Early versus delayed rehabilitation treatment in hemiplegic patients with ischemic stroke: proprioceptive or cognitive approach?

Background: Early/intensive mobilization may improve functional recovery after stroke but it is not clear which kind of "mobilization" is more effective. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and cognitive therapeutic exercise (CTE) are widespread applied in post-stroke rehabilitation but their efficacy and safety have not been systematically investigated.

Aim: To compare PNF and CTE methods in a two different time setting (early versus standard approach) in order to evaluate different role of time and techniques in functional recovery after acute ischemic stroke.

Intracranial hemodynamic changes in primary Sjögren syndrome: a transcranial Doppler case-control study.

The aim of this case-control study is to evaluate the cerebral hemodynamic parameters in primary Sjögren syndrome patients by means of transcranial Doppler and the possible relationship with neuroimaging structural alteration, immunological markers and subclinical neurological involvement. 87 consecutive treatment-naïve outpatients with primary Sjögren syndrome and 86 age- and sex-matched healthy controls underwent transcranial Doppler for bilateral measurement of mean flow velocities, pulsatility index and systolic-diastolic ratio, brain magnetic resonance imaging, clinical evaluation with neuropsychological test and serological assessment. 28 patients and 4 controls (32 vs.

Atorvastatin treatment and carotid plaque morphology in first-ever atherosclerotic transient ischemic attack/stroke: a case-control study.

Background: A relationship between echolucency of carotid plaques and the consequent risk of ipsilateral ischemic stroke has been observed. An aggressive lipid-lowering therapy may increase the echogenicity of carotid plaque in patients with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The aim of this study is to prospectively evaluate the long-term effect of high-dose atorvastatin on carotid plaque morphology in patients with first-ever transient ischemic attack or stroke.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of cerebral arterial and venous haemodynamics in multiple sclerosis: a case-control study.

Objective: Although recent studies excluded an association between Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency and Multiple Sclerosis (MS), controversial results account for some cerebrovascular haemodynamic impairment suggesting a dysfunction of cerebral autoregulation mechanisms. The aim of this cross-sectional, case-control study is to evaluate cerebral arterial inflow and venous outflow by means of a non-invasive ultrasound procedure in Relapsing Remitting (RR), Primary Progressive (PP) Multiple Sclerosis and age and sex-matched controls subjects.

Material And Methods: All subjects underwent a complete extra-intracranial arterial and venous ultrasound assessment with a color-coded duplex sonography scanner and a transcranial doppler equipment, in both supine and sitting position by means of a tilting chair.

Neurological involvement in primary Sjögren syndrome: a focus on central nervous system.

Objectives: Sjögren syndrome is an autoimmune disease involving mainly salivary and lacrimal glands. Beyond widely described PNS involvement, high variable prevalence of CNS manifestations ranging from 2.5 and 60% of all pSS patients has been reported, without specific syndrome definition.

Clinical implications of patent foramen ovale in migraine with aura.

The high incidence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in migraine with aura (MWA) is well known. In this study we evaluated the relationship between PFO and aura features, and the relative impact of this association on stroke risk. We recruited patients with a diagnosis of MWA.

Quantitative EEG and dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI in Alzheimer's disease: a correlative study.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the electroencephalographic (EEG) power spectra features obtained by quantitative EEG (qEEG) and the hemodynamic parameters detected by dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced MR imaging (DSC MRI) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods: Fourteen patients with probable AD and 15 elderly healthy controls were included in the study. All subjects underwent both EEG recording in a rest condition and perfusion MRI.