Effect of Anodal tDCS on Articulatory Accuracy, Word Production, and Syllable Repetition in Subjects with Aphasia: A Crossover, Double-Blinded, Sham-Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) has been used to modulate and induce changes in brain function and excitability. tDCS is a promising tool for the treatment of aphasia. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether tDCS improves articulatory accuracy and speech production in patients with aphasia after stroke. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twelve right-handed subjects participated in a double-blind, sham-controlled, crossover offline trial. We assessed (1) articulatory accuracy at a naming task, (2) number of words correctly produced, (3) number of syllables repeated correctly, and (4) qualitative assessment of speech. Articulatory accuracy improved when using tDCS over Broca's area in subjects with aphasia post-stroke (p ≤ 0.05). Qualitative improvement in the naming and syllable repetition tasks was observed, but the difference was not statistically significant (respectively, p = 0.15 and p = 0.79). CONCLUSION: The current results corroborate the potential of tDCS to be used as an alternative and complementary treatment for individuals with aphasia.

Periconceptional use of folic acid and risk of miscarriage - findings of the Oral Cleft Prevention Program in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: We report on the risk of miscarriage with high- and low-dosage periconceptional folic acid (FA) supplementation from a double-blind randomized clinical trial for prevention of orofacial cleft recurrence in Brazil. METHODS: Women at risk of recurrence of orofacial clefts in their offspring were randomized into high (4 mg/day) and low (0.4 mg/day) doses of FA supplementation. The women received the study pills before pregnancy, and supplementation continued throughout the first trimester. Miscarriage rates were compared between the two FA groups and with the population rate. RESULTS: A total of 268 pregnancies completed the study protocol, with 141 in the 4.0-mg group and 127 in the 0.4-mg group. The miscarriage rate was 14.2% in the low-dose FA group (0.4 mg/day) and 11.3% for the high-dose group (4 mg/day) (P=0.4877). These miscarriage rates are not significantly different from the miscarriage rate in the Brazilian population, estimated to be around 14% (P=0.311). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that high-dose FA does not increase miscarriage risk in this population and add further information to the literature on the safety of high FA supplementation for prevention of birth defect recurrence.

Anemia falciforme e surdez infanto-juvenil: revisão da literatura / Sickle Cell anemia and hearing loss among children and youngsters: literature review

Anemia falciforme ainda constitui grande problema de saúde pública em países subdesenvolvidos e em desenvolvimento. A doença falciforme é uma das doenças hereditárias mais comuns no Brasil. Afeta, principalmente, a população que apresenta grande miscigenação racial. Aproximadamente 1 criança afro-brasileira em cada 37400 nasce com a doença falciforme. Déficit auditivo tem sido considerado uma das principais manifestações clínicas, sobretudo em crianças. No entanto, até o momento, há escassez de estudos no Brasil, e na Bahia, estado brasileiro de maior população negra, com o objetivo de determinar a frequência desta manifestação. OBJETIVO: Analisar os principais estudos relacionados ao tema, publicados nos últimos 20 anos, nas principais bases de dados indexadas. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Identificar por meio da base de dados MEDLINE os principais artigos da literatura médica da língua inglesa, publicados entre janeiro de 1989 a janeiro de 2009, que relataram associação entre anemia falciforme e déficit auditivo e suas repercussões clínicas. CONCLUSÃO: Visto que a prevenção de deficiências é sempre possível, o conhecimento sobre a surdez nas crianças com anemia falciforme possibilita maximizar a qualidade de vida e a inserção escolar ampla.

Sickle cell anemia is still a significant public health issue in underdeveloped and developing countries. Sickle cell disease is one of the most common inherited diseases in Brazil. It affects mainly the mixed race population. Approximately 1 African-Brazilian child is affected with sickle cell disease for every 37,400 children born alive. Hearing loss has been considered one of the main clinical manifestations, especially in children. However, to date, there are just a hand full of studies in Brazil and the Brazilian state of Bahia has the largest African-descended population, attempting to establish the frequency of this event. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the major studies associated with the subject, published in the last twenty years in the main indexed databases. METHODS: To use MEDLINE to identify the main papers published in English in medical literature, between January of 1989 and January of 2009; associating sickle cell anemia and hearing loss, with its clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION: Given that it is always possible to attempt to prevent disabilities, understanding hearing loss in children with sickle cell anemia enables to maximize quality of life and provides for a broader school attendance.

Tratamento farmacológico da gagueira: evidências e controvérsias / Pharmacologic treatment of stuttering: evidences and controversies

OBJETIVO: Este artigo tem por objetivo analisar a situação do tratamento farmacológico da gagueira, mostrando a eficácia de diferentes abordagens baseadas em drogas psiquiátricas, além de evidenciar a utilização de outros fármacos no tratamento dessa enfermidade. MÉTODOS: Revisão de literatura em base de dados Medline, utilizando os termos stuttering treatment, disfluency, disfluency treatments, botulinum toxin and stuttering treatment, botulinum toxin and disfluency treatment. RESULTADOS: Foram encontrados estudos envolvendo as seguintes drogas: citalopram + clomipramina, paroxetina, olanzapina, citalopram + alprazolam, pimozida, risperidona, tiaprida, clomipramina e desipramina, levetiracetam, divalproato de sódio, clonidina e betanecol, além de ensaios clínicos com a utilização de toxina botulínica tipo A e anestésicos. Os estudos envolvendo citalopram + clomipramina, paroxetina, olanzapina, citalopram + alprazolam, risperidona, clomipramina e desipramina, levetiracetam, divalproato de sódio, lidocaína e toxina botulínica tipo A demonstraram resultados positivos. A maioria das pesquisas relativas ao tratamento farmacológico da gagueira se restringe a estudos de caso e ensaios clínicos com pequenas amostras. CONCLUSÃO: Não existem evidências suficientes que justifiquem a utilização de um tratamento específico para a gagueira. Os estudos apresentados indicam a necessidade da realização de mais ensaios clínicos duplo-cegos e controlados com placebo envolvendo amostras maiores.

OBJECTIVE: This article analyzes the pharmacologic treatment of stuttering, assessing the effectiveness of different treatments using psychiatric drugs and further evidences of other drugs in the treatment of this disorder. METHODS: Search in Medline database, using the terms stuttering treatment, disfluency, disfluency treatments, botulinum toxin and stuttering treatment, botulinum toxin and disfluency treatment. RESULTS: Studies involving the following drugs were found: citalopram + clomipramine, desipramine, paroxetine, olanzapine, pimozide, risperidone, tiapride, levetiracetam, divalproex sodium, citalopram + alprazolam, clonidine and bethanecol, as well as clinical trials with the botulinum toxin A and anesthetics. Studies with citalopram + clomipramine, paroxetine, olanzapine, citalopram + alprazolam, risperidone, clomipramine and desipramine, levetiracetam, divalproex sodium, lidocaine and botulinum toxin A showed positive results. However, the great majority of pharmacological studies in this area are case series or clinical trials with small samples. CONCLUSION: Enough evidences do not exist that justify the use of a specific treatment for stuttering. The presented studies indicate the necessity of accomplishment of more double-blind placebo-controlled trials involving larger samples.

Intra-hospital lethality among infants with pyogenic meningitis.

Predictor variables of intra-hospital lethality among infants with pyogenic meningitis due to Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae were identified using data from a follow-up study of infants with bacterial meningitis. The infants who were admitted to Couto Maia Hospital from March 1, 1997 to December 31, 1997 presenting with symptoms of bacterial meningitis were identified and included in a database. An analysis of the clinical and laboratory information was performed using EPI info 6.01b and SPSS 6.1 statistical programs. The total mortality rate was 17.1%, and the majority of deaths occurred within 48 hours of hospitalization. Factors associated most frequently with poor outcome included absence of respiratory infection, high cerebrospinal fluid protein, and compromised cranial nerves. Early identification of major risk groups is important to adopt measures to improve prognosis.

[Worster-Drought syndrome: case report and distinction in relation to Foix-Chavany-Marie syndrome]. / Síndrome de Worster-Drought: relato de caso e distinção em relação à síndrome de Foix-Chavany-Marie.

Worster-Drought syndrome is a clinical entity resulting from cortico-nuclear tract or cerebral cortex injury, without defined etiology, characterized by alteration of the muscles that control the lips, jaw, tongue, soft palate and pharynx. The main clinical manifestations are alterations in the fonation and deglutition. We describe the case of a 15 year old female patient, displaying the cited syndrome. The clinical, radiological and neurophysiological findings are compared with the described data in the literature. We question the connection between Worster-Drought and Foix-Chavany-Marie syndromes, as well as the possible relationship with use of abortive drugs and similar oromotor problems as found in these two syndromes.

Síndrome de Worster-Drought: relato de caso e distinção em relação à síndrome de Foix-Chavany-Marie / Worster-Drought syndrome: case report and distinction in relation to Foix-Chavany-Marie syndrome

A síndrome de Worster-Drought é entidade clínica decorrente de lesão do trato cortico-nuclear. Não existe etiologia definida e caracteriza-se por alteração do controle voluntário e involuntário dos músculos que movimentam lábios, mandíbula, língua, pálato mole e faringe. As principais manifestações clínicas são alterações na fonação e deglutição. Descrevemos o caso de paciente do sexo feminino, 15 anos, que apresenta a referida síndrome. Os achados clínicos e radiológicos são comparados com os dados descritos na literatura. Questiona-se a ligação entre síndrome de Worster-Drought e a de Foix-Chavany-Marie, bem como a possível relação entre o uso de drogas abortivas e transtorno oromotor semelhante ao identificado nessas enfermidades.