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Objectives: To examine the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on upper extremity spasticity after stroke and to define the most effective tDCS parameters. Literature Survey: Systematic review in the following databases: PubMed, SCOPUS, PEDro, CINAHL, MEDLINE, REHABDATA, AMED, and Web of Science databases. Studies up to June 2020 were included. Methodology: Studies were included if the sample was composed of individuals with stroke, the intervention followed a tDCS intervention (alone or combined with another intervention), and the study was a randomized controlled trial including at least one measurement assessing upper extremity spasticity. Two authors independently screened the included studies. Conflicting decisions between authors were resolved by discussion with the third author. The methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. The authors determined that the meta-analysis was not feasible due to the heterogeneity in the protocols among the included studies. Synthesis: After the screening of 1204 records, a total of seven studies met the specified inclusion criteria and involved 320 participants (mean age = 60.3), 31.1% of whom were females. Patients with ischemic stroke comprised 77.2% of the total patients, and 42.2% were with right hemispheric stroke. Six studies exhibited "high" quality and one exhibited "moderate" quality. Five of the selected studies that combined the tDCS intervention and other traditional interventions showed a significant reduction in upper extremity spasticity after stroke following tDCS intervention. The other two studies that delivered tDCs alone did not show a significant difference. Conclusions: The evidence for the effect of tDCS on upper extremity spasticity after stroke was limited. The optimal tDCS treatment dosage remains unclear. Additional studies with large sample sizes and long-term follow-up are strongly warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gait and postural deficits are the most common impairments in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD). These impairments often reduce patients' quality of life. Equistasi® is a wearable proprioceptive stabilizer that converts body thermic energy into mechanical vibration. No systematic reviews have been published investigating the influences of Equistasi® on gait and postural control in patients with PD. This review aimed to examine the effects of proprioceptive focal stimulation (Equistasi®) on gait deficits and postural instability in patients with PD. PubMed, Scopus, PEDro, REHABDATA, web of science, CHAINAL, EMBASE, and MEDLINE were searched from inception to July 2021. The methodological quality of the selected studies was evaluated using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Five studies met the eligibility criteria. The scores on the PEDro scale ranged from 3 to 8, with a median score of 8. The results showed evidence for the benefits of the proprioceptive focal stimulation (Equistasi®) on gait and postural stability in individuals with PD. Proprioceptive focal stimulation (Equistasi®) appears to be safe and well-tolerated in patients with PD. Proprioceptive focal stimulation (Equistasi®) may improve gait ability and postural stability in patients with PD. Further high-quality studies with long-term follow-ups are strongly needed to clarify the long-term effects of proprioceptive focal stimulation (Equistasi®) in patients with PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apraxia is widely used to describe one of the more disabling deficits following left strokes. The role of rehabilitation in treating apraxic stroke patients remains unclear. This systematic review was conducted to study the impacts of various rehabilitation interventions on the limb apraxia post-stroke. PubMed, SCOPUS, PEDro, CINAHL, MEDLINE, REHABDATA, and Web of Science were searched for the experimental studies that investigated the effects of the rehabilitation interventions on apraxia in patients with stroke. The methodological quality was rated using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale (PEDro). Six studies met our inclusion criteria in this systematic review. Four were randomized controlled trials, pilot (n = 1), and case study (n = 1). The scores on the PEDro scale ranged from two to eight, with a median of seven. The results showed some evidence for the effects of strategy training and gesture training interventions on the cognitive functions, motor activities, and activities of daily livings outcomes poststroke. The preliminary findings showed that the effects of the strategy training and the gesture training on apraxia in patients with stroke are promising. Further randomized controlled trials with long-term follow-ups are strongly needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children are more likely to consume monosodium glutamate (MSG) as this is prevalent in fast food such as fried chicken and snack food such as chip products. The aim of this study was to establish the toxic effects of higher MSG consumption in one-month old Wistar rats to estimate the human equivalent dose (HED) specific to children. To understand the impact of higher MSG consumption Wistar rats were fed orally four different doses (group I-IV: 2,000 mg/kg, 4,000 mg/kg, 20,000 mg/kg and 30,000 mg/kg which with respect to HED (9 years in children), were 480mg/kg, 960 mg/Kg, 4800 mg/Kg and 7200 mg/Kg) daily for 5 weeks compared with the control group. Histopathology was studied using Hemotoxylin and Eosin staining. The results showed an increased body weight in all MSG groups; colon with focal aberrant crypt hyperplasia noted in group IV and lymphoid cell aggregates noted in group III. The liver showed feathery degeneration and focal portal congestion were noted in all the MSG groups compared to the control groups. The kidneys showed focal congestion of blood vessels in all MSG groups. Stomach tissues exhibited no significant changes. Brain tissue sections showed congested blood vessels, and focal gliosis in group I and IV, ballooning degeneration was noted in group I, neuronal aggregates were found in group II, but group III showed no evidences of aggregates, gliosis or necrosis. This study suggests that regular and higher consumption of MSG had a deleterious impact on the organs as evident in the histology analysis and hence it is better to avoid consuming MSG containing foods especially for children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on upper extremity spasticity after stroke and to define the most effective tDCS parameters., Literature Survey: Systematic review in the following databases: PubMed, SCOPUS, PEDro, CINAHL, MEDLINE, REHABDATA, AMED, and Web of Science databases. Studies up to June 2020 were included., Methodology: Studies were included if the sample was composed of individuals with stroke, the intervention followed a tDCS intervention (alone or combined with another intervention), and the study was a randomized controlled trial including at least one measurement assessing upper extremity spasticity. Two authors independently screened the included studies. Conflicting decisions between authors were resolved by discussion with the third author. The methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. The authors determined that the meta-analysis was not feasible due to the heterogeneity in the protocols among the included studies., Synthesis: After the screening of 1204 records, a total of seven studies met the specified inclusion criteria and involved 320 participants (mean age = 60.3), 31.1% of whom were females. Patients with ischemic stroke comprised 77.2% of the total patients, and 42.2% were with right hemispheric stroke. Six studies exhibited "high" quality and one exhibited "moderate" quality. Five of the selected studies that combined the tDCS intervention and other traditional interventions showed a significant reduction in upper extremity spasticity after stroke following tDCS intervention. The other two studies that delivered tDCs alone did not show a significant difference., Conclusions: The evidence for the effect of tDCS on upper extremity spasticity after stroke was limited. The optimal tDCS treatment dosage remains unclear. Additional studies with large sample sizes and long-term follow-up are strongly warranted., (© 2022 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.)