Surface perfusion of the rostral ventromedullar cerebral subdivisions with artificial cerebrospinal fluid containing exogenous NO donor sodium nitroprusside (0.1 mM) increased the discharge rate of the phrenic nerve and potentiated the response of the respiratory center to hypercapnia in narcotized mature rats. The latter reaction was prevented by blockage of NO-synthase in rostral ventromedullar neural structures with N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 0.3 mM). It was hypothesized that rostral ventromedullar neural structures are involved in modulatory action of NO on central chemosensitive drive.

The neuromuscular stimulation by Whole Body Vibration (WBV) has found an increasing common application in restorative medicine and gerontology. Despite numerous effects of WBV as a training method on performance and its ability to aid in the rehabilitation of chronic diseases, musculoskeletal and neurological disorders, in the review of the current literature there is no sufficient data indicating its impact on the immune system, especially in elderly. Authors studied «immunological safety» of such training in its long-term program. The results of 24-week training proved that WBV is an objectively benign type of intervention.

Objectives – to evaluate the efficacy of the immersive virtual reality (VR) as a supplementary method of the motor function restoration in the lower extremities of the patients with acute ischemic stroke in the carotid territory. Berg balance scale dynamics was used for patients assessment. Material and methods. The study included 33 patients with acute ischemic stroke in the carotid territory. The patients were randomized into two groups: the control group received the conventional treatment; the experimental group additionally received VR therapy with a sensory impact. The VR therapy included 10 sessions of 15 minutesduration each. Results. On the 6th day of VR treatment, the static-locomotor function index on Berg balance scale was significantly improved in patients in the experimental group (p=0.03). On the last day of rehabilitation, the difference between the study groups in the static locomotor function demonstrated the improvement on 23 points (95% CI 13–27 points) in the experimental group, the Berg balance scale improvement reached 7 points (95% CI 2–13 points). Conclusion. The study revealed the positive input of the immersive VR sessions in static loco-motor function rehabilitation in patients in the acute period of ischemic stroke. The method demonstrated its safety and acceptability in this category of patients. Deeper immersion through the use of an explicit interaction with the VR objects could increase the efficiency of this rehabilitation method in static locomotor function restoration.