Dementia is a growing issue in modern society. Non-pharmacological interventions such as music are suggested as the primary methods for symptom management. Therapeutic potential may also be found in sound/mechanical low frequency vibrations (LFV) that share the core characteristics of music, but these are lesser understood. The aim of the proposed scoping review is to explore the responses of persons with dementia to LFV, e.g., vibroacoustic therapy or whole-body vibration. The scoping review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology guidelines. An extensive search in BMC, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, ERIC, MEDLINE (OvidSP), Pedro, ProQuest Central, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and grey literature sources in Clinical Trials, Current Controlled Trials, Google Scholar, and manual search of relevant journals is planned to find all relevant research papers. The paper selection, full-text assessment, and data extraction will be performed by two independent reviewers. Participants' responses to the interventions and the experiment designs, including methodological challenges, will be analysed and compared. Results may highlight potential gaps in reporting and comparing sound and mechanical vibration approaches and promote better understanding of their potential for managing the symptoms of dementia. Furthermore, the possible relationships between LFV and music-based interventions may become clearer.
- Keywords
- dementia, low frequency vibration, mechanical vibration, music interventions, sound vibration, vibroacoustic,
- MeSH
- Dementia * therapy MeSH
- Music * MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Scoping Reviews As Topic MeSH
- Physical Therapy Modalities MeSH
- Vibration MeSH
- Research Design MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
BACKGROUND: Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (LF-rTMS) diminishes auditory hallucinations (AHs). The aims of our study were a) to assess the efficacy of LF-rTMS in a randomized, sham-controlled double-blind alignment, b) to identify the electrophysiological changes accompanying the LF-rTMS, and c) to identify the influence of LF-rTMS on brain functional connectivity (FC). METHODS: Nineteen schizophrenia patients with antipsychotic-resistant AHs were randomized to either active (n = 10) or sham (n = 9) LF-rTMS administered over the left temporo-parietal region for ten days. The clinical effect was assessed by the Auditory Hallucination Rating Scale (AHRS). The localization of the differences in electrical activity was identified by standardized low resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) and FC was measured by lagged phase synchronization. RESULTS: AHRS scores were significantly improved for patients receiving active rTMS compared to the sham (median reduction: 40 % vs 12 %; p = 0.01). sLORETA revealed a decrease of alpha-2, beta-1,-2 bands in the left hemisphere in the active group. Active rTMS led to a decrease of the lagged phase connectivity in beta bands originating in areas close to the site of stimulation, and to a prevailing increase of alpha-2 FC. No significant differences in current density or FC were observed in the sham group. LIMITATIONS: Limitations to our study included the small group sizes, and the disability of LORETA to assess subcortical neuronal activity. CONCLUSIONS: LF-rTMS attenuated AHs and induced a decrease of higher frequency bands on the left hemisphere. The FC changes support the assumption that LF-rTMS is linked to the modulation of cortico-cortical coupling.
- Keywords
- Auditory hallucinations, EEG, Functional connectivity, LORETA, Lagged phase synchronization, Low-frequency rTMS, Schizophrenia, Source localization,
- MeSH
- Electroencephalography MeSH
- Hallucinations therapy MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Schizophrenia * MeSH
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation methods MeSH
- Treatment Outcome MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Randomized Controlled Trial MeSH
The way the human brain represents speech in memory is still unknown. An obvious characteristic of speech is its evolvement over time. During speech processing, neural oscillations are modulated by the temporal properties of the acoustic speech signal, but also acquired knowledge on the temporal structure of language influences speech perception-related brain activity. This suggests that speech could be represented in the temporal domain, a form of representation that the brain also uses to encode autobiographic memories. Empirical evidence for such a memory code is lacking. We investigated the nature of speech memory representations using direct cortical recordings in the left perisylvian cortex during delayed sentence reproduction in female and male patients undergoing awake tumor surgery. Our results reveal that the brain endogenously represents speech in the temporal domain. Temporal pattern similarity analyses revealed that the phase of frontotemporal low-frequency oscillations, primarily in the beta range, represents sentence identity in working memory. The positive relationship between beta power during working memory and task performance suggests that working memory representations benefit from increased phase separation.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Memory is an endogenous source of information based on experience. While neural oscillations encode autobiographic memories in the temporal domain, little is known on their contribution to memory representations of human speech. Our electrocortical recordings in participants who maintain sentences in memory identify the phase of left frontotemporal beta oscillations as the most prominent information carrier of sentence identity. These observations provide evidence for a theoretical model on speech memory representations and explain why interfering with beta oscillations in the left inferior frontal cortex diminishes verbal working memory capacity. The lack of sentence identity coding at the syllabic rate suggests that sentences are represented in memory in a more abstract form compared with speech coding during speech perception and production.
- Keywords
- electrocorticography, memory representations, sentence repetition, speech perception, speech production, temporal pattern similarity,
- MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Electrocorticography MeSH
- Memory, Short-Term physiology MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Brain physiology MeSH
- Speech Perception physiology MeSH
- Speech physiology MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an effective treatment for depressive disorder, with outcomes approaching 45-55% response and 30-40% remission. Eligible predictors of treatment outcome, however, are still lacking. Few studies have investigated quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) parameters as predictors of rTMS treatment outcome and none of them have addressed the source localization techniques to predict the response to low-frequency rTMS (LF rTMS). We investigated electrophysiological differences based on scalp EEG data and inverse solution method, exact low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA), between responders and non-responders to LF rTMS in resting brain activity recorded prior to the treatment. Twenty-five unmedicated depressive patients (mean age of 45.7 years, 20 females) received a 4-week treatment of LF rTMS (1 Hz; 20 sessions per 600 pulses; 100% of the motor threshold) over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Comparisons between responders (≥50% reduction in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale score) and non-responders were made at baseline for measures of eLORETA current density, spectral absolute power, and inter-hemispheric and intra-hemispheric EEG asymmetry. Responders were found to have lower current source densities in the alpha-2 and beta-1 frequency bands bilaterally (with predominance on the left side) in the inferior, medial, and middle frontal gyrus, precentral gyrus, cingulate gyrus, anterior cingulate, and insula. The most pronounced difference was found in the left middle frontal gyrus for alpha-2 and beta-1 bands (p < 0.05). Using a spectral absolute power analysis, we found a negative correlation between the absolute power in beta and theta frequency bands on the left frontal electrode F7 and the change in depressive symptomatology. None of the selected asymmetries significantly differentiated responders from non-responders in any frequency band. Pre-treatment reduction of alpha-2 and beta-1 sources, but not QEEG asymmetry, was found in patients with major depressive disorder who responded to LF rTMS treatment. Prospective trials with larger groups of subjects are needed to further validate these findings.
- Keywords
- EEG asymmetry, LORETA, major depressive disorder, quantitative electroencephalography, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation,
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
BACKGROUND: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with cognitive dysfunction. Although there are several studies focused on the neurobiology of OCD, little is known about the biological correlates of the cognitive deficit linked to this disorder. The aim of our study was to examine the association between cognitive impairment and current source density markers in patients with OCD. METHODS: Resting-state eyes-closed electroencephalography (EEG) data were recorded in 20 patients with OCD and 15 healthy controls who were involved in the study. Cortical EEG sources were estimated by standardized low-resolution electromagnetic tomography in seven frequency bands: delta (1.5-6 Hz), theta (6.5-8 Hz), alpha-1 (8.5-10 Hz), alpha-2 (10.5-12 Hz), beta-1 (12.5-18 Hz), beta-2 (18.5-21 Hz), and beta-3 (21.5-30 Hz). Cognitive performance was measured by the Trail-Making Test (versions A and B), Stroop CW Test, and D2 Test. RESULTS: Frontal delta and theta EEG sources showed significantly higher activity in the whole group of patients with OCD (N=20) than in control subjects (N=15). Subsequent analysis revealed that this excess of low-frequency activity was present only in the subgroup of eleven patients with cognitive impairment (based on the performance in the Trail-Making Test - A). The subgroup of patients with normal cognitive functions (N=9) did not differ in cortical EEG sources from healthy controls. CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that frontal low-frequency cortical sources of resting-state EEG rhythms can distinguish groups of cognitively impaired and cognitively intact patients with OCD. Based on our results, future studies should consider whether the present methodological approach provides clinically useful information for the revelation of cognitive impairment in patients with OCD.
The low frequency of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections, nonspecific symptoms for individual mycobacteria, and the lack of specific identification methods could alter correct diagnosis. This study presents a combined microbiology and molecular-based approach for Mycobacterium marinum detection in four aquarists with cutaneous mycobacterial infection. Simultaneously, ecology screening for M. marinum presence in the aquarists' fish tanks was performed. A total of 38 mycobacterial isolates originated from four human patients (n = 20), aquarium animals (n = 8), and an aquarium environment (n = 10). Isolate identification was carried out using 16S rRNA sequence analysis. A microbiology-based approach, followed by 16S rRNA sequence analysis, was successfully used for detection of M. marinum in all four patients. Animal and environmental samples were simultaneously examined, and a total of seven mycobacterial species were isolated: Mycobacterium chelonae , Mycobacterium fortuitum , Mycobacterium gordonae , Mycobacterium kansasii , Mycobacterium mantenii , Mycobacterium marinum , and Mycobacterium peregrinum . The presence of M. marinum was proven in the aquarium environments of two patients. Although M. marinum is described as being present in water, it was detected only in fish.
- MeSH
- Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology therapeutic use MeSH
- Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous diagnosis drug therapy microbiology pathology MeSH
- Clarithromycin pharmacology therapeutic use MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
- Environmental Microbiology MeSH
- Mycobacterium marinum classification drug effects genetics isolation & purification MeSH
- Mycobacterium classification genetics isolation & purification MeSH
- RNA, Ribosomal, 16S genetics MeSH
- Fishes microbiology MeSH
- Treatment Outcome MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Case Reports MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Anti-Bacterial Agents MeSH
- Clarithromycin MeSH
- RNA, Ribosomal, 16S MeSH
Industrial noise sources are among the environmental noise sources that are ranked second among the causes of ill health in Europe by the World Health Organization. The aim of this paper is to summarize and review of published information focusing on noise annoyance from industrial activities and mining. A search for articles was performed using the bibliographic databases platforms. The epidemiological evidence shows that environmental noise may be associated with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, impaired cognitive development in children, mental health, post-irritability, and sleep disturbances. As a result of efforts to minimize the effects of industrial noise on human health, the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority published A Guide to the Noise Policy for Industry in 2017, which sets out recommended noise levels, methods, and procedures for noise management based on the latest scientific evidence. Social networks can be used to assess the population's noise annoyance and to verify the effectiveness of the measures. The industrial noise sources are typically defined by low-frequency noise. Low-frequency noise has very low attenuation and is only slightly affected by obstacles, therefore it can be a major cause of night noise annoyance. An association was confirmed between exposure to low-frequency noise and sleep disturbance, psychological problems, cognitive impairment, increased social conflicts, anxiety, emotional instability, nervousness, and reduced mental performance - concentration, and visual perception. In view of the long tradition of mining and industry, the assessment of noise from these activities from the perspective of its impacts on human health is an inherent part of legislative processes. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2024;75(5):425-431.
- Keywords
- environmental noise, health effects, industrial noise, low-frequency noise, noise annoyance, sleep disturbance,
- MeSH
- Noise, Occupational adverse effects MeSH
- Noise * adverse effects MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Environmental Exposure adverse effects MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
Dealing with the islanded operation of a microgrid (MG), the micro sources must cooperate autonomously to regulate the voltage and frequency of the local power grid. Droop controller-based primary control is a method typically used to self-regulate voltage and frequency. The first problem of the droop method is that in a steady state, the microgrid's frequency and voltage deviate from their nominal values. The second concerns the power-sharing issue related to mismatched power line impedances between Distribution Generators (DGs) and MGs. A Secondary Control Unit (SCU) must be used as a high-level controller for droop-based primary control to address the first problem. This paper proposed a decentralized SCU scheme to deal with this issue using optimized PI controllers based on a Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). The GA provides the appropriate adjustment parameters for all adopted PI controllers in the primary control-based voltage and current control loops and SCU-based voltage and frequency loops. ANNs are additionally activated in SCUs to provide precise online control parameter modification. In the proposed control structure, a virtual impedance method is adopted in the primary control scheme to address the power-sharing problem of parallel DGs. Further, in this paper, one of the main objectives includes electricity transmission over long distances using Low-Voltage DC Transmission (LVDCT) systems to reduce power losses and eradicate reactive power problems. Voltage Source Inverters (VSIs) are adopted to convert the DC electrical energy into AC near the consumer loads. The simulation results illustrated the feasibility of the proposed solutions in restoring voltage and frequency deviations, reducing line losses, as well as achieving active and reactive power sharing among the DGs connected to the MG.
- Keywords
- artificial neural network, distribution generators, genetic algorithm, microgrid, power sharing, secondary control, virtual impedance,
- MeSH
- Electric Impedance MeSH
- Electricity * MeSH
- Neural Networks, Computer MeSH
- Computer Simulation MeSH
- Electric Power Supplies * MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Integrating wind power with energy storage technologies is crucial for frequency regulation in modern power systems, ensuring the reliable and cost-effective operation of power systems while promoting the widespread adoption of renewable energy sources. Power systems are changing rapidly, with increased renewable energy integration and evolving system architectures. These transformations bring forth challenges like low inertia and unpredictable behavior of generation and load components. As a result, frequency regulation (FR) becomes increasingly important to ensure grid stability. Energy Storage Systems (ESS) with their adaptable capabilities offer valuable solutions to enhance the adaptability and controllability of power systems, especially within wind farms. This research provides an updated analysis of critical frequency stability challenges, examines state-of-the-art control techniques, and investigates the barriers that hinder wind power integration. Moreover, it introduces emerging ESS technologies and explores their potential applications in supporting wind power integration. Furthermore, this paper offers suggestions and future research directions for scientists exploring the utilization of storage technologies in frequency regulation within power systems characterized by significant penetration of wind power.
- Keywords
- Energy storage system, Frequency regulation, Hydrogen energy, Renewable energy sources, Wind energy integration,
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
BACKGROUND: Health information systems (HIS) are fundamental tools for the surveillance of health services, estimation of disease burden and prioritization of health resources. Several gaps in the availability of HIS for kidney disease were highlighted by the first iteration of the Global Kidney Health Atlas. METHODS: As part of its second iteration, the International Society of Nephrology conducted a cross-sectional global survey between July and October 2018 to explore the coverage and scope of HIS for kidney disease, with a focus on kidney replacement therapy (KRT). RESULTS: Out of a total of 182 invited countries, 154 countries responded to questions on HIS (85% response rate). KRT registries were available in almost all high-income countries, but few low-income countries, while registries for non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) or acute kidney injury (AKI) were rare. Registries in high-income countries tended to be national, in contrast to registries in low-income countries, which often operated at local or regional levels. Although cause of end-stage kidney disease, modality of KRT and source of kidney transplant donors were frequently reported, few countries collected data on patient-reported outcome measures and only half of low-income countries recorded process-based measures. Almost no countries had programs to detect AKI and practices to identify CKD-targeted individuals with diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, rather than members of high-risk ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm significant heterogeneity in the global availability of HIS for kidney disease and highlight important gaps in their coverage and scope, especially in low-income countries and across the domains of AKI, non-dialysis CKD, patient-reported outcomes, process-based measures and quality indicators for KRT service delivery.
- Keywords
- chronic kidney disease, end-stage kidney disease, health information systems, kidney replacement therapy, registries,
- MeSH
- Renal Insufficiency, Chronic * epidemiology therapy MeSH
- Kidney MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Cross-Sectional Studies MeSH
- Developing Countries MeSH
- Health Information Systems * MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
