Objective:To explore any effect of excitatory and inhibitory multi-focal transcranial direct current stimulation (m-tDCS) on cortical functioning in healthy adults.Methods:Fifteen healthy participants received 20-minute excitatory and inhibitory episodes of m-tDCS targeting C1-C2-FC1-FC2. Finite element analysis and functional near-infrared spectroscopy were then used to model the normal component of the electric field (En) applied and to monitor the oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO), deoxygenated hemoglobin (HbR), and total hemoglobin (THb) concentrations in the targeted regions during the stimulation.Results:The excitatory protocol induced En values of 0.057V/m and 0.058V/m in the left and right hemispheres, respectively, with an average of 0.058V/m, while the inhibitory one evoked corresponding En values of -0.057V/m and -0.058V/m with an average of -0.058V/m. During excitatory m-tDCS, HbO and THb concentrations in the target cortices were higher than in the inhibitory protocol, with significant differences at FC1, FC2, and C2 for HbO, and at FC2 and C2 for THb. However, no significant inter-group differences in HbR concentrations were observed. Moreover, either protocol induced severe adverse reactions including pain, though the pain decreased with prolonged stimulation.Conclusions:Both excitatory and inhibitory m-tDCS modulate cortical function among healthy individuals. Excitatory m-tDCS is the more effective in enhancing cortical excitability.

Objective:To explore any effect of excitatory and inhibitory multi-focal transcranial direct current stimulation (m-tDCS) on cortical functioning in healthy adults.Methods:Fifteen healthy participants received 20-minute excitatory and inhibitory episodes of m-tDCS targeting C1-C2-FC1-FC2. Finite element analysis and functional near-infrared spectroscopy were then used to model the normal component of the electric field (En) applied and to monitor the oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO), deoxygenated hemoglobin (HbR), and total hemoglobin (THb) concentrations in the targeted regions during the stimulation.Results:The excitatory protocol induced En values of 0.057V/m and 0.058V/m in the left and right hemispheres, respectively, with an average of 0.058V/m, while the inhibitory one evoked corresponding En values of -0.057V/m and -0.058V/m with an average of -0.058V/m. During excitatory m-tDCS, HbO and THb concentrations in the target cortices were higher than in the inhibitory protocol, with significant differences at FC1, FC2, and C2 for HbO, and at FC2 and C2 for THb. However, no significant inter-group differences in HbR concentrations were observed. Moreover, either protocol induced severe adverse reactions including pain, though the pain decreased with prolonged stimulation.Conclusions:Both excitatory and inhibitory m-tDCS modulate cortical function among healthy individuals. Excitatory m-tDCS is the more effective in enhancing cortical excitability.

Humans ; COVID-19 ; Consensus ; SARS-CoV-2 ; China

Objective To observe the effect of erythropoietin(EPO)in rats with delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning (DEACMP). Methods A total of 90 male adult SD rats were randomly divided into three groups:blank control group(BC group),air control group(AC group)and DEACMP group. Time points(1,3,7,14,21 and 28 days after acute carbon monoxide poisoning)were set for measuring the changes. Pure CO were injected into the abdominal cavity of the rats from DEACMP group for several times to estab-lish DEACMP model. Rats in AC group were injected with equal volume of air by the same way. BC group were without any treatment. Morris water maze test was used to measure the cognitive behavior. The apoptosis of pyrami-dal neurons at hippocampus was measured by TUNEL. The expression of erythropoietin(EPO)in hippocampus was measured by immunohistochemistry. Results The average escaped latency of rats in DEACMP group increased after poisoning compared with rats in other two groups(P<0.05). The apoptosis of pyramidal neurons in hippocam-pus increased from day 1 after the CO poisoning. It reached the peak at day 7 and it still had a high expression at day 28. The apoptotic index in DEACMP group increased significantly compare with that of BC group and AC group (P < 0.05). The expression of EPO in hippocampus was found increased from day 1 after the CO poisoning and reached the peak at day 3. It began to reduce at day 7. The expression in DEACMP group was higher than those of other two groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions It may be one of the causes of the DEACMP that the expression of EPO decreased in the middle and late stage after CO poisoning and its anti-apoptosis was decreased.

OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of Tanreqing injection on the immune factors and clinical outcome in patients with ventilator associated pneumonia(VAP).METHODS:155 patients with VAP were randomly divided into trial group and control group.Serum levels of CRP,IL-6 and TNF-? were determined at 0,1,3,5 and 7 days after treatment.The chest X-ray results at 0 and 3 days after treatment were compared.The mechanical ventilation(MV)time and the successful rate of weaning from mechanical ventilation and the mortality rate were recorded.RESULTS:The serum levels of CRP,IL-6 and TNF-? in all 155 VAP patients were significantly higher than normal levels,at 5 days,serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-? in the trial group began to decrease significantly as compared with the control group(P