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PubMed1996

A mortality study of electrical utility workers in Québec.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the mortality of electrical utility workers exposed to electric and magnetic fields. METHODS: A historical cohort mortality study was carried out on 21,744 workers who were employed in an electrical company in the province of Québec between 1970 and 1988. The last job held by each study subject was coded. A job exposure matrix (JEM) was used to estimate the exposure to 60 Hz electric and magnetic fields, and pulsed electromagnetic fields (as recorded by the PEMF (POSITRON) meter) in this job. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated relative to Québec men. Because the exposure was exclusively among blue collar workers, the remainder of the analyses by exposure were restricted to them. Rate ratios (RRs) in the exposed groups relative to the background groups were estimated with Poisson regression. There were 1582 deaths by the end of follow up. RESULTS: SMRs were almost all below one and never substantially increased, although there were a few increased rate ratios (RRs). There was a significant RR of 2.00 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.37-2.93) for deaths caused by accidents and violence in workers exposed to magnetic fields, RR of 1.82 (95% CI 1.25-2.65) for electric fields, and RR of 1.62 (95% CI 1.13-2.32) for pulsed electromagnetic fields. Occupational accidents related to power lines explain some of the excess of deaths from accidents and violence. Some association was found between magnetic fields and leukaemia, brain cancer, and suicide, between electric fields and brain cancer and suicide, and between pulsed electromagnetic fields and lung cancer, but these were not significant. CONCLUSION: These results are broadly reassuring that major causes of death are not strongly associated with exposure to electric and magnetic fields, but small numbers and approximate exposure assessments preclude the denial of any risk, in particular if it were to affect a rare cause of death.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1987

Coordination of electrical activities in muscle layers of the pig colon.

Simultaneous recording of electrical activities from the circular and longitudinal muscle layers of the pig colon was performed in vitro to study possible coordination of activities. The electrical activity of both muscle layers consisted of electrical oscillations with superimposed spikes. The frequency range of the electrical oscillations in the circular muscle was 0.5-3.5 cycles per minute (cpm) and in the longitudinal muscle 24-42 cpm. Coordination of the activities of both muscle layers occurred consistently only after stretch or cholinergic stimulation. Then it occurred in a unique fashion. Each oscillation in the circular muscle layer occurred at the same time as the onset of a burst of oscillations in the longitudinal muscle. In addition, multiple simultaneous recordings of the electrical activities from each muscle layer were obtained showing that within the circular muscle layer electrical oscillations were phase locked in the circumferential direction and along the long axis of the colon. They appeared to propagate in either the oral or aboral direction. In tetrodotoxin (with stretch as stimulus) and also in presence of carbachol, bursts of oscillations in the longitudinal muscle layer were phase locked circumferentially (in the different taeniae) and longitudinally. This study shows that the muscle layers in the colon, which have different myogenic electrical activities, can obtain a high level of coordination.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

The electrical resistance breakdown assay determines the role of proteinases in tumor cell invasion.

The electrical resistance breakdown of the Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell monolayer provides a continuous assay system for cancer invasion that detects functional changes before morphological alterations. In this study, we address the question of whether physical contact between tumor cell and epithelial monolayer is a prerequisite for tumor cell invasion. When human melanoma cells were seeded directly (i.e., physical contact) on top of an electrically tight epithelial cell layer (5,800 +/- 106 Omega x cm2), electrical monolayer leakage led to an 18 +/- 3% reduction of transepithelial electrical resistance within 24 h. However, when melanoma cells were seeded close to the basolateral surface of the epithelial cell monolayer but separated by a filter membrane (i.e., no physical contact), electrical leakage occurred even more quickly (42 +/- 3% reduction in 24 h). Atomic force microscopy detected discrete structural changes between cells. Electrical leakage was effectively blocked by alpha2-macroglobulin or ilomastat, inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases. We conclude that exocytosis of soluble proteases causes electrical breakdown of the MDCK monolayer, independently of physical contact between tumor cells and the monolayer.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Effects on peroneal motoneurons of cutaneous afferents activated by mechanical or electrical stimulations.

The postsynaptic potentials elicited in peroneal motoneurons by either mechanical stimulation of cutaneous areas innervated by the superficial peroneal nerve (SP) or repetitive electrical stimulation of SP were compared in anesthetized cats. After denervation of the foot sparing only the territory of SP terminal branches, reproducible mechanical stimulations were applied by pressure on the plantar surface of the toes via a plastic disk attached to a servo-length device, causing a mild compression of toes. This stimulus evoked small but consistent postsynaptic potentials in every peroneal motoneuron. Weak stimuli elicited only excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs), whereas increase in stimulation strength allowed distinction of three patterns of response. In about one half of the sample, mechanical stimulation or trains of 20/s electric pulses at strengths up to six times the threshold of the most excitable fibers in the nerve evoked only EPSPs. Responses to electrical stimulation appeared with 3-7 ms central latencies, suggesting oligosynaptic pathways. In another, smaller fraction of the sample, inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) appeared with an increase of stimulation strength, and the last fraction showed a mixed pattern of excitation and inhibition. In 24 of 32 motoneurons where electrical and mechanical effects could be compared, the responses were similar, and in 6 others, they changed from pure excitation on mechanical stimulation to mixed on electrical stimulation. With both kinds of stimulation, stronger stimulations were required to evoke inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs), which appeared at longer central latencies than EPSPs, indicating longer interneuronal pathways. The similarity of responses to mechanical and electrical stimulation in a majority of peroneal motoneurons suggests that the effects of commonly used electrical stimulation are good predictors of the responses of peroneal motoneurons to natural skin stimulation. The different types of responses to cutaneous afferents from SP territory reflect a complex connectivity allowing modulations of cutaneous reflex responses in various postures and gaits.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Posteruptive changes of electrical resistance values in fissure enamel of premolars.

In studies about 15-25% of the caries-free teeth proved to have as low electrical resistance values as carious teeth, due probably to incomplete enamel maturation. It was the aim of the present prospective clinical study to investigate, if an increase in electrical resistance values could be observed after the eruption of premolars. The electrical resistance measurements were performed in children who were patients of the Dental School of the University of Marburg, Germany. The first measurement was made when a premolar was erupting or when it had erupted within 12 months before. The electrical resistance measurements were repeated every 3-6 months until the 24th posteruptive month. The measuring device consisted of an AC ohmmeter modified by Gente indicating the real component of the impedance and employing a frequency of 500 Hz and an amplitude of about 1 microA. For erupting teeth a mean resistance value of 17+/-15 kohm was computed when the contact fluid had been NaCl (A). The corresponding values were 72+/-51 kohm when distilled water (B) had been applied and 392+/-374 kohm when the initially saliva-coated teeth had briefly been dried (C). The mean resistance values of the premolars increased continuously from the eruption up to the 15th posteruptive month. This observation was independent of the three modes of measuring that had been used. It is concluded that enamel maturation leads to an increase in electrical resistance. To improve accuracy of caries diagnosis with electrical resistance measurements, the posteruptive age of teeth should be taken into account. In addition, electrical resistance measurements offer the opportunity to observe enamel maturation in vivo noninvasively.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Biphasic relaxant response of ovine trachealis muscle to electrical field stimulation: influence of cooling.

Electrical field stimulation of ovine trachealis muscle produced neurogenic atropine-sensitive contractions under resting conditions. However, when the tissues were precontracted with 5-hydroxytryptamine in the presence of atropine, electrical field stimulation induced a frequency-dependent tetrodotoxin-sensitive relaxation. The relaxation was biphasic, consisting of fast and slow phases. The fast component was attenuated by propranolol, indicating an action on beta-adrenoceptors. The slow phase was attenuated by capsaicin and, therefore, involved release of a peptide. These results showed that excitatory responses in ovine trachealis muscles are cholinergically mediated, while both adrenergic and peptidergic components mediate electrically induced relaxation in the trachea. We also examined the influence of lowering bath temperature to 20 degrees C on electrically evoked responses. These were significantly reduced by cooling. At 20 degrees C, under resting conditions, the time-to-peak tension was lengthened, and the amplitude of the contractile responses was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced. In the same preparation, carbachol-induced contractions were not reduced by cooling, indicating that the reduction in electrically induced contractions was probably due to a reduction in transmitter release. Cooling also abolished the fast inhibitory phase (adrenergic in nature) without significantly inhibiting the slow (non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic) component. Propranolol (1 micromol/l) and capsaicin (100 micromol/l) did not affect significantly the slow relaxation observed during cooling. It was concluded that cooling inhibited cholinergically mediated, electrically induced contractions and selectively abolished the adrenergic component of electrically induced relaxant responses.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1995

The Ib phase of ventricular arrhythmias in ischemic in situ porcine heart is related to changes in cell-to-cell electrical coupling. Experimental Cardiology Group, University of North Carolina.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to test the hypothesis that the loss of cell-to-cell electrical interaction during ischemia modulates the amplitude of ischemia-induced TQ-segment depression (ie, the injury potential) and the occurrence of ventricular fibrillation (VF) during the so-called Ib phase of ventricular arrhythmias. METHODS AND RESULTS: Regional ischemia was induced by 60 minutes of mid-left anterior descending coronary artery ligation in open-chest swine (n = 10). Cell-to-cell electrical uncoupling was defined as the onset of the terminal rise in whole-tissue resistivity (Rt). Local activation times and TQ-segment changes (injury potential) were determined from unipolar electrograms. Extracellular K+ ([K+]e) and pH (pHe) were measured with plunge-wire ion-selective electrodes. VF occurred in 6 of 10 pigs during regional no-flow ischemia between 19 and 30 minutes after the arrest of perfusion. The occurrence of VF was positively correlated to the onset of cell-to-cell electrical uncoupling (R2 = .885). Cell-to-cell electrical uncoupling superimposed on changes of [K+]e and pHe contributed to the failure of impulse propagation between 19 and 30 minutes after the arrest of perfusion. During ischemia, maximum TQ-segment depression was -10 mV at 19 minutes, after which TQ-segment depression slowly recovered. The onset of the TQ-segment recovery was correlated to the second rise in Rt (R2 = .886). CONCLUSIONS: In the regionally ischemic in situ porcine heart, loss of cell-to-cell electrical interaction is related to the occurrence of VF and changes in the amplitude of the injury current. Cellular electrical uncoupling contributes to failure of impulse propagation in the setting of altered tissue excitability as a result of elevated [K+]e and low pHe. These data indicate that Ib arrhythmias and ECG changes during ischemia are influenced by the loss of cell-to-cell electrical interaction.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Comparison of cervical magnetic stimulation and bilateral percutaneous electrical stimulation of the phrenic nerves in normal subjects.

Cervical magnetic stimulation is a new technique for stimulating the phrenic nerves, and may offer an alternative to percutaneous electrical stimulation for assessing diaphragmatic strength in normal subjects and patients in whom electrical stimulation is technically difficult or poorly tolerated. We compared cervical magnetic stimulation with conventional supramaximal bilateral percutaneous electrical stimulation in nine normal subjects. We measured oesophageal pressure (Poes), gastric pressure (Pgas) and transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi). The maximal relaxation rate (MRR) was also measured. The mean magnetic twitch Pdi was 36.5 cmH2O (range 27-48 cmH2O), significantly larger than electrical twitch Pdi, mean 29.7 cmH2O (range 22-40 cmH2O). The difference in twitch Pdi was explained entirely by twitch Poes, and it is possible that the magnetic technique stimulates some of the nerves to the upper chest wall muscles as well as the phrenic nerves. We compared bilateral, rectified, integrated, diaphragm surface electromyographic (EMG) responses in three subjects and found results within 10% in each subject, indicating similar diaphragmatic activation. The within occasion coefficient of variation, i.e. same subject/same session, was 6.7% both for magnetic and electrical twitch Pdi. The between occasion coefficient of variation, i.e. same subject/different days, was 6.6% for magnetic stimulation and 8.8% for electrical. There was no difference between relaxation rates measured with either technique. We conclude that magnetic stimulation is a reproducible and acceptable technique for stimulating the phrenic nerves, and that it provides a potentially useful alternative to conventional electrical stimulation as a nonvolitional test of diaphragm strength.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1990

Effects of electrical stimulation of the medial basal hypothalamus on the in vivo release of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone in the prepubertal and peripubertal female monkey.

In this study the hypothesis that the LHRH neurosecretory system of the prepubertal female monkey has the capacity to function in a manner comparable to that of monkeys in more mature stages of development was tested. Using push-pull perfusion in the stalk-median eminence, effects of electrical stimulation of the medial basal hypothalamus on in vivo LHRH release were determined in conscious prepubertal, early pubertal, and midpubertal monkeys. After a 180-min period of baseline sample collection, electrical stimulation was applied six times at 90-min intervals via a monopolar electrode, the tip of which was 1-2 mm rostro-dorsal to the perfusion site. Control experiments were performed in the same manner, but without electrical stimulation. During control perfusions, the mean LHRH level remained stable. Mean (+/- SEM) LHRH release for the entire perfusion period in control experiments was 0.5 +/- 0.2, 2.4 +/- 0.4, and 2.2 +/- 0.7 pg/ml.10 min for the prepubertal (n = 6), early pubertal (n = 4), and midpubertal (n = 6) groups, respectively. Mean LHRH release in the prepubertal group was significantly lower than that in either of the older groups (P less than 0.05). In contrast, in all three age groups, repeated electrical stimulation of the medial basal hypothalamus resulted in 1) a short latency increase in LHRH release occurring within 20 min after each stimulation, and/or 2) a gradual increase in mean LHRH release over several hours. In the prepubertal group (n = 4), mean LHRH levels were 0.8 +/- 0.5 pg/ml.10 min during the 90 min before the first electrical stimulation and increased to 6.1 +/- 2.9 pg/ml.10 min during the 90 min after the sixth stimulation. This degree of responsiveness was similar to that of the older age groups. Mean LHRH levels before stimulation were 1.3 +/- 0.6 and 2.4 +/- 1.1 pg/ml.10 min in the early pubertal (n = 5) and midpubertal (n = 5) groups, respectively, and increased to 7.8 +/- 3.5 and 6.0 +/- 1.8 pg/ml.10 min, respectively, after the sixth stimulation. These increases in LHRH concentration with electrical stimulation were significant for all three age groups (P less than 0.03-0.001), while there were no significant differences between age groups. The temporal patterns of these responses suggest that electrical stimulation elicits LHRH release with a similar magnitude in all three age groups by 1) depolarizing LHRH neurons directly, and/or 2) stimulating multineuronal systems that synapse with LHRH neurons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

A 102 base pair sequence of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor delta-subunit gene confers regulation by muscle electrical activity.

Muscle electrical activity suppresses expression of the embryonic-type (alpha, beta, gamma, and delta) nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) genes. The molecular mechanism by which electrical activity regulates these genes is not known. One approach to this problem is to identify regions of the nAChR genes that mediate electrical regulation. Here we report results from such a study of the nAChR delta-subunit gene. We cloned the rat delta-subunit promoter region and created an expression vector in which this DNA controlled the expression of a down-stream luciferase structural gene. The effect that muscle electrical activity had on the expression from this promoter was assayed by introducing this expression vector into electrically stimulated and tetrodotoxin (TTX)-treated rat primary myotubes, and assaying for luciferase activity. These myotubes, when stimulated with extracellular electrodes, suppressed endogenous embryonic-type nAChR gene expression compared to those treated with TTX. Transfection of these cells with delta-promoter-luciferase expression vectors resulted in the delta-promoter conferring electrical regulation on luciferase expression. Additional experiments using deletions from the 5' end of the delta-promoter region have identified an element between -677 and -550 bp that suppressed delta-promoter activity and a minimal 102 bp sequence that promotes and regulates luciferase expression in response to muscle electrical activity. This latter sequence also contains all the necessary elements to confer tissue and developmental stage-specific expression.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1996

Short-range orientation in electric fish: an experimental study of passive electrolocation.

Gymnotiform electric fish are capable of locating and approaching an electrically discharging conspecific over a range of 1-2 m in a behavior called passive electrolocation. This paper investigates the movements of two species in experiments with approaches to stationary dipoles that are either silenced or jumped to a new direction during an approach. Gymnotus carapo fail to find an electrode source in trials in which the dipole electrode is switched off in mid-track. They slow their approach, become disoriented and drift away from the target within seconds of the field being switched off. This result suggests that the fish are unable to construct a cognitive map of a dipole source from brief exposure to local electrosensory stimuli. The second set of trials shows that Brachyhypopomus diazi and Gymnotus carapo bend their body to track electric vectors which are suddenly jumped to a new direction. The latency of the bend response is 0.5 s after the jump. Bending initiates a turn that reduces to zero the error between the fish's direction and the electric field vector and helps keep the fish aligned with the local electric field vector. Together, these experiments suggest that passive electrolocation is stimulus-bound and that these fish find the electrical sources simply by tracking instantaneous local electric current vectors.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Effect of cycloheximide on in vitro development of electrically activated feline oocytes.

This study was conducted to improve parthenogenetic development in vitro of feline oocytes following a combined activation treatment of electrical stimulation and cycloheximide. In vitro matured (IVM) oocytes were stimulated electrically by a DC electrical pulse of 2 kV/cm for 50 micros. The stimulated oocytes were then incubated in MK-1 medium with or without cycloheximide and subsequently cultured in vitro for 6 days. No significant differences were observed between the two groups with respect to the proportions of cleavage, development to the morula stage, and the cell number of blastocysts. However, exposure of electrically stimulated oocytes to cycloheximide significantly increased the rate of development of the stimulated oocytes into the blastocyst stage compared with oocytes stimulated by electrical stimulation alone (31.0% vs 6.7%). The results from the present study suggested that a single electrical stimulation was insufficient to activate the IVM cat oocytes at 24 h of maturation and that exposure to cycloheximide following electrical stimulation improved the efficacy of the parthenogenetic development of domestic cat oocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Application of electrical impedance analysis for diagnosis of a pulmonary mass.

The electrical impedance of a pulmonary mass was measured in 53 patients of whom 44 had primary lung cancer, 5 had metastatic lung tumor, and 4 had organizing pneumonia. Because biologic tissue can be regarded, electrically, to consist of extracellular resistance (Re), intracellular resistance (Ri), and the electrical capacitance of the cell membrane (Cm), these three parameters were calculated from the measured electrical impedance of tissue by a curve-fitting technique using a computer program. The Re of lung tissue was significantly greater (p < 0.01) and the Cm of lung tissue was significantly less (p < 0.01) than that of a pulmonary mass. The Re of malignant tumors (both lung cancer and metastatic tumors) was significantly greater (p < 0.01) and the Cm of malignant tumors was significantly less (p < 0.01) than that of organizing pneumonia. With this information, we used a biopsy needle to diagnose nine intrathoracic lesions. This technique additionally allowed us to confirm the proximity of the needle tip of the mass. The electrical impedance of the lung mass was measured through the biopsy needle using a modified impedance analysis system before the biopsy was performed. There were no false-negative results, and one false-positive result. The rapid measurement of the electrical impedance of a pulmonary mass, preoperatively, may be of value in the clinical evaluation of a pulmonary mass both by facilitating needle guidance and by permitting diagnosis based on electrical impedance.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

[Exposure of workers to electric and magnetic fields from radiofrequency dielectric heaters to process polyvinyl chloride material].

Exposure of workers to electric and magnetic fields from radiofrequency dielectric heaters (RF heaters) to process polyvinyl chloride material was surveyed. Measurements of electric and magnetic field strengths were made in 10 workers operating 7 RF heaters at 3 plants in Japan. Six of the RF heaters are of the sewing machine type and the other is of the shuttle tray type. In all the RF heaters surveyed the nominal frequency of the radiofrequency generator was 40 MHz, and therefore electric and magnetic field from these are assumed to oscillate at the same frequency. The power output ranged from 0.83 W to 1.8 W for the sewing machine type and was 2.4 W for this shuttle tray type. Measurements were made at about 5 cm from the surface of the hand, eye, chest, waist, knee and foot of each worker. The meter readings were converted to equivalent plane wave power density and corrected for duty cycle (0.073 to 0.27). It was found that all the workers surveyed were exposed to electric and magnetic field strengths greater than the TLV recommended by ACGIH (1 mW/cm2). For the hand, eye, chest, waist, knee and foot of the worker, 95%, 63%, 32%, 47% and 36% and 27% of the measured field strengths exceeded the TLV, respectively. Especially for the sewing machine type RF heaters, electric fields at the hand and eye were extremely strong. Thus, for the hand, 100%, 75% and 38% of the measured electric field strengths exceeded the TLV, ten times the TLV, and one hundred times the TLV, respectively, and for the eye, 88% and 25% exceeded the TLV and ten times the TLV, respectively. No correlation was observed between power output of the RF heaters and measured electric and magnetic field strengths at any anatomical site of the worker.

Chemical Industry↗
PubMed1986

Prevention of quadriceps wasting after immobilization: an evaluation of the effect of electrical stimulation.

Eighteen male and 20 female patients who underwent reconstruction of their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) with a flap from the patellar tendon were randomly assigned into either closed cast, isometric muscle training and electric stimulation (ES group), or closed cast and isometric training alone (control group). The degree of quadriceps wasting was determined from computerized tomographic scans (CT) before and 6 weeks after surgery. Electrical stimulation was given with a battery operated stimulator that produced a rectangular asymmetric balanced biphasic pulse shape. The pulse rate was 40 Hz and the pulse width 300 microseconds. Patients received 30 min of stimulation three times daily during 5.5 weeks. Female control patients showed a larger decrease in quadriceps area on CT than male control patients (P less than .001). No significant difference was found between male electrically stimulated patients and control patients. In female patients, there was on the contrary, a highly significant difference in favor of electrical stimulation (P less than .001) When the different parts of the quadriceps were studied, a significantly lower degree of atrophy of the vastus medialis was found after electrical stimulation. Vastus lateralis did not show any difference. Measurements of CT attenuation, pre- and post-operatively, showed a decrease in attenuation of 17% for the vastus medialis and lateralis of the operated leg after immobilization, indicating an increase in fat content. In the rectus femoris, however, there was an increase in attenuation of 14.6%. Percutaneous muscle biopsies from the vastus lateralis obtained before, one week after, and 6 weeks after surgery revealed that the cross-sectional area of the individual muscle fibers decreased less in the electrically stimulated than in controls, but the difference was not significant. There were no differences between the two groups in the activity of an oxidative enzyme, citrate synthase, or a glycolytic enzyme, phosphofructokinase (PFK). We conclude that females reacted more favorably than males to electrical stimulation of quadriceps during an immobilization period after knee surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Medical and social prognosis for patients with perceived hypersensitivity to electricity and skin symptoms related to the use of visual display terminals.

OBJECTIVES: This study attempted to give a medical and social prognosis for patients with perceived "electrical sensitivity". METHODS: In 1980-1998, 350 patients with electrical sensitivity were registered at the University Hospital of Northern Sweden in Umeå, Sweden. Those with hypersensitivity to electricity had multiple symptoms evoked by exposure to different electric environments. Those with skin symptoms related to the use of visual display terminals (VDT) predominantly had facial skin symptoms evoked by a VDT, television screens, or fluorescent light tubes. A questionnaire on civil status, current health status, care, treatment and other measures taken, consequences of the problem, eliciting factors, and current employment was sent to all the patients. The response rate was 73%. Of the 50 respondents with hypersensitivity to electricity, 38% were men and 62% were women. Of the 200 patients with skin symptoms related to VDT use, 21.5% were men and 78.5% women. RESULTS: More women than men had turned to caregivers, including complementary therapies. A larger proportion of patients with hypersensitivity to electricity (38%) than those with skin symptoms related to VDT use (17%) was no longer gainfully employed. Both groups reported a higher symptom frequency than that reported by the the general population. Over time, the medical prognosis improved in the latter group but not in the former. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with hypersensitivity to electricity, particularly women, have extensive medical problems and a considerable number of them stop working. Many patients with skin symptoms related to VDT use have a favorable prognosis. Both groups need early and consistent management.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1999

[Treatment of solid tumor by a direct electric current].

This is a case report of a 37-year-old Japanese married female with laryngeal sarcoma, treated by direct electric current so as to obtain remission for more than 4 years without signs of recurrence. Due to her hoarseness and laryngeal numb feeling she underwent a laryngeal examination including a biopsy, resulting in a diagnosis of sarcoma. She refused a total laryngectomy and was given Cobalt treatment of 40 Grey. In the following several months, no improvement was observed, objectively or subjectively. In Nagoya University Hospital the patient then received direct electric current therapy of 36 Coulombs through two platinum electrodes inserted into the tumor under a CT guide, pericutaneously. Two months later, as the hoarseness remained in spite of some improvement, she underwent another session of direct electric current therapy of 14.4 Coulombs through the platinum electrodes by bronchoscope-guided direct insertion. Her hoarseness soon disappeared thereafter and there was a regression of the tumor in 6 months. She did well thereafter without any signs of recurrence for 4 years. Clinical treatment of solid tumors with electric treatment with direct electric current has been done in more than 8,000 cases with CR in 25% of all cases and PR in 50%. Its mechanism, however, remains unclear. In our experimental animal studies, apoptosis was observed. It is considered that this electric therapy using direct electric current will be recognized as one method to treat solid tumors.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Left atrial and appendage mechanical function after pharmacological or electrical cardioversion in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation: a multicenter, randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Transient atrial and appendage dysfunction occurs after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. It has been suggested that one component of early dysfunction is related to the method of restoration of sinus rhythm and it is less severe in patients undergoing pharmacological than electrical cardioversion. The aim of this study was to compare left atrial chamber and left atrial appendage mechanical function before and after 48 hours from electrical or pharmacological cardioversion in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation. METHODS: We studied the effects of the mode of cardioversion on Doppler left atrial and appendage function in 19 patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (> or = 4 weeks), who were randomized to pharmacological (quinidine) or electrical cardioversion (protocol: 200, 300, 360 J) after pre-treatment with verapamil. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography were performed before and 48 hours after the restoration of sinus rhythm. To determine left atrial and appendage mechanical dysfunction, the peak A wave velocities were obtained from transmitral flow velocity profiles recorded in the apical 4-chamber view, and peak emptying and filling appendage velocities were measured by the transesophageal approach with the sample volume placed at the orifice of the left atrial appendage. All the patients were pre-treated with verapamil before cardioversion in order to achieve a satisfactory control of heart rate. RESULTS: Mean peak A wave velocities were 0.52 +/- 0.12 m/s in the patients treated electrically and 0.54 +/- 0.08 m/s in those treated pharmacologically (p = NS). Before and after electrical cardioversion, the peak filling velocities of the left atrial appendage were 0.42 +/- 0.17 and 0.43 +/- 0.17 m/s respectively, and the peak emptying velocities 0.30 +/- 0.14 and 0.36 +/- 0.17 m/s respectively; before and after pharmacological treatment, the peak filling velocities were 0.38 +/- 0.1 and 0.43 +/- 0.1 m/s respectively, and the peak emptying velocities were 0.30 +/- 0.13 and 0.43 +/- 0.24 m/s respectively (p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Even a long period of atrial fibrillation does not lead to a marked depression of global left atrial and left atrial appendage function 48 hours after the restoration of sinus rhythm by means of electrical or pharmacological cardioversion. There is no evidence that electrical cardioversion causes greater post-cardioversion atrial and/or appendage dysfunction than pharmacological treatment after 48 hours. Pre-treatment with verapamil may have reduced the dysfunction (probably because of a reduction in mechanical remodeling during atrial fibrillation).

Aged↗