scholarly journals Characteristics of physiological data during asymmetric gait of healthy subjects using a two-belt treadmill

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 411-419
Author(s):  
Seong-Mi Song ◽  
Min Heo ◽  
Seung-Yong Oh ◽  
Kyong Kim ◽  
Tae-Kyu Kwon
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Physiological Data ◽  
Asymmetric Gait

Point Injection as An Alternative Acupuncture Technique – An Exploratory Study of Responses in Healthy Subjects

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 166-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark W Strudwick ◽  
Roderick C Hinks ◽  
S T Boris Choy
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Mean Arterial Pressure ◽  
Arterial Pressure ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Physiological Data ◽  
Placebo Control ◽  
Clinical Effects ◽  
Point Injection ◽  
De Qi

Introduction Point injection as a therapeutic technique is well documented, but its physiological effects have not been formally compared with traditional acupuncture. One aim of this study was to compare the effects of the two techniques at one acupuncture point, as a step towards understanding the mode of action of point injection and validating its clinical use. A second aim was to explore whether repeated point injection at the same site might provide a way of increasing the dose of stimulation, in the hope of identifying a dose response curve which could be an alternative strategy to placebo control in demonstrating the biological effects of acupuncture. Methods Sixty nine healthy subjects (age range 18–56 years, mean 29.9; 48 females) completed the study, which employed a counterbalanced experimental design with two stimulation sessions of LI4 approximately one week apart. One half of the participants received point injection first, and the other half received traditional acupuncture first. Baseline physiological data were recorded, then measurements were made before, during and after stimulation; each subject also reported needle sensation ( de qi). The measures were heart rate, derived pressure rate product and mean arterial pressure. Results Although stronger sensations of de qi were reported with point injection, no significant differences were found for mean heart rate (HR), pressure rate product (PRP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) before and after stimulation by the two techniques. No subject gender or age bias was encountered and previous exposure to acupuncture had no effect on outcome. Power spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) made on data from a small subset (n=10) of this cohort also showed no significant differences in autonomic response. Conclusion Point injection and traditional acupuncture seem to provoke similar physiological responses, although the greater needle sensation seen with point injection might indicate it could have more powerful clinical effects. Further studies of repeated point injection are necessary to indicate whether this technique may provide a method of increased strength of point stimulation, as an alternative to traditional needling in acupuncture research.

Reflex Responses in Upper Limb Muscles to Cutaneous Stimuli

1993 ◽  
Vol 20 (04) ◽  
pp. 271-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Chen
Keyword(s):  
Stimulus Intensity ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Cutaneous Reflexes ◽  
Focal Lesions ◽  
Normal Ranges ◽  
Conduction Velocities ◽  
Limb Muscles ◽  
Biphasic Responses

ABSTRACT:Cutaneous reflexes in the upper limb were elicited by stimulating digital nerves and recorded by averaging rectified EMG from proximal and distal upper limb muscles during voluntary contraction. Distal muscles often showed a triphasic response: an inhibition with onset about 50 ms (Il) followed by a facilitation with onset about 60 ms (E2) followed by another inhibition with onset about 80 ms (12). Proximal muscles generally showed biphasic responses beginning with facilitation or inhibition with onset at about 40 ms. Normal ranges for the amplitude of these components were established from recordings on 22 arms of 11 healthy subjects. An attempt was made to determine the alterent fibers responsible for the various components by varying the stimulus intensity, by causing ischemic block of larger fibers and by estimating the afferent conduction velocities. The central pathways mediating these reflexes were examined by estimating central delays and by studying patients with focal lesions

Lutein Complex Supplementation Increases Ocular Blood Flow Biomarkers in Healthy Subjects

2019 ◽  
Vol 89 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 5-12
Author(s):  
Alon Harris ◽  
Brent Siesky ◽  
Amelia Huang ◽  
Thai Do ◽  
Sunu Mathew ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Diastolic Blood Pressure ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Ocular Blood Flow ◽  
Capillary Blood ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
Capillary Blood Flow ◽  
Doppler Imaging ◽  
Retinal Capillary

Abstract. Introduction: To investigate the effects of a lutein complex supplementation on ocular blood flow in healthy subjects. Materials and Methods: Sixteen healthy female patients (mean age 36.8 ± 12.1 years) were enrolled in this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, two-period crossover study. Subjects received daily an oral dose of the lutein with synergistic phytochemicals complex (lutein (10 mg), ascorbic acid (500 mg), tocopherols (364 mg), carnosic acid (2.5 mg), zeaxanthin (2 mg), copper (2 mg), with synergistic effects in reducing pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines when administered together in combination) and placebo during administration periods. Measurements were taken before and after three-week supplementation periods, with crossover visits separated by a three-week washout period. Data analysis included blood pressure, heart rate, intraocular pressure, visual acuity, contrast sensitivity detection, ocular perfusion pressure, confocal scanning laser Doppler imaging of retinal capillary blood flow, and Doppler imaging of the retrobulbar blood vessels. Results: Lutein complex supplementation produced a statistically significant increase in mean superior retinal capillary blood flow, measured in arbitrary units (60, p = 0.0466) and a decrease in the percentage of avascular area in the superior (−0.029, p = 0.0491) and inferior (−0.023, p = 0.0477) retina, as well as reduced systolic (−4.06, p = 0.0295) and diastolic (−3.69, p = 0.0441) blood pressure measured in mmHg from baseline. Data comparison between the two supplement groups revealed a significant decrease in systemic diastolic blood pressure (change from pre- to post-treatment with lutein supplement (mean (SE)): −3.69 (1.68); change from pre- to post-treatment with placebo: 0.31 (2.57); p = 0.0357) and a significant increase in the peak systolic velocity (measured in cm/sec) in the central retinal artery (change from pre- to post-treatment with lutein supplement: 0.36 (0.19); change from pre- to post-treatment with placebo: −0.33 (0.21); p = 0.0384) with lutein complex supplement; data analyses from the placebo group were all non-significant. Discussion: In healthy participants, oral administration of a lutein phytochemicals complex for three weeks produced increased ocular blood flow biomarkers within retinal vascular beds and reduced diastolic blood pressure compared to placebo.

Stability of antioxidant vitamins in whole human blood during overnight storage at 4°C and frozen storage up to 6 months

2018 ◽  
Vol 88 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 151-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott W. Leonard ◽  
Gerd Bobe ◽  
Maret G. Traber
Keyword(s):  
Ascorbic Acid ◽  
Whole Blood ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Frozen Storage ◽  
Blood Collection ◽  
Plasma Samples ◽  
Optimal Conditions ◽  
Plasma Ascorbic Acid ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Sample Handling

Abstract. To determine optimal conditions for blood collection during clinical trials, where sample handling logistics might preclude prompt separation of erythrocytes from plasma, healthy subjects (n=8, 6 M/2F) were recruited and non-fasting blood samples were collected into tubes containing different anticoagulants (ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid (EDTA), Li-heparin or Na-heparin). We hypothesized that heparin, but not EDTA, would effectively protect plasma tocopherols, ascorbic acid, and vitamin E catabolites (α- and γ-CEHC) from oxidative damage. To test this hypothesis, one set of tubes was processed immediately and plasma samples were stored at −80°C, while the other set was stored at 4°C and processed the following morning (~30 hours) and analyzed, or the samples were analyzed after 6 months of storage. Plasma ascorbic acid, as measured using HPLC with electrochemical detection (LC-ECD) decreased by 75% with overnight storage using EDTA as an anticoagulant, but was unchanged when heparin was used. Neither time prior to processing, nor anticoagulant, had any significant effects upon plasma α- or γ-tocopherols or α- or γ-CEHC concentrations. α- and γ-tocopherol concentrations remained unchanged after 6 months of storage at −80°C, when measured using either LC-ECD or LC/mass spectrometry. Thus, refrigeration of whole blood at 4°C overnight does not change plasma α- or γ-tocopherol concentrations or their catabolites. Ascorbic acid is unstable in whole blood when EDTA is used as an anticoagulant, but when whole blood is collected with heparin, it can be stored overnight and subsequently processed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document