Encoder-Controlled Functional Electrical Stimulator for Bilateral Wrist Activities-Design and Evaluation.

Upper limb impairment following stroke is often characterized by limited voluntary control in the affected arm. In addition, significant motor coordination problems occur on the unaffected arm due to avoidance of performing bilateral symmetrical activities. Rehabilitation strategies should, therefore, not only aim at improving voluntary control on the affected arm, but also contribute to synchronizing activity from both upper limbs.

Transcranial direct current stimulation: A review of electrode characteristics and materials.

Electrode characteristics are crucial in transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) since electrode design and placement determine the cortical area being modulated, current density and spatial resolution of stimulation. Early research on tDCS sought to determine optimal parameters for stimulation by specifying maximum current, duration and sizes of electrodes. Further research focused on determining efficient ways to deliver stimulation to targeted regions on the cortex with minimal discomfort to the user by altering electrode size, placement, shape and material.

A review of transcranial electrical stimulation methods in stroke rehabilitation.

Transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) uses direct or alternating current to non-invasively stimulate the brain. Neuronal activity in the brain is modulated by the electrical field according to the polarity of the current being applied. TES includes transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), transcranial random noise stimulation, and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS).

Reducing the sensation of electrical stimulation with dry electrodes by using an array of constant current sources.

Hydrogel electrodes are commonly used for functional and other electrical stimulation applications since the hydrogel layer has been shown to considerably reduce the perception of stimulation compared to dry electrodes. However, these hydrogel electrodes must be changed regularly as they dry out or become contaminated with skin cells and sweat products, thus losing their adhesiveness and resistive properties. Dry electrodes are longer lasting but are more uncomfortable due to unequal current distribution (current hogging).

Motor recovery following olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation in rats with spinal cord injury.

Background: Olfactory ensheathing cells (OEC) are considered to be the most suitable cells for transplantation therapy in the central nervous system (CNS) because of their unique ability to help axonal regrowth and remyelination in the CNS. However, there are conflicting reports about the success rates with OEC.

Aim: This study was undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic effect of OEC in rat models using different cell dosages.

Calcium citrate for vulvar vestibulitis. A case report.

A woman had suffered from vulvar vestibulitis (vulvodynia) for four years. Pain from the disorder had disrupted her ability to function at work and home as well as sexually. An initial full range of treatments, including multiple operations, had produced no relief.

Toward an optimal "antiplatelet" dose of aspirin: Preliminary observations.

It remains unclear which dose of aspirin (ASA) confers the optimal antiplatelet effect. This study focuses on long-term responses to different ASA doses by selected normal subjects. Their baseline platelet aggregabilities exemplified both the average values and the extremes of hyper-and hypoaggregability.

Detection characteristics of a commercially available sulfite detection test (SULFITEST): problems with decreased sensitivity and false negative reactions.

Recently, a product (SULFITEST; Center Laboratories) has become available for detecting the presence of sulfiting agents in foods. Testing with SULFITEST by the indirect method (ie, holding the test strip above the food product) or the direct method (ie, touching the test strip directly on the food) was associated with false negative results in five out of nine acidic sulfite-containing foods. Quantitative studies also confirmed that low pH conditions and/or the presence of ascorbic acid caused SULFITEST results by the direct method to significantly underestimate known concentrations of sulfites.

Comparison of total parenteral nutrition with 25 per cent and 45 per cent branched chain amino acids in stressed patients.

Administration of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) solutions high in branched chain amino acids (BCAA) is thought to improve metabolic support during stress. This prospective, randomized, double blind study compared 45 per cent BCAA with 25 per cent BCAA in 12 patients. Seven patients had multiple trauma; two, gastrointestinal surgery; one, pancreatitis; and two, cirrhosis.

Calmodulin activity in corticosteroid-induced osteopenia.

A reproducible high-pressure liquid chromatography assay of calmodulin, a multifunctional calcium-dependent modulating protein, was developed for cartilage and bone by using cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity as the basis for standard curve determination. Calmodulin activity was then measured in rabbits that were made osteopenic by prednisolone injection in an effort to characterize in vivo cellular events. A significant rise in bone calmodulin levels was noted when this data was correlated with osteocyte and osteoblast content by quantitative histomorphometry.

Platelet model for halothane-induced effects on nucleotide metabolism applied to malignant hyperthermia.

A relatively non-invasive screening technique using venous blood analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed to assess the effects of halothane on platelet nucleotide metabolism. Platelets were selected for study because of their contractile characteristics and many metabolic similarities to voluntary muscle. Platelets of 22 patients who previously had a documented clinical episode of malignant hyperthermia demonstrated a significant change in their nucleotide profile due to halothane exposure compared to normal subjects and 10 patients with musculo-skeletal and metabolic disorders.

Current concepts of malignant hyperthermia.

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a chemically induced, genetic myopathy characterized by metabolic and respiratory acidosis, arrhythmias, hyperpyrexia, and muscular rigidity usually occurring during or within 24 hours postanesthesia. It is initiated by some anesthetic drugs, muscle relaxants, and possibly by catecholamines produced by stress. The incidence of the disease is 1:15,000 in populations who have received a general anesthetic.

The effects of perfusion on an amputated extremity.

The amputated hindquarters of adult female rats were infused with solutions of lactated Ringer's, Collins hypertonic renal perfusate, and dextran-dextrose on a washout and continuous basis. The perfusate was analyzed for energy compounds and breakdown products and the muscle tissue examined histologically. Intermittent perfusion or injection under pressure led to marked edema in a 4-hour period and was abandoned in favor of a system that perfused the part at 120 to 150 cm H2O.

Decreased insulin binding and degradation associated with depressed intracellular ATP content.

The effect of metabolic inhibitors, 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) and NaF, on insulin binding and degradation has been studied in cultured Buffalo rat liver (BRL) cells. In control studies, 1.8 fmol of 125I-insulin binds to 1.

Dantrolene sodium in the management of patients at risk from malignant hyperthermia.

Malignant hyperthermia is a dominantly inherited, usually subclinical, disease that occurs in individuals who have an underlying muscular disorder and connotes the gravest possible consequences. When it occurs, it is usually during the use of muscle relaxants in anesthesia and potent anesthetic agents such as halothane. Patients at risk must be identified through careful history and screening procedures; however, a patient susceptible to this condition may have had general anesthesia in the past without complications.

Biochemical abnormalities in workers exposed to molybdenum dust.

Exposure to molybdenum in dust was measured in a molybdenite roasting plant. This exposure was accompanied by large elevations of serum ceruloplasmin and smaller increases in mean serum uric acid levels in the workers. Absorption of molybdenum from the dust was demonstrated by increases in plasma and urinary molybdenum levels.