PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Physical Stimulation”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Kinesthetic stimulation for preventing apnea in preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent apnea is common in preterm infants, particularly at very early gestational ages. These episodes of loss of effective breathing can lead to hypoxemia and bradycardia, which may be severe enough to require resuscitation including use of positive pressure ventilation or other treatments. Physical stimulation is often used to restart breathing and it is possible that repeated stimulation, such as with an oscillating mattress (kinesthetic stimulation), might prevent apnea and its consequences. OBJECTIVES: In preterm infants at risk for apnea, does prophylactic use of kinesthetic stimulation lead to a clinically important reduction in apnea and bradycardia, and use of intemittent positive preswsure ventilation (IPPV). SEARCH STRATEGY: The standard search strategy of the Neonatal Review Group was used. This included searches of the Oxford Database of Perinatal trials, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, MEDLINE, previous reviews including cross references, abstracts, conferences and symposia proceedings, expert informants, journal handsearching mainly in the English language. SELECTION CRITERIA: All trials in preterm infants at risk of developing clinical apnea which utilised random or quasi-random allocation to treatment with an oscillating mattress or control, were eligible. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Standard methods of the Cochrane Collaboration and its Neonatal Review Group were used with separate evaluation of trial quality and data extraction by each author and synthesis of the data using relative risk. MAIN RESULTS: There were no differences in short term effects (apnea /bradycardia, IVH, use of IPPV, sleep/wake cycles and neurological status at discharge) or longterm effects (in one trial - growth and development to one year). REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Implications for practice. Prophylactic use of kinesthetic stimulation cannot be recommended to reduce apnea/bradycardia in preterm infants. Implications for research. There are currently no clear research questions regarding prophylactic use of kinesthetic stimulation to prevent apnea in preterm infants.

Apnea↗

[Effects of intermittent compressive force on transforming growth factor beta and osteopontin synthesis in cultured bone cells].

It has long been thought that the process of bone remodeling is regulated by the chain reactions of bone cells involving chemical mediators, growth factors and synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins etc. In this context, it has also been recognized that physical stimulation is an important factor in the regulation of bone remodeling. Thus, it is vitally important to understand whether the physical stimulation can induce the cellular events regarding autocrine regulation of protein synthesis. This study was conducted to examine the effects of hydrostatic intermittent compressive force (ICF) on the synthesis of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) and matrix phosphoproteins which may play an important role in the process of bone remodeling. The rat osteosarcoma cells (ROS 17/2.8) were cultured with DMEM containing 10% FCSP. ICF was applied to sub-confluent cells at 130 mb, 15/min cycle for 48h. ICF increased TGF-beta activity of the conditioned medium. This was assessed by its capacity to promote anchorage independent growth of NRK 49F cells and to inhibit the growth of human hepatoma cells (Hep-3B). Furthermore, ICF stimulated the synthesis of the phosphoproteins with Mr. 75 KDa by about 1.4 fold which was visualized by SDS-PAGE on 5-15% gradient gel. Immunoprecipitation of the phosphoproteins with rat osteopontin antibody revealed that the 75 KDa phosphoprotein was identical to osteopontin. The 75 KDa osteopontin synthesis was inhibited by the addition of TGF-beta antibody in a dose dependent manner. These results suggested that ICF stimulated the synthesis of TGF-beta and osteopontin in ROS 17/2.8 cells and that the osteopontin synthesis could be regulated by TGF-beta.

Animals↗

Enriched environment and physical activity stimulate hippocampal but not olfactory bulb neurogenesis.

Exposure to an enriched environment and physical activity, such as voluntary running, increases neurogenesis of granule cells in the dentate gyrus of adult mice. These stimuli are also known to improve performance in hippocampus-dependent learning tasks, but it is unclear whether their effects on neurogenesis are exclusive to the hippocampal formation. In this study, we housed adult mice under three conditions (enriched environment, voluntary wheel running and standard housing), and analysed proliferation in the lateral ventricle wall and granule cell neurogenesis in the olfactory bulb in comparison to the dentate gyrus. Using bromodeoxyuridine to label dividing cells, we could not detect any difference in the number of newly generated cells in the ventricle wall. When giving the new cells time to migrate and differentiate in the olfactory bulb, we observed no changes in the number of adult-generated olfactory granule cells; however, voluntary running and enrichment produced a doubling in the amount of new hippocampal granule cells. The discrepancy between the olfactory bulb and the dentate gyrus suggests that these living conditions trigger locally through an as yet unidentified mechanism specific to neurogenic signals in the dentate gyrus.

Age Factors↗

Psychophysical magic: rendering the visible 'invisible'.

What are the neural correlates of conscious visual awareness? Tackling this question requires contrasting neural correlates of stimulus processing culminating in visual awareness with neural correlates of stimulus processing unaccompanied by awareness. To produce these two neural states, one must be able to erase an otherwise visible stimulus from awareness. This article describes and assesses visual phenomena involving dissociation of physical stimulation and conscious awareness: degraded stimulation, visual masking, visual crowding, bistable figures, binocular rivalry, motion-induced blindness, inattentional blindness, change blindness and attentional blink. No single approach stands above the others, but those producing changing visual awareness despite invariant physical stimulation are clearly preferable. Such phenomena can help lead us ultimately to a comprehensive account of the neural correlates of conscious awareness.

Attention↗

Blocking NMDA receptors in the hippocampal dentate gyrus with AP5 produces analgesia in the formalin pain test.

The hippocampus is an integral component of the "limbic" system and, as such, may contribute to the negative affect and avoidance motivation experienced during pain. A substantial body of evidence indicates that the hippocampus processes pain-related information, that some hippocampal neurons respond exclusively to painful stimulation, and that long-term anatomical changes occur in dentate gyrus neurons, following noxious physical stimulation. NMDA receptor antagonist drugs administered to the hippocampus interfere with long-term potentiation, learning, and memory; these same drugs, when applied to the spinal cord, prevent the long-term neurophysiological changes caused by noxious physical stimulation. This experiment tested whether blocking NMDA receptors in the hippocampal formation reduces nociceptive behaviors in an animal model of persistent human pain. The competitive NMDA receptor antagonist AP5 was injected into the dentate gyrus of alert, unrestrained rats either 5 min before or 15 min following the administration of a subcutaneous injection of formalin irritant. Pain behaviors in both acute and tonic phases of the formalin test were significantly reduced by AP5 treatments. These results support the hypothesis that the hippocampal formation is involved in pain-related neural processing and that NMDA receptor-sensitive mechanisms in the hippocampus are involved in pain perception and/or the expression of pain-related behaviors.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗

Physical exercise stimulates marked concomitant release of beta-endorphin and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in peripheral blood in man.

ACTH and beta-endorphin have been evaluated by means of a specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay in athletes reaching a status of physical stress. A concomitant marked increase of these 2 peptides has been recorded. The implications of this finding lead to the conclusion that stress stimulates the synthesis of the common precursor (31 K) in the pituitary.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Modulation of Calmodulin mRNA and Protein Levels in Barley Aleurone.

Changes in calmodulin (CaM) mRNA and protein were investigated in aleurone layers of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv Himalaya) incubated in the presence and absence of calcium, gibberellic acid (GA3), and abscisic acid (ABA). CaM mRNA levels increased rapidly and transiently following incubation of aleurone layers in H2O, CaCl2, or GA3. The increase in CaM mRNA was prevented by ABA. This increase in CaM mRNA was brought about by physical stimulation during removal of the starchy endosperm from the aleurone layer. CaM protein levels did not increase in response to physical stimulation. Only incubation in GA3 plus CaCl2 brought about a rapid increase in CaM protein levels in the aleurone cell. ABA reduced the level of CaM protein below that found at the beginning of the incubation period. The rise in CaM protein preceded increases in the synthesis and secretion of [alpha]-amylase. Immunocytochemistry with monoclonal antibodies to carrot and mung bean CaM was used to localize CaM in aleurone protoplasts. Monoclonal antibodies to tubulin and polyclonal antibodies to tonoplast intrinsic protein and malate synthase were used as controls. CaM was localized to the nucleus, the vacuolar membrane, and the cytosol, but was not associated with microtubules.

Journal Article↗

Spinal inhibition of phrenic motoneurones by stimulation of afferents from peripheral muscles.

1. Phrenic nerve responses to stimulation of calf muscle receptors or their afferents were studied in two groups of cats. One consisted of paralysed, vagotomized and functionally glomectomized animals with intact central nervous systems. The other included paralysed high (C1) spinal animals whose phrenic nerve activity was either spontaneously tonic or phasic, or evoked by activation of the intercostal-to-phrenic reflex. In both groups, end-tidal PCO2 was maintained at a constant level by means of a servo-controller. 2. Physical stimulation of calf muscles in animals with intact central respiratory controller and a generally facilitatory effect on frequency, with appropriate changes of both inspiratory and expiratory durations, and on peak magnitude of phrenic (neural tidal) activity. However, for the first few sec after onset of the stimulus, neural tidal activity was inhibited. 3. Physical stimulation of calf muscles or electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve in high spinal animals uniformly caused inhibition of spontaneous phrenic activity and that evoked by facilitatory conditioning stimuli. The degree of inhibition gradually decreased as muscle stimulation continued. Following offset of muscle stimulation, post-stimulus augmentation of phrenic activity occurred, with subsequent gradual return to control level over a period of 20-25 sec. 4. We conclude that stimulation of muscle afferents in the leg has a predominantly facilitatory respiratory effect when acting through brain stem controller mechanisms, but also has a purely inhibitory effect on phrenic motoneurones when acting via spinal mechanisms. 5. In addition, the findings are consistent with (1) progressive accommodation of phrenic motoneurones during continued inhibitory input, and (2) with a large and prolonged post-inhibitory rebound of excitability.

Animals↗

Does sound stimulation have additive effects on cognitive-behavioral treatment of chronic tinnitus?

Psychological and physiological habituation are major goals in the treatment of patients suffering from chronic tinnitus. This study evaluates whether sound stimulation provided by use of low level white noise generators (NG) enhances the effects of cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT). 124 outpatients with tinnitus of >6 months received manualized group treatment and were randomly assigned to the NG/no NG conditions. Those with moderate tinnitus-related distress obtained four sessions focusing on education, while severely distressed subjects were treated according to a full 10-session CBT program. Outcome was assessed at post-treatment and at 6- and 18-month follow-up. No additive effects due to the NGs could be demonstrated. All groups improved significantly on measures of tinnitus-related distress, dysfunctional cognitions, general psychopathology, depression, hypochondriasis and psychosocial functioning. Beneficial effects of the NGs were only observed for patients with concurrent tinnitus and hyperacusis. As systematic physical stimulation of the auditory system does not further improve the effects of CBT, the importance and strength of psychological interventions are emphasized. The clinical relevance of recently developed "retraining" approaches accentuating physical stimulation should be reconsidered.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Pregnancy by means of tubal insemination and subsequent spontaneous pregnancy in rabbits.

The purpose of the study was to determine whether or not physical stimulation by tubal insemination had any unfavourable influences upon the tubal fimbria. Tubal insemination was carried out on 14 rabbits and subsequent pregnancy results were monitored. After a period of 69-123 days following tubal insemination, 10 of the rabbits were mated spontaneously and these rabbits were then monitored for pregnancy. Newborn were obtained, with normal gestation periods in six out of the 14 rabbits, following tubal insemination and all 10 of the rabbits that were mated spontaneously with males following tubal insemination subsequently delivered. It is concluded that physical stimulation by tubal insemination does not produce adhesive changes on the tubal fimbria.

Animals↗

[Physiologic limitations of dual chamber stimulators during physical activity].

Dual chamber DDD pacing is fully physiologic when chronotropic response of sinus node to exercise is normal and when retrograde ventriculo-atrial conduction is absent. Comparison of results from exercise test with increasing work load showed that atrial-triggered ventricular pacing provides a significant functional benefit (delta VO2 15%) P less than 0.01, if compared with fixed rate ventricular pacing. The benefit is closely related with the amount of sinus rate increase during exercise. In patients with sinus node syndrome the atrial triggered ventricular pacing rate did not show significant increase during exercise and exercise capability was similar to that observed with fixed ventricular pacing. Retrograde ventriculo-atrial conduction was observed in 56% of patients with sick sinus syndrome and 28% of patients with complete AV block and was the reason for endless loop tachycardias (ELTs). ELTs can be eliminated by lengthening atrial refractory period (ARP). In patients with ARP greater than or equal to 250 ms (47%), mild (8:7, 4:3) or important (2:1) AV block appeared during exercise test, with sudden drop of pacing rate and cardiac output at highest work load. Among other "physiologic" pacing modes, respiration traced ventricular stimulation showed high physiologic sensitivity (90%) and haemodynamic benefit comparable to that obtained during dual chamber pacing and without the related disadvantages.

Aged↗

[Endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF)].

The great discovery by Furchgott of the relaxing factor released from the endothelium (EDRF) awakened us to the necessity to reevaluate the functional importance of endothelial cells that have been chemically or physically stimulated. EDRF was first demonstrated to be released by acetylcholine, substance P, bradykinin and calcium ionophore A23187; thereafter, many substances have been found to release EDRF. This factor is quite unstable, is not produced by cyclooxygenase, and is an activator of soluble guanylate cyclase that synthesizes cyclic GMP; its action is suppressed by antioxidants via the superoxide anions produced, potentiated by superoxide dismutase and abolished by methylene blue and oxyhemoglobin. Recently, the role of lipoxygenase products in the production of EDRF was evaluated with new 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors without antioxidant activity. During the last couple of years, the actions and chemical properties of EDRF were verified to be quite similar to those of nitric oxide (NO); therefore, the hypothesis of "EDRF = NO" is widely being accepted. NO is produced from L-arginine via catalysis by an enzyme that is activated by Ca2+. The enzyme activity is inhibited by L-monomethyl arginine and other L-arginine analogs. Chemical and physical stimulations increase intracellular Ca2+ in endothelial cells that seems to be associated with K(+)-channel opening and hyperpolarization. Current interests are directed to the possible roles of NO in the regulation of nerve function. There are evidences suggesting that NO modulates adrenergic nerve function in blood vessels and some brain cell functions regulated by cellular cyclic GMP. Particularly, NO may be a transmitter substance in non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic vasodilator nerves innervating the cerebral arteries. Future investigations will determine the physiological roles of EDRF or NO and its relationships to pathophysiology of vascular dysfunctions, such as vasospasm and those related to hypertension, diabetes, aging, etc., and the extended roles of NO in nerve function, inflammation, immune reactions, etc. would be clarified more extensively by accelerated progress in this field of research.

Animals↗

A neural basis for inference in perceptual ambiguity.

When looking at ambiguous visual stimuli, the observer experiences frequent spontaneous transitions between two competing percepts while physical stimulation remains unchanged. Despite recent advances in understanding the neural processes underlying such perceptual rivalry, a key question has remained unresolved: Does perceptual rivalry result merely from local bistability of neural activity patterns in sensory stimulus representations, or do higher-order areas play a causal role by shifting inference and, thus, initiating perceptual changes? We used functional MRI to measure brain activity while human observers reported successive spontaneous changes in perceived direction for an ambiguous apparent motion stimulus. In a control condition, the individual sequences of spontaneous perceptual switches during bistability were replayed by using a disambiguated version of the stimulus. Greater activations during spontaneous compared with stimulus-driven switches were observed in inferior frontal cortex bilaterally. Subsequent chronometric analyses of event-related signal time courses showed that, relative to activations in motion-sensitive extrastriate visual cortex, right inferior frontal cortex activation occurred earlier during spontaneous than during stimulus-driven perceptual changes. The temporal precedence of right inferior frontal activations suggests that this region participates in initiating spontaneous switches in perception during constant physical stimulation. Our findings can thus be seen as a signature of when and where the brain "makes up its mind" about competing perceptual interpretations of a given sensory input pattern.

Adult↗

Effect of temperature and mechanical strain on gastric epithelial cell line GSM06 wound restoration in vitro.

BACKGROUND: The influence of the degree of cell differentiation and of physical stimulation on gastric mucosal wound healing is not completely understood. METHODS: A gastric mucosal cell line, GSM06, derived from the gastric mucosal cells of transgenic mice harbouring the simian virus 40 large T antigen, was cultured at 33 degrees C to make a confluent cell sheet. Artificial wounds of constant size were created. Wound healing was monitored at different temperatures (33, 37 and 39 degrees C), which altered the degree of differentiation. Cell proliferation was detected by bromodeoxyuridine staining. Mechanical strain was applied to adherent GSM06 cells after wounding in order to increase their length by an average of 5 or 10% at 5 cycles/min for 60 h. Repair of the wound was monitored every 12 h. RESULTS: Differentiated gastric epithelial cells showed a higher speed of migration. The number of proliferating cells around the wound was greatest at 33 degrees C and barely detectable at 39 degrees C. Under conditions of mechanical strain, the migration speed of differentiated cells (at 39 degrees C) slowed in a strain strength-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that cell differentiation status and physical stimulants might play a role in gastric wound healing in vivo by modifying cellular migration.

Animals↗

Luminal nutrient signals for intestinal adaptation in pythons.

Python intestine responds rapidly to luminal nutrients by increasing mass and upregulating nutrient transport. Candidates for luminal signals triggering those responses include mechanical stimulation, single or several dietary nutrients, and endogenous secretions. To identify signals, we infused into the python's small intestine either a nonnutrient solution (saline) or a single- or multinutrient solution. Python intestine failed to respond trophically or functionally to luminal infusions of saline, glucose, lipid, or bile. Infusion of amino acids and peptides, with or without glucose, induced an intermediate response. Infusion of nutritionally complete liquid formula or natural diet induced full intestinal response. Intact meals triggered full intestinal responses without pancreatic or biliary secretions, whereas direct cephalic and gastric stimulation failed to elicit any response. Hence neither physical stimulation (cephalic, gastric, or intestinal) nor the luminal presence of glucose, lipids, or bile can induce intestinal response; instead, a combination of nutrients is required (even without pancreaticobiliary secretions), the most important being amino acids and peptides. This is understandable because pythons, as carnivores, have a high-protein diet.

Amino Acids↗