Scrambler therapy for treatment of poststroke pain.

Objective: Strokes involving sensory pathways can result in contralesional pain syndromes often refractory to pharmacologic interventions. Scrambler therapy (ST) is a noninvasive electroanalgesia device used to treat pain caused by peripheral neuropathy; however, data are scarce regarding its use in conditions secondary to central nervous system pathology. We evaluate the efficacy of ST to treat poststroke pain.

A Therapeutic International Normalized Ratio Results in Smaller Infarcts and Better Outcomes for Patients with Ischemic Stroke.

Background: Prior studies have shown that warfarin is effective for both primary and secondary stroke prevention in individuals with atrial fibrillation. It is also known that those on warfarin with atrial fibrillation often have poorer long-term poststroke outcomes, possibly because cardioembolic strokes tend to be larger and more severe. Less is known regarding the direct effect of the international normalized ratio (INR) value at the time of stroke on severity or long-term functional status.

Streamlining the Process for Intravenous Tissue Plasminogen Activator.

Background: For ischemic stroke, the chance of improved recovery is directly impacted by length of time from symptom onset to administration of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA). Despite the importance of rapid treatment, stroke centers struggle with achieving consistent door-to-needle times of less than 60 minutes.

Methods: We implemented a change in our response to the acute stroke patient by adding a dedicated stroke nurse and a nursing flow sheet focused on critical benchmarks before treatment.

Mass march of termites into the deadly trap.

Carnivorous pitcher plants of the genus Nepenthes are not usually very selective about their prey, catching anything that is careless enough to walk on their slippery peristome, but Nepenthes albomarginata is an exception. We show here that this plant uses a fringe of edible white hairs to lure and then trap its prey, which consists exclusively of termites in enormous numbers. This singular feature accounts for the specialization of N.