A Hyaluronic Acid Demilune Scaffold and Polypyrrole-Coated Fibers Carrying Embedded Human Neural Precursor Cells and Curcumin for Surface Capping of Spinal Cord Injuries

Tissue engineering, including cell transplantation and the application of biomaterials and bioactive molecules, represents a promising approach for regeneration following spinal cord injury (SCI). We designed a combinatorial tissue-engineered approach for the minimally invasive treatment of SCI—a hyaluronic acid (HA)-based scaffold containing polypyrrole-coated fibers (PPY) combined with the RAD16-I self-assembling peptide hydrogel (Corning® PuraMatrix™ peptide hydrogel (PM)), human induced neural progenitor cells (iNPCs), and a nanoconjugated form of curcumin (CURC). In vitro cultures demonstrated that PM preserves iNPC viability and the addition of CURC reduces apoptosis and enhances the outgrowth of Nestin-positive neurites from iNPCs, compared to non-embedded iNPCs. The treatment of spinal cord organotypic cultures also demonstrated that CURC enhances cell migration and prompts a neuron-like morphology of embedded iNPCs implanted over the tissue slices. Following sub-acute SCI by traumatic contusion in rats, the implantation of PM-embedded iNPCs and CURC with PPY fibers supported a significant increase in neuro-preservation (as measured by greater βIII-tubulin staining of neuronal fibers) and decrease in the injured area (as measured by the lack of GFAP staining). This combination therapy also restricted platelet-derived growth factor expression, indicating a reduction in fibrotic pericyte invasion. Overall, these findings support PM-embedded iNPCs with CURC placed within an HA demilune scaffold containing PPY fibers as a minimally invasive combination-based alternative to cell transplantation alone.

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Electromyographic Evaluation of Early Stage Results of Exoscopic Microdecompressive Spinal Surgery in Dogs

Acta Scientiae Veterinariae ◽

10.22456/1679-9216.101278 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 48 ◽

Author(s):

Hakan Salci ◽

Hilal Acar ◽

Mevlut Ozgur Taskapilioglu

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Minimally Invasive ◽

Conduction Velocity ◽

Muscle Activity ◽

Spinal Surgery ◽

Hybrid Imaging ◽

Spinal Cord Injuries ◽

Imaging Technique ◽

Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery ◽

Cord Injury

Background: Spinal surgical interventions are generally used in the treatment of various spinal pathologies such as vertebral fracture, luxation-subluxation, congenital vertebral deformities, discal hernia, infection and tumor. Minimally invasive spinal surgery contributes to rapid recovery by reducing iatrogenic muscle damage and postoperative pain. In minimally invasive spinal surgery, a new hybrid imaging technique, the exoscope, has been developed in the last decade The purpose of this study was to report efficacy of the exoscopic microdecompressive spinal surgery (MDSS) and its early postoperative electromyography (EMG) results in dogs.Materials, Methods & Results:The material of this study consisted of the owned 10 dogs with spinal cord injury resulted from the different etiologies. On the basis of examinations, medical support (fluid therapy, corticosteroid, etc.) was applied to the required dogs. Exoscopic MDSS was performed under general anesthesia in dogs. The neurologic, radiologic and EMG examination were completed at pre- and postoperative periods. EMG results at postoperative 1st week showed increased conduction velocity and amplitudes in 3 cases. There was no significant change in a case. And, there was a slight slowdown in conduction velocity and significant decrease in amplitudes in a case. At postoperative 4th week, ther was increased conduction velocity and amplitudes in 8 cases and needle EMG showed that spontan muscle activity was normal in 5 cases, mild in 2 cases, moderate a case and severe in a case. But spontan muscle activity was unfollowed in a case. Postoperative outcomes were poor in 3 cases, fair in 3 cases, good in 3 cases and unfollowed in a case. Discussion: Spinal cord injuries encountered in veterinary medicine have significant morbidity and mortality. In spinal patients, in addition to neurological examination, lesion localization can be determined using imaging techniques such as radiology, computed tomography, and MRI. EMG and somatosensory evoked potentials examinations are used to evaluate quantitative functional recovery, especially in spinal cord injuries. EMG also provides an opportunity to evaluate muscle activation patterns during recovery. Exoscopic spinal surgery is the newest hybrid imaging technique. Exoscopic MDSS facilitated manipulation by providing adequate illumination and vision at the exploration site. Exoscopic MDSS has the advantages of microscopic surgery and is a new technique that can be applied in dogs with spinal pathology.

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Hyaluronic Acid-Coated Nanoparticles for the Localized Delivery of Methylprednisolone to the Injured Spinal Cord

Journal of Nanomaterials ◽

10.1155/2021/5358046 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Chao Chen ◽

Xun Sun ◽

Qiang Yang ◽

Xinlong Ma

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Hyaluronic Acid ◽

Targeted Delivery ◽

Spinal Cord Injuries ◽

Plga Nanoparticles ◽

Neurological Deficits ◽

Local Administration ◽

High Dose ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Localized Delivery

Background. The injuries associated with the spinal cord, including trauma, tumor, or disease, may lead irreparable damage leading to limited or loss of mobility, paralysis, and in extreme cases may loss senses. Methylprednisolone (MP) is often used to treat acute spinal cord injuries but suffers with high dose toxicity. The local administration of MP can overcome the neurological deficits associated with its high-dose systemic administration. Method. In the present study, we have designed a targeted delivery system hyaluronic acid- (HA-) coated polyethylenimine- (PEI-) modified poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (HA-MP-PEI-PLGA) for the localized delivery of MP. The PEI-modified PLGA (PEI-PLGA) nanoparticles were prepared and coated electrostatically by HA. The particles were well characterized using DLS and SEM analysis. The efficacy of the particles was compared with unmodified MP-PEI-PLGA nanoparticles in an in vitro and in vivo model. Results. The synthesis of PEI-PLGA was confirmed using FTIR. The HA-MP-PEI-PLGA and MP-PEI-PLGA were of size 163 ± 13 nm and 124 ± 9 nm , respectively. The major difference was observed in zeta potential of the nanoparticles where the charge reversal was observed, which was +22.6 mV and -12.9 mV, respectively, for MP-PEI-PLGA and HA-MP-PEI-PLGA. The percentage encapsulation efficiencies (EE) were calculated to be 71.4 ± 3.76 and 65.4 ± 4.71 . The synthesized nanoparticles showed the sustained release of MP which significantly reduced the proinflammatory cytokines and the lesion in HA-MP-PEI-PLGA-treated rats and enhanced the growth of axons and blood vessels; also, it reduced the production of nitric oxide. Conclusion. The results revealed that local administration of HA-MP-PEI-PLGA enhances their efficiency for effective treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI).

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Transplantation of cryopreserved rat fetal neural cells in suspension and in multicellular aggregates into rats with spinal cord injury

Cell and Organ Transplantology ◽

10.22494/cot.v4i1.5 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 22-28 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A. Sukach ◽

A. Lebedinsky ◽

O. Ochenashko ◽

A. Petrenko

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Motor Activity ◽

Cell Transplantation ◽

Spinal Cord Injuries ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Neural Cells ◽

Rat Serum ◽

Activity Recovery ◽

Cord Injury

Today cell transplantation is one of the promising approaches of spinal cord injuries treatment. The aim of the work was to study the effect of cryopreserved fetal neural cell transplantation in suspensions and cell aggregates for motor activity recovery of rats with experimental spinal cord injury.Materials and methods. Cells were isolated from the brain tissue of rat fetuses 15-16 days of gestation. The formation of aggregates was performed during short-term cultivation at a concentration of 8·106cells/mL in medium with 10 % adult rat serum. Cell transplantation was performed into the damaged area of spinal cord in aggregates or suspension. To fix transplanted cells in the damaged area we used alginate gel.Results. Transplantation of cryopreserved fetal neural cells in alginate gel had the positive effect on dynamics of rats’ motor activity recovery. That was manifested in the extensive mobility of three joints of one limb and the limited mobility of two joints of the other with simultaneous recovery of the sensitivity of the hind limbs.Conclusion. Cryopreserved fetal neural cells aggregates had a high therapeutic potential on rat traumatic spinal cord injury compared with cell suspension by improving the structure of forming nervous tissue and significantly increasing the rate of hind limb function recovery.

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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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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Methylprednisolone for the Treatment of Patients with Acute Spinal Cord Injuries: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study from a Canadian Multi-Center Spinal Cord Injury Registry.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.725552136.793511722 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

Peter Rosier

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Propensity Score ◽

Spinal Cord Injuries ◽

Matched Cohort ◽

Matched Cohort Study ◽

Cord Injury

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Stem Cell Transplantation: A Promising Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury

Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy ◽

10.2174/1574888x14666190823144424 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 321-331 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Zhe Gong ◽

Kaishun Xia ◽

Ankai Xu ◽

Chao Yu ◽

Chenggui Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Stem Cells ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Stem Cell ◽

Stem Cell Transplantation ◽

Cell Transplantation ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Embryonic Stem ◽

Current Status ◽

Cord Injury

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) causes irreversible functional loss of the affected population. The incidence of SCI keeps increasing, resulting in huge burden on the society. The pathogenesis of SCI involves neuron death and exotic reaction, which could impede neuron regeneration. In clinic, the limited regenerative capacity of endogenous cells after SCI is a major problem. Recent studies have demonstrated that a variety of stem cells such as induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs), Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs), Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) and Neural Progenitor Cells (NPCs) /Neural Stem Cells (NSCs) have therapeutic potential for SCI. However, the efficacy and safety of these stem cellbased therapy for SCI remain controversial. In this review, we introduce the pathogenesis of SCI, summarize the current status of the application of these stem cells in SCI repair, and discuss possible mechanisms responsible for functional recovery of SCI after stem cell transplantation. Finally, we highlight several areas for further exploitation of stem cells as a promising regenerative therapy of SCI.

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Dietary Supplementation for Para-Athletes: A Systematic Review

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13062016 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (6) ◽

pp. 2016

Author(s):

Keely A. Shaw ◽

Gordon A. Zello ◽

Brian Bandy ◽

Jongbum Ko ◽

Leandy Bertrand ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Dietary Supplements ◽

Sports Medicine ◽

Spinal Cord Injuries ◽

Sport Performance ◽

Future Research ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Supplement Use ◽

Sport Supplements ◽

Cord Injury

The use of dietary supplements is high among athletes and non-athletes alike, as well as able-bodied individuals and those with impairments. However, evidence is lacking in the use of dietary supplements for sport performance in a para-athlete population (e.g., those training for the Paralympics or similar competition). Our objective was to examine the literature regarding evidence for various sport supplements in a para-athlete population. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, SPORTDiscus, MedLine, and Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Source. Fifteen studies met our inclusion criteria and were included in our review. Seven varieties of supplements were investigated in the studies reviewed, including caffeine, creatine, buffering agents, fish oil, leucine, and vitamin D. The evidence for each of these supplements remains inconclusive, with varying results between studies. Limitations of research in this area include the heterogeneity of the subjects within the population regarding functionality and impairment. Very few studies included individuals with impairments other than spinal cord injury. Overall, more research is needed to strengthen the evidence for or against supplement use in para-athletes. Future research is also recommended on performance in para-athlete populations with classifiable impairments other than spinal cord injuries.

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Housing adaptations and housing accessibility problems among older adults with long-standing spinal cord injury

British Journal of Occupational Therapy ◽

10.1177/0308022620979516 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 030802262097951

Author(s):

Lizette Norin ◽

Björn Slaug ◽

Maria Haak ◽

Susanne Iwarsson

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injuries ◽

Occupational Performance ◽

Environmental Barriers ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Long Term Follow Up ◽

Societal Level ◽

The Individual

Introduction Adults with spinal cord injuries are living longer than previously, and a majority are living in ordinary housing in the community. Housing accessibility is important for maintaining independent occupational performance for this population, but knowledge in this area is insufficient. We investigated housing adaptations and current accessibility problems among older adults with long-standing (>10 years) spinal cord injuries. Method Data from home visits among 122 older adults with spinal cord injuries in Sweden were used. Housing adaptations and environmental barriers were descriptively analysed. Findings Kitchens, entrances, and hygiene areas were common locations for housing adaptations and environmental barriers that generated accessibility problems. The most common adaptations were ramps, wheelchair-accessible stovetops, and ceiling-lifts. Wall-mounted cupboards and high shelves (kitchen), inaccessible storage areas (outside the dwelling), and a lack of grab bars (hygiene area) generated the most accessibility problems. Conclusion Despite housing adaptations, there are considerable accessibility problems in the dwellings of older adults with long-standing spinal cord injuries in Sweden, indicating that long-term follow-up of the housing situation of this population is necessary. Focusing on accessible housing as a prerequisite for occupational performance is at the core of occupational therapy, deserving attention on the individual as well as the societal level.

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Exoskeletons, Rehabilitation and Bodily Capacities

Body & Society ◽

10.1177/1357034x211025600 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1357034X2110256

Author(s):

Denisa Butnaru

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Crucial Role ◽

Spinal Cord Injuries ◽

Main Task ◽

Cerebrovascular Accidents ◽

Complex Processes ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Neurological Conditions

Motility impairments resulting from spinal cord injuries and cerebrovascular accidents are increasingly prevalent in society, leading to the growing development of rehabilitative robotic technologies, among them exoskeletons. This article outlines how bodies with neurological conditions such as spinal cord injury and stroke engage in processes of re-appropriation while using exoskeletons and some of the challenges they face. The main task of exoskeletons in rehabilitative environments is either to rehabilitate or ameliorate anatomic functions of impaired bodies. In these complex processes, they also play a crucial role in recasting specific corporeal phenomenologies. For the accomplishment of these forms of corporeal re-appropriation, the role of experts is crucial. This article explores how categories such as bodily resistance, techno-inter-corporeal co-production of bodies and machines, as well as body work mark the landscape of these contemporary forms of impaired corporeality. While defending corporeal extension rather than incorporation, I argue against the figure of the ‘cyborg’ and posit the idea of ‘residual subjectivity’.

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