Design, Development, and Characterization of BreathForce: A Respiratory Training System for Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries

Object To date, there has been no efficient therapeutic approach to spinal cord injuries (SCIs). This may be attributable, at least in part, to difficulties in forming predictive and accurate experimental animal models. The authors' previous studies have identified 2 relevant conditions of such a model. The first condition is the ability to compare data derived from rat models of SCI by developing mouse models of SCI that permit access to a large range of transgenic models. The second condition is that the exploration of the consequences of each mechanism of spinal trauma requires modeling the different etiologic aspects of the injury. Methods To fulfill these 2 conditions a new model of mouse spinal cord compression injury was devised using a thread-driven olive-shaped compressive device. The authors characterized early motor, sensory, and histological outcomes using 3 olive diameters and different compression durations. Results A gradual and reproducible functional severity that correlated with lesion extension was demonstrated in 76 mice. To further substantiate the characterization of this model, a noncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate antagonist was administered in 30 mice, which demonstrated the involvement of excitotoxicity in this model. Conclusions The study demonstrated that spinal olive-compression injury in the mouse is a reproducible, well-characterized, and predictable model for analyzing early events after SCI. The nonmagnetic and remotely controlled design of this model will allow completion of the lesion while the animal is in the MR imaging apparatus, thus permitting further real-time MR imaging studies that will provide insights into the characterization of early events in the spatial and temporal evolution of SCI. Moreover, this model lays the foundation for future in vivo studies of functional and histological outcomes following SCI in genetically engineered animals.

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Characterization of transection spinal cord injuries by monitoring somatosensory evoked potentials and motor behavior

Brain Research Bulletin ◽

10.1016/j.brainresbull.2019.12.012 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 156 ◽

pp. 150-163 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Angelo H. All ◽

Hasan Al Nashash ◽

Hasan Mir ◽

Shiyu Luo ◽

Xiaogang liu

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Evoked Potentials ◽

Somatosensory Evoked Potentials ◽

Spinal Cord Injuries ◽

Motor Behavior

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Characterization of traumatic spinal cord injuries: an integrative review of the literature

Scientific Electronic Archives ◽

10.36560/1352020936 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 90

Author(s):

F. Maas ◽

G. A. S. Moser ◽

D. A. Goettens ◽

J. F. Lima ◽

S. S. Souza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Latin American ◽

Spinal Cord Injuries ◽

Spinal Column ◽

Caribbean Literature ◽

Integrative Review ◽

Spinal Cord Trauma ◽

Epidemiological Profile ◽

Car Accident

The objective of this study was to know the profile of traumatic spinal cord injuries in Brazil. Thus, was used the integrative review, whose searches were conducted in October 2018, with health descriptors: spinal cord injuries, injuries and injuries, spinal injuries, epidemiology, spinal column and wheelchair. Among the data surveyed in the last 10 years, from January 2008 to January 2018, 148 publications were found in the Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), 136 in the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) and 85 in the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO), leaving only 10 articles after selection criteria. Therefore, the results showed that the profile of the patients affected by traumatic spinal cord trauma is of men, with low schooling and age between 21 and 30 years. In addition, there is a predominance of injuries caused by a car accident, fall and perforation by firearm projectile, mainly injuring the cervical and thoracic portions of the spine. Thus, it is concluded that the development of this study contributed to the understanding of the epidemiological profile, the main causes and the factors that are related to the injuries of the traumatic spinal cord trauma, and may contribute to the improvement of the care provided to this group.

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Respiratory Training and Plasticity After Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience ◽

10.3389/fncel.2021.700821 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 ◽

Author(s):

Margo Randelman ◽

Lyandysha V. Zholudeva ◽

Stéphane Vinit ◽

Michael A. Lane

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injuries ◽

Cervical Spinal Cord ◽

Neural Pathways ◽

Functional Deficits ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Life Threatening ◽

Respiratory Training

While spinal cord injuries (SCIs) result in a vast array of functional deficits, many of which are life threatening, the majority of SCIs are anatomically incomplete. Spared neural pathways contribute to functional and anatomical neuroplasticity that can occur spontaneously, or can be harnessed using rehabilitative, electrophysiological, or pharmacological strategies. With a focus on respiratory networks that are affected by cervical level SCI, the present review summarizes how non-invasive respiratory treatments can be used to harness this neuroplastic potential and enhance long-term recovery. Specific attention is given to “respiratory training” strategies currently used clinically (e.g., strength training) and those being developed through pre-clinical and early clinical testing [e.g., intermittent chemical stimulation via altering inhaled oxygen (hypoxia) or carbon dioxide stimulation]. Consideration is also given to the effect of training on non-respiratory (e.g., locomotor) networks. This review highlights advances in this area of pre-clinical and translational research, with insight into future directions for enhancing plasticity and improving functional outcomes after SCI.

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Knowing to care: characterization of individuals with spinal cord injury treated at a rehabilitation center

Fisioterapia em Movimento ◽

10.1590/0103-5150.028.001.ao08 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 77-83 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Soraia Dornelles Schoeller ◽

Andréa Regina Schuch Grumann ◽

Alessandra Cadete Martini ◽

Stefânia Forner ◽

Lívia Takano Sader ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Traffic Accidents ◽

Spinal Cord Injuries ◽

Cervical Region ◽

Rehabilitation Center ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Early Intervention Services ◽

Cord Injury

Introduction Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in motor, sensory and autonomic dysfunction. The symptoms observed in patients with spinal cord injury will depend on the area affected by the injury. Nursing care is essential for better patient outcomes. Objective The aim of this study was to characterize patients with spinal cord injury treated at a state referral rehabilitation center for SCI. Methods We performed a quantitative cross-sectional descriptive study of 109 patients between the years 2000 and 2009. Results We found a predominance of spinal cord injury in men aged up to 30 years (48.5%). The main causes of spinal cord injuries were traffic accidents. The thoracic region was the most frequently affected site (39.7%), followed by the cervical region (25.6%). Most of the study subjects had been rated as ASIA A, according to the American Spinal Cord Injury Association scale. Discussion These findings corroborate previous studies observing that traffic accidents are the leading causes of spinal cord injury and that people affected by it usually do not seek proper care. Receiving early intervention services and counseling is essential for a better outcome and for achieving an improvement in the quality of life of these patients. Conclusion Despite the increasing incidence of spinal cord injuries nowadays, there is still a lack of data on the subject. The greatest limitation of this study is the incompleteness of medical records, which hindered the access to information.

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Impairment Rating and Spinal Cord Injuries: Revisiting the Guides

Guides Newsletter ◽

10.1001/amaguidesnewsletters.2010.mayjun01 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Richard T. Katz

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injuries ◽

Functional Independence ◽

Outcome Data ◽

Multiple Organ ◽

Loss Of Function ◽

Sixth Edition ◽

Organ Systems ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Impairment Ratings

Abstract This article addresses some criticisms of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides) by comparing previously published outcome data from a group of complete spinal cord injury (SCI) persons with impairment ratings for a corresponding level of injury calculated using the AMA Guides, Sixth Edition. Results of the comparison show that impairment ratings using the sixth edition scale poorly with the level of impairments of activities of daily living (ADL) in SCI patients as assessed by the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) motor scale and the extended FIM motor scale. Because of the combinations of multiple impairments, the AMA Guides potentially overrates the impairment of paraplegics compared with that of quadriplegics. The use and applicability of the Combined Values formula should be further investigated, and complete loss of function of two upper extremities seems consistent with levels of quadriplegia using the SCI model. Some aspects of the AMA Guides contain inconsistencies. The concept of diminishing impairment values is not easily translated between specific losses of function per organ system and “overall” loss of ADLs involving multiple organ systems, and the notion of “catastrophic thresholds” involving multiple organ systems may support the understanding that variations in rating may exist in higher rating cases such as those that involve an SCI.

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