Measuring Depth in Still Water: Electrophysiologic Indicators of Residual Consciousness in the Unresponsive Patient

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over the posterior parietal cortex improves functional recovery in nonresponsive patients: A crossover, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study

Background

Recent studies have shown that patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) can benefit from repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) therapy. The posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is becoming increasingly important in neuroscience research and clinical treatment for DoC as it plays a crucial role in the formation of human consciousness. However, the effect of rTMS on the PPC in improving consciousness recovery remains to be studied.

Method

We conducted a crossover, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical study to assess the efficacy and safety of 10 Hz rTMS over the left PPC in unresponsive patients. Twenty patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome were recruited. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: one group received active rTMS treatment for 10 consecutive days (n = 10) and the other group received sham treatment for the same period (n = 10). After a 10-day washout period, the groups crossed over and received the opposite treatment. The rTMS protocol involved the delivery of 2000 pulses/day at a frequency of 10 Hz, targeting the left PPC (P3 electrode sites) at 90% of the resting motor threshold. The primary outcome measure was the JFK Coma Recovery Scele-Revised (CRS-R), and evaluations were conducted blindly. EEG power spectrum assessments were also conducted simultaneously before and after each stage of the intervention.

Result

rTMS-active treatment resulted in a significant improvement in the CRS-R total score (F = 8.443, p = 0.009) and the relative alpha power (F = 11.166, p = 0.004) compared to sham treatment. Furthermore, 8 out of 20 patients classified as rTMS responders showed improvement and evolved to a minimally conscious state (MCS) as a result of active rTMS. The relative alpha power also significantly improved in responders (F = 26.372, p = 0.002) but not in non-responders (F = 0.704, p = 0.421). No adverse effects related to rTMS were reported in the study.

Conclusions

This study suggests that 10 Hz rTMS over the left PPC can significantly improve functional recovery in unresponsive patients with DoC, with no reported side effects.

Clinical trial registration

www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT05187000.

Effect of Robot Assisted Gait Training on Motor and Walking Function in Patients with Subacute Stroke: A Random Controlled Study

BACKGROUND

Robot-assisted gait training has been confirmed to have beneficial effect on the rehabilitation of stroke patients. An exoskeleton robot, named BEAR-H1, is designed to help stroke patients with walking disabilities.

METHODS

17 subjects in experimental group and 15 subjects in control group completed the study. The experimental group received 30 minutes of BEAR-H1 assisted gait training(BAGT), and the control group received 30 minutes of conventional training, 5 times/week for 4weeks. All subjects were evaluated with 6-minute walk test (6MWT), Fugl-Meyer Assessment for lower extremity (FMA-LE), Functional Ambulatory Classification (FAC), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), and gait analysis at baseline and after 4 weeks intervention.

RESULTS

The improvements of 6MWT, FMA-LE, gait speed, cadence, step length and cycle duration in BAGT group were more noticeable than in the control group. However, there was no difference in the assessment of MAS between two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed that BAGT is an effective intervention to improve the motor and walking ability during 4 weeks training for subacute stroke patients.