ABSTRACT
La estimulación magnética transcraneal (EMT) es una herramienta no invasiva de estimulación cerebral que se basa en la capacidad de un campo magnético generado para penetrar el cráneo y las meninges y originar una corriente eléctrica secundaria en el tejido cerebral que produce despolarización neuronal. Esta técnica se puede aplicar en un solo estímulo, en pares de estímulos separados por intervalos o en trenes de estímulos repetidos a varias frecuencias. Si bien el mecanismo de acción exacto se desconoce, la EMT repetitiva puede modular la excitabilidad de la corteza cerebral, por lo cual se ha vislumbrado como una posible herramienta diagnóstica y terapéutica en el área de neuropsiquiatría. El objetivo de este artículo es revisar el conocimiento actual de la EMT en cuanto a principios básicos, mecanismos fisiopatológicos y utilidad en la práctica clínica de la neuropsiquiatría.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive method for stimulation of brain that is based on the ability of a generated magnetic field to penetrate skull and brain meninges, inducing an electric current in the brain tissues that produces neuronal depolarization. TMS can be applied as single pulse of stimulation, pairs of stimuli separated by variable intervals to the same or different brain areas, or as trains of repetitive stimuli at various frequencies. Its mechanism of action is currently unknown. Repetitive TMS can modify the excitability of the cerebral cortex, and has been postulated as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in the area of neuropsychiatry. The aim of this article is to review the knowledge of the TMS as regards its basic principles, pathophysiological mechanism, and its usefulness in clinical practice.
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Knowledge , Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation , Neuropsychiatry , Pulse , Therapeutics , Cerebral Cortex , Impacts of Polution on Health , Magnetic Fields , MethodsABSTRACT
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive method for stimulation of brain that is based on the ability of a generated magnetic field to penetrate skull and brain meninges, inducing an electric current in the brain tissues that produces neuronal depolarization. TMS can be applied as single pulse of stimulation, pairs of stimuli separated by variable intervals to the same or different brain areas, or as trains of repetitive stimuli at various frequencies. Its mechanism of action is currently unknown. Repetitive TMS can modify the excitability of the cerebral cortex, and has been postulated as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in the area of neuropsychiatry. The aim of this article is to review the knowledge of the TMS as regards its basic principles, pathophysiological mechanism, and its usefulness in clinical practice.
ABSTRACT
IntroduccIón: cerca del 10% de los pacientes con ataque cerebro vascular isquémico agudo (ACV), presentan una oclusión completa de la arteria cerebral media (ACM) generando una mortalidad que puede alcanzar el 80%. La hemicraniectomía descompresiva (HD) puede reducir dramáticamente la mortalidad; sin embargo se encuentra en discusión su papel frente a la discapacidad asociada en estos pacientes.objetIvo: describir en una cohorte histórica, las consideraciones para la realización de la Hemicraniectomía descompresiva (HD), evaluar los desenlaces en términos de la mortalidad y la funcionalidad evaluada por el Rankin-m y el Barthel al egreso hospitalario.Métodos: análisis descriptivo de pacientes atendidos en el Instituto del Corazón de la Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia en los últimos 2 años con diagnóstico de ACV extenso, dividiéndolos en dos grupos, un grupo con HD y otro con manejo convencional.resultados: se recolectaron 18 pacientes con ACV extenso, a 7 (38,8%) se les realizó HD y a 11 (61,1%) se les dio manejo médico convencional. La etiología del ACV más frecuente en ambos grupos fue la cardioembólica (61%), no hubo diferencias en cuanto a la severidad del ACV medida por escala NIHSS. Todas las HD se realizaron en las primeras 48 horas. La mortalidad en el grupo con HD fue de 14,2% mientras en el grupo con manejo médico convencional fue 54,5%. En cuanto a la funcionalidad al egreso hospitalario se observó una menor discapacidad en el grupo de HD comparado con el grupo sin HD (Rankin-m p=0,08 y Barthel p=0,03).conclusIón: la hemicraniectomía es una alternativa para pacientes con ACV extenso de la ACM, cuyo objetivo principal es disminuir la mortalidad y evitar el daño del hemisferio contralateral.
Subject(s)
Humans , Stroke , Middle Cerebral Artery , Brain EdemaABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Diabetes Mellitus constitutes one of the most important public health problems due to its high prevalence and enormous social and economic consequences. Diabetic foot ulcers are one of the chronic complications of diabetes mellitus and constitute the most important cause of non-traumatic amputation of inferior limbs. It is estimated that 15% of the diabetic population will develop an ulcer sometime in their lives. Although novel therapies have been proposed, there is no effective treatment for this pathology. Naturally produced nitric oxide participates in the wound healing process by stimulating the synthesis of collagen, triggering the release of chemotactic cytokines, increasing blood vessels permeability, promoting angiogenic activity, stimulating the release of epidermical growth factors, and by interfering with the bacterial mitochondrial respiratory chain. Topically administered nitric oxide has demonstrated to be effective and safe for the treatment of chronic ulcers secondary to cutaneous leishmaniasis. However, due to their unstable nitric oxide release, the topical donors needed to be applied frequently, diminishing the adherence to the treatment. This difficulty has led to the development of a multilayer polymeric transdermal patch produced by electrospinning technique that guarantees a constant nitric oxide release. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this novel nitric oxide releasing wound dressing for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. METHODS AND DESIGN: A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, including 100 diabetic patients was designed. At the time of enrollment, a complete medical evaluation and laboratory tests will be performed, and those patients who meet the inclusion criteria randomly assigned to one of two groups. Over the course of 90 days group 1 will receive active patches and group 2 placebo patches. The patients will be seen by the research group at least every two weeks until the healing of the ulcer or the end of the treatment. During each visit the healing process of the ulcer, the patient's health status and the presence of adverse events will be assessed. Should the effectiveness of the patches be demonstrated an alternative treatment would then be available to patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT00428727.
ABSTRACT
Durante los últimos años, el Instituto de Investigaciones de la Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia ha centrado sus proyectos en el estudio de las diferencias en los mecanismos etiofisiopatológicos de la hipertensión inducida por el embarazo y del síndrome metabólico en poblaciones de países desarrollados y en vía de desarrollo, así como en el peso específico de los factores de riesgo que determinan la presentación de estas enfermedades. Los resultados obtenidos de las investigaciones realizadas en la población, sugieren que los cambios de hábitos de vida ocasionados por la sociedad consumista, son el principal determinante del riesgo aumentado de preeclampsia y enfermedades cardiovasculares que al momento presenta la población colombiana.
The Research Institute of the Colombian Cardiovascular Foundation has centered its projects during the last years in the study of the differences in the etio-physiopathologic mechanisms of pregnancy induced hypertension and in the metabolic syndrome in populations of developed and underdeveloped countries, as well as in the value of the risk factors that determine the appearance of these diseases. The results obtained from the investigations realized in the population suggest that changes in life costumes due to a consumer society are the main determinant of the increased risk of pre-eclampsia and cardiovascular diseases that the Colombian population presents at this moment.
Subject(s)
Academies and Institutes , Hypertension , Metabolic Syndrome , Pre-Eclampsia , PregnancyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis is a worldwide disease, endemic in 88 countries, that has shown an increasing incidence over the last two decades. So far, pentavalent antimony compounds have been considered the treatment of choice, with a percentage of cure of about 85%. However, the high efficacy of these drugs is counteracted by their many disadvantages and adverse events. Previous studies have shown nitric oxide to be a potential alternative treatment when administered topically with no serious adverse events. However, due to the unstable nitric oxide release, the topical donors needed to be applied frequently, making the adherence to the treatment difficult. The electrospinning technique has allowed the production of a multilayer transdermal patch that produces a continuous and stable nitric oxide release. The main objective of this study is to evaluate this novel nitric oxide topical donor for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. METHODS AND DESIGN: A double-blind, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial, including 620 patients from endemic areas for Leishmaniasis in Colombia was designed to investigate whether this patch is as effective as meglumine antimoniate for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis but with less adverse events. Subjects with ulcers characteristic of cutaneous leishmaniasis will be medically evaluated and laboratory tests and parasitological confirmation performed. After checking the inclusion/exclusion criteria, the patients will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. During 20 days Group 1 will receive simultaneously meglumine antimoniate and placebo of nitric oxide patches while Group 2 will receive placebo of meglumine antimoniate and active nitric oxide patches. During the treatment visits, the medications will be daily administered and the presence of adverse events assessed. During the follow-up, the research group will visit the patients at days 21, 45, 90 and 180. The healing process of the ulcer, the health of the participants, recidivisms and/or reinfection will also be assessed. The evolution of the ulcers will be photographically registered. In case that the effectiveness of the patches is demonstrated, a novel and safe therapeutic alternative for one of the most important public health problems in many countries will be available to patients.