Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society
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Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) relieves motor symptoms, including levodopa-responsive gait disorders in Parkinson's disease (PD). Traditionally, STN-DBS is not indicated to treat severe, clinically resistant axial symptoms. In this scenario, field H1 of Forel (FF) stimulation (FF-DBS) is likely a feasible option, given it improves motor symptoms, including freezing of gait (FOG), as shown by a short-term study. However, no data are available about the long-term effects of this therapy. Finally, no study has compared the long-term effects of FF and STN-DBS. ⋯ Both FF-DBS and STN-DBS relieved motor symptoms and improved quality of life over a long-term period. Patients with FF-DBS had a higher reduction in both FOG and in LED than did those with STN-DBS. These data support our hypothesis that FF-DBS is a safe and efficient option for treating motor symptoms in PD, including FOG in advanced stages.
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Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is an emerging neuromodulation technique. The effect of tDCS can vary significantly depending on electrode position and current intensity, making it crucial to find an optimized tDCS montage. However, because of the high computational load, most tDCS optimization approaches have been performed with a limited number of candidates for electrode positions, such as 10-10 or 10-20 international channel configurations. This study introduced the Bayesian optimization and hyperband (BOHB) method to seek optimal tDCS montage for the entire human scalp without conventional constraints. ⋯ The BOHB method performed better than did the random search approach. Thus, the BOHB method is feasible for tDCS optimization and can be used as an optimal stimulation montage seeker by fine-tuning some control parameters.
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Transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS) is a novel, noninvasive neuromodulation technique to modulate deep brain neural activity. Despite its potential, direct electrophysiological evidence of tTIS effects remains limited. This study investigates the impact of tTIS on local field potentials (LFPs) in the deep brain using minipigs implanted with deep brain electrodes. ⋯ These findings indicate that tTIS can regulate LFP changes in the deep brain, highlighting its potential as a promising tool for future noninvasive neuromodulation applications.
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YouTube is an important source of medical information for various medical topics and procedures. The purpose of the present study is to appraise the quality of medical information available on YouTube on the topic of peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) for chronic pain. ⋯ YouTube videos on PNS stimulation for chronic pain are low to moderate in quality. Videos from academic sources were higher in quality than were private practice videos. Furthermore, videos with above-average view counts had lower mean scores on all three instruments, suggesting most of the viewership had watched lower-quality video content.
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Ultrahigh frequencies (UHF) have been shown to selectively suppress the sensory pathway with a rapid onset and prolonged effect compared with low frequencies. Few studies have explored the feasibility of UHF electrical stimulation in treating overactive bladder. This study aimed to investigate whether bladder overactivity could be inhibited by UHF stimulation at the L6 nerve root. ⋯ This preliminary study provides evidence for UHF stimulation of the L6 spinal nerve root, analogous to the sacral nerve root in humans, as a potential alternative neuromodulation technique to suppress bladder overactivity.