Biomedical subjects

S Vibulsresth

Publications and source records attributed to S Vibulsresth.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1987

Human task-specific somatosensory activation.

We used positron emission tomography to study normal patterns of local cortical metabolic activation induced by somatosensory stimuli. Palpation and sorting of mah-jongg tiles by textured design increased local glucose metabolic rate (lCMRgl), by 18% on average, in contralateral somatosensory cortex. A graphesthesia task gave a similar result. In contrast, vigorous vibrotactile stimulation of fingers, face, or knee did not produce a consistent focus of activation. Our results indicate that lCMRgl activation is best achieved by somatosensory tasks requiring an active perceptual effort.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Failure of nimodipine to prevent ischemic neuronal damage in rats.

The efficacy of nimodipine in preventing ischemic brain injury was tested in rats subjected to a 20-minute period of high-grade forebrain ischemia by 4-vessel occlusion. Three minutes after restoration of circulation to the brain, an intravenous bolus of 5 micrograms/kg nimodipine or an equivalent amount of vehicle or saline was given, followed by continuous intravenous infusion of the respective solution at 1 microgram/kg/min for 2 hours. In a second series, a larger bolus (20 micrograms/kg of nimodipine) and longer infusion period (6 hours) were employed. Histopathology of the brain was evaluated blindly 72 hours later and graded on a conventional 3-point scale. There was no significant effect of treatment in either series. In the 6-hour series, the percent of cerebral hemispheres showing damage of Grades 2 or 3 in zone CA1 of the hippocampus and in the striatum, respectively, was 100 and 40% for the nimodipine-treated rats, 100 and 42% for rats receiving vehicle, and 75 and 25% for animals receiving saline. Thus, this study revealed no beneficial effect of nimodipine when given following a 20-minute period of severe forebrain ischemia.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of kinetic therapy in the prevention of complications of prolonged bed rest secondary to stroke.

We performed a prospective, controlled study of kinetic therapy in acute, severe stroke. This therapy involved continuous mobilization of a bedridden patient by means of a specially designed rotating bed. All patients with acute stroke presenting to the Neurology Service over an 18-month period were screened, and those that qualified were assigned to confinement in either a routine hospital bed or a rotating bed. We found that the most common complication of stroke with bed confinement of 4 days or longer was bacterial infection consisting of either pneumonia, sepsis, or urinary tract infection. The two variables found to be of greatest significance in affecting the rate of infection were length of bed confinement, especially for greater than 13 days (2.3-fold increased risk, p less than 0.04), and placement in a routine hospital bed (2.9-fold increased risk, p = 0.023).

Bed Rest↗