Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Enhanced gait-related improvements after therapist- versus robotic-assisted locomotor training in subjects with chronic stroke: a randomized controlled study.
Locomotor training (LT) using a treadmill can improve walking ability over conventional rehabilitation in individuals with hemiparesis, although the personnel requirements often necessary to provide LT may limit its application. Robotic devices that provide consistent symmetrical assistance have been developed to facilitate LT, although their effectiveness in improving locomotor ability has not been well established. ⋯ Therapist-assisted LT facilitates greater improvements in walking ability in ambulatory stroke survivors as compared to a similar dosage of robotic-assisted LT.
-
Intracranial angioplasty and stenting are therapeutic options for patients with symptomatic intracranial arterial stenoses intractable to medical therapy. However, the long-term safety and clinical efficacy of these techniques are unknown. We sought to assess the long-term outcome and efficacy of these techniques. ⋯ Intracranial stenting may reduce the rate of recurrent ischemia in patients in whom medical therapy is unsuccessful and is probably more durable than angioplasty alone.
-
Apoptosis has been implicated as the prominent form of cell death in the brain perihematomal region in animal models and in autopsy or postsurgical human studies. Both the Fas system and caspase activation play a central role in apoptotic pathways. The aims of this study were to investigate soluble Fas (s-Fas) plasma levels after acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), to determine its influence on clinical and radiologic features, and to assess Fas receptor and Fas ligand (Fas-L) protein expression in human ICH brain tissue. ⋯ A decreased plasma s-Fas level together with an increased Fas-L amount in perihematomal brain tissue suggest Fas-mediated apoptosis involvement in this disease.
-
Multicenter Study
Dual antithrombotic therapy increases severe bleeding events in patients with stroke and cardiovascular disease: a prospective, multicenter, observational study.
We sought to determine the incidence and severity of bleeding events in patients with stroke and cardiovascular diseases who were taking oral antithrombotic agents in Japan, where the incidence of hemorrhagic stroke is higher than in Western countries. ⋯ The incidence of bleeding events during antithrombotic therapy in Japan was similar to that reported for Western countries, although the trials used different study designs. Dual antithrombotic therapy was independently related to an increased risk of bleeding events.