Functional Electrical Stimulation on Tibial Nerve in Stroke Patients.
Chronic StrokeHemiparetic 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.
Post-stroke Fatigue, Inflammation, tDCS
StrokeFatigue2 moreFatigue is a common condition after an individual has a stroke. While the negative impacts of post-stroke fatigue are well known, the knowledge of the causes of post-stroke fatigue and effective treatments for post-stroke fatigue are lacking. This small study will investigate the possible benefits of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which uses small electrical currents supplied by a 9-volt battery, on post-stroke fatigue and investigate tDCS' possible anti-inflammatory effects.
Clinical, Electrophysiological and E-field Modelling Evidence of High Density Transcranial Direct...
StrokeThe present study aims to investigate the therapeutic potential of a high definition transcranial direct current stimulation protocol, stimulating frontal and cerebellar areas boosting the cognitive and motor recovery of stroke population.
VR-based Action Observation Treatment for Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Stroke: a Multimodal Study....
StrokeThe loss of upper-limb motor functioning due to ischemic stroke has a negative impact on quality of life of patients. Action Observation Treatment (AOT), recently developed based on the mirror mechanism functioning, has proved effective in promoting plasticity into the motor system, ultimately boosting the motor recovery. The use of virtual reality further empowers the effectiveness of AOT, making the visual experience more first-person, and thus more realistic. A complete picture of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying AOT effectiveness is lacking to date, including the neuroradiological and biohumoral markers modulated by AOT, and their role in predicting the clinical outcome. Starting from these premises, the investigators propose a study aiming at evaluating the AOT effectiveness in post-stroke patients, and at identifying the biomarkers indexing the motor recovery process. Sixty patients affected by ischemic stroke will be enrolled at Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS (ICH) Stroke Unit will be included and randomized in the following groups: VR-AOT: experimental group, observing actions in virtual reality VR-LO: control groups, observing a matched dose of videos depicting landscapes in virtual reality. Clinical, neuroimaging and biohumoral evaluations, performed at Screening (Ts), Basal visit (T0), end-of-treatment (T1), 2 months follow up (FU-2), will include the following endpoints: Fugl-Meyer upper extremity motor scale (FM-UE); Nine-hole-peg test; Box and block test; Modified Ashworth scale; MRC; Pain Numeric-rating-scale; Functional Independence measure. Patients will undergo treatment sessions for 6 weeks (5 days/week). VR-AOT patients will observe in virtual reality -rehearse and execute specific upper limb motor task belonging to activities of daily living. VR-LO participants will observe virtually explorable landscapes lasting for a matched duration. Then, participants will be asked to actively perform the same set of hand actions requested to VR-AOT experimental groups. An intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis will be performed, using rmANOVA, minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in clinical outcomes, and chi-square test. For the primary endpoints, a two-arms rmANOVA with time as within-subject factor (3 levels: T0, T1, FU2) and group (VR-AOT vs VR-LO) as between-subjects factor will be conducted. The same approach will be adopted for secondary outcome measures. Subsequently, the effect of clinical, neuroradiological and biohumoral baseline features will be tested as regressors on the primary outcome variations via linear or ranked regression models. Significance will be set at 5%, and adjusted for MC.
The Prehospital Administration of Normobaric Oxygen in Suspected Stroke
Acute StrokeIschemic Stroke1 moreThe primary purpose of this study is to explore the feasibility and safety of normobaric oxygen therapy (NBO) under pre-hospital condition in patients with suspected stroke.
Early Administration of Cerebrolysin on the Outcome of Patients With Acute Stroke Undergoing EVT...
StrokeAcute1 moreBackground: Stroke is the third major cause of death and disability worldwide. It was shown that combining early reperfusion therapy (thrombolysis and/or thrombectomy) with stroke unit care and immediate rehabilitation have beneficial effects on the patient recovery and outcomes. Cerebrolysin that was proven to have s neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects in vitro and in vivo, administered in combination with endovascular therapy (EVT) could have a positive impact on the prognosis and outcome of these patients. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of early administration of neuroprotective drug (Cerebrolysin) in patient undergoing EVT on the outcome of patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke. Methods: 100 patients will be recruited to the proposed study according to the inclusion criteria: Inclusion criteria: Acute ischemic stroke patients NIHSS>8 Qualification for mechanical thrombectomy, without previous thrombolysis. The patients will be randomized into 2 subgroups: G1(standard dose of Cerebrolysin 30ml), - G2 (No Cerebrolysin). The patients will be randomized into 2 subgroups: G1(standard dose of Cerebrolysin 30ml), - G2 (No Cerebrolysin). Cerebrolysin will be administered immediately after randomization or at the latest during the EVT procedure and will be continued for 10 days. After the EVT all patients, depending on their clinical condition, will be hospitalized in ICU (intensive care unit) or Neurology Department, where standard treatment and monitoring will be implemented, as well as standard rehabilitation. Outcome assessments will include: the NIH Stroke Scale, modified Rankin Score, pre MRS, IQ code, Geriatric Depression Scales, MoCA. Additionally, the infarct volume of the control CT will be measured. The follow up should be performed on day 7( or discharge), 1 month, 3 months, 6 months. The duration of the study is planned forr: 12 -24 months
Delipid Extracorporeal Lipoprotein Filter From Plasma (DELP) for Acute Hemorrhagic Stroke
Hemorrhagic StrokeDelipid Extracorporeal Lipoprotein filter from Plasma (DELP) has been found to improve neurological function and life ability of AIS patients and approved for the treatment of AIS by China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA). A recent study imply that the neuroprotective effect of DELP involved multiple neuroprotective mechanism such as anti-inflammation, free radical scavenging, and decreasing MMP-9. Based on the multiple mechanisms, the investigator argues that DELP may exert neuroprotective effect on acute cerebral hemorrhage (ACH). In this context, the prospective, random, open-label, blind-endpoint, multi-centre study is designed.
Envi™-SR Randomized Controlled Trial for Endovascular Treatment of Ischemic Stroke
Acute Ischemic StrokeThe study objective is to examine and compare clinical outcomes, as measured by Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 days (± 15 days) post treatment, and related performance characteristics of the Envi™-SR and concurrent parallel Control Devices currently cleared by the U.S. FDA for treatment of stroke.
Evaluation of the Effect of Repetitive Peripheral Magnetic Stimulation on Upper Extremity Spasticity...
StrokeSpasticity is a frequent problem in post-stroke patients. It can negatively affect the functional recovery of patients and impair their quality of life. The repetitive pulsed magnetic stimulation (rPMS) treatment has been shown to cause a reduction in muscle tone and improvement in activities of daily living in stroke patients. So far, the effects of rPMS on muscle tone, which is the neurophysiological component of spasticity, have been evaluated, but its effects on the biomechanical component (soft tissue stiffness) have not been demonstrated. In this study, the effects of rPMS on soft tissue stiffness as well as increased muscle tone will be evaluated with clinical and ultrasound elastography in post-stroke patients with upper extremity spasticity.
Integrated Rehabilitation in Treating Post-stroke Anxiety
Post-strokeAnxietyPost-stroke anxiety (PSA) is a common complication of stroke that leads to dysfunction and reduces the quality of life. PSA exacerbates cognitive dysfunction, delays the recovery process, and increases the disability, mortality, and recurrence rates of stroke. Therefore, early clinical treatments for PSA are important to improve the prognosis and restore the social functions of stroke patients. Integrated rehabilitation has significant advantages in the treatment of PSA. First of all, there is a wide range of rehabilitation methods, such as acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, which have been proved to be effective for PSA. However, as the application of integrated rehabilitation becomes more and more widespread, its shortcomings are gradually emerging. For example, most of the treatment protocols used in clinical studies are based on personal experience of the investigators, a unified protocol has not yet been formed, treatment methods are still insufficient in standardization and reproducibility. More studies focus solely on the improvement of a certain symptom by a certain rehabilitation therapy, but ignore the important theoretical basis of the "holistic concept", thus showing the uneven clinical efficacy. For the above existing problems, it is necessary to conduct original and innovative research.