A dor crônica de joelho secundária a osteoartrite é uma patologia comum com a progressão da idade e que vem aumentando sua prevalência a medida que se elevam a expectativa de vida e os índices de obesidade e sobrepeso. A consequência desses sintomas se reflete de maneira direta sobre a capacidade de realização de atividades diárias, a qualidade do sono e a capacidade laboral do indivíduo. O impacto psicológico, social e econômico da dor crônica de joelho representam um desafio de saúde pública, demandando tratamento eficiente e custo-efetivo. As terapias farmacológicas com frequência apresentam benefício limitado associado a diversos efeitos colaterais. Os procedimentos invasivos não cirúrgicos, como a injeção intraarticular de ácido hialurônico, representam uma alternativa em casos refratários ao tratamento clínico, sendo utilizados como terapia complementar, entretanto apresentam benefício limitado e insuficiente para o controle da dor em casos severos. Os procedimentos cirúrgicos, como a artroplastia total do joelho, habitualmente apresentam resultados satisfatórios na doença avançada, contudo são limitadas pelo seu alto custo, risco cirúrgico inerente e pequena capacidade resolutiva diante da alta prevalência. O bloqueio dos nervos geniculados é uma técnica recentemente descrita, de fácil realização e com mínima invasão necessitando ser estudada para que possa ser aplicada no manejo clínico. Neste estudo foram selecionados pacientes com osteoartrite moderada e severa, que apresentavam dor refratária ao tratamento clínico otimizado. Foram selecionados 16 pacientes e um total de 22 joelhos foram avaliados. Inicialmente todos os pacientes foram submetidos a um pré-teste que avaliava: 1) a intensidade da dor; 2) a qualidade do sono; 3) a capacidade de realização de atividades diárias. Aleatoriamente 2 grupos foram formados, o primeiro submetido ao bloqueio intra-articular e o segundo ao bloqueio dos nervos geniculados. A solução formada por: lidocaína 1% sem vasoconstrictor - 9 mL - 90 mg adicionada de Dexametasona - 1mL - 10 mg era padrão e utilizada nos dois grupos de intervenção. Após um seguimento semanal por 12 semanas consecutivas, os paciente foram reconvocados e submetidos ao outro procedimento proposto, dessa forma todos os pacientes atuaram como o seu próprio controle (desenho de estudo \"crossover\"). Nos seguimentos semanais, assim como no pré-teste, eram avaliados a intensidade da dor, a qualidade do sono e a capacidade de realização de atividades diárias. Os resultados mostraram que o bloqueio intra-articular e o bloqueio dos nervos geniculados apresentam redução importante da dor (p < 0,01), melhora na capacidade de realização de atividades diárias (p < 0,01) e melhora na qualidade do sono (p < 0,01), no entanto não houve diferença significativa no resultado entre os grupos estudados (p > 0,05). Conclui-se que o bloqueio dos nervos geniculados surge como uma alternativa segura, minimamente invasiva e de alta eficácia, apresentando resultados semelhantes ao bloqueio intra-articular. / Chronic pain of the knee secondary to osteoarthritis is a common pathology, progressive with age and which increases its prevalence as life expectancy is raised together with obesity and overweight. A consequence of these symptoms is reflected directly on the capacity of undertaking daily activities, the quality of sleep and the work capacity of each individual. The psychological, social and economic impact of chronic knee pain represents a challenge to public health, demanding efficient treatment at a worthwhile cost. Pharmaceutical therapies frequently present a limited benefit associated with various side effects. Non-surgical invasive procedures such as an injection intra-articular of hyaluronic acid, represents an alternative in refractory cases to clinical treatment, being used as a complementary therapy, however, presenting limited and insufficient benefit for the control of pain in severe cases. Surgical procedures such as complete arthroplasty of the knee, usually presents satisfactory results in patients with an advanced osteoarthritis, but are limited by their high cost, inherent surgical risk and small resolving capability facing a high prevalence. Blocking the genicular nerves is a recently described technique, easily applied by clinical management. Patients were selected in this study with moderate and severe osteoarthritis, with refractory pain in optimized clinical treatment. 16 patients were selected and a total of 22 knees were evaluated. Initially all the patients were submitted to a pre-test which evaluated: 1) the intensity of pain; 2) the quality of sleep; 3) the capacity to undertake daily activities. Two groups were formed randomly, the first submitted to intra-articular blocking and the second to blocking the genicular nerves. A solution of lidocaine 1% without a vasoconstrictor - 9 mL - 90 mg and Dexametasona - 1 mL - 10 mg was standard and used for intervention in both groups. After a weekly appraisal for 12 consecutive weeks, the patients were recalled and submitted to another proposed procedure and in this way all the patients acted as their own control (a \"crossover\" study design). In the following weeks, as also in the pretest, the intensity of pain, the quality of sleep and the capacity of undertaking daily activities were evaluated. The results showed that the intra-articular block and the blocking of the genicular nerves presented an important reduction of pain (p<0,01) but there was no significant difference in the result between the groups studied (p>0,05). It is therefore concluded that the blocking of the genicular nerves appears as a safe alternative, minimally invasive and highly efficient, presenting results similar to the intra-articular blocking.

Introdução: O schwannoma vestibular (SV) é um tumor benigno que se origina na bainha de schwann de um dos nervos vestibulares. De acordo com sua topografia lesões nos nervos cranianos facial, trigêmeo, coclear e bulbares podem estar presentes. Apesar do conhecimento da possibilidade de lesão nos nervos cranianos bulbares, a condução de estudos com o intuito de identificar alterações funcionais relacionadas raramente é estudada. Objetivos: Analisar fatores prognósticos de resultados funcionais relacionados aos nervos cranianos facial, trigêmeo, coclear e bulbares e correlacionar o prognóstico fonoaudiológico com os resultados de escalas funcionais finais dos nervos cranianos avaliados. Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo de coorte com coleta de dados parcialmente retrospectiva que analisa a incidência de déficits funcionais de nervos cranianos em pacientes submetidos à exérese de SV, por meio de um protocolo de avaliação clínica estruturado (PAEC) especificamente para este estudo. O PAEC foi constituído de 2 sessões, sendo a primeira referente aos fatores prognósticos de sequelas e a segunda com dados funcionais referentes à deficiência auditiva (DA), comprometimento neurológico global (CNG), paralisia facial periférica (PFP), disfagia (DG) e fonação (DF). A coleta de dados foi realizada durante os meses de janeiro a junho do ano de 2016 no ambulatório de tumores da divisão de neurologia funcional do instituto de psiquiatria do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. A análise dos dados foi realizada por meio do software SPSS de modo inferencial univariado e multivariado adotando um p valor inferior a 0.05. Resultados: A amostra foi composta por 101 sujeitos, sendo 77,2% do sexo feminino e 22,8% do sexo masculino. A média de idade correspondeu à 47,1 anos. Foram identificados 20,8% pacientes portadores de neurofibromatose do tipo 2 (NTFII). A via de acesso cirúrgico preferencial foi a retrossigmoidea (92,1%) com média tumoral igual a 3,4cm.70% dos pacientes apresentaram ressecção total do tumor com uma única abordagem. Na análise univariada foram identificados os fatores preditivos de sequela por desfecho estatisticamente significantes tamanho tumoral, presença de neurofibromatose e ressecção total respectivamente- CNG ( < 0,001; 0,023; 0,010), DG (pvalor < 0,001; pvalor 0,007; pvalor < 0,001), DF (pvalor 0,013; pvalor 0,002), confirmados pela análise multivariada respectiva - CNG (Odds Ratio (OD) 1,5 - pvalor 0,07; OR 3,5 - pvalor 0,036; OR 2,4- pvalor 0,08), DG (OR 2,3 - pvalor 0,006; OR 5,7 - pvalor 0,015; OR 3,9 - pvalor 0,018) e DF (OR 1,6 -pvalor 0,062; OR 5,5 - pvalor 0,006). Para o desfecho PFP a análise univariada foi estatisticamente significante para NTFII (pvalor 0,009) e PFP prévia (pvalor < 0,001) confirmados pela análise multivariada (OR 24,6 - pvalor 0,009; OR 0,3 - pvalor < 0,001), neste desfecho foi realizado estudo correlacional entre as escalas funcionais de DG (pvalor < 0,001) e CNG (pvalor < 0,001) com resultados estatisticamente significantes para a correlação entre os desfechos. Os sinais clínicos da deglutição estatisticamente relevantes corresponderam em 44,4% fase preparatória oral e oral e 66,6% fase faríngea. Conclusões: Os fatores prognósticos significativos relacionados aos déficits funcionais encontrados neste trabalho foram o tamanho do tumor e presença de NFT II em todos os desfechos estudados. Para CNG e DG foi evidenciado ainda o fator preditor de tipo de ressecção estatisticamente significante. Os déficits funcionais de paralisia facial periférica se correlacionaram aos déficits da deglutição em fase oral e fase faríngea e de incapacidade funcional / Introduction: Vestibular schwannoma (VS) is a benign tumor that originates in the schwann sheath of one of the vestibular nerves. According to their topography lesions in the cranial, facial, trigeminal, cochlear and bulbar pairs may be present. Although knowledge of the possibility of injury in the lower cranial nerves, the conduction of studies with the purpose of identifying related functional alterations are rarely studied. Objectives: To analyze prognostic factors of functional results related to facial, trigeminal, cochlear and bulbary cranial nerves and to correlate the final functional prognosis of the cranial nerves with each other. Methodology: This is a cohort study with partial retrospective data collection that analyzes the incidence of functional deficits of cranial nerves in patients submitted to SV excision, using a structured clinical evaluation protocol (PAEC) specifically for this study . The PAEC consisted of 2 sessions, the first one referring to prognostic factors of sequelae and the second with functional data regarding hearing loss (DA), global neurological impairment (CNG), peripheral facial paralysis (PFP), dysphagia (DG) and Phonation (DF). The data collection was performed during the months of January to June of the year 2016 in the ambulatory of acoustic neurinoma of the Hospital das Clínicas of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo. Data analysis was performed using univariate and multivariate inferential mode SPSS software, adopting a value of less than 0.05. Results: The sample consisted of 101 subjects, being 77.2% female and 22.8% male. The mean age was 47.1 years. 20.8% of patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NTFII) were identified. The preferred surgical access route was retrossigmoid (92.1%) with a mean tumor equal to 3.4cm.70% of the patients presented total tumor resection with a single approach. In the univariate analysis, the predictive sequelae factors were identified by statistically significant tumor size, presence of neurofibromatosis and total resection, respectively - CNG ( < 0.001; 0.023; 0.010), DG (pvalor < 0.001, pvalor 0.007, pvalor < 0.001), DF (Odds ratio 0.05, pvalor 0.013, pvalor 0.002), confirmed by the respective multivariate analysis - CNG (Odds Ratio (OD) 1.5 - pvalor 0.07, OR 3.5 - pvalor 0.036, OR 2.4 - pvalor 0.08), DG (OR 2.3 - pvalor 0.006; OR 5.7 - Pvalor 0.015, OR 3.9 - pvalor 0.018) and DF (OR 1.6 -value 0.062, OR 5.5 - pvalor 0.006). For the PFP endpoint, the univariate analysis was statistically significant for NTFII (pvalor 0.009) and previous PFP (pvalor < 0.001) confirmed by the multivariate analysis (OR 24.6 - pvalor 0.009; OR 0.3 - pvalor < 0.001). The functional scales of DG (pvalor < 0.001) and CNG (pvalor < 0.001) with statistically significant results for the correlation between the outcomes. Significant clinical signs of swallowing corresponded in 44.4% oral and oral preparatory phase and 66.6% pharyngeal phase. Conclusions: The significant prognostic factors related to the functional deficits found in this study were tumor size, NFT II presence and resection type in all the outcomes studied. Functional deficits of peripheral facial paralysis were correlated with oral and pharyngeal deglutition deficits and functional disability

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1981. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Vita. / Bibliography: leaves 109-112. / by Christopher Rose. / M.S.

Introduction. Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a common complication of diabetes that interferes with daily living and causes severe pain. Pharmacotherapy is the accepted treatment strategy, however, this strategy is associated with high cost, minimal reductions in pain, and adverse side effects. Thus, a critical need exists to develop alternative treatment strategies. Purpose. To determine if a 12-week whole-body vibration (WBV) intervention reduces pain in adults with DPN. Methods. Twenty-one adults with physician confirmed painful DPN volunteered to take part in a 26-week time series design study. Pain was assessed with the Brief Pain Inventory Short Form [BPI-sf] and a 0-10 numeric rating scale [NRS]. The BPI-sf contains two indices that respectively measure how pain interferes with daily living and severity. The intervention began after a 12-week control period. At week 13, participants were asked to stand on a WBV machine 3 d/week for 4, 3-min bouts at 30-50 Hz with 1-min rest intervals between bouts. Pain levels were reported using the NRS before and after each bout. Results. Comparing post- to pre-intervention, BPI-sf pain interference scores decreased from 5.61±1.40 to 2.39±1.82 (p≤0.001). BPI-sf pain severity scores decreased from 5.1±0.64 to 3.1±1.87 (p≤0.01). Analyses of the NRS scores indicate that pain decreased each week following WBV and that between weeks, pain continued to decrease. Conclusion. These findings demonstrate that whole-body vibration was effective at reducing pain in a sample of adults with painful DPN. / Graduation date: 2012

Vagal sensory afferent innervation corresponds to regulation of neurogenic inflammation in the airways. Capsaicin is mostly used for stimulation of sensory nerves that induce pain and inflammatory responses. It can specifically stimulate sensory afferent nerves, inducing neurogenic inflammation in the airways. According the past studies, we have found the right thoracic vagus nerve (RTVN) and right recurrent laryngeal nerve (RRLN); branches of right thoracic vagus trunk (RTVT) mediate different degree of neurogenic inflammation by intraenous injection of capsaicin (300 nmol/ml/kg). In order to investigate the innervation from the RTVN and RRLN of rat tracheobronchi and their involvement in plasma exudation, we injected 3 £gl of capsaicin (10 mg/ml) into RTVT and denervated the RRLN or RTVN and used India ink as tracer dye to label the leaky microvessels. Our observation indicated that injection of capsaicin into the RTVT coud induce obvious plasma exudation in trachea (area density of leaky blood vessels was about 22%), but plasma exudation was significantly decreased after denervation of RRLN. The left upper side of trachea was decreased by 77.6% and the right upper side decreased by 84.5%. This phenomenon was not caused by denervation of RTVN. The results suggest that vagal nerve innervation of upper trachea mostly came from the RLN. Otherwise, capsaicin injection into the RTVT also induced neurogenic inflammation in the larynx. Experimental denervation of both superior and recurrent laryngeal nerves resulted in a decrease of plasma extravasation by 84.98%. Denervation of either RTVN or RRLN also decreased the plasma extravasation in the larynx. The evidence suggest that sensory fibers in the superior laryngeal nerve, recurrent laryngeal nerve, and thoracic vagus nerve might come from the same population of vagal ganglion sensory neurons.

Background: Vagus nerve stimulation is increasingly applied to treat epilepsy, psychiatric conditions and potentially chronic heart failure. After implanting vagus nerve electrodes to the cervical vagus nerve, side effects such as voice alterations and dyspnea or missing therapeutic effects are observed at different frequencies. Cervical vagus nerve branching might partly be responsible for these effects. However, vagus nerve branching has not yet been described in the context of vagus nerve stimulation. Materials and methods: Branching of the cervical vagus nerve was investigated macroscopically in 35 body donors (66 cervical sides) in the carotid sheath. After X-ray imaging for determining the vertebral levels of cervical vagus nerve branching, samples were removed to confirm histologically the nerve and to calculate cervical vagus nerve diameters and cross-sections. Results: Cervical vagus nerve branching was observed in 29%of all cases (26% unilaterally, 3% bilaterally) and proven histologically in all cases. Right-sided branching (22%) was more common than left-sided branching (12%) and occurred on the level of the fourth and fifth vertebra on the left and on the level of the second to fifth vertebra on the right side. Vagus nerves without branching were significantly larger than vagus nerves with branches, concerning their diameters (4.79mm vs. 3.78mm) and cross-sections (7.24 mm2 vs. 5.28mm2). Discussion: Cervical vagus nerve branching is considerably more frequent than described previously. The side-dependent differences of vagus nerve branching may be linked to the asymmetric effects of the vagus nerve. Cervical vagus nerve branching should be taken into account when identifying main trunk of the vagus nerve for implanting electrodes to minimize potential side effects or lacking therapeutic benefits of vagus nerve stimulation.

Currently there does not exist a type of peripheral nerve interface that adequately combines spatial selectivity, spatial coverage and low invasiveness. In order to address this lack, we investigated the application of bioelectric source localization algorithms, adapted from electroencephalography/magnetoencephalography, to recordings from a 56-contact “matrix” nerve cuff electrode. If successful, this strategy would enable us to improve current neuroprostheses and conduct more detailed investigations of neural control systems. Using forward field similarities, we first developed a method to reduce the number of unnecessary variables in the inverse problem, and in doing so obtained an upper bound on the spatial resolution. Next, a simulation study of the peripheral nerve source localization problem revealed that the method is unlikely to work unless noise is very low and a very accurate model of the nerve is available. Under more realistic conditions, the method had localization errors in the 140 μm-180 μm range, high numbers of spurious pathways, and low resolution. On the other hand, the simulations also showed that imposing physiologically meaningful constraints on the solution can reduce the number of spurious pathways. Both the influence of the constraints and the importance of the model accuracy were validated experimentally using recordings from rat sciatic nerves. Unfortunately, neither idealized models nor models based on nerve sample cross-sections were sufficiently accurate to allow reliable identification of the branches stimulated during the experiments. To overcome this problem, an experimental leadfield was constructed using training data, thereby eliminating the dependence on anatomical models. This new strategy was successful in identifying single-branch cases, but not multi-branches ones. Lastly, an examination of the information contained in the matrix cuff recordings was performed in comparison to a single-ring configuration of contacts. The matrix cuff was able to achieve better fascicle discrimination due to its ability to select among the most informative locations around the nerve. These findings suggest that nerve cuff-based neuroprosthetic applications would benefit from implanting devices with a large number of contacts, then performing a contact selection procedure. Conditions that must be met before source localization approaches can be applied in practice to peripheral nerves were also discussed.

Bibliography :leaves 350-384. / xv, 384 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Introduces possible neural mechanisms of action of general anaesthesia. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Physiology, 1994

Thesis (M.S.)--Missouri State University, 2008. / "May 2008." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-63). Also available online.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Anatomy))--Mahidol University, 1982.