Electroconvulsive therapy in the medically ill

Source: Shirozu, K., et al. Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy. J. Vis. Exp. (2019)This video demonstrates the procedure for performing electroconvulsive therapy in a human patient, highlighting the stimulation process and assessing seizure activity through pupillary...

Source: Jang, S., et al, Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins. J. Vis. Exp. (2017)This video demonstrates the induction of an acute electroconvulsive seizure (ECS) in a rat model to study seizure-induced neuroplasticity. Researchers apply electrical stimulation via ear-clip electrodes, triggering neuronal hyperexcitability and clonus. This model helps investigate synaptic plasticity, seizure...

Pupillary responses (light reflex) were measured for assessment of adequate seizure induction by electroconvulsive therapy using an automated infrared pupillometer immediately after electrical stimulation. Constriction ratio was calculated and compared with seizure...

Here, we present a stereological method, the optical fractionator, used to quantify the formation of new neurons, and their survival, in the rat hippocampus following electroconvulsive stimulation. When correctly implemented, the sensitivity and efficiency of stereological methods ensures accurate estimates with a fixed and predetermined...

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early...

Inhaled medications are crucial for managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. They are essential for effective treatment and control, ensuring optimal respiratory health and well-being. Inhaled medication delivers drugs directly to the lungs, providing a rapid onset of action and reducing systemic side effects compared to oral or injectable medications. Three primary types of inhalation devices are used to administer these medications: nebulizers, metered-dose inhalers...