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BACKGROUND: Electrical stimulation is an effective treatment plan for peripheral nerve injuries, but different frequencies of electrical stimulation have different mechanisms and applications for promoting peripheral nerve recovery. OBJECTIVE: To systematically sort out and summarize the roles and applications of different frequencies of electrical stimulation in the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries, and to deeply analyze the advantages and disadvantages of various methods in order to find the most beneficial treatment strategy for patients’ nerve recovery METHODS: Computer-based searches were conducted in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and PubMed databases from the inception of the databases to May 2024. The search terms included “peripheral nerve injury, electrical stimulation, low frequency electrical stimulation, medium frequency electrical stimulation, high frequency electrical stimulation, TENS, interfering electricity, short wave, ultrashort wave, frequency” in both English and Chinese. Ultimately, 74 relevant documents were included for analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Peripheral nerve injury, a common clinical disease, can cause sensory and motor dysfunction in patients. Low-frequency electrical stimulation can promote cell proliferation and accelerate the expression of nerve growth factor within the cell after electrical stimulation, promote macrophage recruitment and infiltration, accelerate the clearance of myelin debris, and promote myelin regeneration of damaged axons. Medium-frequency electrical stimulation can act on deeper tissues and is better for relieving neuropathic pain. High-frequency electrical stimulation can promote the proliferation of Schwann cells and macrophages, inhibit inflammatory factors, and rapidly recruit cells to the site of nerve injury, accelerating the speed of nerve repair. Different frequencies of electrical stimulation have their own advantages in promoting the recovery of peripheral nerve injuries, but there are still some issues, such as differences in the site of electrical stimulation and the treatment plans for various disease types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) combined with adjuvant therapies in preserving vocal function in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 47 ALS patients who underwent PDT at the Rodem Hospital from 2021 to 2023. Post-operatively, these patients were provided with a comprehensive treatment plan that included regenerative injection therapy, low-frequency electrical stimulation, respiratory rehabilitation, and swallowing rehabilitation therapy. Additionally, a balloon reduction program was implemented for effective tracheostomy tube (T-tube) management. The preservation of vocal functions was evaluated 4 weeks following the procedure. Results: While some patients maintained or slightly improved their ALSFRS-R speech scores, the overall trend indicated a decrease in speech scores post-PDT. This suggests that PDT in combination with adjuvant therapies may not universally improve vocal function, but can help maintain it in certain cases. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that PDT combined with mesotherapy, low-frequency electrical stimulation, and swallowing rehabilitation therapy may play a role in maintaining vocal function in limb type ALS patients, though further research is needed to optimize patient management and to validate these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effect of low frequency electrical stimulation+auricular point pressure bean+traditional Chinese medicine decoction on intrauterine residue and its influence on ultrasonic indexes. Methods: 120 patients with intrauterine residue who came to our hospital from January to December 2022 were selected, and the 120 patients were divided into group A, B, C and D according to random number table method, with 30 cases in each group. Patients in group A received plus or minus treatment with Shenghua Decoction, group B received plus or minus treatment with low-frequency electrical stimulation plus or minus treatment with Shenghua decoction, and group C received plus or minus treatment with auricular point pressure Dou plus or minus treatment with Shenghua decoction. Group D low-frequency electrical stimulation+ear point pressure bean + Shenghua decoction plus or minus treatment. The ultrasonographic manifestations of intrauterine residues before and after treatment in the four groups were compared, as well as the ultrasonographic RI and PI levels, TCM syndrome scores and coagulation function indexes of the four groups, as well as the time for blood B-HCG level to return to normal, menstrual rehydration time, vaginal bleeding duration, clinical efficacy and occurrence of adverse reactions in the four groups. Results: Before treatment, all the patients in the four groups had intrauterine residue, and the sound image showed focal uterine thickening, the endometrium echo was not uniform, the thickness was not uniform, and the intrauterine echo cluster was locally visible, and the boundary was not clear. After treatment, ultrasound examination of the four groups showed that some patients had no intrauterine residue; The echo of intrauterine residue was reduced in some patients. Before treatment, there was no significance in the levels of RI and PI of intrauterine residue, TCM syndrome score and coagulation function index among the four groups (P>0.05). After treatment, RI and PI levels in the four groups were higher than before treatment, and those in groups B, C and D were higher than those in group A, and those in group D were higher than those in groups B and C (all P<0.05). The amount of vaginal bleeding, small abdominal pain, dry stool, tongue coating, pulse score, whole blood low shear viscosity, whole blood high shear viscosity and fibrinogen in the four groups were lower than before treatment, and the levels in groups B, C and D were significantly lower than those in group A, and the levels in group D were lower than those in groups B and C (all P<0.05). The normal time of blood B-HCG level, menstrual rehydration time and vaginal bleeding duration in groups B, C and D were lower than those in group A, and those in group D were significantly lower than those in groups B and C (all P<0.05). There was no significance between groups B and C (P>0.05). The clinical efficacy of groups B, C and D was higher than that of group A, and that of group D was higher than that of group B and C, and there was no significance in the comparison of clinical efficacy among the four groups (P>0.05). During the treatment, there were no obvious adverse reactions in the four groups, and the treatment was completed. Conclusion: Low-frequency electrical stimulation+ auricular point pressure bean+Shenghua decoction can significantly improve the effect of intrauterine residue in blood stasis syndrome, which may be related to improving the coagulation function of patients. Vaginal color Doppler ultrasound can be used to evaluate the efficacy of intrauterine residue treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) combined with adjuvant therapies in preserving vocal function in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 47 ALS patients who underwent PDT at the Rodem Hospital from 2021 to 2023. Post-operatively, these patients were provided with a comprehensive treatment plan that included regenerative injection therapy, low-frequency electrical stimulation, respiratory rehabilitation, and swallowing rehabilitation therapy. Additionally, a balloon reduction program was implemented for effective tracheostomy tube (T-tube) management. The preservation of vocal functions was evaluated 4 weeks following the procedure. Results: While some patients maintained or slightly improved their ALSFRS-R speech scores, the overall trend indicated a decrease in speech scores post-PDT. This suggests that PDT in combination with adjuvant therapies may not universally improve vocal function, but can help maintain it in certain cases. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that PDT combined with mesotherapy, low-frequency electrical stimulation, and swallowing rehabilitation therapy may play a role in maintaining vocal function in limb type ALS patients, though further research is needed to optimize patient management and to validate these results.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of low-frequency electrical stimulation combined with abdominal acupoint massage on the recovery of gastrointestinal function following cesarean section. Methods: A total of 60 postoperative patients were randomly assigned to either the control group (group A, n = 30) or the observation group (group B, n = 30) between January 2021 to December 2021. The control group received conventional interventions, while the observation group received a nursing intervention consisting of low-frequency electrical stimulation combined with abdominal acupoint massage starting at 10–12 hours after the operation. The primary outcomes included the time to first bowel sound, time to flatus, time to defecation, and time to lactation. The secondary outcomes included postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores, the rate and severity of abdominal distension, and serum levels of prolactin (PRL) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). Results: The observation group had significantly earlier restoration of bowel sounds, passage of first flatus, and first defecation than the control group (p < 0.001). The VAS scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after the operation (p < 0.001). The incidence of abdominal distension in the observation group (13.3%, 4/30) was lower than that in the control group (36.7%, 11/30) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, compared to the control group, the observation group showed a significant increase in serum PRL levels and a significant decrease in VIP levels after treatment (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The application of low-frequency electrical stimulation combined with abdominal acupoint massage after cesarean section can expedite the recovery of gastrointestinal function and reduce pain and complications, such as abdominal distension. This approach can be used in clinical practice to accelerate the recovery of intestinal function after cesarean section. Clinical Trial Registration: The study was registered with the ISRCTN registry (https://www.isrctn.com/), registration number: ISRCTN16533743.

Objective: To analyze the effects of low frequency electrical stimulation combined with rehabilitation training on stroke patients with hemiplegia, motor function and self-efficacy. Methods: A total of 156 stroke patients with hemiplegia admitted to our hospital from May 2019 to January 2022 were selected as research objects and randomly divided into control group and observation group, with 78 cases in each group. The control group was given routine symptomatic support treatment, plus rehabilitation training. The observation group was additionally treated with low-frequency electrical stimulation on the basis of the control group, and the efficacy was evaluated after continuous treatment for 8 weeks. The therapeutic effect was evaluated according to the Brunnstrom grade improvement of lower limbs. lower limb Fugl-Meyer Motor Function Scale (FMA), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), modified Barthel Index (MBI) and general Self-efficacy Scale (GSES) scores were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. Results: The total effective rate of the observation group was 96.15%, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (84.62 %) (P＜0.05). Compared with control group, lower limb FMA score and BBS score in observation group were higher after treatment (P＜0.05). Compared with the control group, the MBI score and GSES score of the observation group were higher after treatment (P＜0.05). Conclusion: Low frequency electrical stimulation combined with rehabilitation training in the treatment of stroke patients with hemiplegia has obvious effects, can effectively improve motor function and quality of life, improve self-efficacy, worthy of further research and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of pelvic floor low-frequency electrical stimulation combined with anus lifting training in the treatment of urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy in a Chinese cohort. Fifty-five patients with urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy were randomly divided into treatment group and control group. Patients in control group received only anus lifting training therapy, while treatment group combined with pelvic floor low-frequency electrical stimulation. The urinary control including urinary incontinence questionnaire (ICI-Q-SF), urinary incontinence quality of life (I-QOL), visual analogue scale (VAS), and pelvic floor muscle strength assessment (Glazer) of the two groups of patients before treatment and every week was recorded for statistical analysis. There was a statistically significant difference between treatment group and control group in the urinary control curve. The scores of ICI-Q-SF, I-QOL, VAS, and Glazer in the treatment group after 2 weeks were statistically different from those before treatment, and effects were accumulating with the extension of treatment time. Compared with the control group, the scores of treatment group in the 2 to 10 weeks improved more significantly. Especially, in the sixth week, total effective rate of treatment group was significantly better than that of control group (74.07% [20/27], 35.71% [10/28], p <.05). The difference between two groups gradually narrowed after 10 weeks and no significant difference after 10 weeks of treatment between two groups. Pelvic floor low-frequency electrical stimulation combined with anus lifting training after radical prostatectomy can significantly shorten the recovery time of urinary incontinence in patients after radical prostatectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The study aimed to investigate the effect of low-frequency electrical stimulation (LFES) on disuse muscle atrophy and its mechanism in a rabbit model of knee extension contracture. Methods This study involved two experiments. In the time-point experiment, 24 rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups: Control 1 (Ctrl1 group), immobilization for 2 weeks (I-2 group), immobilization for 4 weeks (I-4 group), and immobilization for 6 weeks (I-6 group). In the intervention experiment, 24 rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups: Control 2 (Ctrl2 group), electrical stimulation (ESG group), natural recovery (NRG group), and electrical stimulation treatment (ESTG group). All intervention effects were assessed by evaluating the knee joint range of motion (ROM), cross-sectional area (CSA) of the rectus femoris muscle, and expression of autophagy-related proteins. Results The time-point experiment showed that immobilization reduced the knee ROM, reduced the rectus femoris muscle CSA, and activated autophagy in skeletal muscle. The levels of five autophagy-related proteins [mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), phosphorylated mTOR (p-mTOR), autophagy-related protein 7 (Atg7), p62, and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3B-II (LC3B-II)] were significantly elevated in the skeletal muscle of the I-4 group. The intervention experiment further showed that LFES significantly improved the immobilization-induced reductions in ROM and CSA. Additionally, LFES resulted in a significant decrease in the protein expression of mTOR, p-mTOR, Atg7, p62, and LC3B-II in the rectus femoris muscle. Conclusions LFES alleviates immobilization-evoked disuse muscle atrophy possibly by inhibiting autophagy in the skeletal muscle of rabbits.

Copyright of Journal of Clinical Nursing in Practice is the property of Journal of Clinical Nursing in Practice (Editorial Board, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press) 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.)

Introduction: The aim of the study was to explore the effects of low-frequency electrical stimulation (LFES) in preventing urinary retention after radical hysterectomy (RH) in women with cervical cancer. Methods: Seven electronic bibliographic databases were searched from inception to December 25, 2021. The mean difference (MD) or risk ratio (RR) with its corresponding 95% CI was selected as effect size. The meta-analysis of all data was conducted using RevMan 5.4 and the evidence was summarized according to GRADE (the grading of recommendation, assessment, development, and evaluation). Results: Twelve randomized control trials consisting of 1,033 women with cervical cancer who had undergone RH were included. Compared with women in the control group, women receiving LFES had improved therapeutic effect (RR = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.16–0.29) and reduced residual urine volume (MD = −32.27, 95% CI: −34.10 to −30.43) and catheter retention time (MD = −4.46, 95% CI: −5.17 to −3.76) following treatment. Muscle strength scores of pelvic floor type I and type II muscle fibers in the LFES group were also higher than in the control group (MD = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.91–1.24). Conclusion: LFES may be an effective auxiliary treatment for women with cervical cancer after hysterectomy, which can help reduce the duration of indwelling urethral catheter and residual urine volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel antiepileptic drugs (AED) are now available. However, many epileptic patients still find the condition difficult to handle. Drug therapy does not work for about one-third of the cases and not all people who will benefit from surgery. The use of electric current as a treatment option has emerged since the late twentieth century. Inhibition of synapse activity is a way that lowfrequency stimulation (LFS) prevents epileptic activity. It will enhance the endocytosis of AMPA-type glutamate receptors and activate calcineurin, thereby leading to long-term depression (LTD). High-frequency stimulation (HFS) also contributes to the control of epilepsy by increasing the membrane permeability of neurons. Nonetheless, the detailed mechanisms responsible for these effects are still unknown. More research is required to fine-tune electrical stimulation parameters and yield better results in epilepsy patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The study aimed to investigate the effect of low-frequency electrical stimulation (LFES) on disuse muscle atrophy and its mechanism in a rabbit model of knee extension contracture.Methods: This study involved two experiments. In the time-point experiment, 24 rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups: Control 1 (Ctrl1 group), immobilization for 2 weeks (I-2 group), immobilization for 4 weeks (I-4 group), and immobilization for 6 weeks (I-6 group). In the intervention experiment, 24 rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups: Control 2 (Ctrl2 group), electrical stimulation (ESG group), natural recovery (NRG group), and electrical stimulation treatment (ESTG group). All intervention effects were assessed by evaluating the knee joint range of motion (ROM), cross-sectional area (CSA) of the rectus femoris muscle, and expression of autophagy-related proteins.Results: The time-point experiment showed that immobilization reduced the knee ROM, reduced the rectus femoris muscle CSA, and activated autophagy in skeletal muscle. The levels of five autophagy-related proteins [mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), phosphorylated mTOR (p-mTOR), autophagy-related protein 7 (Atg7), p62, and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3B-II (LC3B-II)] were significantly elevated in the skeletal muscle of the I-4 group. The intervention experiment further showed that LFES significantly improved the immobilization-induced reductions in ROM and CSA. Additionally, LFES resulted in a significant decrease in the protein expression of mTOR, p-mTOR, Atg7, p62, and LC3B-II in the rectus femoris muscle.Conclusions: LFES alleviates immobilization-evoked disuse muscle atrophy possibly by inhibiting autophagy in the skeletal muscle of rabbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-frequency electrical stimulation (LFES) of the brain is one of the promising methods for helping patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy. However, the mechanism of the antiepileptic effect of LFES is still unclear. We applied electrophysiological and pharmacological tools and mathematical modeling to investigate it. Using the 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) model of epileptiform activity in juvenile rat brain slices, we found that LFES increased the interval between ictal discharges (IDs) in the entorhinal cortex. The blockade of GABAA, GABAB, AMPA, or NMDA synaptic receptors strongly affected the characteristics of epileptiform discharges in slices. However, only under the blockade of GABAB receptors, LFES becomes entirely ineffective, indicating that the activation of GABAB receptors underlies the main LFES antiepileptic effect. Further experiments allowed us to suggest that LFES activates mostly presynaptic GABAB receptors, which decrease the probability of glutamate release. In line with this hypothesis is the following data: 1) LFES reduces the short-term synaptic depression of excitatory postsynaptic currents similar to the agonist of GABAB receptors SKF-97541; 2) the blockade of excitatory amino acid transporters diminishes the antiepileptic effect of LFES; 3) modeling of the effects of LFES on the probability of glutamate release with a previously proposed mathematical model of epileptiform activity Epileptor-2 also shows the increase of the interval between IDs. Our findings point out a crucial role of presynaptic GABAB receptors in the antiepileptic effect of LFES in the 4-AP model in juvenile rat brain slices.

Abstract Background To evaluate the clinical significance of low-frequency electrical stimulation in preventing urinary retention after radical hysterectomy. Methods A total of 91 women with stage IA2–IB2 cervical cancer, who were treated with radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy from January 2009 to December 2012, were enrolled into this study and were randomly divided into two groups: trail group (48 cases) and control group (43 cases). Traditional bladder function training and low-frequency electrical stimulation were conducted in the trail group, while patients in the control group were only treated by traditional bladder training. The general condition, rate of urinary retention, and muscle strength grades of pelvic floor muscle in the perioperative period were compared between these two groups. Results The incidence of postoperative urinary retention in the electrical stimulation group was 10.41%, significantly lower than that in the control group (44.18%), and the difference was statistically significant (P

Background: Low-frequency electrical stimulation (LFES) is an adjuvant method for heart failure (HF) patients with restrictions to start an exercise. However, the impact on molecular changes in circulating is unknown. We investigated the effects of 10 weeks of home-based LFES on plasma cytokines profile, redox biomarkers, metalloproteinases (MMPs) activity, and exercise performance in HF patients. Methods: Twenty-four HF patients (52.45 ± 9.15 years) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) (EF < 40%), were randomly assigned to a home-based LFES or sham protocol. Plasma cytokines profile was assessed through interleukins, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor levels. Oxidative stress was evaluated through ferric reducing antioxidant power, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, and inducible nitric oxide synthase. The MMPs activity were analyzed by zymography. Cardiorespiratory capacity and muscle strength were evaluated by cardiopulmonary test and isokinetic. Results: LFES was able to increase the active-MMP2 activity post compared to pre-training (0.057 to 0.163, p = 0.0001), while it decreased the active-MMP9 (0.135 to 0.093, p = 0.02). However, it did not elicit changes in cytokines, redox biomarkers, or exercise performance (p > 0.05). Conclusion: LFES protocol is a promising intervention to modulate MMPs activity in HFrEF patients, although with limited functional effects. These preliminary responses may help the muscle to adapt to future mechanical demands dynamically.

Effective seizure control remains challenging for about 30% of epilepsy patients who are resistant to present-day pharmacotherapy. Novel approaches that not only reduce the severity and frequency of seizures, but also have limited side effects are therefore desirable. Accordingly, various neuromodulation approaches such as cortical electrical stimulation have been implemented to reduce seizure burden; however, the underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. Given that the initiation and spread of epileptic seizures critically depend on cortical excitability, understanding the neuromodulatory effects of cortical electrical stimulation on cortical excitability levels is paramount. Based on observations that synchronization in the electrocorticogram closely tracks brain excitability level, the effects of low-frequency (1 Hz) intracranial brain stimulation on the levels of cortical phase synchronization before, during, and after 1 Hz electrical stimulation were assessed in twelve patients. Analysis of phase synchronization levels across three broad frequency bands (1–45 Hz, 55–95 Hz, and 105–195 Hz) revealed that in patients with stimulation sites in the neocortex, phase synchronization levels were significantly reduced within the 55–95 Hz and 105–195 Hz bands during post-stimulation intervals compared to baseline; this effect persisted for at least 30 min post-stimulation. Similar effects were observed when phase synchronization levels were examined in the classic frequency bands, whereby a significant reduction was found during the post-stimulation intervals in the alpha, beta, and gamma bands. The anatomical extent of these effects was then assessed. Analysis of the results from six patients with intracranial electrodes in both hemispheres indicated that reductions in phase synchronization in the 1–45 Hz and 55–95 Hz frequency ranges were more prominent in the stimulated hemisphere. Overall, these findings demonstrate that low-frequency electrical stimulation reduces phase synchronization and hence cortical excitability in the human brain. Low-frequency stimulation of the epileptic focus may therefore contribute to the prevention of impending epileptic seizures.

Low-frequency electrical stimulation (LFES) of the brain is one of the promising methods for helping patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy. However, the mechanism of the antiepileptic effect of LFES is still unclear. We applied electrophysiological and pharmacological tools and mathematical modeling to investigate it. Using the 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) model of epileptiform activity in juvenile rat brain slices, we found that LFES increased the interval between ictal discharges (IDs) in the entorhinal cortex. The blockade of GABA A , GABA B , AMPA, or NMDA synaptic receptors strongly affected the characteristics of epileptiform discharges in slices. However, only under the blockade of GABA B receptors, LFES becomes entirely ineffective, indicating that the activation of GABA B receptors underlies the main LFES antiepileptic effect. Further experiments allowed us to suggest that LFES activates mostly presynaptic GABA B receptors, which decrease the probability of glutamate release. In line with this hypothesis is the following data: 1) LFES reduces the short-term synaptic depression of excitatory postsynaptic currents similar to the agonist of GABA B receptors SKF-97541; 2) the blockade of excitatory amino acid transporters diminishes the antiepileptic effect of LFES; 3) modeling of the effects of LFES on the probability of glutamate release with a previously proposed mathematical model of epileptiform activity Epileptor-2 also shows the increase of the interval between IDs. Our findings point out a crucial role of presynaptic GABA B receptors in the antiepileptic effect of LFES in the 4-AP model in juvenile rat brain slices. • LFES increases the interval between ictal discharges in rat brain slices. • LFES becomes ineffective under the blockade of GABA B receptors. • LFES similar to GABA B receptor agonist decreases synaptic depression. • LFES reduces glutamate release by activation of presynaptic GABA B receptors. • Mathematical model reproduces the effect of LFES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The P300 is a major index used to evaluate improvements in brain function. Although a few studies have reported evaluating the effectiveness of manual acupuncture or electro-acupuncture by monitoring the P300, research in this field is not yet very active. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of periodic low-frequency electrical stimulation applied to BL62 and KI6 on brain activity by analyzing the P300. Method The study was conducted as a randomized double-blind test of 55 subjects in their 50s, including 26 males and 29 females. Each subject received 12 sessions of stimulation over a one-month period. In each session, low-frequency electrical stimulation at an average of 24 μA and 2 Hz was applied to the acupuncture points BL62 and KI6, and event-related potentials (ERPs) were measured before the first session and after the last session of the electrical stimulation. Results The results of a chi-square test indicated that the double-blind test was conducted correctly. Compared to the Sham group, all the subjects in the Real stimulation group showed a tendency toward a decreasing P300 latency and increasing P300 amplitude after all 12 sessions of stimulation. In the women, the amplitude significantly increased at Fz, Fcz, Cz, Cpz, and Pz. Conclusions With this experiment, the low-frequency electrical stimulation of two acupuncture points (BL62 and K16) was confirmed to have a positive influence on the prevention of natural cerebral aging. Trial registration This study was registered at the Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) of the National Research Institute of Health ( https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/search_result_st01_en.jsp? , Registration Number: KCT0001940). The date of registration was June 9, 2016.

During soccer matches, performance decrements have been reported that relate to both physical abilities and technical skills. To investigate the effects of low-frequency electrical stimulation LFES (VeinoplusSport®, Ad Rem Technology, France) administered during half-time recovery on performance alterations during the second half. Twenty-two highly trained young players undertook a soccer-match simulation (SAFT90). During half-time, they were randomly assigned to LFES group or Placebo group. Each half was split into 3 bouts of 12 minutes. Following each bout, maximal strike speed (MSS), sprint test (ST), maximal sprint accelerations (MA) and metabolic power (MP) were determined in both groups. Arterial (AF) and venous flows (VF) were measured at rest and at the end of half-time. LEFS group exhibited beneficial effects on performance compared to the Placebo group with a likely effect for MSS, ST, MA, and a possible effect for MP. AF and VF increased statistically more in LEFS group compared to Placebo group. The use of specific calf-pump LFES during half-time of a youth simulated soccer match attenuated the decrease in performance during the second half compared to Placebo group. This effect is most marked at the beginning of the second half with regards to explosive parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ischemic stroke causes a series of complex pathophysiological events in the brain. Electrical stimulation of the brain has been considered as a novel neuroprotection intervention to save the penumbra. However, the effect on the cells’ responsiveness and their ability to survive has yet to be established. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of low-frequency intracortical electrical stimulation (lf-ICES) applied to the ischemia-affected sensorimotor cortex immediately following ischemic stroke. Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were instrumented with an intracortical microelectrode array (IC MEA) and a cuff-electrode around the sciatic nerve. Photothrombosis intervention was performed within the sensorimotor cortex and the electrophysiological changes were assessed by analysis of the neural responses to stimulation of the sciatic nerve. Neuroprotection intervention consisted of eight 23 min lf-ICES blocks applied to the IC MEA during the initial 4 h following photothrombosis. Our results revealed that the area and magnitude of the sensorimotor cortex response significantly increased if ischemic stroke was allowed to progress uninterrupted, whereas this was not observed for the group of rats subjected to lf-ICES. Our findings indicate that low-frequency electrical stimulation is able to minimize hyperexcitability and may therefore be a candidate as neuroprotection intervention in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article assesses the potential of electrical simulation in treating rats suffering from acute cerebral ischemia. The study was performed through low-frequency electrical stimulation on rats, which was applied on the brains of rats in square-wave and triangular wave stimulations. Results of the study showed that low-frequency electrical stimulation can reduce occurrence of dead tissues in the brains of rats, treating acute cerebral ischemia.

Repetitive low-frequency electrical stimulation (LFS) induces pain inhibition in healthy volunteers and in animals, but it is unknown whether it has an analgesic effect in patients with headache. The aim of this study was to investigate if LFS could induce prolonged pain inhibition, called long-term depression (LTD), in patients with chronic tension-type headache (CTTH). Twenty CTTH patients and 20 healthy volunteers were exposed to 20 min LFS (1 Hz) to the forehead. LTD was measured as a decrease in pain response to electrical stimulation in a 1-h post-LFS period following LFS. The LFS induced a significant and stable inhibition of pain (LTD) both in patients with CTTH (post-LFS average decrease in pain rating: 19.6 ± 3.9%, all P < 0.005, Holm—Sidak) and in healthy controls (30.1 ± 5.0%, all P < 0.001, Holm—Sidak). During the LFS period, the pain ratings decreased consistently in both groups. In conclusion, a significant and stable pain inhibition (LTD) can be induced in CTTH patients by LFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to examine whether a single bout of percutaneous low-frequency electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) can attenuate postprandial hyperglycemia in human subjects. Ten obese and 4 pre-obese Japanese men participated in two experimental sessions; one involved 20 min of EMS just after a breakfast (EMS trial) and the other involved complete rest after a breakfast (Control trial). In each trial, blood samples were taken before and at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after the meal. Blood lactate concentration and respiratory gas exchange were measured during EMS and at complete rest after a meal in the EMS and Control trials, respectively. The results showed that the postprandial hyperglycemia was signiˆcantly attenuated in the EMS trial (Pº0.05). Also, the postprandial increase of blood insulin was signiˆcantly attenuated in the EMS trial(Pº0.05). However, blood triglyceride was not aŠected by EMS. In addition, blood lactate signiˆcantly increased (Pº0.05), and the respiratory quotient tended to elevate during EMS. These results demonstrate that EMS can be an eŠective method to attenuate postprandial hyperglycemia by enhancing glucose metabolism in contracted muscles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Medicina Sportiva Bohemica et Slovaca is the property of Ceska spolecnost telovychovneho lekarstvi 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 rapid recovery of gastrointestinal transit is critical for clinical recovery following laparoscopic procedures, including gynecological laparoscopies (GLs). Rehabilitation interventions post-surgery may provide significant prevention against early post-operative gastrointestinal motility disorders and maid aid in the acceleration of post-operative recovery in patients undergoing GLs. Among others, low-frequency electrical stimulation (LFES) has been demonstrated to pronouncedly mitigate the symptoms caused by gastrointestinal motility disorders; thus, this has attracted increasing attention over the past decade. The present study aimed to present an overview of the efficacy and application of LFES in gastrointestinal motility recovery following GL procedures., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © Wu et al.)

Objectives: Translingual neurostimulation (TLNS) with adjunct physical rehabilitation is used to treat balance and gait deficits in several chronic neurological conditions. The purpose of this review is to summarize and appraise the evidence currently available on the portable TLNS device and to assess its potential clinical application., Materials and Methods: In this narrative review, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched for primary research investigating the use of portable TLNS devices on any neurologic condition. Data were extracted, reviewed, and appraised with respect to study design, conduct, and reporting., Results: Five randomized controlled trials (RCTs), three quasi-experimental trials, and seven case reports/series were found. Most studies demonstrated improvements in balance and gait deficits secondary to traumatic brain injury and multiple sclerosis, but evidence is also present to a lesser degree for stroke and balance disorder patients. In these studies, the feasibility and safety of TLNS have been convincingly demonstrated. Functional magnetic resonance studies have also suggested a plausible neuroplastic therapeutic mechanism. However, the efficacy of TLNS remains unclear due to bias and confounding within studies, and heterogeneity of results between studies., Conclusions: TLNS is a promising treatment modality for various chronic neurological conditions that are often refractory to conventional therapy. However, TLNS technology remains largely investigational as high-quality RCTs are still required to elucidate efficacy, optimal dosages, necessary treatment durations, and treatment durability. Further research to develop an appropriate control group is needed for scientifically valid comparisons of TLNS., (© 2020 International Neuromodulation Society.)

Objectives: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) provides relief for patients suffering from chronic neuropathic pain although its mechanism may not be as dependent on electrical interference as classically considered. Recent evidence has been growing regarding molecular changes that are induced by SCS as being a key player in reversing the pain process. Here, we observed the effect of SCS on altering protein expression in spinal cord tissue using a proteomic analysis approach., Methods: A microlead was epidurally implanted following induction of an animal neuropathic pain model. After the model was established, stimulation was applied for 72 hours continuously followed by tissue collection and proteomic analysis via tandem mass spectroscopy. Identified proteins were run through online data bases for protein identification and classification of biological processes., Results: A significant improvement in mechanical sensitivity was observed following 48 hours of SCS therapy. Proteomic analysis identified 5840 proteins, of which 155 were significantly affected by SCS. Gene ontology data bases indicated that a significant number of proteins were associated to stress response, oxidation/reduction, or extracellular matrix pathways. Additionally, many of the proteins identified also play a role in neuron-glial interactions and are involved in nociception., Conclusions: The development of an injury unbalances the proteome of the local neural tissue, neurons, and glial cells, and shifts the proteomic profile to a pain producing state. This study demonstrates the reversal of the injury-induced proteomic state by applying conventional SCS therapy. Additional studies looking at variations in electrical parameters are needed to optimize SCS., (© 2020 International Neuromodulation Society.)

Background: To evaluate the clinical significance of low-frequency electrical stimulation in preventing urinary retention after radical hysterectomy. Methods: A total of 91 women with stage IA2–IB2 cervical cancer, who were treated with radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy from January 2009 to December 2012, were enrolled into this study and were randomly divided into two groups: trail group (48 cases) and control group (43 cases). Traditional bladder function training and low-frequency electrical stimulation were conducted in the trail group, while patients in the control group were only treated by traditional bladder training. The general condition, rate of urinary retention, and muscle strength grades of pelvic floor muscle in the perioperative period were compared between these two groups. Results: The incidence of postoperative urinary retention in the electrical stimulation group was 10.41%, significantly lower than that in the control group (44.18%), and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). The duration of postoperative fever and use of antibiotics were almost the same between these two groups. Eleven days after surgery, the difference in grades of the pelvic floor muscle between these two groups was not statistically significant. However, 14 days after the operation, grades of the pelvic floor muscle were significantly higher in the trail group than in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). In addition, although there was no significant difference between the two groups with different parameters (P = 0.782), the incidence of urinary retention was lower in the endorphins analgesia program group than in the neuromuscular repair program group (9.09% < 11.54%). Conclusion: Low-frequency electrical stimulation is more effective than conventional intervention in preventing urinary retention after radical hysterectomy. It also intensifies the recovery of pelvic muscle strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the correlation between interleukin-1 (IL-1) and epilepsy in rats when treated with low-frequency electrical stimulation via the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway. Twenty-four SD rats were elected for this study, among which six rats were assigned as the normal group. And 16 rat models with epilepsy were successfully established and assigned into the model group, the ES group and the ES + IL-8 group, with each group comprising of six rats. The seizure frequency and duration was recorded. Electroencephalogram (EEG) power was detected at α1, α2, β, θ, and δ. The mRNA expressions of IL-1β and IL-1R1 were detected using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and the protein expressions of RhoA, ROCK I and ROCK II were detected by western blotting. In comparison with the model group, the seizure frequency duration, the power of δ, θ, α1, α2, and β, the mRNA and protein expressions of IL-1β and IL-1R1, the expressions of RhoA and ROCK I proteins, and the ratio of RhoA protein between membrane and cytosol decreased in the ES group, while the expression of ROCK II increased (all P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in these indexes between the ES + IL-8 group and the model group (all P > 0.05). These findings signified that IL-1 might inhibit the efficacy of low-frequency ES for epilepsy via the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway, which may provide a theoretical basis for clinical treatment of epilepsy., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The article discusses a study on the effects of cervical low-frequency electrical stimulation in a rat model of ischemic stroke. The use of low-frequency electrical stimulation in the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia is tackled. The rats under the study underwent low-frequency stimulation with various densities and waveforms. No significant effects of electrical stimulation on body mass, liver, kidney function or mortality rate were found. There was also no significant adverse reaction found.