Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns and Biofilm Analysis via Sonication in Intensive Care Unit Patients at a County Emergency Hospital in Romania.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) remains a critical challenge in ICU settings, often driven by the biofilm-mediated bacterial colonization of endotracheal tubes (ETTs). This study investigates antimicrobial resistance patterns and biofilm dynamics in ICU patients, focusing on microbial colonization and resistance trends in tracheal aspirates and endotracheal tube biofilms at a county emergency hospital in Romania. We conducted a longitudinal analysis of ICU patients requiring mechanical ventilation for more than 48 h.

Functional Connectivity and MRI Radiomics Biomarkers of Cognitive and Brain Reserve in Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment Prediction-A Study Protocol.

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is frequently associated with long-term post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) and dementia. While the mechanisms behind PSCI are not fully understood, the brain and cognitive reserve concepts are topics of ongoing research exploring the ability of individuals to maintain intact cognitive performance despite ischemic injuries. Brain reserve refers to the brain's structural capacity to compensate for damage, with markers like hippocampal atrophy and white matter lesions indicating reduced reserve.

Neuropsychological Performance after Extended N-Pep-12 Dietary Supplementation in Supratentorial Ischemic Stroke.

: Cognitive deficits following ischemic stroke significantly impair quality of life, highlighting the need for effective interventions. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of extended N-Pep-12 dietary supplementation in enhancing cognitive recovery post-stroke. : In this randomized, open-label, controlled study, 106 patients with supratentorial ischemic stroke were enrolled to receive either 90mg N-Pep-12 or no supplementation daily for 360 days and were followed-up for 360 days.

Non-Invasive Systems Application in Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant public health concern, often leading to long-lasting impairments in cognitive, motor and sensory functions. The rapid development of non-invasive systems has revolutionized the field of TBI rehabilitation by offering modern and effective interventions. This narrative review explores the application of non-invasive technologies, including electroencephalography (EEG), quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG), brain-computer interface (BCI), eye tracking, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), magnetoencephalography (MEG), and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in assessing TBI consequences, and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), low-level laser therapy (LLLT), neurofeedback, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), transcranial alternative current stimulation (tACS) and virtual reality (VR) as therapeutic approaches for TBI rehabilitation.

N-Pep-12 supplementation after ischemic stroke positively impacts frequency domain QEEG.

Background: N-Pep-12 is a dietary supplement with neuroprotective and pro-cognitive effects, as shown in experimental models and clinical studies on patients after ischemic stroke. We tested the hypothesis that N-Pep-12 influences quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) parameters in patients with subacute to chronic supratentorial ischemic lesions.

Methods: We performed secondary data analysis on an exploratory clinical trial (ISRCTN10702895), assessing the efficacy and safety of 90 days of once-daily treatment with 90 mg N-Pep-12 on neurocognitive function and neurorecovery outcome in patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment against a control group.

VaD - An Integrated Framework for Cognitive Rehabilitation.

Background & Objective: Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia, with clinical features that depend on neural substrates affected by the vascular lesions. Like most neurological disorders, it involves alterations that range from the molecular level to neuronal networks. Such alterations begin as compensatory mechanisms that reshape every subsystem involved in the brain's homeostasis.

Functional electrical stimulation may reduce bradykinesia in Parkinson's disease: A feasibility study.

Objectives: This feasibility study investigated the effect of combined upper and lower limb functional electrical stimulation (FES) to reduce bradykinesia in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Method: Eleven people with PD and Hoehn and Yahr score 2-3 used FES to assist dorsiflexion and hand opening or fine hand movements for 2 weeks. Outcome measures were the nine-hole peg test, box and block test, 10 m walking test, Tinetti balance scale, modified Parkinson's disease quality of life questionnaire (PDQL), SPES/SCOPA scale, and compliance.

Reading beyond the glance: eye tracking in neurosciences.

From an interdisciplinary approach, the neurosciences (NSs) represent the junction of many fields (biology, chemistry, medicine, computer science, and psychology) and aim to explore the structural and functional aspects of the nervous system. Among modern neurophysiological methods that "measure" different processes of the human brain to salience stimuli, a special place belongs to eye tracking (ET). By detecting eye position, gaze direction, sequence of eye movement and visual adaptation during cognitive activities, ET is an effective tool for experimental psychology and neurological research.

Neuropeptide Y stimulation as primary target for preventive measures of maladaptative cardiovascular reactions in occupational chronic stress exposure.

Unlabelled: Chronic stress may produce a decrease in central NPY expression and subjects exposed to it may prove hypersensitivity to a novel stressor with dysfunctions in the NPY system and cardiovascular maladaptation to stress, even hypertension. Upregulation of NPY expression may contribute to successful behavioral adaptation to stress by reducing cardiovascular tone and suppressing anxious behaviors. Adaptogens, a new class of metabolic regulators stimulate NPY expression and release.

[Functional electrical stimulation effect on the motor performances in Parkinsonian patients].

Unlabelled: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease involving dopaminergic, cholinergic, glutaminergic, serotoninergic and noradrenergic neurons, having as clinical manifestations both motor and non-motor symptoms. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is a complementary therapy that can improve the motor disabilities (i.e.