Journal of the neurological sciences
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Multicenter Study
Validation of the Stroke-specific Quality of Life for patients after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and proposed summary subscores.
The identification of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients with a decrease in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is challenging. Failure of clinical trials has been partially attributed to lack of sensitivity in outcome measures. Stroke-specific Quality of Life (SS-QOL) is a disease-specific HRQOL tool widely applied in ischemic stroke researches, but not in aSAH. ⋯ Dichotomization of physical and psychosocial subtotal scores is valid and can simplify applications of the scale.
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Clinical Trial
Use of a rapid visual screening tool for the assessment of concussion in amateur rugby league: a pilot study.
This study undertook to use the K-D sideline test with the SCAT2 to see if concussions could be identified in amateur rugby league players over a representative competition period. ⋯ In this rugby cohort, the K-D test was not only useful in identifying changes in players with witnessed head trauma, but in identifying changes in players with an un-witnessed suspected concussion.
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Freezing of gait is an episodic gait disorder that may occur in patients with Parkinson's disease. The risk factors for this disorder are poorly understood. To determine the relevant risk factors for this condition, we screened 160 consecutive patients with Parkinson's disease for freezing of gait and assessed 36 potentially related variables. ⋯ Patients who developed Parkinson's disease before the age of 60years experienced freezing of gait earlier than older patients (log-rank, p<0.005). Freezing of gait is a common and disabling motor complication of Parkinson's disease that is related to the progression of the disease. It is not primarily associated with dopamine replacement therapy and may occur early in young patients.
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To evaluate the topography of restless legs syndrome (RLS) sensations and to compare subgroups of patients based on RLS topography. ⋯ RLS sensations affect large body areas (predominantly the upper calves). Body diagrams could be used to explore the evolution of RLS topography and treatment effects.