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INTRODUCTION: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting both upper and lower motor neurons, and lead to respiratory failure. Strategies are suggested to respiratory management in ALS patients, as the breath stacking and Expiratory muscle training (EMT), which have been used as aid to assist cough in neuromuscular disorders. However, the randomized controlled trials performed in ALS patients have not investigated the addiction of EMT together breath stacking in this population. This trial aims to determine if breath stacking plus EMT is more effective than breath stacking alone to decrease the decline rate on the inspiratory/expiratory muscle strength, FVC and voluntary PCF in ALS patients. METHODS: This parallel-group, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial, powered for superiority, aims to assess pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, peak cough flow as primary outcomes. Forty-two participants are being recruited referral neuromuscular disease center at Brasilia, Brazil. Following baseline testing, participants are randomized using concealed allocation, to receive either: a) breath stacking technique alone or b) breath stacking technique plus EMT. CONCLUSION: There is a lack of evidence regarding the benefit of EMT plus breath stacking in ALS patients. This trial will contribute to evidence currently being generated in national and international trials by implementing and evaluating a respiratory therapy program including two components not yet combined in previous research, for people with ALS involving longer-term follow-up of outcomes. This trial is ongoing and currently recruiting. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was prospectively registered on the Clinical Trials Registry NCT04226144.
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Objetivo. Descrever aspectos epidemiológicos de pacientes diagnosticados com neurocisticercose, atendidos em hospital terciário do Distrito Federal. Método. Trata-se de estudo do tipo série de casos, que inclui pacientes com diagnóstico de neurocisticercose, atendidos em 2007 e 2008 no Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal. Resultados. Quase todos os pacientes (90%) procederam de outras unidades da federação, principalmente Minas Gerais e Goiás, e 86% da zona rural. A doença predominou no sexo feminino, e a idade mediana dos pacientes foi 37 anos, com variação de 13 a 74 anos. O hábito de ingerir carne de porco, bem como vegetais crus foi muito frequente. As condições de higiene e saneamento foram precárias. Conclusão. Por se tratar de doença potencialmente eliminável, necessitam ser implantadas medidas de prevenção e controle, tanto na área rural, como nos municípios do entorno do Distrito Federal.
Objective. In this study, epidemiological aspects of the patients diagnosed with neurocysticercosis and attended at a terciary care hospital in Brasília, DF, were analysed. Method. This is a prospective study with a case series of patients attended in the period of 2007 and 2008. The most part of patients (90%) came from other states, mainly Minas Gerais and Goiás and 86% from rural areas. Female patients were predominant and the median age was 37 years old, ranging from 13 to 74 years old. The habit of ingesting swine meat and raw vegetables was very frequent. Conclusion. As cysticercosis is an eliminable disease, preventive and control measures need to be implemented,so in rural areas of the Distrito Federal as in municipalities around Brasília.