Deep Brain Stimulation for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Optimal Stimulation Sites.

BACKGROUND: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a promising treatment option for treatment-refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Several stimulation targets have been used, mostly in and around the anterior limb of the internal capsule and ventral striatum. However, the precise target within this region remains a matter of debate. METHODS: Here, we retrospectively studied a multicenter cohort of 82 patients with OCD who underwent DBS of the ventral capsule/ventral striatum and mapped optimal stimulation sites in this region. RESULTS: DBS sweet-spot mapping performed on a discovery set of 58 patients revealed 2 optimal stimulation sites associated with improvements on the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, one in the anterior limb of the internal capsule that overlapped with a previously identified OCD-DBS response tract and one in the region of the inferior thalamic peduncle and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Critically, the nucleus accumbens proper and anterior commissure were associated with beneficial but suboptimal clinical improvements. Moreover, overlap with the resulting sweet- and sour-spots significantly estimated variance in outcomes in an independent cohort of 22 patients from 2 additional DBS centers. Finally, beyond obsessive-compulsive symptoms, stimulation of the anterior site was associated with optimal outcomes for both depression and anxiety, while the posterior site was only associated with improvements in depression. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest how to refine targeting of DBS in OCD and may be helpful in guiding DBS programming in existing patients.

Estimulación cerebral profunda en enfermedad de Parkinson / Deep brain stimulation in Parkinson disease

RESUMEN Introducción: la enfermedad de Parkinson es considerada la segunda causa de enfermedad neurodegenerativa, en la que se destacan signos y síntomas motores como temblor, bradicinesia, rigidez e inestabilidad postural, acompañados de síntomas no motores como alteraciones del sueño, autonómicas, cognitivas, gastrointestinales, entre otras. El tratamiento farmacológico de la enfermedad al inicio suele ser útil, pero cuando los síntomas persisten, el tratamiento falla o no se toleran sus reacciones adversas, es necesario considerar alternativas como la estimulación cerebral profunda. Metodología: revisión narrativa con énfasis en los aspectos clínicos de la terapia con estimulación cerebral profunda en los pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson. Discusión: la estimulación cerebral profunda es una técnica quirúrgica en la que se implantan electrodos en regiones cerebrales específicas, generalmente el núcleo subtalámico, globo pálido interno o núcleo ventral intermedio del tálamo, y se conectan a un marcapasos subcutáneo desde donde se modula eléctricamente la actividad de estas áreas. Esta terapia ha mostrado ser costo-efectiva, aporta beneficios considerables en la mejoría de los síntomas de la enfermedad de Parkinson y cuenta con evidencia clínica en los pacientes que han sido seleccionados correctamente.

SUMMARY Introduction: Parkinson's disease is considered the second cause of neurodegenerative disease, in which motor signs and symptoms such as tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity and postural instability are highlighted, accompanied by non-motor symptoms such as sleep, autonomic, cognitive, gastrointestinal among others disturbances. The pharmacological treatment of the disease at the beginning is usually useful, but when the symptoms persist, the treatment fails or its adverse reactions are not tolerated, it is necessary to consider alternatives such as deep brain stimulation. Methodology: This is a narrative review with emphasis on the clinical aspects of deep brain stimulation therapy in patients with Parkinson's disease. Discussion: Deep brain stimulation is a surgical technique in which electrodes are implanted in specific brain regions, usually the subthalamic nucleus, globus pallidus interna or ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus, and are connected to a subcutaneous pacemaker from which the activity of these areas is modulated electrically. This therapy has been shown to be cost-effective, provides considerable benefits in improving the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and has clinical evidence in patients who have been correctly selected.

Drugs With Anticholinergic Potential and Risk of Falls With Hip Fracture in the Elderly Patients: A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between the use of anticholinergic drugs and the risk of falls with hip fracture in a population older than 60 years. METHODS: A case-control study in patients older than 60 years with a diagnosis of hip fracture. All drugs dispensed during the previous 30 days were identified. Sociodemographic, clinical, pharmacological (drugs according to the Anticholinergic Risk Scale [ARS]), and polypharmacy variables were analyzed. MEASUREMENTS: Falls with hip fracture and type of drug according to the ARS. RESULTS: A total of 300 patients with hip fracture and 600 controls were included. The mean age was 81.6 ± 8.9 years, with female predominance (71.3%). The use of drugs with moderate (odds ratio [OR]: 1.97, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19-3.27) or high ARS scores (OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.13-2.96) increased the probability of fracture. CONCLUSIONS: There was an association between the use of drugs with anticholinergic properties and the probability of hip fracture in elderly patients and it was possible to establish the level of risk.

Association between the use of benzodiazepines and opioids with the risk of falls and hip fractures in older adults.

ABSTRACTBackground:To determine the association between the use of opioids and benzodiazepines and the risk of falls with hip fracture in populations older than 65 years in Colombia. METHODS: A case-control study with patients older than 65 years with diagnosis of hip fracture. Two controls were obtained per case. The drugs dispensed in the previous 30 days were identified. Sociodemographic, diagnostic, pharmacological (opioids and benzodiazepines), and polypharmacy variables were analyzed. A logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk of fall with hip fracture while using these drugs. RESULTS: We included 287 patients with hip fractures and 574 controls. There was a female predominance (72.1%) and a mean age of 82.4 ± 8.0 years. Of the patients, 12.7% had been prescribed with opioids and 4.2% with benzodiazepines in the previous month. The adjusted multivariate analysis found that using opioids (OR:4.49; 95%CI:2.72-7.42) and benzodiazepines (OR:3.73; 95%CI:1.60-8.70) in the month prior to the event was significantly associated with a greater probability of suffering a fall with hip fracture. CONCLUSIONS: People who are taking opioids and benzodiazepines have increased risk for hip fracture in Colombia. Strategies to educate physicians regarding the pharmacology of older adults should be strengthened.