Models of the mind are based on the idea that neuron microtubules can perform computation. From t... more Models of the mind are based on the idea that neuron microtubules can perform computation. From this point of view, information processing is the fundamental issue for understanding the brain mechanisms that produce consciousness. The cytoskeleton polymers could store and process information through their dynamic coupling mediated by mechanical energy. We analyze the problem of information transfer and storage in brain microtubules, considering them as a communication channel. We discuss the implications of assuming that consciousness is generated by the subneuronal process.
Therapeutic strategies capable of inducing and enhancing prosthesis embodiment are a key point fo... more Therapeutic strategies capable of inducing and enhancing prosthesis embodiment are a key point for better adaptation to and acceptance of prosthetic limbs. In this study, we developed a training protocol using an EMG-based human-machine interface (HMI) that was applied in the preprosthetic rehabilitation phase of people with amputation. This is a case series with the objective of evaluating the induction and enhancement of the embodiment of a virtual prosthesis. Six men and a woman with unilateral transfemoral traumatic amputation without previous use of prostheses participated in the study. Participants performed a training protocol with the EMG-based HMI, composed of six sessions held twice a week, each lasting 30 mins. This system consisted of myoelectric control of the movements of a virtual prosthesis immersed in a 3D virtual environment. Additionally, vibrotactile stimuli were provided on the participant’s back corresponding to the movements performed. Embodiment was investiga...
Human-machine interfaces (HMIs) can be used to decode a user's motor intention to control an ... more Human-machine interfaces (HMIs) can be used to decode a user's motor intention to control an external device. People that suffer from motor disabilities, such as spinal cord injury, can benefit from the uses of these interfaces. While many solutions can be found in this direction, there is still room for improvement both from a decoding, hardware, and subject-motor learning perspective. Here we show, in a series of experiments with non-disabled participants, a novel decoding and training paradigm allowing naïve participants to use their auricular muscles (AM) to control two degrees of freedom with a virtual cursor. AMs are particularly interesting because they are vestigial muscles and are often preserved after neurological diseases. Our method relies on the use of surface electromyographic records and the use of contraction levels of both AMs to modulate the velocity and direction of a cursor in a two-dimensional paradigm. We used a locking mechanism to fix the current position...
The actual COVID-19 pandemic-disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus-has already caused thousands ... more The actual COVID-19 pandemic-disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus-has already caused thousands of death in the year 2020. Among the various disorders that may occur throughout the disease's course, there are also disorders of the central nervous system. In order to investigate the potential effects of neural involvement in the novel coronavirus infection, Neuro-COVID-19, the present literature revision was carried out with a defined search strategy. Four descriptors were used: (i) "Brain", (ii) "Central Nervous System", (iii) "COVID-19", (iv) "SARS-CoV-2", which were combined to search for articles in the PubMed and ResearchGate databases. Of the 987 citations obtained, nine articles were selected. The contents extracted from these texts were organized into three categories, addressing (1) indirect, (2) direct and (3) post-infectious neurological complications. Awareness and management of neurological complications related to SARS CoV-2 infection are necessary in order to improve prognosis, especially in critically ill patients.
IntroductionThe paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) contains premotor neurons invol... more IntroductionThe paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) contains premotor neurons involved in the control of sympathetic vasomotor activity. It is known that the stimulation of specific areas of the PVN can lead to distinct response patterns at different target territories. The underlying mechanisms, however, are still unclear. Recent evidence from sympathetic nerve recording suggests that relevant information is coded in the power distribution of the signal along the frequency range. In the present study, we addressed the hypothesis that the PVN is capable of organizing specific spectral patterns of sympathetic vasomotor activation to distinct territories in both normal and hypertensive animals.MethodsTo test it, we investigated the territorially differential changes in the frequency parameters of the renal and splanchnic sympathetic nerve activity (rSNA and sSNA, respectively), before and after disinhibition of the PVN by bicuculline microinjection. Subjects were control...
Background: The embodiment of a prosthesis can bring a series of benefits during the rehabilitati... more Background: The embodiment of a prosthesis can bring a series of benefits during the rehabilitation of people with amputation, such as improvement of motor control and sense of agency, in addition to optimizing the training process with the prosthetic limb. New therapeutic strategies capable of enhancing prosthesis embodiment are, therefore, a key point for better adaptation to and acceptance of prosthesis use. In this study, we developed a system and a new rehabilitation protocol using an EMGbased human-machine interface (HMI) to induce and enhance the embodiment of a virtual prosthesis. Methods: This is a case series with seven people of both sexes with unilateral transfemoral traumatic amputation without previous use of prostheses. Participants performed a training protocol with the EMG-based HMI during the preprosthetic rehabilitation phase, composed of six sessions held twice a week, each lasting thirty minutes. This system was composed of myoelectric control of the movements of a virtual prosthesis immersed in a 3D virtual environment. Additionally, vibrotactile stimuli were provided on the participant's back corresponding to the movements performed. The objectives were to evaluate virtual prosthesis embodiment, to investigate motor learning during training with EMGbased HMI and to determine whether vibrotactile stimuli could facilitate the perception of virtual limb movements. The embodiment was investigated from a set of physiological and behavioral measurements and reports before and after the training. Motor learning was assessed through performance analysis. To investigate the use of vibrotactile stimulation to guide virtual prosthesis movements, the performance was assessed during the virtual prosthesis control test without adding vision. Results and conclusions: The different features evaluated throughout the protocol training consistently showed the induction and enhancement of virtual prosthesis embodiment and increased motor control. Therefore, this protocol using EMG-based HMI was shown to be a viable option to achieve the embodiment of a virtual prosthetic limb and to train motor control. Furthermore, the participants were able to guide the prosthesis based on vibrotactile stimuli, showing that this method can be used as an alternative sensorial path to be implemented in new therapeutic strategies and neuroprostheses to facilitate the movement perception of a prosthetic limb.
XXVII Brazilian Congress on Biomedical Engineering
The heart rate variability (HRV) is the difference between consecutive R-R intervals of heartbeat... more The heart rate variability (HRV) is the difference between consecutive R-R intervals of heartbeats measured in milliseconds. HRV indices represent the role of sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic branches. Even though HRV is considered an indirect biomarker of Autonomic Nervous System, there are not yet standardized protocols providing reliable clinical measures. One of the reasons is because HRV techniques requires long recording periods. There are attempts of decreasing the required recording, such as the strategy of ultrashort HVR recording (< one minute), which could make the utilization of the technique easier. However, there is little published about its reliability. This work proposes a method to evaluate the reliability of ultra-short HVR based in Poincare map and Recurrence Quantification Analysis, well known methods to assess nonlinear and dynamic information from a system, in order to verify the reliability of the use of ultra-short term HRV. Then, these results was compared with the classical HRV coefficients, such as rMSSD, recorded from subjects in spontaneous breathing and also, in controlled breathing protocols. As a conclusion, using the proposed methods, we were able to show the discrepancy between the segments of interest, both on mean and in variance, explained in the analysis of main components.
The types of epileptiform activity occurring in the sclerotic hippocampus with highest incidence ... more The types of epileptiform activity occurring in the sclerotic hippocampus with highest incidence are interictal-like events (II) and periodic ictal spiking (PIS). These activities are classified according to their event rates, but it is still unclear if these rate differences are consequences of underlying physiological mechanisms. Identifying new and more specific information related to these two activities may bring insights to a better understanding about the epileptogenic process and new diagnosis. We applied Poincaré map analysis and Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA) onto 35 in vitro electrophysiological signals recorded from slices of 12 hippocampal tissues surgically resected from patients with pharmacoresistant temporal lobe epilepsy. These analyzes showed that the II activity is related to chaotic dynamics, whereas the PIS activity is related to deterministic periodic dynamics. Additionally, it indicates that their different rates are consequence of different endogen...
Epilepsy is one of the most common brain disorders worldwide, affecting millions of people every ... more Epilepsy is one of the most common brain disorders worldwide, affecting millions of people every year. Given the partially successful existing treatments for epileptiform activity suppression, dynamic mathematical models have been proposed with the purpose of better understanding the factors that might trigger an epileptic seizure and how to mitigate it, among which Epileptor stands out, due to its relative simplicity and high prediction ability. Recent studies using such a model have provided evidence that establishing a feedback-based control approach is possible. However, for this strategy to work properly, Epileptor's parameters, which describe the dynamic characteristics of a seizure, must be known beforehand. Therefore, this work proposes a methodology for estimating such parameters based on a successive optimization technique. The results show that it is feasible to approximate their values, and integrating this system identification approach with observers and controllers can be carried out, which might provide an interesting alternative for seizure suppression in practice in the future.
Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface, 2022
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to assess the impact of the laparoscopic implantation of neuromodulat... more OBJECTIVES This study aimed to assess the impact of the laparoscopic implantation of neuromodulation electrodes (Possover-LION procedure) on mobility and on sexual, urinary, and anorectal functions of people with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). MATERIAL AND METHODS Longitudinal analysis of 30 patients with chronic SCI (21 ASIA impairment scale (AIS) A, eight AIS B, and one AIS C) submitted to the Possover-LION procedure for bilateral neuromodulation of femoral, sciatic, and pudendal nerves. Assessments were performed before the surgical procedure and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. The primary outcome was evolution in walking, measured by the Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury score, preoperatively and at 12 months. Secondary outcomes were changes in overall mobility (Mobility Assessment Tool for Evaluation of Rehabilitation score), urinary function and quality of life (Qualiveen questionnaire), and bowel (time for bowel emptying proceedings and Wexner's Fecal Incontinence Severity Index [FISI]) and sexual functions (International Index of Erectile Function for men and Female Sexual Function Index for women). Surgical time, intraoperative bleeding, and perioperative complications were also recorded. RESULTS Qualitatively, 18 of 25 (72%) patients with thoracic injury and 3 of 5 (60%) patients with cervical injury managed to establish a walker-assisted gait at one-year follow-up (p < 0.0001). A total of 11 (47.8%) have improved in their urinary incontinence (p < 0.0001), and seven (30.4%) improved their enuresis (p = 0.0156). The FISI improved from a median of 9 points preoperatively to 5.5 at 12 months (p = 0.0056). Of note, 20 of 28 (71.4%) patients reported an improvement on genital sensitivity at 12 months postoperatively (p < 0.0001), but this was not reflected in sexual quality-of-life questionnaires. CONCLUSIONS Patients experienced improved mobility and genital sensitivity and a reduction in the number of urinary and fecal incontinence episodes. By demonstrating reproducible outcomes and safety, this study helps establish the Possover-LION procedure as an addition to the therapeutic armamentarium for the rehabilitation of patients with chronic SCI. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION This study was registered at the WHO Clinical Trials Database through the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials-REBEC (Universal Tracking Number: U1111-1261-4428).
Communications in Computer and Information Science, 2017
Spreading Depression (SD) consists on a wave of depressed neural, electrical, activity and near c... more Spreading Depression (SD) consists on a wave of depressed neural, electrical, activity and near complete depolarization of large neuron populations. It is believed to occur both in compromised and healthy tissue from a broad range of animal species and every structure of the gray matter. Glutamate is long been known to be involved in the ignition of SD. Therefore, despite action potentials are not necessary for the wave propagation, one would expect synaptic processes to play a role in initiating the phenomenon if they are functional. Several detailed and phenomenological computational models have been proposed to simulate the ignition and spread of SD, but few considered synaptic mechanisms. Here we briefly review them, emphasizing macroscopic models that reproduce the wave features and the lack of synaptic transmission. We also propose extensions to a popular model for the wave spread to test whether structural connectivity could aid in stopping the wave and preventing it from engulfing larger portions of the brain.
2017 IEEE 19th International Conference on e-Health Networking, Applications and Services (Healthcom), 2017
After the publication of the extended abstract above [1] as part of a long-term project [2-6], it... more After the publication of the extended abstract above [1] as part of a long-term project [2-6], it has come to our attention that, although properly presented in oral communication section in the IEEE Healthcom 2014 Conference, some relevant information were inadvertently omitted/incorrectly inserted in the online version of the study. To avoid any further misinterpretations concerning data and for the sake of clarity, the correct information are provided. The adjustments do not modify extended abstract's whole structure, as well as the overall interpretation of its findings. Results found in this project were corroborated and referenced by other studies [7-11]. Reference [3] in this technical note corresponds to reference [30] in the original work.
This study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of a curcumin treatment on the ... more This study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of a curcumin treatment on the knee of rats with induced osteoarthritis. Fifteen adult rats were used and divided in three groups: the osteoarthritis group (OAG), control group (CG-without induction of osteoarthritis), and curcumin-treated osteoarthritis group (COAG). Osteoarthritis was induced in the right knee of rats in the OAG and COAG by administering an intra-articular injection of 1 mg of zymosan. Fourteen days after induction, 50 mg/kg curcumin was administered by gavage daily for 60 days to the COAG. After the treatment period, rats from all groups were euthanized. Medial femoral condyles were collected for light microscopy and immunohistochemical staining. The expression of SOX-5, IHH, MMP-8, MMP-13, and collagen 2 (Col2) was analyzed. The COAG exhibited an increase in the number of chondrocytes in the surface and middle layers compared with that of the OAG and CG, respectively. The COAG also showed a decrease in the thicknesses of the middle and deep layers compared with those of the OAG, and an increase in Col2 expression was observed in all articular layers (surface, middle, and deep) in the COAG compared with that in the OAG. SOX-5 expression was increased in the surface and deep layers of the COAG compared with those in the OAG and CG. Based on the results of this study, the curcumin treatment appeared to exert a protective effect on cartilage, as it did not result in an increase in cartilage thickness or in MMP-8 and MMP-13 expression but led to increased IHH, Col2, and SOX-5 expression and the number of chondrocytes.
Proceedings of the International Conference on Neural Computation Theory and Applications, 2011
Recently N-way Partial Least Squares (NPLS) were reported as an effective tool for neuronal signa... more Recently N-way Partial Least Squares (NPLS) were reported as an effective tool for neuronal signal decoding and BCI system calibration. This method simultaneously analyses data in several domains. It is based on the projection of a data tensor to a low dimensional space using all variables to create a final model. In the present paper the L1-Penalized NPLS is proposed for sparse BCI system calibration allowing to combine the projection technique with an effective selection of subset of features. The L1-Penalized NPLS was applied for binary self-paced BCI system calibration providing a subset of electrodes selection. Our BCI system is designed for animal research in particular for research in non-human primates.
Models of the mind are based on the idea that neuron microtubules can perform computation. From t... more Models of the mind are based on the idea that neuron microtubules can perform computation. From this point of view, information processing is the fundamental issue for understanding the brain mechanisms that produce consciousness. The cytoskeleton polymers could store and process information through their dynamic coupling mediated by mechanical energy. We analyze the problem of information transfer and storage in brain microtubules, considering them as a communication channel. We discuss the implications of assuming that consciousness is generated by the subneuronal process.
Therapeutic strategies capable of inducing and enhancing prosthesis embodiment are a key point fo... more Therapeutic strategies capable of inducing and enhancing prosthesis embodiment are a key point for better adaptation to and acceptance of prosthetic limbs. In this study, we developed a training protocol using an EMG-based human-machine interface (HMI) that was applied in the preprosthetic rehabilitation phase of people with amputation. This is a case series with the objective of evaluating the induction and enhancement of the embodiment of a virtual prosthesis. Six men and a woman with unilateral transfemoral traumatic amputation without previous use of prostheses participated in the study. Participants performed a training protocol with the EMG-based HMI, composed of six sessions held twice a week, each lasting 30 mins. This system consisted of myoelectric control of the movements of a virtual prosthesis immersed in a 3D virtual environment. Additionally, vibrotactile stimuli were provided on the participant’s back corresponding to the movements performed. Embodiment was investiga...
Human-machine interfaces (HMIs) can be used to decode a user's motor intention to control an ... more Human-machine interfaces (HMIs) can be used to decode a user's motor intention to control an external device. People that suffer from motor disabilities, such as spinal cord injury, can benefit from the uses of these interfaces. While many solutions can be found in this direction, there is still room for improvement both from a decoding, hardware, and subject-motor learning perspective. Here we show, in a series of experiments with non-disabled participants, a novel decoding and training paradigm allowing naïve participants to use their auricular muscles (AM) to control two degrees of freedom with a virtual cursor. AMs are particularly interesting because they are vestigial muscles and are often preserved after neurological diseases. Our method relies on the use of surface electromyographic records and the use of contraction levels of both AMs to modulate the velocity and direction of a cursor in a two-dimensional paradigm. We used a locking mechanism to fix the current position...
The actual COVID-19 pandemic-disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus-has already caused thousands ... more The actual COVID-19 pandemic-disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus-has already caused thousands of death in the year 2020. Among the various disorders that may occur throughout the disease's course, there are also disorders of the central nervous system. In order to investigate the potential effects of neural involvement in the novel coronavirus infection, Neuro-COVID-19, the present literature revision was carried out with a defined search strategy. Four descriptors were used: (i) "Brain", (ii) "Central Nervous System", (iii) "COVID-19", (iv) "SARS-CoV-2", which were combined to search for articles in the PubMed and ResearchGate databases. Of the 987 citations obtained, nine articles were selected. The contents extracted from these texts were organized into three categories, addressing (1) indirect, (2) direct and (3) post-infectious neurological complications. Awareness and management of neurological complications related to SARS CoV-2 infection are necessary in order to improve prognosis, especially in critically ill patients.
IntroductionThe paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) contains premotor neurons invol... more IntroductionThe paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) contains premotor neurons involved in the control of sympathetic vasomotor activity. It is known that the stimulation of specific areas of the PVN can lead to distinct response patterns at different target territories. The underlying mechanisms, however, are still unclear. Recent evidence from sympathetic nerve recording suggests that relevant information is coded in the power distribution of the signal along the frequency range. In the present study, we addressed the hypothesis that the PVN is capable of organizing specific spectral patterns of sympathetic vasomotor activation to distinct territories in both normal and hypertensive animals.MethodsTo test it, we investigated the territorially differential changes in the frequency parameters of the renal and splanchnic sympathetic nerve activity (rSNA and sSNA, respectively), before and after disinhibition of the PVN by bicuculline microinjection. Subjects were control...
Background: The embodiment of a prosthesis can bring a series of benefits during the rehabilitati... more Background: The embodiment of a prosthesis can bring a series of benefits during the rehabilitation of people with amputation, such as improvement of motor control and sense of agency, in addition to optimizing the training process with the prosthetic limb. New therapeutic strategies capable of enhancing prosthesis embodiment are, therefore, a key point for better adaptation to and acceptance of prosthesis use. In this study, we developed a system and a new rehabilitation protocol using an EMGbased human-machine interface (HMI) to induce and enhance the embodiment of a virtual prosthesis. Methods: This is a case series with seven people of both sexes with unilateral transfemoral traumatic amputation without previous use of prostheses. Participants performed a training protocol with the EMG-based HMI during the preprosthetic rehabilitation phase, composed of six sessions held twice a week, each lasting thirty minutes. This system was composed of myoelectric control of the movements of a virtual prosthesis immersed in a 3D virtual environment. Additionally, vibrotactile stimuli were provided on the participant's back corresponding to the movements performed. The objectives were to evaluate virtual prosthesis embodiment, to investigate motor learning during training with EMGbased HMI and to determine whether vibrotactile stimuli could facilitate the perception of virtual limb movements. The embodiment was investigated from a set of physiological and behavioral measurements and reports before and after the training. Motor learning was assessed through performance analysis. To investigate the use of vibrotactile stimulation to guide virtual prosthesis movements, the performance was assessed during the virtual prosthesis control test without adding vision. Results and conclusions: The different features evaluated throughout the protocol training consistently showed the induction and enhancement of virtual prosthesis embodiment and increased motor control. Therefore, this protocol using EMG-based HMI was shown to be a viable option to achieve the embodiment of a virtual prosthetic limb and to train motor control. Furthermore, the participants were able to guide the prosthesis based on vibrotactile stimuli, showing that this method can be used as an alternative sensorial path to be implemented in new therapeutic strategies and neuroprostheses to facilitate the movement perception of a prosthetic limb.
XXVII Brazilian Congress on Biomedical Engineering
The heart rate variability (HRV) is the difference between consecutive R-R intervals of heartbeat... more The heart rate variability (HRV) is the difference between consecutive R-R intervals of heartbeats measured in milliseconds. HRV indices represent the role of sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic branches. Even though HRV is considered an indirect biomarker of Autonomic Nervous System, there are not yet standardized protocols providing reliable clinical measures. One of the reasons is because HRV techniques requires long recording periods. There are attempts of decreasing the required recording, such as the strategy of ultrashort HVR recording (< one minute), which could make the utilization of the technique easier. However, there is little published about its reliability. This work proposes a method to evaluate the reliability of ultra-short HVR based in Poincare map and Recurrence Quantification Analysis, well known methods to assess nonlinear and dynamic information from a system, in order to verify the reliability of the use of ultra-short term HRV. Then, these results was compared with the classical HRV coefficients, such as rMSSD, recorded from subjects in spontaneous breathing and also, in controlled breathing protocols. As a conclusion, using the proposed methods, we were able to show the discrepancy between the segments of interest, both on mean and in variance, explained in the analysis of main components.
The types of epileptiform activity occurring in the sclerotic hippocampus with highest incidence ... more The types of epileptiform activity occurring in the sclerotic hippocampus with highest incidence are interictal-like events (II) and periodic ictal spiking (PIS). These activities are classified according to their event rates, but it is still unclear if these rate differences are consequences of underlying physiological mechanisms. Identifying new and more specific information related to these two activities may bring insights to a better understanding about the epileptogenic process and new diagnosis. We applied Poincaré map analysis and Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA) onto 35 in vitro electrophysiological signals recorded from slices of 12 hippocampal tissues surgically resected from patients with pharmacoresistant temporal lobe epilepsy. These analyzes showed that the II activity is related to chaotic dynamics, whereas the PIS activity is related to deterministic periodic dynamics. Additionally, it indicates that their different rates are consequence of different endogen...
Epilepsy is one of the most common brain disorders worldwide, affecting millions of people every ... more Epilepsy is one of the most common brain disorders worldwide, affecting millions of people every year. Given the partially successful existing treatments for epileptiform activity suppression, dynamic mathematical models have been proposed with the purpose of better understanding the factors that might trigger an epileptic seizure and how to mitigate it, among which Epileptor stands out, due to its relative simplicity and high prediction ability. Recent studies using such a model have provided evidence that establishing a feedback-based control approach is possible. However, for this strategy to work properly, Epileptor's parameters, which describe the dynamic characteristics of a seizure, must be known beforehand. Therefore, this work proposes a methodology for estimating such parameters based on a successive optimization technique. The results show that it is feasible to approximate their values, and integrating this system identification approach with observers and controllers can be carried out, which might provide an interesting alternative for seizure suppression in practice in the future.
Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface, 2022
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to assess the impact of the laparoscopic implantation of neuromodulat... more OBJECTIVES This study aimed to assess the impact of the laparoscopic implantation of neuromodulation electrodes (Possover-LION procedure) on mobility and on sexual, urinary, and anorectal functions of people with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). MATERIAL AND METHODS Longitudinal analysis of 30 patients with chronic SCI (21 ASIA impairment scale (AIS) A, eight AIS B, and one AIS C) submitted to the Possover-LION procedure for bilateral neuromodulation of femoral, sciatic, and pudendal nerves. Assessments were performed before the surgical procedure and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. The primary outcome was evolution in walking, measured by the Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury score, preoperatively and at 12 months. Secondary outcomes were changes in overall mobility (Mobility Assessment Tool for Evaluation of Rehabilitation score), urinary function and quality of life (Qualiveen questionnaire), and bowel (time for bowel emptying proceedings and Wexner's Fecal Incontinence Severity Index [FISI]) and sexual functions (International Index of Erectile Function for men and Female Sexual Function Index for women). Surgical time, intraoperative bleeding, and perioperative complications were also recorded. RESULTS Qualitatively, 18 of 25 (72%) patients with thoracic injury and 3 of 5 (60%) patients with cervical injury managed to establish a walker-assisted gait at one-year follow-up (p < 0.0001). A total of 11 (47.8%) have improved in their urinary incontinence (p < 0.0001), and seven (30.4%) improved their enuresis (p = 0.0156). The FISI improved from a median of 9 points preoperatively to 5.5 at 12 months (p = 0.0056). Of note, 20 of 28 (71.4%) patients reported an improvement on genital sensitivity at 12 months postoperatively (p < 0.0001), but this was not reflected in sexual quality-of-life questionnaires. CONCLUSIONS Patients experienced improved mobility and genital sensitivity and a reduction in the number of urinary and fecal incontinence episodes. By demonstrating reproducible outcomes and safety, this study helps establish the Possover-LION procedure as an addition to the therapeutic armamentarium for the rehabilitation of patients with chronic SCI. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION This study was registered at the WHO Clinical Trials Database through the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials-REBEC (Universal Tracking Number: U1111-1261-4428).
Communications in Computer and Information Science, 2017
Spreading Depression (SD) consists on a wave of depressed neural, electrical, activity and near c... more Spreading Depression (SD) consists on a wave of depressed neural, electrical, activity and near complete depolarization of large neuron populations. It is believed to occur both in compromised and healthy tissue from a broad range of animal species and every structure of the gray matter. Glutamate is long been known to be involved in the ignition of SD. Therefore, despite action potentials are not necessary for the wave propagation, one would expect synaptic processes to play a role in initiating the phenomenon if they are functional. Several detailed and phenomenological computational models have been proposed to simulate the ignition and spread of SD, but few considered synaptic mechanisms. Here we briefly review them, emphasizing macroscopic models that reproduce the wave features and the lack of synaptic transmission. We also propose extensions to a popular model for the wave spread to test whether structural connectivity could aid in stopping the wave and preventing it from engulfing larger portions of the brain.
2017 IEEE 19th International Conference on e-Health Networking, Applications and Services (Healthcom), 2017
After the publication of the extended abstract above [1] as part of a long-term project [2-6], it... more After the publication of the extended abstract above [1] as part of a long-term project [2-6], it has come to our attention that, although properly presented in oral communication section in the IEEE Healthcom 2014 Conference, some relevant information were inadvertently omitted/incorrectly inserted in the online version of the study. To avoid any further misinterpretations concerning data and for the sake of clarity, the correct information are provided. The adjustments do not modify extended abstract's whole structure, as well as the overall interpretation of its findings. Results found in this project were corroborated and referenced by other studies [7-11]. Reference [3] in this technical note corresponds to reference [30] in the original work.
This study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of a curcumin treatment on the ... more This study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of a curcumin treatment on the knee of rats with induced osteoarthritis. Fifteen adult rats were used and divided in three groups: the osteoarthritis group (OAG), control group (CG-without induction of osteoarthritis), and curcumin-treated osteoarthritis group (COAG). Osteoarthritis was induced in the right knee of rats in the OAG and COAG by administering an intra-articular injection of 1 mg of zymosan. Fourteen days after induction, 50 mg/kg curcumin was administered by gavage daily for 60 days to the COAG. After the treatment period, rats from all groups were euthanized. Medial femoral condyles were collected for light microscopy and immunohistochemical staining. The expression of SOX-5, IHH, MMP-8, MMP-13, and collagen 2 (Col2) was analyzed. The COAG exhibited an increase in the number of chondrocytes in the surface and middle layers compared with that of the OAG and CG, respectively. The COAG also showed a decrease in the thicknesses of the middle and deep layers compared with those of the OAG, and an increase in Col2 expression was observed in all articular layers (surface, middle, and deep) in the COAG compared with that in the OAG. SOX-5 expression was increased in the surface and deep layers of the COAG compared with those in the OAG and CG. Based on the results of this study, the curcumin treatment appeared to exert a protective effect on cartilage, as it did not result in an increase in cartilage thickness or in MMP-8 and MMP-13 expression but led to increased IHH, Col2, and SOX-5 expression and the number of chondrocytes.
Proceedings of the International Conference on Neural Computation Theory and Applications, 2011
Recently N-way Partial Least Squares (NPLS) were reported as an effective tool for neuronal signa... more Recently N-way Partial Least Squares (NPLS) were reported as an effective tool for neuronal signal decoding and BCI system calibration. This method simultaneously analyses data in several domains. It is based on the projection of a data tensor to a low dimensional space using all variables to create a final model. In the present paper the L1-Penalized NPLS is proposed for sparse BCI system calibration allowing to combine the projection technique with an effective selection of subset of features. The L1-Penalized NPLS was applied for binary self-paced BCI system calibration providing a subset of electrodes selection. Our BCI system is designed for animal research in particular for research in non-human primates.
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Papers by Jean Faber