Efficacy and safety of transcranial direct current stimulation over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a randomized, triple-blinded, sham-controlled, crossover trial.

Introduction: Although pharmacological treatment for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has demonstrated efficacy, several individuals persist in experiencing social and academic impairment. Additionally, the occurrence of significant side effects may render the use of psychotropic medications untenable. However, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, shows promising results in treating ADHD.

The effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on attention and inhibitory control of children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Study protocol for a randomized, sham-controlled, triple-blind, cross-over trial.

Abstract: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. Despite the proven efficacy of pharmacological treatment, many individuals continue to suffer socially and academically and some experience significant side effects that negate the use psychotropic drugs. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a cortical neuromodulation feature that has shown positive results in the treatment of various neuropsychiatric conditions.

[Not Available].

This paper was created by the Austrian Society of Pneumology (Working group Ventilation and Intensive Care) to summarize the specific characteristics of mechanical ventilation in patients presenting with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The main differences in pathophysiology and mechanical ventilation are shown, including acute respiratory failure and out-of-hospital mechanical ventilation.

Molecular networking prospection and characterization of terpenoids and C-acetogenins in Brazilian seaweed extracts.

Molecular networking (MN) can efficiently dereplicate extracts and pure compounds. Red algae of the genus are rich in halogenated secondary metabolites, mainly sesquiterpenes and C-acetogenins. Brown algae of the genus produce mainly C-hydrocarbons, sesquiterpenes and sulfur-containing compounds, while and are reported to contain mainly diterpenes.

[Respiratory Muscle Training: State of the Art].

Specific respiratory muscle training (IMT) improves the function of the inspiratory muscles. According to literature and clinical experience, there are 3 established methods: 1.) resistive load 2.

Understanding readmission after primary total hip and knee arthroplasty: who's at risk?

Readmission has been cited as an important quality measure in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. We queried an electronic database for all patients who underwent Total Hip Arthroplasty or Total Knee Arthroplasty at our institution from 2006 to 2010 and identified those readmitted within 90 days of surgery, reviewed their demographic and clinical data, and performed a multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine significant risk factors. The overall 90-day readmission rate was 7.

Effects of predation pressure and resource use on morphological divergence in omnivorous prey fish.

Background: Body shape is one of the most variable traits of organisms and responds to a broad array of local selective forces. In freshwater fish, divergent body shapes within single species have been repeatedly observed along the littoral-pelagic axes of lakes, where the structural complexity of near shore habitats provides a more diverse set of resources compared to the open-water zones. It remains poorly understood whether similar resource-driven polymorphism occurs among lakes that vary in structural complexity and predation pressure, and whether this variation is heritable.

Effects of inspiratory muscle training on dynamic hyperinflation in patients with COPD.

Dynamic hyperinflation has important clinical consequences in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Given that most of these patients have respiratory and peripheral muscle weakness, dyspnea and functional exercise capacity may improve as a result of inspiratory muscle training (IMT). The aim of the study was to analyze the effects of IMT on exercise capacity, dyspnea, and inspiratory fraction (IF) during exercise in patients with COPD.

Idiopathic diaphragmatic paralysis--satisfactory improvement of inspiratory muscle function by inspiratory muscle training.

Daily inspiratory muscle strength and endurance training (IMT) was performed in a 44-year-old patient with idiopathic bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis (BDP) in addition to nocturnal non-invasive ventilation (NIV). After 4 months of training inspiratory muscle function improved satisfactorily whereas phrenic nerve latency remained pathological. Due to the improvement of inspiratory muscle capacity nocturnal NIV could be stopped without inducing nocturnal respiratory insufficiency.

[Leucocytoclastic eosinophilic vasculitis with Löffler syndrome].

Histologically, leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LV) presents with neutrophilic granulocytes with leukocytoclasia and erythrocyte extravasation, associated with variable counts of lymphocytes, plasma cells and eosinophilic granulocytes. The association of a LV with eosinophilic granulocytes and eosinophilic pneumonia was first described by Chan et al. in 1982.

Evaluation of inspiratory muscle function in a healthy austrian population--practical aspects.

Background: There is no clear evidence whether inspiratory muscle strength (Pi(max)) is closely linked to inspiratory muscle endurance (T(lim)). Moreover, normal values of T(lim), measured by flow-resistive loads, have not been established.

Objectives: We tried to find answers to the following questions: Is it possible to establish normative values of T(lim) when using flow-dependent, resistive loads? Are Pi(max) and Borg scale values predictors of T(lim)? Are anthropometric and spirometric data closely related to T(lim)? Is it really necessary to measure T(lim) in addition to Pi(max) when evaluating inspiratory muscle function?

Methods: Sixty-eight healthy Austrian volunteers between 17 and 75 years of age and with a sedentary lifestyle participated in our study.

Spontaneous bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis: a rare cause of respiratory failure.

Bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis (BDP) can occur in the course of motor neuron disease, myopathy, or from mechanical damage or the use of "ice slush" during cardiac surgery. BDP has been observed during and after infections, associated with systemic lupus erythematosus and mediastinal tumors, or may have idiopathic etiology. It is a serious and life-threatening condition.

2 Years' experience with inspiratory muscle training in patients with neuromuscular disorders.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to assess the long-term effects of specific inspiratory muscle training (IMT) in patients with neuromuscular disorders (NMDs) who have various degrees of respiratory impairment.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-seven patients with NMDs (Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, 18 patients; spinal muscular atrophy, 9 patients) underwent 24 months of IMT. Patients were divided into three groups according to their vital capacity (VC) values.

Feedback-controlled negative pressure ventilation in patients with stable severe hypercapnic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: In recent studies, the efficacy of intermittent rest of the inspiratory muscles as an option of treating patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has become questionable.

Objective: The aim of our study was to analyze the effects of feedback-controlled intermittent negative pressure ventilation (INPV) on stable, but severely hypercapnic COPD patients.

Methods: 21 clinically stable, hypercapnic patients with severe COPD underwent INPV with chest shells for 3 weeks, 6 h a day.

Dose-dependent effects of inspiratory muscle training in neuromuscular disorders.

The goal of this study was to show whether a correlation exists between the intensity of specific respiratory muscle training and the improvement of strength and endurance in inspiratory musculature in patients with neuromuscular disorders (NMD). Sixteen patients with NMD (13 with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and 3 with spinal muscular atrophy) performed inspiratory muscle training (IMT) at home with a special training apparatus for 9 months. Maximal inspiratory mouth pressure (PI(MAX)) and 12s-maximum voluntary ventilation (12s-MVV) test served as parameters for inspiratory muscle strength and endurance, respectively.

Is long-term functional outcome after lung volume reduction surgery predictable?

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze which preoperative parameters might predict a persistent improvement in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FeV1) 1 year after surgery.

Methods: Seventy consecutive lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) patients (age, 56.5+/-1.

Neural drive to the diaphragm after lung volume reduction surgery.

Study Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate prospectively the changes in neural drive to the diaphragm in the first year after lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) in patients with COPD.

Patients And Methods: In 14 patients with severe emphysema (mean +/- SD; age, 53.7 +/- 8.

Ventilatory mechanics and gas exchange during exercise before and after lung volume reduction surgery.

Many patients with emphysema are able to meet ventilatory demands during resting conditions, but they show severe limitations during exercise. To examine the effect of lung volume reduction (LVR) surgery on exercise performance and the mechanism of possible improvement, we measured ventilatory mechanics (pulmonary resistance [RL], work of breathing [WOB], dynamic intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure [PEEPi,dyn], peak expiratory flow rate [PEFR]), breathing pattern, oxygen uptake (V O2), and carbon dioxide removal (V CO2) at rest and during cycle ergometry in eight patients before and 3 mo after LVR surgery. Ventilatory mechanics were evaluated assessing esophageal pressure and air flow.

Chronic hypercapnia should not exclude patients from lung volume reduction surgery.

Objective: Chronic hypercapnia is still considered to increase the risk for perioperative mortality and therefore to be a contraindication for lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS). The aim of this study was to analyse the influences of hypercapnia upon postoperative outcome.

Methods: The functional improvement (preop vs.

Morphologic grading of the emphysematous lung and its relation to improvement after lung volume reduction surgery.

Background: The morphologic criteria for lung volume reduction surgery, such as severity and heterogeneity of disease, differ widely between patients, and this makes any comparison of functional results between centers difficult. Here we present a morphologic scoring system and describe its possible relation to functional results after lung volume reduction operations.

Methods: Between September 1994 and December 1996, 47 consecutive patients underwent bilateral lung volume reduction operations.

Functional improvements in ventilatory mechanics after lung volume reduction surgery for homogeneous emphysema.

Objective: Between September 1994 and August 1996 Lung Volume Reduction Surgery (LVRS) was performed through median sternotomy, videoendoscopically or by thoracotomy in 54 consecutive patients (age 34-69 years, mean 48 years).

Methods: The areas with the most destroyed lung parenchyma were resected by means of linear stapling devices. A total of 5 patients died postoperatively due to aspiration pneumonia, multiorgan failure and acute hepatic failure respectively.

Changes in ventilatory mechanics and diaphragmatic function after lung volume reduction surgery in patients with COPD.

Background: Lung volume reduction (LVR) has recently been used to treat severe emphysema. About 25% of the volume of each lung is removed with this method. Little is known about the mechanism of functional improvement so a study was undertaken to investigate the changes in ventilatory mechanics and diaphragmatic function in eight patients after LVR.

Functional improvement after volume reduction: sternotomy versus videoendoscopic approach.

Background: Volume reduction has been proved to increase ventilatory mechanics in diffuse, nonbullous lung emphysema. However, the best approach is still controversial.

Methods: We retrospectively compared the perioperative data of and functional results in 15 patients having sternotomy (group I) with those of 15 patients having a videoendoscopic approach (group II).