We tested the hypothesis that plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are elevated in patients with acute cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) independent of heart disease, and reflect CVD severity. After careful evaluations for heart disease, the study included 79 consecutive patients with CVD without any evidence of heart disease admitted within 48 h after onset (71 ± 10 years), and 26 control subjects without CVD (CT,

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between lower extremity muscle mass, leg extension strength and muscle power of hemiplegic stroke patients and to examine the differences in walking independence levels (dependent and independent groups) between each variable. [Subjects] The subjects were 21 hemiplegic patients at the first onset. [Methods] The affected and unaffected thigh muscle mass (TM), lower leg muscle mass, and lower extremity muscle mass (LEM) were measured by segmental bioelectrical impedance analysis. The leg extension peak torque (LEPT) and mean power (MP) were measured using a recumbent ergometer. Values obtained by dividing the affected and unaffected LEPTs by each LEM (LEPT/LEM) and the MP by total LEM (TLEM) of the affected and unaffected lower extremities (MP/TLEM) were calculated. [Results] The affected TM was significant lower than the unaffected side. The affected and unaffected TM was significantly correlated with the LEPT of each side. The affected TM, affected and unaffected LEPT, LEPT/LEM, MP and MP/TLEM of the dependent group were significantly lower than their respective values in the independent group. [Conclusion] These results suggest that a decrease in muscle mass in hemiplegic patients decreases anaerobic exercise capacity through weaker leg extension strength or muscle power.

Abstract.[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to establish an optimal load setting method for a 9-second modified-Wingate Anaerobic Test (m-WAnT) and to examine the reliability and validity of the test.[Subjects] The subjects were 28 hemiplegic stroke patients and 18 of them were examined as to the test's validity.[Methods] The mWAnT was performed twice on two different days to calculate the Mean Power (MP). In order to derive an optimal load setting expression, multiple regression analysis was performed using the optimal load (a value roughly 10% higher than the torque value achieved at the time-point of 6 seconds) as the dependent variable and 6 items as the independent variables. The Five-Repetition Sit-to-Stand Test (FRSST) and Maximum Walking Speed (MWS) were measured and their correlations with were examined the MP.[Results] The ICC (1,1) of the MP of the first and second values of MP was 0.982 (95% CI, 0.961-0.991). The result of multiple regression analysis showed that the unaffected side and affected side LEPT were significantly related and the coefficient of determination (R 2 ) was 0.812. MP significantly correlated with FRSST and MWS of the 18 subjects. [Conclusion] This study confirmed the reliability and validity of m-WAnT and derived the optimal load setting equation as well.

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