bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of age, gender, and cognitive, functional and motor status on functional outcomes of stroke rehabilitation
Authors: Öneş Kadriye , Yalçinkaya Ebru Yilmaz , Toklu Banu Çetinkaya , Çağlar Nil 
Published: December 2019

Our objective was to evaluate the relation between age, gender, initial functional, cognitive and motor condition, spasticity, diabetes mellitus, and functional outcome after rehabilitation of stroke patients. Eighty-eight patients who had suffered stroke were administered in this study. Participants were stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation in Istanbul Physical Treatment and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital. Functional condition (Functional Independence Measurement (FIM)), spasticity (Ashworth Scale), cognitive condition (Mini Mental State Evaluation (MMSE)), post-treatment FIM were measured. A significant positive association between MMSE at admission and the functional discharge measures was observed. A significant positive association Brunnstrom (upper lower extremity assessment) scores and the functional discharge measures was observed. A significant positive association between spasticity at admission and the functional discharge measures was observed. In conclusions, the admission functional, motor, cognition condition, age, spasticity were a significant predictors of total and motor FIM score at discharge, but not gender and diabetes mellitus.
Enhancing quality of life through Universal Design
Authors: Joines Sharon 
Published: December 2019

Objectives: To inform clinicians, caregivers and researchers involved with assessing and treating individuals with neurological disabilities of the benefits of universal design in enhancing quality of life. The improvement of quality of life has the potential to benefit the individuals with neurological disabilities and those whose lives overlap and intersect with those individuals. Methods: Literature and design reviews are used as a foundation for a model for incorporating and leveraging universal design to the benefit of the patient’s social sphere, which includes caregivers, family members and medical staff. By matching patients varied abilities with universal design solutions, the model of universal design benefitting the patients’ social sphere will be demonstrated. Recommendations: Recommendations are made for clinicians and researchers that they may use in their practices and investigations in three areas: 1) educating patients about the benefits of universal design, 2) helping inform patients how to leverage universally designed products and approaches in their lives and living spaces and 3) understanding how to incorporate universal design principles into research and clinical spaces as demonstration pieces for patients.
Effect of task related circuit training on walking ability in a Multiple Sclerosis subject. A single case study
Authors: Sethy Damayanti , Bajpai Pankaj , Kujur Eva Snehlata 
Published: December 2019

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of task related circuit training on walking ability in a Multiple Sclerosis subject. Design: Single case study of a man diagnosed with moderate primary progressive type of multiple sclerosis. Method: Baseline measurement of lower limb muscle strength, speed test, Timed “Up and Go” test and 6-minute walk test, Modified fatigue impact scale and Expanded Disability Status Score were taken. After baseline measurement, subject was explained the sequence of tasks to be used in circuit training and the subject was given task related circuit training for 12 weeks. Post training measurements for all the outcome measures were taken. Setting: Department of Occupational Therapy, NIOH, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Participant: A 34 -year -old male. Intervention: Task related Circuit training for a session of 45 minutes, 3 days per week for 12 weeks. Results: The subject showed improvement in speed test, step test, 6-minute Walk Test. Also, fatigue was reduced. The walking ability of the subject improved, with increase in muscle strength, endurance, and physical fitness. Conclusion: Task-related circuit training is effective in improving muscle strength and endurance, and in decreasing the fatigue of the subject thereby improving the subject’s ability to walk.
Acute effects of locomotor training on neuromuscular and metabolic profile after incomplete spinal cord injury
Authors: Gorgey Ashraf S. , Poarch Hunter , Harnish Christopher , Miller Joshua M. , Dolbow David , Gater David R. 
Published: December 2019

Objectives: Locomotor training (LT) enhances walking in individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCIs). We tested the acute effects of 4 days of LT using BWSTT combined with Robotic Locomotor therapy compared to BWSTT twice weekly. Design: Two non-ambulatory participants with an American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) D. Both received LT for 2 weeks as a portion of their clinical inpatient rehabilitation program and both used wheelchairs as their primary method of mobility. Over a 2 week period, one participant received a total of 8 visits consisting of manual BWSTT (twice weekly) combined with Robotic locomotor therapy (twice weekly). The other participant preformed manual BWSTT (twice weekly) for a total of 4 visits. Resting energy expenditure, body composition, muscle strength, submaximal oxygen consumption (VO2) and blood lactate during LT were measured pre and post-training. Results: The average maximum voluntary contraction of both knee extensor muscle groups increased by 28–34% with associated reduction in spasticity to the BWSTT participant. Two week interventions resulted in a downward shift of the lactate concentrations for both participants, increase in resting energy expenditure and shift in substrate utilization. Discussion and conclusion: A clinical paradigm of incorporating BWSTT with robotic locomotor therapy for 4 days/ week did not provide additional physiological benefits to skeletal muscle strength, spasticity or metabolic profile compared to twice weekly of LT using BWSTT.
The effects of spinal cord injury and exercise on bone mass: A literature review
Authors: Dolbow D.R. , Gorgey A.S. , Daniels J.A. , Adler R.A. , Moore J.R. , Gater D.R. 
Published: December 2019

Introduction: Bone loss is a common and often debilitating condition that accompanies spinal cord injury. Because bone loss after spinal cord injury is multifactorial, it can be difficult to assess and treat. This process becomes even more complex as secondary conditions associated with aging are introduced. Purpose: There are two purposes of this literature review. The first is to summarize information concerning the mechanisms of bone loss and osteoporosis after spinal cord injury. The second is to summarize existing data concerning the effects of exercise on bone loss after spinal cord injury. Method: Literature was reviewed concerning the bone loss process and the non-pharmacological treatment options for ameliorating bone loss after spinal cord injury. Results: (Part One) Osteoporosis is universal in persons with chronic complete spinal cord injury, which increases the risk of bone fracture. Bone loss after spinal cord injury is both sublesional and regional with the greatest areas of bone demineralization being in the sublesional trabecular laden areas of the distal and proximal epiphyses of the femur and tibia. (Part Two) While passive weight bearing of paralyzed lower extremities appears to be ineffective, stressing the bones through muscular contractions initiated by electrical stimulation (FES) have yielded positive results in some cases. The intensity, frequency, and duration of stress to the bones appear to be important determinants of improved bone parameters. Although further quantification of these components is needed, some generalized guidelines can be deduced from completed research. Intensities showing positive results have been loads of one to one and a half times body weight for FES exercise or having participants FES cycle at their highest power output. Safety precautions must be used to decrease risk of bone fracture. Generally, the frequency is effective with three or more weekly exercise sessions. Studies of duration suggest that several months to one or more years of FES are necessary. Discussion: In order to promote healthy and independent aging in patients with spinal cord injury, it is important to understand the processes, consequences and effective treatments involved with bone loss.
Treatment of hemispatial neglect in patients with post-hemiparesis: A single-subject experimental design study using a whole-body tilt exercise plus mental practice
Authors: Kang Tae-Woo , Oh Duck-Won 
Published: December 2019

Purpose: To investigate the effect of whole-body tilt exercise for treating hemispatial neglect and to identify the effects of incorporating mental practice into the exercise. Methods: We used a single-subject experimental design alternating with multiple baselines. Three stroke patients with hemispatial neglect participated in this study. The severity of hemispatial neglect and balance function were measured during baseline and intervention sessions. The whole-body tilt exercise was performed by using a device that allows the body to tilt 20° from the neutral upright position. Mental practice consisted of 5 min of relaxation, main whole-body tilt imagination, and normalization phases. Results: When the whole-body tilt exercise alone was performed, the average severity score of hemispatial neglect in subjects 1, 2, and 3 decreased by 7.54, 10.02, and 8.24, respectively; their respective average balance function score increased by 35.95%, 28.13%, and 15.33% under the open-eye condition and 34.66%, 20.33%, and 13.77% under the closed-eye condition. For subjects 1, 2, and 3, the respective average hemispatial neglect score decreased by 9.07, 11.35, and 10.13 after the whole-body tilt exercise with mental practice; their average balance function scores increased by 40.15%, 33.38%, and 24.22% under the open-eye condition and by 38.93%, 27.08%, and 11.88% under the closed-eye condition, respectively. Conclusion: These findings suggest that a whole-body tilt exercise alone may be beneficial in enhancing hemispatial neglect symptoms but the addition of mental practice produces a greater positive effect.
Upper extremity improvements in chronic stroke: Coupled bilateral	load training
Authors: Cauraugh James H. , Coombes Stephen A. , Lodha Neha , Naik Sagar K. , Summers Jeffery J. 
Published: December 2019

Background: The current treatment intervention study determined the effect of coupled bilateral training (i.e., bilateral movements and EMG-triggered neuromuscular stimulation) and resistive load (mass) on upper extremity motor recovery in chronic stroke. Methods: Thirty chronic stroke subjects were randomly assigned to one of three behavioral treatment groups and completed 6 hours of rehabilitation in 4 days: (1) coupled bilateral training with a load on the unimpaired hand, (2) coupled bilateral training with no load on the unimpaired hand, and (3) control (no stimulation assistance or load). Results: Separate mixed design ANOVAs revealed improved motor capabilities by the coupled bilateral groups. From the pretest to the posttest, both the coupled bilateral no load and load groups moved a higher number of blocks and demonstrated more regularity in the sustained contraction task. Faster motor reaction times across test sessions for the coupled bilateral load group provided additional evidence for improved motor capabilities. Conclusions: Together these behavioral findings lend support to the contribution of coupled bilateral training with a load on the unimpaired arm to improved motor capabilities on the impaired arm. This evidence supports a neural explanation in that simultaneously moving both limbs during stroke rehabilitation training appears to activate balanced interhemispheric interactions while an extra load on the unimpaired limb provides stability to the system.
Different postischemic protein expression of the	GABA$_{A}$ receptor α2 subunit and	the plasticity-associated protein MAP1B after treatment with BDNF versus G-CSF	in the rat brain
Authors: Müller Harald D. , Neder Angelika , Sommer Clemens , Schäbitz Wolf-Rüdiger 
Published: December 2019

Purpose: Recent data indicate that both brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) exert substantial neuroregenerative effects and improve functional outcome after ischemic stroke. In the present study, we checked for potential differences in the postischemic modulation of various excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors as well as various marker molecules for structural plasticity by BDNF versus G-CSF. Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were subjected to photothrombotic ischemia and subsequently treated with NaCl, BDNF or G-CSF, respectively. After 6 weeks, postischemic protein expression of the NR1, GluR1 and α2 subunit of the NMDA, AMPA and GABA $_{A}$ receptor, respectively, was semiquantitatively determined ipsi- and contralateral to the ischemic lesion. Structural plasticity was further analyzed immunohistochemically using antibodies against MAP1B, MAP2 and synaptophysin. Results: Only BNDF caused a significantly reduced postischemic protein expression of the GABA $_{A}$ receptor α2 subunit and the NR1 subunit of the NMDA receptor in the hippocampus. Furthermore, BDNF compared to G-CSF increased MAP1B protein expression in the periischemic regenerative region. Conclusions: Although both BDNF and G-CSF have been shown to improve postischemic functional outcome to a similar extent, exogenous administration results in different underlying structural reorganization processes suggesting specific modulations of plasticity-associated events by these trophic factors.
Lasting effects of repeated rTMS application in focal hand	dystonia
Authors: Borich Michael , Arora Sanjeev , Kimberley Teresa Jacobson 
Published: December 2019

Purpose: Focal hand dystonia (FHD) is a rare but potentially devastating disorder involving involuntary muscle spasms and abnormal posturing that impairs functional hand use. Increased cortical excitability and lack of inhibitory mechanisms have been associated with these symptoms. This study investigated the short- and long-term effects of repeated administrations of repetitive-transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on cortical excitability and handwriting performance. Methods: Six subjects with FHD and nine healthy controls were studied. All subjects with FHD received rTMS (1Hz) to the premotor cortex (PMC) for five consecutive days; of those, three subjects received five days of sham rTMS completed ten days prior to real treatment. Healthy subjects received one real rTMS session. Cortical silent period (CSP) and measures of handwriting performance were compared before and after treatment and at ten-day post-treatment follow-up. Results: At baseline, significant differences in CSP and pen pressure were observed between subjects with FHD and healthy controls. Differences in CSP and pen velocity between subjects in real and sham rTMS groups were observed across treatment sessions and maintained at follow-up. Conclusions: After five days of rTMS to PMC, reduced cortical excitability and improved handwriting performance were observed and maintained at least ten days following treatment in subjects with FHD. These preliminary results support further investigation of the therapeutic potential of rTMS in FHD.
Chondroitinase ABC and acute electrical stimulation are beneficial	for muscle reinnervation after sciatic nerve transection in rats
Authors: Beaumont Eric , Cloutier Frédéric-Charles , Atlan Michael , Rouleau Dominique M. , Beaumont Pierre H. 
Published: December 2019

Purpose: nerve regeneration and functional recovery are often incomplete after peripheral nerve damage. The aim of this study was to determine if chondroitinase ABC injection at the lesion site, 1 hour of electrical stimulation and the combination of these treatments at the time of repair could be effective in promoting muscle reinnervation. Methods: the right sciatic nerve was completely sectioned in 32 female Sprague-Dawley rats. End-to-end microsuture repair was undertaken and fibrin glue was added. Five groups were studied: 1) suture (S) + fibrin glue (F) only; 2) S + F + chondroitinase ABC; 3) S + F + electrical stimulation; 4) S + F + chondroitinase ABC + electrical stimulation; 5) uninjured nerve. Results: post recovery kinematics showed larger excursion of the hip-ankle-toe angle during walking in groups 2, 3 and 4 than in group 1 (p< 0.05). In vivo electromyographic activity and maximal muscle force were similar between groups 2, 3, 4 and 5, with higher values in all of them compared to group 1 (p< 0.05). Also, the distal stump of the sciatic nerve was excised, and cross-sectioning revealed that the number of axons were similar in all groups. Conclusions: 150 days after nerve transection, recovery was incomplete with S and F only. Chondroitinase ABC injection at the lesion site and/or 1 hour of electrical stimulation of the proximal nerve stump were beneficial in promoting nerve regeneration and functional muscle reinnervation.
Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells attenuate chronic	inflammation and injury-induced sensitivity to mechanical stimuli in	experimental spinal cord injury
Authors: Abrams M. Birdsall , Dominguez Cecilia , Pernold Karin , Reger Roxanne , Wiesenfeld-Hallin Zsuzsanna , Olson Lars , Prockop Darwin 
Published: December 2019

Purpose: Previous reports established that after a contusion injury to the rat spinal cord, locomotor function was enhanced by the transplantation of cells from bone marrow referred to as either mesenchymal stem cells or multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). It has also been established that neural stem cells (NSCs) enhance locomotor function after transplantation into the injured rat spinal cord. However, the beneficial effects of NSCs are limited by graft-induced allodynia-like responses. Little is known about the effects of MSCs on sensory function in spinal cord injury. Therefore, the objective of this research was to determine whether transplantation of MSCs into the injured rat spinal cord induces allodynia-like responses. Methods: Contusion injuries of two different severities were induced in rats to examine the effects of transplantation with MSCs on sensorimotor deficits. The effects of MSCs on chronic inflammation were investigated, since inflammation is reported to have a role in the sensorimotor deficits associated with spinal cord injury. In addition, observations in other models suggest that MSCs possess immunosuppressive effects. Results: We found that in contrast to previous observations with the transplantation of neural stem cells, transplantation of MSCs did not induce allodynia. MSCs attenuated injury-induced sensitivity to mechanical stimuli but had no effect on injury-induced sensitivity to cold stimuli. MSCs also significantly attenuated the chronic inflammatory response as assayed by GFAP immunoreactivity for reactive astrocytes and ED1 immunoreactivity for activated macrophages/microglia. In addition, transplantation of MSCs increased white matter volumes and decreased cyst size in sections of the cord containing the lesion. Conclusion: The results suggest that the sensorimotor enhancements produced by MSCs can at least in part be explained by anti-inflammatory/immunosuppressive effects of the cells, similar to such effects of these cells observed in other experimental models.
Grafted neural progenitors migrate and form neurons after	experimental traumatic brain injury
Authors: Wallenquist U. , Brännvall K. , Clausen F. , Lewén A. , Hillered L. , Forsberg-Nilsson K. 
Published: December 2019

Purpose: Neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPC) generate neurons and glia, a feature that makes them attractive for cell replacement therapies. However, efforts to transplant neural progenitors in animal models of brain injury typically result in high cell mortality and poor neuronal differentiation. Methods: In an attempt to improve the outcome for grafted NSPC after controlled cortical impact we transplanted Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP)-positive NSPC into the contra lateral ventricle of mice one week after injury. Results: Grafted EGFP-NSPC readily migrated to the injured hemisphere where we analyzed the proportion of progenitors and differentiated progeny at different time points. Transplantation directly into the injured parenchyma, resulted in few brains with detectable EGFP-NSPC. On the contrary, in more than 90% of the mice that received a transplant into the lateral ventricle detectable EGFP-positive cells were found. The cells were integrated into the lateral ventricle wall of the un-injured hemisphere, throughout the corpus callosum, and in the cortical perilesional area. At one-week post transplantation, grafted cells that had migrated to the perilesion area mainly expressed markers of neural progenitors and neurons, while in the corpus callosum and the ventricular lining, grafted cells with a glial fate were more abundant. After 3 months, grafted cells in the perilesion area were less abundant whereas cells that had migrated to the walls of the third- and lateral- ventricle of the injured hemisphere were still detectable, suggesting that the injury site remained a hostile environment. Conclusion: Transplantation to the lateral ventricle, presumably for being a neurogenic region, provides a favorable environment improving the outcome for grafted NSPC both in term of their appearance at the cortical site of injury, and their acquisition of neural markers.
Mesulam's frontal lobe mystery re-examined
Authors: Burgess Paul W. , Alderman Nick , Volle Emmanuelle , Benoit Roland G. , Gilbert Sam J. 
Published: December 2019

Purpose: Mesulam's (1986) mystery is that some patients with frontal lobe damage may show no cognitive impairment according to traditional office-based assessment procedures, yet nevertheless show marked cognitive handicap in everyday life. Mesulam suggested that "the office setting may introduce sufficient external structure to suppress some of these behavioral tendencies" (p. 322). We ask if it is indeed the office setting that is the problem, or whether it is that traditional assessments do not measure the full range of cognitive functions supported by prefrontal cortex. Method: Neuropsychological case series study and review. Results: Traditional methods for assessing cognitive deficits following frontal lobe damage typically do not measure the full range of deficits that can occur. In particular, rostral prefrontal cortex supports functions which are not routinely assessed yet are crucial to competent everyday life performance. These include meta-memory functions (e.g. context and source memory), complex behavioural co-ordination (e.g. prospective memory and multitasking), and mentalizing. Conclusions: New clinical assessment procedures are required urgently. These could be based, in principle, both on recent experimental findings from cognitive neuroscience, and observation of behaviour outside office settings. These procedures could then be administered in an office setting.