scholarly journals The CatWalk XT® Gait Analysis Is Closely Correlated with Tissue Damage after Cervical Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 4097
Author(s):  
Guoli Zheng ◽  
Alexander Younsi ◽  
Moritz Scherer ◽  
Lennart Riemann ◽  
Johannes Walter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Gait Analysis ◽  
Tissue Damage ◽  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Spontaneous Recovery ◽  
Cervical Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Tissue ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Consistent Assessment

Objective and consistent assessment of locomotion recovery remains challenging in rodent spinal cord injury (SCI). We, therefore, studied the validity and relevance of the CatWalk XT® gait analysis as a tool for assessing functional outcome in a clinically relevant cervical SCI model in rats. In total, 20 Wistar rats were randomly assigned to either a C6 clip compression/contusion SCI or a sham laminectomy. Locomotion recovery was assessed weekly using the CatWalk XT® gait analysis and the BBB open field score. Six weeks after SCI, the percentage of preserved spinal cord tissue was measured by glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. Statistical analyses were performed to assess the correlation of the BBB and the percentage of preserved tissue with 30 different CatWalk XT® parameters. SCI caused a bilateral and significant functional impairment in all studied CatWalk XT® parameters. Similar to the BBB, a significant spontaneous recovery could be observed in most of the CatWalk XT® parameters in the following weeks. Correlation between the hindlimb CatWalk XT® parameters and the BBB was good (53% of r values > 0.6) while the correlation between the forelimb and the hindlimb CatWalk XT® parameters and the percentage of preserved tissue was even stronger (83% of r values > 0.6). The CatWalk XT® gait analysis is closely correlated with tissue damage after cervical contusion/compression SCI and can be used as an objective and consistent tool for assessing locomotion recovery.

Soft-Tissue Damage and Segmental Instability in Adult Patients With Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Without Major Bone Injury

Spine ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 37 (25) ◽  
pp. E1560-E1566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takeshi Maeda ◽  
Takayoshi Ueta ◽  
Eiji Mori ◽  
Itaru Yugue ◽  
Osamu Kawano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Soft Tissue ◽  
Tissue Damage ◽  
Cervical Spinal Cord ◽  
Cervical Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
Segmental Instability ◽  
Bone Injury ◽  
Cord Injury

Therapeutic Effects of Azithromycin on Spinal Cord Injury in Male Wistar Rats: A Role for Inflammatory Pathways

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Rismanbaf ◽  
Khashayar Afshari ◽  
Mehdi Ghasemi ◽  
Abolfazl Badripour ◽  
Arvin Haj-Mirzaian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Macrophage Polarization ◽  
M2 Macrophage ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Spinal Cord Tissue ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Male Wistar Rats

Abstract Background Inflammatory responses, including macrophages/microglia imbalance, are associated with spinal cord injury (SCI) complications. Accumulating evidence also suggests an anti-inflammatory property of azithromycin (AZM). Material and Methods Male Wistar rats were subjected to T9 vertebra laminectomy. SCI was induced by spinal cord compression at this level with an aneurysmal clip for 60 seconds. They were divided into three groups: the sham-operated group and two SCI treatment (normal saline as a vehicle control vs. AZM at 180 mg/kg/d intraperitoneally for 3 days postsurgery; first dose: 30 minutes after surgery) groups. Locomotor scaling and behavioral tests for neuropathic pain were evaluated and compared through a 28-day period. At the end of the study, tissue samples were taken to assess neuroinflammatory changes and neural demyelination using ELISA and histopathologic examinations, respectively. In addition, the proportion of M1/M2 macrophage polarization was assessed by using flow cytometry. Results Post-SCI AZM treatment (180 mg/kg/d for 3 days) significantly improved locomotion (p < 0.01) and decreased sensitivity to mechanical (p < 0.01) and thermal allodynia (p < 0.001). Moreover, there was a significant tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) decline (p < 0.01) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) elevation (p < 0.01) in the spinal cord tissue of the AZM-treated group compared with the control groups 28 days post-SCI. AZM significantly improved neuroinflammation as evidenced by reduction of the M1 expression, elevation of M2 macrophages, and reduction of the M1/M2 ratio in both the dorsal root ganglion and the spinal cord tissue after SCI compared with controls (p < 0.01). Conclusion AZM treatment can be considered a therapeutic agent for SCI, as it could reduce neuroinflammation and SCI sensory/locomotor complications.

scholarly journals New Grading System for Cervical Paraspinal Soft Tissue Damage After Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Without Major Fracture Based on the Short-T1 Inversion Recovery Mid-Sagittal MRI for Prediction of Neurological Improvements: The STIR-MRI Grade

2021 ◽  
pp. 219256822110101
Author(s):  
Kotaro Aburakawa ◽  
Toru Yokoyama ◽  
Kazunari Takeuchi ◽  
Takuya Numasawa ◽  
Kanichiro Wada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Soft Tissue ◽  
Tissue Damage ◽  
Cervical Spinal Cord ◽  
Cervical Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Soft Tissue Damage ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Nuchal Ligament

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Objective: To develop a grading method for cervical paraspinal soft tissue damage after cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) without major fracture based on the short T1 inversion recovery (STIR) mid-sagittal magnetic resonance image (MRI) for prediction of neurological improvements. Methods: This study included 34 patients with CSCI without major fracture, treated conservatively for at least 1 year and graded using the STIR-MRI Grade. This system consists of anterior grades; A0: no high-intensity area (HIA), A1: linear HIA, and A2: fusiform HIA, and posterior grades; P0: no HIA, P1: HIA not exceeding the nuchal ligament, and P2: HIA exceeding the nuchal ligament, within 24 hours postinjury. The American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale (AIS) and the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores were examined. Results: Anterior grades were not significantly correlated with the AIS and JOA score. At both injury and final follow-up, the AIS in P2 patients was significantly more severe ( P = 0.007, P = 0.015, respectively) than that in P0 patients. At the injury, the AIS in P2 patients was significantly more severe ( P = 0.008) than that in P1 patients. Among P2 patients only, the JOA score at the injury (1.4 points) did not improve by the final follow-up (3.9 points). The final follow-up JOA score (3.9 points) in P2 patients was significantly lower than that (13.6 points) in P0 patients ( P = 0.016). Conclusions: Grade P2 led to poor neurological outcomes. The STIR-MRI Grade is a prognostic indicator for neurological improvements past-CSCI.

scholarly journals Restoration of breathing after opioid overdose and spinal cord injury using temporal interference stimulation

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Sunshine ◽  
Antonino M. Cassarà ◽  
Esra Neufeld ◽  
Nir Grossman ◽  
Thomas H. Mareci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Drug Overdose ◽  
Cervical Spinal Cord ◽  
Opioid Overdose ◽  
Electrode Position ◽  
Spinal Motor Neurons ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Low Amplitude

AbstractRespiratory insufficiency is a leading cause of death due to drug overdose or neuromuscular disease. We hypothesized that a stimulation paradigm using temporal interference (TI) could restore breathing in such conditions. Following opioid overdose in rats, two high frequency (5000 Hz and 5001 Hz), low amplitude waveforms delivered via intramuscular wires in the neck immediately activated the diaphragm and restored ventilation in phase with waveform offset (1 Hz or 60 breaths/min). Following cervical spinal cord injury (SCI), TI stimulation via dorsally placed epidural electrodes uni- or bilaterally activated the diaphragm depending on current and electrode position. In silico modeling indicated that an interferential signal in the ventral spinal cord predicted the evoked response (left versus right diaphragm) and current-ratio-based steering. We conclude that TI stimulation can activate spinal motor neurons after SCI and prevent fatal apnea during drug overdose by restoring ventilation with minimally invasive electrodes.

scholarly journals An Inertial Measurement Unit-Based Wireless System for Shoulder Motion Assessment in Patients with Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Validation Pilot Study in a Clinical Setting

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1057
Author(s):  
Riccardo Bravi ◽  
Stefano Caputo ◽  
Sara Jayousi ◽  
Alessio Martinelli ◽  
Lorenzo Biotti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Clinical Setting ◽  
Cervical Spinal Cord ◽  
Wearable Sensors ◽  
Cervical Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Measurement Unit ◽  
Innovative Technology ◽  
Inertial Measurement ◽  
Cord Injury

Residual motion of upper limbs in individuals who experienced cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) is vital to achieve functional independence. Several interventions were developed to restore shoulder range of motion (ROM) in CSCI patients. However, shoulder ROM assessment in clinical practice is commonly limited to use of a simple goniometer. Conventional goniometric measurements are operator-dependent and require significant time and effort. Therefore, innovative technology for supporting medical personnel in objectively and reliably measuring the efficacy of treatments for shoulder ROM in CSCI patients would be extremely desirable. This study evaluated the validity of a customized wireless wearable sensors (Inertial Measurement Units—IMUs) system for shoulder ROM assessment in CSCI patients in clinical setting. Eight CSCI patients and eight healthy controls performed four shoulder movements (forward flexion, abduction, and internal and external rotation) with dominant arm. Every movement was evaluated with a goniometer by different testers and with the IMU system at the same time. Validity was evaluated by comparing IMUs and goniometer measurements using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and Limits of Agreement (LOA). inter-tester reliability of IMUs and goniometer measurements was also investigated. Preliminary results provide essential information on the accuracy of the proposed wireless wearable sensors system in acquiring objective measurements of the shoulder movements in CSCI patients.

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