Insights on the Potential Mechanisms of Action of Functional Electrical Stimulation Therapy in Combination With Task-Specific Training: A Scoping Review.

OBJECTIVES: This scoping review was undertaken to synthetize and appraise the literature on the potential mechanisms of action of functional electrical stimulation therapy in combination with task-specific training (FEST + TST) in the rehabilitation following stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, or multiple sclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The literature search was performed using multiple databases (including APA, PsycInfo, Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, CCRCT, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews) from 1946 to June 2020. The literature search used the following terms: (spinal cord injury, paraplegia, tetraplegia, quadriplegia, stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, or acquired brain injury) AND (functional electrical stimulation or FES). The search included clinical and preclinical studies without limits to language. RESULTS: Of the 8209 titles retrieved from the primary search, 57 publications fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria for this scoping review. While most publications were clinical studies (n = 50), there were only seven preclinical studies using animal models. The results of this review suggest that FEST + TST can result in multiple effects on different elements from the muscle to the cerebral cortex. However, most studies were focused on the muscle changes after FEST + TST. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this scoping review suggest that FEST + TST can result in multiple effects on different elements of the neuromuscular system, while most research studies were focused on the muscle changes after FEST + TST. Despite the efficacy of the FEST + TST in the neurorehabilitation after CNS injury or disease, the results of this review underline an important knowledge gap with regards to the actual mechanism of action of FEST + TST.

Properties of the surface electromyogram following traumatic spinal cord injury: a scoping review.

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts spinal and supraspinal pathways, and this process is reflected in changes in surface electromyography (sEMG). sEMG is an informative complement to current clinical testing and can capture the residual motor command in great detail-including in muscles below the level of injury with seemingly absent motor activities. In this comprehensive review, we sought to describe how the sEMG properties are changed after SCI. We conducted a systematic literature search followed by a narrative review focusing on sEMG analysis techniques and signal properties post-SCI. We found that early reports were mostly focused on the qualitative analysis of sEMG patterns and evolved to semi-quantitative scores and a more detailed amplitude-based quantification. Nonetheless, recent studies are still constrained to an amplitude-based analysis of the sEMG, and there are opportunities to more broadly characterize the time- and frequency-domain properties of the signal as well as to take fuller advantage of high-density EMG techniques. We recommend the incorporation of a broader range of signal properties into the neurophysiological assessment post-SCI and the development of a greater understanding of the relation between these sEMG properties and underlying physiology. Enhanced sEMG analysis could contribute to a more complete description of the effects of SCI on upper and lower motor neuron function and their interactions, and also assist in understanding the mechanisms of change following neuromodulation or exercise therapy.

The potential effects of untreated sleep-related breathing disorders on neuropathic pain, spasticity, and cardiovascular dysfunction following spinal cord injury: A cross-sectional prospective study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs), neuropathic pain, spasticity and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction are common after spinal cord injury (SCI). Prior studies suggest that systemic inflammation following SCI may be implicated in the development of neuropathic pain, spasticity and cardiovascular dysfunction. Given that SRBDs also cause a systemic inflammatory response, we hypothesized that individuals with SCI who develop more severe SRBDs would experience more intense neuropathic pain, more severe spasticity and more significant cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction. METHODS: This cross-sectional prospective study will explore the previously understudied hypothesis that SRBDs are associated with increased neuropathic pain, spasticity, and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in adult individuals with low-cervical/high-thoracic (injury level at C5 to T6), complete/incomplete (ASIA Impairment Scale A, B, C or D) SCI. DISCUSSION: To our knowledge, no prior study has addressed this clinically relevant question on whether the degree of SRBDs affects the intensity of neuropathic pain, spasticity, and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in individuals with SCI. We anticipate that the results of this original study will provide key information for a future clinical trial on the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for moderate-to-severe SRBDs, which may better control neuropathic pain, spasticity, and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction among individuals with SCI. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The research protocol for this study was registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov website (NCT05687097). https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05687097.

Study of some "intrinsic risk factors" that can enhance an iatrogenic injury of the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates some "intrinsic risk factors" for a surgical injury of the external branch of superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) based on its anatomic relationship with the thyroid gland. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Seventy-two neck dissections were performed in 36 fresh human adult cadavers. Every EBSLN was dissected and categorized using Cernea's classification. All data regarding gender, ethnicity, stature, side of the neck, and volume of hemi thyroid were collected and statistically analyzed by the chi(2)-test and analysis of variance. RESULTS: Although no statistical differences were observed between genders (P = 0.3770), ethnicities (P = 0.9780) or sides of the neck (P = 0.2523), statistical significance was reached regarding the nerve type when the groups were divided by stature (P = 0.0006) and glandular volume (P = 0.0007). CONCLUSION: Individual stature and volume of the hemi thyroid gland are probably involved in risk of the surgical EBSLN injury. SIGNIFICANCE: Surgeons should be aware of these anatomic findings in order to obtain a good voice-related outcome in the thyroidectomies.

Tratamento cirurgico de infeccoes comprometendo proteses arteriais em posicao aorto-femoral / Surgical treatment of infection complicating the arterial prosthesis in aorto-femoral position

O objetivo do trabalho e avaliar o resultado do tratamento cirurgico de infeccoes comprometendo proteses aorto-femorais. A casuistica e composta de 20 doentes que foram divididos em grupos de acordo com o tipo de tratamento instituido. Os grupos foram: A) medidas locais com manutencao da protese infectada; B) retirada parcial da protese nao acompanhada de nova restauracao arterial (B1) ou acompanhada de nova restauracao (B2); C) retirada total da protese infectada, sem (C1) ou com (C2) nova restauracao arterial. Os resultados foram aferidos pela taxa de sobrevida do doente e pelo efeito paliativo efetivo (preservacao da vida, dos membros inferiores e ausencia de infeccao). A taxa de sobrevida apos um, 12, 24, 36 e 48 meses foi, respectivamente, 80 por cento, 60 por cento, 53 por cento, 42 por cento e 27 por cento. O efeito paliativo foi de 50 por cento apos 30 dias e 27 por cento apos 48 meses. O tratamento ideal da infeccao da protese aorto-femoral e a retirada completa desta protese acompanhada de nova restauracao arterial.

Estudo descritivo do câncer diferenciado da tireóide, baseando-se no exame histopatológico de 183 casos observados em um período de cinco anos / Descriptive study of differentiated thyroid cancer, based on the histopathological examination of 183 cases in a five-years period

Foram analisados 183 doentes submetidos a tratamento cirúrgico por câncer diferenciado da tireóide, tendo em vista principalmente os aspectos anatomopatológicos e os dados epidemiológicos mais importantes. Os autores sublinham a incidência elevada de met stases em cerca da metade dos casos e sugerem, tendo por base estes achados, a tireoidectomia total como terapêutica de eleiçäo no câncer diferenciado tireóideo.

Trombectomia venosa iliaco-femoral: apresentaçäo de três casos / Ilio-femoral venous thromvbectomy: report of 3 cases

Sao apresentados tres casos de trombectomia venosa iliaco-femoral com resultado excelente. Os tres pacientes ficaram assintomaticos e sem sinais de hipertensao venosa cronica por longo tempo de seguimento. Conclui-se que a trombectomia venosa esta indicada em pacientes acometidos de trombose venosa iliaco-femoral, de vida ativa e com tempo de sintomas que nao ultrapasse quatro dias. Sao importantes a flebografia pre-operatoria e intra-operatoria e a anticoagulacao por um periodo minimo de seis semanas

Contribuiçäo para a anatomia do nervo espinal acessório e de sua cadeia ganglionar / Study of the anatomy of the spinal acessory nerve and its lymph node chain

Os autores apresentam os resultados da dissecçäo da regiäo cervical de 40 cadáveres, visando o estudo do nervo espinal acessório e de suas relaçöes com outras estruturas cervicais úteis na sua localizaçäo. Em concordância com a literatura, verificou-se, entre outras observaçöes, que o ponto de Erb é de grande utilidade na identificaçäo inicial do XI nervo craniano. Nao obstante, outros reparos anatômicos também mostraram-se valiosos na identificaçäo do nervo espinal acessório, a saber: o ventre posterior do músculo digástrico, o processo transverso do atlas, a aveia jugular interna e o processo estilóide do osso temporal. Inclui-se no estudo a análise dos números de linfonodos da cadeia própria do nervo espinal acessório e do triângulo posterior.

Conta hospitalar: análise crítica das definiçöes de diária e taxa de sala cirurgica / Hospital account: critical analysis of definitions of dayly expenses and rate of surgical room

Trata do problema da imprecisäo nas definiçöes de diária hospitalar e de taxa de sala cirúrgica praticas pelos hospitais no Brasil. Aponta a necessidade de se definir tais termos em razäo de aspectos administrativos, econômicos e jurídicos. Infere a possibilidade de melhoria da competitividade e da eficiência no setor saúde.