Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
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Diagnostics (Basel) · Mar 2021
ReviewThe Effect of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation (NIBS) on Executive Functioning, Attention and Memory in Rehabilitation Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review.
In recent years, the potential of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) for therapeutic effects on cognitive functions has been explored for populations with traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, there is no systematic NIBS review of TBI cognitive impairment with a focus on stimulation sites and stimulation parameters. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review examining the effectiveness and safety of NIBS for cognitive impairment after a TBI. ⋯ In all studies, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was selected as the stimulation site, along with the stimulation pattern promoting the activation of the left DLPFC. In some studies, there was a significant improvement compared to the control group, but neither rTMS nor tDCS had sufficient evidence of effectiveness. To the establishment of evidence we need the evaluation of brain activity at the stimulation site and related areas using neuroimaging on how NIBS acts on the neural network.
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Diagnostics (Basel) · Mar 2021
ReviewMini-Review Discussing the Reliability and Efficiency of COVID-19 Vaccines.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 is a novel strain of human beta-coronavirus that has produced over two million deaths and affected one hundred million individuals worldwide. As all the proposed drugs proved to be unstable, inducing side effects, the need to develop a vaccine crystallized in a short time. As a result, we searched the databases for articles in which the authors reported the efficacy and safety of the use of several vaccines vaccines by sex, age group, and frequency of adverse reactions. ⋯ CoviVac and EpiVacCorona have just been approved, which is why no published article could be found. All adverse events reported following the administration of one of the four vaccines ranged from mild to moderate; limited exceptions in which the patients either developed severe forms or died, because most effects were dose-dependent. It can be concluded that aforementioned vaccines are efficient and safe, regardless of age and sex, being well-tolerated by the recipients.
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Diagnostics (Basel) · Mar 2021
ReviewOptical Devices in Tracheal Intubation-State of the Art in 2020.
The review article is focused on developments in optical devices, other than laryngoscopes, in airway management and tracheal intubation. It brings information on advantages and limitations in their use, compares different devices, and summarizes benefits in various clinical settings. Supraglottic airway devices may be used as a conduit for fiberscope-guided tracheal intubation mainly as a rescue plan in the scenario of difficult or failed laryngoscopy. ⋯ Endotracheal tubes with an incorporated optics are used mainly in thoracic anesthesia for lung separation. They are available in double-lumen and single-lumen versions. They offer a benefit of direct view to the carina and do not require flexible fiberscope for their correct placement.
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Diagnostics (Basel) · Feb 2021
Reproducibility and Concurrent Validity of Manual Palpation with Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging for Assessing Deep Abdominal Muscle Activity: Analysis with Preferential Ratios.
The abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) is a clinical tool used for identifying preferential activity of deep abdominal muscles. However, concurrent validity and reproducibility of palpation during the ADIM has not been formally investigated. The aims of this study were (1) to assess intra- and interrater reliability of manual palpation during the ADIM, and (2) to determine the concurrent validity of manual palpation during the ADIM by calculating preferential activation ratio cut-off as assessed with ultrasound imaging (RUSI). ⋯ When evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of manual palpation, the best predictive model (ROC value: 0.89; p < 0.001) for correct a preferential contraction of TrA was obtained when the M-TrA-PAR was ≥0.08 (sensitivity: 0.95-1.00; specificity: 0.62). Good to excellent intra- and interrater reliability of manual palpation was found during the ADIM in both patients and healthy groups. Manual palpation showed concurrent validity for identifying the preferential activity of the TrA muscle supporting its use in clinical practice.
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Diagnostics (Basel) · Feb 2021
Preoperative Cognitive Impairment and the Prevalence of Postoperative Delirium in Elderly Cancer Patients-A Prospective Observational Study.
Preoperative cognitive impairment (PCI) in cancer patients includes a broad spectrum of neurocognitive changes produced by complex interplay of patient, tumoural and treatment-related factors. Reduced preoperative cognitive reserve can favour the emergence of postoperative delirium (POD). The study aims to document PCI prevalence and to assess the relationship with POD in elderly cancer patients. ⋯ In multivariate analysis, Mini-Cog score ≤ 3 (OR = 2.6, p = 0.027), clock draw (OR: 2.9, p = 0.013), preoperative renal dysfunction (OR = 2.6, p = 0.012), morphine (OR = 2.7, p = 0.007), metoclopramide (OR = 6.6, p = 0.006), and high pain score (OR = 1.8, p = 0.018) had a significant association with POD development. In this sample of elderly patients, PCI had a high prevalence and predicted the emergence of POD. Incorporating Mini-Cog test into the preoperative evaluation of onco-geriatric patients seems valuable and feasible.