Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27567756›Full record

Trial reportRestorative neurology and neuroscience2016

The neurophysiological effects of single-dose theophylline in patients with chronic stroke: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized cross-over study.

Heidi M Schambra, Isis E Martinez-Hernandez, Kevin J Slane, Amelia K Boehme, Randolph S Marshall, Ronald M Lazar

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Restorative neurology and neuroscience, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.4field-weighted citation impact, top 29% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 3 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Heidi M SchambraDepartments of Neurology and Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Motor Performance Laboratory, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Isis E Martinez-HernandezDepartments of Neurology and Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Motor Performance Laboratory, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Kevin J SlaneDepartment of Neurology, Richard and Jenny Levine Cerebral Localization Laboratory, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Amelia K BoehmeDepartment of Neurology, Richard and Jenny Levine Cerebral Localization Laboratory, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Randolph S MarshallDepartment of Neurology, Richard and Jenny Levine Cerebral Localization Laboratory, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Ronald M LazarDepartment of Neurology, Richard and Jenny Levine Cerebral Localization Laboratory, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Columbia University Irving Medical Center · US

Funding

The neurophysiology of spontaneous biological recoveryK23NS078052 · NINDS · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · PI SCHAMBRA, HEIDI · 2012 to 2016
$934k
NINDS NIH HHS K23 NS078052
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundReducing inhibitory neurotransmission with pharmacological agents is a potential approach for augmenting plasticity after stroke. Previous work in healthy subjects showed diminished intracortical inhibition after administration of theophylline.

objectiveWe assessed the effect of single-dose theophylline on intracortical and interhemispheric inhibition in patients with chronic stroke, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study.

methodsEighteen subjects were randomly administered 300 mg of extended-release theophylline or placebo. Immediately and 5 hours following administration, transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to assess bihemispheric resting motor threshold, short-interval intracortical inhibition, long-interval intracortical inhibition, and interhemispheric inhibition. Adverse effects on cardiovascular, neurological, and motor performance outcomes were also surveilled. Change between morning and afternoon sessions were compared across conditions. One week later, patients underwent the same assessments after crossing over to the opposite experimental condition. Subjects and investigators were blinded to the experimental condition during data acquisition and analysis.

resultsFor both hemispheres, changes in intracortical or interhemispheric neurophysiology were comparable under theophylline and placebo conditions. Theophylline induced no adverse neurological, cardiovascular, or motor performance effects. For both conditions and hemipsheres, the baseline level of inhibition inversely correlated with its change between sessions: less baseline inhibition (i.e. disinhibition) was associated with a strengthening in inhibition over the day, and vice versa.

conclusionA single dose of theophylline is well-tolerated by patients with chronic stroke, but does not alter cortical excitability. The inverse relationship between baseline inhibition and its change suggests the existence of a homeostatic process. The lack of effect on cortical inhibition may be related to an insufficiently long exposure to theophylline, or to differential responsiveness of disinhibited neural circuitry in patients with stroke.

Indexed as

AdultAgedAged, 80 and overBlood PressureChronic DiseaseCross-Over StudiesDouble-Blind MethodEvoked Potentials, MotorFemaleFingersFunctional LateralityHeart RateHumansMaleMiddle AgedMotor CortexTheophyllineVasodilator Agentscerebral infarctionhomeostasismotor cortexRecovery of functiontranscranial magnetic stimulation

Identifiers

PMID27567756
PMCPMC5333922
OpenAlexW2510025908

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.