Diversity, geographical distribution, and prevalence of Entamoeba spp. in Brazil: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The genus Entamoeba includes a variety of widely distributed species adapted to live in the digestive tracts of humans and a large variety of animals of different classes. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence, distribution, and molecular epidemiology of Entamoeba spp. in different classes of hosts in Brazil.

Effect of power feature covariance shift on BCI spatial-filtering techniques: A comparative study.

Background And Objective: The input data distributions of EEG-based BCI systems can change during intra-session transitions due to nonstationarity caused by features covariate shifts, thus compromising BCI performance. We aimed to identify the most robust spatial filtering approach, among most used methods, testing them on calibration dataset, and test dataset recorded 30 min afterwards. In addition, we also investigated if their performance improved after application of Stationary Subspace Analysis (SSA).

Evaluation of Motor Imagery-Based BCI methods in neurorehabilitation of Parkinson's Disease patients.

The study reports the performance of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients to operate Motor-Imagery based Brain-Computer Interface (MI-BCI) and compares three selected pre-processing and classification approaches. The experiment was conducted on 7 PD patients who performed a total of 14 MI-BCI sessions targeting lower extremities. EEG was recorded during the initial calibration phase of each session, and the specific BCI models were produced by using Spectrally weighted Common Spatial Patterns (SpecCSP), Source Power Comodulation (SPoC) and Filter-Bank Common Spatial Patterns (FBCSP) methods.

Prevalence of comorbidities in patients and mortality cases affected by SARS-CoV2: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The new coronavirus, COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. Risk factors associated with this disease are age, sex, and the presence of comorbidities, the most common being hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. The aim of this meta-analysis was to calculate the prevalence and geographical distribution of comorbidities in all patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs), and the mortality rate of COVID-19.

Effect of muscular activation on surrounding motor networks in developmental stuttering: A TMS study.

Previous studies regarding developmental stuttering (DS) suggest that motor neural networks are strongly affected. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to investigate neural activation of the primary motor cortex in DS during movement execution, and the influence of muscle representations involved in movements on "surrounding" ones. TMS was applied over the contralateral abductor digiti minimi (ADM) motor representation, at rest and during the movement of homologue first dorsal interosseous muscles (tonic contraction, phasic movements cued by acoustic signalling, and "self-paced" movements).

Stuttering as a matter of delay in neural activation: A combined TMS/EEG study.

Objective: Brain dynamics in developmental stuttering (DS) are not well understood. The supplementary motor area (SMA) plays a crucial role, since it communicates with regions related to planning/execution of movements, and with sub-cortical regions involved in paced/voluntary acts (such as speech). We used TMS combined with EEG to shed light on connections in DS, stimulating the SMA.

Review of the therapeutic neurofeedback method using electroencephalography: EEG Neurofeedback.

Electroencephalographic neurofeedback (EEG-NFB) represents a broadly used method that involves a real-time EEG signal measurement, immediate data processing with the extraction of the parameter(s) of interest, and feedback to the individual in a real-time. Using such a feedback loop, the individual may gain better control over the neurophysiological parameters, by inducing changes in brain functioning and, consequently, behavior. It is used as a complementary treatment for a variety of neuropsychological disorders and improvement of cognitive capabilities, creativity or relaxation in healthy subjects.

[Neurofeedback in Parkinson's disease: technologies in speech and language therapy.].

Unlabelled: Neurofeedback (NF) is a form of biofeedback based on the self-modulation of brain activity; it aims to enhance mental and behavioral performances. The user modifies his brain functions thanks to EEG-mediated self-regulation and therapist's guidance. Recent advances in Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) have provided new evidence on the effectiveness of NF in reinforcing cognitive functions expecially in children with ADHD.

Separating the Idea from the Action: A sLORETA Study.

Simple imaginary movements activate similar cortical and subcortical areas to actual movements, chiefly in the sensory-motor network. However, only a few studies also examined the imagery of more skilful movements such as reaching. Ten volunteers performed reaching movements or imagined the same movements.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation in developmental stuttering: Relations with previous neurophysiological research and future perspectives.

Developmental stuttering (DS) is a disruption of the rhythm of speech, and affected people may be unable to execute fluent voluntary speech. There are still questions about the exact causes of DS. Evidence suggests there are differences in the structure and functioning of motor systems used for preparing, executing, and controlling motor acts, especially when they are speech related.

Altered Modulation of Silent Period in Tongue Motor Cortex of Persistent Developmental Stuttering in Relation to Stuttering Severity.

Motor balance in developmental stuttering (DS) was investigated with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), with the aim to define novel neural markers of persistent DS in adulthood. Eleven DS adult males were evaluated with TMS on tongue primary motor cortex, compared to 15 matched fluent speakers, in a "state" condition (i.e.

Long-range neural activity evoked by premotor cortex stimulation: a TMS/EEG co-registration study.

The premotor cortex is one of the fundamental structures composing the neural networks of the human brain. It is implicated in many behaviors and cognitive tasks, ranging from movement to attention and eye-related activity. Therefore, neural circuits that are related to premotor cortex have been studied to clarify their connectivity and/or role in different tasks.

A multimenu system based on the P300 component as a time saving procedure for communication with a brain-computer interface.

The present study investigates a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) spelling procedure based on the P300 evoked potential. It uses a small matrix of words arranged in a tree-shaped organization ("multimenu"), and allows the user to build phrases one word at a time, instead of letter by letter. Experiments were performed in two sessions on a group of seven healthy volunteers.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation and preparation of visually-guided reaching movements.

To better define the neural networks related to preparation of reaching, we applied transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to the lateral parietal and frontal cortex. TMS did not evoke effects closely related to preparation of reaching, suggesting that neural networks already identified by our group are not larger than previously thought. We also replicated previous TMS/EEG data by applying TMS to the parietal cortex: new analyses were performed to better support reliability of already reported findings (Zanon et al.

Emerging therapy for improving wound repair of severe radiation burns using local bone marrow-derived stem cell administrations.

The therapeutic management of severe radiation burns remains a challenging issue today. Conventional surgical treatment including excision, skin autograft, or flap often fails to prevent unpredictable and uncontrolled extension of the radiation-induced necrotic process. In a recent very severe accidental radiation burn, we demonstrated the efficiency of a new therapeutic approach combining surgery and local cellular therapy using autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), and we confirmed the crucial place of the dose assessment in this medical management.

Investigating the efficacy of paroxetine in developmental stuttering.

Objectives: Paroxetine has been reported to be useful for management of stuttering symptoms, but only a few reports have examined its effects. We have investigated the efficacy of paroxetine in a randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Methods: Five stuttering subjects received paroxetine at 20 mg once daily at night for 12 weeks, and 5 received placebo.

Cortical connections between dorsal and ventral visual streams in humans: Evidence by TMS/EEG co-registration.

Parietal cortex subserves various cognitive tasks, ranging from attention to visuo-motor skills. It is part of a parieto-frontal network involved in attention, and part of the visual dorsal stream, opposed to the visual ventral stream, although increasing evidence suggests interchange of information between them. In this study, co-registration of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Electroencephalographic activity (EEG) has been used to investigate the spreading of cortical connections from the parietal cortex in healthy volunteers.

Involvement of ipsilateral parieto-occipital cortex in the planning of reaching movements: evidence by TMS.

Involvement of the ipsilateral hemisphere during planning of reaching movements is still matter of debate. While it has been demonstrated that the contralateral hemisphere is dominant in visuo-motor integration, involvement of the ipsilateral hemisphere has also been proposed. Furthermore, a dominant role for left posterior parietal cortex has been shown in this process, independently of the hand and visual field involved.

Parieto-occipital cortex and planning of reaching movements: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study.

A large amount of evidence supports a role for the parietal and frontal cortex in the planning of reaching movements. Nevertheless, neither the timing of involvement of these areas nor if and how their activity can be influenced by external stimuli has been clarified. The parieto-occipital cortex has been investigated by applying transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) at 25% (Time 1), 50% (Time 2) and 75% (Time 3) of the reaction time from a go signal to hand movement.

Distribution of ghrelin peptide in the gastrointestinal tract of stomachless and stomach-containing teleosts.

The occurrence and localization of ghrelin peptide in the gastrointestinal tract of Carassius auratus and Dicentrarchus labrax, two fish species that exhibit different feeding behavior, different habitats, and different anatomical organizations of the gastroenteric tract, were examined by immunohistochemical methods and western blotting analysis. All of the gastrointestinal segments studied displayed immunohistochemical localizations of ghrelin peptide. Numerous single or clustered immunoreactive cells were found along the gastric folds, particularly in the pyloric region of Dicentrarcus labrax, whereas scattered ghrelin immunoreactive cells were observed in the intestinal epithelium of both fish species.

Effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on parietal and premotor cortex during planning of reaching movements.

Background: Cerebral activation during planning of reaching movements occurs both in the superior parietal lobule (SPL) and premotor cortex (PM), and their activation seems to take place in parallel.

Methodology: The activation of the SPL and PM has been investigated using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) during planning of reaching movements under visual guidance.

Principal Findings: A facilitory effect was found when TMS was delivered on the parietal cortex at about half of the time from sight of the target to hand movement, independently of target location in space.

Inhibition of wrong responses and conflict resolution: an electroencephalogram study.

To investigate the neural activity elicited by conflict processes, we recorded event-related potentials during a spatial version of the Simon task. In this task, participants have to release a key according to the direction of an arrow while ignoring the side on which this stimulus is presented. Responses are, nevertheless, faster when stimulus and response side match (spatial compatibility) than when they do not match (spatial incompatibility).

EEG dynamics of the frontoparietal network during reaching preparation in humans.

Visuomotor transformation processes are essential when accurate reaching movements towards a visual target have to be performed. In contrast, those transformations are not needed for similar, but non-visually guided, arm movements. According to previous studies, these transformations are carried out by neuronal populations located in the parietal and frontal cortical areas (the so-called "dorsal visual stream").