Transcranial direct current stimulation in the treatment of cerebellar ataxia: A two-phase, double-blind, auto-matched, pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of tDCS on posture, gait and coordination of movements in subjects with cerebellar ataxia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a two-phase, double blind, auto matched, pilot study. Seven people were selected to participate in the study aged from 14 to 57. tDCS and sham-tDCS were applied at different times to all participants for 40 min over five consecutive days so that they were blind to which of the two techniques was applied at any one time. The area stimulated was the bilateral motor cortex. Subjects were evaluated before and after the interventions using the Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) and specific tests to measure posture and balance were carried out using the Wii Fit platform and CvMob software. RESULTS: The study indicates a statistically significant improvement in respect of gait parameters and the total score of the SARA scale and Wii Fit platform after tDCS when compared with data obtained from sham-tDCS trials (p: 0,03). The adverse events relating to tDCS were all self-limiting and from mild to moderate intensity. CONCLUSION: Despite the small sample size, tDCS showed positive results in some motor parameters and could be considered a valuable new option for the treatment of cerebellar ataxias.

Impact of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Reading Skills of Children and Adolescents With Dyslexia.

Introduction: Rehabilitation techniques have been used to facilitate reading acquisition in dyslexia. However, many individuals continue to present academic impairment throughout life. New intervention strategies are necessary to further help this population. Objectives: Assess the impact of transcranial direct current stimulation on reading skills in children and adolescents with dyslexia. Methods: The study was conducted with one-group pretest-posttest. Participants received 2 mA transcranial direct current stimulation during 30 minutes for 5 consecutive days. Reading performance was measured by a group of tasks (identification and reading of letters, syllables, words, nonwords, and text). Results: A significant increase in the number of correct answers for nonwords and text tasks was observed after transcranial direct current stimulation (P = .035 and P = .012, respectively). Conclusion: The transcranial direct current stimulation seems to be a promising tool for the treatment of reading problems in dyslexia. Future studies are necessary to confirm the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation and to establish optimal intervention protocol in this population.

[Postoperative persistent chronic pain: what do we know about prevention, risk factors, and treatment]. / Dor crônica persistente pós-operatória: o que sabemos sobre prevenção, fatores de risco e tratamento?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Postoperative persistent chronic pain (POCP) is a serious health problem, disabling, undermining the quality of life of affected patients. Although more studies and research have addressed the possible mechanisms of the evolution from acute pain to chronic postoperatively, there are still no consistent data about the risk factors and prevention. This article aims to bring what is in the panorama of the current literature available. CONTENT: This review describes the definition, risk factors, and mechanisms of POCD, its prevention and treatment. The main drugs and techniques are exposed comprehensively. CONCLUSION: Postoperative persistent chronic pain is a complex and still unclear etiology entity, which interferes heavily in the life of the subject. Neuropathic pain resulting from surgical trauma is still the most common expression of this entity. Techniques to prevent nerve injury are recommended and should be used whenever possible. Despite efforts to understand and select risk patients, the management and prevention of this syndrome remain challenging and inappropriate.

Postoperative persistent chronic pain: what do we know about prevention, risk factors, and treatment.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Postoperative persistent chronic pain (POCP) is a serious health problem, disabling, undermining the quality of life of affected patients. Although more studies and research have addressed the possible mechanisms of the evolution from acute pain to chronic postoperatively, there are still no consistent data about the risk factors and prevention. This article aims to bring what is in the panorama of the current literature available. CONTENT: This review describes the definition, risk factors, and mechanisms of POCD, its prevention and treatment. The main drugs and techniques are exposed comprehensively. CONCLUSION: Postoperative persistent chronic pain is a complex and still unclear etiology entity, which interferes heavily in the life of the subject. Neuropathic pain resulting from surgical trauma is still the most common expression of this entity. Techniques to prevent nerve injury are recommended and should be used whenever possible. Despite efforts to understand and select risk patients, the management and prevention of this syndrome remain challenging and inappropriate.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Children and Adolescents With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Pilot Study.

Studies investigating the possible benefits of transcranial direct current stimulation on left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in children and adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have not been performed. This study assesses the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation in children and adolescents with ADHD on neuropsychological tests of visual attention, visual and verbal working memory, and inhibitory control. An auto-matched clinical trial was performed involving transcranial direct current stimulation in children and adolescents with ADHD, using SNAP-IV and subtests Vocabulary and Cubes of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children III (WISC-III). Subjects were assessed before and after transcranial direct current stimulation sessions with the Digit Span subtest of the WISC-III, inhibitory control subtest of the NEPSY-II, Corsi cubes, and the Visual Attention Test (TAVIS-3). There were 9 individuals with ADHD according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition) criteria. There was statistically significant difference in some aspects of TAVIS-3 tests and the inhibitory control subtest of NEPSY-II. Transcranial direct current stimulation can be related to a more efficient processing speed, improved detection of stimuli, and improved ability to switch between an ongoing activity and a new one.

Erratum: Congenital Chikungunya Virus Infection after an Outbreak in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1587323.].

Congenital Chikungunya Virus Infection after an Outbreak in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.

There is little information about the congenital chikungunya virus (CHIKV) transmission. We describe two cases of well-documented congenital CHIKV infection in Salvador-Brazil, where CHIKV has been identified since 2014. The outbreak in the city led to the clinical CHIKV diagnoses of both pregnant women 2 days before delivery. Urine and blood samples from the mothers and newborns were collected and tested for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis for Zika, dengue, and CHIKV. Both neonates and mothers had positive urine and serum PCR results for CHIKV. The newborns had significant perinatal complications and were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. The purpose of our case report is to show how severe congenital CHIKV infection can be and the importance to include CHIKV infection in the differential diagnosis of neonatal sepsis when mothers have clinical signs of the disease and live in an affected area.

Postoperative persistent chronic pain: what do we know about prevention, risk factors, and treatment / Dor crônica persistente pós-operatória: o que sabemos sobre prevenção, fatores de risco e tratamento?

Abstract Background and objectives: Postoperative persistent chronic pain (POCP) is a serious health problem, disabling, undermining the quality of life of affected patients. Although more studies and research have addressed the possible mechanisms of the evolution from acute pain to chronic postoperatively, there are still no consistent data about the risk factors and prevention. This article aims to bring what is in the panorama of the current literature available. Content: This review describes the definition, risk factors, and mechanisms of POCD, its prevention and treatment. The main drugs and techniques are exposed comprehensively. Conclusion: Postoperative persistent chronic pain is a complex and still unclear etiology entity, which interferes heavily in the life of the subject. Neuropathic pain resulting from surgical trauma is still the most common expression of this entity. Techniques to prevent nerve injury are recommended and should be used whenever possible. Despite efforts to understand and select risk patients, the management and prevention of this syndrome remain challenging and inappropriate.

Resumo Justificativa e objetivos: A dor crônica persistente pós-operatória (DCPO) constitui um grave problema de saúde, incapacitante, mina a qualidade de vida dos pacientes acometidos. Apesar de mais estudos e pesquisas terem sido desenvolvidos a respeito dos possíveis mecanismos da evolução da dor aguda para dor crônica pós-operatória, ainda não existem dados consistentes a respeito de seus fatores de risco e prevenção. Este artigo se propõe a trazer o que há no panorama da literatura atual disponível. Conteúdo: Esta revisão descreve a definição, os fatores de risco e os mecanismos da DCPO, sua prevenção e seus tratamentos. Os principais medicamentos e técnicas são expostos de forma compreensiva. Conclusão: A dor crônica persistente pós-operatória é uma entidade complexa e de etiologia ainda não esclarecida, que interfere intensamente na vida do sujeito. A dor neuropática decorrente do trauma cirúrgico ainda é a expressão mais comum dessa entidade. Técnicas que evitem a lesão de nervos estão recomendadas e devem ser usadas sempre que possível. Apesar dos esforços para entender e selecionar os pacientes de risco, o manuseio e a prevenção dessa síndrome continuam desafiantes e inapropriados.