We evaluated the efficacy and robustness of a second generation implantable stimulator for correcting drop foot (DF) in a patient with left-sided hemiplegia over 20 years of functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the common peroneal nerve (CPN). Dorsal flexion and eversion of the affected foot was partially restored by FES of the superficial region of the CPN innervating mostly the tibialis anterior (TA) and partly peroneus longus (PL) and peroneus brevis (PB) muscles. The reasons for implant failure during the long-term follow-up assessment were analyzed and resolving procedures were identified. The stimulator had an average failure rate of once every three years, due to repetitive mechanical load on the lead wires of its internal and/or external unit, and had to be serviced once per year to replace the heel switch integrated into the shoe sole. FES-associated mechanical trauma to the CPN elicited a thickening of the connective tissue around the CPN and a slightly compromised conduction velocity of the CPN. FES of the CPN, with the second generation implantable stimulator, improved gait parameters of the affected leg during the 20 years period. Long-term, daily FES enables a functional and reliable recruitment of nerve fibers, thus providing a sufficient dorsal flexion and optimal eversion of the affected foot to sustain unassisted, almost normal gait. Therefore, the presented implant is suitable for very long-term FES of the CPN.
F.06 Development of a new product
COBISS.SI-ID: 32616921The efficacy of concomitant chemoradiation in patients with glioblastomas (GBMs) cannot be reliably assessed until several weeks after therapy completion. Our aim was to evaluate dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) as an early predictive assay for the progression-free-survival. A total of 22 patients with primary GBMs underwent DCE-MRI before, during and after completion of adjuvant chemoradiation. Ktrans (transfer constant between the intravascular and extravascular, extracellular space), ve (extracellular, extravascular volume) and IAUGC (initial area under the gadolinium concentration time curve) and their changes into treatment were assessed as prognostic markers (12 months of progression-free-survival (PFS)). Both responders (7 subjects) and non-responders (15 subjects) experienced a reduction in the baseline IAUGC and ve values during the early phase of the treatment. This reduction was more prominent in the responders and was statistically significant for the ve (P = 0.04). Baseline Ktrans values among responders demonstrated statistically significant reduction during the early phase of treatment (P = 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated significant relationship between response and the early changes in Ktrans values during the treatment (P = 0.04). Trend to significant prognostic value demonstrated the baseline Ktrans, ve and IAUGC as well as the changes of IAUGC and Ktrans upon therapy completion. Early perfusion changes during concomitant chemoradiation in GBMs can be detected by means of DCE-MRI and have significant prognostic value for the 12-month PFS.
F.21 Development of new health/diagnostic methods/procedures
COBISS.SI-ID: 1999020The objective was to identify, with fMRI, which brain regions participate in the complex process of human imagination and complex motor behaviour. 42 participants were included into the study. Preliminary results of fMRI data indicate that it is possible, with a high degree of certainty, to associate changes in FMRI signal of discrete brain regions with the content of human thought.
B.06 Other
COBISS.SI-ID: 63086178The roundtable discussion focused on the vast literature for different age groups that can facilitate societal discourse on ageing and dying and aid in addressing the challenges these natural processes pose to an individual and society at large.
B.06 Other
COBISS.SI-ID: 1946958The work analyses literature on use and efficacy of TENS in acute and subacute low back pain.
D.11 Other
COBISS.SI-ID: 5067371