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Objective: We aimed to examine whether variability in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) over time was associated with cognitive function. Method: We conducted a post hoc analysis of the PROspective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER) trial. Our sample included 4,428 participants with at least two repeated HDL-c measures between Months 3 and 24 postbaseline and with cognitive assessments at Month 30. HDL-c variability was defined as the intraindividual standard deviation over each person's repeated measurements. Results: Higher HDL-c variability was associated with worse performance on the Letter-Digit Coding Test (β [95% confidence interval] [CI] = -4.39 [-7.36, -1.43], p = .004), immediate recall on the 15-Picture Learning Test (β [95% CI] = -0.98 [-1.86, -0.11], p = .027), and delayed recall on the 15-Picture Learning Test (β [95% CI] = -1.90 [-3.14, -0.67], p = .002). The associations did not vary by treatment group. Discussion: Our findings suggest that variability in HDL-c may be associated with poor cognitive function among older adults.

Background: Patients with stroke-associated pneumonia experience poorer outcomes (increased hospital stays, costs, discharge dependency, and risk of death). High-quality, organized oral healthcare may reduce the incidence of stroke-associated pneumonia and improve oral health and quality of life., Aims: We piloted a pragmatic, stepped-wedge, cluster randomized controlled trial of clinical and cost effectiveness of enhanced versus usual oral healthcare for people in stroke rehabilitation settings., Methods: Scottish stroke rehabilitation wards were randomly allocated to stepped time-points for conversion from usual to enhanced oral healthcare. All admissions and nursing staff were eligible for inclusion. We piloted the viability of randomization, intervention, data collection, record linkage procedures, our sample size, screening, and recruitment estimates. The stepped-wedge trial design prevented full blinding of outcome assessors and staff. Predetermined criteria for progression included the validity of enhanced oral healthcare intervention (training, oral healthcare protocol, assessment, equipment), data collection, and stroke-associated pneumonia event rate and relationship between stroke-associated pneumonia and plaque., Results: We screened 1548/2613 (59%) admissions to four wards, recruiting n  = 325 patients and n  = 112 nurses. We observed marked between-site diversity in admissions, recruitment populations, stroke-associated pneumonia events (0% to 21%), training, and resource use. No adverse events were reported. Oral healthcare documentation was poor. We found no evidence of a difference in stroke-associated pneumonia between enhanced versus usual oral healthcare ( P  = 0.62, odds ratio = 0.61, confidence interval: 0.08 to 4.42)., Conclusions: Our stepped-wedge cluster randomized control trial accommodated between-site diversity. The stroke-associated pneumonia event rate did not meet our predetermined progression criteria. We did not meet our predefined progression criteria including the SAP event rate and consequently were unable to establish whether there is a relationship between SAP and plaque. A wide confidence interval did not exclude the possibility that enhanced oral healthcare may result in a benefit or detrimental effect., Trial Registration: NCT01954212.

Background: Death after stroke is common, but little is known about end-of-life care processes in acute stroke units., Aim: (1) To identify family and health-care worker perceptions of an end-of-life care pathway for patients who die after acute stroke. (2) To determine whether patients with fatal stroke judged to require an end-of-life care pathway differ from patients with fatal stroke who die without introduction of such a pathway., Design: Mixed methods study integrating qualitative semistructured interviews with quantitative casenote review., Setting/participants: In four Scottish acute stroke units, 17 relatives of deceased stroke patients and 23 health-care professionals were interviewed. Thematic analysis used a modified grounded theory approach. Multivariate analysis was performed on casenote data, identified prospectively from 100 consecutive stroke deaths., Results: Deciding pathway use was a consultative process, occurring within normal working hours. Families were commonly involved and could veto or trigger aspects of end-of-life care. Families sometimes felt responsible for decisions such as pathway use, resuscitation or hydration. Families were often led to expect their relative's death early in the post-stroke period. Prolonged dying processes, particularly where patients had severe dysphagia, added to distress for families. Preferences for place of care were discussed infrequently. No link was found between demographic or clinical characteristics and care pathway use., Conclusion: Distressing stroke-related clinical problems dominated relatives' concerns rather than use of the end-of-life care pathway. At times, relatives felt primarily responsible for key aspects of decision-making. Relatives often felt unprepared for a prolonged dying process after stroke, particularly where patients had persistent major swallowing difficulties., (© The Author(s) 2014.)

Background: Cognitive or communication issues may preclude direct modified Rankin Scale interview, necessitating interview with a suitable surrogate. The clinimetric properties of this proxy modified Rankin Scale assessment have not been described., Aims: To describe reliability of proxy-derived modified Rankin Scale and compare with traditional direct patient interview., Methods: Researchers assessed consenting stroke inpatients and their proxies using a nonstructured modified Rankin Scale approach. Paired interviewers (trained in modified Rankin Scale) performed independent and blinded modified Rankin Scale assessment of patients and appropriate proxies. Interobserver variability and agreement between patient and proxy modified Rankin Scale were described using kappa statistics (k, 95% confidence interval) and percentage agreement., Results: Ninety-seven stroke survivors were assessed. Proxies were family members (n = 29), nurses (n = 50), or physiotherapists (n = 25). Median modified Rankin Scale from both patient and proxies was 3 [interquartile range (IQR): 2-4]. Reliability for patient modified Rankin Scale interview was weighted kappa = 0·70 (95% confidence interval: 0·30-1·00). Reliability for proxy modified Rankin Scale weighted kappa = 0·62 (95% confidence interval: 0·34-0·90). Subgroup analysis of various proxy information sources were as follows: family weighted kappa = 0·61; nurse weighted kappa = 0·58; therapist weighted kappa = 0·58. There was disagreement between patient-derived modified Rankin Scale and corresponding proxy modified Rankin Scale weighted kappa = 0·64 (95% CI: 0·42-0·86)., Conclusions: There is potential for substantial interobserver variability in proxy modified Rankin Scale and validity of certain proxy assessments is questionable. Direct modified Rankin Scale interview is preferred., (© 2012 The Authors. International Journal of Stroke © 2012 World Stroke Organization.)

Background: Contractures are common in a stroke population, yet there is little information on the time course of development., Objectives: Investigate quantitatively changes associated with contracture formation in an acute stroke population., Study Design: Longitudinal study on 22 subjects who were 2-4 weeks post stroke., Outcome Measures: Contractures were assessed by quantifying the resting posture, resistance to passive movement and passive range of movement. Upper limb function was measured using the Action Research Arm Test and the Nine-Hole Peg Test. Active range of extension, wrist extension strength (isometric), grip strength and neglect were also measured. REPEATED MEASURES: Following an initial assessment, repeated measurements were taken at 4, 8, 20 and 32 weeks after recruitment., Results: Two distinct subgroups, one capable of some functional movement (F group; 8 subjects) and another which was not (NF group; 14 subjects), were identified at the start of the study. The NF group showed changes associated with contracture formation at the wrist, i.e., reduction in the passive range of movement, an increase in resistance to passive movement and a worsening of the flexion posture. Changes were observed from the time of recruitment even though neglect improved. The F group showed improvements in upper limb function and there was no evidence to support contracture formation., Conclusions: Subjects most prone to contracture formation were those who showed no signs of early functional recovery (2-4 weeks after the stroke). Changes consistent with adaptive shortening were seen from week 4 of the study period.

Objective: To determine whether systematic progressive high-intensity quadriceps training increases leg extensor power and reduces disability in patients rehabilitating after proximal femoral fracture., Design: Open parallel group randomized controlled trial comparing the addition of six weeks quadriceps training (40 patients) with standard physiotherapy alone (40 patients). The training group exercised twice weekly, with six sets of 12 repetitions of knee extension (both legs), progressing up to 80% of their one-repetition maximum., Setting: Orthogeriatric unit, and community follow-up., Subjects: Eighty patients rehabilitating after proximal femoral fracture., Main Outcome Measures: Measurements of leg extensor power (Nottingham Power Rig), functional mobility (elderly mobility score), disability (Barthel Index) and quality of life (Nottingham Health Profile) were made at baseline, after six weeks (at the end of the intervention) and at 16 weeks., Results: Leg extensor power increased significantly in the quadriceps training group (fractured leg mean improvement at six weeks 157% (standard error 16), nonfractured leg 80% (12)) compared with the control group (63% (11) and 26% (8) respectively, unpaired Student's t-test p = 0.007 and p = 0.01 for between-group comparisons). Significant benefits were maintained at 16 weeks. Quadriceps training resulted in a greater increase in elderly mobility scale score compared with standard rehabilitation (between-group difference of 2.5 (95% CI 1.1,3.8) at week 6 and 1.9 (0.4,3.4) at week 16). Barthel score increased significantly from week 0 to 6 in the quadriceps training group compared with controls (Mann-Whitney U-test p = 0.05). Patients in the quadriceps training group scored significantly better in the energy subscore of the Nottingham Health Profile at the end of follow-up (Mann-Whitney U-test p = 0.0185)., Conclusions: Progressive high-intensity quadriceps training in elderly proximal femoral fracture patients increased leg extensor power and reduced disability. This was accompanied by an increase in energy as measured by the Nottingham Health Profile. This intervention may provide a simple practical way of improving outcome in these patients.

Seven female patients (mean age 86 years) with proven biochemical primary hypothyroidism were enrolled in a single-blind randomized crossover study, of standard daily versus twice-weekly thyroxine therapy, with each phase of one month's duration. The median daily dose of thyroxine was 100 micrograms (range 75-100 micrograms). Serum levels of thyroid hormones and thyrotrophin were very similar during twice-weekly thyroxine therapy to those during daily therapy and there were no statistically significant differences between trough and peak serum total triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, or thyrotrophin levels or systolic time intervals during twice-weekly thyroxine. Administration of thyroxine twice-weekly to elderly patients with primary hypothyroidism gives effective biochemical thyroid hormone replacement, with no evidence from the systolic time intervals of tissue thyrotoxicosis at expected peak thyroid hormone concentrations. Supervised twice-weekly thyroxine should be considered in patients with primary hypothyroidism who comply poorly with daily dosing.