Continuous versus intermittent physiological monitoring for acute stroke.

Background: Explanations for the effectiveness of stroke units compared with general wards in reducing mortality, institutionalisation and dependence of people with stroke remain undetermined, and the discussion on the most effective stroke unit model is still up for debate. The intensity of non-invasive mechanical monitoring in many western countries is one of the main issues regarding the different models. This is because of its strong impact on the organisation of the stroke unit in terms of the number of personnel, their expertise, the infrastructure and costs.

Piracetam for acute ischaemic stroke.

Background: Piracetam has neuroprotective and antithrombotic effects that may help to reduce death and disability in people with acute stroke. This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in 1999, and previously updated in 2006 and 2009.

Objectives: To assess the effects of piracetam in acute, presumed ischaemic stroke.

Magnetic resonance imaging versus computed tomography for detection of acute vascular lesions in patients presenting with stroke symptoms.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly used for the diagnosis of acute ischaemic stroke but its sensitivity for the early detection of intracerebral haemorrhage has been debated. Computed tomography (CT) is extensively used in the clinical management of acute stroke, especially for the rapid exclusion of intracerebral haemorrhage.

Objectives: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) and CT for acute ischaemic stroke, and to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of MRI for acute haemorrhagic stroke.

Third international stroke trial (IST-3) of thrombolysis for acute ischaemic stroke.

Background: Intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is approved for use in selected patients with ischaemic stroke within 3 hours of symptom onset. IST-3 seeks to determine whether a wider range of patients may benefit.

Design: International, multi-centre, prospective, randomized, open, blinded endpoint (PROBE) trial of intravenous rt-PA in acute ischaemic stroke.

Prognostic factors of activity limitation and discharge destination after stroke rehabilitation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify predictive variables related to activity limitation and home destination of a large sample of first-time stroke patients at discharge from a rehabilitation hospital.

Design: A multicenter observational study was conducted among 1023 first-time stroke patients who were admitted to 18 different Italian inpatient rehabilitation centers between February 1999 and November 2000. Only 997 patients were considered eligible.

Glycerol for acute stroke: a Cochrane systematic review.

Brain oedema is a major cause of early death after stroke. Glycerol is a hyperosmolar agent that is claimed to reduce brain oedema. We sought to determine whether I.

Different measures for assessing stroke outcome: an analysis from the International Stroke Trial in Italy.

Background And Purpose: We sought to assess the relationship between 2 simple questions on recovery (question 1: do you feel that you have made a complete recovery from your stroke?) and dependency (question 2: do you require help from another person for everyday activities?) and the Barthel Index (BI) and Oxford Handicap Scale (OHS), as well as the relationship between BI and OHS, in a large number of Italian stroke survivors who participated in the International Stroke Trial (IST).

Methods: We used data from 2423 patients interviewed by telephone at 6 months after the event. The kappa statistic, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated for several comparisons.