Validity of the Early Functional Ability scale (EFA) among critically ill patients undergoing early neurological rehabilitation.

Background: A reliable assessment of the functional abilities of patients after severe brain damage is crucial for valid prognostication and treatment decisions, but most clinical scales are of limited use among this specific group of patients.

Aim: The present study investigates the usefulness of the Early Functional Ability (EFA) scale, which determines the functional abilities of severely impaired patients.

Methods: Critically ill patients consecutively admitted to early neurological rehabilitation were screened for eligibility.

The predictive validity of the Hessisch Oldendorf Risk of Falling Scale (HOSS) decreases during the course of rehabilitation.

Background: Falls are highly frequent among neurological patients during rehabilitation and subsequent risk assessments are crucial to prevent falls.

Objective: This study aims to determine the predictive values of the Hessisch Oldendorf Risk of Falling Scale (HOSS, "Hessisch Oldendorfer Sturzrisiko Skala") for two timeframes: the first month of rehabilitation and from the second month to the end of rehabilitation.

Methods: Scale performances were assessed for 512 patients during inpatient neurological rehabilitation by calculating the sensitivity and the specificity.

Thyroid Hormone Levels Help to Predict Outcome of Critically Ill Patients Undergoing Early Neurological Rehabilitation.

The present study was aimed at examining thyroid hormones and other clinical factors to improve the accuracy of outcome prediction among critically ill patients undergoing early neurological rehabilitation. Patients consecutively admitted to an intensive or intermediate care unit were screened for eligibility. Serum levels of free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were collected during the first three days after admission.

One-year outcome of brain injured patients undergoing early neurological rehabilitation: a prospective observational study.

Background: The present study intended to analyze the outcome of patients with severe brain injury one-year after discharge from early rehabilitation.

Methods: Early neurological rehabilitation patients admitted to intensive or intermediate care units and discharged between June 2018 and May 2020 were screened for eligibility. The level of consciousness was evaluated using the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) upon admission and at discharge.

Treatment of upper limb spasticity with inhibitory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation: A randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Upper limb dysfunction is a frequent complication after stroke impairing outcome. Inhibitory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied over the contralesional hemisphere is supposed to enhance the positive effects of conventional rehabilitative treatment.

Objective: This double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial investigated whether inhibitory rTMS as add-on to standard therapy improves upper limb spasticity.

[Relevance of the Clinical Ethics Committee (CEC) for Clinical Staff of a Specialized Neurological Clinic].

Background: Clinical ethics committees (CECs) have been implemented in German clinics since the 1990s. Besides problems with the integration into clinical routines, CECs result in an enrichment and relief for employees and relatives. Investigating the current status of CECs in specialized neurological clinics is crucial because changes in therapy goals towards palliative care are often requested and the treatment team is sometimes overwhelmed with clarifying the presumed patient's wishes.

Evaluation of the predictive validity of the Hessisch Oldendorf Risk of Falling Scale (HOSS).

Objective: This study aims to further validate the Hessisch Oldendorf Risk of Falling Scale (HOSS) for neurological rehabilitation patients.

Design: The overall scale performance and fall rate was calculated in a retrospective data analysis.

Setting: The study was performed in a subacute care facility during inpatient neurological rehabilitation.

Auditory Stimulation Modulates Resting-State Functional Connectivity in Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome Patients.

Passive listening to music is associated with several psychological and physical benefits in both, healthy and diseased populations. In this fMRI study, we examined whether preferred music has effects on the functional connectivity within resting-state networks related to consciousness. Thirteen patients in unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) and 18 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled.

The influence of the CRS-R score on functional outcome in patients with severe brain injury receiving early rehabilitation.

Background: The aim of the study was to determine the role of the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) in the prediction of functional status at the end of neurological early rehabilitative treatment.

Methods: Patients consecutively admitted to intensive or intermediate care units of a neurological rehabilitation center were enrolled in the study. Consciousness and functional status were assessed with the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) and the Early Rehabilitation Barthel Index (ERBI), respectively.

Changed functional connectivity at rest in functional illiterates after extensive literacy training.

Background: About 6.2 million adults in Germany cannot read and write properly despite attending school for several years. They are considered to be functional illiterates (FI).

Expected Valence Predicts Choice in a Recurrent Decision Task.

There is empirical evidence that expected yet not current affect predicts decisions. However, common research designs in affective decision-making show consistent methodological problems (e.g.

Prevalence of serum IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among clinic staff.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic threatens health care providers and society. For planning of treatment capacities, it is of major importance to obtain reliable information on infection and fatality rates of the novel coronavirus. A German community study, the so-called Heinsberg study, found a 5-fold higher infection rate (and thus a remarkably lower fatality rate) than the officially reported cases suggest.

[Impact of occupational problems on employment status six months after inpatient neurological rehabilitation].

Background: By identifying occupational problems, job-related therapies may be included in rehabilitation at an early stage, increasing the return-to-work rate. The aim of the present study was to examine whether occupational problems that were identified were associated with the employment status six months after inpatient rehabilitation.

Methods: A total of 122 neurological patients undergoing neurological inpatient rehabilitation at the BDH-Clinic Hessisch Oldendorf were retrospectively analysed using clinical routine data from the database of the clinic.

Influence of paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH) on the functional outcome of neurological early rehabilitation patients: a case control study.

Background: Paroxysmal Sympathetic Hyperactivity (PSH) is a frequently observed condition among critically ill patients on intensive care units. According to different studies, PSH is associated with worse recovery and increased mortality in acute-care facilities. In this monocentric, retrospective case-control study, we investigated whether this association also applies to post-acute neurological early rehabilitation.

Standardized nutritional supply versus individual nutritional assessment: Impact on weight changes, complications and functional outcome from neurological early rehabilitation.

Background & Aims: Approximately 55% of neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation (NNER) patients are in need of enteral nutrition, but long-term nutritional assessment of these critically ill patients is suboptimal. Therefore, this study analyzed the effect of an individual nutritional assessment on weight changes during rehabilitation and impact on complications and functional outcome.

Methods: 170 NNER patients on enteral nutrition were enrolled in the study.

Nutritional situation of enterally fed patients in neurological early rehabilitation and impact of nutritional status on functional outcome.

Background & Aims: Studies focusing on the nutritional status of neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation (NNER) patients are limited. The aim of the current study was to determine the nutritional status of NNER patients upon admission, to observe weight changes and to investigate the influence of nutritional status on complications and outcome.

Methods: 109 enterally fed NNER patients were included in this prospective observational study.

[Effects of Respiratory Muscle Training on the Incidence of Pneumonia in Neurological and Neurosurgical Early Rehabilitation: Results from a Matched-Pair Analysis].

Background: Most disorders in neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation (NNER) are associated with an increased pneumonia risk. Respiratory therapy aims to prevent respiratory complications. However, there are no studies showing an effect of respiratory muscle training on the incidence of pneumonia in NNER.

Factors influencing weaning from mechanical ventilation in neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation patients.

Background: Studies analyzing risk factors of weaning failure in neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation (NNER) patients are rare.

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify clinical factors influencing the weaning of NNER patients.

Design: An observational, retrospective data analysis of a German multicenter study was performed.

Comparison of fall prediction by the Hessisch Oldendorf Fall Risk Scale and the Fall Risk Scale by Huhn in neurological rehabilitation: an observational study.

Objective: To calculate scale performance of the newly developed Hessisch Oldendorf Fall Risk Scale (HOSS) for classifying fallers and non-fallers in comparison with the Risk of Falling Scale by Huhn (FSH), a frequently used assessment tool.

Design: A prospective observational trail was conducted.

Setting: The study was performed in a large specialized neurological rehabilitation facility.

Impact of Thyroid Hormone Levels on Functional Outcome in Neurological and Neurosurgical Early Rehabilitation Patients.

Background: Neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation (NNER) is a specialized treatment option for patients with severe neurological disorders. The present study investigated whether thyroid hormone levels on admission have an impact on the outcome of NNER patients.

Method: The study included 500 NNER patients who were admitted to the BDH-Clinic Hessisch Oldendorf between 2009 and 2010.

[5-Year-Follow-up of the MEmbeR Multicenter Study on Medical-Occupational Rehabilitation].

In Germany, medical-occupational rehabilitation represents an essential link between rehabilitation programs focusing either on medical or occupational rehabilitation. Its main objective is return to work. The current study presents the vocational integration 5 years after medical-occupational rehabilitation and determines possible prognostic factors for long-term occupational integration.

Structural changes in functionally illiterate adults after intensive training.

About 7.5million adults in Germany cannot read and write properly despite attending school for several years. They are considered to be functional illiterates.

[Assessment of Occupational Problems in Neurological Rehabilitation].

The so-called Würzburg Screening (WS) is recommended for assessing occupational problems among rehabilitation patients. However, it is unclear whether it can be used in neurological rehabilitation. Data of the WS as well as of a medical opinion of occupational problems (both assessed at the beginning of rehabilitation) was compared with prognoses of occupation at the end of rehabilitation.

Training-related changes in early visual processing of functionally illiterate adults: evidence from event-related brain potentials.

Background: Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were used to investigate training-related changes in fast visual word recognition of functionally illiterate adults. Analyses focused on the left-lateralized occipito-temporal N170, which represents the earliest processing of visual word forms. Event-related brain potentials were recorded from 20 functional illiterates receiving intensive literacy training for adults, 10 functional illiterates not participating in the training and 14 regular readers while they read words, pseudowords or viewed symbol strings.