Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Front Neurol 2019 3;10:309. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.

Neurorehabilitation and brain stimulation studies of post-stroke patients suggest that action-observation effects can lead to rapid improvements in the recovery of motor functions and long-term motor cortical reorganization. Apraxia is a clinically important disorder characterized by marked impairment in representing and performing skillful movements [gestures], which limits many daily activities and impedes independent functioning. Recent clinical research has revealed errors of visuo-motor integration in patients with apraxia. Read More

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2019 Apr 18. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Department of Neurology (M.T., J.S., Y.S.), Girona Biomedical Research Institute, Dr Josep Trueta University Hospital, Girona, Spain.

Background And Purpose: Predicting motor outcome following intracerebral hemorrhage is challenging. We tested whether the combination of clinical scores and DTI-based assessment of corticospinal tract damage within the first 12 hours of symptom onset after intracerebral hemorrhage predicts motor outcome at 3 months.

Materials And Methods: We prospectively studied patients with motor deficits secondary to primary intracerebral hemorrhage within the first 12 hours of symptom onset. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Apr 17;9(1):6226. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Beijing Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Technical Aids for Old-Age Disability, National Research Center for Rehabilitation Technical Aids, Beijing, 100176, China.

Stroke remains the leading cause of long-term disability worldwide. Rehabilitation training is essential for motor function recovery following stroke. Specifically, limb linkage rehabilitation training can stimulate motor function in the upper and lower limbs simultaneously. Read More

Neuroimage 2019 Apr 10;196:152-160. Epub 2019 Apr 10.

Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA; Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA; Department of Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA. Electronic address:

Cardiovascular disease risk factors (CVD-RFs) are associated with decreased gray and white matter integrity and cognitive impairment in older adults. Less is known regarding the interplay between CVD-RFs, brain structural connectome integrity, and cognition. We examined whether CVD-RFs were associated with measures of tract-based structural connectivity in 94 non-demented/non-depressed older adults and if alterations in connectivity mediated associations between CVD-RFs and cognition. Read More

PLoS One 2019 12;14(4):e0215311. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Brain Plasticity and NeuroRecovery Laboratory, Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America.

Individuals with stroke are often left with persistent upper limb dysfunction, even after treatment with traditional rehabilitation methods. The purpose of this retrospective study is to demonstrate feasibility of the implementation of an upper limb myoelectric orthosis for the treatment of persistent moderate upper limb impairment following stroke (>6 months).

Methods: Nine patients (>6 months post stroke) participated in treatment at an outpatient Occupational Therapy department utilizing the MyoPro myoelectric orthotic device. Read More

Clin Rehabil 2019 Apr 12:269215519840403. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

4 Dundee Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (DEBU), Population Health Sciences (PHS), School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial of dynamic Lycra orthoses as an adjunct to arm rehabilitation after stroke and to explore the magnitude and direction of change on arm outcomes.

Design: This is a single-blind, two-arm parallel group, feasibility randomized controlled trial.

Setting: In-patient rehabilitation. Read More

Front Neurol 2019 26;10:288. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

The aim of this trial was to compare the effect of movement-based mirror therapy (MMT) and task-based mirror therapy (TMT) on improving upper limb functions in patients with stroke. A total of 34 patients with sub-acute stroke with mildly to moderately impaired upper limb motor functions. The participants were randomly allocated to one of three groups: MMT, TMT, and conventional treatment (CT). Read More

PLoS One 2019 8;14(4):e0214241. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Amsterdam Rehabilitation Research Centre, Reade, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Background And Purpose: We designed an 8-week caregiver-mediated exercise program with e-health support after stroke (CARE4STROKE) in addition to usual care with the aim to improve functional outcome and to facilitate early supported discharge by increasing the intensity of task specific training.

Methods: An observer-blinded randomized controlled trial in which 66 stroke patient-caregiver couples were included during inpatient rehabilitation. Patients allocated to the CARE4STROKE program trained an additional amount of 150 minutes a week with a caregiver and were compared to a control group that received usual care alone. Read More

Front Neurol 2019 20;10:227. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Centre for Biostatistics, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.

Of those people who survive a stroke, only between 40 and 70% regain upper limb dexterity. A number of reviews have suggested that functional electrical stimulation (FES) may have a beneficial effect on upper limb motor recovery. In light of the promise offered by FES and the limitations with current systems a new system was developed (FES-UPP) to support people with stroke (PwS) to practice a range of voluntary controlled, FES-assisted functional activities. Read More

Stroke 2019 Apr 4:STROKEAHA118023750. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

From the Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany (S.S.K., E.S., B.C., C.G., G.T.).

Background and Purpose- About 50% to 80% of stroke survivors present with somatosensory deficits. Somatosensory deficits because of an ischemic stroke are determined by the infarct location. However, a detailed understanding of the long-term effect of lesions on somatosensory performance is lacking. Read More

Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2019 Apr 2:1545968319840288. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

1 University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Objective: Conduct a systematic review of nonpharmacological interventions applied during sleep to enhance physical rehabilitation outcomes of individuals with a neurological diagnosis.

Data Sources: Three online databases were searched for original research.

Study Selection: Intervention studies were included that used outcome measures of impairment, activity, and/or participation. Read More

Aging Ment Health 2019 Apr 2:1-18. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

b Dipartimento di Psicologia Dinamica e Clinica, Università di Roma Sapienza , Rome , Italy.

Background: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a syndrome characterised by mild cognitive decline, on one or more domains, but which does not compromise daily functions. Several studies have investigated the relationship between MCI and deficit in executive functions (EFs) but, unlike robust evidence in the mnestic domain, the nature of executive deficits in the MCI population remains uncertain.

Objectives: This systematic review aims to evaluate EFs in patients with MCI, considering inhibition (motor and cognitive), conflict control and cognitive flexibility. Read More

Neuroreport 2019 May;30(7):526-531

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Veterans Health Service Medical Center.

The aim of this study was to identify differences in structural and functional brain connectivity between poststroke mild and severe motor impairment. Twenty-four chronic stroke patients who underwent resting-state functional MRI and diffusion tensor image were retrospectively included. All patients were classified into two groups (mild motor impairment: 11 patients and severe motor impairment: 13 patients) according to their Fugl-Meyer motor assessment score. Read More

Restor Neurol Neurosci 2019 Mar 28. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Background: Intensive robot-assisted arm training in the chronic phase of stroke recovery can lead to clinical improvement. Combinatorial therapeutic approaches are sought to further optimize stroke recovery. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is one candidate to combine with robotic training, as transient increases in excitability and improvements in motor behavior have separately been reported. Read More

Rev Neurol (Paris) 2019 Mar 25. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Neuro-innovation Technology & Brain Mapping Laboratory, Federal University of Piauí, Parnaíba, Brazil; The Northeast Biotechnology Network, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina-PI, Brazil.

Several studies have demonstrated that stroke subjects present impairment of functions related to decision-making and timing, involving the information processing in the neural circuits of the cerebellum in association with the prefrontal cortex. This review is aimed to identify the gaps, and demonstrate a better understanding of decision-making and timing functions in the patients with stroke. Electronic literature database was searched and the findings of relevant studies were used to explore the mechanisms of decision-making and timing in patients with stroke, as well as the circuit connections in timing mediated by prefrontal cortex and cerebellum. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Mar 27;9(1):5280. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Center of Excellence for Aging & Brain Repair, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, 33612, USA.

Convincing evidence demonstrated impairment of the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), mainly by endothelial cell (EC) alterations. Replacing damaged ECs by cell transplantation is a potential barrier repair strategy. Recently, we showed that intravenous (iv) administration of human bone marrow CD34 (hBM34) cells into symptomatic ALS mice benefits BSCB restoration and postpones disease progression. Read More

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2019 24;2019:1204709. Epub 2019 Feb 24.

Faculty of Medicine, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham, Thailand.

Stroke is recognized as one of the most dangerous killer diseases in Thailand and other countries worldwide. The development of a novel strategy for treating stroke patients is therefore urgently required. The present study investigated the effect of laser acupuncture at the Baihui point on cognitive and functional recovery, neuronal loss, antioxidant enzyme activities, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) activity in the hippocampus in an animal model of focal ischemic stroke. Read More

Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2019 Mar 27:1545968319836233. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

3 Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

Background: Recent evidence from both monkey and human studies suggests that the reticulospinal tract may contribute to recovery of arm and hand function after stroke. In this study, we evaluated a marker of reticulospinal output in stroke survivors with varying degrees of motor recovery.

Methods: We recruited 95 consecutive stroke patients presenting 6 months to 12 years after their index stroke, and 19 heathy control subjects. Read More

Restor Neurol Neurosci 2019 Mar 21. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

CRF Les Trois Soleils, Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation, Unité de Rééducation Neurologique, Boissise-Le-Roi (77), France.

Purpose: Patients with moderate-to-severe stroke-related upper limb impairment can benefit from repetitive robot-assisted training. However, predicting motor performance in these patients from baseline measurements, including robot-based parameters would help clinicians to provide optimal treatments for each individual.

Methods: Forty-six patients with sub-acute stroke underwent a 16-session upper limb rehabilitation combining usual care and robotic therapy. Read More

JAMA Neurol 2019 Mar 25. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Neurology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

Importance: Patients with Parkinson disease can use a wide variety of strategies to compensate for their gait impairments. Examples include walking while rhythmically bouncing a ball, crossing the legs when walking, or stepping over an inverted cane. An overview and classification of the many available compensation strategies may contribute to understanding their underlying mechanisms and developing focused rehabilitation techniques. Read More

Top Stroke Rehabil 2019 Mar 23:1-8. Epub 2019 Mar 23.

a Department of Physical Therapy , Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina , Florianópolis , Brazil.

Background: Knowledge of paretic upper limb (UL) use in the actual environment is crucial for defining treatment strategies that are likely to enhance performance.

Objective: To quantify the hand function and type of grasp performed in the actual environment following stroke and determine if any differences in hand use are dependent on the degree of motor impairment.

Method: This cross-sectional study enrolled 41 participants with chronic hemiparesis classified as having either mild (11), moderate (20), or severe (10) UL impairment. Read More

Clin Neurophysiol 2019 May 2;130(5):856-862. Epub 2019 Feb 2.

Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, de Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address:

Objective: We investigated the potential added value of high-density resting-state EEG by addressing differences with healthy individuals and associations with Fugl-Meyer motor assessment of the upper extremity (FM-UE) scores in chronic stroke.

Methods: Twenty-one chronic stroke survivors with initial upper limb paresis and eleven matched controls were included. Group differences regarding resting-state EEG parameters (Delta Alpha ratio (DAR) and pairwise-derived Brain Symmetry Index (BSI)) and associations with FM-UE were investigated, as well as lateralization of BSI and the value of different frequency bands. Read More

J Neuroeng Rehabil 2019 Mar 22;16(1):43. Epub 2019 Mar 22.

Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1919, W Taylor St, (M/C 898), Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.

Background: A single-session of slip-perturbation training has shown to induce long-term fall risk reduction in older adults. Considering the spectrum of motor impairments and deficits in reactive balance after a cortical stroke, we aimed to determine if chronic stroke survivors could acquire and retain reactive adaptations to large slip-like perturbations and if these adaptations were dependent on severity of motor impairment.

Methods: Twenty-six chronic stroke participants were categorized into high and low-functioning groups based on their Chedoke-McMaster-Assessment scores. Read More

Front Neurosci 2019 6;13:53. Epub 2019 Mar 6.

Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States.

Loss of motor function is a common deficit following stroke insult and often manifests as persistent upper extremity (UE) disability which can affect a survivor's ability to participate in activities of daily living. Recent research suggests the use of brain-computer interface (BCI) devices might improve UE function in stroke survivors at various times since stroke. This randomized crossover-controlled trial examines whether intervention with this BCI device design attenuates the effects of hemiparesis, encourages reorganization of motor related brain signals (EEG measured sensorimotor rhythm desynchronization), and improves movement, as measured by the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT). Read More

J Neuroeng Rehabil 2019 Mar 20;16(1):42. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK.

Background: Intensive robot-assisted training of the upper limb after stroke can reduce motor impairment, even at the chronic stage. However, the effectiveness of practice for recovery depends on the selection of the practised movements. We hypothesized that rehabilitation can be optimized by selecting the movements to be practiced based on the trainee's performance profile. Read More

Top Stroke Rehabil 2019 Mar 20:1-8. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

a School of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences , Curtin University , Perth , Australia.

Background: Stroke can result in pain and loss of motor control in the hemiplegic shoulder, and while prevention of secondary changes is likely to be the most effective management, there is limited evidence directing clinicians towards the most at-risk patients.

Objectives: The aim of this case series was to investigate the presentation of shoulder pain, motor impairment, shoulder passive range of motion (PROM) and alignment of the hemiplegic shoulder following acute stroke.

Methods: This study reported data that was collected as part of a pilot randomized controlled trial investigating kinesiology taping of the hemiplegic shoulder. Read More

Hum Brain Mapp 2019 Mar 19. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Proprioceptive and motor impairments commonly occur after stroke. Relationships between corticospinal tract (CST) fractional anisotropy (FA) and motor recovery have been identified. However, the relationship between sensory tract microstructure and proprioceptive recovery remains unexplored. Read More

Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2019 Apr 19;33(4):284-295. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

1 Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.

Background: Abnormal muscle co-activation contributes to impairment after stroke. We developed a myoelectric computer interface (MyoCI) training paradigm to reduce abnormal co-activation. MyoCI provides intuitive feedback about muscle activation patterns, enabling decoupling of these muscles. Read More

Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2019 Apr 18;33(4):319-328. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

3 University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Background: Persistent deficits in arm function are common after stroke. An improved understanding of the factors that contribute to the performance of skilled arm movements is needed. One such factor may be self-efficacy (SE). Read More

Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2019 Feb 27. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

CHU Saint-Étienne, French Centre for Paediatric Stroke, Paediatric Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Department, INSERM, CIC 1408, F-42055, Saint-Étienne, France; INSERM, U1059 Sainbiose, Univ Saint-Étienne, Univ Lyon, F-42023, Saint-Étienne, France. Electronic address:

With a birth-prevalence of 37-67/100,000 (mostly term-born), perinatal stroke encompasses distinct disease-states with diverse causality, mechanism, time of onset, mode of presentation and outcome. Neonatal primary haemorrhagic stroke and ischemic events (also divided into neonatal arterial ischemic stroke and neonatal cerebral sinus venous thrombosis) that manifest soon after birth are distinguished from presumed perinatal - ischemic or haemorrhagic - stroke. Signs of the latter become apparent only beyond the neonatal period, most often with motor asymmetry or milestones delay, and occasionally with seizures. Read More

Cortex 2019 Feb 7;115:264-279. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Support Centre for Advanced Neuroimaging (SCAN), Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address:

Until now tactile agnosia has been reported only in small, but detailed cross-sectional case studies. Here we show that multi-voxel pattern analysis (MVPA) of early diffusion-weighted lesion maps can be used to accurately predict long-term recovery of tactile object recognition (TOR) in 35 subjects with varying hand skill impairment and associated specific daily activity limitation after cortical sensori-motor stroke. Multiple regression analysis revealed the essentially dysfunctional subprocesses for object recognition in the specifically impaired subjects, i. Read More

Clin Anat 2019 Mar 14. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital, Seoungnam-si, Republic of Korea.

We aimed to clarify the clinical characteristics that affect visual perception (VP) and elucidate lesion locations correlated with impaired VP. We reviewed 61 patients with stroke. Clinical assessments of a motor-free VP test were used to evaluate VP after stroke. Read More

Front Hum Neurosci 2019 28;13:69. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

Neuropsychology Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany.

Motor imagery neurofeedback training has been proposed as a potential add-on therapy for motor impairment after stroke, but not everyone benefits from it. Previous work has used white matter integrity to predict motor imagery neurofeedback aptitude in healthy young adults. We set out to test this approach with motor imagery neurofeedback that is closer to that used for stroke rehabilitation and in a sample whose age is closer to that of typical stroke patients. Read More

Can J Occup Ther 2019 Mar 12:8417419832951. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Background.: Late stroke rehabilitation interventions often target impairment with limited carryover to daily occupation.

Purpose. Read More