Home-based tele-rehabilitation presents comparable positive impact on self-reported functional outcomes as usual care: The Singapore Tele-technology Aided Rehabilitation in Stroke (STARS) randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this research was to evaluate the impact of a novel tele-rehabilitation system on self-reported functional outcomes compared to usual care during the first three months after stroke. METHODS: A parallel, two-arm, evaluator-blinded, randomised controlled trial was conducted. Adults aged ≥40 years who had suffered a stroke within four weeks of the start of the study were recruited from the general community. The intervention group received access to a novel tele-rehabilitation system and programme for three months. The primary outcome measures utilised were the frequency and limitation total scores of the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI) at three months. RESULTS: A total of 124 individuals were recruited. The mean differences in the LLDFI frequency and limitation total scores at three months comparing the intervention and control groups were -3.30 (95% confidence interval (CI) -7.81 to 1.21) and -6.90 (95% CI -15.02 to 1.22), respectively. Adjusting for the respective baseline covariates and baseline Barthel Index also showed no significant difference between interventions in the LLFDI outcomes. DISCUSSION: The intervention and control groups self-reported similar improvements in functional outcomes. Tele-rehabilitation may be a viable option to provide post-stroke rehabilitation services in Singapore while reducing barriers to continue rehabilitation conventionally after discharge from hospital and encouraging more participation.

Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity is associated with N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide level in patients with atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent to which conduit artery stiffness is associated with plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: National University Hospital, Singapore. PATIENTS: Cases (n=117) were patients with AF onset <65 years of age without heart failure or structural heart disease. Controls (n=274) were patients without AF who were seen at the general cardiology clinic. INTERVENTIONS: Transthoracic echocardiography, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CFPWV) measured using applanation tonometry and blood draw for plasma NT-proBNP at enrolment for all patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Plasma NT-proBNP. RESULTS: In patients with AF, CFPWV was associated with NT-proBNP after adjusting for hypertension and factors that were univariately associated with NT-proBNP: age at enrolment, type of AF, body mass index, left ventricular mass index, left atrial volume index, mitral E/E', mitral deceleration time and use of ß-blockers (ß=0.234; 95% CI 0.100 to 0.367; p=0.001). In contrast, CFPWV was not associated with NT-proBNP in controls. In patients with AF, the adjusted mean NT-proBNP level in the highest quartile of CFPWV (350 pg/ml; 95% CI 237 to 517 pg/ml) was fivefold higher than the lowest quartile (69 pg/ml; 95% CI 47 to 103 pg/ml) (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CFPWV is associated with NT-proBNP level in AF. Since elevated NT-proBNP is a marker of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, arterial stiffness may be associated with worse prognosis in patients with AF.

Lone atrial fibrillation: influence of familial disease on gender predilection.

INTRODUCTION: Epidemiological studies report a male predominance in lone atrial fibrillation (LAF). Phenotypic differences between sporadic and familial LAF could aid in deciding which cases should undergo family screening. We sought to determine gender distribution in sporadic and familial LAF, gender-based differences, and phenotypic differences between sporadic and familial LAF. METHODS: Since November 2000, 192 unrelated LAF probands were recruited. Sporadic LAF was defined as the absence of a family history of LAF. Familial LAF was classified as possible if one first- or second-degree relative had LAF, or confirmed if >or= 2 relatives had LAF. Affected relatives (n = 87) of 34 confirmed familial probands were also evaluated. For unrelated LAF probands, differences in proportions and means were tested using chi(2) and ANOVA, respectively. Difference in gender ratio among the family history groups was tested using mixed models. RESULTS: Male proportion was greater among sporadic (82%) and possible familial probands (84%) than confirmed familial probands (62%), and affected relatives (54%), P < 0.001. Sporadic LAF was more common in men (62%) than women (51%), P = 0.03. More women were affected by palpitation and nocturnal symptoms than men. More patients had permanent AF in the confirmed familial group (27%), compared with the possible familial (7%) and the sporadic LAF group (8%), P = 0.05, but no other phenotypic discriminators were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Male predilection for LAF is attenuated as the likelihood of dominant Mendelian inheritance increases. Increased frequency of "sporadic" LAF among men could be partially due to X-linked recessive inheritance. Finally, sporadic and familial LAF are clinically indistinguishable.

Significance of tumour volume measurements in tongue cancer: a novel role in staging.

BACKGROUND: Tongue cancers are staged by the American Joint Committee on Cancer and the Union Internationale Contre le Cancer TNM staging systems. Cancer, however, evolves in a 3-D plane. Hence, using the largest tumour diameter will not reflect total cancer volume. We aim to evaluate the use of tongue cancer tumour volume (Tv) as a prognostic predictor of disease recurrence and survival. METHODS: The study is a retrospective analysis of patients in Singapore General Hospital who underwent complete resection for histologically proven tongue carcinoma from 2000 to 2002. The Tv was measured on staging T(2)-weighted magnetic resonance imaging datasets by semiautomated methods. RESULTS: Seventeen patients with a median follow-up duration of 57.9 months were studied. A wide range of volumes was noted in each T stage. The median time to relapse was 8.6 months for those with Tv > or = 13 cc but was not achieved for those with Tv < 13 cc. The hazard ratio comparing Tv > or = 13 cc versus <13 cc is 9.02 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.70-47.94, P = 0.014). Of the seven deaths reported, five patients had Tv > or = 13 cc. The median overall survival was 15.8 months for those with Tv > or = 13 cc but was not achieved for those with Tv < 13 cc. The hazards of death for Tv > or = 13 cc was 3.91 times that of Tv < 13 cc (95% CI 0.86-17.86, P = 0.078). CONCLUSION: Tongue cancer Tv measurement allows a more refined and accurate assessment of tumour status. This can be a possible prognostic indicator and be used in a novel staging method for the future.