Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society
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Introduction. Intrathecal octreotide has been considered an alternative to opioids in chronic infusion for pain. Octreotide is an analog of the growth hormone sandostatin. Previous work has shown the drug to be efficacious in cancer patients who had failed intrathecal opioids. ⋯ The Saint Francis Hospital IRB and FDA approved the ongoing use of intrathecal octreotide for research. Conclusions. Intrathecal octreotide, at doses as high as 20 µg/hr, appeared to be as safe as saline when given as a continuous intrathecal infusion. Further work is needed on dose-range analysis and efficacy.
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Objectives. 1) To compare the effect of cyclic neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) of the forearm and elbow extensor muscles with passive stretching exercises on hand function and sensation following stroke. 2) To inform sample size for a larger randomized controlled trial (RCT). Materials and Methods. Twenty-two subjects with hemiplegia resulting from a stroke during the previous 12 months were randomly allocated into stimulation (treatment) and exercise (control) groups. Stimulation was applied to the elbow, and forearm extensor muscle groups of the hemiplegic arm for 12 weeks. ⋯ Results. Statistically significant between-group differences in change in ARAT scores were shown between the two groups after 12 weeks of treatment (p = 0.003) and following 12 further weeks without intervention (p = 0.012). There were no significant differences in sensation. Conclusions. 1) A significant treatment effect of electrical stimulation over passive exercise has been demonstrated in a group of 22 subacute stroke patients, randomized into two equal groups and further work identified which may help to improve recovery of hand function and sensation following stroke. 2) A sample size of 24 subjects in each group has been estimated assuming a two-sided test significance level of 5% with 80% power, primary outcome variability SD = 6.75, a minimum difference of ten ARAT score units, and a 10% dropout rate.