View clinical trials related to Stroke.
Filter by:Heart rate variability (HRV) in post-stroke patients are closely related to patient mortality, neurological deterioration and overall prognosis. Anxiety and depression will demotivate the patients' will to undergo rehabilitation program, which would delay their functional recovery. The influence of acupressure over the auricle on the HRV, anxiousness and depressive mood have yet to be verified. The investigators aimed to study the effect on auricular acupressure treatment between the different trending of HRV, anxiety and depression and their correlations. This is a randomized control study, consisted of 70 patients with post-stroke depressive mood, from both CGH and Xizhi Cathay hospital in Taiwan. HRV analysis is performed on the first 24 hours, and on a weekly basis for a total of 6 weeks. The included depressed patients were defined by the "Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale" and weekly will be undertaken by the patients. A "Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire" pre-test and after-test will be undertaken by the patients. Experimental group will receive acupressure treatment by the second week, trice daily, 3~5minutes each session for a course of four weeks. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0, using generalized estimating equation, GEE. The study hypothesized that the auricular acupressure treatment would improve post-stroke depression. Therefore, participants would be more willing to receive rehabilitation program. Our study would also help to provide future references on related studies.
The Ekso (Ekso Bionics) is a wearable exoskeleton that provides robotic support and walking assistance for patients with lower extremity paralysis. Research suggests that exoskeleton-assisted gait training is as effective as conventional gait training at improving walking outcomes and balance during both the chronic and subacute period following stroke (Goffredo et al., 2019; Molteni et al., 2017; Molteni et al., 2021; Nam et al., 2019; Rojek, 2019). Exoskeleton-assisted gait training during acute inpatient rehabilitation provides a means for patients to actively participate in gait training during the early and most severe stages of stroke recovery. Most acute inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) report a feasibility of 5-8 Ekso sessions during inpatient stays and demonstrate significant improvement from baseline (Nolan et al., 2020; Swank, 2020). Nolan et al. (2020) demonstrated that stroke patients receiving Ekso ambulated 1640 feet more than patients undergoing more conventional gait training techniques during inpatient rehabilitation, suggesting that the exoskeleton may offer additional benefit during this phase of recovery. Despite promising evidence, there have been no randomized controlled trials within the IRF setting. Because Ekso-gait training increases the number of steps patients can take, during acute inpatient physical therapy (PT), the investigators hypothesize that patients who participate in Ekso-gait training will demonstrate quicker improvements in balance, gait speed, endurance and independence in functional ambulation during their stay in the IRF. In this study, eligible patients admitted to Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital (SRH) for rehabilitation following stroke will be randomized to receive conventional or Ekso-gait training therapy. Meaningful clinical benchmarks for balance and walking will be assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) (Alghadir, 2018; Moore, 2018), the 10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT) (Bowden, 2008; Moore, 2018), the Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT) (Kubo et al., 2020; Moore, 2018), and Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) (Mehrholz, 2007). Achieving these benchmark scores are associated with several positive outcomes, including increased ability to ambulate in the community and reduced risk of falling (Alghadir, 2018; Bowden, 2008; Kubo et al., 2020). The investigators also hypothesize that patients in the Ekso cohort will report greater value/usefulness when compared to patients receiving standard care.
Hemiparetic gait is one of the most common consequences after stroke. This impairment has a detrimental effects on the patients lies, limiting their social participation. Previous studies have shown that there is a direct relationship between triceps surae activation and gait speed in stroke patients, that is, higher triceps surae muscle activation are correspond to greater gait speed. Then, it can be hypothesized that therapies focused in strengthening the triceps surae also improves the patient gait. It has been shown that Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) can improve triceps surae activation when applied on healthy subjects. However, it has not been yet explored in chronic stroke patients. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess whether a FES program over tibial nerve contributes to the rehabilitation of the gait in chronic hemiparetic stroke patients. This study present a prospective interventional design, based on non-probabilistic sampling for convenience, and comprising a total of 15 volunteers with ischemic stroke of both genders and aged between 18 and 70 years old. Volunteers will be recruited from hospitals and private rehabilitation centres, and must be currently engaged in a conventional rehabilitation program. The study will consist of twenty-four sessions, with a frequency of three sessions per week.
The primary aim of this project will be to determine the effects of the tRNS-augmented unilateral and bilateral MT, and their effects relative to the control interventions (sham tRNS with unilateral or bilateral MT) on restoring health outcomes including motor function, daily function, quality of life and self-efficacy, and motor control strategy as well as brain activities (electroencephalography, EEG) in stroke patients.
Adrenal incidentalomas (AIs) are commonly encountered in transsection imaging which purpose not for suspected adrenal disease. However, part of AIs in patients is associated with Stroke. Stroke is a diseases which could cause of disability and death worldwide. In clinical practice, detailed information about the association between stroke and AIs is not available. In this study, the investigators aimed to investigate the risk for disability and death in the large group of stroke patients with AIs.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes in cognitive performance in the early postoperative (1 month) and late (1 year) postoperative period in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (SVAo) with surgery (SVA_Q) or transcatheter aortic valve implant (TAVI), by neuropsychological study (NRP), structural Brain Magnetic Resonance (sMRI) and functional MRI (fMRI). The specific objectives are: (1) to compare the early and late clinical-functional consequences with NRP study in both groups; (2) to compare the occurrence of cerebral clinical events during follow-up; (3) to quantify and compare the appearance of silent lesions in the early postoperative period and late of SVAo with sMRI with respect to the baseline MRI in both groups; (4) study with fMRI changes in the activity and functional connectivity and correlate them with the NRP findings in all patients in the early and late phase in comparison with the basal MRI. METHODOLOGY: Prospective longitudinal, unicentric, nonrandomized cohort study of consecutive patients> 70 years, with indication for SVAo and intermediate and high surgical risk. One month before surgery will be performed an sMRI and fMRI and a baseline NRP study. One month after surgery, sMRI, fMRI and NRP study will be performed to assess the appearance of new lesions, as well as changes in cognitive performance with respect to baseline cognitive status. One year later, sMRI, fMRI and NRP study will be performed to assess changes in cognitive status with respect to baseline and early postoperative. Response variables: changes in cognitive performance measured by a Global Cognitive Impairment Index and in cognitive status (normal vs. Mild Cognitive Impairment vs Moderate Impairment), number, size and location of new silent brain lesions, cerebral vascular clinical events, and changes in advanced neuroimaging (image by diffusion tensor (DTI), resting-state fMRI) and its relationship with cognitive changes.
Ischemic stroke is a common clinical disease, often accompanied by motor dysfunction and cognitive impairment. At present, clinical treatment for patients with ischemic stroke recovery is limited and ineffective. The emergence of NGF has surprised the field of neurorehabilitation, but the clinical effect is not satisfactory. The main problem is that NGF is a macromolecular material with a molecular weight of 13.4 KD, which is difficult to penetrate the blood brain barrier. A large number of previous studies in our team have found that electroacupuncture with specific stimulation mode can open the blood brain barrier and induce NGF into the brain。Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of specific stimulation mode electroacupuncture combined with NGF treatment together with rehabilitation training on patients with ischemic stroke recovery period and to explore the mechanism of this combination therapy to improve brain function, which creates a new method and theoretical basis for nerve rehabilitation of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine.
Stroke is the second largest cause of death globally after ischemic heart disease.Of the total number of prevalent strokes, 84.4% are ischemic. Reperfusion therapy is the most important treatment for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) ,including intravenous thrombolysis and/or endovascular treatment.However,the most serious and common complication with reperfusion therapy is hemorrhage transformation(HT),which significantly increases disability and mortality. The fundamental mechanism leading to post-stroke HT is the disruption of the blood brain barrier(BBB) and increase of permeability.Endocan plays a critical role in vascular inflammatory responses by enhances the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by endothelial cells,the expression of adhesion molecules such as inter-cellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1),and the adhesion of leukocytes to endothelial cells. Endocan significantly decreases levels of zonula occludens（ZO-1) and occludin which are tight junction proteins that play major roles in the maintenance of vascular barriers. Endocan could induce vascular endothelial growth factor-A(VEGF-A) and facilitate the binding of VEGF-A to its receptor(VEGFR-2) to enhanced endothelial permeability.Therefore,endocan is a reliable biomarker of endothelial dysfunction, which may be associated with disruption of the BBB. In this context, the investigators hypothesized that elevated pretreatment serum endocan levels might be independently associated with HT after reperfusion therapy in the acute phase of ischemic stroke. Serum endocan,ICAM-1,VCAM-1 and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) levels will be determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in blood samples obtained at baseline (pretreatment) and at 12,24 hours after reperfusion therapy in patients with acute stroke and in healthy subjects.In the present study,the investigators attempt to investigate whether high levels of endocan are associated with HT in patients who received reperfusion therapy.In addition,the investigators explore the association between serum endocan and early neurological deterioration and unfavourable short-term prognosis.
The purpose of this study is to examine the immediate and long-term effects of hybrid robot-assisted training (Hybrid-RT), exoskeleton robot-assisted training (Exo-RT), end-effector robot-assisted training (EE-RT), and conventional training on stroke patients' motor performance, daily life functions, quality of life, and self-efficacy.
Patients with tandem lesions (TL) are defined as patients with an acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with occlusion of an intracranial vessel of the anterior circulation and an occlusion or severe stenosis (70-99%) of the origin of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery (ICA). The greatest current limitation in the management of this type of lesion is the use of antithrombotic medication (double antiaggregation) in the acute phase that is required in case of placing extracranial stent to stabilize the atheroma plaque. In relation to this antiplatelet regimen, the latest clinical practice guidelines warn about the risk of combining intravenous fibrinolysis with antiplatelet medication in the acute phase, since it seems to increase the risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH). However, the non-stabilization of the carotid atheroma plaque is associated with higher rates of cervical reocclusion, poorer functional prognosis, and higher mortality. Therefore, the use of a single antiplatelet agent could be a reasonable alternative. To establish the best protocol for mono-antiaggregant therapy in the acute phase of TL, the investigators propose to carry out a prospective multicenter randomized clinical trial. 1. All patients with ischemic stroke secondary to TL in the anterior circulation candidates for mechanical thrombectomy in whom cervical endoprosthesis will be placed in the acute phase, will be included, randomized to two groups: 500 mg of intravenous (iv) Aspirin vs Low dose regimen of Tirofiban iv. 2. Carotid reocclusion rates and sICH rates will be evaluated within the first 24 hours after mechanical thrombectomy . As a secondary objective, the functional prognosis at 3 months in both groups will be analyzed, as well as a panel of biomarkers predictors of reocclusion in both groups. Establishing an antiplatelet management protocol in the acute phase in these patients would be an innovative strategy not developed by any other group worldwide, and would place us at the forefront of research in the field. Likewise, developing a clinical-biological predictive model of carotid reocclusion will allow us to establish risk patients in which to plan alternative treatments. Reference hospitals in the treatment of ischemic stroke at the national level with sufficient experience in the management of this pathology will participate in the project.