No description available.

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Master / Master of Philosophy

In conclusion, SED is a predictor of stroke mortality. Both childhood and adulthood SED were related to the risk of stroke. Stroke mortality increased with improving SED at a lower stage of development, while it decreased with SED improvement at a higher stage of development. The analysis was conducted among middle- or high-income countries/regions as data only available there. Investigation for low-income countries is warranted as data become available. / Keywords. Socioeconomic development; stroke; mortality / Socioeconomic development (SED) relates to the prevalence of risk factors of stroke and influence health policy. We aim to explore the association of (SED) in childhood and adulthood with stroke mortality among countries/regions, and to examine its impact on time trend of stroke mortality. / The ecological study used data on stroke mortality in five-year age group among countries/regions with death registry covering > 70% population provided by the World Health Organization. SED was measured by Human Development Index (HDI), a composite indicator with longevity, education and standard of living, obtained from the United Nations. Mortality rates (1950-2003) were averaged over three years and in logarithmical scale. HDI from 1960 to 2003 were available for this analysis. The effect of HDI on stroke mortality was analyzed and the major confounders, such as prevalence of hypertension, smoking, diabetes, obesity, and the level of dietary fat and alcohol consumption were adjusted for using regression model. / The results revealed that stroke mortality was inversely associated with HDI in childhood and adulthood respectively. Childhood HDI explained 36% of variance of stroke mortality among countries/regions in men and 35% in women; while adulthood HDI interpreted 34% in men and 52% in women (P < 0.01); annual change of stroke mortality was inversely associated with that of HDI. The peak of stroke mortality was exhibited at HDI = 0.79-0.83 for men and 0.80-0.83 for women. Stroke mortality increased with HDI where HDI < 0.79 for men and 0.80 for women, while it decreased with HDI improvement where HDI > 0.83 for men and women. Controlling for confounders did not materially change the results. / Wu, Shenghui. / Adviser: Xin-Hua Zhang. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: B, page: 3468. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 189-218). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

A total of 188 patients completed data at twelve months (attrition rate: 29% over 12 months). The path coefficients show low functional ability (beta=0.51), more depressive symptoms (beta=-0.27), low state self-esteem (beta3=0.20), female gender (beta=0.13), older age (beta=-0.11) and living in a residential care facility (beta=-0.12) have a direct effect on participation restriction, and these variables accounted for 71% of the variance in explaining participation restrictions at 12 months. Repeated measures revealed significant decreases in overall levels of participation restriction and depressive symptoms from baseline to one year. However, no significant early changes in the levels of state self-esteem and depressive symptoms (from baseline to six months) and no significant late changes in both depressive symptoms and LHS scores were found (between six months and 12 months). / A total of 210 stroke survivors completed data at six months. Functional ability, state self-esteem, and number of strokes significantly accounted for 57% of the variance in participation restriction. Lower levels of functional ability, state self-esteem and social support satisfaction were associated with an increased likelihood of having depressive symptoms (z = 5.30, 34.12, and 5.51). / Aims. To gain understanding about the social, psychological and physical outcomes following inpatient stroke rehabilitation; to determine the variables predicting the level of participation and depressive symptoms of stroke survivors at baseline, six and 12 months following discharge from a rehabilitation hospital; to test a theoretical model of predictors of participation restriction at 12 months; and to determine the level over time for each of the outcomes. / Conclusion and implications. The findings in this study indicate that identification of stroke survivors at risk of high levels of participation restriction and low self-esteem will assist health professionals to devise appropriate interventions that target improving the psychological well being amongst person with stroke. Rehabilitation services need to continue to focus on restoring functional independence but also need to diagnose and treat depressive symptoms in order to minimise the restriction to participation in society. Assisting stroke survivors in redefining their identity after stroke could be an important aspect in stroke rehabilitation. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) / Chau, Pak Chun Janita. / Adviser: Shelia Twinn. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: B, page: 3426. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 237-276). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1985.

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

This thesis investigates the behavioural and anatomical correlates of recovery from motor cortex damage in rats. The effectiveness of behavioural, pharmacological, and regenerative treatments was investigated using models of focal stroke. Chronic bilateral motor deficits were found after motor cortex damage induced by various methods. These behavioural deficits were similar in severity and duration although they were correlated with different patterns of reorganization seen in Golgi-stained tissue. Animals with motor cortex injury benefited from postinjury olfactory stimulation, chronic administration of nicotine, and infusions of epidermal growth factor followed by erythroprotein. Different mechanisms of plasticity in remaining cortical circuits are discussed as possible candidates responsible for the behavioural improvement. The current thesis expands the current knowledge of the effects of adult cortical damage to ares critical to motor control. It may also stimulate research on therapies and possible mechanisms that might enhance recovery after stroke. / xviii, 299 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm.

The effects of pre-stroke exercise and levesl of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on behavioural and functional recovery were examined following focal cortical ischemic infarct. Intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) was used to derive topographical maps of forelimb representations within the motor cortex and ischemia was induced via bipolar coagulation of surface vasculature. One month of excerise prior to ischemia significantly increased the amount of peri-infarct movement represnetations and initiates vascular changes within motor cortex. Further, this exercise-induced preservation of peri-infarct movement representations is associated with behavioural recovery and is dependent on BDNF levels in the motor cortex. These results provide further support for the idea that endurance exercise prior to stroke may enhance functional and behavioural recovery. / 140 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm.