
Taste Stimulation for Post-stroke Dysphagia
StrokeDysphagiaThe goal of this clinical study is to compare the effect of favourate taste stimulation of oral cavity and tounge, with sour and traditional single thermal stimulation in post-stroke patients with dysphagia. The main questions it aims to answer are: Whether favourate taste stimulation of oral and tounge is better than traditional thermal stimulation in improving swallowing function of patients with dysphagia. It has been reported that taste of sour stimulation can increase the frequency of swallowing. In this study, we want to know which is better for improving swallowing function between favourate taste stimulation and sour taste stimulation. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) will be applied in this study to understand the neural mechanism of taste stimulation in improving swallowing function. Participants screened as post-stroke dysphagia will accept swallowing evaluation and fNIRS test before and after treatment. The treatment include taste stimulation and traditional swallowing training. Researchers will compare favourate taste stimulation with sour-taste stimulation and single thermal stimulation to see if the swallowing function improved faster and better in favourate taste stimulation group.

Effects of Dry Needling on Electromyographic Activity and Ultrasonographic Characteristics in Post-Stroke...
Spasticity as Sequela of StrokeStroke is a global health problem, with an incidence in Europe of 147/100,000 people per year. It is estimated that 43% of them present spasticity throughout the first year, causing disability, hindering mobility and functionality, which can generate comorbidity problems, which in turn hinders its improvement over time. Recently, high quality studies have conclude that there is a moderate level of evidence with large effect size in reducing spasticity with dry needling, as well as being cost-effective in stroke patients in both the subacute and chronic phases. However, due to the limitation of manual evaluations of spasticity, and it is necessary to look for measurement alternatives that complement it, such as the analysis of the electromyographic activity and the muscular structure measured with ultrasound. These data could provide objective, useful and complementary information to clinical assessments to be more specific and effective in the treatment of stroke patients. This randomized controlled trial aim to analyse the effect of dry needling in this parameters in patients with stroke and spasticity, as well as correlated with gait variables. Each participant will be randomly assigned to the dry needling group or to the sham dry needling group, where participants receive a total of 4 sessions of ultrasound-guided dry needling or sham ultrasound-guided dry needling in the gastrocnemius medialis over 4 weeks, one per week. Measures of spasticity, electromyographic activity and muscle structure via ultrasound will made at baseline (T0) and immediate after each intervention (T1,T2,T3,T4). Gait variables will be made at baseline and after the last intervention (T0 and T4).

Effects of Chin Tuck Against Resistance Exercise on Patients With Dysphagia After Stroke
StrokeThe aim of this clinical trial is to explore the effects of chin tuck against resistance (CTAR) exercises on improving dysphagia in stroke patients. The main aims of this research are: To explore the effects of CTAR exercise on stroke patients with dysphagia, and to perform a clinically implementable evidence-based protocol. Introduce the evidence-based "CTAR exercise protocol" in the care of stroke patients with dysphagia, and test the effects through a randomized controlled trial. This study is a two-group, pre and post-test, parallel, non-blind randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of the "CTAR exercise protocol". Convenience sampling the inpatients of stroke with dysphagia from a regional hospital in southern Taiwan. Eighty participants will be randomized block assignment either to an experimental (n = 40) or to a control (n = 40) group. The experimental group will receive a four-week CTAR protocol and regular dysphagia care. The control group will receive the regular dysphagia care only. In this study, dysphagia-related physiological indicators including functional oral intake scale (FOIS), penetration-aspiration scale (PAS), and modified water swallowing test, video fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS), and swallowing improvement rate will be used to evaluate the difference between pre-test and four-week post-test after the intervention. The independent t-test will be used to compare the change effect of the two groups.

Urin-based Point-of-Care Testing for Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Stroke Patients
StrokeThe goal of this study is to test a urine-based point-of-care testing device for direct oral anticoagulants in patients with stroke. The main questions are: Can the test identify patients with direct oral anticoagulant intake? Is there a time benefit of urine-based point-of-care testing compared to standard blood-based coagulation assessment? Is the device feasible in the setting of acute stroke care?

High Intensity Dysphagia Rehab for Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients
Dysphagia Following Cerebrovascular AccidentThe purpose of this study is to determine a standardized protocol for swallowing therapy and this protocol's effects on recovery after a stroke

Human Umbilical Cord Blood Infusion in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS)
Acute Ischemic StrokeA Phase II, Randomized, Double-blind, Parallel, Placebo-controlled Study to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of Human Umbilical Cord Blood Infusion in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

Medical Treatment With or Without Transcatheter Patent Foramen Ovale Closure
Patent Foramen OvaleCryptogenic Stroke3 morePatent foramen ovale PFO closure has been shown to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with recurrent stroke. However, the majority of existing clinical studies in this field excluded patients over the age of 60 years. Data in older patients is limited and since the population ages and stroke remains a major cause of death and morbidity, randomized clinical trials are needed to better assess the benefit of PFO closure in this elderly population. Therefore, this study proposal sought to determine the efficacy of PFO closure for the prevention of recurrent stroke in older patients with PFO and cryptogenic stroke.

The Effectiveness of Smartphone-Based Speech Therapy for People With Post-Stroke Dysarthria
Dysarthria as Late Effect of StrokeThis clinical trial aims to determine if a new smartphone-based speech therapy is effective self-treatment method for patients with post-stroke dysarthria. For this study, participants in the intervention group will use the speech therapy app for 1 hour per day, 5 days per week, over a 4-week period. The active control group will receive home-based speech therapy with the same duration and frequency as the intervention group. The study will help us understand if smartphone-based speech therapy is a viable treatment option for post-stroke dysarthria patients.

Comparing Different Rehabilitation Exercise Strategies for Improving Arm Recovery After Stroke
StrokeThe purpose of this research study is to measure the effect of participating in extra arm exercise in addition to standard rehabilitation exercises in the Acute Rehabilitation Unit. This study will compare two different ways to perform the extra arm exercise. The first is following a customized program of hand and arm exercises that will be developed for study participants by an experienced rehabilitation therapist. The second is moving a participants arm back and forth when they are sitting in their wheelchair by using a moveable wheelchair arm rest (Boost).

Early Feasibility Study of RapidPulseTM Aspiration System for Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke...
Acute Ischemic StrokeStroke2 moreThe goal of this clinical trial is to assess the initial safety and performance of the RapidPulseTM Aspiration System in patients experiencing acute ischemic stroke within 24 hours since the onset of stroke symptoms, or last known normal. Subject will undergo mechanical thrombectomy (a procedure to remove a clot in the brain which is preventing blood flow), with the RapidPulseTM Aspiration System. Participating in the trial is for 5-7 days or hospital discharge (whichever is earlier).