Active clinical trials for "Stroke"

The purpose of this study is to compare clinical and economic parameters of stroke patients who have received acute MRI imaging (test group) to patients who have received routine CT imaging (control group) in the clinical setting of acute stroke.

Background:Accelerometry has only recently been introduced in clinical stroke research. However, whether accelerometry is a valid and reliable tool in stroke needs to be established. From literature becomes clear that existing accelerometers show shortages at patients with stroke because of the specific deficits that these patients have. Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the validity and test-retest reliability of the SenseWear Pro armband as an objective measurement of physical activity in chronic stroke patients. Patients and Methods Subjects: Fifteen patients and fifteen healthy subjects will be included in the study following written informed consent. The following demographic and clinical data were recorded: age, gender, height, length, medication use, self-reported handedness, Edinburgh Handedness Inventory, Rivermead Gross Function, Functional Ambulation Categories, medical and surgical history. Methods: During one test session the subjects had to carry out an amount of activities according to a standardised protocol existing of lying down, sitting, standing, walking, step exercise and cycling. These activities are presenting activities of daily living. Measures:Subjects wear on both arms a SenseWear Pro Armband. De data from these measuring devices will be compared with the data retrieved from 2 Yamax pedometers and the ergospirometry device. The outcome measures are: counts, heartbeat, oxygen used, energy expenditure, METabolic equivalent, time lying down.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of characteristics of pain in a cohort of patients with prior stroke suspected of having central post stroke pain, identified through a postal questionnaire.

To identify new cellular, metabolic, and genomic correlates of atherosclerotic plaque and early pathologic changes in the vascular wall and determine their consequences for coronary heart disease and stroke.

To assess interactions between selected cardiovascular medications and genes in the incidence of heart attack, stroke, and atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat.

SPECIFIC AIM: The specific aims of this study are to evaluate the long term outcomes of patients previously enrolled in the STRokE DOC ("STRokE DOC Trial (NCT00283868)") telemedicine clinical trial. AIM 1: Aim 1 is a non- randomized, retrospective, data collection study assessing long term patient outcomes of patients previously enrolled in a telemedicine vs. telephone clinical trial (STRokE DOC Trial ("STRokE DOC Trial (NCT00283868)"); now completed). STRokE DOC-LTO will evaluate, (only for those patients previously enrolled in the original telemedicine vs. telephone clinical research trial), the long term patient outcomes; comparing telemedicine versus telephone-only consultations.

Personality type as a predictor to develop depression and reduction in quality of life among stroke survivals.

Patients with stroke or transient ischemic attach should receive advise on smoking cessation. It is however unknown if an intensive smoking cessation program is better than ordinary advise on smoking cessation during hospitalisation for stroke or transient ischemic attack. The aim of the study was to assess if an intensive smoking cessation program made more patients stop smoking after stroke or transient ischemic attack.

The purpose of this study is to better understand the role of the motor part of the brain in the recovery of motor function after stroke. The motor deficits that follow a stroke are compensated for over several months. It has been proposed that the ipsilateral motor cortex mediates these recovery processes. The results of this study will provide fundamental information on the role of ipsilateral M1 in recovery of motor function after chronic stroke. A general patient evaluation will determine the location of the lesion site and assess the degree of impairment in motor and global cognitive functioning. An assessment of motor function will also be performed. Patients will be divided into two groups: well and poorly recovered. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan may also be done if one has not been performed in the past 6 months. Two main procedures will be performed: transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and test of motor performance. In the first procedure, a metal coil surrounded by a plastic mold will be placed on the head and electrical current will be pulsed through it. The electrical muscle activity will be recorded through these electrodes with a computer. The second procedure involves a reaction time test. The task will consist of reacting to a visual stimulus by performing a voluntary movement. TMS pulses will be given before each movement. This is done to determine whether this type of stimulation interferes with reaction time, which would indicated that it interferes with the brain centers executing the reaction to the visual Go-signal. Patients with single ischemic hemispheric lesions at least 12 months after the stroke who initially had a severe paralysis of the arm will be recruited for the study. Healthy normal volunteers will also be included in the study. A special effort will be made to increase the participation of women and diverse racial groups.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the physiology associated with plasticity of the motor system. Plasticity refers to the process by which neighboring brain cells assume the responsibilities of damaged or diseased brain cells. The mechanisms behind this process are unknown. However, researchers have several theories about how plastic changes take place. Possible explanations include the growth of new connections between brain cells and the use of previously unused connections. Researchers plan to use transcranial magnetic stimulation and drug intervention in order to determine the mechanisms responsible for specific types of plasticity. Previous studies have shown that certain drugs can affect the mechanisms involved in these changes. By using one drug at a time, researchers plan to evaluate the role of each of several different mechanisms in brain reorganization.