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ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of combination with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and median nerve electrical stimulation (MNS) on patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (pDOC) in different age. MethodsFrom January, 2021 to May, 2023, 93 patients with pDOC in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University were divided into young group (≤ 45 years old), middle-aged group (46 to 60 years old) and elderly group (> 60 years old). All the groups were treated with rTMS and MNS for four weeks. The Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and Full Outline of Unresponsiveness Scale (FOUR) were used to evaluate the efficiency of awakening after treatment and the awakening ratios were compared among three groups weekly. Four weeks after treatment, regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured with CT perfusion imaging. The score of Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOS-E) was compared six months after treatment. ResultsFrom three weeks after treatment, the scores of CRS-R, GCS and FOUR increased in all groups (P < 0.05). After weekly treatment, there was no significant difference in the composition ratio of consciousness level and the awakening ratio among three groups (χ2 < 11.057, P > 0.05). After four weeks of treatment, rCBF improved in three groups (|t| > 2.495, P < 0.05), however, there was no difference among three groups (F < 1.887, P > 0.05). There was no difference in the score of GOS-E at six months after treatment (F = 3.083, P = 0.055). ConclusionrTMS combined with MNS is effective on pDOC patients in different ages, and elderly patients could also benefit from it.
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Objective:To investigate the expression of 5-HT 2A receptor in the prefrontal cortex of traumatic brain injuryinduced coma rats after median nerve electrical stimulation.Method:A total of 72 SD rats (weighing 250-300g) were randomly divided into 4 groups:a stimulationgroup,an antagonist group,a sham-stimulation group and a control group.This traumatic brain injury model was established by a weight-drop head injury,and we evaluated the change of behavior through the six classical levels of consciousness.The animals were sacrificed and their brain tissues were removed at 6,12,and 24 hours after injury.5-HT 2A protein expression was examined by immunohistochemistry.Result:Thirteen rats exhibited righting reflex in the stimulation group.In the antagonist group,9 rats exhibited righting reflex.5 rats in the sham-stimulation group had the same response.The mean rank of consciousness degree were degree 9.50 in the control group,degree 52.75 in the sham-stimulation group,degree 37.61 in the stimulation group,degree 46.14 in the antagonist group.Comparison among groups presented an increasing consciousness degree:control group＜stimulation group＜antagonist group＜sham-stimulation group(P＜0.01).Resuits from immunohistochemistry showed that significant differences in the 5-HT 2A expression among the four groups (sham-stimulation＜control＜antagonist＜stimulation))(P＜0.05),and a within-group comparison showed that the 5-HT 2A expression level was as follows:6 hours＜24 hours ＜12 hours(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Median nerve electrical stimulation might modulate wakefulness by promoting the 5-HT 2A expression via orexin-A in the prefrontal cortex of rats with traumatic brain injury-induced coma.
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Objective To compare the effects of median nerve electrical stimulation on coma patients after traumatic brain injury with different settings. Methods From 2013 to 2015, 161 patients with traumatic brain injury were randomly divided into control group (n=40), experimental group 1 (n=41), experimental group 2 (n=39) and experimental group 3 (n=41). The control group received routine conscious-ness-promoted methods, and the experimental groups received median nerve electrical stimulation with 200μs and 30 Hz, 100 Hz and 50 Hz in sequence, 60 minutes a day for 90 days. They were assessed with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) before, 30 days and 90 days after treatment. Results There was significant difference in the scores of CCS and CRS-R, times of treatment, number of sobered patients and coma time among groups (P0.05). The experimental group 3 was better than the experimental groups 1 and 2 (P<0.05). Conclusion Median nerve electrical stimulation with 200μs, 50 Hz could promote co-ma patients to wake up optimally.
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ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical benefits of early right median nerve electrical stimulation on coma patients following craniocerebral trauma. MethodsCraniocerebral trauma patients with up to two weeks of coma in the years 2005-2011 were involved in the study and were randomly divided into control group (received routine management ) and treatment group (routine management plus right median nerve electrical stimulation).The treatment lasted for a period of more than two weeks.The clinical efficacy of the right median nerve electric stimulation and the conscious status of the patients within six months after craniocerebral trauma were observed.ResultsA total of 456 patients were enrolled in the study,of whom 437 patients completed the treatment course,including 221 patients in the treatment group and 216 in the control group.There was no complication related to electric stimulation during the treatment.Cerebral blood flow (CBF) imaging and brain stem evoked potential (BEP) examination demonstrated significant improvement in the treatment group.A total of 386 patients were followed up for six months postoperatively,which showed that there were 122 patients with regained consciousness,46 in minimally conscious state and 36 in vegetative state in the treatment group (204 patients) and there were 84 patients with regained consciousness,40 in minimally conscious state and 58 in vegetative state in the control group ( 182 patients).The patients in the treatment group showed a higher ratio of regained consciousness and a lower ratio of vegetative state compared with the control group,but the ratio of minimally conscious state showed no statistical difference between two groups. ConclusionsRight median nerve electrical stimulation is a suitable coma awaking means at early stage after craniocerebral trauma.
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@#Objective To investigate the effect of median nerve electrical stimulation on the activity, speech and quality of life in patients after severe traumatic brain injury. Methods 60 patients with severe traumatic brain injury were divided into 2 groups: the control group (A) and the treated group (B). The patients in Group A were treated with the routine medicine and rehabilitation. Based on the routine therapy, the patients in Group B were treated with the right median nerve electrical stimulation. Their outcome, activity, speech and quality of life were assessed. Results The scores of Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), speech assessment, and the quality of life in Group B improved compared with that in Group A (P<0.05), the activity seemed to improve, but not significantly. Conclusion The right median nerve electrical stimulation is effective to promote the recovery of neurological function and improve the quality of life in patients with severe traumatic brain injury.