Stroke Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Stroke, including details on treatment, recovery, rehabilitation, signs, symptoms.

Validation of the activity inventory of the Chedoke-McMaster stroke assessment and the clinical outcome variables scale to evaluate mobility in geriatric clients.

Sacks L, Yee K, Huijbregts M, Miller PA, Aggett T, Salbach NM

Royal Physiotherapy Clinic, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the construct validity of the Activity Inventory of the Chedoke-McMaster Stroke Assessment and the Clinical Outcome Variables Scale (COVS), 2 measures of functional mobility. DESIGN: A retrospective longitudinal study of 24 inpatients (mean age 83 years (standard deviation 7)) on a geriatric rehabilitation unit. PARTICIPANTS: The primary reasons for admission were deconditioning (n=9) and hip fracture (n=7). METHOD: We tested hypotheses that Activity Inventory and COVS scores at admission and discharge, and change scores during hospital stay would correlate. Longitudinal construct validity was also estimated using effect size and standardized response mean. RESULTS: Correlations between scores on each measure ranged from r=0.59-0.93 across subscales and total scales (p<0.01). The effect size of the Activity Inventory and the COVS was 1.53 and 1.43, respectively. The standardized response mean of the Activity Inventory and the COVS was 1.83 and 2.30, respectively. Conclusion: Although findings support the validity of both measures, the COVS appears more efficient and sensitive than the Activity Inventory to change in this population. A larger study is needed to confirm these findings.

Published 29 January 2010 in J Rehabil Med, 42(1): 90-2.
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Articles on Stroke published 29 January 2010:

Physical findings and sonography of hemiplegic shoulder in patients after acute stroke during rehabilitation.   J Rehabil Med, 42(1): 21-6.

OBJECTIVE: Physical and sonographic evaluation of hemiplegic shoulder in patients after acute stroke and correlation between the physical/sonographic findings and early-onset hemiplegic shoulder pain. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: Fifty-seven patients after stroke with hemiplegic shoulder. METHODS: Subjects were assigned to poor motor function and good motor function groups according to the Brunnström motor recovery stages of hemiplegic shoulder. Physical findings and sonography of ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Prediction of good functional recovery after stroke based on combined motor and somatosensory evoked potential findings.   J Rehabil Med, 42(1): 16-20.

OBJECTIVE: To delineate whether functional recovery after stroke, determined by the modified Rankin Scale during the neurologically stable chronic stage, is associated with the presence or absence of motor evoked potential or somatosensory evoked potential measured during the sub-acute stage at the commencement of rehabilitation. DESIGN: Retrospective medical records review. PATIENTS: Consecutive 105 first-ever unilateral patients after stroke. METHODS: Patients underwent motor evoked potential ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Does repetitive task training improve functional activity after stroke? A Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis.   J Rehabil Med, 42(1): 9-14.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if repetitive task training after stroke improves functional activity. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of trials comparing repetitive task training with attention control or usual care. DATA SOURCES: The Cochrane Stroke Trials Register, electronic databases of published, unpublished and non-English language papers; conference proceedings, reference lists, and trial authors. REVIEW METHODS: Included studies were randomized/quasi-randomized trials in adults ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Stroke published 7 January 2010:

Continuous electroencephalographic monitoring with radio-telemetry in a rat model of perinatal hypoxia-ischemia reveals progressive post-stroke epilepsy.   J Neurosci, 30(1): 404-15.

The development of acquired epilepsy after a perinatal hypoxic-ischemic (HI) insult was investigated in rats. After unilateral carotid ligation with hypoxia on postnatal day 7, cortical electroencephalographic and behavioral seizures were recorded with continuous radio-telemetry and video. Chronic recordings were obtained between 2 and 12 months of age in freely behaving HI-treated and sham control rats. The hypotheses were that the acquired epilepsy is directly associated with an ischemic ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Stroke published 5 January 2010:

Rosuvastatin in the prevention of stroke among men and women with elevated levels of C-reactive protein: justification for the Use of Statins in Prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin (JUPITER).   Circulation, 121(1): 143-50.

BACKGROUND: Prior primary prevention trials of statin therapy that used cholesterol criteria for enrollment have not reported significant decreases in stroke risk. We evaluated whether statin therapy might reduce stroke rates among individuals with low levels of cholesterol but elevated levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. METHODS AND RESULTS: In Justification for the Use of statins in Prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin (JUPITER), 17 802 apparently healthy men ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Stroke published 4 January 2010:

Novel patterns of functional electrical stimulation have an immediate effect on dorsiflexor muscle function during gait for people poststroke.   Phys Ther, 90(1): 55-66.

BACKGROUND: Foot drop is a common gait impairment after stroke. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the ankle dorsiflexor muscles during the swing phase of gait can help correct foot drop. Compared with constant-frequency trains (CFTs), which typically are used during FES, novel stimulation patterns called variable-frequency trains (VFTs) have been shown to enhance isometric and nonisometric muscle performance. However, VFTs have never been used for FES during gait. OBJECTIVE: The ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells enhance recovery after acute ischemic stroke in young and middle-aged rats.   J Cereb Blood Flow Metab, 30(1): 140-9.

We investigated intra-arterially administered autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (MNCs) in rats with acute ischemic stroke. Long Evans rats (2 to 3 months or 12 months old) underwent tandem reversible common carotid artery (CCA)/middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion (CCAo/MCAo) for 3 h and then 24 h later underwent tibial bone marrow harvest. Ten million or 4 million cells were re-injected by an intra-carotid infusion. Control animals underwent marrow needle insertion and then saline ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Treatment of stroke with a synthetic liver X receptor agonist, TO901317, promotes synaptic plasticity and axonal regeneration in mice.   J Cereb Blood Flow Metab, 30(1): 102-9.

In this study, we tested the hypothesis that TO901317 promotes synapse plasticity and axonal regeneration after stroke. Adult male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) and treated with or without TO901317 starting 24 h after MCAo daily for 14 days. Axonal damage and regeneration were evaluated by immunostaining. TO901317 significantly increased synaptophysin expression and axonal regeneration, as well as decreased the expressions of amyloid betaA4 precursor ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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