Association that Neuroimaging and Clinical Measures Have with Change in Arm Impairment in a Phase 3 Stroke Recovery Trial.

Objective: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) paired with rehabilitation therapy improved motor status compared to rehabilitation alone in the phase III VNS-REHAB stroke trial, but treatment response was variable and not associated with any clinical measures acquired at baseline, such as age or side of paresis. We hypothesized that neuroimaging measures would be associated with treatment-related gains, examining performance of regional injury measures versus global brain health measures in parallel with clinical measures.

Methods: Baseline magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans in the VNS-REHAB trial were used to derive regional injury measures (extent of injury to corticospinal tract, the primary regional measure; plus extent of injury to precentral gyrus and postcentral gyrus; lesion volume; and lesion topography) and global brain health measures (degree of white matter hyperintensities, the primary global brain measure; plus volumes of cerebrospinal fluid, cortical gray matter, white matter, each thalamus, and total brain).

Multimodal therapy and use of adjunctive therapies to BoNT-A in spasticity management: defining terminology to help enhance spasticity treatment.

Spasticity management should be provided within the context of a comprehensive person-centered rehabilitation program. Furthermore, active goal setting for specific spasticity interventions is also important, with a well-established "more is better" approach. It is critical to consider adjunctive therapy and multimodal approaches if patients are not attaining their treatment goals.

Factors contributing to financial distress in young adults with cancer: Material resources, health, and workplace.

Background: Financial distress is a primary concern for young adults with cancer.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify material resources, physical and psychological health, and workplace variables that are associated with financial distress in young adult cancer survivors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Cancer Survivor Employment Needs Survey.

Design and Validation of a Low-Cost Mobile EEG-Based Brain-Computer Interface.

We designed and validated a wireless, low-cost, easy-to-use, mobile, dry-electrode headset for scalp electroencephalography (EEG) recordings for closed-loop brain-computer (BCI) interface and internet-of-things (IoT) applications. The EEG-based BCI headset was designed from commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components using a multi-pronged approach that balanced interoperability, cost, portability, usability, form factor, reliability, and closed-loop operation. The adjustable headset was designed to accommodate 90% of the population.

Distinct latent symptom profiles in late-onset depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older adults.

Objectives: To examine the symptom profiles of late-onset depressive symptoms in a sample of older adults.

Method: The sample included 1,192 participants from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Data Set. Participants were ≥65 years old, community-dwelling, and without cognitive impairment or a prior history of depression.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation Paired With Rehabilitation for Upper Limb Motor Impairment and Function After Chronic Ischemic Stroke: Subgroup Analysis of the Randomized, Blinded, Pivotal, VNS-REHAB Device Trial.

Background: Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) paired with rehabilitation improved upper extremity impairment and function in a recent pivotal, randomized, triple-blind, sham-controlled trial in people with chronic arm weakness after stroke.

Objective: We aimed to determine whether treatment effects varied across candidate subgroups, such as younger age or less injury.

Methods: Participants were randomized to receive rehabilitation paired with active VNS or rehabilitation paired with sham stimulation (Control).

A comparison of one year outcomes between standardized locomotor training and usual care after motor incomplete spinal cord injury: Community participation, quality of life and re-hospitalization.

Context/objective: Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in a significant loss of mobility and independence coinciding with reports of decreased quality of life (QOL), community participation, and medical complications often requiring re-hospitalization. Locomotor training (LT), the repetition of stepping-like patterning has shown beneficial effects for improving walking ability after motor incomplete SCI, but the potential impact of LT on psychosocial outcomes has not been well-established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate one year QOL, community participation and re-hospitalization outcomes between individuals who participated in a standardized LT program and those who received usual care (UC).

Vagus nerve stimulation paired with rehabilitation for upper limb motor function after ischaemic stroke (VNS-REHAB): a randomised, blinded, pivotal, device trial.

Background: Long-term loss of arm function after ischaemic stroke is common and might be improved by vagus nerve stimulation paired with rehabilitation. We aimed to determine whether this strategy is a safe and effective treatment for improving arm function after stroke.

Methods: In this pivotal, randomised, triple-blind, sham-controlled trial, done in 19 stroke rehabilitation services in the UK and the USA, participants with moderate-to-severe arm weakness, at least 9 months after ischaemic stroke, were randomly assigned (1:1) to either rehabilitation paired with active vagus nerve stimulation (VNS group) or rehabilitation paired with sham stimulation (control group).

Multicentre, single-blind randomised controlled trial comparing MyndMove neuromodulation therapy with conventional therapy in traumatic spinal cord injury: a protocol study.

Introduction: This protocol is describing a multicentre, single-blind randomised controlled trial. The objective is to compare the efficacy of MyndMove therapy versus conventional therapy (CT) in improving upper extremity function in individuals with C4-C7 traumatic, incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). It is being conducted in two US and two Canadian SCI rehabilitation centres.

Mullen Scales of Early Learning Adaptation for Assessment of Indian Children and Application to Tuberculous Meningitis.

Introduction: Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) results in significant morbidity and mortality among children worldwide. Associated neurocognitive complications are common but not well characterized. The Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL), a well-established measure for assessment of neurodevelopment, has not yet been adapted for use in India.

The importance of the anal exam in neurologic classification of spinal cord injury.

The examination of the sensation of the anal orifice and the contraction of the external anal sphincter, either voluntarily or reflexly, has always been an integral part of the International Standards for Neurologic Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI). Yet the importance of this component has been defended and challenged. This paper compares these two points of view as expressed by Previnaire and Marino, respectively.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the primary motor cortex and robot-assisted arm training in chronic incomplete cervical spinal cord injury: A proof of concept sham-randomized clinical study.

Background: After cervical spinal cord injury, current options for treatment of upper extremity motor functions have been limited to traditional approaches. However, there is a substantial need to explore more rigorous alternative treatments to facilitate motor recovery.

Objective: To demonstrate whether anodal-primary motor cortex (M1) excitability enhancement (with cathodal-supra orbital area) (atDCS) combined with robot-assisted arm training (R-AAT) will provide greater improvement in contralateral arm and hand motor functions compared to sham stimulation (stDCS) and R-AAT in patients with chronic, incomplete cervical spinal cord injury (iCSCI).

Misconceptions and Misattributions About Traumatic Brain Injury: An Integrated Conceptual Framework.

The objective of the present narrative review was to provide a conceptual framework to address common misconceptions in the field of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and enhance clinical and research practices. This framework is based on review of the literature on TBI knowledge and beliefs. The comprehensive search of the literature included seminal and current texts as well as relevant articles on TBI knowledge and education, misconceptions, and misattributions.

Interlimb interactions during bilateral voluntary elbow flexion tasks in chronic hemiparetic stroke.

The purpose was to systematically investigate interlimb interactions in chronic hemiparetic stroke. Fourteen poststroke hemiparetic subjects (>1 year) performed maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) elbow flexion tasks without visual feedback with one (unilateral) and two limbs simultaneously (bilateral). At submaximal levels, subjects produced force to a visual target reflecting 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% of corresponding MVC in unilateral tasks, and of summated unilateral MVCs in bilateral tasks.

Botulinum Toxin (BT) injection improves voluntary motor control in selected patients with post-stroke spasticity.

The effect of Botulinum Toxin Type A injection on voluntary grip control was examined in a 53-year-old female. She sustained a hemorrhagic right middle cerebral artery stroke 5 years ago that resulted in finger flexor spasticity and residual weak finger/wrist extension. The patient received 50 units of botulinum toxin type A injections each to the motor points (2 sites each muscle) of left flexor digitorum superficialis and flexor digitorum profundus.

Lightweight modular orthosis.

Background and highlights are presented concerning the development of a new orthotic system judged to be "the most outstanding innovation in prosthetics and/or orthotics practice" during the 1986-1989 period. The first Brian Blatchford Prize was awarded at the Sixth World Congress of ISPO held in Kobe, Japan. November 12-17, 1989.