José Gabriel da Silva Figueiredo

Mr. José Gabriel da Silva Figueiredo

Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
16 March 2024 in Life
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CPCarla Ferreira da Silva Pais Pais-Vieira
Carla Ferreira da Silva Pais Pais-Vieira
José Gabriel da Silva FigueiredoJosé Gabriel da Silva Figueiredo
José Gabriel da Silva Figueiredo
André PerrottaAndré Perrotta
André Perrotta
Demétrio MatosDemétrio Matos
Demétrio Matos
MAMafalda Aguiar
Mafalda Aguiar
MVMiguel Vieira
Miguel Vieira
Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) that integrate virtual reality with tactile feedback are increasingly relevant for neurorehabilitation in spinal cord injury (SCI). In our previous case study employing a BCI-based virtual reality neurorehabilitation protocol, a patient with complete T4 SCI experienced reduced pain and emergence of non-spastic lower limb movements after 10 sessions. However, it is still unclear whether these effects can be sustained, enhanced, and replicated, as well as the neural mechanisms that underlie them. The present report outlines the outcomes of extending the previous protocol with 24 more sessions (14 months, in total). Clinical, behavioral, and neurophysiological data were analyzed. The protocol maintained or reduced pain levels, increased self-reported quality of life, and was frequently associated with the appearance of non-spastic lower limb movements when the patient was engaged and not experiencing stressful events. Neural activity analysis revealed that changes in pain were encoded in the theta frequency band by the left frontal electrode F3. Examination of the lower limbs revealed alternating movements resembling a gait pattern. These results suggest that sustained use of this BCI protocol leads to enhanced quality of life, reduced and stable pain levels, and may result in the emergence of rhythmic patterns of lower limb muscle activity reminiscent of gait.

26 February 2024 in Small Science
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
José Gabriel da Silva FigueiredoJosé Gabriel da Silva Figueiredo
José Gabriel da Silva Figueiredo
BSBárbara M. de Sousa
Bárbara M. de Sousa
Marco P. Soares dos SantosMarco P. Soares dos Santos
Marco P. Soares dos Santos
SVSandra I. Vieira
Sandra I. Vieira
Musculoskeletal disorders are among the main causes of disease‐associated disability. Moreover, the incidence and prevalence of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, as well as the risk of bone fractures and the need for joint replacements, are expected to increase with longer life expectancy. New approaches based on electromagnetic stimulation have been developed, aiming to shorten bone healing time, attenuate osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, and increase implants' osseointegration. Inductive coupling (IC), a non‐invasive methodology to deliver magnetic stimuli, has reached clinical trials and some clinical practices but is not yet considered a standard procedure. Indeed, its feasibility in clinical use is still under discussion, and optimal stimulation parameters are fairly undefined. This comprehensive review describes the research trends and applicability of IC‐based therapeutics for musculoskeletal disorders, and starts identifying top‐performing magnetic stimulation parameters. Insights into the magnetic stimuli setups that promote osteogenesis are provided, based on pre‐clinical and clinical evidence from 117 in vivo studies in animal models and human patients. Potential cellular and molecular biomechanisms mediating IC‐induced effects on osteoblasts and osteoclasts are also explored. The transversal knowledge herein delivered will hopefully support innovative designs and medical devices that will implement IC stimulation as a clinical standard and effective therapeutic for musculoskeletal disorders.