Reliability, validity and normative data of the timed water swallow test accompanied by sEMG.

Purpose: Swallowing disorders are highly interrelated with increased morbidity and mortality rates; therefore, early detection is crucial. Most screening tools rely on subjective observation, thus making objective assessment tools more vital. Timed Water Swallowing Test (TWST) is a screening tool used in the field providing quantitative data.

A review of SaiLuoTong (MLC-SLT) development in vascular cognitive impairment and dementia.

The dementia epidemic, attributed to aging populations, represents a growing socio-economic burden. It is estimated that in 2019 about 55 million people worldwide were living with dementia. With many possible causes of dementia and the possibility of mixed dementia combining Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia the question is whether diagnostic uncertainty exists or whether diagnostic constructs based on single etiologies are incorrect.

Validation of the Turkish version of the Neurological Fatigue Index for Stroke.

Introduction: Post-stroke fatigue is an often overlooked problem that hinders recovery. Therefore, stroke patients should be evaluated for fatigue during the recovery period. This study aimed to adapt the Neurological Fatigue Index for Stroke (NFI-Stroke) into the Turkish language.

Effects of robotic rehabilitation on recovery of hand functions in acute stroke: A preliminary randomized controlled study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of EMG-driven robotic rehabilitation on hand motor functions and daily living activities of patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Materials & Method: A preliminary randomized-controlled, single-blind trial rectuited twenty-four patients with acute ischemic stroke (<1 month after cerebrovascular accident) and randomly allocated to experimental group (EG) and control group (CG). Neurophysiological rehabilitation program was performed to both EG and CG for 5 days a week and totally 15 sessions.

The effects of diffusion and perfusion MRI mismatch on the admission blood glucose and blood pressure values measured in the first 12 hours of acute stroke.

Patients with severe stroke and salvageable brain tissue at admission, who have higher glycaemic and blood pressure levels, may have a risk of iatrogenic hypoglycemia/iatrogenic hypotension. In this study, we examined the relationship between the presence of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)/perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) mismatch, admission blood glucose level, and admission blood pressure level in patients who were admitted in the first 12 hours after onset. We studied 212 patients who were prospectively and consecutively registered to the stroke unit from 2006 to 2009.

Outcome after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute lacunar stroke: An observational study based on SITS international registry and a meta-analysis.

Background: Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) for lacunar stroke (LS) is debated, as the underlying pathophysiological mechanism may not be thrombogenic.

Aims: To investigate outcomes after IVT in LS in the SITS International Stroke Thrombolysis Register and perform a meta-analysis.

Methods: LS was identified by both baseline NIHSS-subscores and discharge ICD-10 codes, and contrasted by IVT to non-IVT treated.

Electroencephalographic Patterns Recorded by Continuous EEG Monitoring in Patients with Change of Consciousness in the Neurological Intensive Care Unit.

Introduction: Our aim was to examine the frequency of various electrographic patterns including periodic discharges (PD), repetitive spike waves (RSW), rhythmic delta activities (RDA), nonconvulsive seizures (NCS) and nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) in continuous EEG monitoring (cEEG) of the critically ill patients with change of consciousness and the presence of specific clinical and laboratory findings associated with these important patterns in this study.

Methods: Patients with changes of consciousness in the neurological intensive care unit (NICU) were consecutively monitored with cEEG during 2 years. Their clinical, electrophysiological, radiological and laboratory findings were evaluated retrospectively.

Intravenous thrombolysis for ischemic stroke in the golden hour: propensity-matched analysis from the SITS-EAST registry.

As there are scarce data regarding the outcomes of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) within 60 min from symptom onset ("golden hour"), we sought to compare outcomes between AIS patients treated within [GH(+)] and outside [GH(-)] the "golden hour" by analyzing propensity score matched data from the SITS-EAST registry. Clinical recovery (CR) at 2 and 24 h was defined as a reduction of ≥10 points on NIHSS-score or a total NIHSS-score of ≤3 at 2 and 24 h, respectively. A relative reduction in NIHSS-score of ≥40% at 2 h was considered predictive of complete recanalization (CREC).

Intravenous Thrombolysis for Stroke Recurring Within 3 Months From the Previous Event.

Background And Purpose: According to the European license, alteplase can be given no sooner than 3 months after previous stroke. However, it is not known whether past history of stroke influences the effect of treatment. Our aim was to evaluate safety and functional outcome after intravenous thrombolysis administered in everyday practice to patients with previous stroke≤3 months compared with those with first-ever stroke.

Safety of Statin Pretreatment in Intravenous Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background And Purpose: A recent meta-analysis investigating the association between statins and early outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) indicated that prestroke statin treatment was associated with increased risk of 90-day mortality and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. We investigated the potential association of statin pretreatment with early outcomes in a large, international registry of AIS patients treated with IVT.

Methods: We analyzed prospectively collected data from the Safe Implementation of Treatments in Stroke-East registry (SITS-EAST) registry on consecutive AIS patients treated with IVT during an 8-year period.

Vascular Ischemia as a Cause of Transient Global Amnesia: A Patient Series.

Introduction: Epileptic, migrainous, and vascular pathologies may cause transient global amnesia (TGA); however, the mechanism of causation remains unclear. We investigated possible vascular causes of TGA.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical and radiologic studies of 13 patients with TGA.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome in a Patient with Primary Extranodal Intestinal Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Paraneoplastic, Drug Induced or Coincidental?

Neurological involvement is observed in 5%-25% of patients with lymphoma being either the first presentation of the disease or emerging during its course. However, Guillain-Barré syndrome is rarely reported. In this article, we present a case with intestinal lymphoma developing Guillain-Barré syndrome during the course of the disease.

Factors influencing door-to-imaging time: analysis of the safe implementation of treatments in Stroke-EAST registry.

Background: Brain imaging is logistically the most difficult step before thrombolysis. To improve door-to-needle time (DNT), it is important to understand if (1) longer door-to-imaging time (DIT) results in longer DNT, (2) hospitals have different DIT performances, and (3) patient and hospital characteristics predict DIT.

Methods: Prospectively collected data in the Safe Implementation of Treatments in Stroke-EAST (SITS-EAST) registry from Central/Eastern European countries between 2008 and 2011 were analyzed.

Clinical and radiological features in CADASIL and NOTCH3-negative patients: a multicenter study from Turkey.

Background: The diversity of clinical presentation and neuroimaging findings of CADASIL (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy) from different regions of the world has not yet been studied in depth. Here we investigated the variability of clinical, radiological and genetic data of 48 patients analyzed for NOTCH3 mutation in Turkey.

Methods: Clinical evaluation was made according to a preformed questionnaire.

Role of preexisting disability in patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis for ischemic stroke.

Background And Purpose: Little is known about the effect of thrombolysis in patients with preexisting disability. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of different levels of prestroke disability on patients' profile and outcome after intravenous thrombolysis.

Methods: We analyzed the data of all stroke patients admitted between October 2003 and December 2011 that were contributed to the Safe Implementation of Treatments in Stroke-Eastern Europe (SITS-EAST) registry.

Factors influencing in-hospital delay in treatment with intravenous thrombolysis.

Background And Purpose: Shortening door-to-needle time (DNT) for the thrombolytic treatment of stroke can improve treatment efficacy by reducing onset-to-treatment time. The goal of our study was to explore the association between DNT and outcome and to identify factors influencing DNT to better understand why some patients are treated late.

Methods: Prospectively collected data from the Safe Implementation of Treatments in Stroke-East registry (SITS-EAST: 9 central and eastern European countries) on all patients treated with thrombolysis between February 2003 and February 2010 were analyzed.

Bobath Concept versus constraint-induced movement therapy to improve arm functional recovery in stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare the effects of the Bobath Concept and constraint-induced movement therapy on arm functional recovery among stroke patients with a high level of function on the affected side.

Design: A single-blinded, randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Outpatient physiotherapy department of a stroke unit.

Stuttering due to ischemic stroke.

Acquired stuttering is a disorder of the fluency of speech. The mechanism underlying stuttering is unknown. It may occur after bilateral and unilateral cortical or subcortical brain damage.

Underfunding of stroke research: a Europe-wide problem.

Background And Purpose: Previous studies in the United States and the United Kingdom have shown that stroke research is underfunded compared with coronary heart disease (CHD) and cancer research despite the high clinical and financial burden of stroke. We aimed to determine whether underfunding of stroke research is a Europe-wide problem.

Methods: Data for the financial year 2000 to 2001 were collected from 9 different European countries.

Vertebral artery dissection presenting with isolated neck pain.

Unilateral pain in the cervical region and limitation of neck movements are nonspecific symptoms frequently encountered in daily medical practice. Vertebral artery dissection is rarely considered as a diagnostic possibility unless brainstem or cerebellar ischemia follows the acute pain. Three cases of vertebral artery dissection (VAD) having the sole complaint of pain of acute onset in the posterior neck region are presented.