Objetivo: Avaliar o uso de antitrombóticos em pacientes com fibrilação atrial (FA) em hospital cardiológico no Brasil (InCor).Métodos e resultados: Um estudo observacional transversal analisou os prontuários de todos os pacientes atendidos no InCor em cada um de 5 dias separados no ano de 2002 (Fase 1), sendo prospectivamente reanalisados após 1 ano (Fase 2). A prevalência da FA nos 3764 prontuários analisados foi de 8%. Antiplaquetários foram prescritos para 21,26% e 19,93%, anticoagulantes para 46,51% e 57,81%, e 32,23% e 22,26% não usavam nenhum antitrombótico nas Fases 1 e 2, respectivamente. Somente 15,60% e 23,25% apresentavam níveis de RNI terapêuticos.Conclusão: A anticoagulação é subutilizada nos pacientes com FA apesar do fato de serem tratados por cardiologistas em um hospital universitário / Objective: To assess antithrombotic therapy among atrial fibrillation (AF) patients in a Brazilian University Heart Hospital (InCor).Methods and results: A cross sectional study analyzed the charts of all patients treated at InCor in 5 separate days of 2002 (Phase 1), and prospectively reviewed them after one year (Phase 2). The prevalence of AF in the 3,764 assessed charts was of 8.0%. Antiplatelets were prescribed to 21.26% and 19.93%, anticoagulants to 46.51% and 57.81%, and 32.23% and 22.26% were not receiving any antithrombotic in Phases 1 and 2, respectively. Only 15.60% and 23.25% were within INR therapeutic range.Conclusion: Anticoagulation is underused in AF patients besides the fact of being treated by cardiologists in a University Hospital

A disfagia orofaríngea é uma manifestação comum apresentada na fase aguda do acidente vascular cerebral (AVC). A aspiração decorrente das dificuldades de deglutição é um sintoma que deve ser considerado devido à freqüente presença de pneumonias aspirativas que podem influenciar na recuperação do paciente trazendo complicações ao seu quadro clínico em geral e até mesmo risco de morte. A caracterização clínica precoce das alterações de deglutição pode auxiliar na definição de condutas e evitar a administração de dieta por via oral oferecendo riscos ao paciente. O presente estudo teve por objetivo, propor a via mais segura de alimentação na fase aguda do acidente vascular cerebral isquêmico (AVCI) com o intuito de minimizar complicações, utilizando a escala de AVC proposta pelo \"National Institutes of Health\", o NIHSS e considerando alguns fatores de risco para disfagia na clínica apresentada por estes pacientes, com a formulação de um algoritmo. Para tanto, foram avaliados 50 pacientes internados na Unidade de Emergência do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo com diagnóstico de AVCI confirmado, clinicamente, por um médico neurologista, dentro de, no máximo, 48 horas entre o início dos sintomas e a avaliação. Os pacientes foram avaliados desde que se enquadrassem nos critérios propostos, sendo 25 do gênero feminino e 25 do masculino, com idade média de 64,90 anos (variação de 26 a 91 anos). Uma anamnese foi realizada antes da participação do paciente no estudo, para que fosse assegurada a ausência de história de dificuldades de deglutição anteriores ao quadro atual. A avaliação clínica fonoaudiológica foi realizada à beira do leito através de um protocolo constituído por dados de identificação do paciente, data do início dos sintomas, data de entrada no hospital, escore da escala de coma de Glasgow (ECG) e do NIHSS obtidos na avaliação neurológica inicial e no dia da avaliação, fatores de risco para AVC, achados clínicos obtidos na avaliação neurológica do paciente, resultado do exame de imagem (tomografia computadorizada ou ressonância magnética). A segunda parte foi destinada à escala do NIHSS e, por fim, a terceira parte constou da avaliação da deglutição, sendo subdividida em estrutural e funcional. Para a avaliação funcional da deglutição foram utilizadas as consistências alimentares pastosa, líquida e sólida (quando possível, dependendo das condições apresentadas pelo paciente). O volume da oferta também dependeu das possibilidades apresentadas: aqueles pacientes que não ofereciam condições clínicas para a realização da avaliação, como os que se encontravam com intubação orotraqueal, estado de sonolência profunda ou em estado de coma, esta foi contra-indicada. Após a avaliação clínica, com a obtenção dos dados estruturais e funcionais, concluiu-se se a avaliação clínica da deglutição apresentava-se normal ou alterada. A partir de então, era concluído sobre a possibilidade de introdução de dieta por via oral. Para a análise estatística foi utilizado o teste exato de Fisher, verificando a associação entre as variáveis. Para avaliar se o escore do NIHSS caracterizaria um indicador de fator de risco para a disfagia, foi construída a curva ROC visando obter características quanto à sensibilidade e especificidade da escala para este propósito. Os resultados demonstraram que a disfagia é uma manifestação freqüente na fase aguda do AVCI, presente em 32% dos pacientes analisados. A avaliação clínica da deglutição é um método confiável de detecção das dificuldades de deglutição. Entretanto, os fatores preditivos de risco para a função devem ser ponderados, devendo ser considerada a gravidade do quadro, o nível de consciência e a presença de comorbidades pré-existentes. A hipertensão arterial sistêmica (HAS) demonstrou ser o principal fator de risco para o AVC apresentada por 72% dos pacientes, seguida do tabagismo (36%), etilismo (20%) e diabete melito (20%). Gênero e hemisfério cerebral acometido não tiveram associação estatisticamente significante com a presença de disfagia. Idade, NIHSS, ECG, alterações de fala e linguagem e topografia da lesão são fatores preditivos de disfagia apresentando diferenças estatisticamente significantes. Pacientes com lesões em território carotídeo apresentaram maior prevalência quanto à presença de disfagia (58,88%). O NIHSS apresenta alta sensibilidade (88%) e especificidade (85%) para detecção de disfagia considerando 12 como valor de corte para sua existência. A formulação de um algoritmo para detecção de disfagia na fase aguda do AVCI poderá auxiliar na definição de condutas quanto à melhor via de administração da dieta enquanto se aguarda uma avaliação fonoaudiológica especializada. / Oropharyngeal Dysphagia is a common manifestation presented in the acute phase of cerebrovascular accident (CVA). The aspiration resulting from the difficulties of deglutition is a symptom that should be considered due to the frequent occurrence of aspirative pneumonia that could influence the patient\'s recovery, causing complications to the general clinical and even the risk of death. The early clinical characterization of deglutition alterations can help to specify the proper behavior and to avoid the prescription of a diet that could offer the patients risks. The present study had as objective to propose the most secure feeding for the patient in the acute phase of the ischemic cerebrovascular accident (ICVA) with the aim to minimize complications, using the CVA scale proposed by the National Institutes of Health (NIHSS) and considering some risk factors of dysphagia in the practice presented by these patients, with the creation of an algorithm. Thus, 50 inpatients were evaluated at the Unidade de Emergência do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo with clinically confirmed ICVA diagnosis by a neurologist, within, at most, 48 hours from the onset of the symptoms and the evaluation. The patients were assessed randomly as long as, in which 25 were women and 25 were men, and 64,90 years old were the average ages (variation from 26 to 91 years old). An anamnesis was carried out before the patient\'s participation in the study, so that the previously absence of the history of deglutition difficulties was ensured. The clinical phonoaudiological assessment was carried out on bed side through a protocol constituted by patients identification data, symptoms onset date, admission date in the hospital, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and NIHSS score obtained in the initial neurological evaluation and in the evaluation\'s day, risk factors for CVA, clinical findings obtained from the patient\'s neurological evaluation, result of the screenings (computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging). The second part was designed to the NIHSS scale and, the third part was constituted by the clinical deglutition evaluation, subdivided in structural and functional. For the functional deglutition evaluation the pasty, liquid and solid feeding consistencies were used (when possible, depending on the conditions presented by the patient). The volume of the offer also depended on the presented possibilities: those patients who did not present clinical conditions for the evaluation, such as the ones who were with orotraqueal intubation, deep sleep state or coma; it was counter-indicated. After the clinical evaluation, with the structural and functional data obtained, it was concluded whether the clinical deglutition evaluation was normal or altered. Since then, it was concluded the possibility of a diet prescription. For the statistical analysis the Fisher exact test was used to verify the association between variables. To evaluate if the NIHSS score would characterize a risk factor indicator for dysphagia, the curve ROC was built aiming to obtain characteristics related to the sensitivity and specificity of the scale for this purpose. The study allowed us to conclude that dysphagia is a frequent manifestation in the acute phase of ICVA, present in 32% of the analyzed patients. The clinical deglutition evaluation is a reliable method of difficulties deglutition detection. However, the predicting risk factors for the function should be balanced and the severity of the clinical picture, the consciousness level and the presence of preexistent comorbidities should be considered. The systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) demonstrated to be the main risk factor for the CVA presented by 72% of the patients, followed by tabagism (36%), alcoholism (20%) e diabetes mellitus (20%). Gender and damaged cerebral hemisphere did not have a statistically significant association to the presence of dysphagia. Age, NIHSS, GCS, speaking and language alterations and lesion topography are predicting factors of dysphagia presenting statistically significant differences. Patients with lesions in the carotid territory presented more prevalence regards the presence of dysphagia (58,88%). NIHSS presents high sensitivity (88%) and specificity (85%) to the detection of dysphagia considering 12 as the cutoff value for its existence. The creation of an algorithm to detect dysphagia in the acute phase of ICVA will be able to help the definition of the proper behavior regards the prescription of a diet while a specialized speech pathological evaluation is awaited.

Background: Stroke is the second leading cause of disability and mortality in the U.K., therefore research investigating stroke has been highlighted by the National Stroke Strategy to develop studies which are longitudinal and focus on outcome. A comprehensive systematic review (Study One) was undertaken to investigate the role of psychological factors on stroke recovery. This informed the development of the research study (Study Two). The aim of this study was to investigate the role of psychological and cognitive factors on psychological and physical recovery from acute stroke, in a longitudinal study as directed by the National Stroke Strategy. The current study additionally incorporates cognitive neuropsychological elements along with measures of mood, personality and coping. This is the first study to the authors’ knowledge which has investigated repressive coping and Type D personality with stroke. Method: Longitudinal data collection was conducted in two NHS hospitals, with a clinical sample at Time 1 (0-6 weeks post stroke), followed up at Time 2 (3 months post stroke) and Time 3 (6 months post stroke), in the participants’ homes or in nursing homes. Measures used to test independent variables were: Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale (CES-D 10), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MPSS), Standard Assessment of Negative Affectivity, Social Inhibition, and Type D Personality (DS 14, Type D personality), Marlowe-Crowne Form B & 6 Item STAI (for repressive coping), 3 item Sense of Coherence (SoC) scale, line bi-section & Bells cancellation task (visual neglect), forward digit span (verbal short term memory), Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (visual short term memory) and the colour word Stroop test (executive function), along with demographic data, stroke markers and health behaviours. Dependent variables were: Quality of life (measured by the SF-36) and physical recovery (modified Rankin Scale). Results: The main analysis used hierarchical multiple regression analyses and mediation analysis to test a series of hypotheses. Physical recovery outcome was predicted by stroke severity, age, stress, repressive coping, social support and visual neglect at different time points. Depression and visual memory were reported as mediators at Time 2. Quality of life outcome was predicted by stroke severity, age, stress, social support, depression and visual neglect at different time points. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that psychological factors do have an impact on both physical and psychological outcome from stroke. Stress, repressive coping and visual neglect were the most consistent predictors of outcome. Depression and social support played a smaller role, whereas Type D personality was nonsignificant across analyses.

Studies suggest that deficits in central regulation of stretch reflex thresholds (SRT) underlie both spasticity and other disorders of motor control. We investigated intra- and inter-evaluator reliability to quantify spasticity based on tonic SRT (TSRT) and the relationship between TSRT and Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS, clinical assessment of resistance to stretch). Spasticity was evaluated in 20 subjects with chronic stroke-related spasticity in two different days, by three evaluators. Twenty different velocity-dependent dynamic SRT (angle where biceps brachii EMG signal increased for a given velocity of stretch) were recorded. TSRT (excitability of motoneurons at 0°/sec) was then computed. Spasticity was also estimated with MAS. Reliability was moderately good for subjects with moderately high spasticity (intra--evaluator: 0.46 to 0.68, inter--evaluator: 0.53 to 0.68). There was no correlation between TSRT and MAS since they measure different phenomena. TSRT is a promising new measure of spasticity. Further improvements for its quantification are suggested.

Virtual reality environments (VEs) are new tools to improve functional recovery in stroke survivors. Elements essential to maximize motor learning, can be optimized in VEs. Study objectives were: (a) to determine whether training in VE with enhanced feedback about movement patterns, leads to greater gains in arm movement quality, motor performance and decreased compensation compared to training in a similarly designed Physical environment (PE); (b) to estimate whether impairments in cognitive functioning affected the changes observed after training. Twelve stroke survivors practiced 72 pointing movements in VE or PE for 10 sessions with enhanced feedback. Kinematic analysis of pointing task, evaluations of arm impairment and function were carried out pre-post training. After training, VE group had increased shoulder flexion (p<0.05), increased shoulder horizontal adduction and decreased compensation, compared to PE group. Use of feedback correlated with fewer deficits in cognitive functioning. Training in VEs may lead to greater gains in movement quality.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Univ., 2003. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2002. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.