Background and Purpose-Bone marrow mononuclear cell (BM-MNC) intra-arterial transplantation improves recovery in experimental models of ischemic stroke. We aimed to assess the safety, feasibility, and biological effects of autologous BM-MNC transplantation in patients with stroke. Methods-A single-blind (outcomes assessor) controlled Phase I/II trial was conducted in patients with middle cerebral artery stroke. Autologous BM-MNCs were injected intra-arterially between 5 and 9 days after stroke. Follow-up was done for up to 6 months and blood samples were collected for biological markers. The primary outcome was safety and feasibility of the procedure. The secondary outcome was improvement in neurological function. Results-Ten cases (BM-MNC-treated) and 10 control subjects (BM-MNC-nontreated) were consecutively included.Mean National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale before the procedure was 15.6. Mean BM-MNCs injected were 1.59ϫ10 8 . There was no death, stroke recurrence, or tumor formation during follow-up, although 2 cases had an isolate partial seizure at 3 months. After transplantation, higher plasma levels of beta nerve growth factor (␤-nerve growth factor) were found compared with control subjects (Pϭ0.02). There were no significant differences in neurological function at 180 days. A trend to positive correlation between number of CD34ϩ cells injected and Barthel Index was found (rϭ0.56, Pϭ0.09). Conclusions-Intra-arterial BM-MNC transplantation in subacute ischemic stroke is feasible and seems to be safe. Larger randomized trials are needed to confirm the safety and elucidate the efficacy of BM-MNC transplantation. Clinical Trial Registration-URL-www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00761982.

This is the first trial to explore efficacy of different doses of intra-arterial bone marrow mononuclear cell in moderate-to-severe acute ischemic stroke patients. The trial is registered as NCT02178657.

This article examines which variables predict disengagement from legal proceedings by victims of intimate partner violence in the first steps of the Spanish judicial process. We replicated a previous retrospective study with a prospective sample of 393 women. The relationships of sociodemographic, emotional, motivational, and psychological variables with procedural withdrawals were analyzed. We developed a binary logistic regression model that predicts disengagement with two variables: the contact with the abuser and the interaction between this contact and the thought of going back with him. Interesting differences between the current and the retrospective study were found. Results are discussed extensively in the conclusions.

In order to end and “liberate” themselves from an abusive relationship, female survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) usually face a complex process. Although women may decide to seek help through the criminal justice system, some refuse to participate in legal proceedings against their abusers. While many studies have focused on exploring variables explaining disengagement from legal proceedings, the aim of this article is to study the impact of the process of liberation from an abusive relationship on the likelihood of disengagement (LoD) from legal proceedings. Liberation was measured through the psychosocial separation overall score and the LoD was predicted by a logistic regression model developed in a previous study in Spain. A sample of 80 women involved in legal proceedings for IPV against their ex-partners in Andalusia (Spain) participated in this study. Exploratory analyses were conducted using ANOVA and Chi-square; multiple linear regression analyses were used to study the relationship between psychosocial separation and LoD. Results showed that victims who had higher psychosocial separation from their abusers were less likely to disengage from legal proceedings against the abuser. We discuss the results in terms of practical implications like detection of women’s need for specific psychological support to ease a comprehensive recovery. Training programs for legal professionals and judges in the judicial arena should use the results of this study to increase professionals’ understanding of IPV and survivors’ decision-making processes. This would lead to a decrease in survivors’ secondary victimization, as well as decrease the frustration of legal professionals when victims disengage from legal proceedings.

No abstract