Background: Motor recovery after stroke is based on neuronal plasticity and the structural reorganization of the brain. Questions are debated about the proper moment to start rehabilitation in the acute period of stroke, the significance of rehabilitation interventions during the so-called “plastic window”, and the advantages of modern and traditional programs. The aims of this study were to evaluate the role of different rehabilitation strategies and their combinations for motor recovery and the impact on functional disability by way of neurological and functional outcomes 3 months after ischemic stroke. Methods: We used three rehabilitation approaches: early rehabilitation from the first day of stroke (Phase I), traditional exercise programs (Phase II), and an author’s new method of biofeedback rehabilitation using motion sensors and augmented reality (AR) rehabilitation (Phase III). Clinical and functional outcomes were measured on the 90th day after stroke. We developed algorithms for quantifying the quality of movements during the execution of tasks in the motor domains of the AR rehabilitation program. Results: Phase I of rehabilitation led to an improvement in functional independence, and the recovery of motor functions of the extremities with an absence of mortality and clinical deterioration. AR rehabilitation led to significant improvement both with respect to clinical and functional scores on scales and to variables reflecting the quality of movements. Patients who were actively treated during Phases II and III achieved the same final level of motor recovery and functional outcomes as that of participants who had only received AR rehabilitation during Phase III. Patients who underwent outpatient observation after Phase I showed a deficit of spontaneous motor recovery on the 90th day after stroke. Conclusions: Early rehabilitation was successful but was not enough; rehabilitation programs should be carried out throughout the entire “sensitive period” of poststroke plasticity. The newly developed AR biofeedback motion training is effective and safe as a separate rehabilitation method in the early recovery period of moderately severe, hemiparalytic, and ischemic stroke. These two rehabilitation approaches must be applied together or after each other, not instead of each other, as shown in clinical practice.

Aim. To assess awareness of biobanking among patients and healthcare professionals, and to identify factors influencing willingness to become donors and participate in the collection of biological material. Material and methods . A qualitative study was conducted based on semi-structured interviews of doctors (n=11) and patients (n=11) of Tomsk medical organizations. The results obtained were processed using lexical and comparative analysis techniques. Results. The experience of participation in biobanking was extremely limited among both patients and doctors, but those who had previous experience evaluated it positively. Patients and doctors had not received information about biobanks from official sources, but intuitively understood their functions and roles in biomedical research. Patients were willing to donate biomaterials, while doctors were willing to collect them, but both parties emphasized the importance of understanding the purpose and future use of the biomaterials. Patients wanted to ensure the safety of the collection procedures and the confidentiality of their personal data. The main motives for donating biomaterial were contribution to scientific development, potential attractiveness for the descendants of donors, social origin and material reward. Conclusion. Popularizing biobanking and increasing the awareness of donors and healthcare professionals about the regulatory framework governing biobanking activities can help establish trust and enhance readiness for donation, even regarding invasive biomaterial collection procedures.

Kinsbourne’s syndrome or opsoklonus-myoclonus syndrome is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system mainly affecting the cerebellum and its connections. The disease is characterized by progressive course and is rarely observed. There is no accurate data on the prevalence of opsoklonusmyoclonus syndrome in Russia. The etiology and pathogenesis of the disease are being studied. This disease can develop against the background of cancer, infectious diseases and vaccinations. The article presents a ñlinical case of this rare pathology.

Aim. To assess the relationship between changes in serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level, regression of motor deficiency, and restoration of functional activity in patients with ischemic stroke after stage II of medical rehabilitation.Materials and methods. The study included 49 patients with ischemic stroke in the middle cerebral artery after stage I of medical rehabilitation. Group I (n = 32) went through stage II of rehabilitation in the early recovery period, group II (n = 17) was discharged for outpatient monitoring at the place of residence. Observation points: day 14 and day 90. Evaluation scales: National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Fugle – Meyer Scale (FMA), Modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Serum BDNF levels were determined using a MAGPIX multiplex analyzer (Luminex, USA).Results. A comparative analysis of the studied population showed that patients who underwent motor rehabilitation in the early recovery period had greater regression of neurologic deficit according to the ΔNIHSS scale (pgr.I–II = 0.043), a more pronounced increase in the functional activity on the ΔmRS scale (pgr.I–II = 0.047), and positive dynamics according to the FMA scale (pday14–90 = 0.003) in comparison with patients who received outpatient follow-up. The concentration of BDNF was significantly reduced by the end of the early recovery in the group II (pday14–90_gr.II = 0.002). On the contrary, there was no decrease in the level of the BDNF (pday14–90_gr.I = 0.613) in the group of patients undergoing rehabilitation.Conclusion. The results of the study demonstrated the clinical effectiveness of stage II of the comprehensive rehabilitation of patients in the early period of stroke recovery. We can suggest that the success of neurorehabilitation is closely associated with an increase of the BDNF level against the background of its performance. This makes BDNF a potential marker of evaluating the effectiveness of ongoing rehabilitation treatment.

Objective. To study the dynamics of population indicators: the total number of deaths from diseases of the circulatory system, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular diseases and strokes, hospitalization profile for strokes, their structure and mortality in the Tomsk region for several years in comparison with these indicators for the Russian Federation and the Siberian Federal District. Material and methods. A retrospective study was conducted using acute cerebrovascular accidents monitoring data and data of the Territorial body of state statistics of the Tomsk region in comparison with the literature data. The indicators of all causes of death, from circulatory diseases, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular diseases and stroke in the territory of the Tomsk region, profile of hospitalization, structure of acute cerebrovascular accidents were analyzed for several years. Particular attention was paid to case fatality rate, one of the key indicators of the effectiveness of the system of care for patients with stroke. Results. Typical for many regions of the Russian Federation predominance of chronic forms in the structure of mortality from circulatory diseases, the absence of significant differences in the structure of strokes, as well as the features of the Tomsk region in the form of high levels of hospitalization profile and hospital case fatality rate, were revealed. The dependence of hospital mortality on logistics is shown, on the basis of which assumptions are made about the possible causes of high fatality rates in the region: excessive centralization of the system of vascular centers and the absence of really working mechanisms for timely reevacuation from them. Conclusion. To bring chronic circulatory diseases structure in line with international standards, it is necessary to regulate the rules for formulating and coding diagnoses. In order to reduce hospital fatality rates in the Tomsk region, it is necessary to carry out organizational measures: opening a primary vascular department in the area of responsibility of the regional stroke center, as well as strengthening rehabilitation and palliative services for the timely reevacuation of patients from vascular centers.

Objective. Development of a specialized software complex that creates a controlled virtual environment as well as to capture and calculate the movement data in the process of rehabilitation.Materials and methods. To evaluate the impact of visual stimuli created using the augmented reality system on the motor function, a software was developed that visualizes data via augmented reality glasses and processes data obtained from motion capture sensors. The study was conducted at the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery and the Department of Medical and Biological Cybernetics of Siberian State Medical University in 2018–2019. The sample included 59 patients with acute ischemic cerebral stroke in the middle cerebral artery. The course of motor rehabilitation using augmented reality technology was ten days. The duration of one training session was 60 minutes.Results. Motor neurorehabilitation of patients with paresis of the upper extremities using augmented reality makes it possible to improve motor skills. Analysis of the accuracy of movements showed a significant increase in the value of the spectral criterion with an increase in the number of trainings, which indicates a decrease in the number of unnecessary movements during the main task. A significant increase in the number of completed movements with each subsequent training was revealed. This indicates a rise in the speed of the task over the course of rehabilitation, as well as reduction of the rest period between the attempts performed during one training session.Conclusion. The developed specialized software recreates a controlled virtual environment with the ability to register the parameters of human movement. The method was used for rehabilitation of motor disorders in patients with ischemic stroke of the brain and paresis of the upper extremities. The results of the study revealed a significant increase in the accuracy of movements, and a rise in endurance, which indicates the effectiveness of the approach in motor neurorehabilitation.