RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito da eletroestimulação (EE) abdominal sobre a frequência de evacuações, a consistência e a quantidade de fezes em pessoas com constipação decorrente da lesão medular (LM). Método: Estudo piloto experimental do tipo crossover-randomizado em dois grupos de tratamento: convencional de reabilitação intestinal e convencional associado à EE com Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) de 8 e 20 Hz aplicados na musculatura abdominal. Ambos os grupos em seguimento por duas semanas, com 30 minutos de sessão diária de EE. Os participantes estavam internados em um instituto de reabilitação da cidade de São Paulo. Os dados foram analisados por meio de estatística descritiva e inferencial. Resultados: Participaram do estudo 10 pessoas com LM, a maioria do sexo masculino (70%), com média de idade de 39 anos (DP = 16,37). A EE, associada ao tratamento convencional, mostrou-se mais eficaz no aumento da frequência evacuatória (p = 0,029) e na quantidade de fezes (p = 0,031). Conclusão: A EE abdominal associada ao tratamento convencional auxiliou no aumento da frequência evacuatória e na quantidade de fezes no quadro de constipação em pessoas com LM. Este estudo piloto servirá como base para um futuro ensaio clínico com maior amostragem e comprovação estatística.

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effect of abdominal electrical stimulation (EE) on bowel movement frequency and feces consistency and expelled amount in people with constipation due to spinal cord injuries (SCI). Method: This is an experimental, crossover, randomized pilot study with two treatment groups: conventional intestinal rehabilitation and conventional rehabilitation associated with EE via 8- and 20-Hz Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) of the abdominal muscles. Both groups were followed for two weeks with daily 30-minute EE sessions. Participants were hospitalized in a rehabilitation institute in the municipality of São Paulo. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: This study included 10 people with SCI, of which most were male (70%), with a mean age of 39 years (SD = 16.37). EE, associated with conventional treatment, was more effective in increasing defecation frequency (p = 0.029) and amount of feces expelled (p = 0.031). Conclusion: Abdominal EE, associated with conventional treatment, helped to increase defecation frequency and amount of feces expelled in people with constipation due to SCI. This pilot study will serve as the basis for a future clinical trial with greater sampling and statistical evidence.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto de la electroestimulación abdominal (EE) sobre la frecuencia de las evacuaciones, la consistencia y la cantidad de heces en personas con estreñimiento debido a una lesión de la médula espinal (LME). Método: Estudio piloto experimental de tipo crossover-aleatorizado en dos grupos de tratamiento: convencional rehabilitación intestinal y convencional asociado a EE con Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) de 8 y 20 Hz aplicados a los músculos abdominales. Se realizó un seguimiento de ambos grupos durante dos semanas con 30 minutos de sesión diaria de EE. Los participantes estaban hospitalizados en un instituto de rehabilitación de la ciudad de São Paulo. Los datos se analizaron mediante estadística descriptiva e inferencial. Resultados: Diez personas con LME participaron en el estudio, la mayoría hombres (70%) con una edad media de 39 años (DE = 16,37). La EE asociada al tratamiento convencional demostró ser más eficaz en el aumento de la frecuencia de evacuación (p = 0,029) y la cantidad de heces (p = 0,031). Conclusión: La EE abdominal asociada al tratamiento convencional ayudó a aumentar la frecuencia de evacuación y la cantidad de heces en el contexto de estreñimiento en personas con LME. Este estudio piloto servirá de base para futuros ensayos clínicos con mayor muestreo y evidencia estadística.

Electrical and magnetic brain stimulation techniques present distinct mechanisms and efficacy in the acute treatment of depression. This was an umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials of brain stimulation techniques for managing acute major depressive episodes. A systematic review was performed in the PubMed/MEDLINE databases from inception until March 2020. We included the English language meta-analysis with the most randomized controlled trials on the effects of any brain stimulation technique vs. control in adults with an acute depressive episode. Continuous and dichotomous outcomes were assessed. A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews-2 was applied and the credibility of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework. Seven meta-analyses were included (5,615 patients), providing evidence for different modalities of brain stimulation techniques. Three meta-analyses were evaluated as having high methodological quality, three as moderate, and one as low. The highest quality of evidence was found for high frequency-repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), transcranial direct current stimulation, and bilateral rTMS. There is strong clinical research evidence to guide future clinical use of some techniques. Our results confirm the heterogeneity of the effects across these techniques, indicating that different mechanisms of action lead to different efficacy profiles.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Stroke is the second leading cause of death in Brazil and the main cause of disability. Inability to identify alarm signals causes delays in seeking emergency services, thereby leading to a worse prognosis. OBJECTIVES: To assess the population's knowledge of how to recognize and prevent stroke. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective cross-sectional study on data derived from a questionnaire that was administered during the 2016 World Stroke Campaign, launched in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Data on 806 interviewees were evaluated using descriptive statistics and univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Among all the interviewees, 52.1% knew how to conceptualize stroke; 70.07% knew someone who had suffered a stroke; and 29.03% listed three or more risk factors. Only 27.5% mentioned controlling high blood pressure as a preventive measure. In the event of witnessing a stroke, 57.8% would call the emergency service and 2.9% would check the timing. Less educated individuals were 5.6 times more likely (95% confidence interval, CI 3.45-9.02) to have poor knowledge of stroke, compared with the more educated group. Knowing someone who had had a stroke reduced the chances of not knowing the terms relating to the disease (odds ratio, OR = 0.56; 95% CI 0.4-0.78). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the severity and prevalence of stroke, the population still has little information on this disease. In this context, the importance of mounting campaigns to improve prevention and treatment and to contribute to healthcare policies becomes evident.

RESUMO O acidente vascular cerebral é atualmente a segunda causa de morte no Brasil. São frequentes os relatos de médicos neurologistas sobre a ausência de recursos adequados para o atendimento do AVC, no entanto, não existem dados objetivos sobre essa percepção. Objetivo Analisar a percepção de médicos neurologistas sobre as condições para o atendimento de AVC no Brasil. Métodos Neste estudo foi realizada pesquisa por questionário anônimo com médicos neurologistas de todo o Brasil, perguntando-se as principais deficiências para o atendimento, com foco na estrutura física, infraestrutura (métodos diagnósticos, transporte do doente, disponibilidade de leitos, equipe multiprofissional). Resultados As principais deficiências são apontadas; no setor público notou-se as piores condições, em todos os itens pesquisados. No setor privado, as condições são melhores. Conclusões As condições de atendimento são piores no setor público, tanto de infraestrutura quanto de recursos humanos. Futuras políticas de saúde pública para prevenção e tratamento do AVC deveriam ser elaboradas levando em consideração a percepção do neurologista.

ABSTRACT Stroke is currently the second leading cause of death in Brazil. Neurologists’ reports on the absence of adequate resources for stroke care are frequent; however, there are no objective data on this perception. Objective To assess the perception of neurologists of stroke care conditions in Brazil. Methods Neurologists from all over Brazil were surveyed by means of an anonymous questionnaire about the main shortcomings in stroke care, focusing particularly on physical structure and infrastructure (diagnostic methods, patient transport, availability of beds, multi-professional team). Results The main shortcomings are indicated: the worst conditions, among all items surveyed, were found in the public sector. In the private sector, conditions were better. Conclusions Care conditions are worse in the public sector with regard to both infrastructure and human resources. Future public health policies for the prevention and treatment of stroke should be formulated, taking into consideration neurologists’ perceptions.

ABSTRACT CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Patients undergoing the same neuromodulation protocol may present different responses. Computational models may help in understanding such differences. The aims of this study were, firstly, to compare the performance of aphasic patients in naming tasks before and after one session of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and sham, and analyze the results between these neuromodulation techniques; and secondly, through computational model on the cortex and surrounding tissues, to assess current flow distribution and responses among patients who received tDCS and presented different levels of results from naming tasks. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective, descriptive, qualitative and quantitative, double blind, randomized and placebo-controlled study conducted at Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo. METHODS: Patients with aphasia received one session of tDCS, TMS or sham stimulation. The time taken to name pictures and the response time were evaluated before and after neuromodulation. Selected patients from the first intervention underwent a computational model stimulation procedure that simulated tDCS. RESULTS: The results did not indicate any statistically significant differences from before to after the stimulation.The computational models showed different current flow distributions. CONCLUSIONS: The present study did not show any statistically significant difference between tDCS, TMS and sham stimulation regarding naming tasks. The patients’responses to the computational model showed different patterns of current distribution.