Upper Limb Robotic Rehabilitation After Stroke: A Multicenter, Randomized Clinical Trial

Background and purpose: After stroke, only 12% of survivors obtain complete upper limb (UL) functional recovery, while in 30% to 60% UL deficits persist. Despite the complexity of the UL, prior robot-mediated therapy research has used only one robot in comparisons to conventional therapy. We evaluated the efficacy of robotic UL treatment using a set of 4 devices, compared with conventional therapy. Methods: In a multicenter, randomized controlled trial, 247 subjects with subacute stroke were assigned either to robotic (using a set of 4 devices) or to conventional treatment, each consisting of 30 sessions. Subjects were evaluated before and after treatment, with follow-up assessment after 3 months. The primary outcome measure was change from baseline in the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) score. Secondary outcome measures were selected to assess motor function, activities, and participation. Results: One hundred ninety subjects completed the posttreatment assessment, with a subset (n = 122) returning for follow-up evaluation. Mean FMA score improvement in the robotic group was 8.50 (confidence interval: 6.82 to 10.17), versus 8.57 (confidence interval: 6.97 to 10.18) in the conventional group, with no significant between-groups difference (adjusted mean difference -0.08, P = 0.948). Both groups also had similar change in secondary measures, except for the Motricity Index, with better results for the robotic group (adjusted mean difference 4.42, P = 0.037). At follow-up, subjects continued to improve with no between-groups differences. Discussion and conclusions: Robotic treatment using a set of 4 devices significantly improved UL motor function, activities, and participation in subjects with subacute stroke to the same extent as a similar amount of conventional therapy. Video Abstract is available for more insights from the authors (see the Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, available at: http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A291)

First observation of the decay B(s)(0)-> D(s)(-)D(s)(+) and measurement of its branching ratio

We report the observation of the exclusive decay B(s)(0)-> D(s)(-)D(s)(+) at the 7.5 standard deviation level using 355 pb(-1) of data collected by the CDF II detector in p (p) over bar collisions at root s =1.96 TeV at the Fermilab Tevatron. We measure the relative branching ratio B(B(s)(0)-> D(s)(-)D(s)(+))/B(B(0)-> D(-)D(s)(+))=1.44(-0.44)(+0.48). Using the world average value for B(B(0)-> D(-)D(s)(+)), we find B(B(s)(0)-> D(s)(-)D(s)(+))=(9.4(-4.2)(+4.4))x10(-3). This provides a lower bound Delta Gamma(CP)(s)/Gamma(s)>= 2B(B(s)(0)-> D(s)(-)D(s)(+))> 1.2x10(-2) at 95% C.L

Society for Cinema Studies Conference, University of Chicago, 9–12 March 2000.

We present the first search for heavy, long-lived particles that decay to photons at a hadron collider. We use a sample of gamma+jet+missing transverse energy events in p (p) over bar collisions at root s=1.96 TeV taken with the CDF II detector. Candidate events are selected based on the arrival time of the photon at the detector. Using an integrated luminosity of 570 pb(-1) of collision data, we observe 2 events, consistent with the background estimate of 1.3 +/- 0.7 events. While our search strategy does not rely on model-specific dynamics, we set cross section limits in a supersymmetric model with (chi) over tilde (0)(1)->gamma(G) over tilde and place the world-best 95% C.L. lower limit on the (chi) over tilde (0)(1) mass of 101 GeV/c(2) at tau(0)((chi) over tilde1)=5 ns