Disposição histórica das internações por Acidente Vascular Cerebral Isquêmico no Nordeste brasileiro entre 1999-2019 / Historical disposition of hospitalizations for Ischemic Stroke in Northeast Brazil between 1999­2019

O objetivo foi analisar a disposição histórica das internações por Acidente Vascular Cerebral Isquêmico (AVCI) e suas características hospitalares dos últimos 20 anos no nordeste brasileiro, hipotetizando o impacto da criação de políticas públicas nacionais. Trata-se de um estudo ecológico retrospectivo de série temporal entre 1999-2019, baseado em dados coletados no Sistema de Informação Hospitalar (SIH) do SUS (DATASUS). Os dados foram estratificados por sexo e faixa etária, e observou-se grande redução do número de internações, valor total (custo) e número de óbitos entre 2001-2002 e entre 2013-2014; os demais anos apresentaram graus proporcionais de constância, sem alterações importantes. As mesmas variáveis aumentaram com a idade, mas mostraram-se equivalentes entre os sexos. Concluiu-se que dados estudados sobre AVCI indicaram declínio acentuado nos anos de 2002 e 2014. Inúmeros fatores podem ter influenciado essa mudança de comportamento, incluindo a implementação de programas como o Hiperdia e Mais Médicos.

The aim of this study was to analyze the historical disposition of hospitalizations for ischemic stroke and their hospital characteristics over the last 20 years in northeastern Brazil, hypothesizing the impact of the creation of national public policies. This is a retrospective ecological study of time series between 1999­2019 based on data collected in the Hospital Information System of the SUS. The data were stratified by sex and age group. There was a significant reduction in the number of hospitalizations, total value (cost), and number of deaths between the years 2001­2002 and 2013­2014; the other years show similar constancy. The same variables increased with age, but were found to be equivalent between genders. The data studied for IS showed a sharp decline between 2002 and 2014. Numerous factors might have influenced this change in behavior, including the implementation of programs such as Hiperdia and Mais Médicos.

Knowledge levels among elderly people with Diabetes Mellitus concerning COVID-19: an educational intervention via a teleservice.

AIM: To investigate knowledge levels concerning COVID-19 in elderly patients with T2DM. METHODS: This cross-sectional, quantitative, observational, and descriptive study was undertaken among elderly individuals with T2DM involved in a body balance rehabilitation program that had been suspended due to social isolation. The study participants comprised elderly individuals with T2DM, contactable using fixed or mobile telephones. Data concerning participants' socioeconomic variables and knowledge of COVID-19 were collated, using a Brazil Ministry of Health guidelines checklist. Mann-Whitney and Spearman's correlation tests were used to analyze their responses. RESULTS: Of 30 elderly participants, 76.7% were women and 63.3% were married. The average age was 69.96 ± 4.46 years. The most cited information medium was television (96.6%). Of a possible 24 correct responses on the checklist, the median correct response score was 7.5. No significant relationship was observed between the total checklist score and the variables studied. CONCLUSION: Elderly participants did not have in-depth knowledge concerning COVID-19, which suggests that their knowledge sources may be deficient or that their capacity to retain information was inadequate.

Effects of exergames training on postural balance in patients who had a chronic stroke: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Exergames training, as an additional therapy to standard care, has been widely used for motor recovery after patients who had a stroke, and it is a valuable and positive tool in the rehabilitation of this population. This study describes a single-blind randomised clinical trial that will aim to investigate the effects of exergames training on postural balance in patients with chronic stroke. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Forty-two individuals with chronic stroke (>6 months), aged 20-75 years, will be randomised into two groups: the experimental group, which will be subjected to an exergames protocol, and control group, which will undergo a kinesiotherapy protocol. Both protocols are based on postural balance. The intervention will consist of 40-minute sessions two times per week for 10 consecutive weeks. The volunteers will be evaluated before the treatment, at the end of the interventions and 8 weeks thereafter. The primary outcome will be postural balance (Berg Balance Scale, Functional Reach Test, Timed Up and Go test and Centre of Pressure variables) and secondary outcomes will include gait (6 m timed walk and Kinovea Software), cortical activation patterns (electroencephalography Emotiv EPOC), functional independence (Functional Independence Measure), quality of life (Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale) and motivation (Intrinsic Motivation Inventory). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (number 3.434.350). The results of the study will be disseminated to participants through social networks and will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal and scientific meetings. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (RBR-78v9hx).

Electroencephalographic changes using virtual reality program: technical note.

The aim of the study was to describe the technique of an electroencephalographic (EEG) assessment using the Emotiv EPOC® during the performance of a virtual reality motor task and compare theta, alpha, beta and gamma power frequencies between left and right hemispheres. This is technical note in which 9 healthy young subjects were submitted to an evaluation with Emotiv EPOC® during the Nintendo® Wii 'Basic Step' virtual game using the Wii Balance Board (WBB) on a support 13 centimeters high. The Wilcoxon statistical test was applied and pairing between the cerebral hemispheres was performed. Participants had a mean age of 22.55 ± 2.78 years, 77.8% were right-handed, and 22.8% had no experience with the selected virtual game. According to dominancy (right handed n = 7; and left handed n = 2), it was observed that the right-handed individuals showed significantly greater difference in the right hemisphere in the EEG in front region (gamma power in channels AF4, p = 0.028 and F4, p = 0.043) and parietal region (theta and beta power in P8 channel, p = 0.043), while alpha power showed a greater activity in the left hemisphere (P7 channel, p = 0.043). Considering the inter-hemispheric analysis, it was observed that the right hemisphere presented a higher activation potential in the frontal lobe for gamma waves (p = 0.038 for AF3-AF4 channels), and in the temporal lobe for beta and alpha waves (p = 0.021). This study showed that the virtual environment can provide distinct cortical activation patterns considering an inter-hemispheric analysis, highlighting greater activation potential in the right hemisphere.