Workshops

Chrysoula Kourtidou-Papadeli, Christos Frantzidis,
Evdokimos Konstantinidis, Christina Plomariti

It is well known that bed confinement and inactivity lead to detrimental consequences in many physiological systems, like the cardiovascular and the musculoskeletal. The main reason for this is the ineffective use of the gravity loads administered to the body in these situations. Several countermeasures have been proposed to mitigate the physiological multisystem deconditioning caused by bed confinement and inactive lifestyle. Among them, the short-arm human centrifuge (SAHC) has been proposed as a realization of Artificial Gravity / AG, but most of its applications are targeted for use in space.
The focus of this workshop will be to 1) present the latest advances in the fields of space medicine and related countermeasures, 2) discuss how space-related research could be transferred to the clinical practice for rehabilitation and improving physical health and wellbeing, 3) perform a hands-on workshop on integrating space-related research in everyday medical practice, through participatory design and co-creation approaches.
It will consist of presentations on the following topics:
• Presentation of the Vitalise project (aims, methodology, research infrastructures)
• Latest advances on countermeasures for mitigating detrimental microgravity effects.
• Infrastructures of the human centrifuge (a joint presentation including the infrastructures of all the different labs participating in the workshop)
• Use of artificial gravity training on healthy population
• Applications in rehabilitation
• Presentation of the Vitalise project: Protocol for using the SAHC for rehabilitation in stroke
patients
• Future aspects of the centrifuge
• Co-creation session: At the last half hour of the workshop the attendees will be given the opportunity to share among them and with the organizers of the workshop their ideas on the following topics. At first, a canvas will appear where everybody will be able to write their ideas and at the final 10 minutes a discussion will take place based on the created canvas o Other applications of space-related countermeasures in rehabilitation and medical practice
      o Use of the space-related countermeasures for physical training and well-being
      o Combination of the space-related countermeasures with other rehabilitation techniques

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is an imaging technique that uses light to measure muscle or cerebral oxygenation. One variant of this technique called functional NIRS (fNIRS) can be used to measure brain activity. fNIRS has become popular increasingly over the past years among researchers because of its wearability, portability and ease of use. Additionally, fNIRS is non-invasive and compatible with many other techniques such as EEG, tES and can provide complementary information.
fNIRS measures the brains hemodynamic response and local changes so it provides a relatively high spatial resolution. In this workshop we will discuss the basics of fNIRS and demonstrate how to get started with this technique using our devices.

Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) include disorders related to the taking of a drug(s) of abuse (including alcohol). QEEG biomarkers has been shown to have good differential diagnostic capability for SUDs. Among the medical treatment methods used in the treatment of SUDs., medical drugs, psychotherapies, and detox programs are the most frequently used, but there is no cure. Alcohol and drug/addiction are registered in the regions of the brain with deep mechanisms by the conditioning method. When the person sees and thinks, or when he is stressed, it creates desire. The nucleus accumbens, the center of the brain’s reward system, is overfilled with dopamine. The hippocampus briefly remembers this pleasurable event, and records it with the amygdala conditioning method. If a multi-faceted treatment view is not exhibited, problems of recurrence and inability to produce permanent solutions arise.
NF has been used successfully in numerous psychiatric disorders of ADHD, depression, anxiety, mTBI, Alcohol and Substance Abuse. The addict’s brain is conditioned with the Neurobiofeedback treatment method, reducing the desire for the substance or completely eliminating the desire and use of the substance by ensuring that it is completely under control.
Learn the fundamentals of biomarkers findings in SUDs and be able to recognize characteristic marker analysis before neurofeedback treatment and during neurofeedback treatment. Develop a rationale intervention based on this assessment data which develops baseline NF treatment protocols for personalized medicine treatment model in SUDs.

E. Vellidou, D. Kikidis, E. Romanopoulou, S. Gilou, S. Triaridis, P. D. Bamidis, E. Paraskevopoulos

Tinnitus is defined as the sensation of noise in the absence of a corresponding external sound. It consists of two parameters, a phantom ringing, hissing or buzzing in the ears or head and the degree of emotional reaction to this percept. Epidemiological studies suggest that it affects 10-30% of adult population in EU countries, while its incidence reaches 5.4 new cases /10000 inhabitants.

Interdisciplinary approach and individualized treatment plan are key points for successful management, due to the great heterogeneity of symptoms. Interprofessional Training for Tinnitus Researchers and Clinicians (Tin-TRAC) will create digital resources that are going to be available to a wide audience of healthcare professionals, clinicians and researchers for the purpose of integrating tinnitus assessment and management in terms of clinical and research practice throughout EU. Tin -TRAC’s co- creative health culture and audio-visual resources aim to be understandable from patients and professionals from varied background, via a horizontal thematic approach to exploit recent (neuro)scientific advances on the field and acquire tinnitus specialized skills, through webinars, workshops, scientific exchange and innovative learning objectives.

Teaching staff, researchers, academics, clinical skills experts, learning technologists and IT specialists are invited to participate to the workshop and collaboratively train on co-design and implementation of RLOs, combining theoretical and hands on training.

G. Paraskevas, P.E. Antoniou, A. Athanasiou,
I. Asouhidou, D. Anestis, P. David, K. Tagaras,
E. Babatsikos, P.D.Bamidis

Anatomy is the first experientially taught topic in human history. Preparing and demonstration of specific anatomical structures from cadavers dates far before the first science experiment. One part of anatomy, though, Neuroanatomy, is rather challenging to teach solely through cadavers. In other anatomical structures their positions are apparent in an appropriately prepared cadaver. Neuroanatomy has several distinct structures, especially in the Central Nervous System (CNS) that are not histologically varied but are distinct enough, evolutionary and functionally, to be differentiated anatomically. This situation leads to challenges when aiming to demonstrate the structure of the brain and specific neural pathways in the CNS.
Virtual and Augmented Reality, the cutting edge of contemporary experiential media can readily alleviate these challenges in Neuroanatomy teaching. Through 3d modelling, different CNS structures can be made visually distinct. Different colours, different textures and animations, can create an interactive virtual CNS anatomical preparation that is far more readily available in digital form. Adding «just in time» information in this experience with concise info-panels along each structure can help the medical student to build a solid neuroanatomical paradigm that will support further studies further down, along their curricular schedule.