Performance-Based Robotic Training in Individuals with Subacute Stroke: Differences between Responders and Non-Responders.

The high variability of upper limb motor recovery with robotic training (RT) in subacute stroke underscores the need to explore differences in responses to RT. We explored differences in baseline characteristics and the RT dose between responders (ΔFugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) score ≥ 9 points; = 20) and non-responders ( = 16) in people with subacute stroke (mean [SD] poststroke time at baseline, 54 (26) days, baseline FMA score, 23 (17) points) who underwent 16 RT sessions combined with conventional therapies. Baseline characteristics were compared between groups.

Using Robot-Based Variables during Upper Limb Robot-Assisted Training in Subacute Stroke Patients to Quantify Treatment Dose.

In post-stroke motor rehabilitation, treatment dose description is estimated approximately. The aim of this retrospective study was to quantify the treatment dose using robot-measured variables during robot-assisted training in patients with subacute stroke. Thirty-six patients performed fifteen 60 min sessions (Session 1−Session 15) of planar, target-directed movements in addition to occupational therapy over 4 (SD 2) weeks.

Reversed and Antegrade Iliac Side Branch Stentgraft as an Alternative or Rescue Maneuver in Complex (Thoraco)Abdominal Endovascular Aortic Repair to Preserve Renal Perfusion.

Purpose: To describe a technique that can preserve renal perfusion in failed bridging stent implantation of renal arteries or as intentional procedure in emergency cases, when the (thoraco)abdominal aneurysm anatomy does not meet the criteria for instructions for use of an "off-the-shelf" graft. The technique is based on reversed or antegrade integration of a standard iliac side branch graft into the aortic stentgraft system, which allows cannulation of (accessory) renal vessels.

Technique: A standard iliac side branch prosthesis is deployed and re-sheathed in reversed direction on the back table.

Impact of Dose of Combined Conventional and Robotic Therapy on Upper Limb Motor Impairments and Costs in Subacute Stroke Patients: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction: Robot-based training integrated into usual care might optimize therapy productivity and increase treatment dose. This retrospective study compared two doses of an upper limb rehabilitation program combining robot-assisted therapy and occupational therapy on motor recovery and costs after stroke.

Methods: Thirty-six subacute stroke patients [Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) score 32 ± 12 points; mean ± SD] underwent a combined program of 29 ± 3 sessions of robot-assisted therapy and occupational therapy.

Endovascular entry closure of a late type A aortic dissection after implantation of a self-expanding transcatheter heart valve (Evolut R): a case report.

Background: Late Stanford type A aortic dissections (TAADs) are a very rare complication after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Surgery is the treatment of choice, but perioperative mortality (25%) and neurological complications (18%) remain high.

Case Summary: An 85-year-old male patient presented with acute chest pain 5 months after a transfemoral Evolut R 34 mm transcatheter heart valve (THV) implantation.

Comparison of active-assisted and active-unassisted robot-mediated upper limb therapy in subacute stroke.

Background: Upper-limb robot-mediated therapy is usually carried out in active-assisted mode because it enables performance of many movements. However, assistance may reduce the patient's own efforts which could limit motor recovery.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of active-assisted and active-unassisted robotic interactions on motor recovery in subacute stroke patients with moderate hemiparesis.

Test-Retest Reliability of Kinematic Assessments for Upper Limb Robotic Rehabilitation.

Robot-measured kinematic variables are increasingly used in neurorehabilitation to characterize motor recovery following stroke. However, few studies have evaluated the reliability of these kinematic variables. This study aimed at evaluating the test-retest reliability of typically-used robot-measured kinematic variables in healthy subjects (HS) and patients with stroke (SP).

Adapted physical activity in community-dwelling adults with neurological disorders: design and outcomes of a fitness-center based program.

Purpose: To describe and evaluate an adapted physical activity-based program (APA-program) designed for community-dwelling patients with neurological diseases in local fitness centers.

Materials And Methods: The APA-program consisted of individual and group activities supervised by an adapted physical activity (APA) instructor twice a week for 6 months. Clinical evaluations before and after the APA-program included strength tests on gym machines, the six-minute walk test (6MWT), the single-leg stance test, and the Short Form-36 (SF-36).

Can robot-based measurements improve prediction of motor performance after robot-assisted upper-limb rehabilitation in patients with moderate-to-severe sub-acute stroke?

Purpose: Patients with moderate-to-severe stroke-related upper limb impairment can benefit from repetitive robot-assisted training. However, predicting motor performance in these patients from baseline measurements, including robot-based parameters would help clinicians to provide optimal treatments for each individual.

Methods: Forty-six patients with sub-acute stroke underwent a 16-session upper limb rehabilitation combining usual care and robotic therapy.

Using the Sleeve Technique in a Mouse Model of Aortic Transplantation - An Instructional Video.

Orthotopic aortic transplantation using the sleeve technique reduces injury to the aorta with failure rate of only 10-20%. The time to anastomose the aorta in mice using the sleeve method was short and easy averaging 20 min, permitting studies of iso/allo grafts. The following article describes the aortic transplantation procedure used in our laboratory.

Role of the CX3C chemokine receptor CX3CR1 in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis after aortic transplantation.

Background: The CX3C chemokine receptor CX3CR1 is expressed on monocytes as well as tissue resident cells, such as smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Its role in atherosclerotic tissue remodeling of the aorta after transplantation has not been investigated.

Methods: We here have orthotopically transplanted infrarenal Cx3cr1-/-Apoe-/- and Cx3cr1+/+Apoe-/- aortic segments into Apoe-/-mice, as well as Apoe-/- aortic segments into Cx3cr1-/-Apoe-/- mice.

Deletion of junctional adhesion molecule A from platelets increases early-stage neointima formation after wire injury in hyperlipidemic mice.

Platelets play an important role in the pathogenesis of vascular remodelling after injury. Junctional adhesion molecule A (JAM-A) was recently described to regulate platelet activation. Specific deletion of JAM-A from platelets resulted in increased reactivity and in accelerated progression of atherosclerosis.

[Relevance of Vascular Trauma in Trauma Care - Impact on Clinical Course and Mortality].

There is a lack of evidence as to the relevance of vascular trauma (VT) in patients with severe injuries. Therefore, we reviewed registry data in the present study in order to systematically objectify the effect of VT in these patients. This study aimed to provide an adequate picture of the relevance of vascular trauma and to identify adverse prognostic factors.

Effect of endoleaks on changes in aortoiliac volume after endovascular repair for abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Purpose: To evaluate changes in aortoiliac volume after endovascular repair (EVAR) for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in patients with and without endoleaks.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 137 patients who underwent EVAR for AAA. We manually measured the aortoiliac volume on pre-procedural baseline CT angiograms (CTAs) and post-procedural follow-up CTAs.

Vascular compression syndromes.

Dealing with vascular compression syndromes is one of the most challenging tasks in Vascular Medicine practice. This heterogeneous group of disorders is characterised by external compression of primarily healthy arteries and/or veins as well as accompanying nerval structures, carrying the risk of subsequent structural vessel wall and nerve damage. Vascular compression syndromes may severely impair health-related quality of life in affected individuals who are typically young and otherwise healthy.

Vitamin K antagonism aggravates chronic kidney disease-induced neointimal hyperplasia and calcification in arterialized veins: role of vitamin K treatment?

Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the common vascular access type for a hemodialysis patient. Its failure is due to neointimal hyperplasia. Vitamin K antagonists are given to lower thrombosis tendency, but have side effects that enhance arterial calcifications.

Hyperreactivity of junctional adhesion molecule A-deficient platelets accelerates atherosclerosis in hyperlipidemic mice.

Rationale: Besides their essential role in hemostasis, platelets also have functions in inflammation. In platelets, junctional adhesion molecule (JAM)-A was previously identified as an inhibitor of integrin αIIbβ3-mediated outside-in signaling and its genetic knockdown resulted in hyperreactivity.

Objective: This gain-of-function was specifically exploited to investigate the role of platelet hyperreactivity in plaque development.

Selective renal blood perfusion induces renal tubules injury in a porcine model.

Objective: Extracorporeal circulation is routinely used in thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair to preserve blood perfusion. Despite this protective measure, acute and chronic kidney disorders can develop. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish a new large-animal model to assess the efficacy of selective renal perfusion (SRP) with extracorporeal circulation in a setting of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Establishment of a new murine elastase-induced aneurysm model combined with transplantation.

Introduction: The aim of our study was to develop a reproducible murine model of elastase-induced aneurysm formation combined with aortic transplantation.

Methods: Adult male mice (n = 6-9 per group) underwent infrarenal, orthotopic transplantation of the aorta treated with elastase or left untreated. Subsequently, both groups of mice were monitored by ultrasound until 7 weeks after grafting.

Treatment of type I endoleaks using transcatheter embolization with onyx.

Purpose: To report a single-center experience with transcatheter embolization of type I endoleaks using the liquid embolic agent Onyx, an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer.

Methods: Eight patients (4 men; mean age 74.8 years, range 63-86) with 10 type I endoleaks (6 abdominal and 4 thoracic) diagnosed 2 days to 9 years after endovascular repair were treated with Onyx embolization because cuff extension was precluded by an insufficient landing zone in 6 cases and an unsuitable aortic diameter in 2.

Microcirculatory perfusion shift in the gut wall layers induced by extracorporeal circulation.

Objective: Extracorporeal circulation (ECC) is regularly applied to maintain organ perfusion during major aortic and cardiovascular surgery. During thoracoabdominal aortic repair, ECC-driven selective visceral arterial perfusion (SVP) results in changed microcirculatory perfusion (shift from the muscularis toward the mucosal small intestinal layer) in conjunction with macrohemodynamic hypoperfusion. The underlying mechanism, however, is unclear.

Meta-analysis and systematic review of the predictive value of carotid plaque hemorrhage on cerebrovascular events by magnetic resonance imaging.

Objectives: This study sought to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine precise estimates of the predictive value of carotid intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) as determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for cerebrovascular events.

Background: There is emerging evidence that MR-based carotid atherosclerotic plaque assessment identifies high-risk features associated with cerebrovascular events. However, available data are based on smaller samples with heterogeneous source populations despite a promising value for noninvasive risk stratification.