Remote magnetic navigation-assisted catheter ablation enhances catheter stability and ablation success with lower catheter temperatures.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that remote magnetic navigation (RMN) may provide enhanced catheter stability and substrate contact to aid in ablation. To date, no study has examined this claim. Accordingly, we compared the characteristics of the successful ablation of atrioventricular reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) using RMN with a matched population ablated using a conventional (CON) manual approach. METHODS: Sixteen patients who underwent RMN-assisted ablation of typical AVNRT were matched with 16 patients who had a CON-AVNRT ablation. RESULTS: All patients had successful slow pathway modification without complication. The mean catheter temperature achieved with the successful ablation was significantly lower with RMN than with CON (42 +/- 7 degrees C vs 47 +/- 3 degrees C, P

[Intraoperative ultrasound diagnosis in the removal of intraocular foreign bodies].

The paper provides a rationale and indications for diascleral removal of foreign bodies from the anterior chamber of the eyeball, by intraoperatively using ultrasound study. The clinical material presents 148 cases of diascleral removal of foreign (49 magnetic and 49 amagnetic) bodes impacted into the tunics of the anterior eye without evident opacities of optical media and without signs of endophthalmitis. The paper provides a pathogenetic rationale for the method that is lowly traumatic and highly effective (foreign bodies being removed in 99.9% of cases) due to the high precision of location of a scleral cut in the projection of foreign body bedding owing to intraoperative sound usage. A model clinical case of fragment removal is also shown in the paper. The specific features of criteria for using the method are described, by taking into account the anatomic characteristics of orbital eyeball location.

[Dynamic magnetotherapy use in comprehensive treatment phlegmons of maxillofacial region and mandible fractures].

145 patients (60 with phlegmons of submandibular and submental regions, 85--with fractures of mandible) were observed and treated with the use of moving pulse magnetic field (MPMF) produced by special apparatus (AMO-ATOS-E, <>, Saratov-city), 60 patients with the same pathology were treated by traditional physical methods and served as control. Use of MPMF led to quicker patient recovery: quicker reduction (if compared with traditional physical methods of treatment) of oedema and soft tissue inflammatory infiltration, quicker relief from inflammatory reaction (according to data of cytokinin profile), improvement of tissue blood supply in the region of fractures in patients with mandible fractures. As the result--we had shortening treatment terms of such patients and complication number reduction.

[Use of Intramag devices with Intraterm and LAST-02 attachments in complex therapy of chronic prostatitis].

The examination of the patients exposed to physical factors (magnetotherapy, laser therapy and thermotherapy) has demonstrated that Intramag unit with attachments Intraterm and LAST-02 for local physiotherapy is effective in patients with chronic prostatitis and can be used in urological hospitals and outpatient clinics.

[Influence of treatment with variable magnetic field of low frequency in low mountain environment on cardiohemodynamic index of patients with arterial hypertension].

Pathological changes in function and action of cardiovascular system is the significant link in formation and progression of arterial hypertension. 68 patients were investigated. From these patients in 32 first stage of mentioned pathology, while in 36 - the II degree was found. It is established that treatment of arterial hypertension by variable magnetic field of low frequency in low mountain environment causes decrease of systolic, diastolic and heart dynamic blood pressure, normalizes heart index and pulse rate; decreases peripheral vascular specific resistance, increases amount of upset index accelerated of blood flow on the region "lung-ear", improves electrocardiological data. Mentioned pathological displacements were more expressed at the first stage of arterial hypertension.

[Effects of therapeutic complexes including balneoradonokinesitherapy, electromyostimulation and low-frequency magnetotherapy on regional blood flow in patients with postrraumatic gonarthritis].

Balneoradonokinesitherapy alone and its combination with electrostimulation and low-frequency magnetotherapy were used for the treatment of regional blood flow disorders in 76 patients with posttraumatic gonarthritis. Balneoradonokinesitherapy in combination with electromyostimulation improved blood circulation. When low-frequency magnetotherapy was added to the latter complex, the regress of regional blood flow disorders of a damaged extremity was most significant.

No deterioration of cognitive performance in an aggressive unilateral and bilateral antidepressant rTMS add-on trial.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive functions were assessed before and following a course of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in patients with depression participating in a sham-controlled, randomized trial of rTMS as adjunct to antidepressant treatment. METHOD: Forty-one medicated inpatients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of a depressive episode were consecutively randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups comparing 2 active rTMS conditions with sham stimulation. The rTMS was applied either at high frequency over the left dorsolateral-prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) (10 sessions x 10 trains x 10 seconds 20 Hz at 100% motor threshold [MT], 90-second intertrain interval) or in a combined high- and low-frequency manner to the left and right DLPFC, respectively (10 sessions x 1 train x 10 minutes at 120% MT). Thirty-eight patients completed a neuropsychological test battery at baseline and following day 14. The cognitive assessment focused on motor skills, attention, executive functions, learning, and memory. Data were collected from November 1999 to August 2002. RESULTS: Active treatment groups did not differ with respect to assessed cognitive measures and thus were pooled. A comparison of short-term changes (baseline-day 14) in neuropsychological performance revealed a more favorable time course of the actively treated patients for encoding in the verbal memory test compared with the sham-stimulated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Unilateral rTMS as well as bilateral combined rTMS revealed no detrimental effects on cognition, as compared with the sham group. Moreover, neither the add-on design nor the used aggressive parameters had a negative impact on cognitive measures in comparison with sham. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation might have mild beneficial cognitive effects partly independent of its antidepressant efficacy.

New developments in electroconvulsive therapy and magnetic seizure therapy.

New findings regarding the mechanisms of action of electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) have led to novel developments in treatment technique to further improve this highly effective treatment for major depression. These new approaches include novel placements, optimization of electrical stimulus parameters, and new methods for inducing more targeted seizures(eg, magnetic seizure therapy [MST]). MST is the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation to induce a seizure. Magnetic fields pass through tissue unimpeded, providing more control over the site and extent of stimulation than can be achieved with ECT. This enhanced control represents a means of focusing the treatment on target cortical structures thought to be essential to antidepressant response and reducing spread to medial temporal regions implicated in the cognitive side effects of ECT. MST is at an early stage of development. Preliminary results suggest that MST may have some advantages over ECT in terms of subjective side effects and acute cognitive functioning. Studies designed to address the antidepressant efficacy of MST are underway. As with all attempts to improve convulsive therapy technique, the clinical value of MST will need to be established through controlled clinical trials. This article reviews the experience to date with MST, and places this work in the broader context of other means of optimizing convulsive therapy in the treatment of depression.

[Efficacy of a chair with magnets in the prevention of musculo-skeletal disorders caused by prolonged sitting]. / Efficacia di un sistema di seduta con magneti nella prevenzione di disturbi muscolo-scheletrici da postura prolungata.

The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the effectiveness of a sitting system based on the application of magnetic fields in the prevention of posture-related musculoskeletal disorders. We studied 5 healthy male volunteers during laboratory simulation tests including 60-minute sessions of "driving" and computer-work. Two subjects performed a 60-minute driving test on an isotonic dynamometer with a steering wheel, in which they had to steer for 2 min and drive normally for 3 min, alternatively. They repeated the test with and without the magnet-based sitting system. Three subjects performed a 60-minute computer-work test in a seated position with and without the magnet-based sitting system. EMG activity was registered in the trapezius muscles and at L1 and L5 lumbar level bilaterally with surface electrodes. The EMG trapezius activity continuously recorded was analysed with the APDF method, as proposed by Jonsson. Before and after the tests, the subjects performed a 60-sec isometric back extension at 60% MVC with a specific back dynamometer, while paraspinal EMG was recorded. The slope of decay of the median frequency of the EMG power spectrum was then calculated as an index of localised muscle fatigue. The results showed a decreased myoelectric activity both at shoulder and lumbar level by using the magnet-based sitting system for prolonged seated work tasks. Thus, the system appears to be an effective tool in preventing muscle contractures secondary to prolonged, constrained positions.

[Efficacy of the impulse magnetic field therapy in patients after the outer drainage of abdominal cysts diagnosed with the use of isotopic and ultrasound techniques]. / Skutecznosc terapii impulsowym polem magnetycznym po drenazu zewnetrznym zmian torbielowatych jamy brzusznej diagnozowanych ultrasonograficznie i izotopowo.

154 patients with pancreatic, renal or hepatic cysts have been treated with the outer drainage under USG monitoring. Because of cysts' contact with tracts penetrating to an organ or its lack, the patients have been divided into two groups. Directly after the puncture all the patients have undergone the high frequency impulse magnetic field therapy. A distinct, positive treatment effect has been found in patients who have gone through not only drainage, but also magnetic field.

[Electrostimulation and magnetic therapy in the treatment of accommodation cramp and in the prevention of progressive myopia in children and adolescents]. / Elektrostimuliatsiia i magnitoterapiia v lechenii spazma akkomodatsii i v profilaktike progressirovaniia miopii u detei i podrostkov.

The paper presents a procedure and results of use of electrostimulation, magnetic therapy, and electrophoresis during treatment for accommodation cramp and in the prevention of myopia in children and adolescents. Data that characterize the dynamics and stability of achieved results are given.

[Primary and secondary prophylaxis of vibration disease caused by local vibration in miners]. / Pervichnaia i vtorichnaia profilaktika vibratsionnoi bolezni ot vozdeistviia lokal'noi vibratsii u gornorabochikh.

The article contains data on complex balneotherapy of vibration disease caused by local vibration in high risk group (miners exposed to vibration), that help to justify use of means for primary and secondary prevention of vibration disease.

[The optimization of an early rehabilitation program for cerebral stroke patients: the use of different methods of magneto- and laser therapy]. / Optimizatsiia programmy rannei reabilitatsii bol'nykh tserebral'nym insul'tom: primenenie razlichnykh metodik magnito- i lazerterapii.

Magnetotherapy and laser therapy were used in complex and complex-combined regimens in 75 patients after cerebral ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke starting on the poststroke week 4-5. Clinico-neurologic, neurophysiological and cerebrohemodynamic findings evidence for the highest effectiveness of neurorehabilitation including complex magneto-laser therapy in hemispheric ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke of subcortical location in the absence of marked clinico-tomographic signs of dyscirculatory encephalopathy. Complex-combined magneto-laser therapy is more effective for correction of spastic dystonia. Mutual potentiation of magnetotherapy and laser therapy results in maximal development of collateral circulation and cerebral hemodynamic reserve (84% of the patients). Complex effects manifest in arteriodilating and venotonic effects. Complex magneto-laser therapy is accompanied by reduction of hyperthrombocythemia and hyperfibrinogenemia.

[Alternative methods for prevention and treatment of dental caries using laser and magnetic laser exposure]. / Al'ternativnye sposoby profilaktiki i lecheniia kariesa zubov s primeneniem lazernogo i magnitno-lasernogo izlucheniia.

Alternative methods for prevention and treatment of dental caries are presented, based on the use of laser and magnetic laser exposure (patent No. 2053818, in Russia) with a new generation laser device with Optodan microprocessor monitoring (patent No. 2014107, Russia). The methods are intended for wide clinical application in children and adolescents in pedodontic departments and outpatient centers and particularly for group and individual use in dental rooms at school.

[THe development of systems for the early rehabilitation of patients with ischemic heart disease following aortocoronary bypass]. / Razrabotka kompleksov rannei reabilitatsii bol'nykh ishemicheskoi bolezn'iu serdtsa posle aortokoronarnogo shuntirovaniia.

Two rehabilitation complexes are described for coronary heart disease patients early after aortocoronary shunting. The first complex includes "dry" effervescent baths, magnetolaser therapy applied to the heart area, cryomassage of the abdomen. The second complex consisted of the above modalities plus dry air baths. Indications and contraindications to these complexes are specified.

[The prevention and treatment of suppurative-inflammatory complications in the bronchopulmonary system during prolonged artificial ventilation]. / Profilaktika i lechenie gnoino-vospalitel'nykh oslozhnenii v bronkholegochnoi sistemy pri prodlennoi IVL.

The use of physical methods, namely low frequency magnetic field in critically ill patients under respiratory therapy made it possible to prevent and in case of their development to effectively treat pyoinflammatory bronchopulmonary complications that accompany prolonged controlled lung ventilation. The results obtained were due to the elimination of an unfavourable effect of controlled lung ventilation on natural resistance and immune response of the respiratory tract because of normalization of physicochemical properties of the tracheobronchial tree secretion, enhanced functional capacities of phagocytes, repaired bonds between cellular and humoral local immunity in the lungs.