Frailty identification and management among Brazilian healthcare professionals: a survey.

Background: National and international guidelines on frailty assessment and management recommend frailty screening in older people. This study aimed to determine how Brazilian healthcare professionals (HCPs) identify and manage frailty in practice.

Methods: An anonymous online survey on the assessment and management of frailty was circulated virtually through HCPs across Brazil.

Challenges in adapting a stroke unit in a middle-income country: warning about costs and underfunding to achieve the Brazilian Ministry of Health's benchmark.

Background: Since the implementation of the stroke care line in Brazil, the relationship (adequacy) of costs spent during hospitalization with the Brazilian Ministry of Health indicators for a stroke unit have not yet been analyzed.

Aims: This study aimed to assess the adequacy of a comprehensive stroke center for key performance indicators and analyze the costs involved in hospitalization. We verified the association between stroke severity at admission and care costs during hospitalization.

To what extent does frailty mediate the association between age and the outcomes of brain reperfusion following acute ischemic stroke?

Objective: We evaluated the extent to which frailty mediated the association between age, poor functional outcomes, and mortality after acute ischemic stroke when patients were treated with brain reperfusion (thrombolytic therapy and/or thrombectomy).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke who had undergone intravenous cerebral reperfusion therapy and/or mechanical thrombectomy. We created a mediation model by analyzing the direct natural effect of an mRS score > 2 and death on age-mediated frailty according to the Frailty Index.

Influence of CReatine supplementation on mUScle mass and strength after stroke (ICaRUS Stroke Trial): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability, and its sequelae are associated with inadequate food intake which can lead to sarcopenia. The aim of this study is to verify the effectiveness of creatine supplementation on functional capacity, strength, and changes in muscle mass during hospitalization for stroke compared to usual care. An exploratory subanalysis will be performed to assess the inflammatory profiles of all participants, in addition to a follow-up 90 days after stroke, to verify functional capacity, muscle strength, mortality, and quality of life.

Transcranial doppler as screening method for sickling crises in children with sickle cell anemia: a latin America cohort study.

Background: Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is the leading cause of childhood stroke. We aimed to evaluate whether altered cerebral flow velocities, as measured by transcranial Doppler (TCD), are associated with vaso-occlusive complications in addition to stroke in pediatric SCA patients.

Methods: We evaluated 37 children aged between 2 and 16 years with SCA who underwent screening for TCD between January 2012 and October 2018.

Non-invasive Brain Stimulation Can Reduce Unilateral Spatial Neglect after Stroke: ELETRON Trial.

Objective: Rehabilitation top-down techniques based on brain stimulation present variable outcomes in unilateral spatial neglect (USN) after stroke. This study aimed to examine the effects of physical therapy after anodal and cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (A-tDCS and C-tDCS, respectively) to improve visuospatial and functional impairments in individuals with USN after stroke.

Methods: This double-blinded, pilot randomized clinical trial enrolled patients with USN after ischemic stroke.

Clinical and Functional Outcomes of Patients Receiving Cerebral Reperfusion Therapy: A Stroke Databank Study in Brazil.

Objectives: Cerebral reperfusion therapy is recommended for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. However, the outcomes of patients receiving this therapy in middle- and low-income countries should be better defined. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes of cerebral reperfusion therapy in patients with ischemic stroke.

Safety of the effective radiation dose received during stroke hospitalization.

Background: Neuroimaging is widely used for diagnosis and treatment of stroke. However, little is known about whether the radiation doses received by patients comply with international safety guidelines.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effective radiation dose received while in hospital for stroke and analyze its safety according to current guidelines.

The Role of Transthoracic Echocardiography in the Evaluation of Patients With Ischemic Stroke.

Ischemic stroke can be classified into five etiological types, according to the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) classification, and its adequate investigation and characterization can aid in its clinical management and in preventing new events. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) plays a key role in investigating its etiology; approximately one-third of the patients remain without an adequate definition of the etiology or are classified as the undetermined TOAST type. To evaluate if the percentage of patients with indeterminate etiology according to the TOAST classification decreased after transthoracic echocardiography, to determine whether or not the prognosis after ischemic stroke is worse among patients classified as the undetermined TOAST type, and to verify the predictive capacity of echocardiography on the prognosis after ischemic stroke.

The Impact of Age on Mortality and Disability in Patients With Ischemic Stroke Who Underwent Cerebral Reperfusion Therapy: A Brazilian Cohort Study.

The main driver for increased stroke prevalence is the aging of the population; however, the best evidenced-based strategies for stroke treatment and prevention are not always followed for older patients. Therefore, the aim was studying the association of age with clinical outcomes (mortality and functional disability) in stroke patients who underwent cerebral reperfusion therapy at hospital discharge and 90 days after ictus. This was a retrospective (stroke databank analysis) cohort study of participants who had been diagnosed with ischemic stroke and undergone intravenous cerebral reperfusion therapy or mechanical thrombectomy.

Use of artificial intelligence as an instrument of evaluation after stroke: a scoping review based on international classification of functioning, disability and health concept.

Introduction: To understand the current practices in stroke evaluation, the main clinical decision support system and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies need to be understood to assist the therapist in obtaining better insights about impairments and level of activity and participation in persons with stroke during rehabilitation.

Methods: This scoping review maps the use of AI for the functional evaluation of persons with stroke; the context involves any setting of rehabilitation. Data were extracted from CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, CINAHL, PEDRO Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, AAAI Publications, ACM Digital Library, MathSciNet, and arXiv up to January 2021.

Respiratory Function and Grip Strength in the Acute Phase of Stroke Are Associated with Stroke Severity and Disability at Hospital Discharge.

Unlabelled: . Stroke can lead to musculoskeletal and respiratory dysfunction, chronic deconditioning, and functional limitations, as well as long-term complications.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between respiratory function and grip strength in the acute phase of stroke and stroke severity, disability, and autonomy in the long term.

Dysphagia and tube feeding after stroke are associated with poorer functional and mortality outcomes.

Background & Aims: Stroke is the leading cause of disability in adult life. Oropharyngeal dysphagia occurs in 65-90% of patients, and its identification in the acute phase of stroke can prevent complications. The aim of this study was to verify whether oropharyngeal dysphagia during stroke hospitalization is associated with functional capacity, as assessed by the modified Rankin Scale (mRs), and mortality 90 days after stroke.

Effect of ankle-foot orthosis on functional mobility and dynamic balance of patients after stroke: Study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Introduction: Stroke is the principal cause of impairment in the motor function and gait of adults. One of the resources used in rehabilitation to optimize gait is a prescription of ankle-foot orthosis (AFO), and the most prescribed AFOs are Fixed AFO and Articulated AFO; however, it is not known which of these options is more effective for these individuals. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of different types of ankle-foot orthosis functional mobility and dynamic balance in stroke patients.

Influence of an exercise program on cardiac remodeling and functional capacity in patients with stroke (CRONuS trial): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Cardiovascular rehabilitation is one of the treatment options for post-stroke individuals in order to improve functional independence in activities of daily life and reduce energy expenditure. The aim of this trial is to evaluate the effect of an exercise program on the echocardiographic variables, functional capacity, inflammatory response, neurological status, nutritional status, cardiologic evaluation, and quality of life of patients after stroke.

Methods/design: This is a randomized controlled trial including patients with ischemic stroke in the chronic phase.

Validation of the Catherine Bergego Scale in patients with unilateral spatial neglect after stroke.

Unlabelled: The Catherine Bergego Scale (CBS) is a scale to evaluates the impact of unilateral spatial neglect (USN) on everyday life of patients after stroke.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and comprehension of the Portuguese version of the CBS for patients with USN after stroke.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in patients with stroke and USN.

Noninvasive Brain Stimulations for Unilateral Spatial Neglect after Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized and Nonrandomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Unilateral spatial neglect (USN) is the most frequent perceptual disorder after stroke. Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) is a tool that has been used in the rehabilitation process to modify cortical excitability and improve perception and functional capacity.

Objective: To assess the impact of NIBS on USN after stroke.

Adductor Pollicis Muscle Thickness and Obesity Are Associated with Poor Outcome after Stroke: A Cohort Study.

Background: Nutritional status may influence outcome after stroke. It is possible that some obese individuals present reduced fat-free mass.

Aims: We aimed to determine if bedside evaluation of body composition by the body mass index (BMI), adductor pollicis muscle thickness (APMT) and arm muscle area (AMA), and the combination of low APMT or AMA with obesity are associated with disability 90 days after stroke.

Amnestic dementia impairment in Parkinson's disease: The role of body composition, ageing and insulin resistance.

Background: The risk of cognitive impairment associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) is related to ageing. The role of body compartmentalization and associated metabolic dysfunctions, as a risk factor for dementia in PD is still not clear.

Objective: To investigate body mass distribution, insulin resistance, and other parameters in patients without dementia, and those with dementia classified as compromised delayed memory.

Evaluation of Respiratory Muscle Strength in the Acute Phase of Stroke: The Role of Aging and Anthropometric Variables.

Background: During hospitalization, stroke patients are bedridden due to neurologic impairment, leading to loss of muscle mass, weakness, and functional limitation. There have been few studies examining respiratory muscle strength (RMS) in the acute phase of stroke.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the RMS of patients with acute stroke compared with predicted values and to relate this to anthropometric variables, risk factors, and neurologic severity.

Higher salt preference in heart failure patients.

Heart failure (HF) is a complex syndrome that involves changes in behavioral, neural and endocrine regulatory systems. Dietary salt restriction along with pharmacotherapy is considered an essential component in the effective management of symptomatic HF patients. However, it is well recognized that HF patients typically have great difficulty in restricting sodium intake.