Igor C. Borges

Effects of tDCS-induced motor cortex modulation on pain in HTLV-1: a blind randomized clinical trial

Objective:We aimed to evaluate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on chronic pain in human T-lymphotropic virus type I-infected patients. Materials and Methods:This is a sham-controlled randomized clinical trial. Twenty participants were randomized to receive active or sham anodal tDCS over the primary motor cortex (M1), with 2 mA, 25 cm2 electrodes, for 20 minutes on 5 consecutive days. Pain intensity was measured at baseline and after each day of treatment using a Visual Analog Scale. Associated factors such as pain components description, pressure pain threshold, and Timed Up and Go task were also assessed. Results:Mild adverse events were reported by 100% of patients in the tDCS group and 90% in the sham group. Comparison of daily Visual Analog Scale pain scores from both groups demonstrated a significant effect for the factor Time (P<0.001), but not for Group (P=0.13) or Time×Group interaction (P=0.06). There were 8 (80%) responders (reduction of 50% or more in pain intensity) in the tDCS group and 3 (30%) in the sham group (P=0.03). Both groups demonstrated improvements for most associated factors evaluated. However, there was no difference in between-groups comparison analyses. Conclusions:The analysis of the main outcomes in this study did not demonstrate a significant advantage of anodal tDCS applied to M1 in patients with human T-lymphotropic virus type I and chronic pain in comparison with sham tDCS, although secondary analysis suggests some superiority of active tDCS over sham. The large placebo effect observed in this study may explain the small differences between sham versus active tDCS.

Therapeutic time window of noninvasive brain stimulation for pain treatment: inhibition of maladaptive plasticity with early intervention

Neuromodulatory effects of noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) have been extensively studied in chronic disorders such as major depression, chronic pain and stroke. However, few studies have explored the use of these techniques in acute conditions. A possible use of NIBS in acute disorders is to prevent or reverse ongoing maladaptive plastic alterations, seemingly responsible for treatment refractoriness and detrimental behavioral changes. In this review, the authors discuss the potential role of NIBS in blocking maladaptive plasticity using the transition of acute to chronic pain in conditions such as postsurgical pain, central poststroke pain, pain after spinal cord injury and pain after traumatic brain injury as a model. The authors also present suggestions for clinical trial design using NIBS in the acute stage of illnesses.

Effect of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine on the Natural Antibodies and Antibody Responses Against Protein Antigens From Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis in Children With Community-acquired Pneumonia

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis are common causative agents of respiratory infections. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines have been introduced recently, but their effect on the natural immunity against protein antigens from these pathogens has not been elucidated. Methods: This was an age-matched observational controlled study that evaluated the influence of 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on the levels of antibodies and frequencies of antibody responses against proteins from S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis in serum samples of children with community-acquired pneumonia. Eight pneumococcal proteins (pneumolysin, choline-binding protein A, pneumococcal surface protein A families 1 and 2, pneumococcal choline-binding protein A, pneumococcal histidine triad protein D, serine/threonine protein kinase, protein required for cell wall separation of group B streptococcus), 3 proteins from H. influenzae (including protein D) and 5 M. catarrhalis proteins were investigated. Results: The study group comprised 38 vaccinated children and 114 age-matched controls (median age: 14.5 vs. 14.6 months, respectively; P = 0.997), all with community-acquired pneumonia. There was no difference on clinical baseline characteristics between vaccinated and unvaccinated children. Vaccinated children had significantly lower levels of antibodies against 4 of the studied pneumococcal antigens (P = 0.048 for Ply, P = 0.018 for pneumococcal surface protein A, P = 0.001 for StkP and P = 0.028 for PcsB) and higher levels of antibodies against M. catarrhalis (P = 0.015). Nevertheless, the vaccination status did not significantly affect the rates of antibody responses against S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis. Conclusions: In spite of the differences that have been found on the level of natural antibodies, no effect from pneumococcal vaccination was observed on the rate of immune responses associated with community-acquired pneumonia against protein antigens from S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis.

Retrospective Analysis of the Efficacies of Two Different Regimens of Aqueous Penicillin G Administered to Children with Pneumonia

ABSTRACT Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is an important childhood health problem. Penicillin remains appropriate for treating children with CAP. Clinical data are lacking on disease evolution in children treated with different posologic schemes of aqueous penicillin G. To assess if there were differences in disease evolution between children with CAP treated with 6 or 4 daily doses of aqueous penicillin G, we reviewed the medical charts of hospitalized patients 2 months to 11.5 years of age. Pneumonia was radiologically confirmed based on the detection of pulmonary infiltrate or pleural effusion on the chest radiograph taken on admission and read by a pediatric radiologist blinded to the clinical data. The total daily dose of aqueous penicillin G was 200,000 IU/kg of body weight. Data were recorded on admission, during disease evolution up to the 7th day of treatment, and at the final outcome. The results of hospitalization and the daily frequency of physical signs suggestive of pneumonia were assessed. The subgroups comprised 120 and 144 children who received aqueous penicillin G in 6 or 4 daily doses, respectively. Children ≥5 years of age were more frequent in the 4-daily-doses subgroup (16.0% versus 4.2%; respectively, P = 0.02). There were no differences between the compared subgroups in terms of final outcomes, lengths of hospitalization, durations of aqueous penicillin G use, frequencies of aqueous penicillin G substitution, or daily frequencies of tachypnea, fever, chest retraction, lower chest recession, nasal flaring, and cyanosis up to the 7th day of treatment. The studied posologic regimens were similarly effective in treating children hospitalized with a radiologically confirmed CAP diagnosis. Aqueous penicillin G (200,000 IU/kg/day) may be given in 4 daily doses to children with CAP.

Malnutrition, anemia and renal dysfunction in patients with Chagasic cardiomyopathy.

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