This paper introduces the new research achievement and progress of electro-physiology in olfaction and gustation. Classical implements such as patch-clamp or glass pipette are not appropriate in the dynamic detection of cellular signal transportation. In view of this, we have analyzed the feasibilities and challenges of olfactory or gustatory cell-based biosensors such as field effect transistor (FET) and light addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS). Finally we present the research work carried our in out lab and a future prospective on the development in this field.
Biosensing Techniques ; instrumentation ; methods ; Electrophysiology ; methods ; Humans ; Microchip Analytical Procedures ; methods ; Smell ; physiology ; Taste ; physiology

According to the instruction of the operator, the designed programmable multichannel stimulator will deliver stimuli with an assigned amplitude and a proper width to the electrode-array in various modes. Each stimulation time is controlled by the internal timer of the MCU, while the stimulated electrodes' spatial parameter is controlled by the CPLD. Having abandoned conventional isolation using the transformer, we have adapted optical coupling and stable float ground connection to achieve the safety standard required by physiological measurements.
Electric Stimulation ; instrumentation ; methods ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; instrumentation ; Electrodes, Implanted ; Electrophysiology ; instrumentation ; methods

The dielectric spectroscopy of human platelets was measured within the frequency range of 100 KHz-100 MHz, and the dielectric numerical characters of human platelets in response to AC electric field were analyzed. We measured the AC impedance of normal human platelets with the impedance technique in the frequency domain for the first time. The experimental data were used to draw a relationship curve between the frequency of electric field and permittivity or conductivity, and then the dielectric spectrum and the Cole-Cole plots of human platelets were established and then, the characteristics of dielectric response of human platelets were decided, which demonstrated the dependence of permittivity and conductivity of human platelets upon frequency, and showed two characteristic frequencies of the dielectric spectroscopy of human platelets: the first characteristic frequency f(C1) = 6.66 MHz; the second characteristic frequency f(C2) = 9.81 MHz.
Blood Platelets ; cytology ; physiology ; Electric Conductivity ; Electric Impedance ; Electrochemistry ; methods ; Electrophysiology ; Humans ; Spectrum Analysis ; methods

Study on features of acupoints with resistance test in the past half century is reviewed in this article. Mechanism and technology of the method are introduced as well as its shortcomings. The determination method of signal transmission along meridians with the combination of electrical network theories and practice is advanced. And the result of a series experiments on one meridian at the superficial part of the body are given as well. Thus, it is concluded that the signals of the point-in/point-out and the signals along a non-meridian path with the same distance are significantly different, which gives a verification of the feasibility of the method by using electrical network theories to set out characteristics of signal transmission along meridians dynamically.
Acupuncture Points ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Electrophysiology ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Meridians ; Signal Transduction

A 35 years old woman presented with an acute meningeal syndrome following an intra ventricular haemorrhage without subarachnoid haemorrhage. The angiography demonstrated a 6 mm partially thrombosed saccular aneurysm at the plexal point of the right anterior choroidal artery (AChoA). It was surgically approached inside the ventricle through a trans-temporal corticotomy. The aneurysm was excised after distal exclusion of the feeding artery under motor-evoked potentials monitoring. Of the 19 cases of distal AChoA aneurysm neurosurgical treatment, this is the only one performed under electrophysiology monitoring, a simple and safe method to detect and prevent motor tract ischemia. We discuss this rare case, along with a comprehensible review of the literature of the previous surgical cases of distal AChoA aneurysms.
Aneurysm* ; Angiography ; Arteries* ; Choroid* ; Electrophysiology ; Evoked Potentials, Motor ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Ischemia ; Methods

BACKGROUNDRadiofrequency (RF) ablation has become a widely accepted treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aimed to identify the efficacy and safety of pulmonary vein (PV) ablation with ethanol and to explore an alternative energy source for catheter ablation of AF.

METHODSTwelve open-chest mongrel dogs were randomized into ethanol ablation group and control group. Both the injections and electrophysiological mapping procedures were performed epicardialy. In ethanol ablation group (n = 6), injections were performed to circumferentially ablate the root of each PV (0.2 ml each site, 3 mm apart) with 95% ethanol using an 1 ml injector. In control group (n = 6), saline was injected other than ethanol. PV isolation was confirmed with a circular catheter immediately after the procedure and at follow up of 30 days. PV isolation was defined as the absence of PV potentials at each electrode of the circular catheter positioned at the PV side of the lesions, as well as complete conduction block into left atrium (LA) during PV pacing.

RESULTSPV electrical isolation with complete bidirectional conduction block was achieved with ethanol immediately and at 30 days in 95% of PVs, while saline injection caused only transient conduction changes between LA and PVs. In ethanol group, histologic analysis showed transmural lesions at 30 days. And there was no evidence of PV stenosis or thrombus formation. Mean LA diameter was not significantly different between baseline and 30 days.

CONCLUSIONEthanol is a safe energy source to effectively isolate PV in canine model and may be promising in endocardial ablation procedure of AF patients in the future.

Animals ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Dogs ; Electrophysiology ; Ethanol ; Pulmonary Veins ; physiology ; surgery ; Random Allocation

We invented an efficiently approach to building whole-heart electrophysiological model with cellular automata style massive parallel computing. In this paper, we introduce the simulation facilities of a model we built and the potential application of such model. The first use is to solve the forward problem of electrocardiogram. Simulating arrhythmia ECG and accurately interpreting the significance of various irregular waveforms will be the key goal. Investigating the dynamic property of cardioelectrical activity at cellular and channel levels is the second application, aiming at revealing the mechanism of the generation and sustentation of arrhythmia. Third, the model can be used to research the impacts of artificial interventions on cardioelectrical activity. Electrical defibrillation and pace-making as well as the use of channel block agents are all cases.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Computer Simulation ; Electrocardiography ; methods ; Electrophysiology ; Heart ; physiology ; Humans ; Models, Cardiovascular

AIMTo evaluate the effects of atria-His bundle sequential pacing on cardiac electrophysiology and heamodynamics in dogs.

METHODSIn 20 opening chest anesthetized dogs, platinum electrodes were fixed at the epicardium of right atria (RA) and the right ventricular apex (RVA) respectively, pacing right atria and the right ventricle. A special lead was located at His bundle (based on a optical "H" wave and narrow duration of the QRS complexes recorded in ECG), pacing His bundle. Cardiac electrophysiology and hemodynamics parameters were compared in the different pacing models RA(AAI, RVA-(VVI), HisB-(VVI) single chamber pacing and RA-RVA(DDI), RA-HisB(DDI) dual chamber pacing.

RESULTSThe threshold of His B pacing is similar to that of RVA pacing. Cardiac output (CO) is increased in pacing of RA(AAI), His B-(VVI) and RA-His B(DDI). It is increased by 29.64% in pacing of RA-His B(DDI) (P < 0.01) and by 0.25% (P > 0.05) in pacing of RA-RVA(DD1) While CO is decreased by 5.41% in RVA-VVI) pacing (P > 0.05). SV, LVSW and RVSW of RA-HisB(DDI) pacing are superior to those in RVA-VVI) and RA-RVA(DDI) pacing.

CONCLUSIONRight atria-His bundle sequence pacing significantly improves cardiac function compared with the other model pacing because it maintains normal physiological electronic activity sequence and systolic synchrony. It will be adapted to clinical application.

Animals ; Bundle of His ; physiology ; Cardiac Electrophysiology ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; methods ; Dogs ; Female ; Heart Atria ; Hemodynamics ; Male

The dielectric behavior of the frog skeletal muscle cells in the 100 Hz-100 MHz range was simulated with dielectric ellipsoidal-shell model, and the model's parameters were put forward for the first time. It could serve as a theoretical foundation on which to make analysis of muscle fatigue, muscle malnutrition and muscle atrophies in the future.
Animals ; Electric Conductivity ; Electric Stimulation ; Electrophysiology ; instrumentation ; methods ; Models, Theoretical ; Muscle, Skeletal ; physiology ; Ranidae

Proper signal sources for prosthetic limb control are the premises in designing upper extremities with high effectiveness and multi-degree of freedom(DOF). With an overview of input sources adopted in prosthetic design, this paper reviews comprehensively on characters of signals available for arm control.
Artificial Limbs ; Biomedical Engineering ; Electronics, Medical ; Electrophysiology ; Humans ; Prosthesis Design ; methods