Stroke Research Consortium in Northern Bavaria (STAMINA)
Ischemic StrokeEach year, approximately 15 million people suffer a stroke worldwide of which 80% are due to ischemic cerebral infarction. Based on the results of randomized controlled trials, treatment options and patient outcomes in acute ischemic stroke have dramatically improved in recent years. However, these advances in thrombolysis and endovascular therapy need to be established outside controlled trials to optimize stroke management, treatment procedures, patient selection and inter-hospital transfer in clinical practice. This multicenter longitudinal cohort study is based on a large stroke care network in Northern Bavaria, Germany (region of more than 3.5 million inhabitants) to evaluate and improve treatment in ischemic stroke.
Stroke Rehabilitation Outcome During COVID-19 Lockdown
StrokeRehabilitation2 moreCOVID-19 has a big impact on individuals and society as a whole. Especially persons with (multiple) comorbidities such as stroke are affected. The impact of COVID-19 on stroke rehabilitation delivery and stroke patients' functioning is unclear.
Evolution of Ischemic Stroke Subtypes in Hong Kong
StrokeStroke2 moreStroke is the 4th leading cause of mortality in Hong Kong. It also carries considerable socioeconomical consequences due to disability. Ischemic stroke can be classified by the TOAST classification, which includes large artery atherosclerosis, cardioembolism, small-artery occlusion and other causes (1). Among which, intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS) had been major cause of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in the Asia Pacific. It was estimated as high as 24.1% of AIS or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) were attributed to ICAS in China (2). Management of ICAS related strokes has been challenging owing to its high rate of recurrence despite medical therapy. Recent randomized clinical trial suggested that aggressive medical therapy may result in reduction in recurrence compared with historical cohorts (3). Our group has previously observed a 2.5-fold increase in atrial fibrillation related stroke over a 15-year period (4). The inverstigator also observed a decline in ICAS related AIS as well as its recurrent stroke risk throughout the recent years. Possible mechanisms include better management of metabolic risk factors and aggressive secondary prevention. Other possible reasons are increased atrial fibrillation (AF), small vessel disease (SVD) or other stroke mechanisms. This study is aim to find the evolution of different stroke subtypes in relation to the characteristics of our stroke population over a 15-year period. This may influence territorial prevention strategy.
Atrial Cardiomyopathy in Patients With Stroke of Undetected Mechanism
StrokeThe goal of this study is to evaluate left atrial structural and functional abnormalities in stroke of undetected mechanism and atherosclerotic stroke with cardiac MRI.
Prevalence of Primary Aldosteronism in Patients With Stroke
Primary AldosteronismStrokeStrokes leads to significant morbidity and mortality, and hypertension is the most important risk factor for strokes. It is estimated that up to 10% of patients with hypertension have the underlying, treatable condition of primary aldosteronism. Hence, we hypothesize that the prevalence of primary aldosteronism is high in patients with strokes, a complication of long-standing hypertension. Patients admitted with an acute stroke to the Acute Stroke Unit, Changi General Hospital, will be screened for Primary Aldosteronism three months post-stroke, and confirmatory tests will be done with saline-infusion test.
Signal Intensity Gradient in Cerebral Arteries
Ischemic StrokeAcuteArterial wall shear stress (WSS) contributes to atherosclerosis from its inception, progression, and disruption of plaque. However, there is no previous study for an association between cerebral artery WSS and clinical outcome in patients with ischemic stroke in lenticulostriate artery. The researchers aimed to investigate whether the signal intensity gradient (SIG) from Time-of-Flight Magnetic Resonance Angiography (TOF MRA) in cerebral arteries, as a surrogate measure of arterial WSS, is associated with clinical outcome, which was determined with modified Rankin Scale (mRS). The patients (n=294) with the lenticulostriate artery infarction were collected in 3 hospitals with variable locations and sizes (Gunsan, Jeonju, and Seoul). For a clinical outcome, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were checked serially from the date of admission. The mRS 2 or less at the 7th day or discharge was defined as a favorable outcome. The arterial SIGs were measured concurrently in both internal carotid, anterior/middle/posterior cerebral, vertebral arteries, and basilar artery from TOF MRA on initial diagnosis. The independent association between the clinical outcome and cerebral arterial SIG was analyzed adjusting for all the possible potential confounders.
Analysis of Health Status of Сomorbid Adult Patients With COVID-19 Hospitalised in Fourth Wave of...
COVID-19Chronic Heart Failure17 moreDepersonalized multi-centered registry initiated to analyze dynamics of non-infectious diseases after SARS-CoV-2 infection in population of Eurasian adult patients.
Predicting Independent Walking Ability Using the Simplified Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of...
StrokeCohort observational retrospective pilot study by design. The purpose of this study was to determine a cut scores to predict independent ambulation for the Simplified Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement, Berg Balance Scale, Barthel Index for Activities of Daily Living.
Research Proposal of New Technologies and Standardization of Physiotherapy Stroke Rehabilitation...
StrokeOne of the main goals of physiotherapy in stroke rehabilitation is to maximize walking ability of patients as soon as possible. Traditionally, intervention selection and application of neuroplasticity to stroke patients depends on personal preference and experience of therapists. Recent development of technologies may provide more accessible, efficient, objective, intensive and predictive methods compared to traditional practices in facilitating the process of recovery after brain injury and standardizing stroke rehabilitation programs. A clinical quality improvement program named Accelerated Stroke Ambulation Program (ASAP) was started in Stroke Rehabilitation Program Tai Po Hospital by Physiotherapy Department since 2019, pilot period from October 2019 to September 2020 and execute as standard practice afterward.
Turkish Adaptation, Validity and Reliability of Community Integration Questionnaire-Revised (CIQ-R)...
StrokeCommunity IntegrationThe aim of this study is to adapt the Community Integration Questionnaire-Revised (CIQ-R) scale to Turkish society and to make its validity and reliability in Turkish. The CIQ-R scale developed by Callaway et al assesses home integration, social integration, productivity, and electronic social networking in neurological diseases. It has 18 questions. This study will be conducted with stroke patients. The patients will be sought to answer questionnaires during regular rehabilitation sessions. 130 participants will be included in the study. In order to evaluate the validity of the CIQ-R, the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), which can evaluates general cognitive functioning and has been validated in Turkish, will be used. Scales will be repeated after 15 days to assess test-retest reliability.