The National Institutes of Health is looking for children with young age of onset strokes, with first stroke occurring after age 3 months. The patients they have seen so far have had recurrent strokes over the years. All have evidence of inflammation with elevated sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. Most have intermittent fevers and a mottled reddish appearance to their skin (livedo reticularis). Some have other rashes as well and some have joint pain, often misdiagnosed as juvenile arthritis. Dr. Karyl Barron reports, "We have recently discovered a gene that is mutated in our cohort of patients and are looking for more patients that fit this description. We have a potential therapy that we will be starting soon, based on the known genetic defect. While this is a genetic disease, it is autosomal recessive – meaning the child receives one mutated gene from each parent. People who have only one mutation are asymptomatic – so no family history of childhood … [Read more...]
Cerebral Palsy Hand Grasp Study – Participants Needed
Volunteers needed for Cerebral Palsy Grasp Study – Ages 6-13 The purpose of this study is to determine how your child positions his or her hand to pick up different shaped objects. This study will provide information about how your child uses his hand to plan and accomplish grasp movement. If you allow your child to participate in this study, the following routine and/or experimental procedures will be performed: Your child will be asked to grasp three different shaped objects that will be placed on a table. We will ask your child to grasp each object seven to ten times. While your child is grasping each object the movement of the fingers will be recorded from small reflective markers that will taped to the skin. The overall participation will be over a period of one visit. The visit lasts approximately 1 hour. The data will be collected at the Leon Root Motion Analysis Lab at Hospital for Special Surgery, located at 510 E 73rd St, New York, New York. Transportation … [Read more...]
Survey! What’s important to you?
In keeping with CHASA's mission of assisting pediatric stroke or hemiplegia researchers, we are making a survey from Teachers College, Columbia University available to you. Information about the survey is below. Dear Caregiver, Your responses to this brief questionnaire will help us prioritize our research program for children with hemiplegia at Teachers College, Columbia University based on what is important to caregivers. In addition to the summer day camps (e.g., HABIT bimanual training and CIMT), we have been developing intensive home-based interventions, training caregivers to provide the therapy. The aim is to provide support to caregivers remotely via computer (e.g., skype) to extend our programs to a broader range of the population (younger children, children outside New York City area). Your information will be ANONYMOUS unless you wish to provide contact info for more information where it will be kept private and only be seen by our research staff (or you can e-mail us … [Read more...]
Risk factors for perinatal arterial ischemic stroke in full-term infants: a case-control study
Researchers in The Netherlands report that maternal fever during deliver and early-onset sepsis/meningitis were found to be involved with perinatal arterial ischemic stroke in full term infants. Apgar score less than 7 at 5 minutes and hypoglycemia were also found to be important risk factors in perinatal arterial ischemic stroke in full term infants. This article reports the incidence of perinatal arterial ischemic stroke as 1 in 2300 live births. Archives of disease in childhood. Fetal and neonatal edition. 2012 Nov;97(6):F411-6. … [Read more...]
Bimanual Training in Children With Hemiplegia With Lower Limb and Postural Stimulation (HABIT & Leg)
A randomized control trial of "HABIT & leg" therapy at regular or intensive frequency. The protocols have been developed on the basis of bimanual therapy (HABIT) developped at Columbia University. The interventions take place either in a 2 weeks day and night camp, either in regular intervention (1 to 5 hours a week). The study is also designed to contrast results with regular NDT treatments. Children of all groups will beneficiate from 90h of treatment. Both in the camp and the regular interventions, there is at least one therapist for each child. More information >> As of October 2012, this study was recruiting participants. Sponsor: University Hospital of Mont-Godinne … [Read more...]
Parents of a Baby or Child Who Has Had a Stroke – Research Opportunity
The Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association is partnering with Kenda Grover, Ed. D., a faculty member in the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas, to assist her in recruiting participants for a research study. Dr. Grover is conducting research on the experience of parents whose child has had a stroke. Specifically, she is interested in how parents directed their own learning after the incident to make decisions about cause, treatment options, and recovery. Participation in the study consists of a 2 to 2 and 1/2 hour interview. The interview can be conducted using by phone, using Skype, or in person. Dr. Grover may be able to travel to meet you for the interview if you live within a reasonable traveling distance of Fayetteville, Arkansas (Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, or Texas). Parents are eligible for the study if they have a child who has had a stroke within the past 6 years. One or both parents can participate. This … [Read more...]
Research Opportunity – Pediatric Hemiparesis Study
The Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association (CHASA) is assisting researchers in the Physical Therapy Department at the University of Minnesota with recruitment of participants for a non-invasive brain stimulation research study. The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of a form of non-invasive brain stimulation, transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), for interventions in rehabilitation for children who have hemiparesis (weakness on one side of the body). This type of non-invasive brain stimulation has shown beneficial behavioral effects and is more cost-effective and portable than previous types. Being able to combine tDCS with other therapies could improve hand function in children with hemiparesis more effectively than each therapy separately. To be eligible, children with congenital (near birth) hemiparesis need to be 8-17 years old, able to partially move the affected hand, able to follow simple instructions, and have no evidence of seizure activity … [Read more...]
Researchers Tests Device That Helps Infants With Cerebral Palsy Crawl
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, in collaboration with colleagues at Virginia Commonwealth University, want to know if infants with cerebral palsy can learn to use a skateboard-like robotic device that enables locomotion. In addition, they are evaluating whether moving independently with assistance of the device will lead to improvements in problem-solving, spatial relationships, social interaction and hand-eye coordination for infants in the study. Read more. … [Read more...]
