Search

Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) may reduce appetite and caloric intake and may be able to play a role as an adjunct treatment for obesity. Stimulation of this brain area is also used for the treatment of depression, which shares a common pathophysiology with obesity. As a result, the effect of tDCS on mental health and its impact on the quality of life of subjects with excess weight needs to be addressed. Objective: To assess the effect of daily tDCS of the right DLPFC on mood, daytime sleepiness, anxiety and quality of life in subjects with excess weight on a hypocaloric diet. Methods: We randomly assigned 28 subjects to receive 20 sessions of active or sham tDCS over the right DLPFC for 20 consecutive weekdays. The severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms was assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S). Sleepiness was measured by a daytime sleepiness questionnaire (DSQ), and quality of life was measured by the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Results: There were no significant changes in BDI, STAI-S and DSQ scores between groups, even after adjustments for the use of antidepressant medications and changes in body weight. There were also no significant changes in different subscales of the SF-36 quality of life questionnaire between groups. Conclusion: Repetitive tDCS on the right DLPFC is not associated with impairment in mental health or quality of life in overweight and obese subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) may reduce appetite and caloric intake. However, it is used as an adjunct treatment for depression by stimulation of the left DLPFC. As a result, its safety in mental health and its impact on quality of life of subjects with excess weight needs to be addressed. Objective: To assess the effect of repeated tDCS of the right DLPFC on mood, daytime sleepiness, anxiety and quality of life in subjects with excessive weight on a hypocaloric diet. Methods: We randomly assigned 28 participants to receive 20 sessions of active or sham tDCS for 20 consecutive weekdays. Anode and cathode electrodes were respectively placed on the right and left DLPFC. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), a daytime sleepiness questionnaire (DSQ), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S) and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were administered before (t0) and after (t20) the intervention period. Results: There were no statistically significant changes in BDI, DSQ, STAI-S and SF-36 subscales between the groups throughout the study (Figure 1A and 1B). Conclusion: The absence of significant changes in the scales suggests that tDCS is not associated with impairment in mental health and quality of life in this population. ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT02683902. Disclosure: G.R. Natividade: None. C. de Araujo: None. R.C. Fitz: None. A.F. Osório: None. P.N. Merello: None. P. Schestatsky: None. F. Gerchman: Speaker's Bureau; Self; Novo Nordisk Inc. Other Relationship; Self; Sanofi-Aventis. Funding: Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (FIPE15-0119) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to evaluate the main risk factors for postoperative complications in patients undergoing appendectomy for acute appendicitis., Methods: we retrospectively analyzed 1241 patients undergoing open or laparoscopic appendectomy. Patients were allocated to four groups: Group 1, without postoperative complications, and Groups 2, 3, and 4, with postoperative complications defined according to their severity, following Clavien-Dindo classification (I, II, and ≥III, respectively)., Results: patients aged ≥38.5 years had more severe complications (p<0.0001). Patients in Group 1, without postoperative complications, had, for the most part, a laparoscopic approach. Groups 2, 3, and 4 underwent, predominantly, to an open surgery (p<0.0001). In cases of acute appendicitis, the odds ratio (OR) for complications was 3.09, 3.04, and 12.41 for Groups 2, 3, and 4, respectively (p<0.0001). Anesthetic risk, duration of the procedure, and length of hospital stay were related to a higher risk and severity of complications., Conclusion: the main predicting factors of postoperative complications in patients operated for acute appendicitis were: age ≥38.5 years, conventional or open surgical access, complicated appendicitis, ASA≥2, and surgical time >77 minutes.