Clinical trials

The use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for the management of deficits developed in stroke is a relatively new type of management option. Many of the studies performed using tDCS have focused on improvements noted in hemiplegia as compared to aphasia, which is an equally disabling outcome of strokes. The results of these studies have not been conclusive and concordant with each other. In aphasia management, the majority of the studies have focused on chronic strokes. Since the use of tDCS is relatively new, the studies have not focused on a particular type of deficit or stroke. Very few studies have focused on the impact of solely using tDCS. Very few studies have focused on acute to subacute strokes. The results of the studies have, nevertheless, been encouraging. Improvements in aspects of language tested after a single session of tDCS are short-lived. There is an unmet need to probe the utility of repetitive tDCS on aspects of language function in patients who are aphasic due to acute stroke. There is also a paucity of data in the Indian scenario regarding the same.

Dopaminergic medications and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) are the current standards interventions for Parkinson's Disease. Pharmacotherapy with dopaminergic drugs leads to partial improvement in motor functions of patients. Invasive therapies like DBS have as yet limited availability and accessibility, with risk of adverse events as well. Non invasive therapies like Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) are currently increasingly being probed for their therapeutic value, in view of their safety, portability and convenience of administration. Improvement in motor function immediately after a single session of tDCS has been observed. The effect of single simulation is not sustained beyond a few days. Only few studies with varied sites of stimulation have evaluated the effect of repetitive tDCS on motor function improvement in patients with Parkinson's Disease, with conflicting results. There is an unmet need to probe the utility of repetitive tDCS on motor function of patients with Parkinson's Disease. We aim to probe the effect of repetitive tDCS of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and M1 cortex on motor function in patients with Parkinson's Disease (Hoehn and Yahr stage 2 to 4).

Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is a way to support breathing using a mask or helmet instead of a breathing tube, and it is proven to reduce the need for intubation, save lives, shorten hospital stays, and lower costs. While NIV has long been used in intensive care units, it is now increasingly applied in emergency rooms, hospital wards, and long-term care facilities. However, global data on how it is used outside ICUs-such as which patients receive it, how well it works, and what barriers exist-is lacking. The NIV-Safety Study is a worldwide survey of doctors, nurses, and respiratory therapists to understand current practices, outcomes, and challenges of NIV use beyond the ICU. The findings aim to guide safer, more effective, and standardized use of NIV across different healthcare settings.