Cost-effectiveness analysis of robot-assisted gait training in patients with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy.

Background: To date, there have been no published studies evaluating the cost-effectiveness of robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) in adolescent and adult patients with cerebral palsy (CP). The study´s aim was to analyse the cost-effectiveness of RAGT versus conventional kinesiotherapy (CON) from the health care provider's perspective.

Methods: We expressed the cost-effectiveness of RAGT in the Lokomat system after analysing the costs and effects of RAGT and conventional therapy through the Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) based on a bicentric randomized controlled study, in which we demonstrated that the intensive RAGT regimen is more effective than conventional therapy in terms of improvements in gross motor functions in adolescent and adult patients with bilateral spastic CP.

Prevalence, Recognition, and Treatment of Dementia in Assisted Living Facilities.

Background/aims: Dementia and psychiatric disorders are common in assisted living facilities (ALFs) and have suboptimal rates of recognition and treatment. Therefore, we aimed to obtain a direct estimate of the prevalence of cognitive impairment and especially dementia among residents of ALFs in western Slovakia and their rates of primary recognition and adequate treatment.

Methods: We conducted two cross-sectional studies.

Oxidative Stress Markers and Their Dynamic Changes in Patients after Acute Ischemic Stroke.

We have focused on determining the range of oxidative stress biomarkers and their dynamic changes in patients at different time points after the acute ischemic stroke (AIS). 82 patients with AIS were involved in our study and were tested: within 24 h from the onset of the attack (group A); at 7-day follow-up (group B); and at 3-month follow-up (group C). 81 gender and age matched volunteers were used as controls.