Long-term effect of non-invasive brain stimulation on hemispatial neglect, functional outcomes, and mortality after stroke: ELETRON trial extend.

Introduction: Our primary clinical trial indicated that anodal stimulation of the right posterior parietal region associated with specific and perceptual task training was superior to placebo in reducing stroke-induced hemispatial neglect (HN) immediately after the treatment protocol. However, our primary study did not investigate whether this benefit was maintained in the long term after stroke. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of the protocol applied in the ELETRON trial on outcomes associated with HN, functionality, and mortality.

Breast and axillary marking in the neoadjuvant setting: survey results from experts of the Brazilian society of mastology.

Introduction/objectives: The precise location of the tumor site is essential for the success of surgical treatment. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is a challenge for preoperative tumor and node localization. Thus, the knowledge and attitudes of the affiliated members of the Brazilian Society of Mastology (SBM) regarding breast and axilla marking were evaluated and a consensus regarding management and treatment was reached.

Factors Associated With the Health Literacy of Caregivers of Patients Undergoing Cranial Neurological Surgery.

Background: Caregiver health literacy (HL) in patients' transition from hospital to home care is an important factor for good results.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 89 patient-informal caregiver dyads in Brazil. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire and the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire short-short form.

Left Atrial Volume versus Coronary Artery Calcium Score in Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis: An Observational Study.

The coronary artery calcium score and left atrial volume have been shown to predict the incidence of acute myocardial infarction and death from cardiovascular disease in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. However, the association between these factors has not been well-established. This cross-sectional, prospective, single-center study was conducted on patients undergoing outpatient peritoneal dialysis, who were followed up at a university hospital between March 2018 and August 2019.

Impact of Lymphedema on Foot-Health-Related Quality of Life: A Case-Control Investigation.

Objective: To evaluate the foot-health-related quality of life in individuals with versus without lower-limb lymphedema.

Methods: A case-control study was carried out in an academic clinic in Lisbon, Portugal. Eighty participants (40 controls and 40 with lymphedema) were included in the study.

Framework for Research Gaps in Pediatric Ventilator Liberation.

Background: The 2023 International Pediatric Ventilator Liberation Clinical Practice Guidelines provided evidence-based recommendations to guide pediatric critical care providers on how to perform daily aspects of ventilator liberation. However, because of the lack of high-quality pediatric studies, most recommendations were conditional based on very low to low certainty of evidence.

Research Question: What are the research gaps related to pediatric ventilator liberation that can be studied to strengthen the evidence for future updates of the guidelines?

Study Design And Methods: We conducted systematic reviews of the literature in eight predefined Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome (PICO) areas related to pediatric ventilator liberation to generate recommendations.

Nonlinear EEG Analysis During Motor and Cognitive Tasks in Patients With Long COVID: A Dynamic Systems Approach.

Nonlinear EEG provides information about dynamic properties of the brain. This study aimed to compare nonlinear EEG parameters estimated from patients with Long COVID in different cognitive and motor tasks. This 12-month prospective cohort study included 83 patients with Long COVID: 53 symptomatic and 30 asymptomatic.

Association of cardiovascular risk factors and myocardial hypertrophy in women with preeclampsia history.

Aims: A historic of preeclampsia (PE) has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women. There are substantial evidences that cardiovascular changes resulting from PE can persist even after pregnancy end. Therefore, the aims was to evaluate the prevalence of myocardial hypertrophy in young women 12 months after PE event as well as try to identify risk factors for these changes.

Expression of β- and β-adrenergic receptors in oral squamous cell carcinoma and their association with psychological and clinical factors.

Background: Psychological stressors have been related to tumor progression through the activation of beta-adrenergic receptors (β-AR) in several types of cancer.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the expressions of β- and β-AR and their association with psychological and clinicopathological variables in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods: Tumor samples from 99 patients diagnosed with OSCC were subjected to immunohistochemical reaction to detect the expression of β-AR and β-AR.

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.

Depressive symptoms and their severity in a sample with lymphedema: a case-control investigation.

Objectives: Depression is a condition that can be associated with other illnesses, especially chronic illnesses. Lower limb lymphedema is a chronic, disabling condition that can affect the quality of life and be related to psychological and psychosocial factors that interfere with people's lives. This study aims to characterize and analyze the depressive symptoms and their severity reported by people with lower limb lymphedema and compare them with a matched group without lymphedema.

Sexual dimorphism in the murine model of extraparenchymal neurocysticercosis.

Neurocysticercosis is a heterogeneous disease, and the patient's sex seems to play a role in this heterogeneity. Hosts' sexual dimorphism in cysticercosis has been largely explored in the murine model of intraperitoneal Taenia crassiceps cysticercosis. In this study, we investigated the sexual dimorphism of inflammatory responses in a rat model of extraparenchymal neurocysticercosis caused by T.

Quantitative analysis of external carotid artery bypass donor vessels by recipient and approach.

Introduction: Utilization an in-situ pedicle of the external carotid artery (ECA) as an arterial donor can allow for the successful augmentation or replacement of flow to a large vascular territory. We propose a mathematical model for quantitatively analyzing and grading the suitability of donor and recipient bypass vessels based on a set of anatomical and surgical variables in order to predict which pair has the greatest possibility for success. Using this method, we analyze all of the potential donor-recipient pairs for each ECA donor vessel-including the superficial temporal (STA), middle meningeal (MMA), and occipital (OA) arteries.

Effect of a Physical Exercise Program on the Inflammatory Response, Cardiac Functions, Functional Capacity, and Quality of Life in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease.

Introduction: The beneficial effects of physical exercise on functional capacity and inflammatory response are well-known in cardiovascular diseases; however, studies on sickle cell disease (SCD) are limited. It was hypothesized that physical exercise may exert a favorable effect on the inflammatory response of SCD patients, contributing to an improved quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a regular physical exercise program on the anti-inflammatory responses in SCD patients.

Association of Extubation Failure Rates With High-Flow Nasal Cannula, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, and Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure vs Conventional Oxygen Therapy in Infants and Young Children: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Importance: Extubation failure (EF) has been associated with worse outcomes in critically ill children. The relative efficacy of different modes of noninvasive respiratory support (NRS) to prevent EF is unknown.

Objective: To study the reported relative efficacy of different modes of NRS (high-flow nasal cannula [HFNC], continuous positive airway pressure [CPAP], and bilevel positive airway pressure [BiPAP]) compared to conventional oxygen therapy (COT).

Evolution of Myocardial Hypertrophy Associated With Pregnancy in Hypertensive Women Six Months Postpartum.

Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) is one of the principal risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease. When a hypertensive woman becomes pregnant, new hemodynamic condition is installed, with addition from chronic pressure overload to chronic volume overload. This new hemodynamic condition can provide greater myocardial hypertrophy(LVH), whose postpartum evolution has been little studied in the literature.

Atherectomy to treat femoropopliteal atherosclerotic disease.

Atherectomy as an endovascular modality to treat peripheral arterial disease has gained traction over the past 10 years. Unlike most other available technologies, atherectomy works by physically debulking atherosclerotic plaque via a variety of mechanisms being the femoropopliteal segment the most targeted one. The aims of this review were to detail the types of atherectomy available, existing evidence available for atherectomy use in the femoropopliteal segment as compared to other interventions, critical appraisal of its current use and the possible influences on its indication.

Neurocysticercosis in Latin America: Current epidemiological situation based on official statistics from four countries.

Background: Neurocysticercosis (NC) is one of the major parasitic diseases affecting the central nervous system and is endemic in much of Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America. Its epidemiology is difficult to assess, although official registries are available in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Mexico.

Methodology/principal Findings: Using official statistics, we assessed trends in NC hospitalization rates during 1998-2019 in Brazil and Ecuador, during 2004-2019 in Mexico, and during 2009-2019 in Colombia.

Association between phase angle and coronary artery calcium score in patients on peritoneal dialysis.

Introduction: The phase angle (PhA) has been used as a nutritional marker and predictor of mortality in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). The coronary artery calcium (CAC) score has shown to predict the incidence of acute myocardial infarction and death from cardiovascular disease in these patients. However, the association between PhA and CAC score in patients with PD is not well-established, which is the objective of this study.