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Promotion of Regular Oesophageal Motility to Prevent Regurgitation and Enhance Nutrition Intake in Long-Stay ICU Patients. A Multicenter, Phase II, Sham-Controlled, Randomized Trial: The PROPEL Study.
Heyland, DK, Marquis, F, Lamontagne, F, Albert, M, Turgeon, AF, Khwaja, KA, Garland, A, Hall, R, Chapman, MG, Kutsiogannis, DJ, et al
Critical care medicine. 2020;(3):e219-e226
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effect of esophageal stimulation on nutritional adequacy in critically ill patients at risk for enteral feeding intolerance. DESIGN A multicenter randomized sham-controlled clinical trial. SETTING Twelve ICUs in Canada. PATIENTS We included mechanically ventilated ICU patients who were given moderate-to-high doses of opioids and expected to remain alive and ventilated for an additional 48 hours and who were receiving enteral nutrition or expected to start imminently. INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to esophageal stimulation via an esophageal stimulating catheter (E-Motion Tube; E-Motion Medical, Tel Aviv, Israel) or sham treatment. All patients were fed via these catheters using a standardized feeding protocol. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The co-primary outcomes were proportion of caloric and protein prescription received enterally over the initial 7 days following randomization. Among 159 patients randomized, the modified intention-to-treat analysis included 155 patients: 73 patients in the active treatment group and 82 in the sham treatment group. Over the 7-day study period, the percent of prescribed caloric intake (± SE) received by the enteral route was 64% ± 2 in the active group and 65% ± 2 in sham patients for calories (difference, -1; 95% CI, -8 to 6; p = 0.74). For protein, it was 57% ± 3 in the active group and 60% ± 3 in the sham group (difference, -3; 95% CI, -10 to 3; p = 0.30). Compared to the sham group, there were more serious adverse events reported in the active treatment group (13 vs 6; p = 0.053). Clinically important arrhythmias were detected by Holter monitoring in 36 out of 70 (51%) in the active group versus 22 out of 76 (29%) in the sham group (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS Esophageal stimulation via a special feeding catheter did not improve nutritional adequacy and was associated with increase risk of harm in critically ill patients.
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Body System Effects of a Multi-Modal Training Program Targeting Chronic, Motor Complete Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury.
Gant, KL, Nagle, KG, Cowan, RE, Field-Fote, EC, Nash, MS, Kressler, J, Thomas, CK, Castellanos, M, Widerström-Noga, E, Anderson, KD
Journal of neurotrauma. 2018;(3):411-423
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Abstract
The safety and efficacy of pharmacological and cellular transplantation strategies are currently being evaluated in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). In studies of people with chronic SCIs, it is thought that functional recovery will be best achieved when drug or cell therapies are combined with rehabilitation protocols. However, any functional recovery attributed to the therapy may be confounded by the conditioned state of the body and by training-induced effects on neuroplasticity. For this reason, we sought to investigate the effects of a multi-modal training program on several body systems. The training program included body-weight-supported treadmill training for locomotion, circuit resistance training for upper body conditioning, functional electrical stimulation for activation of sublesional muscles, and wheelchair skills training for overall mobility. Eight participants with chronic, thoracic-level, motor-complete SCI completed the 12-week training program. After 12 weeks, upper extremity muscular strength improved significantly for all participants, and some participants experienced improvements in function, which may be explained by increased strength. Neurological function did not change. Changes in pain and spasticity were highly variable between participants. This is the first demonstration of the effect of this combination of four training modalities. However, balancing participant and study-site burden with capturing meaningful outcome measures is also an important consideration.
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Tumor Treating Fields in combination with paclitaxel in recurrent ovarian carcinoma: Results of the INNOVATE pilot study.
Vergote, I, von Moos, R, Manso, L, Van Nieuwenhuysen, E, Concin, N, Sessa, C
Gynecologic oncology. 2018;(3):471-477
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) are an anti-mitotic therapy comprising continuous delivery of low-intensity alternating electric fields at intermediate frequencies to the tumor region by a home-use medical device. METHODS The INNOVATE (EF-22) Study was a phase 2, single arm clinical trial, which tested the safety and efficacy of TTFields (200 kHz) in combination with weekly paclitaxel (weekly for 8 weeks and then on days 1, 8, 15 of each subsequent 28 day-cycle; starting dose 80 mg/m2) in 31 patients with recurrent, platinum-resistant ovarian carcinoma. The primary endpoint was safety and secondary endpoints included OS, PFS and RR. RESULTS Median age was 60 (range: 45-77), 24 patients (77%) had serous histology, 16 patients (52%) ECOG score 0 and 15 (48%) ECOG 1, the median number of prior chemotherapy lines was 4 (range: 1-11). All patients received prior platinum-based chemotherapy and 30 (97%) received prior taxanes. No serious adverse events related to TTFields were reported. There was no increase in grade 3-4 adverse events compared to the frequency of such events reported in the literature with single agent weekly paclitaxel. Twenty-six patients (84%) had the expected TTFields-related dermatitis but only one patient permanently discontinued TTFields due to dermatitis. The median PFS was 8.9 months, 7 patients (25%) had partial response and the clinical benefit rate was 71%. The median overall survival was not reached: the one-year survival rate was 61%. CONCLUSION TTFields combined with weekly paclitaxel were safe in platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer and warrants evaluation in a randomized phase 3 trial.
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Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on the Masticatory Muscles and Physiologic Sleep Variables in Adults with Cerebral Palsy: A Novel Therapeutic Approach.
Giannasi, LC, Matsui, MY, Freitas, SR, Caldas, BF, Grossmann, E, Amorim, JB, dos Santos, Idos R, Oliveira, LV, Oliveira, CS, Gomes, MF
PloS one. 2015;(8):e0128959
Abstract
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a term employed to define a group of non-progressive neuromotor disorders caused by damage to the immature or developing brain, with consequent limitations regarding movement and posture. CP may impair orapharygeal muscle tone, leading to a compromised chewing function and to sleep disorders (such as obstructive sleep apnea). Thirteen adults with CP underwent bilateral masseter and temporalis neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) therapy. The effects on the masticatory muscles and sleep variables were evaluated using electromyography (EMG) and polysomnography (PSG), respectively, prior and after 2 months of NMES. EMG consisted of 3 tests in different positions: rest, mouth opening and maximum clenching effort (MCE). EMG values in the rest position were 100% higher than values recorded prior to therapy for all muscles analyzed (p < 0.05); mean mouth opening increased from 38.0 ± 8.0 to 44.0 ± 10.0 cm (p = 0.03). A significant difference in MCE was found only for the right masseter. PSG revealed an improved in the AHI from 7.2±7.0/h to 2.3±1.5/h (p < 0.05); total sleep time improved from 185 min to 250 min (p = 0.04) and minimun SaO2 improved from 83.6 ± 3.0 to 86.4 ± 4.0 (p = 0.04). NMES performed over a two-month period led to improvements in the electrical activity of the masticatory muscles at rest, mouth opening, isometric contraction and sleep variables, including the elimination of obstructive sleep apnea events in patients with CP. Trial registration: ReBEC RBR994XFS http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br.
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Neuromuscular electrical stimulation prevents muscle wasting in critically ill comatose patients.
Dirks, ML, Hansen, D, Van Assche, A, Dendale, P, Van Loon, LJ
Clinical science (London, England : 1979). 2015;(6):357-65
Abstract
Fully sedated patients, being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU), experience substantial skeletal muscle loss. Consequently, survival rate is reduced and full recovery after awakening is compromised. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) represents an effective method to stimulate muscle protein synthesis and alleviate muscle disuse atrophy in healthy subjects. We investigated the efficacy of twice-daily NMES to alleviate muscle loss in six fully sedated ICU patients admitted for acute critical illness [n=3 males, n=3 females; age 63 ± 6 y; APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II) disease-severity-score: 29 ± 2]. One leg was subjected to twice-daily NMES of the quadriceps muscle for a period of 7 ± 1 day whereas the other leg acted as a non-stimulated control (CON). Directly before the first and on the morning after the final NMES session, quadriceps muscle biopsies were collected from both legs to assess muscle fibre-type-specific cross-sectional area (CSA). Furthermore, phosphorylation status of the key proteins involved in the regulation of muscle protein synthesis was assessed and mRNA expression of selected genes was measured. In the CON leg, type 1 and type 2 muscle-fibre-CSA decreased by 16 ± 9% and 24 ± 7% respectively (P<0.05). No muscle atrophy was observed in the stimulated leg. NMES increased mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) phosphorylation by 19 ± 5% when compared with baseline (P<0.05), with no changes in the CON leg. Furthermore, mRNA expression of key genes involved in muscle protein breakdown either declined [forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1); P<0.05] or remained unchanged [muscle atrophy F-box (MAFBx) and muscle RING-finger protein-1 (MuRF1)], with no differences between the legs. In conclusion, NMES represents an effective and feasible interventional strategy to prevent skeletal muscle atrophy in critically ill comatose patients.
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Sacral nerve stimulation: a promising therapy for fecal and urinary incontinence and constipation in children.
Sulkowski, JP, Nacion, KM, Deans, KJ, Minneci, PC, Levitt, MA, Mousa, HM, Alpert, SA, Teich, S
Journal of pediatric surgery. 2015;(10):1644-7
Abstract
PURPOSE This study describes our series of children with bowel and bladder dysfunction (BDD) treated with sacral nerve stimulation in order to begin to identify characteristics associated with better outcomes and guide future therapies. METHODS Between May 2012 and February 2014, 29 patients were evaluated before and after sacral nerve stimulator (SNS) placement. A prospective data registry was developed that contains clinical information and patient-reported measures: Fecal Incontinence Qualify of Life Scale, Fecal Incontinence Severity Scale, PedsQL Gastrointestinal Symptom Scale, and Vancouver DES Symptom Scale. RESULTS The median age of patients was 12.1 (interquartile range: 9.4, 14.3) years and the median follow-up period was 17.7 (12.9, 36.4) weeks. 93% had GI complaints and 65.5% had urinary symptoms while 7% had urologic symptoms only. The most common etiologies of BBD were idiopathic (66%) and imperforate anus (27%). Five patients required reoperation due to a complication with battery placement. Six of 11 patients (55%) with a pre-SNS cecostomy tube no longer require an antegrade bowel regimen as they now have voluntary bowel movements. Ten of eleven patients (91%) no longer require anticholinergic medications for bladder overactivity after receiving SNS. Significant improvements have been demonstrated in all four patient-reported instruments for the overall cohort. CONCLUSIONS Early results have demonstrated improvements in both GI and urinary function after SNS placement in pediatric patients with bowel and bladder dysfunction.
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abiliti Closed-Loop Gastric Electrical Stimulation System for Treatment of Obesity: Clinical Results with a 27-Month Follow-Up.
Horbach, T, Thalheimer, A, Seyfried, F, Eschenbacher, F, Schuhmann, P, Meyer, G
Obesity surgery. 2015;(10):1779-87
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a novel closed-loop gastric electric stimulation device (abiliti system) featuring a transgastric sensor to detect food intake and an accelerometer to record physical activity to induce and maintain lifestyle changes to treat obesity. METHODS In a prospective, multi-center study, 34 obese subjects (BMI of 42.1 ± 5.3 kg/m(2)) who passed an eligibility evaluation were implanted with the abiliti system. Safety evaluation included an endoscopic exam to assess the intragastric electrode healing. Efficacy evaluation at 1 year of therapy included weight loss, improvements in eating, and exercise behavior and quality of life. RESULTS The transgastric implant controlled by endoscopy was stable for all participants. At 12 months (12 M) the mean excess weight loss (EWL) was 28.7% (95%CI, 34.5 to 22.5%), and mean reduction in BMI was 4.8 ± 3.2 kg/m(2). At 27 months (27 M), the EWL was 27.5% (95% CI, 21.3% to 33.7%). Eating behavior, evaluated by the "Three Factor Eating Questionnaire", showed a significant increase in the cognition factor and decrease in the disinhibition and hunger factors at 12 M in comparison to baseline (p < 0.001). Participants significantly increased their weekly physical activity (p < 0.001). Quality of life was improved in 55.2% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS Gastric electrical stimulation with abiliti system in obese participants is well tolerated and leads to significant 12 M weight loss, which was stable to 27 M. We suggest that weight loss is achieved due to the assessed alteration of eating behavior in particular the reduction in disinhibition and hunger, and the measured increase in physical activity.
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Effect of combined thermal and electrical muscle stimulation on cardiorespiratory fitness and adipose tissue in obese individuals.
Rostrup, E, Slettom, G, Seifert, R, Bjørndal, B, Berge, RK, Nordrehaug, JE
European journal of preventive cardiology. 2014;(10):1292-9
Abstract
BACKGROUND To better understand how prolonged electrical muscle stimulation can improve cardiorespiratory risk markers in obese subjects, we investigated the effect of prolonged combined thermal and electrical muscle stimulation (cTEMS) on peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) and body composition with subsequent lipolytic and mitochondrial activity in adipocytes. METHODS AND RESULTS Eleven obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2)) individuals received cTEMS in three 60-minute sessions per week for 8 weeks. Activity levels and dietary habits were kept unchanged. Before and after the stimulation period, functional capacity was assessed by VO2peak, and body composition was analysed. Lipolytic activity was determined in abdominal adipose tissue by 24 hours of microdialysis on a sedentary day, and adipose tissue biopsies were taken for the gene expression analysis. Eight weeks of cTEMS significantly increased VO2peak from 28.9 ± 5.7 to 31.7 ± 6.2 ml/kg/min (p < 0.05), corresponding to an average increase of 1.2% per week. Oxygen uptake and work capacity also increased at the anaerobic threshold. Mean microdialytic glycerol concentration over 24 hours, an index of sedentary lipolytic activity, increased from 238 ± 60 to 306 ± 55 µM (p < 0,0001), but no significant changes in body composition were observed. In addition, PGC-1α and carnitine-palmitoyltransferase-2 mRNAs were significantly upregulated in subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue. CONCLUSIONS In obese individuals with unchanged lifestyles, 8 weeks of cTEMS significantly improved functional capacity towards a higher fatigue resistance. This increase also gave rise to elevated lipolytic activity and increased mitochondrial activity in abdominal adipose tissue.
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Effects of high-tone external muscle stimulation on renal function in healthy volunteers.
Peckova, M, Havlin, J, Charvat, J, Horackova, M, Schück, O
Clinical nephrology. 2013;:S34-6
Abstract
OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN Hightone external muscle stimulation (HTEMS) ameliorates pain and discomfort of patients with polyneuropathy. Since some patients reported about an urge to urinate during these treatments, the potential effects of HTEMS application on renal function were investigated. For this purpose in healthy subjects, we analyzed in the current study the acute effects of electrotherapy on parameters of renal function. INTERVENTIONS 24 healthy volunteers (14 women and 10 men), mean age 26 ± 4 years, were enrolled. The protocol was composed of a run-in period, a pre-treatment period, the active HTEMS treatment period of both lower extremities and the post-treatment period. The duration of each period was 60 min. Urine collection and blood samples were taken at the beginning and end of each period. To achieve a sufficient diuresis, the fluid intake was adapted to the amount of diuresis. Parameters of renal function included diuresis, glomerular filtration rate (endogenous creatinine clearance) and absolute and fractional sodium excretion. Moreover blood pressure and heart rate were monitored. RESULTS HTEMS led to a significant increase of creatinine clearance and fractional sodium excretion which was limited to the active treatment period. CONCLUSION These findings show for the first time that HTEMS can transiently increase glomerular filtration rate associated with a decreased tubular sodium reabsorption. The underlying mechanisms are to be elucidated.
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[The application of combined physiotherapeutic methods for the complex treatment of patients with dyscirculatory encephalopathy].
Shiman, AG, Klocheva, EG, Kaiumov, SF, Shoferova, SD, Zhukova, MV
Voprosy kurortologii, fizioterapii, i lechebnoi fizicheskoi kultury. 2012;(2):9-12
Abstract
This article reports the results of applying basic pharmacotherapy (enalapril, cytoflavin) and its combination with physical factors (transcranial electrostimulation, combined application oftranscranial electrostimulation and low-frequency magnetic therapy) in the complex treatment of patients with stage I-II dyscirculatory encephalopathy. The study has demonstrated that the combined treatment with cytoflavin, enalapril, transcranial electrostimulation and low-frequency magnetic therapy produced the most pronounced therapeutic effect (82.5%), as confirmed by positive dynamics of clinical and functional parameters.