Inter-rater reliability of the Swedish modified version of the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients (SwePASS) in the acute phase after stroke

Background: Before implementation of the new scale, the Swedish modified version of the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients (SwePASS), to clinical practice, it is fundamental to analyze its measurement properties.Objective: To examine the inter-rater reliability of the SwePASS in the acute phase after stroke.

Methods: Day 3 to day 7 after admission to a stroke unit, 64 persons with stroke were assessed twice, using the SwePASS, by two physiotherapists. Inter-rater reliability was determined using percentage-agreement and the rank-invariant method: relative position, relative concentration, and relative rank variance.

Results: The raters showed a percentage agreement of ≥75% in the assessments using the SwePASS. For 9 of the 12 items, the percentage agreement was >80%. For 8 of the 12 items, there was a statistically significant change in position, revealed in relative position values between 0.08 and 0.15. Three items had statistically significant positive relative concentration values between ?0.11 and 0.10. Except for a statistically significant negligible relative variance value of 0.01 for the items 1 and 8, there was no relative variance.

Conclusions: The SwePASS shows an acceptable inter-rater reliability, albeit with potential for improvement. The reliability can be improved by a consensus how to interpret the scale between the raters prior to implementation in the clinic.     

Lumbar Spinal Cord Stimulation Can Improve Muscle Strength and Gait Independently of the Analgesic Effect: A Case Report

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is widely used for pain relief in patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), and muscle weakness is a common finding in patients with chronic pain. We present here a single case report of a 47‐year‐old woman, who, after SCS for FBSS, had continuous improvement in lower leg muscle strength and gait, but only transient and minimal pain relief. To the authors’ knowledge, this is only the second published case report of significant improvement in “motor” function, independent of the analgesic effect following SCS in FBSS. If SCS, in fact, does improve muscle strength, new strategies for the management of patients with chronic pain might be opened up. Further studies are needed to verify this hypothesis.     

米索前列醇预防剖宫产后出血344例临床观察

目的:观察米索前列醇预防剖宫产手术后出血的临床效果。方法:随机将有剖宫产手术指征的344例孕妇分为3组,分别为在胎儿娩出后给予米索前列醇200mg舌下含化(A组)、缩宫素静脉滴注及子宫肌层注射(B组)和对照组(C组,不给予任何药物),观察产后不同时间的出血量。结果:产后出血量及出血发生率A、B组均明显少于C组(P<0·05)。结论:米索前列醇对分娩后子宫具有较好的收缩作用,且给药方便、安全性较好。     

汉语失写症的神经心理学研究及其意义

目的 探讨汉语失写症的神经心理语言学机制以及该研究对于汉语失写症病理行为的康复学意义。方法 采用汉语失语检查法和汉语失写检查法测试口语和书写能力，详细记录患者的书写、失写行为特征，区分言语障碍类型；运用计算机图像处理技术对病灶CT／MRI图像进行标准化、二维叠加、三维重建等处理，并与非失写对照组相减，显示不同失写类型病变的集中趋势。结果 左侧半球损害48例，其中失语30例，失写32例，后者中纯失写1例，失读并失写1例；右侧半球损害15例，其中失语失写3例。具体的资料分析表明：不同的失写类型有不同的病理行为特点。计算机图像处理结果显示：失语性失写病灶较集中的区域为左额顶叶深部白质。惰性失写主要集中在左外侧裂的前方、从额中下回向后部延伸。镜像书写则分散于左丘脑、基底节附近。结论 汉语失写症的病理行为特点与病损定位有密切的关系；双通道理论有可能符合汉语语言学机制；汉语失写症的神经心理学研究对汉语失写康复模式的制定有重要意义。     

护理干预对2型糖尿病患者康复作用的研究

目的 探讨护理干预在2型糖尿病患康复中的作用。方法 对80例2型糖尿病患，随机分成干预组和对照组，干预组实施全程护理干预，对照组实施常规的治疗护理。结果 干预组血糖控制良好，并发症发生率明显降低。结论 护理干预是2型糖尿病康复治疗的有效方法。