Critical Reviews™ in Biomedical Engineering

ISSN for PRINT: 0278-940X

For Online Access

Best Paper Award Selection - Editorial Board Site

2000, Volume28

Issue 1&2

356 pages

Issue price - $532.00

Markad V. Kamath
McMaster University

Andrew May
Departments of Medicine and Electrical and Computer Engineering, HSC 3E 25, McMaster University, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3Z5, Canada

Stephan Hollerbach
Ruhr-Universitaet of Bochum, Bochum, Germany

Debbie Fitzpatrick
Departments of Medicine and Electrical and Computer Engineering, HSC 3E 25, McMaster University, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3Z5, Canada

Robert Bulat
Departments of Medicine and Electrical and Computer Engineering, HSC 3E 25, McMaster University, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3Z5, Canada

Absar Bajwa
Departments of Medicine and Electrical and Computer Engineering, HSC 3E 25, McMaster University, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3Z5, Canada

Gervais Tougas
Departments of Medicine and Electrical and Computer Engineering, HSC 3E 25, McMaster University, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3Z5, Canada

Ernest L. Fallen
Departments of Medicine and Electrical and Computer Engineering, HSC 3E 25, McMaster University, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3Z5, Canada

Glen Shine
Departments of Medicine and Electrical and Computer Engineering, HSC 3E 25, McMaster University, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3Z5, Canada

Adrian R. Upton
Departments of Medicine and Electrical and Computer Engineering, HSC 3E 25, McMaster University, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3Z5, Canada

We studied the effects of esophageal electrical stimulation on cortical-evoked potentials (EPs) and power spectrum of heart rate variability (PS/HRV) in patients with diabetes and non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP). We also recorded cognitive-evoked potentials (P300 EPs) in response to an odd-ball stimulation in patients with NCCP. Diabetic patients did not yield reproducible cortical EPs. Their power spectra of heart rate variability (PS/HRV) showed an increased vagal modulation during stimulation. In patients with NCCP the P300 EPs were of greater amplitude (17 ± 3 mV vs. 12 ± 1 mV in controls, p < 0.04), while peak latenceis were slightly elongated in patients (382 ± 22 ms vs. 354 ± 12 ms in controls). The PS/HRV in these patients also showed an increased vagal modulation of the sinus node activity. Our results suggest the following: (1) in patients with diabetes, afferent pathways and processing of sensory signals are likely to be impaired; (2) an increased perception of esophageal stimulation reflects an exaggerated brainstem response and altered cortical processing of visceral sensation in patients with NCCP.

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