Insula Deep Brain Stimulation for Neuropathic Pain: A Cross-Over, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial.

Objective: Despite neuropathic pain affecting a significant portion of the population, many people still experience refractory conditions. Here, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of posterior-superior insula deep brain stimulation for pharmaco-resistant neuropathic pain.

Materials And Methods: This was a phase 2 randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, cross-over trial.

Intraoperative recordings from the posterior superior insula in awake humans with peripheral neuropathic pain.

Background And Objectives: The activity profile of the posterior insula in neuropathic pain (NeP) remains largely unexplored. To address this and examine its modulation by somatosensory stimulation, we recorded local field potentials (LFP) in awake patients with NeP undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrode implantation to the posterior-superior insula (PSI) for analgesic purposes.

Materials And Methods: Six patients (one woman; 32-45 years), experiencing refractory peripheral NeP and having previously responded to non-invasive stimulation of the PSI underwent stereotactic implantation of DBS electrodes to the PSI as part of a phase II clinical trial.

Effects of Foot-Core Training on Foot-Ankle Kinematics and Running Kinetics in Runners: Secondary Outcomes From a Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study investigated the effectiveness of an 8-week foot-core exercise training program on foot-ankle kinematics during running and also on running kinetics (impact loads), with particular interest in biomechanical outcomes considered risk factors for running-related injuries in recreational runners. A single-blind, randomized, controlled trial was conducted with 87 recreational runners randomly allocated to either the control (CG) or intervention (IG) group and assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks. The IG underwent foot-core training 3 times/week, while the CG followed a placebo lower-limb stretching protocol.

Non-invasive insular stimulation for peripheral neuropathic pain: Influence of target or symptom?

Objectives: The posterior-superior insula (PSI) has been shown to be a safe and potentially effective target for neuromodulation in peripheral neuropathic pain (PNP) in humans and animal models. However, it remains unknown whether there is a measurable responder profile to PSI stimulation. Two factors were hypothesized to influence the response of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the PSI: differences in rTMS target (discrete subregions of the PSI) or PNP phenotype.

Altered Functional Connectivity Between Precuneus and Motor Systems in Parkinson's Disease Patients.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects motor skills and cognition. As brain structure and function are compromised, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can be a helpful tool to further investigate how intrinsic connectivity is impaired on the disease. The precuneus and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) are hub regions involved on the default mode network (DMN), a system that is active during rest and related to cognitive processes.