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Electrical Stimulation (electrical + stimulation)
Kinds of Electrical Stimulation Selected AbstractsElectrical Stimulation of the Hippocampal Epileptic Foci for Seizure Control: A Double-Blind, Long-Term Follow-Up StudyEPILEPSIA, Issue 10 2007Ana Luisa Velasco Summary:,Purpose: Our aim was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of electrical stimulation of the hippocampus in a long-term follow-up study, as well as its impact on memory performance in the treatment of patients with refractory mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Methods: Nine patients were included. All had refractory partial complex seizures, some with secondary generalizations. All patients had a 3-month-baseline-seizure count, after which they underwent bilateral hippocampal diagnostic electrode implantation to establish focus laterality and location. Three patients had bilateral, and six, unilateral foci. Diagnostic electrodes were explanted and definitive Medtronic electrodes were implanted directed into the hippocampal foci. Position was confirmed with MRI and afterwards, the deep brain stimulation system internalized. Patients signed the informed consent approved by the Hospital's Ethics Committee and began a double-blind stimulation protocol. Patients attended a medical appointment every 3 months for seizure diary collection, deep brain stimulation system checkup, and neuropsychological testing. Results: Follow-up ranged from 18 months to 7 years. Patients were divided in two groups: five had normal MRIs and seizure reduction of >95%, while four had hippocampal sclerosis and seizure reduction of 50,70%. No patient had neuropsychological deterioration, nor did any patient show side effects. Three patients were explanted after 2 years due to skin erosion in the trajectory of the system. Conclusions: Electrical stimulation of the hippocampus provides a nonlesional method that improves seizure outcome without memory deterioration in patients with hippocampal epileptic foci. [source] Selective Long-Term Electrical Stimulation of Fast Glycolytic Fibres Increases Capillary Supply but not Oxidative Enzyme Activity in Rat Skeletal MusclesEXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 5 2000S. Egginton Glycolytic fibres in rat extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and tibialis anterior (TA) were selectively activated, as demonstrated by glycogen depletion, by indirect electrical stimulation via electrodes implanted in the vicinity of the peroneal nerve using high frequency (40 Hz) trains (250 ms at 1 Hz) and low voltage (threshold of palpable contractions). This regime was applied 10 times per day, each bout being of 15 min duration with 60 min recovery, for 2 weeks. Cryostat sections of muscles were stained for alkaline phosphatase to depict capillaries, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) to demonstrate oxidative fibres, and periodic acid-Schiff reagent (PAS) to verify glycogen depletion. Specific activity of hexokinase (HK), 6-phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase, glycogen phosphorylase and cytochrome c oxidase (COX) were estimated separately in homogenates of the EDL and the predominantly glycolytic cortex and oxidative core of the TA. Stimulation increased the activity of HK but not that of oxidative enzymes in fast muscles. Comparison of changes in oxidative capacity and capillary supply showed a dissociation in the predominantly glycolytic TA cortex. Here, COX was 3.9 ± 0.68 ,M min-1 (g wet wt)-1 in stimulated muscles compared with 3.7 ± 0.52 ,M min-1 (g wet wt)-1 in contralateral muscles (difference not significant), while the percentage of oxidative fibres (those positively stained for SDH) was also similar in stimulated (14.0 ± 2.8%) and contralateral (12.2 ± 1.9%) muscles. In contrast, the capillary to fibre ratio was significantly increased (2.01 ± 0.12 vs. 1.55 ± 0.04, P < 0.01). We conclude that capillary supply can be increased independently of oxidative capacity, possibly due to haemodynamic factors, and serves metabolite removal to a greater extent than substrate delivery. [source] Electrical Stimulation of Sphenopalatine Ganglion for Acute Treatment of Cluster HeadachesHEADACHE, Issue 7 2010Mehdi Ansarinia MD (Headache 2010;50:1164-1174) Introduction., Cluster headaches (CH) are primary headaches marked by repeated short-lasting attacks of severe, unilateral head pain and associated autonomic symptoms. Despite aggressive management with medications, oxygen therapy, nerve blocks, as well as various lesioning and neurostimulation therapies, a number of patients are incapacitated and suffering. The sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of CH and has been a target for blocks, lesioning, and other surgical approaches. For this reason, it was selected as a target for an acute neurostimulation study. Methods., Six patients with refractory chronic CH were treated with short-term (up to 1 hour) electrical stimulation of the SPG during an acute CH. Headaches were spontaneously present at the time of stimulation or were triggered with agents known to trigger clusters headache in each patient. A standard percutaneous infrazygomatic approach was used to place a needle at the ipsilateral SPG in the pterygopalatine fossa under fluoroscopic guidance. Electrical stimulation was performed using a temporary stimulating electrode. Stimulation was performed at various settings during maximal headache intensity. Results., Five patients had CH during the initial evaluation. Three returned 3 months later for a second evaluation. There were 18 acute and distinct CH attacks with clinically maximal visual analog scale (VAS) intensity of 8 (out of 10) and above. SPG stimulation resulted in complete resolution of the headache in 11 attacks, partial resolution (>50% VAS reduction) in 3, and minimal to no relief in 4 attacks. Associated autonomic features of CH were resolved in each responder. Pain relief was noted within several minutes of stimulation. Conclusion., Sphenopalatine ganglion stimulation can be effective in relieving acute severe CH pain and associated autonomic features. Chronic long-term outcome studies are needed to determine the utility of SPG stimulation for management and prevention of CH. [source] Cortical and subcortical correlates of functional electrical stimulation of wrist extensor and flexor muscles revealed by fMRIHUMAN BRAIN MAPPING, Issue 3 2009Armin Blickenstorfer Abstract The main scope of this study was to test the feasibility and reliability of FES in a MR-environment. Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) is used in the rehabilitation therapy of patients after stroke or spinal cord injury to improve their motor abilities. Its principle lies in applying repeated electrical stimulation to the relevant nerves or muscles for eliciting either isometric or concentric contractions of the treated muscles. In this study we report cerebral activation patterns in healthy subjects undergoing fMRI during FES stimulation. We stimulated the wrist extensor and flexor muscles in an alternating pattern while BOLD-fMRI was recorded. We used both block and event-related designs to demonstrate their feasibility for recording FES activation in the same cortical and subcortical areas. Six out of fifteen subjects repeated the experiment three times within the same session to control intraindividual variance. In both block and event-related design, the analysis revealed an activation pattern comprising the contralateral primary motor cortex, primary somatosensory cortex and premotor cortex; the ipsilateral cerebellum; bilateral secondary somatosensory cortex, the supplementary motor area and anterior cingulate cortex. Within the same subjects we observed a consistent replication of the activation pattern shown in overlapping regions centered on the peak of activation. Similar time course within these regions were demonstrated in the event-related design. Thus, both techniques demonstrate reliable activation of the sensorimotor network and eventually can be used for assessing plastic changes associated with FES rehabilitation treatment. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] A New Simple Neurophysiological Method (Through Conventional Electrical Stimulation) To Assess Function Of Tactile Receptors And Related Nerve FibersJOURNAL OF THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, Issue 1 2001L Padua Sometimes standard sensory nerve conduction studies show normal results in patients with definite symptoms of sensory polyneuropathy. This is usually explained because standard neurophysiological tests evaluate only large myelinated fibers and do not assess the slowest conducting fibers, more distal segments of the nerves and tactile receptors. Tactile stimulation is a test, not routinely available, that assesses the function of tactile receptors and conduction of fibers that are depolarized by these receptors. During conventional sensory nerve conduction studies (in patients and healthy subjects) through surface electrodes, where we slowly increased the intensity of the stimulus, we occasionally observed a sensory response characterized by a particular morphology with two peaks. After several experiments (performed in the neurophysiological laboratories of Catholic University of Rome and of University of Uppsala) we argued that the double component of the response is the expression of the stimulation of tactile receptors (and depolarization of their related fibers). Therefore an electrical stimulation through conventional EMG equipment allows us to assess function of tactile receptors (and related nerve fibers). This observation may have important diagnostic application in clinical practice to evaluate suspected polyneuropathies negative to neurophysiological conduction studies. [source] Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation As a Possible Means to Prevent Muscle Tissue Wasting in Artificially Ventilated and Sedated Patients in the Intensive Care Unit: A Pilot StudyNEUROMODULATION, Issue 4 2010Raf L.J. Meesen PhD Objective:, The aim of this study was to explore if electrical stimulation could prevent muscle atrophy. Material and Methods:, Patients were hospitalized for postoperative coronary artery bypass graftin, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ventilatory failure, or acute cerebro-vascular accident, and were divided into an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group underwent daily 30 minute training with an intermittent neuromuscular electrical stimulation applied to the right quadriceps muscle. Heart rate, respiration rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and oxygen saturation were monitored before, during, and after electrical stimulation. Circumference of both thighs was measured. Results:, The intervention resulted in a significant reduction of muscle atrophy in the stimulated as compared with the non-stimulated limb (p < 0.05), without making any impact on cardiovascular, respiratory and, hemodynamic characteristics. Conclusions:, Muscle atrophy is prevented by intermittent neuromuscular electrical stimulation while this intervention showed no obvious impact on the cardio-respiratory conditions of the patients. [source] Functional Electrical Stimulation-Supported Interval Training Following Sensorimotor-Complete Spinal Cord Injury: A Case SeriesNEUROMODULATION, Issue 3 2009Jack Crosbie PhD ABSTRACT Objective.,To investigate the effect of interval training supported by Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) on ambulation ability in complete spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods.,We trained four men with sensorimotor-complete (ASIA A) SCI, who achieved gait through FES of the quadriceps femoris, gluteus maximus, and common peroneal nerve on each side on a motorized treadmill. Training involved progressive interval walking exercise, consisting of periods of activity followed by equal periods of rest, repeated until muscle fatigue. We used time to muscle fatigue during continuous treadmill ambulation as the primary outcome measure. We also recorded the patterns of incremental stimulation for all training and testing sessions. Results.,All subjects increased their ambulation capacity; however, the responses varied from subject to subject. Some subjects increased the total distance walked by as much as 300% with progressive improvement over the entire training period; however, others made more modest gains and appeared to reach a performance plateau within a few training sessions. Conclusions.,FES-supported interval training offers a useful and effective strategy for strength-endurance improvement in the large muscle groups of the lower limb in motor-complete SCI. We believe that this training protocol offers a viable alternative to that of continuous walking training in people with SCI using FES to aid ambulation. [source] A Review of Electrical Stimulation to Treat Motility Dysfunctions in the Digestive Tract: Effects and Stimulation PatternsNEUROMODULATION, Issue 2 2007Cristian Sevcencu PhD ABSTRACT Electrical stimulation of the digestive organs may become a valuable alternative to pharmaceutical and surgical approaches to the treatment of gastrointestinal motor dysfunctions. For more than 40 years, encouraging results with electrical stimulation to activate motility in gastrointestinal organs have been published. The most significant achievements with this work have been either stimulation to attenuate the symptoms of gastroparesis or stimulation to modify the feeding behavior in obese patients. In addition, animal studies have investigated the different stimulation systems and methods to activate or inhibit transit in the small and large intestines. This article presents a review of the published literature on electrical stimulation of the stomach and intestines. [source] Evolution of Brain Impedance in Dystonic Patients Treated by GPi Electrical StimulationNEUROMODULATION, Issue 2 2004Simone Hemm BME. Abstract Deep Brain Stimulation is an effective treatment of generalized dystonia. Optimal stimulation parameters vary between patients. This article investigates the influence of electrical brain impedance and delivered current on the brain response to stimulation. Twenty-four patients were bilaterally stimulated in the globus pallidus internus through two implanted four-contact electrodes. The variation of brain impedance and current measurements was correlated with stimulation parameters, time course, and clinical outcome. When a contact was activated, a statistically significant and reversible decrease of brain impedance was found. Impedance and current values and their variations with time significantly differed between patients. The absolute impedance did not significantly correlate with the final outcome. We conclude that the reversible decrease of impedance reflects an adaptive long-term mechanism, which could be due to a plasticity phenomenon, but has no prognostic value. Impedance and current measurements give new complementary information for parameter adjustment and trouble shooting and should therefore be included in all patients' follow-up. [source] Cerebral Palsy: Results of Surgical Releases Augmented with Electrical Stimulation: A Case StudyNEUROMODULATION, Issue 2 2002James J. McCarthy MD Abstract The purpose of this case study was to evaluate a patient with diplegic cerebral palsy who underwent soft tissue lengthening augmented with intramuscular electrical stimulation. This is a prospective case study, pre- and post-test design. The patient underwent soft tissue lengthenings of the lower extremities, augmented with placement of intramuscular neuromuscular electrodes. Baseline, 4-, 8-, and 12-month follow-up data were obtained which included range of motion, manual muscle strength testing, motion analysis, oxygen consumption, Gross Motor Function Measure, and Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory. All measured parameters, except knee extensor strength, improved during the postoperative period (baseline to 4-month follow-up) and continued to improve during the rehabilitative period (4,12 month follow-up), despite no formal therapy or home exercise program during this period. We conclude that surgical releases augmented with electrical stimulation resulted in a satisfactory clinic outcome, and may offer a new approach to the treatment of patients with cerebral palsy. [source] Real Time Foot Drop Correction using Machine Learning and Natural SensorsNEUROMODULATION, Issue 1 2002Morten Hansen MScEE Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate and test a real time system implemented for Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) assisted foot drop correction, deriving control timing from signals recorded from a peripheral sensory nerve. A hemiplegic participant was attached with a cuff electrode on the sural nerve connected to a telemetry controlled implanted neural amplifier, and a stimulation cuff electrode on the peroneal nerve connected to an implanted stimulator. An input domain was derived from the recorded electroneurogram (ENG) and fed to a detection algorithm based on an Adaptive Logic Network (ALN) for controlling the timing of the peroneal stimulation. The detection system was tested in real time over a period of 392 days, covering a variety of walking tasks. The detection system's ability to detect heel strike and foot lift without errors and to detect the difference between walking and standing proved to be stable for the duration of the study. We conclude that using ALNs and natural sensors provide a stable and accurate control signal for FES foot drop correction. [source] Neuromuscular electrical stimulation and the treatment of lower urinary tract dysfunction in multiple sclerosis, A double blind, placebo controlled, randomised clinical trial,,NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Issue 3 2008D. McClurg Abstract Aims Lower urinary tract dysfunction affects up to 75% of the multiple sclerosis population. Results from our recent Pilot Study (McClurg et al., 2006) indicated that a combined programme of pelvic floor muscle training, electromyography biofeedback and neuromuscular electrical stimulation modalities may alleviate some of the distressing symptoms within this population. This clinical trial aimed to evaluate further the efficacy of these interventions and to establish the benefit of neuromuscular electrical stimulation above and beyond that of EMG biofeedback and pelvic floor muscle training. Methods 74 multiple sclerosis patients who presented with lower urinary tract dysfunction were randomly allocated to one of two groups - Group 1 received Pelvic Floor Muscle Training, Electromyography Biofeedback and Placebo Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (n=37), and Group 2 which received Pelvic Floor Muscle Training, Electromyography Biofeedback, and Active Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (n=37). Treatment was for nine weeks with outcome measures recorded at weeks 0, 9, 16 and 24. The Primary Outcome Measure was the number of leakage episodes. Within group analysis was by Paired Samples t-test. Group differences were analysed using Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance and Post-hoc tests were used to determine the significance of differences between Groups at each time point. Results The mean number of incontinence episodes were reduced in Group 2 by 85% (p=0.001) whereas in Group 1 a lesser reduction of 47% (p=0.001) was observed. However, there was a statistically superior benefit in Group 2 when compared to Group 1 (p=0.0028). This superior benefit was evident in all other outcome measures. Conclusions The addition of Active Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation to a programme of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training and Electromyography Biofeedback should be considered as a first-line option in alleviating some of the symptoms of lower urinary tract dysfunction associated with multiple sclerosis. Neurourol. Urodynam. 27:231,237, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Effects of Gonadotropins on In Vitro Maturation and of Electrical Stimulation on Parthenogenesis of Canine OocytesREPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS, Issue 1 2010BS Kim Contents The objective of this study was to determine the effects of gonadotropins on in vitro maturation (IVM) and electrical stimulation on the parthenogenesis of canine oocytes. In experiment I, cumulus oocyte complexes were collected from ovaries at a random phase of the oestrus cycle and cultured on maturation medium treated with hCG or eCG for 48 or 72 h. There were no significant differences in the effects on the metaphase II (MII) rate between the hCG and eCG treatment groups over 48 h (5.4% vs 5.5%). The MII rate in the co-treatment group of hCG and eCG for 48 h was higher than in each hormone treated group (15.5%, p < 0.05). In experiment 2, the parthenogenetic effect on oocyte development, at various electrical field strengths (1.0, 1.5, 2.0 kV/cm DC) for 60 or 80 ,s with a single DC pulse after IVM on the co-treatment of hCG and eCG, was examined. The rate of pronuclear formation (37.1%) in electrical activation at 1.5 kV/60 ,s without cytochalasin B (CB) was higher than that of oocytes activated in the other groups (p < 0.05). However, we did not observe the cleavage stages. Also, CB did not influence parthenogenesis of canine oocytes. The results showed that the pronucleus formation rate, indicative of the parthenogenesis start point, could be increased by electrical stimulation. Therefore, these results can provide important data for the parthenogenesis of canine oocytes and suggest the probability of parthenogenesis in canines. [source] Parthenogenetic Induction of Canine Oocytes by Electrical Stimulation and Ca-EDTAREPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS, Issue 5 2009SR Lee Contents In this study, we investigated parthenogenetic induction of canine oocytes by electrical stimulation following Ca-EDTA treatment. Oocyte maturation, parthenogenetic development, and cleavage rate in canine after various electrical stimulations (1.5, 1.8, 2.1 kV/cm) for 50 ,s with single DC pulse following 1 mM Ca-EDTA treatment were investigated. In oocyte activated electrically at the voltage of 1.5 kV/cm after 1 mM Ca-EDTA treatment, the rate of pronucleus and two-cell was 4.1% and 2.7%, respectively. Although electrical stimulation could parthenogenetically induce immature oocyte to cleavage stage, degeneration rate in all experimental groups was more than 60%. This means that electrical stimulation after Ca-EDTA treatment could cause canine oocytes to be degenerated. However, two-cell in canine oocyte by parthenogenesis was for the first time induced. Therefore, we suggested that electrical stimulation for canine oocytes could induce parthenogenetically early embryonic cleavage. This result can be used as a basic data for parthenogenesis study in canine. Also, to perform more developed embryonic development, further study to parthenogenesis in canine need to be developed. [source] ORIGINAL RESEARCH,WOMEN'S SEXUAL HEALTH: Biofeedback, Electrical Stimulation, Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises, and Vaginal Cones: A Combined Rehabilitative Approach for Sexual Dysfunction Associated with Urinary IncontinenceTHE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, Issue 6 2009Massimo Rivalta MD ABSTRACT Introduction., Urinary incontinence (UI) is often associated with sexual dysfunction. We present our preliminary experience with a combined rehabilitative approach consisting of biofeedback, functional electrical stimulation, pelvic floor muscle exercises, and vaginal cones. Aim., The potential impact of such practice on UI and sexual function was analyzed in our case series and discussed. Main Outcome Measures and Methods., We evaluated three women affected by UI and sexual dysfunction. The patients underwent combined pelvic floor rehabilitation (PFR), kept voiding diaries, and filled out the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI questionnaire) before and after the completion of PFR. We evaluated each domain score, including desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Results., After the combined rehabilitation program, none of them had UI requiring pad use or referred urine leakage during sexual activity, including intercourse. Before PFR, FSFI score ranged from 16 to 21; after treatment, the FSFI score ranged from 22.1 to 29.3. There was an improvement in patients regarding desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Conclusions., A complete rehabilitation can provide a beneficial effect on sexual function. A larger trial, on a more extended female population, is currently in progress, in order to confirm our findings. The effectiveness of a complete PFR scheme, together with the lack of side effects, makes it a suitable approach to sexual dysfunction that is associated with UI. Rivalta M, Sighinolfi MC, De Stefani S, Micali S, Mofferdin A, Grande M, and Bianchi G. Biofeedback, electrical stimulation, pelvic floor muscle exercises, and vaginal cones: A combined rehabilitative approach for sexual dysfunction associated with urinary incontinence. J Sex Med 2009;6:1674,1677. [source] Functional Electrical Stimulation: A New Horizon For Quadriplegic PatientsANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 8 2000Claudia R. Gschwind No abstract is available for this article. [source] Welcome to the 10th Vienna International Workshop on Functional Electrical StimulationARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 8 2010Winfried Mayr PhD No abstract is available for this article. [source] Abstracts from the 10th Vienna International Workshop on Functional Electrical Stimulation and the 15th Annual Conference of the International FES SocietyARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 8 2010Article first published online: 4 AUG 2010 First page of article [source] Design of a Symmetry Controller for Cycling Induced by Electrical Stimulation: Preliminary Results on Post-Acute Stroke PatientsARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 8 2010Emilia Ambrosini Abstract This study deals with the design of a controller for cycling induced by functional electrical stimulation. The controller will be exploitable in the rehabilitation of hemiparetic patients who need to recover motor symmetry. It uses the pulse width as the control variable in the stimulation of the two legs in order to nullify the unbalance between the torques produced at the two crank arms. It was validated by means of isokinetic trials performed both by healthy subjects and stroke patients. The results showed that the controller was able to reach, and then maintain, a symmetrical pedaling. In the future, the controller will be validated on a larger number of stroke patients. [source] Botulinum Toxin, Physical and Occupational Therapy, and Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation to Treat Spastic Upper Limb of Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot StudyARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 3 2010Gerardo Rodríguez-Reyes Abstract Spasticity has been successfully managed with different treatment modalities or combinations. No information is available on the effectiveness or individual contribution of botulinum toxin type A (BTA) combined with physical and occupational therapy and neuromuscular electrical stimulation to treat spastic upper limb. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of such treatment and to inform sample-size calculations for a randomized controlled trial. BTA was injected into spastic upper limb muscles of 10 children. They received 10 sessions of physical and occupational therapy followed by 10 sessions of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the wrist extensors (antagonist muscles). Degree of spasticity using the Modified Ashworth scale, active range of motion, and manual function with the Jebsen hand test, were assessed. Meaningful improvement was observed in hand function posttreatment (P = 0.03). Median spasticity showed a reduction trend and median amplitude of wrist range of motion registered an increase; however, neither of these were significant (P > 0.05). There is evidence of a beneficial effect of the combined treatment. Adequate information has been obtained on main outcome-measurement variability for calculating sample size for a subsequent study to quantify the treatment effect precisely. [source] Clinical Practice of Functional Electrical Stimulation: From "Yesterday" to "Today"ARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 8 2008Milan R. DimitrijevicArticle first published online: 18 AUG 200 Abstract:, Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is an accepted treatment method for paresis or paralysis after spinal cord and head injury as well as stroke and other neurological upper motor neuron disorders. At the beginning, FES worked like an electrophysiological brace for the correction of drop foot of patients after a stroke. When analyzing early accomplishments, it becomes evident that FES was influenced rather by technological and biomedical engineering development than by contemporary knowledge on neurocontrol of movement in individuals with upper motor neuron paralysis. Nevertheless, with better understanding of pathophysiology of spasticity and neurocontrol of impaired movement, FES advanced from an electrophysiological brace to a treatment modality for the improvement of muscle control, neuroaugmentation of residual movements, and supportive procedure for "spontaneous recovery" of motor control. In the present article we shall illustrate barriers which delayed FES to be applied in clinical practice of neuron rehabilitation from "Yesterday" to "Today." We shall discuss the importance to apply FES early after the onset of neurological conditions to prevent disuse of noninjured portions of the CNS. Moreover, FES can play a significant role in the supporting processes of neuroplasticity in the subacute phase of upper motor neuron dysfunction. Therefore, the electrophysiological brace of "Yesterday" provides "Today" a correction of missing neuromuscular function. At the same time, it is an active external device for the correction of motor deficits interacting with the somatosensory-motor integration. Thus, "Yesterday" and "Today" of the same technological approach can be very different, thanks to a different understanding and assessment of "external" and "internal" components of human motor control. [source] Body Movement Induced by Electrical Stimulation of Toe Muscles During StandingARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 1 2008Xavier Tortolero Abstract:, The purpose of this study was to investigate whether artificially induced muscle contractions of toe muscles using functional electrical stimulation (FES) would cause center of pressure (COP) displacement and corresponding body acceleration. Ten able-bodied subjects were asked to stand still on force plates. The flexor digitorum brevis and the flexor hallucis brevis in both legs were simultaneously stimulated using a transcutaneous FES device. The muscles were stimulated 20 times at random intervals with four different stimulation intensities. We demonstrated that the toe muscle activity induced by electrical stimulation evoked COP displacement, which generated body acceleration. As expected, a larger stimulation induced a larger COP movement and acceleration. Therefore, we propose the use of FES-induced contractions of the toe muscles as a means to control balance during FES-assisted quiet standing. Spinal cord-injured and severe-stroke patients could benefit from this electrical stimulation technique for improving FES-assisted standing. [source] On the Occasion of the 9th Vienna International Workshop on Functional Electrical StimulationARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 8 2007Winfried Mayr PhD No abstract is available for this article. [source] Additional Contributions From the 8th Vienna International Workshop on Functional Electrical StimulationARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 6 2005Winfried Mayr PhD No abstract is available for this article. [source] The Spectrum of FES Applications Is Growing,Selected Topics from the Recent 8th Vienna International Workshop on Functional Electrical StimulationARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 3 2005Winfried Mayr PhD No abstract is available for this article. [source] On the Occasion of the 8th Vienna International Workshop on Functional Electrical StimulationARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 8 2004Winfried Mayr PhD Guest Editors No abstract is available for this article. [source] Contraction-induced changes in skeletal muscle Na+,K+ pump mRNA expression , importance of exercise intensity and Ca2+ -mediated signallingACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 4 2010N. B. Nordsborg Abstract Aim:, To investigate if exercise intensity and Ca2+ signalling regulate Na+,K+ pump mRNA expression in skeletal muscle. Methods:, The importance of exercise intensity was evaluated by having trained and untrained humans perform intense intermittent and prolonged exercise. The importance of Ca2+ signalling was investigated by electrical stimulation of rat soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles in combination with studies of cell cultures. Results:, Intermittent cycling exercise at ,85% of VO2peak increased (P < 0.05) ,1 and ,1 mRNA expression ,2-fold in untrained and trained subjects. In trained subjects, intermittent exercise at ,70% of VO2peak resulted in a less (P < 0.05) pronounced increase (,1.4-fold; P < 0.05) for ,1 and no change in ,1 mRNA. Prolonged low intensity exercise increased (P < 0.05) mRNA expression of ,1 ,3.0-fold and ,2 ,1.8-fold in untrained but not in trained subjects. Electrical stimulation of rat soleus, but not EDL, muscle increased (P < 0.05) ,1 mRNA expression, but not when combined with KN62 and cyclosporin A incubation. Ionomycin incubation of cultured primary rat skeletal muscle cells increased (P < 0.05) ,1 and reduced (P < 0.001) ,2 mRNA expression and these responses were abolished (P < 0.05) by co-incubation with cyclosporin A or KN62. Conclusion:, (1) Exercise-induced increases in Na+,K+ pump ,1 and ,1 mRNA expression in trained subjects are more pronounced after high- than after moderate- and low-intensity exercise. (2) Both prolonged low and short-duration high-intensity exercise increase ,1 mRNA expression in untrained subjects. (3) Ca2+i regulates ,1 mRNA expression in oxidative muscles via Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK) and calcineurin signalling pathways. [source] Electrical stimulation in cerebral palsy: are we asking clinically relevant questions?DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 11 2006Gad Alon No abstract is available for this article. [source] Electrical stimulation promotes peripheral axon regeneration by enhanced neuronal neurotrophin signalingDEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2007Arthur W. English Abstract Electrical stimulation of cut peripheral nerves at the time of their surgical repair results in an enhancement of axon regeneration. Regeneration of axons through nerve allografts was used to evaluate whether this effect is due to an augmentation of cell autonomous neurotrophin signaling in the axons or signaling from neurotrophins produced in the surrounding environment. In the thy-1-YFP-H mouse, a single 1 h application of electrical stimulation at the time of surgical repair of the cut common fibular nerve results in a significant increase in the proportion of YFP+ dorsal root ganglion neurons, which were immunoreactive for BDNF or trkB, as well as an increase in the length of regenerating axons through allografts from wild type litter mates, both 1 and 2 weeks later. Axon growth through allografts from neurotrophin-4/5 knockout mice or grafts made acellular by repeated cycles of freezing and thawing is normally very poor, but electrical stimulation results in a growth of axons through these grafts, which is similar to that observed through grafts from wild type mice after electrical stimulation. When cut nerves in NT-4/5 knockout mice were electrically stimulated, no enhancement of axon regeneration was found. Electrical stimulation thus produces a potent enhancement of the regeneration of axons in cut peripheral nerves, which is independent of neurotrophin production by cells in their surrounding environment but is dependent on stimulation of trkB and its ligands in the regenerating axons themselves. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 67: 158,172, 2007. [source] GABAergic modulation of primary gustatory afferent synaptic efficacyDEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2002Andrew A. Sharp Abstract Modulation of synaptic transmission at the primary sensory afferent synapse is well documented for the somatosensory and olfactory systems. The present study was undertaken to test whether GABA impacts on transmission of gustatory information at the primary afferent synapse. In goldfish, the vagal gustatory input terminates in a laminated structure, the vagal lobes, whose sensory layers are homologous to the mammalian nucleus of the solitary tract. We relied on immunoreactivity for the GABA-transporter, GAT-1, to determine the distribution of GABAergic synapses in the vagal lobe. Immunocytochemistry showed dense, punctate GAT-1 immunoreactivity coincident with the layers of termination of primary afferent fibers. The laminar nature and polarized dendritic structure of the vagal lobe make it amenable to an in vitro slice preparation to study early synaptic events in the transmission of gustatory input. Electrical stimulation of the gustatory nerves in vitro produces synaptic field potentials (fEPSPs) predominantly mediated by ionotropic glutamate receptors. Bath application of either the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol or the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen caused a nearly complete suppression of the primary fEPSP. Coapplication of the appropriate GABAA or GABAB receptor antagonist bicuculline or CGP-55845 significantly reversed the effects of the agonists. These data indicate that GABAergic terminals situated in proximity to primary gustatory afferent terminals can modulate primary afferent input via both GABAA and GABAB receptors. The mechanism of action of GABAB receptors suggests a presynaptic locus of action for that receptor. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 52: 133,143, 2002 [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||