International Journal of Neurorehabilitation

Robots are increasingly considered as a promising tool in therapeutic and educational interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). International literature indicates that robots can potentially be applied to a wide range of objectives. The aim of this article is to present an overview of robots that are currently used in therapy and educational for children with ASD and to indicate what objectives they address. Focus group sessions (N=9) with ASD professionals (N=53) from nine organisations were conducted which identified potential objectives for children with ASD. A systematic literature study delivered an overview of the state of the art of robots under study. Professionals reported to work on 74 ASD objectives in 9 different domains (based on the International Classification of Functioning - Child and Youth, ICF-CY). The robots (N=14) found in the literature addressed 24 of these objectives in 8 of the 9 domains, indicating the potential contribution of these robots to therapy and education of children with ASD. Domains that are targeted most often by robots currently are ‘social or interpersonal interactions and relations’, ‘play’ and ‘communication’. Results indicate that robot mediated interventions are considered to be a possible valuable tool in the education or therapy for children with autism. In order to unlock the potential of robots, it is advised that technical developers use knowledge from ASD practice so that meaningful applications can be developed.

A Bereitschaftspotential (BP) preceding voluntary eyelid blinks has been described in a few studies. A BP was not found preceding automatic blinks and blepharospasms. BP preceding blinks presents low amplitudes compared to apendicular musculature. A BP preceding eyelid voluntary blinks was demonstrated in patients with early stage Parkinson Disease, with severely reduced amplitude.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common peripheral neuropathy presenting to specialist hand and wrist clinics. Surgical decompression of the carpal tunnel considered if non-surgical options have failed. Surgical outcomes may be impaired if damage to the peripheral nerve damage is extensive. Despite conflicting evidence, there is mounting evidence that surgical outcomes for carpal tunnel syndrome are worse in more elderly populations. Indeed, it was found that 50% of patients with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome aged over 60 have completely absent sensory nerve conduction. More extensive nerve damage in older patient groups may be due to delayed presentation following reduced pain sensitivity with age, reductions in nerve conduction velocities with the normal aging process and reduced axonal regeneration capacity with aging. Whilst more research is required, these findings should influence consenting information given to patients considered for surgery.

Stroke, also known as cerebrovascular accident (CVA), cerebrovascular insult (CVI) or brain attack, is when poor blood flow to the brain results in cell death, there is need for concurrent coping with stroke demand cognitive effort from the patient. Social support intervention is best started as early (at diagnosis) and demands continuous effort. Hence, the study examines the effectiveness of social support in coping with stroke by medically ill patient in Ibadan. The study is a descriptive survey research and a total of 50 stroke patients attending the government hospital of Adeoyo, Ibadan were purposively selected for the study. The study adopted the researchers, Multidimensional Scale of Social Support and the result yielded r=0.78 while coping with stroke was measured using a scale from Journal compilation (2008) Blackwell publishing Ltd. titled stroke self-efficacy questionnaire, the result yielded 0.81. The study developed five hypotheses and pearson product moment correlation was used to analyze of the findings. The result revealed that, there was a significant effect of family support on coping with stroke by the medically ill patients (r=0.352, N=50, p<0.05), there was a significant effect of financial support on coping with stroke by the medically ill patients (r=0.658, N=50, p<0.05), there was a significant relationship of emotional support on coping with stroke by the medically ill patients (r=0.402, N=50, p<0.05), there was a significant effect of companionship support on coping with stroke by the medically ill patients (r=0.654, N=50, p<0.05), the multiple regression analysis showed that, Family Support (β=-0.391, p<0.05) had significant effect followed by Financial Support (β=0.418, p<0.05), followed by Emotional Support (β=0.165, p<0.05) and Companionship Support (β=0.7878, p<0.05)Hence, the study revealed that, living with stroke requires joint effort of family support, financial support, emotional support and companionship support to help make the necessary changes to cope and adapt to stroke.

This commentary regards the inferences of the findings related to the effect of crossed-education using the progressive task-oriented approach on a tilt table in stroke patients. The findings from these studies recommend that crossed-education using the task-oriented training on the tilt table was very helpful for the function and rehabilitation of lower limb and clinical scores in acute and chronic hemiplegic stroke patients. Since these publications, a novel neurorehabilitation strategy using the crossed-education approach has been reported instead of rehabilitation treatment method concentrated on the affected-side. This has not been used in any study with acute and chronic stroke subjects. Furthermore, follow-up study also obtained that the use of crossed-education using task-oriented training on a tilt table has more aids on the betterment of maximal grip strength and arm function in a sub-acute stage of post-stroke hemiplegia subjects. Therefore, our proposed therapeutic approach could be a novel neuro-rehabilitation strategy for patients with various upper and lower limb severities.

Background and objective: Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is a disabling and highly prevalent disease in neurologic clinics. Little evidence is available regarding treatment, but the suspension of overused medications, treatments using multidisciplinary approaches as well as absence of psychiatric comorbidities and overuse of drugs other than opioids are favorable outcome factors. Methods: We described key patient’s characteristics and treatment strategies carried out on consecutive patients with MOH from a specific tertiary center. The patients were submitted to a comprehensive approach with long-lasting initial consultations. The withdrawal of overused medications was conducted in all patients to whom different drugs for prevention were prescribed as well as the combination of a triptan plus an anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in a maximum intake of 2 days/week. Prednisone, as a bridge to detoxification, was given to 67.8% of the patients during the first 5-7 days. Results: After two months, 20.1% of the patients were lost to follow up and the mean headache frequency, among those who adhered, decreased to 10.7 headache days/month. After four and eight months, most of the patients were still under treatment with a mean headache frequency of 7.6 and 8.3 headache days/month. An intention to treat (ITT) analysis was also accomplished. After eight months, relapses or the use of symptomatic medications in 10 or higher days per month was observed in 23.8% of the patients (ITT 36.2%). Conclusion: The majority of patients with MOH undergoing comprehensive treatments show marked reduction in headache frequency, return to episodic presentation pattern and acceptable compliance with treatment directives despite previous therapeutic failures. Patient education, thorough evaluation and strict follow up even with patients previously seen as refractory, can lead to optimal clinical outcomes. Controlled studies on different treatment strategies are warranted.

Background: Posterior cervical foraminotomy is a feasible treatment option for cervical radiculopathy. In this article, we want to give a short review on the advantages, indications and limitations of this treatment procedure. Methods: A Medline search for endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy was done and 13 articles were compared regarding the surgical technique, patient outcome, complications, intraoperative blood loss, surgical time, hospital stay and postoperative need for pain medication. Results: Compared to patients treated by an open approach, patients treated by endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy show equal clinical results, but lower complication rates and less intraoperative blood loss, reduced surgical time, hospital stay and postoperative need for pain medication. Conclusion: This review shows that posterior endoscopic decompression is a successful option in the treatment of bony cervical foraminal stenosis.

Differences in intelligence are the most significant factor in explaining levels of social progress and development. One measure scientists use to determine differences in intelligence is Intelligence Quotient (IQ), which is derived from standardized tests designed to assess human intelligence. Individuals with IQ scores between 90 and 109 are considered average intelligence and those with scores of 89 to 80 are considered Below Average or Dullness. In this study our analysis of the literature has assessed the level of Kurdish intelligence quotient. The area of Kurdish nation, located in four different countries includes Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. The average IQ of Iranian people is 84, Iraqi people 87, Syrian people 83 and Turkey people is 90. These numbers came from a work carried out from 2002 to 2006 by Richard Lynn, a British Professor of Psychology, and Tatu Vanhanen, a Finnish Professor of Political Science, who conducted IQ studies in more than 80 countries (IQ Research). Based on this study we estimate the average Kurdish IQ ranges between 83 and 90. Vanhanen and Lynn argue that IQ and the Wealth of Nations analyses the relation between national IQ scores and measures of economic performance. In this study, we aimed to assess the association between IQ (intelligence quotient) and neurocognitive, biological and genetics factors among Kurdish populations and then we drew inferences about the state of social progress and development of Kurdish societies and genetic characteristics based on a statistical pattern.

Purpose: The F-wave shows the excitability of spinal nerve. There is prior study that it is normal to appear the various F-waves. However, there is no provision for a method of judging whether or not it is the same waveform. The purpose of this study is to find objective evaluation in comparing F-wave waveform.

Method: Present 5 trials of 30 F-wave to 3 people who are engaged in F-wave for many years. We compared the results of visually selected waveform and correlation coefficient (hereafter CC) calculated by personal computer.

Results: There were 2 F-waves that 3 people checked, the highest value of CC was 0.99, the lowest value of CC was 0.95. There were 10 F-waves that 2 peoples checked, the highest value of CC was 1.00, the lowest value of CC was 0.71. From the above, consistency of 0.95 or more correlation coefficient was recognized, except for one case.

Conclusion: F-wave waveform analysis, criterion with a CC of 0.95 was made as a judgment of the same waveform. We think that waveform analysis become index for physical disability improvement in clinical scene and it will be an objective evaluation of influential physical therapy.