Objective To investigate the relationship between Oxfordshire community stroke project (OCSP) classification and MRI classification in acute cerebral infarction. Methods A total of 282 patients with acute cerebral infarction were retrospectively evaluated with OCSP classification and imaging characteristics. Results According to OCSP classification, of all 282 patients with acute cerebral infarction, 32 (11.3%) experienced total anterior circulation infarction (TACI), 86 (30.5%) partial anterior circulation infarction (PACI), 111 (39.4%) lacunar infarction (LACI), and 53 (18.8%) posterior circulation infarction (POCI). The consistency was found in 201 cases (71.3%) between the OCSP classification and imaging classification, with the accuracy of 77% (27/35) for TACI, 79% (42/53) for PACI, 69% (95/137) for LACI and 65% (37/57) for POCI. Conclusion OCSP classification can predict the location and size of cerebral infarction with a high accuracy, and is well consistent with the MRI findings.
Objective To systematically review the efficacy of six cognitive interventions on cognitive function of patients with mild cognitive impairment after stroke. Methods The PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, SinoMed, WanFang Data and CNKI databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials on the effects of non-drug interventions on the cognitive function of patients with mild cognitive impairment after stroke from inception to March 2023. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Network meta-analysis was then performed using Openbugs 3.2.3 and Stata 16.0 software. Results A total of 72 studies involving 4 962 patients were included. The results of network meta-analysis showed that the following five cognitive interventions improved the cognitive function of stroke patients with mild cognitive impairment: cognitive control intervention (SMD=−1.28, 95%CI −1.686 to −0.90, P<0.05) had the most significant effect on the improvement of cognitive function, followed by computer cognitive training (SMD=−1.02, 95%CI −1.51 to −0.53, P<0.05), virtual reality cognitive training (SMD=−1.20, 95%CI −1.78 to −0.62, P<0.05), non-invasive neural regulation (SMD=−1.09, 95%CI −1.58 to −0.60, P<0.05), and cognitive stimulation (SMD=−0.94, 95%CI −1.82 to −0.07, P<0.05). Conclusion Five cognitive interventions are effective in improving cognitive function for stroke patients with mild cognitive impairment, among which cognitive control intervention is the most effective. Due to the limited quantity and quality of the included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training compared with simple rehabilitation training or acupuncture treatment of dysphagia after stroke, and make clear whether the effect of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training is better than simple rehabilitation training or acupuncture treatment.MethodsSix databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, Chongqing VIP, PubMed, Cochrance Library, and Embase were searched by computer for the randomized controlled trials on acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training treatment of post-stroke dysphagia, which were published from January 1st, 2010 to December 31st, 2018. After literature including, excluding, and screening, RevMan 5.3 software was used to conduct a meta-analysis.ResultsA total of 22 studies were included, including 1 987 patients. All the included studies took simple rehabilitation training or rehabilitation training combined with sham acupuncture as the control. Meta-analysis of efficiency and outcome measures for relevant studies showed that: compared with simple rehabilitation training, the effectiveness of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training on post-stroke dysphagia was higher [17 studies included; odds ratio=3.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) (2.66, 5.05), P<0.000 01], the video fluoroscopy swallowing study score of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training after treatment was higher [8 studies included; mean difference (MD)=2.31, 95%CI (1.75, 2.87), P<0.000 01], and the StandardizedSwallowing Assessment score of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training after treatment was lower [6 studies included; MD=−3.20, 95%CI (−3.78, −2.61), P<0.000 01]; at the same time the Watian Drinking Water Test score of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training after treatment was lower [6 studies included; MD=−0.65, 95%CI (−0.91, −0.39), P<0.000 01].ConclusionsAcupuncture combined with rehabilitation training is effective in dysphagia after stroke, and the combined effect is better than simple rehabilitation training. However, due to the limitations of quality of included literature and sample size, the above results and conclusions still require high quality and large sample studies to testify.
Objective To explore the awareness of thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke in inpatients with a history of stroke and with a high risk of stroke. Methods From January to August 2012, using self-designed questionnaire, trained neurologists conducted the face to face investigation in 500 inpatients with a high risk of stroke, including those with a history of stroke in Department of Neurology in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. Results A total of 467 valid questionnaires were recovered. Only 16.1% (75/467) patients were aware of thrombolytic therapy for acute stroke, of whom 50.7% (38/75) knew the time window of thrombolytic therapy. Awareness of thrombolytic therapy was higher in patients aged 56-70 years, with a higher level of education and income, and in those who knew at least 3 stroke warning signs and those with a history of stroke. While awareness of the time window of thrombolytic therapy was higher in those unmarried or widowed and with a history of stroke. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that awareness of thrombolytic therapy was independently associated with age, education level, knowledge of stroke warning signs and a history of stroke; awareness of the time window was associated with marital status and a history of stroke (P<0.05). Conclusions Inpatients with a history of stroke and with a high risk of stroke in the Department of Neurology have poor awareness of thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke. It is necessary to improve the level of patients’ knowledge about thrombolytic therapy for acute stroke by health education.
Objective To investigate the current situation of clinical studies on puerarin for ischemic stroke and the reliability of these evidence. Methods By electronic searching and handsearching, we collected all the published clinical study reports on puerarin for ischemic stroke and assessed all the included reports according to clinical epidemiologic standard. Results 35 RCTs, 22 non-randomized controlled trials and 17 case serials studies were included and analysed. Conclusions Current quality of clinical studies of puerarin for ischemic stroke is not good enough to provide reliable evidence.
Limb motor dysfunction is the most common sequela of stroke. Its recovery cycle is long and difficult, which has an important impact on the physiology and psychology of patients. Therefore, the recovery of limb motor function after stroke has become the focus and difficulty of current rehabilitation. Brain-limb coordinate regulation technology is a rehabilitation strategy that effectively promotes the recovery of limb motor function and brain function through the organic combination of rehabilitation technology with limbs as target organs and brain as target organs. Based on the brain-limb coordinate regulation technology, this paper will systematically elaborate its theory and application through literature review, and then provide a more reasonable and effective choice for the treatment of limb motor dysfunction in stroke patients.
In recent years, high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI) has become a useful clinical and research tool. HRMRI can be used to observe intracranial vascular wall lesions in vivo, providing more valuable pathophysiological information, and providing guidance for the diagnosis, differential diagnosis and prognosis of intracranial atherosclerosis. For stenotic intracranial atherosclerosis, the morphology of the vessel wall can effectively differentiate various vascular stenosis diseases. Further, plaque composition, vessel wall enhancement, remodel mode provide information of plaque vulnerability. For non-stenotic intracranial atherosclerosis, the location of the plaque can reveal the pathophysiological mechanism. In addition, HRMRI can show the lesion in lenticulostriate artery. Therefore, this article will summarize the clinical application of HRMRI.
Objective To assess the appropriateness of Barthel Index (BI) and Modified Rankin Scales (MRS) used as long-term outcome measures in a stroke data register and to investigate the correlation between cutoff points of the two scales in different stroke patients with and without disability. Methods Nine hundred and twelve patients were registered prospectively. BI and MRS were evaluated at the end of 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after stroke onset. The distribution, ceiling effects and floor effects of the two scales were evaluated. A logistic regression model was established to investigate correlation of cutoff points of BI and MRS. Results There were a total of 2 829 evaluation points of BI and MRS. The percentages of patients reaching the maximum scores of BI at the end of 3, 6 and 12 months (54.8％, 62.2％ and 68.3％, respectively) were higher than those of MRS. There was significant correlation between the two scales (Spearman’s correlation coefficient 0.887, P＜0.05), when MRS scores of ≤1 and ≤2 were taken as cutoff points, the corresponding cutoff points of BI score were ≥90 and ≥85, respectively. Conclusions BI has significant ceiling effects when used as long-term outcome measurement in a stroke data register. There was significant correlation between BI and MRS scores. In future clinical studies, an MRS score ≤2 or BI score ≥85 could be used as cutoff points in predicting stroke patients with and without disability.
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), as an emerging brain imaging technique, has gradually become an important tool for stroke-related neurological function research due to its advantages of non-invasiveness, exercise tolerance, and portability. This article summarizes the application of fNIRS in evaluating neurological dysfunction, identifying functional injury sites, and monitoring rehabilitation outcomes, analyzes the advantages and disadvantages demonstrated in research and explores future improvement directions to promote further development of fNIRS in clinical applications.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical effect of the end-traction upper limb rehabilitation training system on patients with upper limb motor dysfunction after stroke.MethodsPatients with upper limb motor dysfunction who were admitted to the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from September to November 2019 were selected. According to the software, the patients were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group. Both groups received conventional medical treatment, basic rehabilitation, and activities of daily living training. In addition, the control group received traditional occupational therapy, while the experimental group received end-traction upper limb rehabilitation training. The training time of both groups was 30 min/ (times ·d) and 5 days per week. Rehabilitation evaluation and recording were performed before and after the four-week treatment in both groups using the simplified upper extremity Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) and the modified Barthel index (MBI).ResultsA total of 36 patients were enrolled, with 18 in each group. All patients completed the experiment, and no special discomfort was observed. Before the treatment, there was no statistically significant difference in FMA and MBI between the experimental group [(13.22±3.13) and (49.66±6.81) points] and the control group [(14.78±1.70) and (51.67±6.65) points] (t=1.858, 0.896; P=0.072, 0.377). After four-week treatment, FMA and MBI in both groups improved significantly (P<0.05); the difference between the experimental group [(27.56±15.68) and (73.55±8.72) points] and the control group [(17.67±6.73) and (65.33±9.20) points] was statistically significant (t=2.459, 2.751; P=0.019, 0.009).ConclusionsThe end-traction upper limb rehabilitation training system can significantly improve the upper limb motor function of patients with upper limb motor dysfunction after stroke and improve the patients’ daily life ability. It is worthy of clinical promotion and application.