Effects of locomotion training with assistance of a robot-driven gait orthosis in hemiparetic patients after stroke: a randomized controlled pilot study.

Background And Purpose: The success of gait rehabilitation after stroke depends on active walking exercises. However, the disabling after-effects of stroke often make such exercises impossible at the onset of therapy. To facilitate treadmill training of paraparetic patients, a robot-driven gait orthosis (Lokomat) was developed.

The influence of different Lokomat walking conditions on the energy expenditure of hemiparetic patients and healthy subjects.

To determine the strenuousness and efficacy of therapy, the energy expenditure of 10 healthy and 10 hemiparetic subjects were measured while they walked on a treadmill that was combined with a robot-driven gait orthosis, the Lokomat, which physiologically exercises the legs of a patient on a moving treadmill. Subjects performed different Lokomat conditions after measurement of the baseline, i.e.

Guidelines for setting up an external quality assessment scheme for blood smear interpretation. Part II: survey preparation, statistical evaluation and reporting.

Blood smear analysis is a well-known technique in medical laboratories. The clinical relevance of this analysis and its interpretation are very important. Consequently, monitoring of laboratory performance by an external quality assessment scheme is strongly recommended.

Guidelines for blood smear preparation and staining procedure for setting up an external quality assessment scheme for blood smear interpretation. Part I: Control material.

Blood smear analysis is a well known technique in medical laboratories. Clinical relevance of this analysis and its interpretation are very important. Consequently, monitoring of laboratory performance by an external quality assessment scheme is strongly recommended.