Paired associative stimulation improves motor function in the upper extremity in chronic incomplete spinal cord injury: a corroborative study.

Objective: To corroborate findings suggesting that spinally targeted paired associative stimulation improves upper extremity motor function in chronic incomplete spinal cord injury.

Design: Prospective interventional study.

Subjects: Five adults with chronic tetraplegia.

A Qualitative Phenomenological Philosophy Analysis of Affectivity and Temporality in Experiences of COVID-19 and Remaining Symptoms after COVID-19 in Sweden.

This article explores affectivity, temporality, and their interrelation in patients who contracted COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic in Sweden and with symptoms indicative of post-COVID-19 Condition (PCC) that remained one year after the infection. It offers a qualitative phenomenological philosophy analysis, showing how being ill with acute COVID-19 and with symptoms indicative of PCC can entail a radically altered self-world relation. We identify two examples of pre-intentional (existential) feelings: that of listlessness and that of not being able to sense what is real and not real, both of which, in different ways, imply a changed self-world relation.

MRI with generalized diffusion encoding reveals damaged white matter in patients previously hospitalized for COVID-19 and with persisting symptoms at follow-up.

There is mounting evidence of the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the central nervous system, with patients experiencing diverse symptoms, often suggesting brain involvement. Conventional brain MRI of these patients shows unspecific patterns, with no clear connection of the symptomatology to brain tissue abnormalities, whereas diffusion tensor studies and volumetric analyses detect measurable changes in the brain after COVID-19. Diffusion MRI exploits the random motion of water molecules to achieve unique sensitivity to structures at the microscopic level, and new sequences employing generalized diffusion encoding provide structural information which are sensitive to intravoxel features.

Tapping into the unimpossible: Philosophical health in lives with spinal cord injury.

Background: We investigated the personal philosophies of eight persons with a tetraplegic condition (four male, four female), all living in Sweden with a chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) and all reporting a good life. Our purpose was to discover if there is a philosophical mindset that may play a role in living a good life with a traumatic SCI.

Methods: Two rounds of in-depth qualitative interviews were performed by the same interviewer, a philosophical practitioner by training (de Miranda).

Reliability and validity of the Hebrew version of the International Spinal Cord Injury Activities and Participation Basic Data Set.

Background: The International Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Activities and Participation Basic Data Set (APBDS) was created to facilitate comparisons of levels of function and disability in SCI individuals worldwide.

Aim: Evaluating the reliability and validity of the APBDS's Hebrew translation was our goal.

Design: Observational, cross-sectional study.

Two-year follow-up of patients with post-COVID-19 condition in Sweden: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Few studies have reported the long-term health effects of COVID-19. The regional population-based Linköping COVID-19 study (LinCoS) included all patients hospitalised due to COVID-19 during the first pandemic wave. Four months post-discharge, over 40% (185/433) experienced persisting symptoms and activity/participation limitations, indicating post-COVID-19 condition (PCC).

Neurocognitive deficits in COVID-19 patients five months after discharge from hospital.

This observational cohort study explored objective neurocognitive deficits in COVID-19 patients five months after discharge, and any associations with demographic factors and disease severity indicators. Medical notes of all COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital in Region Östergötland, Sweden, March-May 2020, were reviewed. After applying exclusion criteria, 433 patients were screened by telephone.

Seven Domains of Persisting Problems after Hospital-treated Covid-19 Indicate a Need For a Multiprofessional Rehabilitation Approach.

Objectives: To identify domains of persisting problems at 4 months after discharge in patients previously hospitalized due to COVID-19, with a focus on a subgroup of patients reporting symptoms to an extent indicative of rehabilitation needs.

Design: Ambidirectional observational cohort study.

Patients: All patients with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis admitted to hospital in a Swedish healthcare region during the period 1 March to 31 May 2020.

Improved 60-day survival but impaired general health in Swedish ICU-COVID patients: An ambidirectional population-based study.

Background: Survival among critically ill COVID-19 patients varies between countries and time periods. Mortality rates up to 60% have been reported in intensive care units (ICUs). Standard-of-care has evolved throughout the pandemic.

Multiprofessional Neurorehabilitation After COVID-19 Infection Should Include Assessment of Visual Function.

Objective: To report vision-related symptoms and neuro-visual clinical signs in patients approximately 4 months after discharge from hospitalization after COVID-19 infection. To report on coexisting functional and activity limitations.

Design: The study is part of an ambidirectional population-based cohort study.

Rehabilitation needs following COVID-19: Five-month post-discharge clinical follow-up of individuals with concerning self-reported symptoms.

Background: This report describes and objectivizes reported problems among a cohort of previously hospitalized COVID-19 patients by clinical examination and determination of the required level of rehabilitation sevices.

Methods: This report forms part of the Linköping COVID-19 Study (LinCoS) that included 745 individuals from one of 21 Swedish healthcare regions, Region Östergötland (RÖ), admitted to hospital for COVID-19 during March 1st-May 31st, 2020. In this descriptive ambidirectional cohort study, all 185 individuals who had reported concerning persisting symptoms were invited to a multi-professional clinical assessment of somatic, functional, affective, neuropsychological status and rehabilitation needs.

Brain MRI and neuropsychological findings at long-term follow-up after COVID-19 hospitalisation: an observational cohort study.

Objectives: To report findings on brain MRI and neurocognitive function, as well as persisting fatigue at long-term follow-up after COVID-19 hospitalisation in patients identified as high risk for affection of the central nervous system.

Design: Ambidirectional observational cohort study.

Setting: All 734 patients from a regional population in Sweden with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis admitted to hospital during the period 1 March to 31 May 2020.

[Spinal cord injury rehabilitation].

Spinal cord injury (SCI) challenges many aspects of life. Common secondary health conditions are sensorimotor impairments, autonomic dysfunction affecting bowel, bladder, sexual and cardiovascular function, pressure ulcers, pulmonary dysfunction, pain and psychological distress. Primary rehabilitation and lifelong follow-up from a specialized interdisciplinary rehabilitation team is needed to attain and maintain maximum functioning and participation in all aspects of life, and to reduce the risk of complications in the acute and chronic phases after SCI.

Sound psychometric properties of the Swedish version of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure Self-Report.

Objective: To describe data completeness, targeting and reliability of the Swedish version of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure Self-Report (s-SCIM-SR).

Design: Translation and reliability study.

Subjects: Programme participants (n = 48) and peer mentors (n = 42) with spinal cord injury enrolled in the INTERnational Project for the Evaluation of "activE Rehabilitation" (inter-PEER).

Complications of intrathecal drug delivery therapy (ITDD): A retrospective study of 231 implantations between 1999 and 2014.

Objective: Determination of types and frequencies of complications related to ITDD therapy, and assessment of possible risk factors for such complications.

Methods: Retrospective study (1999-2014) including all ITDD-implantations at one regional center in Sweden. Descriptors comprised: sex; age; medical condition; body weight index; preoperative ASA-grade; presence of indwelling urinary catheters, feeding tubes, and/or daily urinary or anal incontinence; primary or re-implantation; type of pump and catheter; drug delivered; weekday of surgery; surgical procedure time; surgeon; experience of surgeon; surgical theater; and type of antibiotic prophylaxis.

Prevalence of discomplete sensorimotor spinal cord injury as evidenced by neurophysiological methods: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of residual trans-lesion connectivity in persons with chronic clinically complete spinal cord injury (discompleteness) by neurophysiological methods.

Participants: A total of 23 adults with chronic sensorimotor complete spinal cord injury, identified through regional registries the regional spinal cord registry of Östergötland, Sweden.

Methods: Diagnosis of clinically complete spinal cord injury was verified by standardized neurological examination.

Preserved somatosensory conduction in complete spinal cord injury: Discomplete SCI.

Objective: Spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts the communication between brain and body parts innervated from below-injury spinal segments, but rarely results in complete anatomical transection of the spinal cord. The aim of this study was to investigate residual somatosensory conduction in clinically complete SCI, to corroborate the concept of sensory discomplete SCI.

Methods: We used fMRI with a somatosensory protocol in which blinded and randomized tactile and nociceptive stimulation was applied on both legs (below-injury level) and one arm (above-injury level) in eleven participants with chronic complete SCI.

Self-reported health problems and prioritized goals in community-dwelling individuals with spinal cord injury in Sweden.

Objective: To explore self-reported health problems and functional goals in community-dwelling individuals with spinal cord injury in Sweden.

Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study that used a survey designed by an experienced peer mentor with spinal cord injury.

Subjects: Community-dwelling individuals with spinal cord injury from Sweden.

Identifying Unmet Rehabilitation Needs in Patients After Stroke With a Graphic Rehab-Compass.

Background: Unmet rehabilitation needs are common among stroke survivors. We aimed to evaluate whether a comprehensive graphic "Rehab-Compass," a novel combination of structured patient-reported outcome measures, was feasible and useful in facilitating a capture of patients' rehabilitation needs in clinical practice.

Methods: A new graphic overview of broad unmet rehabilitation needs covers deficits in functioning, daily activity, participation, and quality of life.

Bladder irrigation with Chlorhexidine reduces bacteriuria in persons with spinal cord injury.

Objective: To explore whether bladder irrigation with chlorhexidine: (i) can reduce bacteriuria, and (ii) is a practically feasible option in subjects with spinal cord injury practicing intermittent self-catheterization.

Design: A prospective, non-controlled, open, multi-centre study.

Methods: Fifty patients with spinal cord injury, practicing intermittent self-catheterization, with a history of recurrent urinary tract infections were screened for bacteriuria at follow-up visits to 4 spinal cord injury centres in Sweden.

Computed tomography and clinical outcome in patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

Objective: To study: (i) acute computed tomography (CT) characteristics and clinical outcome; (ii) clinical course and (iii) Corticosteroid Randomisation after Significant Head Injury acute calculator protocol (CRASH) model and clinical outcome in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI).

Methods: Initial CT (CT) and CT 24 hours post-trauma (CT) were evaluated according to Marshall and Rotterdam classifications. Rancho Los Amigos Cognitive Scale-Revised (RLAS-R) and Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE) were assessed at three months and one year post-trauma.

Changes in body composition after spasticity treatment with intrathecal baclofen.

Objective: To assess changes in body composition, body weight and resting metabolic rate in patients who received intrathecal baclofen therapy for spasticity.

Design: Prospective, longitudinal, quasi-experimental, with a pre/post design.

Patients: Twelve patients with spasticity, fulfilling study criteria, and due for pump implantation for intrathecal baclofen therapy, completed the study.

Cognitive Impairment after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury, Clinical Course and Impact on Outcome: A Swedish-Icelandic Study.

Objective: To assess the clinical course of cognitive and emotional impairments in patients with severe TBI (sTBI) from 3 weeks to 1 year after trauma and to study associations with outcomes at 1 year.

Methods: Prospective, multicenter, observational study of sTBI in Sweden and Iceland. Patients aged 18-65 years with acute Glasgow Coma Scale 3-8 were assessed with the Barrow Neurological Institute Screen for Higher Cerebral Functions (BNIS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Multi-family therapy in anorexia nervosa--A qualitative study of parental experiences.

This qualitative study from northern Sweden investigated experiences of multi-family therapy (MFT) in 12 parents of children with anorexia nervosa (AN). The main reported benefit was the opportunity to talk to others in a similar situation, thereby sharing experiences and struggles. MFT resulted in new perspectives and insights that improved family dynamics and enabled new constructive behaviors.