Treatment approaches for clients with a stroke‐affected upper limb: Are we following evidence‐based practice?

Stroke rehabilitation is an area of practice that many occupational therapists encounter during their career. The literature promotes a wide range of management techniques and support devices for people who have a stroke-affected upper limb, but little is known about the validity of those that occupational therapists actually use in practice. A questionnaire was sent to occupational therapists working in Queensland and northern New South Wales facilities (n = 35), in which adults with a stroke were likely to be treated. Eighteen respondents answered questions about the management techniques and support devices used in their facility, and their perception of the benefit of these devices in the reduction of hemiplegic shoulder pain. Results are discussed with reference to evidence-based practice and indicate an urgent need for the collation and dissemination of the best current evidence available for the management techniques and support devices used in this area, as well as further research to extend this evidence.     

Predicting spontaneous early neurological recovery after acute ischemic stroke

We assessed predictors of spontaneous early neurological recovery after acute ischemic stroke by means of multivariate analysis in a cohort of 1,473 consecutive patients treated at one academic center. At hospital discharge, spontaneous neurological improvement or good outcome was defined as grades 0-2 of the Rankin scale, and poor outcome (no improvement or in-hospital death) as grades 3-5. Spontaneous recovery of neurological deficit at the time of discharge from the hospital was observed in 16% of patients with cerebral infarction (n = 238). Dysarthria-clumsy hand syndrome improved in 44% of patients and was the only variable significantly associated with in-hospital functional recovery in three logistic regression models that in addition to lacunar syndromes, included demographic variables, cardiovascular risk factors, and clinical variables [odds ratio (OR) 2.56], neuroimaging findings (OR 2.48), and outcome data (OR 2.39), respectively. Clinical factors related to severity of infarction available at stroke onset have a predominant influence upon in-hospital outcome and may help clinicians to assess prognosis more accurately. Our work gives a contribution into prognostic factors after acute ischemic stroke. With regard to patterns of stroke, dysarthria-clumsy hand syndrome was a significant predictor of spontaneous in-hospital recovery in ischemic stroke patients.     

Prognostic significance of cytochemical analysis of leukemic M2 blasts

Cytochemical analysis of leukemic blasts from 46 patients with acute myeloblastic M2 leukemia (according to the FAB classification) was performed before and after cytostatic therapy, and compared with findings obtained in 20 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Cytochemical findings for myeloperoxidase (MPO), Sudan black B, acid phosphatase and alpha-naphthyl-acetate esterase (ANAE) were related to the achievement of the first complete remission (CR),i.e. data were compared after the patients had been divided into CR and non-CR groups. The analysis clearly showed that a high proportion of myeloperoxidase- and, to a lesser extent, Sudan black B-positive blasts before treatment may have constituted a significantly unfavourable prognostic factor.     

Marked improvement of delayed methotrexate-induced leukoencephalopathy treated with high-dose folinic acid

We report the case of a patient with delayed methotrexate (MTX)-induced leukoencephalopathy who showed a marked improvement both in clinical and neuroimaging findings after a high-dose of the active form of folinic acid (leucovorin) treatment. The patient developed progressive affective impairment accompanied by headache, nausea and vomiting after treatment with MTX during the chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and diagnosed as delayed type MTX-induced leukoencephalopathy. After an intravenous injection of high-dose folinic acid (total 1920 mg), neurological deficits and white matter changes dramatically improved in a few weeks. Although delayed MTX-induced leukoencephalopathy may cause irreversible brain damage, an early treatment with high dose leucovorin may thus facilitate the marked improvement of clinical findings and white matter abnormalities.     

大剂量甲基强的松龙冲击治疗急性脊髓损伤疗效分析

目的研究大剂量甲基强的松龙(MP)治疗急性脊髓损伤的临床效果.方法对87例急性脊髓损伤患者进行回顾性研究,根据伤后时间并按自愿选择用药原则分为应用MP治疗组(MP组,45例)和未应用MP治疗组(对照组,42例),以ASIA分级标准进行分级,并比较疗效和并发症.结果两组患者在治疗前后感觉及运动功能均有明显改善(P＜0.05).但MP组的感觉及运动功能恢复均优于对照组(P＜0.05).MP治疗组中24h治疗组(A组)与48h治疗组(B组)并发症发生率比较无显著性差异(P＞0.05),而MP组与对照组比较并发症的发生率明显增加,有显著性差异(P＜0.05).结论早期应用MP大剂量冲击治疗急性脊髓损伤是一项有效措施,但会显著增加患者治疗中并发症的发生率.     

哈乐在良性前列腺增生伴急性尿潴留中的应用

目的 :探讨α1A肾上腺素能受体阻滞剂哈乐 (tamsulosin)对良性前列腺增生 (BPH)伴急性尿潴留病人的治疗作用。方法 :对 72例BPH伴急性尿潴留病人采用随机、对照研究 ,分为治疗组和对照组。病人均行保留导尿 ,口服抗生素治疗。治疗组加用哈乐 0 .4mg ,1次 /d ,连续服用 3次。 72h后拔除导尿管。　结果 :拔除导尿管后 4 4 % (32 / 72 )的病人能自行排尿。有效率治疗组为 6 1% (2 2 / 36 ) ,对照组为 2 8% (10 / 36 ) ,两组比较差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 1)。　结论 :对BPH伴急性尿潴留应用哈乐治疗 ,可提高早期拔除导尿管后病人自行排尿的成功率 ,且疗效与前列腺体积大小无关。     

成人急腹症B型超声诊断价值探讨

目的：探讨成人急腹症超声诊断价值。方法：回顾分析ll0例经临床及手术证实的成人急腹症的超声诊断。结果：临床诊断准确率为97．3％，在成人腹腔脓肿，肝破裂，急性胰腺炎，胰腺外伤等病的诊断准确率分别为91．3％，93．5％，92．7％。结论：超声诊断在成人急腹症具有重要的诊断价值。在大部分病例是首选的诊断手段。     

老年非瓣膜性房颤脑卒中危险分层及抗凝现状分析

目的　对非瓣膜性房颤 (NVAF)脑卒中危险分层及基层医院抗凝现状分析。方法　选择NVAF住院患者 1 2 0例并分成ABC三组 ,分别统计脑卒中发生率 (五年 )。将治疗分a组 (未抗凝 ) ,b、c组 (阿司匹林抗血小板聚集 ) ,d组 (华法林抗凝 )。结果　 1 2 0例中A组脑卒中人数 1 3人 (59.1 % )。B组脑卒中人数 2 2人 (2 9.3 % )。C组 1人 (4.3 % )。A组与B组 ,B组与C组比较有明显差异 (P <0 .0 5)。d组脑卒中发生率为 0 ,明显优于a组。阿斯匹林≥ 1 50mg d(c组 ) ,脑卒中发生人数 3人 (1 2 .5 % ) ,与a组比有明显差异 (P <0 .0 5)。结论　A、B组脑卒中发生率明显高于C组 ,口服华法令及阿斯匹林可降低脑卒中发生率。基层医院对NVAF患者抗凝治疗不充分 ,脑卒中发生率高。