Early poststroke clinically significant fatigue predicts functional independence: a prospective longitudinal study.

Background: Poststroke fatigue is a prevalent issue among stroke survivors, significantly impeding functional recovery and diminishing their quality of life. Aim: This prospective cohort study aims to investigate the association between poststroke fatigue and the extent of functional recovery in survivors of ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. Additionally, it seeks to delineate the temporal progression of poststroke fatigue in these two stroke subtypes. Methods: We assessed a cohort of 79 patients recovering from acute ischemic or hemorrhagic strokes. Poststroke fatigue was quantified using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and the Numeric Rating Scale (NRSfatigue). Patients' condition was evaluated using the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and functional independence levels were determined using the Barthel Index for Activities of Daily Living (BIADL) and the Modified Rankin Scale (MRS). Depressive mood and pain were measured using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Numeric Rating Scale for pain (NRSpain), respectively. Results: Our primary findings indicate that the early manifestation of clinically significant fatigue (CSF) is predictive of a poorer trajectory in functional independence levels during recovery. Furthermore, we observed differing patterns of fatigue progression between ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. Fatigue tends to ameliorate over time in hemorrhagic stroke cases, paralleling functional recovery, while it remains stable over time in ischemic stroke cases. Conclusion: Our results underscore the detrimental impact of early poststroke fatigue on long-term outcomes. Furthermore, they highlight the imperative of managing poststroke fatigue, particularly during the subacute phase of stroke recovery.

Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicentric, phase IIA clinical trial for evaluating the safety, tolerability, and therapeutic efficacy of daily oral administration of NFX88 to treat neuropathic pain in individuals with spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group multicentric phase IIA clinical trial. OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and tolerability of oral administration of NFX-88 in subjects with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) and explore its efficacy in pain control. SETTING: A total of 7 spinal cord injury rehabilitation units in Spain. METHODS: A total of 61 adult with traumatic complete or incomplete spinal cord injury (C4-T12 level), were randomised 1:1:1:1 to a placebo, NFX88 1.05 g, 2.1 g, 4.2 g/day for up to 12 weeks. The placebo or NFX-88 was administered as add-on therapy to pre-existing pregabalin (150-300 mg per day). Safety and tolerability were evaluated, and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was the primary measure to explore the efficacy of NFX-88 in pain control. RESULTS: No severe treatment-related adverse effects were reported for any of the four study groups. 44 SCI individuals completed the study and were analysed. The data obtained from the VAS analysis and the PainDETECT Questionnaire (PD-Q) suggested that the combination of NFX88 with pregabalin is more effective than pregabalin with placebo at reducing neuropathic pain (NP) in individuals with SCI and that the dose 2.10 g/day causes the most dramatic pain relief. CONCLUSIONS: NFX88 treatment was found to be highly safe and well tolerated, with the dose of 2.10 g/day being the most effective at causing pain relief. Thus, the promising efficacy of this first-in-class lipid mediator deserves further consideration in future clinical trials.

[Spanish consensus document for the diagnosis, treatment and management of neurogenic bladder.] / Documento de consenso español para el diagnóstico, el tratamiento y el manejo de la vejiga neurógena.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this document is to establish practical recommendations on neurogenic bladder (NB) management based on scientific evidence and medical and nursing perspective in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Units as a first multidisciplinary consensual approach in Spain. METHODS: This paper reports results from the first modified Delphi consensus building exercise on this procedure. A committee of recognised opinion-leaders in rehabilitation and urology with special interest in NB was constituted. A working group formed by rehabilitation doctors, urologists and nursing staff of SCI and Neurorehabilitation Units of a number of Spanish hospitals and specialised centres associated with the panel of NB experts have prepared this document. RESULTS: This review provided an overview of the main aspects described by the different clinical guidelines already available and highlighted the need to focus on recommendations in special priority situations in which there was no consensus. In view of the considerable impact this condition has on quality of life, patients should be offered help to better understand the disorder and they should be taught how to use the treatment techniques to obtain satisfactory results and promote their autonomy. CONCLUSIONS: This article presents a version of guidelines for patients with NB. The guidelines define the clinical profile of patients to provide the best evidence- based care and also an overview of the current drug and surgical treatments of NB.

OBJETIVO: El objetivo de este documento es establecer recomendaciones prácticas sobre el manejo de la vejiga neurógena (VN) en función de la evidencia científica y las perspectivas médicas y de enfermería en Unidades de Lesionados Medulares (ULM) como un primer enfoque de consenso multidisciplinar en España.MÉTODOS: En este artículo se presentan los resultados del primer ejercicio de consenso basado en metodología Delphi modificada sobre este procedimiento. Se constituyó un comité del que formaron parte reconocidos expertos en rehabilitación y urología, especializados en el manejo de VN. Este documento ha sido elaborado por un grupo de trabajo formado por médicos especialistas en rehabilitación, urólogos y personal de enfermería de ULM y unidades de Neurorrehabilitación de varios hospitales y centros especializados españoles asociados con el panel de expertos sobre VN. RESULTADOS: Esta revisión ofrece un resumen de los principales aspectos descritos en diversas guías clínicas ya disponibles y destaca la necesidad de centrarse en recomendaciones sobre situaciones especialmente prioritarias sobre las que actualmente no existe consenso. En vista del considerable impacto de esta enfermedad sobre la calidad de vida, los pacientes deben recibir ayuda para que comprendan mejor su enfermedad y también deben recibir formación sobre el uso de técnicas de tratamiento para conseguir resultados satisfactorios y fomentar su autonomía. CONCLUSIONES: En este artículo se presenta una versión de la guía para el manejo de pacientes con VN. Las guías definen el perfil clínico de los pacientes para ofrecer la mejor asistencia basada en la evidencia y también un resumen de los tratamientos farmacológicos y quirúrgicos actuales para la VN.

[Changes in the functional magnetic resonance imaging of the sensorimotor cortex in traumatic brain injury after intensive rehabilitation]. / Cambios en resonancia magnética funcional de la corteza sensitivomotora en pacientes con traumatismo craneoencefalico tras un programa intensivo de rehabilitación.

AIM: To evaluate the potential reorganization of the sensorimotor cortex in a patient with traumatic brain injury after an intensive motor rehabilitation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 17-year-old male with severe traumatic brain injury was submitted to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analyses of motor control before and after motor rehabilitation. The motor tasks performed during fMRI were finger tapping, ankle plantar flexion, and toe flexion. RESULTS: Prior to treatment, the cerebrally activated areas for the right hand during finger tapping were the primary motor (M1), supplementary motor area (SMA), superior parietal and postcentral areas. For the left hand, the areas were the M1 and the cerebellum. After treatment, the activated areas were the pre and postcentral areas for the right hand and the precentral area for the left hand. For the foot motor-task, the activated areas prior to treatment were the paracentral area for the right foot, and the SMA, paracentral and poscentral areas for the left. After treatment, activation for the right foot was seen in the paracentral area, and activation for the left foot was seen in the paracentral area and SMA. CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in the post-treatment activation pattern could be explained as a cortical reorganization, which in the current study was related to motor skill and motor automatism acquired by the patient.