Effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation over motor cortex on resting-state brain activity in the early subacute stroke phase: A power spectral density analysis.

Introduction: Despite promising results, the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in the early stages of stroke and its impact on brain activity have been poorly studied. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of tDCS applied over the ipsilesional motor cortex on resting-state brain activity in the early subacute phase of stroke.

Methods: This is a pilot, randomized, double-blind, proof-of-concept study.

Gamma-Band Frequency Analysis and Motor Development in Music-Trained Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The aim of this study was to analyze the gamma-band frequency and motor performance of children with and without music training. This cross-sectional study included 31 right-handed children, 6-11 years old, who were allocated to two groups: 1) the music group (MG), including children who attended preschool and musical training (n = 16), and 2) the no-music group (NMG), including children who attended preschool but received no additional music training (n = 15). The outcomes were gamma-band frequency measured by electroencephalography, manual dexterity, aim-and-catch, and static and dynamic balance abilities measured by the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, and fine motor skills, overall motor skills, balance, corporal body scheme, spatial organization, temporal orientation, and general motor quotient (GMQ) by a Brazilian scale for motor development.

Frequency and characterization of the use of cuffed tracheal tubes in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units in Brazil.

Objective: To identify the neonatal, pediatric and mixed (neonatal and pediatric) intensive care units in Brazil that use cuffed tracheal tubes in clinical practice and to describe the characteristics related to the use of protocols and monitoring.

Methods: To identify the intensive care units in Brazil, the Ministry of Health's National Registry of Health Facilities was accessed, and information was collected on 693 registered intensive care units. This was an analytical cross-sectional survey conducted through electronic questionnaires sent to 298 neonatal, pediatric and mixed intensive care units in Brazil.

Mechanical ventilation weaning practices in neonatal and pediatric ICUs in Brazil: the Weaning Survey-Brazil.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe practices for weaning from mechanical ventilation (MV), in terms of the use of protocols, methods, and criteria, in pediatric ICUs (PICUs), neonatal ICUs (NICUs), and mixed neonatal/pediatric ICUs (NPICUs) in Brazil.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey carried out by sending an electronic questionnaire to a total of 298 NICUs, PICUs, and NPICUs throughout Brazil.

Results: Completed questionnaires were assessed for 146 hospitals, NICUs accounting for 49.

Role of physical therapists in the weaning and extubation procedures of pediatric and neonatal intensive care units: a survey.

Background: Weaning a patient from mechanical ventilation is a complex procedure that involves clinical and contextual aspects. Mechanical ventilation also depends on the characteristics of health professionals who work in intensive care.

Objective: This study described the organizational aspects associated with the physical therapist's performance in the weaning procedure from mechanical ventilation and extubation in neonatal, pediatric and mixed (neonatal and pediatric) intensive care units in Brazil.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE USE OF KANGAROO POSITION ON PRETERM BABIES AND MOTHER-CHILD INTERACTION UPON DISCHARGE.

Objective: To analyze the influence of the Kangaroo Position duration in the initial interactions between mothers and preterm infants.

Methods: This is an exploratory prospective observational study that analyzed the mother-infant interaction during breastfeeding, before hospital discharge. All eligible newborns, with a gestational age of 28-32 weeks and a birth weight of 1,000-1,800 g from June 11 to September 31, 2014 were included.

Secondary hyperalgesia occurs regardless of unilateral or bilateral knee osteoarthritis involvement in individuals with mild or moderate level.

Background: Secondary hyperalgesia in individuals with less severe levels of knee osteoarthritis remains unclear. The objective of this study was to measure the pressure pain threshold of individuals with mild or moderate knee osteoarthritis and compare with no osteoarthritis.

Methods: Ten healthy controls and 30 individuals with mild or moderate knee osteoarthritis divided into two groups (unilateral and bilateral involvement) were included.

Feature visualization and classification for the discrimination between individuals with Parkinson's disease under levodopa and DBS treatments.

Background: Over the years, a number of distinct treatments have been adopted for the management of the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), including pharmacologic therapies and deep brain stimulation (DBS). Efficacy is most often evaluated by subjective assessments, which are prone to error and dependent on the experience of the examiner. Our goal was to identify an objective means of assessing response to therapy.

Thermographic analysis and autonomic response in the hands of patients with leprosy.

Background: Low temperatures and slow blood flow may result from peripheral neuropathy caused by leprosy, and the simple detection of cold fingers could already be a preliminary classification for these patients.

Objective: To investigate whether infrared thermography would be able to measure this change in temperature in the hands of people with leprosy.

Method: The study assessed 17 leprosy patients who were under treatment at the National Reference Center for Sanitary Dermatology and Leprosy, Uberlândia/MG, and 15 people without leprosy for the control group.