Heart rate variability (HRV) and muscular system activity (EMG) in cases of crash threat during simulated driving of a passenger car

Objectives: The aim of the study was to verify whether simultaneous responses from the muscular and circulatory system occur in the driver's body under simulated conditions of a crash threat. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out in a passenger car driving simulator. The crash was included in the driving test scenario developed in an urban setting. In the group of 22 young male subjects, two physiological signals - ECG and EMG were continuously recorded. The length of the RR interval in the ECG signal was assessed. A HRV analysis was performed in the time and frequency domains for 1-minute record segments at rest (seated position), during undisturbed driving as well as during and several minutes after the crash. For the left and right side muscles: m. trapezius (TR) and m. flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS), the EMG signal amplitude was determined. The percentage of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) was compared during driving and during the crash. Results: As for the ECG signal, it was found that in most of the drivers changes occurred in the parameter values reflecting HRV in the time domain. Significant changes were noted in the mean length of RR intervals (mRR). As for the EMG signal, the changes in the amplitude concerned the signal recorded from the FDS muscle. The changes in ECG and EMG were simultaneous in half of the cases. Conclusion: Such parameters as mRR (ECG signal) and FDS-L amplitude (EMG signal) were the responses to accident risk. Under simulated conditions, responses from the circulatory and musculoskeletal systems are not always simultaneous. The results indicate that a more complete driver's response to a crash in road traffic is obtained based on parallel recording of two physiological signals (ECG and EMG)

Therapeutic validation of an orphan G protein-coupled receptor: the case of GPR84

Despite the importance of members of the G protein‐coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily as targets of a broad range of effective medicines many GPCRs remain poorly characterised. In certain cases even the endogenous ligand(s) that activates them remains undefined or uncertain. Such GPCRs are designated as orphan receptors and although this is frequently also associated with a limited pharmacological palette of selective ligands, this does not mean that there is a lack of interest in better understanding and assessing specific orphan GPCRs as novel therapeutic opportunities. GPR84 is an example. Expression of GPR84 is strongly upregulated in immune cells in a range of pro‐inflammatory settings and clinical trials to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are currently ongoing using ligands with differing levels of selectivity and affinity as GPR84 antagonists. Although blockade of GPR84 may potentially prove effective also in diseases associated with inflammation of the lower gut there is emerging interest in defining if agonists of GPR84 might find utility in conditions in which regulation of metabolism or energy sensing is compromised. Here, we consider the physiological and pathological expression profile of GPR84 and, in the absence of direct structural information, recent developments and use of GPR84 pharmacological tool compounds to study its broader role and biology

Dress Syndrome Induced by Sulphasalazine

DRESS syndrome (Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms) is a severe drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome characterized by diffuse skin rash, fever, eosinophilia, atypical lymphocytes and organ involvement. We report a case of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) to sulphasalazine. A 54-year-old woman developed a widespread papulovesicular rash after treatment with sulphasalazine (1000 mg daily). She was successfully treated with systemic corticosteroids