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Influence of AC and DC electrical stimulation on wound healing in pigs: a biomechanical analysis.

To evaluate the effects of electrical stimulation on the mechanical properties of healing skin, 20 Hanford mini-pigs weighing 10-15 kg with trochanteric pressure ulcers were subjected to electrical stimulation. Examination of the biomechanical properties of the skin and changes in wound area and volume was done on previously wounded and healing pigskin subject to AC or DC electrical stimulation. The behavior of normal pigskin was compared to (1) denervated controls, (2) denervated AC-stimulated skin, and (3) denervated DC-stimulated skin. A denervated limb trochanteric pressure sore model developed in house permitted the use of a 6.5-mm percutaneous cancellous screw for wound formation and a 3-cm-diameter spring compression indentor to create reproducible and uniformly controlled grade 3 or higher tissue ulcers in the monoplegic hind limbs. Denervation was accomplished by right unilateral extradural rhizotomies from L2 to S1 nerve roots. Electrodes were placed 1 cm distal and proximal to the wound periphery, and wounds were stimulated 2 h/day, 5 days/week for 30 days. Dumbbell-shaped skin specimens with a length to width ratio of 3:1 were uniaxially loaded in tension until failure at an extension rate of 150 mm/min. The stiffness values for skin samples oriented parallel to the current flow were reduced by nearly half the values obtained for normal controls. Statistical differences (P < .05) were found for stress, Young modulus, and stiffness when compared to normal skin. Samples oriented in the perpendicular direction were comparable to normal skin (P = NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

[Rating scale and functional prognosis of Parkinson's disease].

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Motor functions of patients with Parkinson's disease are determined by its cardinal symptoms: akinesia, tremor, rigidity and disturbed righting reflexes. To evaluate degree of disability and rate of its progression in Parkinson disease, simple but reliable and reproducible rating scales are essential. Those that essentially fulfil such conditions are Hoehn and Yahr Scale, Schwab and England Scale, and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Levodopa, the major anti-parkinsonian agent, has greatly improved the motor functions of the Parkinson's disease patients and prolonged their life expectancy. Studies using the above mentioned scales compared the rate of disability progression and the motor functional prognosis between pre- and post-levodopa era, and always demonstrated the levodopa's benefits for the prognosis. Side effects of long administration of levodopa such as motor fluctuation, dyskinesia, wearing-off or on-off phenomenon, and psychosis, however, are disability factors to the patients' motor functions. Rating scales that can integrate the side effects to evaluate the functions will be required.

Disability Evaluation↗

Hip sonography--how reliable? Sector scanning versus linear scanning? Dynamic versus static examination?

In Europe, the use of ultrasonography has become a routine procedure for the detection of hip dislocations and dysplasias; clinical and historical data alone are not fully reliable. Under the right conditions, ultrasonographic examination of the hip can reliably detect hip joints in need of treatment. Furthermore, results are reproducible without the use of roentgenograms; thus the danger of "overtreatment" can be avoided. The use of sector scanners for examinations of hip joints leads to distortions in the geometry of the picture. As a result, the use of linear transducer is presently indispensable. Thanks to a reference level, static examinations of the hip joint provide us with the possibility of measuring and comparing individual hip joints. With dynamic examinations, we can quantify the data and assess hip stability. In fact, the static and dynamic approaches do not exclude but, rather, complement each other. The ultrasonographic method must be learned from experts. Given the above-mentioned conditions, all developmental abnormalities of the hip can be diagnosed in the first six weeks of life, and healthy hip joints can be clearly distinguished from those requiring follow-up examination. Based on observations on 8530 cases, hip joints of infants at least 4.5 months of age can be successfully treated in a conservative manner. Femoral head necroses have disappeared altogether and the need for later surgery has decreased dramatically.

Hip Dislocation, Congenital↗

[Quantitative analysis of coronary arteriogram by a computer-assisted method].

A computer-assisted method for quantitating coronary arteriograms was applied to measure the diameter of major epicardial coronary arteries in 58 normal subjects and 25 hypertensive patients, and to determine the percentage of relative stenosis of coronary lesions in 109 patients with coronary artery disease. Average coronary size was larger than normal in patients with hypertension. The left coronary artery was larger than the right coronary artery in the majority of patients. The degree of coronary stenosis can be measured accurately with good reproducibility. Thus this inexpensive microprocessor system provides rapid quantitation of coronary artery diameter and lesions.

Angina Pectoris↗

[Complete sub-His AV block caused by carotid sinus massage. Possible direct vagal effect on the His-Purkinje system].

A 64 year old male patient, with frequent syncopes, underwent an electro-physiologic study. A complete left bundle branch block and a first degree His-Purkinje system atrioventricular block (AH = 100 msec, HV = 60 msec) were present in basal condition. Left carotid sinus massage caused extreme sinus bradycardia (with PP intervals as long as 3000 msec), without AH and HV interval changes. Right carotid sinus massage caused a His-Purkinje atrioventricular block. Ventricular asystole of 4800 msec occurred while the sinus cycle varied between 1440 and 590 msec. Since His-Purkinje atrioventricular block is induced by the right carotid sinus massage with PP intervals even shorter than the basal cycles and since the block was not reproduced at PP intervals longer than 1440 msecs, a direct vagal effect on the His-Purkinje system may be suggested, rather than a bradycardia dependent phase 4 block.

Bradycardia↗

Aorta-pulmonary shunts in growing pigs. Functional and structural assessment of the changes in the pulmonary circulation.

Aorta-pulmonary shunts were produced in growing pigs, 4 to 12 weeks of age, by anastomosing the thoracic descending aorta to the pulmonary trunk, and the animals were followed for periods of 1 to 3 months. Correlation between the hemodynamic findings and the lung structure, analyzed by quantitative methods, showed that the young group (operated upon at 4 weeks of age) developed more severe pulmonary hypertension with increased muscularization of arteries of all sizes and reduction in the size of those running with respiratory bronchioli and beyond. Since this response is similar to that seen in cases of left-to-right shunt associated with congenital heart defects and pulmonary hypertension early in life, it seems that the present experiments reproduce the early response of the growing lung to such hemodynamic disturbance.

Animals↗

[Malignant vasovagal syncope: its diagnosis and therapeutic trial based on the orthostatism test (the tilt-table test)].

Seventy consecutive patients with recurrent unexplained syncope were evaluated by use of an up-right tilt-table test for 45 minutes (with or without an infusion of isoproterenol) in an attempt to reproduce symptoms. There were 42 males and 28 females with a mean age of 49 +/- 20 years (range 7-86), and with a mean symptoms duration of 35.2 +/- 16 months. All the patients underwent clinical examination which includes cardiological and neurological evaluation. Some tilt positive patients received therapy with either transdermal scopolamine, metoprolol or clonidine, the efficacy of which was evaluated by another tilt-table test. Syncope occurred in sixteen patients (22.9%), during the baseline tilt associated with hypotension (2 patients), bradycardia-asystolia (3 patients), or both (11 patients). In 11 patients with normal baseline tilt test, isoproterenol infusion was used appearing 4 new cases of abnormal response. Some patients who had positive test results, eventually became tilt-table negative by therapy (5 out of 8 patients treated with scopolamine, 5 out of 6 patients with metoprolol, and 3 out of 5 patients with clonidine). Time before syncope during tilt-test was increased with therapy, being of 45 min in normalized cases, and increasing from 11.9 +/- 16 basal to 34.4 +/- 17 min with scopolamine (p < 0.05), to 40 +/- 12 min with metoprolol (p < 0.05) and to 33.7 +/- 16.7 min with clonidine (p = NS). We conclude that upright tilt-table alone or combined with isoproterenol infusion is an useful test in the diagnosis of vasovagal syncope and in the evaluation of therapy.

Adolescent↗

Is color Doppler necessary in the evaluation of tubal patency by hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (HyCoSy) and to establish whether, in doubtful cases, the additional use of transvaginal Color Doppler can improve the tubal diagnosis reached with gray scale imaging alone. STUDY DESIGN: Ninety-six cases of unknown tubal function with infertility complaints were included. Within four weeks after sonographic hydrotubation, hysterosalpingography was performed. The diagnostic efficacy of gray scale and Color Doppler were compared with each other and against HSG. RESULTS: We calculated a sensitivity value of 82.9% and a specificity value of 86.1% for both tubes. The concordance value was of 83.5%. The total number of Color Doppler examinations compared with those of HSG showed a sensitivity of 91% for the right tube and 93% for the left tube and a specificity of 100% for both tubes. CONCLUSIONS: HyCoSy provides reproducible findings for the evaluation of uterine abnormalities and tubal patency. The additional use of Color Doppler is recommended as a supplement to gray scale imagin in cases of suspected tubal occlusion.

Adult↗

Correlation analysis of somatosensory evoked potential waveforms: clinical applications.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the validity of the correlation coefficient (CC) as a diagnostic tool in evaluating somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) waveforms. DESIGN: SEP waveforms were recorded over the spine and scalp in response to tibial nerve stimulation at the ankle for 30 patients. SETTING: A general community, ambulatory, private referral center. PATIENTS: Patients were all ambulatory and were selected randomly from among existing patient records at the medical center. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The test for validity uses the CC to verify reproducibility. The test for side-to-side symmetry uses the CC to obtain a measure of similarity between left and right tibial scalp responses. For both tests, a table is presented with CCs for normal subjects. If the CC for each patient falls below the appropriate critical value from the table, then the CC is taken to be abnormal; p values are provided at specific levels in this table. RESULTS: A new data base for the means and critical values of CCs with corresponding p values is established for normal subjects. Most of the patient data reveal significant CC nonreproducibility and lack of symmetry in tibial scalp SEP waveforms. CONCLUSION: The CC provides objective and quantitative waveform information that complements latency and amplitude measurements in the clinical interpretation of tibial scalp SEP waveforms.

Algorithms↗

Effect of cardiac stabbing on ventricular function: evaluation by radionuclide angiography.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether cardiac stab wounds cause early ventricular dysfunction. DESIGN: Retrospective case series over 7 years. SETTING: University-affiliated teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Nine consecutive survivors of cardiac stab wounds. INTERVENTIONS: Postoperative radionuclide angiography performed in all patients between 1 and 13 days after injury. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Information on the patient's clinical presentation and hospital course was obtained from the patient's charts and correlated with ventricular function as measured by the right and left ventricular ejection fractions (RVEF and LVEF). RESULTS: Cardiac injuries consisted of isolated right (five) and left (three) ventricular lacerations, and one biventricular laceration. Three patients had perioperative dysrhythmias (two ventricular, one atrial), and nonspecific electrocardiographic changes occurred in seven patients. Six patients had postoperative complications: pericarditis in three and pneumonia, pulmonary thromboembolism and abdominal wound dehiscence in one each. The LVEF was normal in all patients. Although none had clinically apparent cardiac dysfunction at the time of radionuclide angiography, six patients had a reduced RVEF (less than 0.45). All patients remained asymptomatic at the time of discharge from hospital (median 12 days postoperatively). In two of the six patients who had a reduced RVEF, one had a normal RVEF 2 months later; the other had a near-normal RVEF (0.43) but had persistent right ventricular enlargement 7 months later. Both were asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: Although a reduced RVEF is common in survivors of cardiac stab wounds, the reduction is small and is not associated with clinically apparent cardiac dysfunction.

Adult↗

Auditory stimulation brain map.

The topography of auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) was studied in 12 neurologically normal, adult, right-handed subjects of either sex. The AEPs were recorded with seventeen active electrodes in response to 500 Hz tone bursts with a level of 75 dB HL presented either to the left or the right ear. AEP brain maps were obtained with the BRAIN ATLAS III system. A region of maximum negativity was obtained corresponding to N1 at vertex and defined as focus of N1 (FN1). The reproducibility within and between sessions of FN1 was studied and found to be good for most of the subjects. The interindividual variability was moderate and the centre of FN1 on the map was localized 7 mm in front of the vertex electrode and 8.4 and 8.0 mm to the contralateral side of the vertex electrode upon stimulation of the left and the right ear, respectively. The approximate position of the skull surface is obtained by multiplication by a factor of 3. It was concluded that a standardized test session including six single maps based on 50 stimuli each gives an average map with identifiable and reproducible focus. The basis seems to be fulfilled to use the brain map in further analysis on clinical material.

Adult↗

Neural systems supporting timing and chronometric counting: an FMRI study.

At least two strategies are available to humans for estimating multisecond intervals. One depends on an interval timing system that is common to many species. The other is the language-based strategy of chronometric counting. These two strategies are easily distinguished by the psychophysical properties of their behavioral correlates: counting supports substantially more precise estimates than are possible using the more general interval timing system. The present study investigates the neural systems that underlie the execution of these different strategies. Eighteen adults reproduced a 16-s interval either by internally timing or covertly counting the duration. Comparison of counting and timing to a resting baseline suggested that these strategies engage some nonoverlapping neural systems. Counting, but not timing, strongly activated Broca's area, primary motor cortex in the mouth region, and right cerebellum, all of which are associated with internal speech. Counting also activated parts of the medial premotor circuit, including the putamen, supplementary motor area (SMA) proper, and cingulate motor area (CMA), that have been associated with reproducing isochronous and syncopated rhythms of elements lasting hundreds of milliseconds. During timing, only a portion of this circuit, the SMA proper and CMA, was engaged. Both timing and counting interfered with semantic processing during the resting state, evidenced by task-related decreases in the left inferior and middle frontal gyri, right superior frontal gyrus, left angular gyrus, and bilateral posterior cingulate cortex. This study suggests that counting activates a corticostriatal network associated with millisecond, rhythmic timing. In contrast, timing long durations without the benefit of linguistic strategies for subdividing counts reduces activity in this circuitry.

Adult↗

Transvalvular impedance (TVI) recording under electrical and pharmocological cardiac stimulation.

The cardiac electric impedance was recorded between right atrium and ventricle, throughout the cardiac cycle, by means of a tripolar single pass lead for VDD pacing. The transvalvular impedance signal (TVI) is a sharp periodic wave, with high signal-to-noise ratio, that is detected exclusively in the presence of cardiac mechanical activity. The minimum TVI value is attained during the atrial systole, the maximum at the end of ventricular systole. Different parameters of TVI waveform are affected by changes in the inotropic state, and could therefore be proposed as potential signals for new rate responsive algorithms based on the correlation between inotropic and chronotropic regulation. The signal might be used, moreover, for pacing and sensing validation in autoregulating pacemakers and for fibrillation recognition in ICDs.

Adrenergic Agonists↗

Correlation between right ventricular indices and clinical improvement in epoprostenol treated pulmonary hypertension patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate which parameter of right ventricular (RV) echocardiographic best mirrors the clinical status of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension on epoprostenol therapy were identified via hospital registry. Twenty patients, (16 females, 4 males) were included in the study, 9 with primary pulmonary hypertension and 11 with other diseases. Echocardiograms before therapy and at 22.7 (+/-9.3) months into therapy were compared. The right ventricular myocardial performance index (RVMPI) was measured as the sum of the isometric contraction time and the isometric relaxation time divided by right ventricular ejection time. Other measures included peak tricuspid regurgitation jet velocity (TRV), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), pulmonary valve velocity time integral (PVVTI), PASP/PVVTI (as an index of total pulmonary resistance) and symptoms by New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class. Echo parameters of right ventricular function were analyzed in patients, before and during therapy. There was significant improvement of NYHA class in patients following epoprostenol therapy (P < 0.0001). Peak tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity (pre 4.2 +/- 0.6 m/sec, post 3.8 +/- 0.7 m/sec, P = 0.02) and PASP/PVVTI (pre 6.7 +/- 3.3 mmHg/m per second, post 4.8 +/- 2.2 mmHg/m per second, P < 0.0001) were significantly improved during treatment. RVMPI did not improve (pre 0.6 +/- 0.3, post 0.6 +/- 0.3, P = 0.54). Changes in NYHA class did not correlate with changes in RVMPI (P = 0.33) or changes in PASP/PVVTI (P = 0.58). Despite significant improvements in TRV, PASP/PVVTI, and NYHA class, there was no significant change in RVMPI on epoprostenol therapy. Changes in right ventricular indices were not correlated with changes in NYHA class.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

High-resolution atomic-force microscopy of DNA: the pitch of the double helix.

Using a cationic lipid bilayer, we show that DNA can be reliably adsorbed to the bilayer surface for atomic force microscopy (AFM) in aqueous buffers at high resolution. The measured width of the dsDNA is close to 2 nm, and a periodic modulation on dsDNA is reproducibly detected by the AFM. The measured period is 3.4 +/- 0.4 nm, in excellent agreement with the known pitch of the double helix. The right-handedness of the double helix is directly discernible in high resolution AFM images. Thus, this approach can be readily applied to the study of DNA-protein interactions, as well as sequence mapping at high resolution.

DNA↗

Assessment of right ventricular oxidative metabolism by PET in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy.

PURPOSE: Right ventricular (RV) performance is known to have prognostic value in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been found to enhance left ventricular (LV) energetics and metabolic reserve in patients with heart failure. The interplay between the LV and RV may play an important role in CRT response. The purpose of the study was to investigate RV oxidative metabolism, metabolic reserve and the effects of CRT in patients with CHF and left bundle brach block. In addition, the role of the RV in the response to CRT was evaluated. METHODS: Ten patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy who had undergone implantation of a biventricular pacemaker 8+/-5 months earlier were studied under two conditions: CRT ON and after CRT had been switched OFF for 24 h. Oxidative metabolism was measured using [11C]acetate positron emission tomography (Kmono). The measurements were performed at rest and during dobutamine-induced stress (5 microg/kg per minute). LV performance and interventricular mechanical delay (interventricular asynchrony) were measured using echocardiography. RESULTS: CRT had no effect on RV Kmono at rest (ON: 0.052+/-0.014, OFF: 0.047+/-0.018, NS). Dobutamine-induced stress increased RV Kmono significantly under both conditions but oxidative metabolism was more enhanced when CRT was ON (0.076+/-0.026 vs 0.065+/-0.027, p=0.003). CRT shortened interventricular delay significantly (45+/-33 vs 19+/-35 ms, p=0.05). In five patients the response to CRT was striking (32% increase in mean LV stroke volume, range 18-36%), while in the other five patients no response was observed (mean change +2%, range -6% to +4%). RV Kmono and LV stroke volume response to CRT correlated inversely (r=-0.66, p=0.034). None of the other measured parameters, including all LV parameters and electromechanical parameters, were associated with the response to CRT. In responders, RV Kmono with CRT OFF was significantly lower than in non-responders (0.036+/-0.01 vs 0.058+/-0.02, p=0.047). CONCLUSION: CRT appears to enhance RV oxidative metabolism and metabolic reserve during stress. Patients responding to CRT appear to have lower RV oxidative metabolism at rest, suggesting that the RV plays a significant role in the response to CRT.

Acetates↗

How reproducible is the cardioinhibitory response to carotid sinus massage in fallers?

AIMS: To ascertain the reproducibility of the cardioinhibitory subtype of carotid sinus hypersensitivity (CICSH) in fallers. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-five subjects with CICSH and unexplained or recurrent falls were randomized to pacemaker implantation or control. Sixty-four control subjects (61% female, mean age 71.8 years, median 2 falls in the previous year) completed one-year follow-up and had carotid sinus massage (CSM) performed on 4 occasions (twice before randomization, at 6 months and 1 year following randomization). CSM was performed sequentially on the right and then left sides, initially supine and then upright at 70 degrees head-up tilt by the same investigator. On each occasion CSM was discontinued once CICSH was demonstrated. CICSH was demonstrated on 82% of occasions, 75% on right CSM and 77% whilst the subject was supine. Before randomization, and at 6 months and 1 year, 91%, 67%, and 70% of subjects had reproducible CICSH respectively. Half had CICSH on all 4 occasions. Only 17% had a consistent response on the same side in the same position. CONCLUSIONS: In the majority of subjects CICSH is reproducible and this is more likely shortly after the initial response. However the cardioinhibitory response to CSM is inconsistent both in side elicited and subject position.

Accidental Falls↗