Safety Study Based on Transcranial Electrical Stimulation in Chile: a Case Series Study

Author(s):  
2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabetta Peri ◽  
Emilia Ambrosini ◽  
Alessandra Pedrocchi ◽  
Emanuela Pagliano ◽  
Daria Riva ◽  
...  

The aim of this work was to assess the feasibility of a treatment based on volitional cycling augmented by Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) on hemiparetic adolescents. Six chronic hemiparetic adolescents were included in a case series study. Patients underwent FES-cycling training combined with voluntary pedaling. The intervention consisted of 21 sessions lasting 30 minutes each. Patients were evaluated before, after training, and at a 3-month follow-up visit through clinical scales (Winter scale, observational gait scale, gross motor function measurement, Boyd test and Ashworth scale), a standard gait analysis and a voluntary pedaling test. Results were compared with an age-matched healthy control group (N=6). Two subjects withdrew the study before the completion of the intervention. Concerning the four remaining subjects, the clinical scales showed a slight level of disability already at baseline and no changes were observed after the intervention. In terms of walking ability, some significant improvements (Kruskal-Wallis test, p-value<0.05) were obtained after training in two out of four subjects: an increase of about 16% and 41% of the ankle range of motion and of about 18% and 33% of the ankle propelling power were achieved for two subjects, respectively. During pedaling, the work produced by the paretic leg while pulling the pedal significantly increased in 3 out of 4 subjects. In one subject a more symmetrical cycling movement was observed, whilst for another subject a significant improvement in terms of co-contraction between rectus femoris and biceps femoris was achieved. In conclusion, this study assessed the feasibility of FES-cycling training on hemiparetic adolescents, but did not provide evidences about the effectiveness of this intervention in improving motor recovery and walking ability. However, since only a small group of patients with a low level of disability was involved in the study, further investigations are needed to provide conclusive results.


Author(s):  
Amir Moeintaghavi ◽  
Negar Azami ◽  
Mohammad Sadegh Zohrevand ◽  
Farid Shiezadeh ◽  
Hamid Jafarzadeh ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 261-266
Author(s):  
Jorge Luis Alfredo Herrera Ariza ◽  
Mario Alejandro Villabón ◽  
Ángela Carolina Rojas Ruiz ◽  
Iván Fernando Moncada

Objetivo: Determinar los agentes microbianos más frecuentes en pacientes de UCI con diagnóstico de sinusitis nosocomial en el Hospital de San José, período de dos años. Diseño: Estudio observacional tipo serie de casos. Materiales y métodos: Se incluyeron pacientes mayores de 18 años con una estancia hospitalaria mayor a 48 horas, que desarrollaron sinusitis nosocomial de acuerdo a los criterios de los Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Uso de dos técnicas: punción y lavado de seno maxilar. Resultados: 19 pacientes que cumplen los criterios de sinusitis nosocomial. Edad promedio 55 años, predominio sexo masculino. El 94.7% tuvo sonda orogástrica, 89.5% intubación orotraqueal y 89.5% ventilación mecánica. Hubo aislamiento polimicrobiano de gram positivos, gram negativos, anaerobios y hongos. La mortalidad en UCI fue 32%. Conclusiones: Se presenta una adecuada sensibilidad al tratamiento con vancomicina y piperacilina tazobactam en esta patología. El rendimiento diagnóstico es igual al realizar lavado y punción del seno maxilar.Objetive: To determine the microbial agents on UCI patients who have beendiagnosed with nosocomial sinusitis at the San Jose Hospital, (Bogota, Colombia) in a two-year period. Design: Case series study. Materials and methods: Patients who were older than 18-year olds, with a hospitalization longer than 48 hours who developed nosocomial sinusitis, according to the criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) were included. Two techniques were employed for data collection: puncture and maxillary sinus wash. Results: 19 patients fulfill the criteria requirements for nosocomial sinusitis. Average age was 55 years old. Population mostly was composed by male individuals. 94.7% had a gastric tube intervention; 89.5% had tracheal intubation 89.5% mechanical ventilation. Polymicrobial isolation with gram positive, gram negative, anaerobic and fungi were identified. Mortality in critical care unites was 32%. Conclusions: An adequate sensitivity to treatment with vancomycin and piperacillin tazobactam was evidenced in this pathology.To perform a washing or maxillary sinus puncture had the same efficiency fordiagnosing this disease.


Hand Therapy ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 175899832110078
Author(s):  
Laura Adamson ◽  
Anna Selby

Introduction For some people the appearance of their hands is as important as function. Upper limb scarring can cause some patients distress. Skin camouflage is an intervention that can be used to reduce the visual impact of a scar but there is limited published evidence for its use for hand scarring. Methods This is a case series study with a primary objective to determine whether skin camouflage reduces distress in patients with an upper limb scar and to evaluate this new service. Patients experiencing distress from an upper limb scar were recruited from a hand therapy outpatient clinic. The intervention delivered was a one hour skin camouflage session. Photographs of the upper limb pre and post skin camouflage intervention were taken. The patient-rated Michigan Hand Questionnaire (MHQ) and Derriford Appearance Scale (DAS24) were completed before treatment, at 1 week and 1 month after treatment. Results Six participants reporting distress from an upper limb scar received skin camouflage intervention. Only three out of six participants completed all follow-up. All three showed improvement in at least two domains of the MHQ (function and aesthetics) at one month post treatment. Increased confidence during functional and work-based activities was also reported on the DAS24. Participants reported increased engagement in daily activities as a result of being able to camouflage their scars. Conclusions This small case series shows that skin camouflage intervention may be beneficial for some patients who are experiencing distress related to an upper limb scar by increasing function and self-confidence.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 880
Author(s):  
Caterina Caminiti ◽  
Giuseppe Maglietta ◽  
Tiziana Meschi ◽  
Andrea Ticinesi ◽  
Mario Silva ◽  
...  

Background: Concern is growing about the negative consequences that response measures to the COVID-19 epidemic may have on the management of other medical conditions. Methods: A retrospective descriptive case-series study conducted at a large University-hospital in northern Italy, an area severely hit by the epidemic. Results: Between 23 February and 14 May 2020, 4160 (52%) COVID-19 and 3778 (48%) non-COVID-19 patients were hospitalized. COVID-19 admissions peaked in the second half of March, a period characterized by an extremely high mortality rate (27.4%). The number of admissions in 2020 was similar to 2019, but COVID-19 patients gradually occupied all available beds. Comparison between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 admissions in 2020 revealed significant differences concerning all age classes and gender. Specifically, COVID-19 patients were older, predominantly male, and exhibited more comorbidities. Overall, admissions for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in 2020 vs. 2019 dropped by approximately one third. Statistically significant reductions were observed for acute myocardial infarction (−78, −33.9%), cerebrovascular disease (−235, −41.5%), and cancer (−368, −31.9%). While the first two appeared equally distributed between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients, chronic NCDs were statistically significantly more frequent in the former, except cancer, which was less frequent in COVID-19 patients. Conclusions: Prevention of collateral damage to patients with other diseases should be an integral part of epidemic response plans. Prospective cohort studies are needed to understand the long-term impact.


2020 ◽  
pp. 219256822098044
Author(s):  
Sho Ishiwata ◽  
Yoichi Iizuka ◽  
Hitoshi Shitara ◽  
Tokue Mieda ◽  
Eiji Takasawa ◽  
...  

Study Design: Case series study. Objective: We aimed to clarify the prevalence of rotator cuff tear (RCT), and the association between RCT and the severity and prognosis in patients with proximal type cervical spondylotic amyotrophy (CSA). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 35 proximal type CSA patients who were treated conservatively. The following data was collected: age, rotator cuff status on MRI, manual muscle test (MMT) score of shoulder abductor and biceps brachii muscles both at the first visit and final follow-up. We investigated the prevalence of RCT and the association between the rotator cuff status, and the severity and recovery of upper extremity weakness in patients with proximal type CSA. Results: Of the 35 patients, 21 had an RCT on MRI, indicating that the prevalence of RCT in patients with proximal type CSA was 60%. An age-adjusted analysis showed that the presence of RCT was significantly associated with the MMT score of the shoulder abductor muscles both at the first visit and at the final follow-up. The presence of RCT was significantly associated with the recovery of the shoulder abductor muscles. The size of the RCT was negatively correlated with the MMT score of the shoulder abductor muscles at the final follow-up. The size of the RCT was independently correlated with the change of the MMT score of the shoulder abductor muscles. Conclusion: RCT was detected in >50% in patients with proximal type CSA, and the presence and severity of RCT can be used as prognostic factors for proximal type CSA patients who are treated conservatively.


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