No abstract

Based on the noninvasive Vogele-Bale-Hohner vacuum mouthpiece, there is no need for invasive head clamp fixation. Imaging, real laboratory simulation, and the actual surgical intervention can be separated in time and location. The presented data suggest that frameless stereotaxy is a predictable and reproducible procedure, which may enhance patient security and cannulation success independent of the surgeon's experience.

The increased BOLD response spatially localized within the sensorimotor cortex reflects an increase in neuronal activity that may provide augmented neuronal excitability.

We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study to investigate the effectiveness of P6 acupuncture on postoperative vomiting in children undergoing strabismus surgery. Acupuncture was performed by laser stimulation with a low-level laser. Laser stimulation of P6 was administered 15 min before induction of anaesthesia and 15 min after arriving in the recovery room. In the laser stimulation group, the incidence of vomiting was significantly lower (25%) than that in the placebo group (85%).

Recent investigations have reported contradictory results on the influence of low-power laser light on wound healing. Low-power laser with a power output of 250 mW and an emitted laser light of 670 nm have been insufficiently investigated to date. The effect of a 250-mW/670-nm laser light on the healing of burning wounds in rats was investigated. Thirty rats were burned on both flanks. One wound was irradiated with 670-nm laser light (2 J/cm2), whereas the other side remained untreated. Macroscopic evaluation of the wounds was performed daily; 10, 20, and 30 days after burning, 10 rats were killed and the wounds histologically evaluated. Neither macroscopic nor histologic examination of the irradiated wound showed accelerated wound healing when compared with control wounds. In the present study, irradiation of burns with a 250-mW/670-nm laser light produced no beneficial effects on wound-healing processes.

As recent studies demonstrated, acupuncture can elicit activity in specific brain areas. This study aims to explore further the central effect using laser acupuncture. We investigated the cerebral effects of laser acupuncture at both acupoints GB43 with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). As a control condition the laser was mounted at the same acupoints but without application of laser stimulation. The group results showed significant brain activations within the thalamus, nucleus subthalamicus, nucleus ruber, the brainstem, and the Brodmann areas 40 and 22 for the acupuncture condition. No significant brain activations were observed within the placebo condition. The activations we observed were laser acupuncture-specific and predominantly ipsilateral. This supports the assumption that acupuncture is mediated by meridians, since meridians do not cross to the other side. Furthermore, we could show that laser acupuncture allows one to design a pure placebo condition.

We conclude that neither 690 nm nor 635 nm low-power laser light produced any beneficial effects on the healing processes of burns in rats.

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of Korean hand acupuncture in preventing postoperative vomiting in children scheduled for strabismus surgery. In one group, acupressure was performed 30 min before induction of anaesthesia by applying an acupressure disc onto the Korean hand acupuncture point K-K9; the disc remained in situ for at least 24 h. The second group functioned as placebo group. The treatment groups did not differ with regard to patient characteristics, surgical procedure and anaesthetic administered. In the acupressure group, the incidence of vomiting was significantly lower (20%) than in the placebo group (68%). We conclude that Korean hand acupressure of the acupuncture point K-K9 is an effective method for reducing postoperative vomiting in children after strabismus repair.