Efficacy and Safety of a Nasopharyngeal Catheter for Selective Brain Cooling in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Prospective, Non-randomized Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy objective was to determine whether a novel nasopharyngeal catheter could be used to cool the human brain after traumatic brain injury, and the safety objective was to assess the local and systemic effects of this therapeutic strategy. METHODS: This was a prospective, non-randomized, interventional clinical trial that involved five patients with severe traumatic brain injury. The intervention consisted of inducing and maintaining selective brain cooling for 24 h by positioning a catheter in the nasopharynx and circulating cold water inside the catheter in a closed-loop arrangement. Core temperature was maintained at ≥ 35 °C using counter-warming. RESULTS: In all study participants, a brain temperature reduction of ≥ 2 °C was achieved. The mean brain temperature reduction from baseline was 2.5 ± 0.9 °C (P = .04, 95% confidence interval). The mean systemic temperature was 37.3 ± 1.1 °C at baseline and 36.0 ± 0.8 °C during the intervention. The mean difference between the brain temperature and the systemic temperature during intervention was - 1.2 ± 0.8 °C (P = .04). The intervention was well tolerated with no significant changes observed in the hemodynamic parameters. No relevant variations in intracranial pressure and transcranial Doppler were observed. The laboratory results underwent no major changes, aside from the K+ levels and blood counts. The K+ levels significantly varied (P = .04); however, the variation was within the normal range. Only one patient experienced an event of mild localized and superficial nasal discoloration, which was re-evaluated on the seventh day and indicated complete recovery. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that our noninvasive method for selective brain cooling, using a novel nasopharyngeal catheter, was effective and safe for use in humans.

Photobiomodulation with low-level laser therapy for treating Achilles tendinopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the benefits and harms of low-level laser therapy for Achilles tendinopathy. DATA SOURCES: Search strategies were conducted (from inception to February 2020) in Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Literatura Latino Americana em Ciências da Saúde e do Caribe (LILACS), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), SPORTDiscus, ClinicalTrials.gov, World Health Organization (WHO)-ICTRP and OpenGrey databases, to retrieve all randomized controlled trials that compared laser therapy with inactive/active interventions. REVIEW METHODS: This study was reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of bias table. Meta-analyses were performed on dependence of homogeneity, otherwise results were reported narratively. The certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. RESULTS: Four trials (119 participants) were analyzed. Laser therapy associated to eccentric exercises when compared to eccentric exercises and sham had very low to low certainty of evidence in pain and function assessment. Despite one trial favored laser therapy at two months (mean difference (MD) -2.55, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) -3.87 to -1.23), the CIs did not include important differences between groups at 3 and 13 months. The function assessment showed an improvement favoring the placebo group at one month (MD 9.19, 95% CI -16.16 to -2.23) and non-significant difference between groups at 3 and 13 months. Adverse events were poorly reported but restricted to minor events related to the exercises. CONCLUSION: The certainty of evidence was low to very low, and the results are insufficient to support the routine use laser therapy for Achilles tendinopathy.

Inducing Brain Cooling Without Core Temperature Reduction in Pigs Using a Novel Nasopharyngeal Method: An Effectiveness and Safety Study.

BACKGROUND: Acute brain lesions constitute an alarming public health concern. Neuroprotective therapies have been implemented to stabilize, prevent, or reduce brain lesions, thus improving neurological outcomes and survival rates. Hypothermia is the most effective approach, mainly attributed to the reduction in cellular metabolic activity. Whole-body cooling is currently implemented by healthcare professionals; however, adverse events are frequent, limiting the potential benefits of therapeutic hypothermia. Therefore, selective methods have been developed to reduce adverse events while delivering neuroprotection. Nasopharyngeal approaches are the safest and most effective methods currently considered. Our primary objective was to determine the effects of a novel nasopharyngeal catheter on the brain temperature of pigs. METHODS: In this prospective, non-randomized, interventional experimental trial, 10 crossbred pigs underwent nasopharyngeal cooling for 60 min followed by 15 min of rewarming. Nasopharyngeal catheters were inserted into the left nostril and properly positioned at the nasopharyngeal cavity. RESULTS: Nasopharyngeal cooling was associated with a decrease in brain temperature, which was more significant in the left cerebral hemisphere (p = 0.01). There was a reduction of 1.47 ± 0.86 °C in the first 5 min (p < 0.001), 2.45 ± 1.03 °C within 10 min (p < 0.001), and 4.45 ± 1.36 °C after 1 h (p < 0.001). The brain-core gradient was 4.57 ± 0.87 °C (p < 0.001). Rectal, esophageal, and pulmonary artery temperatures and brain and systemic hemodynamic parameters, remained stable during the procedure. Following brain cooling, values of oxygen partial pressure in brain tissue significantly decreased. No mucosal lesions were detected during nasal, pharyngeal, or oral inspection after nasopharyngeal catheter removal. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, a novel nasopharyngeal cooling catheter effectively induced and maintained exclusive brain cooling when combined with effective counter-warming methods. Exclusive brain cooling was safe with no device-related local or systemic complications and may be desired in selected patient populations.

Physical fitness, hormonal profile, nutritional and psychological aspects assessment of transgender women volleyball players submitted to physical tests: protocol paper of a prospective cohort.

To evaluate aerobic capacity, strength and other physiological, nutritional, and psychological variables which may influence the performance of transgender women (TW) athletes and compare them to cisgender women (CW) and cisgender men (CM) athletes, as well as changes in TW performance over the course of a year. Prospective cohort study including three groups: TW, CW and CM volleyball athletes. Subjects will be comprehensively assessed at two different moments: baseline and after 6-12 months of adequate hormonal therapy. Evaluation will comprise clinical, medical, nutritional and psychological interviews, incremental treadmill cardiopulmonary exercise testing, hand grip strength test, vertical jump test, analysis of sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), hormonal profile, echocardiogram, analysis of resting energy expenditure, assessment of bone mass and body composition through dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans, and untargeted metabolomic analysis. CW and CM matched by age, body mass index and level of physical activity will undergo a similar evaluation. The assessment of the strength, aerobic capacity, haematological, nutritional and psychological status of TW using gold-standard tests will contribute to understanding the impact of oestrogen therapy on the exercise performance of these athletes and how they compare with CW and CM.

Systematic reviews on interventions for COVID-19 have rarely graded the certainty of the evidence.

BACKGROUND: Numerous systematic reviews on coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) treatment have been developed to provide syntheses of the large volume of primary studies. However, the methodological quality of most of these reviews is questionable and the results provided may therefore present bias. OBJECTIVE: To investigate how many systematic reviews on the therapeutic or preventive options for COVID-19 assessed the certainty of the evidence through the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. METHODS: We conducted a sensitive search in MEDLINE (via PubMed) and included all systematic reviews that assessed any intervention for COVID-19. The systematic reviews included were examined to identify any planned and/or actual assessment using the GRADE approach (or absence thereof) regarding the certainty of the evidence. RESULTS: We included 177 systematic reviews and found that only 37 (21%; 37/177) assessed and reported the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach. This number reduced to 27 (16.2%; 27/167) when Cochrane reviews (n = 10), in which an evaluation using GRADE is mandatory, were excluded. CONCLUSION: Most of the systematic reviews on interventions relating to COVID-19 omitted assessment of the certainty of the evidence. This is a critical methodological omission that must not be overlooked in further research, so as to improve the impact and usefulness of syntheses relating to COVID-19.

Effects of Caffeine Supplementation on Physical Performance of Soccer Players: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

CONTEXT: Caffeine is 1 of the most popular supplements consumed by athletes, and the evidence for improving soccer performance remains limited. OBJECTIVE: To investigate and update the effects (benefits and harms) of caffeine to improve performance on soccer players. DATA SOURCES: Electronic search in Medline (via PubMed), CENTRAL, Embase, SPORTDiscus, and LILACS, from inception to March 28, 2020. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of caffeine on the performance of soccer players. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review with meta-analysis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 1. DATA EXTRACTION: Data extraction was conducted independently by 2 authors using a piloted form. We assessed methodological quality (Cochrane risk-of-bias [RoB] table) and the certainty of the evidence (GRADE [Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation] approach). RESULTS: Sixteen RCTs were included. Overall methodological quality was classified as unclear to low risk of bias. When assessing aerobic endurance, meta-analyses did not demonstrate the differences between caffeine and placebo (mean difference [MD], 44.9 m; 95% confidence interval [CI], -77.7 to 167.6). Similarly, no difference was observed during time to fatigue test (MD, 169.8 seconds; 95% CI, -71.8 to 411.6). Considering anaerobic power, meta-analyses also did not find differences for vertical jump (MD, 1.01 cm; 95% CI, -0.68 to 2.69) and repeated sprint tests (MD, -0.02 seconds; 95% CI, -0.09 to 0.04), as well as reaction time agility test (MD, 0.02 seconds; 95% CI, -0.01 to 0.04) and rating of perceived exertion (MD, 0.16 points; 95% CI, -0.55 to 0.87). Regarding safety, a few minor adverse events were reported. Based on the GRADE approach, the certainty of this evidence was classified as very low to low. CONCLUSION: We found no significant improvement in soccer-related performance with caffeine compared with placebo or no intervention. However, caffeine appears to be safe.

Aprendizagem sobre teleconsulta: representações de um grupo de alunos de um curso de Medicina / Learning about teleconsultation: representations of a group of Medical students / Aprendizaje sobre teleconsulta: representaciones de un grupo de alumnos de un curso de Medicina

Com o avançar da tecnologia, passou a fazer parte da graduação médica atual o aprendizado em teleconsultas. Esta pesquisa apresenta as representações de um grupo de alunos de um curso de Medicina localizado na capital do estado de São Paulo sobre suas experiências com a realização de teleconsultas síncronas supervisionadas durante estágio realizado em um ambulatório-escola, durante o segundo semestre de 2021. Trata-se de pesquisa qualitativa que utilizou o software IRaMuTeQ® e "Análise do Conteúdo". Esses educandos pontuam entraves para a utilização das teleconsultas, destacando preocupações com a humanização, segurança da pessoa atendida e qualidade da consulta, mas visualizam potencialidades tais como a facilidade de acesso e a comodidade. Reconhecem a importância da prática durante sua Graduação em um mundo cada vez mais tecnológico, mas trazem inquietações relacionadas à perda do exame físico e à mercantilização da Medicina.

With the progress of technology, teleconsultation has become part of medical degree courses. This article presents the representations of a group of medical students from a university in the capital of the state of São Paulo regarding their experiences with supervised synchronous teleconsultations during an internship in a teaching clinic in the second semester of 2021. We conducted a qualitative study using the software IRaMuTeQ® and content analysis. The students highlighted barriers to the use of teleconsultation, emphasizing concerns with humanization, patient safety and consultation quality, but also perceived strengths such as ease of access and convenience. They recognize the importance of practice on the degree course in an ever more technological world, but raise concerns about the lack of physical examination and the commodification of medicine.

Con el avance de la tecnología, el aprendizaje en teleconsultas pasó a formar parte de la graduación médica actual. Esta investigación presenta las representaciones de un grupo de alumnos de un curso de medicina localizado en la capital del estado de São Paulo sobre sus experiencias con la realización de teleconsultas sincronizadas supervisadas durante una pasantía realizada en un ambulatorio escuela, durante el segundo trimestre de 2021. Se traba de una investigación cualitativa que utilizó el software IRaMuTeQ® y Análisis de Contenido. Estos alumnos puntúan obstáculos para la utilización de las teleconsultas, destacando preocupaciones con la humanización, seguridad de la persona atendida y calidad de la consulta, pero visualizan potencialidades tales como la facilidad de acceso y la comodidad. Reconocen la importancia de la práctica durante su graduación en un mundo cada vez más tecnológico, pero presentan inquietudes relacionadas a la pérdida del examen físico y a la mercantilización de la medicina.

Systematic reviews on interventions for COVID-19 have rarely graded the certainty of the evidence

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Numerous systematic reviews on coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) treatment have been developed to provide syntheses of the large volume of primary studies. However, the methodological quality of most of these reviews is questionable and the results provided may therefore present bias. OBJECTIVE: To investigate how many systematic reviews on the therapeutic or preventive options for COVID-19 assessed the certainty of the evidence through the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. METHODS: We conducted a sensitive search in MEDLINE (via PubMed) and included all systematic reviews that assessed any intervention for COVID-19. The systematic reviews included were examined to identify any planned and/or actual assessment using the GRADE approach (or absence thereof) regarding the certainty of the evidence. RESULTS: We included 177 systematic reviews and found that only 37 (21%; 37/177) assessed and reported the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach. This number reduced to 27 (16.2%; 27/167) when Cochrane reviews (n = 10), in which an evaluation using GRADE is mandatory, were excluded. CONCLUSION: Most of the systematic reviews on interventions relating to COVID-19 omitted assessment of the certainty of the evidence. This is a critical methodological omission that must not be overlooked in further research, so as to improve the impact and usefulness of syntheses relating to COVID-19.