View clinical trials related to Stroke.
Filter by:To date, conventional rehabilitation is not able to restore normal, safe, gait for many individuals with stroke. We have identified nine gait component deficits which respond to the FNS-IM intervention. This study will test a refined treatment protocol of 3 months duration to restore volitional gait by restoring those nine gait components simultaneously. In addition, we will incorporate into the treatment protocol a promising non-invasive technique of partial body weight-supported (BWS) gait training on a treadmill. BWS and FNS-IM have the potential to provide additive effects for the patient and restore volitional gait more quickly and more completely than would otherwise be possible with one technique alone.
To extend mortality followup through 25 years for two cohorts of men in the Multiple Risk Factor intervention Trial (MRFIT): the 361,662 men screened and the 12,866 men randomized, and to pursue the general aim of elucidating unresolved research issues on the epidemiology, natural history, etiology, prevention, and control of major chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular and neoplastic diseases and diabetes.
The purpose of this study is to learn more about stroke and obtain information that may serve as the basis for future investigations. It will 1) establish a registry of patients with cerebrovascular disease (stroke); 2) characterize the natural history of acute stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIA)-an interruption of blood flow to the brain that causes stroke symptoms for a short period of time); and 3) evaluate the data to generate ideas for future studies. Patients 18 years of age or older with suspected acute stroke or TIA may be eligible for this study. Subjects will be recruited from patients who present with stroke at the emergency department of Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. The study will gather data collected from diagnostic and laboratory tests the patient undergoes as part of standard medical care, including findings of medical and neurological examinations and other tests. In addition, studies will be done for research purposes only to gather data about stroke and TIA. These may include the following: - Blood and urine tests not more than 2 tablespoons of blood will be drawn for various tests. - Electrocardiogram (EKG) (heart tracing)-electrodes placed on the chest wall detect the heartbeat and heart rhythm. - Computed tomography (CT) scan of the head-specialized X-rays are used to obtain images of the brain. - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain-a strong magnetic field and radio waves are used to produce images that provide information about the brain tissue and blood vessels. - Transcranial Doppler (TCD)-sound waves are used to image the arteries of the brain and neck. - Echocardiogram-sound waves are used to image the heart and evaluate heart function. Patients may be asked to return to Suburban Hospital for follow-up testing in 1, 3, and/or 12 months, when some of these tests may be repeated to assess changes over time
Atrial fibrillation is the most frequently occurring cardiac arrhythmia, with 1.0-1.5 million cases annually. It is a risk factor for congestive heart failure, and stroke, 75,000 cases of the latter occurring annually in patients with atrial fibrillation. The safety of the most widely used antiarrhythmic agent for this group of patients, quinidine, has been called into question. This study seeks to determine whether two other agents, amiodarone and sotalol, are safe and effective treatments for patients with atrial fibrillation.
To determine the association between flavonoids intake and the prevention of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD).
This study will examine the effectiveness of an experimental treatment to improve hand function in patients who have had a stroke affecting one side of the body. One of the main problems of stroke patients is difficulty using the affected hand. Most treatments focus on acute (early) intervention, although special exercises may help some chronic patients. Previous studies have indicated that combining hand exercises with anesthesia (blocking motor and sensory function) of the upper arm may improve hand movement in stroke patients, even in the chronic state. This study will examine whether the exercise plus anesthesia treatment is more beneficial for these patients over the long-term than exercise alone. Patients 18 years or older who are at least 12 months post stroke, which has affected only one side of the body, may be eligible for this study. Candidates will have a medical history and physical and neurological examinations. Participants will be randomly divided into two groups: one will practice hand exercises without upper arm anesthesia and the other will exercise with anesthesia. All patients will perform two consecutive sessions of 30-minute pinch practice-forceful pinching of the thumb and index finger. Patients in the anesthesia group will have the anesthetic injected in the lower neck. Enough anesthetic will be administered to block motor and sensory function in the shoulder and upper arm, while maintaining as much function as possible in the forearm and hand. All patients will also have transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) testing. For this procedure, a very brief electrical current is passed through an insulated wire coil placed on the head, producing a magnetic pulse. The pulse travels through the scalp and skull and causes small electrical currents in the outer part of the brain. During the study, the patient will be asked to make movements, do simple tasks, or tense muscles, while the electrical activity of the muscles is recorded. Patients will have four sessions at 3-week intervals and three follow-up sessions at 3 weeks, 9 weeks and 24 weeks after the testing. Follow-up evaluations will include pinch power testing, TMS, sensory function test and hand function measurement.
To determine how long blood transfusions are needed for primary stroke prevention. Also, to determine the duration of risk associated with abnormal transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) and to determine the specificity of the stroke risk model developed in STOP 1 in patients with abnormal TCD measurements.
For State Health Departments located in Stroke Belt states, to assess high risk target audiences' needs and identify opportunities for more effective delivery of medical and/or educational services to reduce the high rate of stroke mortality experienced in the southeastern United States.
To foster collaboration between the World Health Organization MONICA Project and the NHLBI Study of Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC). To ensure that valid comparisons could made between findings in MONICA and ARIC by supporting activities to standardize coding, classification, and analysis of coronary and stroke events, risk factors, and medical care according to MONICA protocol.
To investigate coronary artery calcium (CAC), detected by electron beam computed tomography (EBCT), as a predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality and morbidity, stroke, and all-cause mortality in a historical cohort epidemiological study.