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European Review For Medical and... May 2021We aimed to analyze clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and prognosis of patients with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS).
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to analyze clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and prognosis of patients with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Two investigators independently searched PubMed and EMBASE, and 191 cases were included in this study. Information regarding demographics, triggering factors, brain imaging findings, treatment modalities, recurrence, and clinical outcome was collected.
RESULTS
The mean age of the patients was 39.9 years, and 155 (81.2%) were female. The most common triggering factor for RCVS was an exposure to vasoactive substances (41.4%), followed by pregnancy/postpartum (20.9%), and sexual intercourse (10.5%). Multifocal stenosis (84.0%) and beading shape (82.4%) were the leading abnormal findings on angiography, while cerebral ischemic lesions (47.6%) and cerebral hemorrhage (mainly subarachnoid hemorrhage) (35.1%) were the main findings on brain computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Calcium channel blockers (nimodipine/verapamil) were the most commonly used medications (44.5%) in the treatment of RCVS. Multivariate analysis identified that RCVS was precipitated by trauma/surgery/procedure (hazard ratio (HR): 3.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.21-8.88), p=0.019), and presence of aphasia/neglect/apraxia during the acute phase of the disease (HR: 3.83, 95% CI (1.33-11.05), p=0.013) were found to be the two independent risk factors for residual neurological deficit after RCVS.
CONCLUSIONS
In our systematic review, vasoactive substances were the most frequent triggers for RCVS, which was most commonly accompanied by angiographic findings of multifocal stenotic lesions. Patients with RCVS precipitated by trauma or surgical procedures and those with focal cortical deficits had a higher risk of residual neurological deficits, and these patients should closely be monitored.
Topics: Cerebrovascular Disorders; Headache Disorders, Primary; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Vasoconstriction
PubMed: 34002826
DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202105_25834 -
Stroke Mar 2022Optimizing speech and language therapy (SLT) regimens for maximal aphasia recovery is a clinical research priority. We examined associations between SLT intensity... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Optimizing speech and language therapy (SLT) regimens for maximal aphasia recovery is a clinical research priority. We examined associations between SLT intensity (hours/week), dosage (total hours), frequency (days/week), duration (weeks), delivery (face to face, computer supported, individual tailoring, and home practice), content, and language outcomes for people with aphasia.
METHODS
Databases including MEDLINE and Embase were searched (inception to September 2015). Published, unpublished, and emerging trials including SLT and ≥10 individual participant data on aphasia, language outcomes, and time post-onset were selected. Patient-level data on stroke, language, SLT, and trial risk of bias were independently extracted. Outcome measurement scores were standardized. A statistical inferencing, one-stage, random effects, network meta-analysis approach filtered individual participant data into an optimal model examining SLT regimen for overall language, auditory comprehension, naming, and functional communication pre-post intervention gains, adjusting for a priori-defined covariates (age, sex, time poststroke, and baseline aphasia severity), reporting estimates of mean change scores (95% CI).
RESULTS
Data from 959 individual participant data (25 trials) were included. Greatest gains in overall language and comprehension were associated with >20 to 50 hours SLT dosage (18.37 [10.58-26.16] Western Aphasia Battery-Aphasia Quotient; 5.23 [1.51-8.95] Aachen Aphasia Test-Token Test). Greatest clinical overall language, functional communication, and comprehension gains were associated with 2 to 4 and 9+ SLT hours/week. Greatest clinical gains were associated with frequent SLT for overall language, functional communication (3-5+ days/week), and comprehension (4-5 days/week). Evidence of comprehension gains was absent for SLT ≤20 hours, <3 hours/week, and ≤3 days/week. Mixed receptive-expressive therapy, functionally tailored, with prescribed home practice was associated with the greatest overall gains. Relative variance was <30%. Risk of trial bias was low to moderate; low for meta-biases.
CONCLUSIONS
Greatest language recovery was associated with frequent, functionally tailored, receptive-expressive SLT, with prescribed home practice at a greater intensity and duration than reports of usual clinical services internationally. These exploratory findings suggest critical therapeutic ranges, informing hypothesis-testing trials and tailoring of clinical services. Registration: URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/; Unique identifier: CRD42018110947.
Topics: Aphasia; Humans; Language Therapy; Network Meta-Analysis; Stroke; Stroke Rehabilitation
PubMed: 34847708
DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.121.035216 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2021Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The technique is known to facilitate reprocessing of...
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The technique is known to facilitate reprocessing of maladaptive memories that are thought to be central to this pathology. Here we investigate if EMDR therapy can be used in other conditions. We conducted a systematic literature search on PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science. We searched for published empirical findings on EMDR, excluding those centred on trauma and PTSD, published up to 2020. The results were classified by psychiatric categories. Ninety articles met our research criteria. A positive effect was reported in numerous pathological situations, namely in addictions, somatoform disorders, sexual dysfunction, eating disorders, disorders of adult personality, mood disorders, reaction to severe stress, anxiety disorders, performance anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), pain, neurodegenerative disorders, mental disorders of childhood and adolescence, and sleep. Some studies reported that EMDR was successful in usually uncooperative (e.g., Dementia) or unproductive cases (e.g., aphasia). Moreover, in some severe medical conditions, when psychological distress was an obstacle, EMDR allowed the continuation of treatment-as-usual. Furthermore, the effects observed in non-pathological situations invite for translational research. Despite a generally positive outlook of EMDR as an alternative treatment option, more methodologically rigorous studies are needed. We discuss the advantages and limitations and possible implications for the hypothesised mechanisms of action.
PubMed: 34616328
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.644369 -
BMC Emergency Medicine Sep 2019Recanalisation therapy in acute ischaemic stroke is highly time-sensitive, and requires early identification of eligible patients to ensure better outcomes. Thus, a...
INTRODUCTION
Recanalisation therapy in acute ischaemic stroke is highly time-sensitive, and requires early identification of eligible patients to ensure better outcomes. Thus, a number of clinical assessment tools have been developed and this review examines their diagnostic capabilities.
METHODS
Diagnostic performance of currently available clinical tools for identification of acute ischaemic and haemorrhagic strokes and stroke mimicking conditions was reviewed. A systematic search of the literature published in 2015-2018 was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and The Cochrane Library. Prehospital and in-hospital studies with a minimum sample size of 300 patients reporting diagnostic accuracy were selected.
RESULTS
Twenty-five articles were included. Cortical signs (gaze deviation, aphasia and neglect) were shown to be significant indicators of large vessel occlusion (LVO). Sensitivity values for selecting subjects with LVO ranged from 23 to 99% whereas specificity was 24 to 97%. Clinical tools, such as FAST-ED, NIHSS, and RACE incorporating cortical signs as well as motor dysfunction demonstrated the best diagnostic accuracy. Tools for identification of stroke mimics showed sensitivity varying from 44 to 91%, and specificity of 27 to 98% with the best diagnostic performance demonstrated by FABS (90% sensitivity, 91% specificity). Hypertension and younger age predicted intracerebral haemorrhage whereas history of atrial fibrillation and diabetes were associated with ischaemia. There was a variation in approach used to establish the definitive diagnosis. Blinding of the index test assessment was not specified in about 50% of included studies.
CONCLUSIONS
A wide range of clinical assessment tools for selecting subjects with acute stroke has been developed in recent years. Assessment of both cortical and motor function using RACE, FAST-ED and NIHSS showed the best diagnostic accuracy values for selecting subjects with LVO. There were limited data on clinical tools that can be used to differentiate between acute ischaemia and haemorrhage. Diagnostic accuracy appeared to be modest for distinguishing between acute stroke and stroke mimics with optimal diagnostic performance demonstrated by the FABS tool. Further prehospital research is required to improve the diagnostic utility of clinical assessments with possible application of a two-step clinical assessment or involvement of simple brain imaging, such as transcranial ultrasonography.
Topics: Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Ischemic Attack, Transient; Sensitivity and Specificity; Severity of Illness Index; Stroke
PubMed: 31484499
DOI: 10.1186/s12873-019-0262-1 -
Chinese Medical Journal Jun 2017The aim is to update our clinical recommendations for evidence-based language rehabilitation of people with aphasia, based on a systematic review of the literature from... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
The aim is to update our clinical recommendations for evidence-based language rehabilitation of people with aphasia, based on a systematic review of the literature from 1999 to 2015.
DATA SOURCES
Articles referred to in this systematic review of the Medline and PubMed published in English language literatures were from 1998 to 2015. The terms used in the literature searches were aphasia and evidenced-based.
STUDY SELECTION
The task force initially identified citations for 51 published articles. Of the 51 articles, 44 studies were selected after further detailed review. Six articles, which were not written in English, and one study related to laryngectomy rehabilitation interventions, were excluded from the study. This study referred to all the important and English literature in full.
RESULTS
Aphasia is the linguistic disability, which usually results from injuries to the dominant hemisphere of the brain. The rehabilitation of aphasia is until in the process of being debated and researched. Evidence-based medicine (EBM), EBM based on the clinical evidence, promotes the practice of combining the clinicians' first-hand experience and the existing objective and scientific evidence encouraging making decisions based on both empirical evidence and the scientific evidence. Currently, EBM is being gradually implemented in the clinical practice as the aim of the development of modern medicine.
CONCLUSIONS
At present, the research for the aphasia rehabilitation mainly focuses on the cognitive language rehabilitation and the intensive treatment and the precise treatment, etc. There is now sufficient information to support evidence-based protocols and implement empirically-supported treatments for linguistic disability after traumatic brain injury and stroke, which can be used to develop linguistic rehabilitation guidelines for patients with aphasia.
Topics: Aphasia; Evidence-Based Medicine; Humans
PubMed: 28584214
DOI: 10.4103/0366-6999.207465 -
Surgical Neurology International 2023Propeller-related injuries from motorboats are a major cause of injury in recreational water activities including severe and multiple lacerations that can promote... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Propeller-related injuries from motorboats are a major cause of injury in recreational water activities including severe and multiple lacerations that can promote scarring, blood loss, traumatic, or surgical amputations. The real incidence of these accidents is still unclear. The authors here present a systematic review of the literature, focusing on head injury, and related recommendations for its evaluation and management, also reporting a case of a female patient injured by a motorboat propeller.
METHODS
A systematic literature review was conducted according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses statement, with no limits in terms of publication date. The following Mesh and free text terms were identified: "motorboat and propeller and injuries" (107 results).
RESULTS
A total of 12 papers were included in this systematic review. Only few case reports describing traumatic brain injury (TBI) have been documented. Out of a total of 90 cases analyzed, only five cases with TBI were reported. The authors also reported a case of a 12-year-old female, that during a boat trip, reported a severe polytrauma with concussive head trauma from a penetrating left fronto-temporo-parietal lesion, left mammary gland trauma and fracture of the left hand from falling into the water and impact with a motorboat propeller. She underwent an urgent left fronto-temporo-parietal decompressive craniectomy and then surgery with a multidisciplinary team. At the end of the surgical procedure, the patient was transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit. She was discharged on postoperative day 15. The patient was able to walk without assistance, with mild right hemiparesis and persistence of aphasia nominum.
CONCLUSION
Motorboat propeller injuries can result in extensive damage to soft tissue and bones with severe functional disability, amputations, and high mortality. There are still no recommendations and protocols for the management of motorboat propeller related injuries. Although there are several potential solutions that aim to prevent or ease motorboat-propeller injuries, there are still lack of consistent regulations.
PubMed: 37292416
DOI: 10.25259/SNI_219_2023 -
PLoS Medicine Mar 2023Depression is the most frequent psychiatric condition after stroke and is associated with negative health outcomes. We aim to undertake a systematic review and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Depression is the most frequent psychiatric condition after stroke and is associated with negative health outcomes. We aim to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence and natural history of depression after stroke.
METHODS AND FINDINGS
Studies published up to 4 November 2022 on Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, and Web of Science Core Collection were searched. We included studies of adults with stroke, where depression was assessed at a prespecified time point. Studies excluding people with aphasia and history of depression are excluded. Critical Appraisal Skills Programme(CASP) cohort study tool was used to assess risk of bias. A total of 77 studies were included in the pooled estimates of the prevalence of poststroke depression (PSD). The overall prevalence of depression was 27% (95% CI 25 to 30). Prevalence of depression was 24% (95% CI 21 to 28) by clinical interview and 29% (95% CI 25 to 32) by rating scales. Twenty-four studies with more than one assessment time point reported the natural history of PSD. Among people who were depressed within 3 months of stroke, 53% (95% CI 47 to 59) experienced persistent depression, while 44% (95% CI 38 to 50) recovered. The incidence of later depression (3 to 12 months after stroke) was 9% (95% CI 7 to 12). The cumulative incidence during 1 year after stroke was 38% (95% CI 33 to 43), and the majority (71% (95% CI 65 to 76)) of depression had onset within 3 months after stroke. The main limitation of the present study is that excluding people in source studies with severe impairments may produce imprecise estimates of the prevalence of PSD.
CONCLUSIONS
In this study, we observed that stroke survivors with early-onset depression (within 3 months after stroke) are at high risks for remaining depressed and make up two-thirds of the incident cases during 1 year after stroke. This highlights the need for ongoing clinical monitoring of patients depressed shortly after stroke.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO CRD42022314146.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Cohort Studies; Depression; Prevalence; Stroke; Longitudinal Studies
PubMed: 36976794
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004200 -
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine... Sep 2012Acupuncture has often been used for aphasia rehabilitation in China. The purpose of this paper was to: 1) provide a historic overview of acupuncture for aphasia due to... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Acupuncture has often been used for aphasia rehabilitation in China. The purpose of this paper was to: 1) provide a historic overview of acupuncture for aphasia due to stroke; 2) summarize the commonly used acupuncture approaches; and 3) objectively comment on the effectiveness of acupuncture for the rehabilitation of this type of disorder.
METHODS
The Elsevier database and a Chinese database (CNKI) were searched through December, 2010 with the key words "aphasia, acupuncture" in English and Chinese, respectively. Case reports, uncontrolled clinical observations and controlled clinical trials were all included if acupuncture was the sole treatment or the main component of complex intervention for the rehabilitation of aphasia caused by cerebrovascular disease.
RESULTS
More than 100 relevant articles were found. After analyzing these articles, we found that acupuncture for apoplectic aphasia most often included tongue, scalp, body and combination acupuncture. Tongue bleeding, deep insertion and strong stimulation were adopted by many practitioners. The ten most frequently used acupoints (or areas) were Lianquan (RN 23), Jinjin (EX-HN 12), Yuye (EX-HN 13), Tongli (HT 5), Fengchi (GB 20), Neiguan (PC 6), Baihui (DU 20), No. 1, 2 and 3 language sections, Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Yamen (DU 15).
CONCLUSIONS
Controlled clinical studies and a systematic literature review demonstrate that acupuncture has therapeutic effects on aphasia after stroke.
Topics: Acupuncture Therapy; Animals; Aphasia; Humans; Stroke
PubMed: 23297549
DOI: 10.1016/s0254-6272(13)60031-x -
Brain and Language Nov 2023Studies on the efficacy of language treatment for multilingual people with post-stroke aphasia and its generalization to untreated languages have produced mixed results.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Studies on the efficacy of language treatment for multilingual people with post-stroke aphasia and its generalization to untreated languages have produced mixed results. We conducted a systematic review and a meta-analysis to examine within- and cross-language treatment effects and the variables that affect them. We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Google Scholar (February 2020; January 2023), identifying 40 studies reporting on 1573 effect sizes from 85 individuals. We synthesized effect sizes for treatment outcomes using a multi-level model to correct for multiple observations from the same individuals. The results showed significant treatment effects, with robust within-language treatment effects and weaker cross-language treatment effects. Age of language acquisition of the treatment language predicted within-language and cross-language effects. Our results suggest that treating multilingual people with aphasia in one language may generalize to their other languages, especially following treatment in an early-acquired language and a later-learned language that became the language of immersion.
Topics: Humans; Language; Aphasia; Multilingualism; Language Development; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 37994828
DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2023.105326 -
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease : JAD 2023Semantic and Phonological fluency (SF and PF) are routinely evaluated in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). There are disagreements in the literature regarding... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Semantic and Phonological fluency (SF and PF) are routinely evaluated in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). There are disagreements in the literature regarding which fluency task is more affected while developing AD. Most studies focus on SF assessment, given its connection with the temporoparietal amnesic system. PF is less reported, it is related to working memory, which is also impaired in probable and diagnosed AD. Differentiating between performance on these tasks might be informative in early AD diagnosis, providing an accurate linguistic profile.
OBJECTIVE
Compare SF and PF performance in healthy volunteers, volunteers with probable AD, and patients with AD diagnosis, considering the heterogeneity of age, gender, and educational level variables.
METHODS
A total of 8 studies were included for meta-analysis, reaching a sample size of 1,270 individuals (568 patients diagnosed with AD, 340 with probable AD diagnosis, and 362 healthy volunteers).
RESULTS
The three groups consistently performed better on SF than PF. When progressing to a diagnosis of AD, we observed a significant difference in SF and PF performance across our 3 groups of interest (p = 0.04). The age variable explained a proportion of this difference in task performance across the groups, and as age increases, both tasks equally worsen.
CONCLUSION
The performance of SF and PF might play a differential role in early AD diagnosis. These tasks rely on partially different neural bases of language processing. They are thus worth exploring independently in diagnosing normal aging and its transition to pathological stages, including probable and diagnosed AD.
Topics: Humans; Semantics; Alzheimer Disease; Verbal Behavior; Neuropsychological Tests; Linguistics
PubMed: 37482994
DOI: 10.3233/JAD-221272