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Artif Organs 2017 Nov;41(11):E196-E202

Craig Hospital, Denver, CO, USA.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in loss of upright mobility and independence subsequently challenging rehabilitation practitioners for meaningful intervention strategies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and potential impact on walking function of the stimulation and ergometer training protocol (STEP) in chronic SCI. Fourteen individuals with a chronic motor incomplete SCI (>1-year post injury) were enrolled in the study. Read More

J Spinal Cord Med 2018 Mar 4;41(2):248-252. Epub 2017 Sep 4.

a School of Kinesiology , University of Southern Mississippi , Hattiesburg , Mississippi , USA.

Background And Purpose: Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) are more than twice as likely to develop and die from cardio-metabolic diseases as compared to able-bodied. This increased risk is thought to be in part due to accelerated muscle atrophy and reduced blood flow through sublesional arteries. Thus, strategies to recondition paralyzed skeletal muscles may help reduce cardio-metabolic disease risk. Read More

Anesth Analg 2017 04;124(4):1200-1205

From the *Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle; †Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; ‡Spinal Cord Injury Service, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington; Departments of §Rehabilitation and ‖Neurosurgery, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between exposure to methylprednisolone (MP) and improvements in motor function among patients with acute traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI). MP therapy for patients with TSCI is controversial because of the current conflicting evidence documenting its benefits and risks.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study from September 2007 to November 2014 of 311 patients with acute TSCI who were enrolled into a model systems database of a regional, level I trauma center. Read More

Spinal Cord 2016 Dec 20;54(12):1197-1202. Epub 2016 Sep 20.

Department of Kinesiology, Physical Activity Centre for Excellence, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Study Design: Cross-sectional.

Objectives: To compare differences in self-reported health status, participation and life satisfaction outcomes between adults with a spinal cord injury (SCI) sustained during paediatric (P) versus adulthood (A) years.

Setting: Ontario, Canada. Read More

J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil 2016 Nov;29(4):817-823

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.

Background And Objectives: A number of exercises to strengthen the upper extremities are recommended to increase functional independence and quality of life (QoL) in patients with paraplegia. Circuit resistance training (CRT) is a type of progressive resistive exercise performed repeatedly at fixed mechanical exercise stations. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential benefits of CRT for upper extremity muscle strength, functional independence, and QoL in patients with paraplegia. Read More

Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol 2016 10 4;11(7):535-47. Epub 2015 Sep 4.

c Interdisciplinary Institute for Technological Innovation (3IT), Interactive, Intelligent, Interdisciplinary and Integrated Robotic Lab (IntRoLab), INTER, The Strategic Network on Engineering Interactive Technologies for Rehabilitation, Fonds de recherche du Québec - Nature et technologies , and.

Purpose: Rehabilitation professionals have little information concerning lower limb exoskeletons for people with paraplegia. This study has four objectives: (1) Outline the characteristics of the exoskeletons' design and their usefulness evidence as assistive mobility devices in the community for the Rewalk™, Mina, Indego®, Ekso™ (previously known as the eLEGS™) and Rex®; (2) document functional mobility outcomes of using these exoskeletons; (3) document secondary skills and benefits achieved with these exoskeletons, safety, user satisfaction and applicability in the community; and (4) establish level of scientific evidence of the selected studies.

Method: A systematic review of the literature (January 2004 to April 2014) was done using the databases PubMed, CINAHL and Embase and groups of keywords associated with "exoskeleton", "lower limb" and "paraplegia". Read More

Cell Transplant 2014 9;23 Suppl 1:S19-23. Epub 2014 Oct 9.

Brain and Spinal Injuries Research Center (BASIR), Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a major growth factor in the activation and differentiation of granulocytes. This cytokine has been widely and safely employed in different disease conditions over many years. The administration of the growth factors in spinal cord injury (SCI) has been reported elsewhere; here we have tried to see the effect of SCI severity on the neurological outcomes after neuroprotective treatment for SCI with G-CSF. Read More

Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol) 2014 Aug 3;26(8):453-60. Epub 2014 Jun 3.

The Royal Marsden, Sutton, Surrey, UK.

Aims: To audit the current use of radiotherapy in UK cancer centres for the treatment of metastatic spinal cord compression against national standards that seek to optimise functional and quality of life outcomes.

Materials And Methods: A Royal College of Radiologists prospective national audit of patients treated with radiotherapy in UK cancer centres was carried out over a 3 month period between September and December 2008, with a repeat audit carried out in August 2012.

Results: Five hundred and ninety-six cases were received from 42 cancer centres (74%) in 2008, with data from 323 cases received from 52 (90%) centres in 2012. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2014 Nov 31;156(11):2173-82. Epub 2014 May 31.

Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam National University Medical School & Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Gwangju, South Korea.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), especially MMP-2 and MMP-9 play an important role in secondary inflammatory reaction and blood-central nervous system (CNS) barrier disruption after spinal cord injury (SCI). Theoretically, it is expected that early blockade of activation of MMPs can provide neuro-protective effects from secondary tissue damage and improve functional neurological outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9, and to determine the regulatory effect of melatonin on MMP expression and activity after photochemically induced SCI in rats. Read More

Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil 2013 ;19(4):245-58

Lyndhurst Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute - University Health Network , Toronto, Ontario , Canada.

Background: Functional electrical stimulation (FES) therapy has been applied to achieve functional benefits post spinal cord injury (SCI), but little is known about its effects on well-being.

Objective: Using a parallel-group randomized controlled trial (RCT) design (NCT00201968), the effects of a FES-assisted walking intervention on quality of life and participation post SCI were compared to a non-FES exercise program.

Methods: Individuals with chronic (≥18 months) incomplete SCI (level C2 to T12, AIS C or D) were randomized to a FES-assisted walking (intervention) or aerobic/resistance training (control) sessions 3 times a week for 16 weeks. Read More

Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med 2013 May 30;21:42. Epub 2013 May 30.

Spinal Cord Unit, IRCCS S, Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.

Background: The effects of multiple injuries on the neurological and functional outcomes of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) are debated-some groups have shown that subjects with multiple injuries have the same neurological and functional outcomes of those without them, whereas others have found that SCI patients with associated traumatic brain injury have worse functional status at admission and discharge and longer rehabilitation stays than patients without brain injury. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of SCI subjects with or without multiple injuries.

Methods: A total of 245 patients with a traumatic SCI during the first rehabilitation stay after the development of the lesion (202 males and 43 females; age 39. Read More

Eur J Neurol 2013 Jul 3;20(7):1101-6. Epub 2013 Apr 3.

Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Background: Pre-clinical studies indicate a potential detrimental effect of ethanol on tissue sparing and locomotor recovery in animal models of spinal cord injury (SCI). Given this, an examination of whether blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is a potential determinant of survival and neurological and functional recovery after acute traumatic SCI was carried out.

Methods: All patients who were enrolled in the Third National Spinal Cord Injury Study (NASCIS-3) were included. Read More

Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2013 Apr;94(4 Suppl):S125-36

Center for Post-acute Innovation andResearch, MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA.

Objective: To examine the association between body weight, therapy participation, and functional outcomes among people with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Design: Multisite prospective observational cohort study.

Setting: Six acute rehabilitation facilities. Read More

J Neurotrauma 2013 Mar 26;30(6):427-33. Epub 2013 Mar 26.

Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center and Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0509, USA.

To evaluate the hypothesis that calpain 1 knockdown would reduce pathological damage and functional deficits after spinal cord injury (SCI), we developed lentiviral vectors encoding calpain 1 shRNA and eGFP as a reporter (LV-CAPN1 shRNA). The ability of LV-CAPN1 shRNA to knockdown calpain 1 was confirmed in rat NRK cells using Northern and Western blot analysis. To investigate the effects on spinal cord injury, LV-CAPN1shRNA or LV-mismatch control shRNA (LV-control shRNA) were administered by convection enhanced diffusion at spinal cord level T10 in Long-Evans female rats (200-250 g) 1 week before contusion SCI, 180 kdyn force, or sham surgery at the same thoracic level. Read More

Global Spine J 2012 Jun;2(2):71-8

Department of Neurosurgery, The Alfred, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia ; Department of Surgery, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Background The establishment of a spine trauma registry collecting both spine column and spinal cord data should improve the evidential basis for clinical decisions. This is a report on the pilot of a spine trauma registry including development of a minimum dataset. Methods A minimum dataset consisting of 56 data items was created using the modified Delphi technique. Read More

PLoS One 2010 Dec 30;5(12):e15914. Epub 2010 Dec 30.

Neuroscience Department, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, IKERBASQUE Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a widely spread pathology with currently no effective treatment for any symptom. Regenerative medicine through cell transplantation is a very attractive strategy and may be used in different non-exclusive ways to promote functional recovery. We investigated functional and structural outcomes after grafting human embryonic neural progenitors (hENPs) in spinal cord-lesioned rats. Read More

Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol) 2006 Feb;18(1):70-6

St George Hospital Cancer Care Centre, Kogarah, Sydney, Australia.

Aim: To test the viability of a full-scale randomised comparison of two steroid doses given with radiotherapy for malignant spinal-cord compression (MSCC), to test Internet randomisation and to compare different functional outcome measures.

Materials And Methods: A log of screened patients at eight recruiting centres was maintained. Patients were randomised via the Superdex website to either 96 mg or 16 mg daily of dexamethasone. Read More

Chest 2003 Sep;124(3):850-6

Division of Respiratory Medicine, West Park HealthCare Centre, University of Toronto, 82 Buttonwood Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M6M 25J, Canada.

Study Objectives: Ventilator users who are unable to leave the acute care setting may be transferred to a unit for chronic assisted ventilatory care (CAVC) with the goal of optimizing their level of function. In this report, we summarize the outcomes of all patients admitted to a CAVC unit between 1986 and 2001.

Patients And Methods: Fifty patients (24 with neuromuscular disease [NMD], 10 with spinal cord injury [SCI], 7 with thoracic restriction [TR], 7 with COPD, and 2 with parenchymal restriction [PR]) were reviewed. Read More

Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2001 Aug;82(8):1018-24

Research Department, Craig Hospital, Englewood, CO 80110, USA.

Objective: To assess the level of agreement between persons with various disabilities and their proxies in reporting community integration outcomes using the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART).

Design: Reliability study.

Setting: Participants living in the community for a minimum of 6 months after onset of disability or completion of inpatient rehabilitation. Read More

Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1999 Nov;80(11):1457-63

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.

Objectives: To describe changes in acute and rehabilitation length of stay (LOS) for persons with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), describe predictors of LOS, and explore year-1 anniversary medical and social outcomes.

Design: Longitudinal, exploratory study of patients with SCI.

Setting: Eighteen Model Spinal Cord Injury Centers across the United States. Read More