Altered Dynamic Resting State Functional Connectivity Associated With Somatosensory Impairments in the Upper Limb in the Early Sub-Acute Phase Post-Stroke.

Background.: Altered dynamic functional connectivity has been associated with motor impairments in the acute phase post-stroke. Its association with somatosensory impairments in the early sub-acute phase remains unexplored.

Trunk training following stroke.

Background: Previous systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials have investigated the effect of post-stroke trunk training. Findings suggest that trunk training improves trunk function and activity or the execution of a task or action by an individual. But it is unclear what effect trunk training has on daily life activities, quality of life, and other outcomes.

Longitudinal Synaptic Density PET with C-UCB-J 6 Months After Ischemic Stroke.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore longitudinal changes in synaptic density after ischemic stroke in vivo with synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A) positron emission tomography (PET).

Methods: We recruited patients with an ischemic stroke to undergo C-UCB-J PET/MR within the first month and 6 months after the stroke. We investigated longitudinal changes of partial volume corrected C-UCB-J standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR; relative to centrum semiovale) within the ischemic lesion, peri-ischemic area and unaffected ipsilesional and contralesional grey matter.

In Vivo Detection of Neurofibrillary Tangles by F-MK-6240 PET/MR in Patients With Ischemic Stroke.

Background And Objectives: The risk of developing Alzheimer disease is increased after stroke, and this association may not solely be driven by traditional vascular risk factors. Neuronal death leads to the release of tau proteins, which can become dephosphorylated, rephosphorylated, or hyperphosphorylated in the setting of ischemia, possibly leading to formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT). Therefore, a potential synergistic effect between development of tauopathy and cerebrovascular lesion burden may contribute to cognitive decline after stroke.

Changes in synaptic density in the subacute phase after ischemic stroke: A C-UCB-J PET/MR study.

Functional alterations after ischemic stroke have been described with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and perfusion Positron Emission Tomography (PET), but no data on synaptic changes exist. Recently, imaging of synaptic density became available by targeting synaptic vesicle protein 2 A, a protein ubiquitously expressed in all presynaptic nerve terminals. We hypothesized that in subacute ischemic stroke loss of synaptic density can be evaluated with C-UCB-J PET in the ischemic tissue and that alterations in synaptic density can be present in brain regions beyond the ischemic core.

Technology-supported sitting balance therapy versus usual care in the chronic stage after stroke: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Technology development for sitting balance therapy and trunk rehabilitation is scarce. Hence, intensive one-to-one therapist-patient training is still required. We have developed a novel rehabilitation prototype, specifically aimed at providing sitting balance therapy.

Sensorimotor vs. Motor Upper Limb Therapy for Patients With Motor and Somatosensory Deficits: A Randomized Controlled Trial in the Early Rehabilitation Phase After Stroke.

Somatosensory function plays an important role in motor learning. More than half of the stroke patients have somatosensory impairments in the upper limb, which could hamper recovery. Is sensorimotor upper limb (UL) therapy of more benefit for motor and somatosensory outcome than motor therapy? Randomized assessor- blinded multicenter controlled trial with block randomization stratified for neglect, severity of motor impairment, and type of stroke.

Effectiveness of somatosensory interventions on somatosensory, motor and functional outcomes in the upper limb post-stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Research mainly focuses on motor recovery of the upper limb after stroke. Less attention has been paid to somatosensory recovery.

Objective: To review and summarize the effect of upper limb somatosensory interventions on somatosensory impairment, motor impairment, functional activity and participation after stroke.

Do trunk exercises improve trunk and upper extremity performance, post stroke? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Post-stroke trunk control is reported to be associated with trunk performance and recovery of the upper limb, but the evidence for the influence of trunk exercise on both of these is unclear.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of trunk exercises on trunk performance post-stroke, and to determine if these exercises result in improved upper limb function.

Methods: A comprehensive search of the literature published between January 1990 and February 2017 was conducted using the following electronic databases; AMED, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsychInfo and SPORTDiscus.

The Adult Assisting Hand Assessment Stroke: Psychometric Properties of an Observation-Based Bimanual Upper Limb Performance Measurement.

Objective: To investigate interrater and intrarater reliability, measurement error, and convergent and discriminative validity of the Adult Assisting Hand Assessment Stroke (Ad-AHA Stroke).

Design: Cross-sectional observational study.

Setting: A total of 7 stroke rehabilitation centers.

Does sensorimotor upper limb therapy post stroke alter behavior and brain connectivity differently compared to motor therapy? Protocol of a phase II randomized controlled trial.

Background: The role of somatosensory feedback in motor performance has been warranted in the literature. Although sensorimotor deficits are common after stroke, current rehabilitation approaches primarily focus on restoring upper limb motor ability. Evidence for integrative sensorimotor rehabilitation approaches is scarce, as is knowledge about neural correlates of somatosensory impairments after stroke and the effect of rehabilitation on brain connectivity level.

Virtual Reality Training for Upper Extremity in Subacute Stroke (VIRTUES): A multicenter RCT.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of upper extremity virtual reality rehabilitation training (VR) to time-matched conventional training (CT) in the subacute phase after stroke.

Methods: In this randomized, controlled, single-blind phase III multicenter trial, 120 participants with upper extremity motor impairment within 12 weeks after stroke were consecutively included at 5 rehabilitation institutions. Participants were randomized to either VR or CT as an adjunct to standard rehabilitation and stratified according to mild to moderate or severe hand paresis, defined as ≥20 degrees wrist and 10 degrees finger extension or less, respectively.

Is upper limb virtual reality training more intensive than conventional training for patients in the subacute phase after stroke? An analysis of treatment intensity and content.

Background: Virtual reality (VR) training is thought to improve upper limb (UL) motor function after stroke when utilizing intensive training with many repetitions. The purpose of this study was to compare intensity and content of a VR training intervention to a conventional task-oriented intervention (CT).

Methods: A random sample of 50 video recordings was analyzed of patients with a broad range of UL motor impairments (mean age 61y, 22 women).

Somatosensory Impairments in the Upper Limb Poststroke: Distribution and Association With Motor Function and Visuospatial Neglect.

Background: A thorough understanding of the presence of different upper-limb somatosensory deficits poststroke and the relation with motor performance remains unclear. Additionally, knowledge about the relation between somatosensory deficits and visuospatial neglect is limited.

Objective: To investigate the distribution of upper-limb somatosensory impairments and the association with unimanual and bimanual motor outcomes and visuospatial neglect.