Functional balance at rest of hemispheric homologs assessed via normalized compression distance.

Introduction: The formation and functioning of neural networks hinge critically on the balance between structurally homologous areas in the hemispheres. This balance, reflecting their physiological relationship, is fundamental for learning processes. In our study, we explore this functional homology in the resting state, employing a complexity measure that accounts for the temporal patterns in neurodynamics.

Auditory Personalization of EMDR Treatment to Relieve Trauma Effects: A Feasibility Study [EMDR+].

According to the WHO (World Health Organization), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an elective therapy to treat people with post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD). In line with the personalization of therapeutic strategies, through this pilot study, we assessed in people suffering from the effects of trauma the feasibility, safety, acceptance, and efficacy of EMDR enriched with sound stimulation (by administering neutral sounds synchronized with the guided bilateral alternating stimulation of the gaze) and musical reward (musical listening based on the patients' predisposition and personal tastes). Feasibility, quantified by the number of patients who completed the treatment, was excellent as this was the case in 12 out of the 12 enrolled people with psychological trauma.

On the Homology of the Dominant and Non-Dominant Corticospinal Tracts: A Novel Neurophysiological Assessment.

Objectives: The homology of hemispheric cortical areas plays a crucial role in brain functionality. Here, we extend this concept to the homology of the dominant and non-dominant hemi-bodies, investigating the relationship of the two corticospinal tracts (CSTs). The evoked responses provide an estimate of the number of in-phase recruitments via their amplitude as a suitable indicator of the neuronal projections' integrity.

Normalized compression distance to measure cortico-muscular synchronization.

The neuronal functional connectivity is a complex and non-stationary phenomenon creating dynamic networks synchronization determining the brain states and needed to produce tasks. Here, as a measure that quantifies the synchronization between the neuronal electrical activity of two brain regions, we used the normalized compression distance (NCD), which is the length of the compressed file constituted by the concatenated two signals, normalized by the length of the two compressed files including each single signal. To test the NCD sensitivity to physiological properties, we used NCD to measure the cortico-muscular synchronization, a well-known mechanism to control movements, in 15 healthy volunteers during a weak handgrip.

Functional Source Separation-Identified Epileptic Network: Analysis Pipeline.

This proof-of-concept (PoC) study presents a pipeline made by two blocks: 1. the identification of the network that generates interictal epileptic activity; and 2. the study of the time course of the electrical activity that it generates, called neurodynamics, and the study of its functional connectivity to the other parts of the brain.

Local neurodynamics as a signature of cortical areas: new insights from sleep.

Sleep crucial for the animal survival is accompanied by huge changes in neuronal electrical activity over time, the neurodynamics. Here, drawing on intracranial stereo-electroencephalographic (sEEG) recordings from the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), we analyzed local neurodynamics in the waking state at rest and during the N2, N3, and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep phases. Higuchi fractal dimension (HFD)-a measure of signal complexity-was studied as a feature of the local neurodynamics of the primary motor (M1), somatosensory (S1), and auditory (A1) cortices.

Home treatment against fatigue in multiple sclerosis by a personalized, bilateral whole-body somatosensory cortex stimulation.

Background: Fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS) is a highly invalidating symptom with no pharmacological efficacious therapies, which furthermore present frequent severe side effects. In two previous randomized controlled trials we observed the efficacy of a personalized neuromodulation treatment consisting of a personalized transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for 15 min per day for 5 days (Faremus).

Methods: By this medical-device phase II study, we aimed at assessing the feasibility, acceptance, safety and efficacy of Faremus treatment when applied at patients' home.

Neuronal Electrical Ongoing Activity as Cortical Areas Signature: An Insight from MNI Intracerebral Recording Atlas.

The time course of the neuronal activity in the brain network, the neurodynamics, reflects the structure and functionality of the generating neuronal pools. Here, using the intracranial stereo-electroencephalographic (sEEG) recordings of the public Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) atlas, we investigated the neurodynamics of primary motor (M1), somatosensory (S1) and auditory (A1) cortices measuring power spectral densities (PSD) and Higuchi fractal dimension (HFD) in the same subject (M1 vs. S1 in 16 subjects, M1 vs.

tDCS randomized controlled trials in no-structural diseases: a quantitative review.

The increasing number and quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) employing transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) denote the rising awareness of neuroscientific community about its electroceutical potential and opening to include these treatments in the framework of medical therapies under the indications of the international authorities. The purpose of this quantitative review is to estimate the recommendation strength applying the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) criteria and PICO (population, intervention, comparison, outcome) model values for effective tDCS treatments on no-structural diseases, and to provide an estimate of Sham effect for future RCTs. Applying GRADE evaluation pathway, we searched in literature the tDCS-based RCTs in psychophysical diseases displaying a major involvement of brain electrical activity imbalances.

Measuring and benchmarking the quality of two different organizational ways in delivering infant vaccination.

The aim of this study was the quality of service evaluation of two different organizational ways in delivering infant vaccination according to a Regional Vaccination Plan. Eleven vaccination centres were selected in two Local Health Units (ASLs) belonging to the Regional Health Service of the Lazio Region, Italy. The services offering paediatric vaccinations for children under three years of age, delivered without an appointment (VACP) or with the need for an appointment (VACL), were investigated.

Knowledge and attitude of pregnant women toward flu vaccination: a cross-sectional survey.

Objective: The study was conducted to explore the knowledge of pregnant women about influenza, influenza vaccine during pregnancy and the attitudes regarding immunization.

Methods: A questionnaire based on the model proposed by Yudin in 2009 was translated, adapted and administered to 309 pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy between October 1 and December 1, 2013 at San Giovanni Calibita Fatebenefratelli hospital of Rome (Italy).

Results: Most of the interviewed women (68.

[Epidemiology of third molar extractions: the experience of the S.G.C. Fatebenefratelli Hospital in Rome (Italy)].

The extraction of third molars (wisdom teeth) is one of the main surgical procedures performed in dentistry. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of patients undergoing the procedure in the SGC Fatebenefratelli Hospital, a large hospital in Rome (Italy), where about 20% of all third molar extractions in the Lazio Region are performed. Hospital discharge forms were analysed for patients discharged in the years 2010 and 2011 with a Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) code 169, used for the procedure.

Quality measurement and benchmarking of HPV vaccination services: a new approach.

Background: A new measurement process based upon a well-defined mathematical model was applied to evaluate the quality of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination centers in 3 of 12 Local Health Units (ASLs) within the Lazio Region of Italy. The quality aspects considered for evaluation were communicational efficiency, organizational efficiency and comfort.

Results: The overall maximum achievable value was 86.

Ultrasonographic markers of vascular risk in patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis.

Six-hundred twenty-one subjects with unilateral asymptomatic severe internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis were prospectively evaluated with a median follow-up of 27 months (min=6, max=68). Vascular risk profile, plaque characteristic, stenosis progression, and common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) were investigated in all patients. Outcome measures were occurrence of ischemic stroke ipsilateral to ICA stenosis and vascular death, while myocardial infarction, contralateral strokes, and transient ischemic attack were considered as competing events.

[Application of the QuavaTAR model to vaccination services in Latium, Italy].

Definition, categorization, and measuring of Quality have become increasingly important concerns in the era of managed care and cost containment. Most attempts to develop quality indicators have been based on outcome measures. The Donabedian model of Structure-Process-Outcome has been universally accepted and used as the basis for much of the work addressing quality and outcomes.

A randomized controlled study on effects of ibuprofen on cognitive progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Background And Aims: Epidemiological studies have examined the association between the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, a variety of experimental studies indicates that a subset of NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen or flurbiprofen, also have Abeta-lowering properties in both AD transgenic mice and cell cultures of peripheral, glial and neuronal origin. In this trial, we evaluated whether the non-selective NSAID ibuprofen slows disease progression in patients with mild to moderate AD.