Journal of the neurological sciences
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Development of a short form of Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale for patients after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
The identification of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients with a decrease in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is challenging. Stroke-Specific Quality of Life (SS-QOL) Scale is one of the commonest disease-specific quality of life measures initially developed and validated for ischemic stroke patients. A disadvantage is subject burden and a short form is more practical to use in clinical and research setting. ⋯ The 12-item Chinese version of SSQOL-a has a satisfactory internal consistency and criterion validity for SAH patients at 12 month assessments.
-
To compare survival, to describe the progression of anthropometry, pulmonary capacity and functioning in ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and to identify the most relevant variables to adapt ALS management for patients. ⋯ Rates of progression of weight and FVC should be regularly watched over to support neurologists to adapt ALS management for patients.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
The ASCOMALVA trial: association between the cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil and the cholinergic precursor choline alphoscerate in Alzheimer's disease with cerebrovascular injury: interim results.
Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChE-Is) are among the drugs more largely used for the treatment of mild-to-moderate symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but beneficial long-term effects of these compounds on the cognitive, functional, and behavioural symptoms of the disease are small and not always apparent in practice. Preclinical investigations have suggested that association between ChE-Is and the cholinergic precursor choline alphoscerate enhances cholinergic neurotransmission more effectively than single compounds alone. The ongoing clinical trial on the "Effect of association between a ChE-I and choline alphoscerate on cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease associated with cerebrovascular injury" (ASCOMALVA) was designed to assess if association of the ChE-I donepezil with choline alphoscerate has a more favourable clinical profile than monotherapy with donepezil alone. ⋯ The first results of the ASCOMALVA trial suggest that association of choline alphoscerate to the standard treatment with a ChE-I may represent an option to prolong beneficial effects of cholinergic therapies in AD with concomitant ischemic cerebrovascular injury.
-
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.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Efficacy and safety of incobotulinumtoxinA (NT 201, XEOMIN®, botulinum neurotoxin type A, without accessory proteins) in patients with cervical dystonia.
IncobotulinumtoxinA differs from available formulations in that it does not have accessory proteins. IncobotulinumtoxinA has previously shown non-inferiority to onabotulinumtoxinA for the treatment of CD with a 1:1 dosing regimen. The objective of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of incobotulinumtoxinA (120 U, 240 U; Merz Pharmaceuticals) to placebo in subjects with cervical dystonia (CD). ⋯ IncobotulinumtoxinA (at doses of 120 U or 240 U) is a safe and effective treatment for CD in previously-treated as well as toxin-naïve subjects.