Clinical Research Directory

Neuromodulation of the Autonomic Nervous System in Athletes

There are few studies in the literature that have evaluated the effects of using percutaneous stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve for sports purposes (to accelerate recovery after physical exertion). It has been demonstrated that tVNS in athletes improved the rate of heart rate recovery, reduced lactic acid levels in blood plasma, reduced pain, reduced overtraining syndrome and fatigue levels.

Effects of Oral Nicotine and Caffeine Pouches on Anaerobic Performance, Autonomic Function, Cognition, and Behavior

The goal of this randomized placebo controlled crossover trial is to determine effects of oral nicotine and caffeine pouches on anaerobic performance, autonomic function, cognition, and behavior in adult non-obese adult male volunteers between ages 21 and 40. Accordingly, the primary aims of the study are to determine the effects of acute oral nicotine pouches, oral caffeine pouches, or both, on measures of * anaerobic performance * cognition * cardiovascular and autonomic function * appetite and food intake. Researchers will compare oral nicotine pouches, oral caffeine pouches, both oral nicotine and caffeine pouches, and a flavor and color matched placebo to see if how they differentially affect measurements of * physical performance, * cognition, * cardiovascular and autonomic function * appetite and food intake. On four separate occasions, participants will be asked to place the oral pouches in their mouth and complete several anerobic cycling, cognitive, and balance tests while blood and salivary biomarkers, subjective appetite ratings, and cardiovascular and autonomic function measurements are collected. After each trial, participants will complete a 24-hr food record.

POWER Myocardial Fatigue Study: a Biomechanical Assessment of Contractility of Human Myocardium

To gain a comprehensive understanding of the biomechanical behaviour of human heart to explore the concept of myocardial fatigue in response to a temporal range of preload, afterload and drug-induced inotropy using in-vitro contractile assays.