
Effect of Passive Gait Training on the Cortical Activity in Patients With Severe Brain Injury.
Craniocerebral TraumaTraumatic Brain Injury2 moreThe aim of this study is to determine effect of proprioceptive stimulation with passive gait training on the cortical activity in patients with severe brain injury, demonstrated as changes in EEG (electroencephalogram)and ERP (Event Related Potentials). Hypotheses: 1) Proprioceptive stimulation increases EEG-frequency in patients with impaired consciousness due to severe brain injury. 2) Proprioceptive stimulation increases conductivity speed of the cognitive P300-component of ERP in patients with impaired consciousness due to severe brain injury.

Intravenous Immunoglobulin for Acute Intracranial Hemorrhage
Intracranial HemorrhageHypertensiveThis pilot study aims to investigate whether intravenous immunoglobulin is safe and effective in alleviating perihematomal edema and neurologic deficits in patients with intracranial hemorrhage.

Tranexamic Acid for Acute ICH Growth prEdicted by Spot Sign
Intracerebral HemorrhageStrokeThe purpose of this study is to determine if computed tomography angiography can predict which individuals with intracerebral hemorrhage will experience significant growth in the size of the hemorrhage. For individuals who are at high risk for hemorrhage growth, the study will compare the drug Tranexamic acid to placebo to determine the effect and safety of on intracerebral hemorrhage growth

Safety and Efficacy Study of Etanercept for Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Subarachnoid HemorrhageAneurysmalSubarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a special type of stroke that typically results from a ruptured intracranial aneurysm, a weakening in the wall of a blood vessel. This type of life-threatening bleeding occurs in over 3000 Canadians per year, usually in working age adults. Although this type of stroke accounts for only 5-10% of strokes, it contributes a disproportionately larger percent of overall stroke morbidity and mortality due in part to the young age of those affected. If one is fortunate enough to survive the initial bleeding episode and the subsequent surgical treatment of the aneurysm, a patient may still develop secondary strokes 3 to 14 days after the initial bleed. These delayed strokes are the most significant cause of morbidity and mortality after SAH and may be potentially preventable. Currently, there is only one medication (an anti-hypertensive) that has convincingly shown to improve outcomes after SAH. The molecular pathway causing these delayed strokes is still not clear, and this is an active area of research. Animal studies have revealed that these delayed strokes may be caused by a pro-inflammation molecule called tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa). Delayed strokes were prevented experimentally by a TNFa blocker called etanercept. This clinical study, utilizing prophylactic treatment with etanercept in patients with SAH, will ensure the safety of this drug and determine its effectiveness in preventing delayed strokes.

Targeted Temperature Management After Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Cerebral HemorrhageHypothermiaEarly hematoma growth (HG) after spontaneous intra-cerebral/intra-parenchymal hemorrhage (IPH) is common and associated with neurological deterioration and poor clinical outcome. Temperature modulation to hypothermia (Temperature, 32-34°C) has been associated with reduction or improvement of physiopathologic processes associated with inflammatory activation and degradation of blood-brain barrier after all types of brain injury. In this sense, we believe that the initiation of an ultra-early protocol of active temperature modulation or Targeted Temperature Management (TTM) to mild induced hypothermia (MIH, 32-34°C) may be associated with good safety and tolerability profile, less HG and cerebral edema after IPH by modulation of systemic and local inflammatory responses, so we hypothesize that TTM to MIH will be a safe/tolerable and effective therapy to limit HG and cerebral edema after IPH.

Fluoxetine for Motor Recovery After Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Intracerebral HemorrhageMotor ImpairmentThis is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial that will be carried out in Mexico. The purpose of this study is to test whether a 3-month treatment with fluoxetine enhances motor recovery in non-depressed patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage.

Transcranial Stimulation for Upper Limb Training of Individuals With Sequelae From Intracranial...
Cerebrovascular DisordersThe purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of transcranial stimulation for upper limb training of patients with sequelae from an intracranial hemorrhage. Patients receive five days of upper limb occupational therapy training in combination with real or sham stimulation. Patients complete the Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test before, after and 7 days later. The intervention takes place at patients' home address.

TIPS in Fundal Variceal Bleeding (the TFB Study)
Portal HypertensionBleeding Gastric VaricesIn the last years, important advances have been done in the treatment and prevention of fundal variceal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis. Experts agree that the combination of pharmacological and endoscopic therapy (with tissue adhesives) should be the first line therapy in the acute bleeding episode from isolated gastric varices (IGV1) or type 2 gastroesophageal varices (GOV2) varices; whereas transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is considered a rescue therapy. TIPS has been shown to effectively prevent variceal rebleeding but with a potential increase in the incidence of hepatic encephalopathy and/or liver failure. In this sense, a recent randomized controlled trial (RCT) in esophageal variceal bleeding showed that an early TIPS, performed during the first 72h after patient admission resulted in a significant decrease in failure to control bleeding and early and late rebleeding. Moreover, survival was also significantly increased as well as other portal-hypertension related complications (ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatorenal syndrome, etc). The present study is directed at comparing the outcome of patients with acute bleeding from fundal varices (IGV1 or GOV2) treated by standard therapy (vasoactive drugs + endoscopic injection of tissue adhesives) with or without early TIPS (performed during the first 1-5 days after admission). Main end-point will be survival free of variceal rebleeding at 1 year from inclusion.

Micro Ribonucleic Acid (miRNA) Markers of Hydrocephalus in Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH)
Intraventricular HemorrhageSpina BifidaA collection of biological samples (cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] and blood) from patients under 6 years of age who are diagnosed with intraventricular hemorrhage or spina bifida.

Rheolytic Thrombectomy For Adult Intraventricular Haemorrhage
Intraventricular HemorrhageIntraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) - bleeding into the normal fluid spaces (ventricles) within the brain - is associated with a high risk of death or significant long-term disability. IVH leads to an increase pressure within the head and triggers inflammation and swelling in the surrounding brain. The ideal treatment for IVH would both rapidly relieve pressure and safely remove as much blood as possible to prevent any further injury to the brain. Currently, patients are managed by inserting a tube into the ventricle that drains fluid to the outside and helps reduce pressure, but does not address the blood clot itself, which naturally dissolves only over several days or weeks. Furthermore, these drains frequently block because of blood clots that for within them. If that occurs a repeat operation is required to replace them. Experimental treatments include infusing drugs to accelerate clot breakdown but this can nonetheless still take a number of days and the process introduces a risk of infection and fresh bleeding. Surgery to remove the blood clot is hazardous, technically challenging, and generally not very successful. Therefore, at the present time, none of the available options achieve all the stated goals of IVH treatment and there is an unmet need for better interventions. In this study the investigators propose to pilot a novel instrument that employs a high pressure but very localised microjet of water to mechanically disrupt blood clots and then sucks the debris away. This technique has been highly successful in reopening blocked arteries in the heart and, importantly, does so without damaging the underlying vessel lining. In the context of IVH, this should allow rapid removal of blood from the ventricles while causing minimal trauma to the brain. Clearing the blood early will prevent the build-up of pressure and inflammation, and improve the chances of patients making a good recovery.