Lead-DBS: an additional tool for stereotactic surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Use Lead-DBS software to analyze stereotactical surgical outcome of an operated population and demonstrate that small target deviations do not compromise the stimulation of desired structures, even with small amperages. METHODS: Image exams of patients submitted to deep brain stimulation for movement disorders treatment were processed in Lead-DBS software. Electrode stereotactic coordinates were subtracted from the planned target and those deviations, compared among different anatomical targets and sides operated firstly and secondly. We also quantified the frequency of relation between the activated tissue volume and the planned target through computer simulations. RESULTS: None of the 16 electrodes were exactly implanted at the planned coordinates. A stimulation of 3 mA reached 62.5% of the times the planned coordinates, rising to 68.75% with a 3,5 mA. No statistical significance was demonstrated in any comparison of laterality and anatomical sites. CONCLUSIONS: The simulation of small amperage fields could reach the intended target even when electrode placement is suboptimal. Furthermore, such a goal can be achieved without overlapping the volume of activated tissue with undesired structures. Software Lead-DBS proved to be a valuable complementary asset for surgical stereotactical result assessment.

Study of the effects of kinesthetic motor imagery in patients with heart failure.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the acute effect of kinesthetic motor imagery of the 2-minute walk test on hemodynamic and cardiopulmonary variables in patients with heart failure. METHODS: Twenty participants were recruited for the analysis of these variables before and after the execution and imagination of the 2-minute walk test, with the number of laps executed and imagined being recorded. RESULTS: The main results observed showed that (1) there was no difference in the number of laps executed and imagined (p=0.41), indicating that the participants actually imagined the test and (2) the motor imagery of the 2-minute walk test immediately increased (p<0.001) the heart and respiratory rates. CONCLUSION: The motor imagery seems to have acute effects on the cardiopulmonary anticipatory responses of a patient with heart failure.

Lead-DBS: an additional tool for stereotactic surgery

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Use Lead-DBS software to analyze stereotactical surgical outcome of an operated population and demonstrate that small target deviations do not compromise the stimulation of desired structures, even with small amperages. METHODS: Image exams of patients submitted to deep brain stimulation for movement disorders treatment were processed in Lead-DBS software. Electrode stereotactic coordinates were subtracted from the planned target and those deviations, compared among different anatomical targets and sides operated firstly and secondly. We also quantified the frequency of relation between the activated tissue volume and the planned target through computer simulations. RESULTS: None of the 16 electrodes were exactly implanted at the planned coordinates. A stimulation of 3 mA reached 62.5% of the times the planned coordinates, rising to 68.75% with a 3,5 mA. No statistical significance was demonstrated in any comparison of laterality and anatomical sites. CONCLUSIONS: The simulation of small amperage fields could reach the intended target even when electrode placement is suboptimal. Furthermore, such a goal can be achieved without overlapping the volume of activated tissue with undesired structures. Software Lead-DBS proved to be a valuable complementary asset for surgical stereotactical result assessment.

Movement automatization: motor interactions and electroencephalogram application / Automatização do movimento: interações motoras e aplicação do eletroencefalograma

The specificities of the motor system lead people to present skills to perform some movements in an automatic way after learning. Acquiring the automaticity of the movements is usually associated with reducing the demands of attention control. Thus, automatization represents a reduction in interference that undermines performance in dual task conditions. It was carried out a search on the databases of Pubmed, Scopus, SciELO e Lilacs, to understand the physiology of automaticity and analyze the use of electroencephalogram as a means of research in automatization. In this context, the study aims to verify the employment of the electroencephalogram as a resource in the analysis of the motor skills involved in the movement automatization.

As especificidades do sistema motor levam às pessoas há apresentarem habilidades para realizar alguns movimentos de maneira automática depois de aprendidos. Adquirir a automaticidade dos movimentos geralmente está associadaà redução das demandas de controle da atenção. Assim, a automatização representa uma redução da interferência que prejudica o desempenho em condições de tarefa dupla. Para este estudo foi realizado uma revisão integrativa de estudos indexados nas bases de dados Pubmed, Scopus, SciELO e Lilacs, para compreender a fisiologia da automaticidade e analisar a utilização do eletroencefalograma (EEG) como meio de investigação na automatização. Neste contexto, o estudo tem por objetivo verificar o emprego do eletroencefalograma como recurso na análise das habilidades motoras envolvidas na automatização do movimento.

Low Sensitivity of the Mini-Mental State Examination for Cognitive Assessment of Brazilian Patients With Parkinson Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Recent publications have highlighted the low sensitivity of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for the cognitive assessment of patients with Parkinson disease (PD). The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), otherwise, has shown greater sensitivity when compared to the MMSE. Based on this, we have searched for the cognitive impairment measurable by the MoCA and the functional performance on activities of daily living in a sample of Brazilian patients with PD and normal MMSE. We hypothesized that the low sensitivity of the MMSE, already shown by other authors, could be replicated in a low-income country. OBJECTIVE: To describe the performance on the MoCA and the dependence on third parties for activities of daily living in a sample of Brazilian patients with PD and normal MMSE. METHODS: We evaluated 43 volunteers with PD and normal MMSE considering the Brazilian cutoffs. Cognitive performance was assessed through the MoCA and functional performance through a modified version of the Disability Assessment for Dementia Scale. RESULTS: Despite normal score on the MMSE, considering the Brazilian cutoffs, 62.7% of the volunteers performed below the literature cutoff for the MoCA (26 points). Furthermore, 30.2% had dependence on third party for activities of daily living. By using a strict cutoff for the MMSE (26 points), 56.7% performed below the MoCA cutoff and 24.3% had dependence for activities of daily living. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm the limitations of the MMSE for the cognitive screening of patients with PD in a low-income country.

Exercícios terapêuticos na prevenção da condromalácia patelofemoral em atletas / Therapeutic exercises at prevention of patellar chondromalacia in athletes

A patela tem como uma das funções, aumentar o braço de alavanca e o trabalho biomecânico do quadríceps. Alterações no alinhamento patelofemoral são fatores que propiciam mudanças na estrutura da cartilagem articular do joelho, levando a um quadro de condromalácia. A proposta deste artigo de revisão é investigar os efeitos da fisioterapia no monitoramento de praticantes de atividades físicas, visando à diminuição dos riscos de lesão na cartilagem articular do joelho; analisar os efeitos do trabalho de força muscular para prevenir ou diminuir o desgaste cartilaginoso; e enfatizar a fisioterapia preventiva no desempenho do atleta durante sua vida profissional.

The patella’s function is to increase the level arm and the biomechanical work of the quadriceps muscle. Alterations in the patellofemoral alignment are factors that provide changes in the knee articular cartilage structure, leading to a chondromalacia condition. The purpose of this literature review is to investigate the effect of physical therapy in the athlete’s preparation, aiming at reducing the risks of knee articular cartilage injury; to analyze the effect of muscle strength in order to prevent or decrease the articular cartilage and; to target the effect of preventive physical therapy in improving athletes’ performance during their professional life.

Changes in cortical relative power in patients submitted to a tendon transfer: a pre and post surgery study.

The aim of this study is analyze possible modifications in the cerebral cortex, through quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) in patients submitted to a tendon transfer procedure (posterior tibialis) by the Srinivasan's technique. Four subjects (2 men and 2 women), 49.25 age average (SD +/ 21.4) were studied. All subjects have been through surgical procedure due to leprosy and had, at least, two years of drop foot condition. The qEEG measured the electrocortical activity (relative power) between 8 and 25 Hz frequencies pre and post surgery. A paired t test analyzed all data (p< or =0,05). The results show significant alterations in the alpha relative power, electrodes F7 (p=0.01) and F8 (p=0.021). Altogether, based on findings of the current literature, we can conclude that the tendon transfer procedure suggests electrocortical alterations sensitive to specific qEEG bands.

Changes in cortical relative power in patients submitted to a tendon transfer: a pre and post surgery study

The aim of this study is analyze possible modifications in the cerebral cortex, through quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) in patients submitted to a tendon transfer procedure (posterior tibialis) by the Srinivasan's technique. Four subjects (2 men and 2 women), 49.25 age average (SD±21.4) were studied. All subjects have been through surgical procedure due to leprosy and had, at least, two years of drop foot condition. The qEEG measured the electrocortical activity (relative power) between 8 and 25 Hz frequencies pre and post surgery. A paired t test analyzed all data (p<0,05). The results show significant alterations in the alpha relative power, electrodes F7 (p=0.01) and F8 (p=0.021). Altogether, based on findings of the current literature, we can conclude that the tendon transfer procedure suggests electrocortical alterations sensitive to specific qEEG bands.

O objetivo deste estudo é analisar possíveis modificações no córtex cerebral, através da electrencefalografia quantitativa (EEGq), em pacientes submetidos a um procedimento de transferência de tendão (tibial posterior) pela técnica de Srinivasan. Quatro sujeitos (2 homens e 2 mulheres), com média de idade de 49,25 anos (±21,4 DP) foram estudados. Todos os sujeitos realizaram o procedimento cirúrgico devido a hanseníase e tinham, pelo menos, dois anos de pé caído. O EEGq mediu a atividade electrocortical (potencia relativa) entre freqüências de 8 e 25 Hz, no pré e pós-operatório. Um teste t pareado analisou todos os dados (p<0,05). Os resultados mostram alterações significativas na potência relativa em alfa, nos elétrodos F7 (p=0,01) e F8 (p=0,021). Baseados em recentes achados na literatura, podemos concluir que o procedimento de transferência de tendão sugere alterações eletrocorticais sensíveis às freqüên-cias específicas do EEGq.

Benign monomelic amyotrophy with proximal upper limb involvement: case report.

Monomelic amyotrophy (MA) is a rare condition in which neurogenic amyotrophy is restricted to an upper or lower limb. Usually sporadic, it usually has an insidious onset with a mean evolution of 2 to 4 years following first clinical manifestations, which is, in turned, followed by stabilization. We report a case of 20-years-old man who presented slowly progressive amyotrophy associated with proximal paresis of the right upper limb, which was followed by clinical stabilization 4 years later. Eletroneuromyography revealed denervation along with myofasciculations in various muscle groups of the right upper limb. We call attention to this rare location of MA, as well as describe some theories concerning its pathophysiology .

Post-poliomyelitis syndrome: case report.

The post-polio syndrome (PPS) is an entity characterized for an episode of muscular weakness and/or abnormal muscular fatigue in individuals that had presented acute polio years before. We report the case of PPS in a patient, 40 years, that thirty-five years after had had paralytic poliomyelitis, developed new symptoms of fatigue, muscular atrophy, dyspnea, difficulties in deambulation and muscular and joint pain. The electromyographic findings revealed injuried neurons of the anterior horn of the marrow and reinnervation after muscular tests.

Benign monomelic amyotrophy with proximal upper limb involvement: case report

Monomelic amyotrophy (MA) is a rare condition in which neurogenic amyotrophy is restricted to an upper or lower limb. Usually sporadic, it usually has an insidious onset with a mean evolution of 2 to 4 years following first clinical manifestations, which is, in turned, followed by stabilization. We report a case of 20-years-old man who presented slowly progressive amyotrophy associated with proximal paresis of the right upper limb, which was followed by clinical stabilization 4 years later. Eletroneuromyography revealed denervation along with myofasciculations in various muscle groups of the right upper limb. We call atention to this rare location of MA, as well as describe some theories concerning its pathophysiology .

A amiotrofia monomélica é condição rara em que a amiotrofia neurogênica é restrita somente a um membro superior ou inferior. Usualmente esporádica, possui um início insidioso e evolução lenta de 2-4 anos após as primeiras manifestações, seguida por estabilização. Relatamos o caso de um homem que aos 20 anos apresentou lentamente amiotrofia e paresia proximal no membro superior direito, estabilizando-se em quatro anos. A eletroneuromiografia identificou a presença de desnervação e fasciculações em diversos músculos proximais do membro superior direito. Chamamos a atenção para esta rara localização desta entidade, assim como descrevemos algumas das hipóteses da fisiopatologia.

Post-poliomyelitis syndrome: case report

The post-polio syndrome (PPS) is an entity characterized for an episode of muscular weakness and/or abnormal muscular fatigue in individuals that had presented acute polio years before. We report the case of PPS in a patient, 40 years, that thirty-five years after had had paralytic poliomyelitis, developed new symptoms of fatigue, muscular atrophy, dyspnea, difficulties in deambulation and muscular and joint pain. The electromyographic findings revealed injuried neurons of the anterior horn of the marrow and reinnervation after muscular tests.

A síndrome pós-polio (SPP) é entidade caracterizada por um episódio de fraqueza muscular e/ou fadiga muscular anormal em indivíduos que apresentaram poliomielite aguda anos antes. Relatamos o caso de SPP em um paciente, 40 anos, que trinta e cinco anos após haver tido poliomielite paralítica, desenvolveu novos sintomas de fadiga, atrofia muscular, dispnéia, dificuldades na deambulação e dores articulares e musculares. Os achados eletromiográficos revelaram acometimento dos neurônios da ponta anterior da medula e reinervação após a realização de testes musculares.

Atividade física no controle da fadiga e fraqueza muscular na síndrome pós-polio / Physical activity in fatigue control and muscular weakness in post-polio syndrome

A síndrome pós-polio (SPP) é uma desordem neurológica caracterizada por um novo episódio de fraqueza muscular e/ou fadiga muscular anormal em indivíduos que apresentaram a poliomielite aguda. Esse trabalho de revisão de literatura associa a sintomatologia da síndrome pós-pólio, dando enfoque principalmente à fadiga e fraqueza muscular, com uma discussão do impacto desses sintomas no processo de reabilitação e a necessidade de uma intervenção terapêutica específica. A meta a longo prazo das intervenções no estágio da SPP é fornecer aos indivíduos acometidos, princípios e métodos para o manejo de seu corpo e efetuar mudanças no seu estilo de vida que reduzam a carga metabólica excessiva sobre os grupamentos musculares. Apesar de inúmeros estudos recomendarem programas de exercícios terapêuticos para pacientes com síndrome pós-pólio, os profissionais envolvidos precisam levar em consideração as particularidades e a condição clínica dos indivíduos acometidos.

The post-polio syndrome (PPS) is a disorder of the nervous system, characterized by a new episode of muscular weakness and/or abnormal muscular fatigue that appears in people who experienced acute poliomyelitis. This literature review associates the symptoms, especially fatigue and muscular weakness, and the impact of these symptoms in the rehabilitation process and need of specific therapeutic intervention. The long-term goal of interventions in PPS is to provide affected people with principles and methods leading to body management and lifestyle changes, which are capable of reducing the excessive metabolic load over muscular groups. Despite many researches indicates therapeutical exercises to PPS, professionals may consider particularities and clinic condition of subjects involved.

Eficácia dos exercícios de Tai Chi Chuan na prevenção do risco de quedas em idosos / The effi cacy of Tai Chi Chuan for preventing falls in eldery

A pratica dos exercícios de Tai Chi Chuan tem sido muito divulgada e inúmeras pesquisas buscam um melhor embasamento teórico-conceitual para a fundamentação de seus possíveis benefícios no controle postural e, conseqüentemente, na prevenção dos mecanismos de quedas em idosos. Por meio de revisão da literatura, verificou-se a relação existente entre a realização de tais atividades no equilíbrio e postura em idosos. Inúmeras pesquisas fornecem resultados significativos relacionados a redução dos episódios de quedas, de pessoas que se submeteram aos programas específicos envolvendo os exercícios de Tai Chi Chuan. Pode-se concluir que as atividades investigadas são benéficas para os idosos, particularmente no que se refere ao controle postural. Os exercícios de Tai Chi Chuan que envolvem equilíbrio, mobilidade e controle postural em idosos, devem ser específicos e respeitar as particularidades relacionadas ao nível de estabilidade funcional desses indivíduos.

Tai Chi Chuan exercises have been divulged and many researches aimed a better theoretician basement of their benefits for prevention of falls in elderly. Through the literature the authors verified an association of their exercises and balance. A greater number of studies have been demonstrated the reduction of falls in elderly who practice Tai Chi Chuan. These exercises are useful particularly in postural control. They involve balance, mobility and postural control and must be specific to each particularity of functional stability in elderly.