Effect of Cerebral and Cerebellar rTMS in Stroke Patient
StrokeRepetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation2 moreThis study is based on the characteristics of motor learning theory and motor learning neural network to improve motor function in stroke patients. This study is to investigate whether the cerebral-cerebellar repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is effective in improving motor function compared to the conventional cerebral rTMS in stroke patients.
Mirror Therapy and Augmented Reality in Stroke Rehabilitation
Stroke RehabilitationThis research is in line with the National Health Research Institutes (NHRI) Innovative Research Grant priority to address innovative treatment strategies for neurological disorders that are in desperate need of scientific scrutiny. Stroke is one of the major medical conditions that leads to long-term disability and causes a heavy health care and financial burden. To meet multidimensional needs of patients with stroke, hybrid interventions that combine different approaches are needed due to the complexity of stroke. Our previous research funded by the NHRI has been published and translated to stroke rehabilitation, particularly in the priming and synergic effects of robotic-assisted training and/or mirror therapy (MT). To extend from our previous research, the investigators will combine MT with augmented reality (AR), an emerging adjunct therapy in stroke rehabilitation. An AR-based intervention provides an intensive, repetitive, and context-rich training program, leading to an interesting environment with real-time feedback to increase motivation and participation.
Walking Balance Training Post-Stroke
StrokeStroke is one of the leading causes of disability in the United States, affecting ~795,000 people annually. Among ambulatory people with chronic stroke, impaired balance is common and substantially limits mobility (those with the poorest balance walk the least). This project will explore if a novel gait training intervention using a robotic device to amplify a person's self-generated movements can improve walking balance in people with chronic stroke. The development of effective interventions to increase walking balance among people with chronic stroke will positively impact quality of life and ability to participate in walking activities.
Comparison of Effects of Mirror Therapy Combined With Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation or Binaural...
StrokeHealthy AdultsThis study aims to compare the effects of mirror therapy combined with either neuromuscular electrical stimulation or binaural beat stimulation on post-stroke lower limb motor function recovery. The study also explores the relationship between patients' cortical excitability and motor function improvement.
Tirofiban for the Prevention of Neurological Deterioration in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Acute StrokeCurrently, dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel (with loading doses) is widely used for patients with acute ischemic stroke. However, immediate, potent and reversible inhibition of platelet aggregation is not possible. Additionally, more than 5% patients have aspirin resistance and more than 15% patients have clopidogrel resistance. Therefore, an intravenously administered GPIIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor (Tirofiban) receptor blocker with fast onset and offset of actions will provide more desired antiplatelet effects in the setting of acute ischemic stroke, especially in patients with high risk of neurological deterioration. This study will measure the anti-platelet effects of Tirofiban in patients with acute ischemic stroke who had high risk of neurological deterioration.
Evaluate the Safety and Explore Efficacy of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Acute Ischemic...
Acute StrokeThis study is a first-in-human assessment of safety of using umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) in patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke via a combination of intra arterial (IA) and intravenous (IV) stem cell administration. The novelty of the current UMSC01 treatment study is the dual route of administration. Since dual administration of UCMSC via IA and IV had never been conducted in humans, there may be unknown risks to humans not predicted from the preclinical studies. However, the risk to patients in this trial will be minimized by rigorous adherence to the eligibility criteria, use of appropriate dose and concentration of stem cells, standardized techniques of stem cell infusion, and intensive patient monitoring during and after stem cell infusion.
Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Survivors of Ischemic Stroke Trial (ASSIST)
Ischemic StrokeThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of single injection of it-hMSC in patients with ischemic stroke in a multicenter, blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial
TMS and Exercise for Post-stroke Pain
Chronic Post-stroke HeadacheThere are over 7 million people living with stroke in the United States. Per year, approximately 17,000 Veterans are admitted to the VA for acute stroke. Chronic pain after stroke can occur between 10-50% of stroke survivors. Post-stroke pain (PSP) can lead to further complications in a stroke survivor's recovery. Exercise has improved PSP and associated symptoms such as mobility, fatigue, and quality of life. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive technique using electromagnetic induction for cortical neurostimulation. The use of rTMS has been explored shown to be effective in treating chronic PSP but is limited in effect duration. Our proposal will test the hypothesis that rTMS is feasible and safe to be paired with exercise. Additionally, the investigators believe a complementary effect can develop to enhance the neurostimulation duration of rTMS.
A Trial of Intravascular Hypothermia Therapy in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients
HypothermiaReperfusion Injury2 moreAcute ischemic stroke (AIS) has been one of the major causes of global mortality and morbidity. The superiority of endovascular therapy (EVT) over standard medical therapy in treating AIS due to large vessel occlusion (LVO) in the anterior circulation has been widely accepted. However, a critical concern is that even with an extremely high rate of successful recanalization (the modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction [mTICI] score 2b-3) around 90%, nearly half of the patients failed to benefit from EVT. So, adjunctive therapy of EVT for neuroprotection is required. From the previous domestic and foreign literatures, hypothermia can prevent and treat secondary injury caused by ischemia-reperfusion injury and cerebral edema of acute cerebral ischemia, so as to achieve the role of neuroprotection. In this study, intravascular cooling was performed as soon as possible with careful temperature control in patients receiving thrombectomy. The temperature was controlled at 33° C for 48-72 hours. This parallel controlled study is to systematically evaluate the feasibility and safety of adjunctive therapy using early intravascular hypothermia in AIS patients receiving mechanical thrombectomy. The results will clarify a potential modality for neuroprotection and hopefully provide new evidence in improving patient prognosis.
Dual Channel Rehabilitation Technology Promotes Rapid Recovery of Upper Limbs After Stroke
StrokeUpper Extremity Dysfunction3 moreThe injury and remodeling mechanism about upper extremity motor network after stroke is not clear. There are few studies on the motor network covering cortex, white matter and blood perfusion at the time. Some studies have shown that metal imagery activates the cortex through active mental simulation. Our previous study has shown that passive application of transcranial direct current stimulation causes subthreshold polarization and promotes the effective integration of residual brain high-level network. This study proposes a hypothesis: transcranial Direct Current Stimulation + Motor Imagery combines active and passive neuromodulation techniques to produce dual channel effect, which can synergistically excite motor cortex, remodel the motor network and optimize cerebral perfusion. The research contents include clarify the effect of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation + Motor Imagery neuromodulation therapy through comprehensive randomized controlled trial study; present the process of brain injury and secondary neural plasticity through the motor network construction, functional connectivity strength and cerebral perfusion with Blood Oxygen Level Dependent, Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Arterial Spin Labeling multimodal magnetic resonance technology; calculate the correlation between motor score and brain functional network, extract the key nodes that can promote the motor network remodeling. The research results are expected to provide preliminary theoretical foundations for further research on the injury and remodeling mechanism about upper extremity motor network after stroke.