment or diagnostic purposes.
Comparison of Continuous Sternal ECG Patch Monitors (Carnation and Zio) Trial
SyncopePresyncope2 moreThe purpose of this research is to test the clinical value of a new P-wave sensitive recording vector compared to a standard ECG limb lead II vector from similar easy-to-use long-term cardiac rhythm monitoring patch systems, the Carnation TM Ambulatory Monitoring (CAM) System and the Zio-XT iRhythm. The P-wave is a critical aspect of the electrocardiogram. The purpose of this study is to see if the P-wave centric focus of the CAM system improves arrhythmia diagnosis.
BIO|STREAM.ICM Obesity
Tachycardia AtrialAtrial Fibrillation3 moreThe aim of the submodule study is to assess whether a high BMI may influence the sensing performance and the sECG quality of the BIOMONITOR.
Implantable Loop Recorder in Traumatic Syncope
SyncopeProspective, observational registry enrolling consecutive patients with recurrent, unexplained, traumatic syncope underwent implantable loop recorder implantation with the aim to evaluate the incidence of recurrence of traumatic syncope during follow-up.