Active clinical trials for "Stroke"

Almost two-thirds of survivors have cognitive impairment (CI), manifested as memory, language, and judgement problems. Post-stroke CI at 2 weeks is a significant predictor of long-term functional outcome, and more generally, cognitive impairments have a major impact on functional outcome and ability to participate in rehabilitation. CI is associated with increased systemic inflammation. Intranasally-administered insulin is a promising new therapy for enhancing memory in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), shown in multiple randomized controlled studies. Likely mechanisms of benefit are intranasal insulin's ability to restore normal cerebral insulin signaling. Based on the overlap in cerebral insulin resistance that occurs in both AD and post-stroke CI, we have designed an innovative proof-of-concept, feasibility trial designed to provide pilot data as to whether post-stroke survivor CI and caregiver burden is improved with intranasal insulin early after stroke. We will explore the impact of intranasal insulin on inflammatory biomarkers, since inflammation is a major underlying cause of CI, as shown by others and in our preliminary studies of VCAM-1. Specific Aims are: 1. Determine if patients with ischemic stroke randomized to intranasal insulin 20 IU BID for 3 weeks have improved cognition, compared to patients who receive intranasal saline. Primary outcome is a composite of (a) memory and executive function z scores. 2. To assess the impact of intranasal insulin vs saline on change in inflammatory biomarker levels (VCAM-1, TNF-alpha, TNFR-I and II) before and after the treatment period. 3. To measure differences in burden among caregivers of participants in the intranasal insulin vs intranasal saline groups. We will prospectively randomize 40 subjects to intranasal insulin (40 IU) vs saline treatment. Following baseline cognitive testing 2 weeks post stroke, subjects will receive the assigned treatment for 3 weeks, followed by a 3-week washout period, with cognitive testing performed after the treatment and washout periods and again at 20 weeks. The proposed study will provide data on a promising method for treating cognitive function in stroke patients. If effective, our pilot data will set the stage for larger phase III clinical trials.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the treadmill training with functional electric stimulation on sensorimotor cortical reorganization and functional improvement in subjects with chronic stroke.

After stroke, individuals often have persistent difficulty using the arm and hand in everyday functional tasks that reduces quality of life. Currently available rehabilitation techniques are not adequate and new protocols are needed that are based on an understanding of how brain regions work together to produce skilled movement. This research project aims to improve our understanding of how the brain controls movement after stroke and determine whether a period of motor practice that targets specific brain regions through the addition of action selection demands leads to improved arm function. We hypothesize that arm motor function and the ability to efficiently activate the action selection motor circuit during movement will improve after training.

In France, the annual incidence rate of acute ischaemic stroke is around 150 000 patients, 65 % of whom keep long-term disability. Several multicentric randomized controlled trials have shown the benefit of a mechanical thrombectomy in the acute phase of ischaemic stroke on functional disability, compared to a medical treatment alone (thrombolysis). The timeliness of revascularisation is an essential factor of good prognosis. This intra-arterial treatment, associated with thrombolysis if applicable, is the reference treatment of large-vessel occlusion. The stillness of the patient is required to control the safety of the recanalization. Currently, either a general anesthesia or a sedation can be performed. Several studies have shown a trend to superiority of the sedation but none was conducted with a high level of proof methodology. The aim of our multicentric randomized controlled trial is to compare sedation and general anesthesia during intra-arterial thrombectomy for an acute ischaemic stroke in the anterior cerebral circulation. The main outcome will be the efficacy on the functional neurological prognosis at 3 months.

This study will determine the feasibility of using an interactive computer game to elicit repetitive practice of paretic arm movements in the homes of community dwelling stroke survivors and during non-therapy hours at an inpatient stroke rehabilitation hospital.

Immunity and inflammation play critical roles in the pathogenesis of acute ischemic stroke. Therefore, immune intervention, as a new therapeutic strategy, is worthy of exploration. Here, investigators tested the inflammation modulator, vinpocetine, for its effect on the outcomes of stroke. For this multi-center study, investigators recruited 60 patients with anterior cerebral circulation occlusion and onset of stroke that had exceeded 4.5 hours but lasted less than 48 hours. These patients, after randomly division into two groups, received either standard management alone (controls) or standard management plus vinpocetine (30 mg per day intravenously for 14 consecutive days, Gedeon Richter Plc., Hungary).

The purpose of this study is to provide a description of blood flow changes in the brain after blood pressure lowering drugs are given. This information will be used by physicians to guide blood pressure lowering therapy in stroke patients in the future.

The aim of this study is to assess the clinical effectiveness of the RehaARM-robot and to determine the feasibility of including robotic therapy in daily rehabilitation programmes, after stroke. Additionally, we aim to investigate the acceptance of this intervention from patients and therapists. A total of 10 patients will be recruited in this study, all the patients will receive 1 hour of standard therapy together with 45 min of robot therapy every day. The robot therapy will last 45 minutes, for 15 consecutive days within a maximum period of four weeks. Additional 15 minutes are required for placing surface electrodes on the shoulder and patient preparation. The study will include passive and active shoulder training of four movements: Horizontal abduction/adduction, abduction/adduction, internal/external rotation and flexion/extension. The passive part lasts 10 minutes and the active part 35 minutes.

Patients with severe ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, who require mechanical ventilation, have a particularly bad prognosis. If they require long-term ventilation, their orotracheal tube needs to be, like in any other intensive care patient, replaced by a shorter tracheal tube below the larynx. This so called tracheostomy might be associated with advantages such as less demand of narcotics and pain killers, less lesions in mouth and larynx, better mouth hygiene, safer airway, more patient comfort and earlier mobilisation. The best timepoint for tracheostomy in stroke, however, is not known. Preliminary data from a pilot study of early tracheostomy in patients with hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke suggest that such patients may also have improved survival and long-term functional outcomes, but a large, multicenter clinical trial is needed to confirm these findings.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Solitaire thrombectomy in Chinese patients with acute stroke within 12 hours of symptom onset.