FreshRSS

🔒
❌ Acerca de FreshRSS
Hay nuevos artículos disponibles. Pincha para refrescar la página.
AnteayerTus fuentes RSS

Amantadine and/or transcranial magnetic stimulation for fatigue associated with multiple sclerosis (FETEM): study protocol for a phase 3 randomised, double-blind, cross-over, controlled clinical trial

Por: Matias-Guiu · J. A. · Gonzalez-Rosa · J. · Hernandez · M. A. · Martinez-Gines · M. L. · Portoles · A. · Perez-Macias · N. · Benito-Leon · J. · Padron · I. · Prieto · J. · Matias-Guiu · J.
Introduction

Fatigue is one of the most disabling symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), and effective treatments are lacking. Amantadine is one of the most used treatments, although its efficacy is under debate. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a promising intervention that has shown positive effects in some preliminary investigations. We aim to investigate the effect of 6 weeks of amantadine and/or TMS in fatigue due to MS.

Methods and analysis

The study is a national, multicentre, phase 3, randomised, double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled and sham-controlled clinical trial. Adult patients with relapsing-remitting MS, Expanded Disability Status Scale score of 1.5–4.5 and Fatigue Severity Score>4 are eligible for the trial. Participants will be randomised to one of the sequences of the study. Each sequence consists of four periods of 6 weeks of treatment and three washout periods of 12–18 weeks. All patients will receive all the combinations of therapies. The primary outcome is the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale. The secondary outcomes are the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (cognition), Beck Depression Inventory-II (depressive symptoms) and Short-Survey 12 (quality of life). Safety and cost-effectiveness will also be evaluated. An exploratory substudy including MRI and blood biomarkers will be conducted.

Ethics and dissemination

The study is approved by the Ethics Committee of the Hospital Clinico San Carlos and the Spanish Agency of Medications and Medical Devices. All study findings will be published in scientific peer-reviewed journals and presented at relevant scientific conferences.

Trial registration number

EudraCT 2021-004868-95; NCT05809414.

Gait analysis: An effective tool to mechanically monitor the bone regeneration of critical-sized defects in tissue engineering applications

by Pablo Blázquez-Carmona, Juan Mora-Macías, Juan Morgaz, María del Mar Granados, Jaime Domínguez, Esther Reina-Romo

Introduction

Tissue engineering has emerged as an innovative approach to treat critical-size bone defects using biocompatible scaffolds, thus avoiding complex distraction surgeries or limited stock grafts. Continuous regeneration monitoring is essential in critical-size cases due to the frequent appearance of non-unions. This work evaluates the potential clinical use of gait analysis for the mechanical assessment of a tissue engineering regeneration as an alternative to the traditional and hardly conclusive manual or radiological follow-up.

Materials and methods

The 15-mm metatarsal fragment of eight female merino sheep was surgically replaced by a bioceramic scaffold stabilized with an external fixator. Gait tests were performed weekly by making the sheep walk on an instrumented gangway. The evolution of different kinematic and dynamic parameters was analyzed for all the animal’s limbs, as well as asymmetries between limbs. Finally, potential correlation in the recovery of the gait parameters was evaluated through the linear regression models.

Results

After surgery, the operated limb has an altered way of carrying body weight while walking. Its loading capacity was significantly reduced as the stance phases were shorter and less impulsive. The non-operated limbs compensated for this mobility deficit. All parameters were normalizing during the consolidation phase while the bone callus was simultaneously mineralizing. The results also showed high levels of asymmetry between the operated limb and its contralateral, which exceeded 150% when analyzing the impulse after surgery. Gait recovery significantly correlated between symmetrical limbs.

Conclusions

Gait analysis was presented as an effective, low-cost tool capable of mechanically predicting the regeneration of critical-size defects treated by tissue engineering, as comparing regeneration processes or novel scaffolds. Despite the progressive normalization as the callus mineralized, the bearing capacity reduction and the asymmetry of the operated limb were more significant than in other orthopedic alternatives.

Influence of physical fitness components on personality factors and risk perception of children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study

Objectives

To examine the associations of cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2 max) and muscular strength with indicators related to the risk scale, such as perceived competence, sensation seeking, competitiveness, risk taking and risk perception in sports.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

High schools from the Region of Murcia (Spain).

Participants

Three-hundred-and-seventeen adolescents participated (mean age: 13.69±1.2 years old).

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Body mass, body height, Course-Navette test, upper limb strength and psychoeducational factors that determine the propensity towards sports accidents in school children, the Sports Accident Propensity Scale were evaluated. It was performance t-test for independent samples, stepwise multiple linear regression models and a multiple mediation analysis.

Results

The analysis showed significant differences with respect to sex in height, VO2 max, handgrip strength and in all factors of the questionnaire (p=0.02-2 max, strength in the handgrip test and age showed a higher score in factors 1 and 3. Higher scores in factor 2 were associated with better VO2 max and strength in handgrip test. Youngers and better values of strength in the handgrip showed higher score in factors 4 and 5. The mediation analysis with two mediating variables (handgrip strength and VO2 max) showed a significant indirect effect. When handgrip strength and VO2 max were included in the equations, the association between sex and each factor ceased to be significant.

Conclusion

This study highlights the potential benefits of muscular strength (handgrip) and VO2 max in the perceived risk scale, and the variable of age on this.

Trial registration number

Clinical trial: NCT05544370 (pre-results).

Conocimientos y percepciones de los profesionales sanitarios de las unidades neonatales españolas sobre Método Canguro

Objetivo principal: Conocer los conocimientos y percepciones de los profesionales sanitarios sobre el método madre canguro (MMC) en las unidades neonatales españolas. Metodología: Estudio transversal, observacional y descriptivo, mediante encuesta online. Resultados principales: 331 profesionales respondieron la encuesta. 83,7% estaban formados en MMC. Respecto a las percepciones y barreras, no hubo diferencias significativas entre profesionales según su formación en MMC. La limitación con mayor porcentaje fue la inestabilidad hemodinámica con un 82,8%. Un 55,3% afirmó haber puesto limitaciones al MMC debido a la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 y un 96,4% estableció que sería útil disponer de una guía de consenso sobre MMC a nivel nacional. Conclusión principal: Los profesionales sanitarios de las unidades neonatales españolas están formados en el cuidado MMC, conociendo bien cuáles son sus beneficios, pero todavía afloran algunas percepciones que pueden interferir en la implantación eficaz del MMC.

❌