Differential effects of stimulation waveform and intensity on the neural structures activated by lumbar transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation.

Introduction: Lumbar transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TSS) evokes synchronized muscle responses, termed spinally evoked motor response (sEMR). Whether the structures TSS activates to evoke sEMRs differ when TSS intensity and waveform are varied is unknown.

Methods: In 15 participants (9F:6M), sEMRs were evoked by TSS over L1-L3 (at sEMR threshold and suprathreshold intensities) using conventional (one 400-µs biphasic pulse) or high-frequency burst (ten 40-µs biphasic pulses at 10 kHz) stimulus waveforms in vastus medialis (VM), tibialis anterior (TA) and medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscles.

The effect of abdominal functional electrical stimulation on blood pressure in people with high level spinal cord injury.

Study Design: Single centre training study.

Objectives: To investigate, in a group of people with spinal cord injury (SCI), the effect of transcutaneous functional electrical stimulation of the abdominal muscles (abdominal FES) during cough training on blood pressure (BP), and how it is affected by injury characteristics and alters over time.

Setting: Laboratory and community.

Pain tolerance and the thresholds of human sensory and motor axons to single and repetitive bursts of kilohertz-frequency stimulation.

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation with repetitive bursts of a kilohertz carrier frequency is thought to be less painful than conventional pulsed currents by reducing the sensitivity of pain receptors. However, no purported benefit has been shown unequivocally. We compared the effects of carrier-frequency stimulation and conventional stimulation on pain tolerance and the thresholds for sensory and motor axons in twelve participants.

Therapeutic Effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy on Pain and Disability of Patients with Failed Back Surgery Syndrome.

Purpose: This study intended to evaluate the effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) on Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS). FBSS refers to symptoms and disabilities which remain or occur after lumbar spinal surgery. Prevalent treatments for FBSS are based mostly on conservative management while LLLT has gained significant interest in the treatment of a wide variety of musculoskeletal disorders.

Remarkable improvement of neurological deficits after surgery in patients with Idiopathic spinal cord herniations. The impact of peroperative neuromonitoring. Case reports.

Introduction: Chronic Idiopathic Spinal Cord Herniation (ISCH) is a very rare spinal cord deformation occurring predominantly in thoracic levels. ISCH lead to progressive myelopathy, spastic paraparesis and Brown Séquard syndrome.

Research Question: We want to hypothesize that a) the herniated segment can regain its function after untethering despite long-term and complete neurologic dysfunction.

Electrophysiological and molecular changes following neuroprotective placental protein administration on tinnitus-induced rats.

Objective: Despite 6%-20% of the adult population suffering from tinnitus, there is no standard treatment for it. Placenta extract has been used for various therapeutic purposes, including hearing loss. Here, we evaluate the effect of a novel neuroprotective protein composition (NPPC) extract on electrophysiological and molecular changes in the medial geniculate body (MGB) of tinnitus-induced rats.

Psychosis of Epilepsy: A 10-Year Iranian Clinical Survey.

Psychoses of epilepsy usually have an acute onset, accompanied by brief symptom duration and a risk of recurrence. Managing these conditions can be challenging due to the potential for seizures associated with certain antipsychotic medications, as well as exacerbating psychosis resulting from some antiepileptic medications. Our objective in this study was to assess the occurrence of psychosis among patients with epilepsy, as well as identify the factors linked to the presence and severity of psychosis in this population.

Effect of respiratory muscle training on load sensations in people with chronic tetraplegia: a secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial.

Study Design: Secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: Our primary study showed that increasing inspiratory muscle strength with training in people with chronic (>1 year) tetraplegia corresponded with reduced sensations of breathlessness when inspiration was loaded. This study investigated whether respiratory muscle training also affected the respiratory sensations for load detection and magnitude perception.

Fully automated clinical target volume segmentation for glioblastoma radiotherapy using a deep convolutional neural network.

Purpose: Target volume delineation is a crucial step prior to radiotherapy planning in radiotherapy for glioblastoma. This step is performed manually, which is time-consuming and prone to intra- and inter-rater variabilities. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) model for automatic segmentation of clinical target volume (CTV) in glioblastoma patients.

Implementing a discharge process for patients undergoing elective surgery: Rapid review.

Background: Hospital discharge is a 'vulnerable stage' in care. A delayed, inappropriate or poorly planned discharge increases hazards and costs, inhibiting recovery, and often leading to unplanned readmission. New discharge processes could boost practice, reduce the length of stay, and, consequently, reduce costs and improve patients' quality of life.

The role of online social networks in improving health literacy and medication adherence among people living with HIV/AIDS in Iran: Development of a conceptual model.

Online social networks have been used to enhance human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) prevention, diagnosis, and treatment programs worldwide. This study aimed to develop a conceptual model of using online social networks in improving health literacy and medication adherence among people living with HIV/AIDS in Iran. This mixed-method sequential exploratory study was conducted in three phases.

Delirium risk factors in hospitalized patient: a comprehensive evaluation of underlying diseases and medications in different wards of a large Urban Hospital Center in Iran.

Background: Delirium is a neurobehavioral syndrome, which is characterized by a fluctuation of mental status, disorientation, confusion and inappropriate behavior, and it is prevalent among hospitalized patients. Recognizing modifiable risk factors of delirium is the key point for improving our preventive strategies and restraining its devastating consequences. This study aimed to identify and investigate various factors predisposing hospitalized patients to develop delirium, focusing mostly on underlying diseases and medications.

A Preliminary Study of the Efficacy of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Trigeminal Neuralgia.

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in patients with treatment-refractory trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and examine the utility of neuroimaging methods in identifying markers of such efficacy. Six patients with classical TN refractory to maximal medical treatment, underwent tDCS (three cases inhibitory/cathodic and three cases excitatory/anodic stimulation). All patients underwent pre- and posttreatment functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during block-design tasks (i.

Depression and anxiety increase the odds of developing delirium in ICU patients; a prospective observational study.

Background: Delirium is prevalent among hospitalised patients, especially in critically ill patients. Preventing delirium by recognising its modifiable risk factors could improve life quality, decrease mortality and restrain its devastating consequences.

Method: We investigated 50 patients who had been hospitalised in the general ICU and monitored them for developing delirium.

Biodegradable and biocompatible graphene-based scaffolds for functional neural tissue engineering: A strategy approach using dental pulp stem cells and biomaterials.

Neural tissue engineering aims to restore the function of nervous system tissues using biocompatible cell-seeded scaffolds. Graphene-based scaffolds combined with stem cells deserve special attention to enhance tissue regeneration in a controlled manner. However, it is believed that minor changes in scaffold biomaterial composition, internal porous structure, and physicochemical properties can impact cellular growth and adhesion.

Effective connectivity between emotional and motor brain regions in people with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES).

Objective: To characterize the effective connectivity (EC) between the emotion and motor brain regions in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES), based on resting-state spectral dynamic causal modeling (spDCM).

Methods: Twenty-three patients with PNES and twenty-five healthy control (HC) subjects underwent resting-state fMRI scanning. The coupling parameters indicating the causal interactions between eight brain regions associated with emotion, executive control, and motion were estimated for both groups, using resting-state fMRI spDCM.

Relationships between the Bone Expression of Alzheimer's Disease-Related Genes, Bone Remodelling Genes and Cortical Bone Structure in Neck of Femur Fracture.

Neck of femur (NOF) fracture is a prevalent fracture type amongst the ageing and osteoporotic populations, commonly requiring total hip replacement (THR) surgery. Increased fracture risk has also been associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the aged. Here, we sought to identify possible relationships between the pathologies of osteoporosis and dementia by analysing bone expression of neurotropic or dementia-related genes in patients undergoing THR surgery for NOF fracture.

Brain functional connectivity in individuals with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES): An application of graph theory.

Objective: To determine brain functional connectivity (FC), based on the graph theory, in individuals with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES), in order to better understand the mechanisms underlying this disease.

Methods: Twenty-three patients with PNES and twenty-five healthy control subjects were examined. Alterations in FC within the whole brain were examined using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Treatment outcomes in mild traumatic brain injury: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Objectives: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a controversial and under-researched area, despite most traumatic brain injuries being classed as mild. Our objective was to review the evidence underpinning these approaches to treat mTBI including educational, psychological, rehabilitative and pharmacological approaches and discuss their efficacy.

Methods: A systematic review of literature was carried out using Web of science, Scopus, Medline, Pubmed, Cinahl, and PsychInfo databases.

Work and SCI: a pilot randomized controlled study of an online resource for job-seekers with spinal cord dysfunction.

Study Design: A prospective, parallel randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Objectives: To test the preliminary effects of an online resource targeted to job-seekers with spinal cord injury or disorder (SCI/D), and to determine the feasibility of proceeding to a full-scale RCT.

Setting: A community cohort in Australia.

Achieving assessor accuracy on the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury.

Study Design: A retrospective audit of assessor accuracy using the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) in three multicentre randomised controlled trials (SCIPA: Spinal Cord Injury and Physical Activity) spanning 2010-2014 with standards revised in 2011.

Objectives: To investigate assessor accuracy of neurological classification after spinal cord injury.

Setting: Australia and New Zealand.

Can targeted job-information for adults with spinal cord dysfunction be effectively delivered online? A pilot study.

Objective: To pilot a novel email-based information package (Work and SCI) for job-seekers with an acquired spinal cord injury (SCI) or spinal cord dysfunction (SCI/D).

Study Design: Prospective, non-randomized, repeated measures trial.

Setting: Community dwelling cohort in Australia.

Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor Modification of Epileptiform Burst Discharges in a Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Model.

Introduction: Transforming Growth Factor-Beta 1 (TGF-β1) is a pleiotropic cytokine with potent anti-inflammatory property, which has been considered as an essential risk factor in the inflammatory process of Ischemic Stroke (IS), by involving in the pathophysiological progression of hypertension, atherosclerosis, and lipid metabolisms. -509C/T TGF-β1 gene polymorphism has been found to be associated with the risk of IS. The aim of this meta-analysis was to provide a relatively comprehensive account of the relation between -509C/T gene polymorphisms of TGF-β1 and susceptibility to IS.

Look Before You Leap: What Are the Obstacles to Risk Calculation in the Equestrian Sport of Eventing?

All horse-riding is risky. In competitive horse sports, eventing is considered the riskiest, and is often characterised as very dangerous. But based on what data? There has been considerable research on the risks and unwanted outcomes of horse-riding in general, and on particular subsets of horse-riding such as eventing.

Disciplined care for disciplined patients: experience of hospitalized blind patients.

Blindness is a permanent condition that alters daily life of blind people. Interpretive phenomenology was used to understand lived experiences of the hospitalized blind people. "Disciplined care for disciplined patients" was one of the themes that emerged from the data.