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Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of sinew-regulating and bone-setting manipulation(SRBSM) combined with Xiaoyu Jiegu Powder (XYJGP) in treating knee osteoarthritis(KOA). Methods: Sixty patients were randomly divided into treatment group (30 cases) and control group(30 cases). The treatment group was treated with SRBSM combined with XYJGP and the control group was given intermediate frequency electrotherapy and XYJGP. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC), Flexion range of motion of the knee joint, and surface electromyography(sEMG) were used to evaluate and compare the patients' knee function before and after treatment. The efficacy was observed with diagnosis and efficacy standards of TCM. Results: After treatment, compared with the same group before treatment, muscle fatigue and muscle tension decreased, pain was reduced, range of motion of the knee joint was increased, and motor function was improved (P<0.05). The improvement degree of the treatment group was better than that of the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate of the treatment group was 96.6% (29/30), higher than that of the control group (80.0%), P<0.05. Conclusion: SRBSM combined with XYJGP can effectively reduce the pain of KOA patients, improve the range of motion of the joints, and improve the quality of life of the patients, and its curative effect is better than that of intermediate frequency electrotherapy combined with XYJGP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author focuses on the use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to augment muscle strength in athletes who are undergoing rehabilitation for orthopedic injuries. Intensity, time properties, repetitions and electrodes in NMES are mentioned. Measurements of the effectiveness of treatments are mentioned as well as clinical populations evaluated in clinical trials.

Copyright of Przegląd Elektrotechniczny is the property of Przeglad Elektrotechniczny and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article focuses on the use of half-wave modulated current in dentistry. The current is recommended for use in indirect techniques in which blood vessels are held with arterial clamps and withdrawn from the surrounding tissue therewith. By touching a ball electrode to the clamp anywhere on its surface turns the clamp into an electrode by completing a circuit. Electrodes are available in a range of choices that it is possible for every dentist to find electrodes for his individual applications.

This paper reports the use of two techniques which were used to evaluate the important design parameters in a cranking type task. Namely, electromyography served as an indicator of physiological costs for the task, and biomechanical analysis provided quantitative data concerning the mechanical costs for the task. Both these measures were shown to support the importance of handle radius, torque, and working height as critical criteria in design of a cranking task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in cortical prosthetics relied on intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) to activate the cortical neural network and convey information to the brain. Here we show that activity elicited by low-current ICMS modulates induced cortical responses to a sensory stimulus in the primary auditory cortex (Al). A1 processes sensory stimuli in a stereotyped manner, encompassing two types of activity: evoked activity (phase-locked to the stimulus) and induced activity (non-phase-locked to the stimulus). Time-frequency analyses of extracellular potentials recorded from all layers and the surface of the auditory cortex of anesthetized guinea pigs of both sexes showed that ICMS during the processing of a transient acoustic stimulus differentially affected the evoked and induced response. Specifically, ICMS enhanced the long-latency-induced component, mimicking physiological gain increasing top-down feedback processes. Furthermore, the phase of the local field potential at the time of stimulation was predictive of the response amplitude for acoustic stimulation, ICMS, as well as combined acoustic and electric stimulation. Together, this was interpreted as a sign that the response to electrical stimulation was integrated into the ongoing cortical processes in contrast to substituting them. Consequently, ICMS modulated the cortical response to a sensory stimulus. We propose such targeted modulation of cortical activity (as opposed to a stimulation that substitutes the ongoing processes) as an alternative approach for cortical prostheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic kidney failure (CKF) patients on renal replacement therapies exhibit elevated levels of DNA lesions and this is directly related to high mortality. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on genomic damage in CKF patients on conventional haemodialysis (HD). Methods: Twenty-one patients with CKF on HD were randomized into control (CG =10) or neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMESG = 11) groups. NMES was applied on the quadriceps muscle during the HD session, three times a week, for 8 weeks in NMESG. DNA damage in blood was evaluated by the alkaline comet assay prior to follow-up, after 4 and 8 weeks of intervention. Results: Intradialytic NMES in CKF patients induced a significant decrease in DNA damage after four [49.9 (3.68) vs 101.5 (6.53); p = 0.000] than eight [19.9 (2.07) vs 101.5 (6.53); p = 0.000] weeks compared to baseline. Genomic damage was also significantly less after four [NMESG: 49.9 (3.68) vs CG: 92.9 (12.61); p = 0.001] than after eight [NMESG: 19.9 (2.07) vs CG: 76.4 (11.15); p = 0.000] weeks compared to CG. Conclusions: This study demonstrates for the first time that intradialytic NMES is able to reduce DNA damage in blood of CKF patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Objectives: Tap water iontophoresis is a promising therapy for palmoplantar hyperhidrosis. Non-affordability and nonavailability of the marketed device restrict its usage for many patients hailing from villages or small cities. Materials and Methods: In an article named “A simple user-made iontophoresis device for palmoplantar hyperhidrosis” published previously in this journal, a simple inexpensive homemade device that runs on 12 V direct current battery was described. We made a small modification by using a 220–12 V alternate current to direct current semiconductor diode–based transformer for the current supply. Results: The added innovation made the device lightweight, cheaper, and usable with domestic electric supply at home/clinic. Sustained supply of current at same voltage without dip and non-requirement to change/replace battery are added advantages. Cost of the whole assembly is ₹310. Working and clinical efficacy of our device were comparable to the commercially available apparatus as reported by 13 patients who received thrice a week of 15min sessions with our device. Mild electric pricking sensation was felt by all patients. Four of thirteen reported that pricking sensation was a bit more with our device as compared to the marketed device. No calibration for intensity is available in our device. Conclusion: This simple to assemble and inexpensive device makes iontophoresis applicable in many needy patients with similar efficacy and few limitations compared to expensive marketed devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the potential privileges of flattening filter-free (FFF) photon beams from Oncor® linac for 6 MV and 18 MV energies. METHODS: A Monte Carlo (MC) model of Oncor® linac was built using BEAMnrc MCCode and verified by the measured data using 6 MV and 18 MV energies. A comprehensive set of data was also characterized for MC model of Oncor® machine running with and without flattening filter (FF) for 6 MV and 18 MV beams in six field sizes. The investigated characteristics included mean energy, energy spectrum, photon spatial fluence, superficial dose, percent depth dose (PDD), dose output, and out-of-field dose with two indexes of lateral dose profile and isodose curve at three depths. RESULTS: Using FFF enhanced the energy uniformity 3.4±0.11% (6 MV) and 2.05±0.09% (18 MV) times and improved dose output by factor of 2.91 (6 MV) and 4.2 (18 MV) on the central axis, respectively. Using FFF also reduced the PDD dependencies by 9.1% (6 MV) and 5.57% (18 MV). In addition, using FFF had a lower out-of-field dose due to the reduced head scatter and softer spectra. CONCLUSIONS: The findings in this study suggested that using FFF, Oncor® machine could achieve better treatment results with lower dose toxicity and a shorter beam-on time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muscle contraction increases skeletal muscle glucose uptake, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully elucidated. While important for insulin‐stimulated glucose uptake, the role of Akt in contraction‐stimulated muscle glucose uptake is controversial. In our study, C2C12 skeletal muscle myotubes were contracted by electrical pulse stimulation (EPS). We found that EPS leads to Akt phosphorylation on sites S473 and T308 in a time‐dependent manner. The Akt inhibitor MK2206 partly reduces EPS‐stimulated GLUT4 translocation without affecting EPS‐stimulated AMPK phosphorylation. EPS activates Rac1 GTP‐binding, and EPS‐stimulated GLUT4 translocation is partly inhibited by Rac1 inhibitor II and siRac1. Interestingly, both Rac1 inhibitor II and siRac1 inhibit EPS‐stimulated Akt phosphorylation on sites S473 and T308. Our findings implicate a Rac1‐Akt signaling pathway in EPS‐stimulated GLUT4 translocation in C2C12 myotubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this pilot study was to verify therapeutical eff ect of periodical functional electrical stimulation of peroneal nerve dur ing 4 weeks of intensive outpatient ther apy on speed and performance of gait in post-stroke patients, suff er ing from spastic leg paresis. Methods: 14 subjects were enrolled into this pilot study (10 male, 4 female), aged 54,4 ± 9,4. The subjects were selected from patients suff er ing from chronic phase of stroke, spactic leg paresis and drop foot syndrome. Functional electrical stimulation was performed in total for 4 weeks (5 days weekly) as intensive ambulatory gait train ing with WalkAide neurostimulator. Emory Functional Ambulation Profi le and Two Minute Walk Test were performed for evaluation of changes in speed of gait on diff erent terrains and changes in the walking performance, respectively. Results: In this pilot study, average improvement of Emory Functional Ambulation Profi le score of 11% was observed as well as average improvement of Two Minute Walk Test of 9%. Conclusion: Positive therapeutic eff ect of periodical ambulatory functional electrical stimulation of peroneal nerve on gait speed and gait performance in post-stroke patients was observed in this limited pilot study. Further research, includ ing randomized controlled study featur ing larger data sample, is needed to show signifi cant evidence of the observed eff ect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) and robotic exoskeletons are two important technologies widely used for physical rehabilitation of paraplegic patients. We developed a hybrid rehabilitation system (FEXO Knee) that combined FES and an exoskeleton for swinging movement control of human knee joints. This study proposed a novel cooperative control strategy, which could realize arbitrary distribution of torque generated by FES and exoskeleton, and guarantee harmonic movements. The cooperative control adopted feedfoward control for FES and feedback control for exoskeleton. A parameter regulator was designed to update key parameters in real time to coordinate FES controller and exoskeleton controller. Two muscle groups (quadriceps and hamstrings) were stimulated to generate active torque for knee joint in synchronization with torque compensation from exoskeleton. The knee joint angle and the interactive torque between exoskeleton and shank were used as feedback signals for the control system. Central pattern generator (CPG) was adopted that acted as a phase predictor to deal with phase confliction of motor patterns, and realized synchronization between the two different bodies (shank and exoskeleton). Experimental evaluation of the hybrid FES-exoskeleton system was conducted on five healthy subjects and four paraplegic patients. Experimental results and statistical analysis showed good control performance of the cooperative control on torque distribution, trajectory tracking, and phase synchronization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess the effect of functional electrical stimulation (FES) of ankle dorsiflexors in children and adolescents with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) during walking.Method: A systematic review was performed using the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine methodology and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Six databases were searched for studies applying interventions to patients aged younger than 20 years. Outcomes were classified according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).Results: Seven hundred and eighty abstracts were found, 35 articles were fully screened, and 14 articles were used for analysis. Only five articles (three studies) were of level I to III evidence. At ICF participation and activity level, there is limited evidence for a decrease in self-reported frequency of toe-drag and falls. At ICF body structure and function level, there is clear evidence (I-III) that FES increased (active) ankle dorsiflexion angle, strength, and improved selective motor control, balance, and gait kinematics, but decreased walking speed. Adverse events include skin irritation, toleration, and acceptation issues.Interpretation: There are insufficient data supporting functional gain by FES on activity and participation level. However, evidence points towards a role for FES as an alternative to orthoses in children with spastic CP.What This Paper Adds: Effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) point towards a potential role as an alternative to orthoses for patients with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Some evidence for a decrease in self-reported frequency of toe-drag and falls with the use of FES in spastic CP. Limited evidence for improvements in activity and participation in patients with spastic CP using FES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to systematically compare the cognitive outcomes of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in head-to-head studies with major depression (MDD) patients. A systematic literature search identified six studies with 219 MDD patients that were too heterogeneous to reliably detect meaningful differences in acute cognitive outcomes after ECT vs. HF-rTMS. Cognitive effects of brain stimulation vary depending on the timeframe and methods of assessment, stimulation parameters, and maintenance treatment. Thus, acute and longer-term differences in cognitive outcomes both need to be investigated at precisely defined timeframes and with similar instruments assessing comparable functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Electrical signals are recorded from and sent into the body via the skin in a number of applications. In practice, skin is often hydrated with liquids having different conductivities so a model was produced in order to determine the relationship between skin impedance and conductivity. Methods A model representing the skin was subjected to a variety of electrical signals. The parts of the model representing the stratum corneum were given different conductivities to represent different levels of hydration. Results The overall impedance and conductivity of the cells did not vary at frequencies below 40 kHz. Above 40 kHz, levels of increased conductivity caused the overall impedance to decrease. Conclusion The variation in impedance with conductivity between 5 and 50 mSm−1 can be modelled quadratically while variation in impedance with conductivity between 5 and 5000 mSm−1 can be modelled with a double exponential decay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Functional electrical stimulation (FES) can be applied as an assistive and therapeutic aid in the rehabilitation of foot drop. Transcutaneous multi-pad electrodes can increase the selectivity of stimulation; however, shaping the stimulation electrode becomes increasingly complex with an increasing number of possible stimulation sites. We described and tested a novel decision support system (DSS) to facilitate the process of multi-pad stimulation electrode shaping. The DSS is part of a system for drop foot treatment that comprises a custom-designed multi-pad electrode, an electrical stimulator, and an inertial measurement unit.Methods: The system was tested in ten stroke survivors (3-96 months post stroke) with foot drop over 20 daily sessions. The DSS output suggested stimulation pads and parameters based on muscle twitch responses to short stimulus trains. The DSS ranked combinations of pads and current amplitudes based on a novel measurement of the quality of the induced movement and classified them based on the movement direction (dorsiflexion, plantar flexion, eversion and inversion) of the paretic foot. The efficacy of the DSS in providing satisfactory pad-current amplitude choices for shaping the stimulation electrode was evaluated by trained clinicians. The range of paretic foot motion was used as a quality indicator for the chosen patterns.Results: The results suggest that the DSS output was highly effective in creating optimized FES patterns. The position and number of pads included showed pronounced inter-patient and inter-session variability; however, zones for inducing dorsiflexion and plantar flexion within the multi-pad electrode were clearly separated. The range of motion achieved with FES was significantly greater than the corresponding active range of motion (p < 0.05) during the first three weeks of therapy.Conclusions: The proposed DSS in combination with a custom multi-pad electrode design covering the branches of peroneal and tibial nerves proved to be an effective tool for producing both the dorsiflexion and plantar flexion of a paretic foot. The results support the use of multi-pad electrode technology in combination with automatic electrode shaping algorithms for the rehabilitation of foot drop.Trial Registration: This study was registered at the Current Controlled Trials website with ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT02729636 on March 29, 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Medical Rehabilitation / Rehabilitacja Medyczna is the property of Medical Rehabilitation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper, we identified factors that can affect seizure suppression via electrical stimulation by an integrative study based on experimental and computational approach. Preferentially, we analyzed the characteristics of seizure-like events (SLEs) using our previous in vitro experimental data. The results were analyzed in two groups classified according to the size of the effective region, in which the SLE was able to be completely suppressed by local stimulation. However, no significant differences were found between these two groups in terms of signal features or propagation characteristics (i.e., propagation delays, frequency spectrum, and phase synchrony). Thus, we further investigated important factors using a computational model that was capable of evaluating specific influences on effective region size. In the proposed model, signal transmission between neurons was based on two different mechanisms: synaptic transmission and the electrical field effect. We were able to induce SLEs having similar characteristics with differentially weighted adjustments for the two transmission methods in various noise environments. Although the SLEs had similar characteristics, their suppression effects differed. First of all, the suppression effect occurred only locally where directly received the stimulation effect in the high noise environment, but it occurred in the entire network in the low noise environment. Interestingly, in the same noise environment, the suppression effect was different depending on SLE propagation mechanism; only a local suppression effect was observed when the influence of the electrical field transmission was very weak, whereas a global effect was observed with a stronger electrical field effect. These results indicate that neuronal activities synchronized by a strong electrical field effect respond more sensitively to partial changes in the entire network. In addition, the proposed model was able to predict that stimulation of a seizure focus region is more effective for suppression. In conclusion, we confirmed the possibility of a computational model as a simulation tool to analyze the efficacy of deep brain stimulation (DBS) and investigated the key factors that determine the size of an effective region in seizure suppression via electrical stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A study was established to objectively assess the effects of low-intensity electromagnetic and electric stimulation plus negative pressure on mature scars. Background: Radiofrequency plus negative pressure therapy demonstrated a favorable reorganization and regeneration of the collagen and elastic fibers and was proposed for the treatment of cellulitis and skin stretch marks. Methods: Twenty-six mature scars in 20 Caucasian patients (15 females and 5 males) were enrolled in the study. The treatments were carried out with a Class I, BF-type electromedical device equipped with a radiofrequency generator, an electric pulse generator, and a vacuum pump twice a week for 3 months. Corneometry, transepidermal water loss, elastometry, colorimetry, and three-dimensional skin surface pattern were objectively assessed with Multi Probe Adapter System MPA and PRIMOS pico. A subjective assessment was carried out with the VAS and PSAS scales. Each scar was compared before and after the treatment and with the skin in the corresponding healthy contralateral anatomical area at the same times. Results: Reduction of the scar surface wrinkling and overall scar flattening were demonstrated after the treatment. The scar slightly tended to approach the color and elasticity of healthy skin too. Conclusions: The combined local treatment of mature scars with low-intensity electromagnetic and electric stimulation in association with negative pressure might suggest a favorable synergic effect on the scar collagen and elastic fiber remodeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capacity to quickly and accurately simulate extracellular stimulation of neurons is essential to the design of next-generation neural prostheses. Existing platforms for simulating neurons are largely based on finite-difference techniques; due to the complex geometries involved, the more powerful spectral or differential quadrature techniques cannot be applied directly. This paper presents a mathematical basis for the application of a spectral element method to the problem of simulating the extracellular stimulation of retinal neurons, which is readily extensible to neural fibers of any kind. The activating function formalism is extended to arbitrary neuron geometries, and a segmentation method to guarantee an appropriate choice of collocation points is presented. Differential quadrature may then be applied to efficiently solve the resulting cable equations. The capacity for this model to simulate action potentials propagating through branching structures and to predict minimum extracellular stimulation thresholds for individual neurons is demonstrated. The presented model is validated against published values for extracellular stimulation threshold and conduction velocity for realistic physiological parameter values. This model suggests that convoluted axon geometries are more readily activated by extracellular stimulation than linear axon geometries, which may have ramifications for the design of neural prostheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been remarkable progress in the understanding and practical use of transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) techniques. Nevertheless, to date, this experimental effort has not been accompanied by substantial reflections on the models and mechanisms that could explain the stimulation effects. Given these premises, the aim of this article is to provide an updated picture of what we know about the theoretical models of tES that have been proposed to date, contextualized in a more specific and unitary framework. We demonstrate that these models can explain the tES behavioral effects as distributed along a continuum from stimulation dependent to network activity dependent. In this framework, we also propose that stochastic resonance is a useful mechanism to explain the general online neuromodulation effects of tES. Moreover, we highlight the aspects that should be considered in future research. We emphasize that tES is not an "easy-to-use" technique; however, it may represent a very fruitful approach if applied within rigorous protocols, with deep knowledge of both the behavioral and cognitive aspects and the more recent advances in the application of stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical stimulation is ubiquitous as a method for activating neuronal tissue, but there is still significant room for advancement in the ability of these electrical devices to implement smart stimulus waveform design to more selectively target populations of neurons. The capability of a device to encode more complicated and precise messages to a neuronal network greatly increases if the stimulus input space is broadened to include variable shaped waveforms and multiple stimulating electrodes. The relationship between a stimulating electrode and the activated population is unknown; a priori. For that reason, the population of excitable neurons must be characterized in real-time and for every combination of stimulating electrodes and neuronal populations. Our automated experimental system allows investigation into the stimulus-evoked neuronal response to a current pulse using dissociated neuronal cultures grown atop microelectrode arrays (MEAs). The studies presented here demonstrate that differential activation is achievable between two neurons using either multiple stimulating electrodes or variable waveform shapes. By changing the aspect ratio of a rectangular current pulse; the stimulus activated neurons in the strength--duration (SD) waveform space with differing probabilities. Additionally, in the case when two neuronal activation curves intersect each other in the SD space; one neuron can be selectively activated with short-pulse-width; high-current stimuli while the other can be selectively activated with long-pulse-width; low-current stimuli. Exploring the capabilities and limitations of electrical stimulation allows for improvements to the delivery of stimulus pulses to activate neuronal populations. Many state-of-the-art research and clinical stimulation solutions, including those using a single microelectrode, can benefit from waveform design methods to improve stimulus efficacy. These findings have even greater import into multi-electrode systems because spatially distributed electrodes further enhance accessibility to differential neuronal activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the efficacy of neuromuscular electrical stimulation therapy (NMES) in patient who undergo orthopaedic surgery. It mentions that the use of NMES aims to improve voluntary activation, muscle strength, and functional recovery after knee surgery. It outlines some practical guidelines for maximizing muscle response while minimizing discomfort and fatigue.

In this review we raised the need of the students in general and in particular those of bioengineering and medicine to obtain basic information on the electrophysiology of excitable tissue. It is important to establish some historical concepts of how it evolved and the theoretical framework of electricity and electronics we handle today was structured. This information serves as a basis for understanding the technological development of electronics that is used particularly for the design and construction of biomedical devices. We discuss general concepts equivalent to the cell membrane excitable tissue and establish functional behavior of voltage and current in a biological system circuit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electro acupuncture has been shown previously to alleviate cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury. Overload training (OT) exercise can result in profound cardiac damage and remodeling. In this study, we aimed to examine whether transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS), a novel noninvasive and low-risk alternative to electro acupuncture, could counteract short-term OT-induced cardiac remodeling, fibrosis, autophagy, and apoptosis. Sixty rats were randomly divided into eight groups (n = 7 or 8/group): control, regular exercise, OT, OT plus low-, moderate- or high-frequency TEAS preconditioning, OT plus moderate-frequency TEAS postconditioning, or transcutaneous electrical nonacupoint stimulation (TENAS) preconditioning. The cardiac weight index (heart weight/body weight) was determined. Left ventricular morphology was examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Cardiac fibrosis and apoptosis were determined by Masson's trichrome and TUNEL staining, respectively. The presence of autophagosomes was observed by transmission electron microcopy. The expressions of autophagic markers (LC3 II/I and Beclin-1) were determined by Western blot. The results showed that 1) OT induced adverse cardiac structure changes but did not affect the cardiac weight index; 2) OT increased cardiac fibrosis and apoptosis and induced autophagosome formation with upregulated LC3 II/I and Beclin-1 expression; 3) TEAS preconditioning effectively alleviated OT- induced cardiac structure changes, fibrosis, apoptosis, and autophagy; 4) TEAS preconditioning produced better protective effects than TEAS postconditioning or TENAS preconditioning. Our results demonstrate that TEAS preconditioning protects the heart from OT-induced cardiac injury/remodeling, probably by inhibition of fibrosis, autophagy, and apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Automatika: Journal for Control, Measurement, Electronics, Computing & Communications is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Because of lack of local normative data, electrodiagnostic laboratories in Nigeria apply standard values generated in the USA and Europe to diagnose different median nerve abnormalities. Aim: To develop normative values for motor and sensory median nerve conduction studies (NCSs) in Nigerian population. Subjects and Methods: In a cross-sectional study design, a total of 200 healthy volunteers were selected after clinical evaluation to exclude systemic or neuromuscular disorders. NCS of the median nerves was conducted on all the healthy volunteers according to a standardized protocol. The data included in the final analysis were amplitude, latency, and nerve conduction velocity. Ethical approval was obtained for the study. Results: The reference range for median nerve (motor) velocity, distal latency, and amplitude were 49.48-66.92, 1.95-4.52, and 4.3-11.3, respectively. The reference range for median nerve F-wave latency was 44.8-70.5. The reference range for median nerve (sensory) velocity, distal latency, and amplitude were 44.8-70.5, 1.98-4.52, and 16.6-58.4, respectively. Conclusion: Reference values for the nerve conduction parameters of the median (motor and sensory) in the study population were similar to those obtained in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores human experiments and medical electricity material culture in England in the 18th century. Topics include the early use of electricity in therapeutics, conflicting epistemologies of medical efficacy, and strategies to promote trust in electrical medical apparatus. Also discussed are Quaker surgeon John Fell's specialization in electrical treatments, Fell's occupational achievements, and management of electrical apparatus.

Objective: We investigated the transient effect of short-duration paired-pulse electrical stimulation (ppES) on corticospinal excitability and the after-effect of long-duration ppES on excitability, short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI), and afferent facilitation (AF). Methods: A total of 28 healthy subjects participated in two different experiments. In Experiment 1, motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) were measured in the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) and abductor digiti minimi (ADM) muscles before and immediately after short-duration ppES (5 s) at various inter-pulse intervals (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 15, 20, and 30 ms). In Experiment 2, MEPs, SAI, and AF were measured before, immediately, and 20 and 40 min after long-duration ppES (20 min, inter-pulse interval of 5 and 15 ms) and peripheral electrical stimulation (20 min, 10 and 20 Hz). Results: Short-duration ppES with inter-pulse intervals of 5 and 20 ms significantly increased MEP measured in APB but not in ADM. Long-duration ppES with an interpulse interval of 5 ms significantly decreased SAI but not MEPs in APB. In contrast, long-duration ppES did not affect ADM. Conclusion: The afferent inputs induced by ppES-5 ms were effective for transiently increasing MEP and sustaining SAI reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture in treating the withdrawal symptoms in methamphetamine (MA) addicts, and to provide objective clinical evidence for the treatment of MA dependence. Method: Sixty male MA addicts were randomized into a control group and an electroacupuncture group. The MA Withdrawal Symptom Rating Scale, Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAMA), and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) were adopted to observe the withdrawal symptoms before treatment and after 1-4 weeks of treatment. Result: Compared with the control group, the electroacupuncture group had a significantly better improvement in withdrawal symptoms in MA dependence, anxiety symptoms, and depression symptoms (P < 0.05), and the improvements were most remarkable after 4-week treatment (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Electroacupuncture is effective for MA withdrawal symptoms, anxiety, and depression, and thus it can be applied in clinic for MA withdrawal symptoms. Furthermore, improvements in the above symptoms are positively related to the stimulation intensity of acupuncture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vision research has the potential to reveal fundamental mechanisms underlying sensory experience. Causal experimental approaches, such as electrical microstimulation, provide a unique opportunity to test the direct contributions of visual cortical neurons to perception and behaviour. But in spite of their importance, causal methods constitute a minority of the experiments used to investigate the visual cortex to date. We reconsider the function and organization of visual cortex according to results obtained from stimulation techniques, with a special emphasis on electrical stimulation of small groups of cells in awake subjects who can report their visual experience. We compare findings from humans and monkeys, striate and extrastriate cortex, and superficial versus deep cortical layers, and identify a number of revealing gaps in the 'causal map of visual cortex. Integrating results from different methods and species, we provide a critical overview of the ways in which causal approaches have been used to further our understanding of circuitry, plasticity and information integration in visual cortex. Electrical stimulation not only elucidates the contributions of different visual areas to perception, but also contributes to our understanding of neuronal mechanisms underlying memory, attention and decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: F waves are late electrophysiological responses to antidromic activation of motor neurons and are used to evaluate the conduction along the whole length of peripheral nerves. We aimed to determine the diagnostic efficacies of minimum median nerve F-wave latency (FWL) and median-to-ulnar nerve F-wave latency difference (FWLD) on carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Materials and methods: The electrophysiological studies consisted of sensory and motor nerve conduction and F-wave studies of the median and ulnar nerves. The best cut-off points of minimum median nerve FWL and FWLD for the diagnosis of CTS were detected for the whole study group and for different height subgroups (Group 1: 150-159 cm, Group 2: 160-169 cm, and Group 3: over 170 cm). The diagnostic efficacies of minimum median nerve FWL and FWLD were calculated for the whole CTS group and for the mild CTS group, separately. Results: The best cut-off point of minimum median nerve FWL on the diagnosis of CTS was determined as 24.60 ms for the whole group. It was 23.90 ms for Group 1, 24.80 ms for Group 2, and 28.40 ms for Group 3. The usage of these stratified cut-off points yielded a higher total diagnostic efficacy rate than single cut-off point usage (79.9% vs 69%, respectively; P=0.02). The best cut-off point of FWLD on the diagnosis of CTS was 0.80 ms for the whole group. It was 0.55 ms for Group 1, 0.30 ms for Group 2, and 0.85 ms for Group 3. Both the single cutoff point usage and the stratified chart usage for FWLD had equal diagnostic efficacy (85.1%). In the mild CTS group, diagnostic efficacy was 55.5% for minimum median nerve FWL and 78.8% for FWLD (P=0.0001). Conclusion: Median-to-ulnar nerve FWLD yields a higher diagnostic efficacy than minimum median nerve FWL on the diagnosis of CTS. However, the sensitivities of both parameters are not satisfactory for the extremities with mild CTS, which compose the main group having diagnostic challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Radiofrequency electrical currents have a tendency to move toward the center of the bulk of biologic tissues. Objectives To evaluate the effect of the frequency of currents on their entrance and propagation pattern in biologic tissues. Materials and Methods Three electrosurgical generators with 0.4, 1.5, and 3 MHz frequency outputs were studied. Current was applied using a metallic needle introduced into a piece of cow liver, with different amounts of energy delivered at multiple points. Cross-sections of the liver were then studied for tissue effect. The diameters of the coagulated areas at the deepest and most superficial parts were measured. The tendency of the currents for penetration in the deeper layers of tissue rather than in the superficial layers was assessed using the superficial diameter/deep diameter ratio. Results Diameter of coagulated area was larger around deeper parts than around superficial parts of the electrode. No correlation between frequency of current and the superficial/deep diameter ratio of the coagulation zone was found. Conclusion Radiofrequency currents have a tendency to move toward the center of the tissue. Frequency of current over the range of 0.4-3 MHz did not show any effect on this tendency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predictors of a favorable response and measures of success with gastric electrical stimulation (GES) for gastroparesis remain elusive. Published results remain inconsistent with respect to patient perceived benefit, despite statistical improvements in objective measures of symptom severity. We performed a retrospective analysis of 56 patients with gastroparesis who underwent insertion of a gastric electrical stimulator during the study period. Data included demographics, symptoms, total symptom severity score (TSS, range 0-24, initial and most recent), and gastric emptying times. TSS were grouped into four severity categories (0-10,11-14, 15-18, 19-24). TSS improvement was defined as movement to a lower severity category. Perception of improvement was compared with that of TSS score improvement using χ² test. Etiology as a predictor of improvement was measured using logistic regression. Initial mean TSS was 21, and post-treatment TSS was 13.5. Improvement was significant for individual symptoms and in reduction of TSS for both diabetic/idiopathic etiologies (P ≤ 0.001). No correlation was noted between likelihood of success/failure and gastric emptying times (P = 0.32). Thirty-eight improved (moved to lower TSS category), whereas 18 failed (remained in same category) (P ≤ 0.001), which correlated with perception of improvement. Of 18 failures, 14 (77.7%) were idiopathic. On logistic regression, diabetics were more likely than idiopathic patients to move to a lower TSS category (odds ratio 14, P = 0.003) and even more likely to improve based on patient perception (odds ratio 45, P = 0.005). GES produces far more consistent improvement in diabetics. Further study of GES in idiopathic gastroparesis is needed. Application of the proposed TSS severity categories allowed differentiation of small, statistically significant (but clinically insignificant) reductions in TSS from larger, clinically significant reductions, thereby permitting more reliable application of TSS to the evaluation of GES efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the neural engineering field, physiological dysfunctions are approached by identifying the target nerves and providing artificial stimulation to restore the function. Neural stimulation and recording technologies play a central role in this approach, and various engineering devices and stimulation techniques have become available to the medical community. For bladder control problems, electrical stimulation has been used as one of the treatments, while only a few emerging neurotechnologies have been used to tackle these problems. In this review, we introduce some recent developments in neural stimulation technologies including microelectrode array, closed-loop neural stimulation, optical stimulation, and ultrasound stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]