Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 2019 Apr 23. Epub 2019 Apr 23.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan.

Background: A prospective clinical study of amplitudes of intraoperative transcranial motor-evoked potentials (TcMEPs) was performed in patients undergoing surgery for the posterior longitudinal ligament of thoracic spine (T-OPLL).

Objective: To investigate intraoperative TcMEPs during posterior decompression and dekyphotic corrective fusion with instrumentation for T-OPLL.

Methods: The subjects were 33 patients with an average age of 48 years at surgery who underwent posterior decompression and fusion with instrumentation under intraoperative TcMEP monitoring. Read More

Neuropsychologia 2019 Apr 20. Epub 2019 Apr 20.

Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium; Laboratory for Experimental Psychopathology, Psychological Sciences Research Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.

By applying transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over primary motor cortex (M1) to elicit motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) in muscles of the contralateral hand during reaction time (RT) tasks, many studies have reported a strong global suppression of motor excitability during action preparation, a phenomenon called preparatory inhibition. Several hypotheses have been put forward regarding the role of this broad suppression, with the predominant view that it reflects inhibitory processes assisting action selection. However, this assumption is still a matter of debate. Read More

Clin Neurophysiol 2019 Apr 11;130(6):1017-1024. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Unit of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense 18, 86077 Pozzilli, IS, Italy.

Objective: we investigated the effect of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied over the pharyngeal motor area in dysphagia associated with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: Eighteen MS patients with dysphagia associated with brainstem involvement were randomized to receive either "real" or "sham" tDCS.

Primary Outcome: The Penetration/Aspiration Scale (PAS). Read More

Dev Neurobiol 2019 Apr 19. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

Department of Biology, John Carroll University, University Heights, OH, 44118, USA.

The coordinated growth and development of synapses is critical for all aspects of neural circuit function and mutations that disrupt these processes can result in various neurological defects. Several anterograde and retrograde signaling pathways, including the canonical Bone Morphogenic Protein (BMP) pathway, regulate synaptic development in vertebrates and invertebrates. At the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the retrograde BMP pathway is part of the machinery that controls NMJ expansion concurrent with larval growth. Read More

Indian J Anaesth 2019 Apr;63(4):304-309

Software Test Engineer, MED-EL Medical Electronics, Cairo, Egypt.

Background And Aims: The anaesthesia technique for paediatric cochlear implantation should be modified to achieve an optimised surgical field and allow neuromonitoring. Total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) provides good surgical condition without affecting intraoperative electrical stapaedial reflex threshold (ESRT). Though magnesium sulphate (MgSO) is a cheap, readily available drug for controlled hypotension, it can decrease the amplitude of motor-evoked potentials. Read More

Orthop Rev (Pavia) 2019 Feb 12;11(1):7757. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA.

Transcranial motor-evoked potentials (TcMEPs) are used to monitor the descending motor pathway during scoliosis surgery. By comparing potentials before and after correction, surgeons may prevent postoperative functional loss in distal muscles. There is currently no consensus as to which muscles should be monitored. Read More

J Child Orthop 2019 Apr;13(2):206-212

Faculty of Medicine, Saint-Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon.

Purpose: This study evaluates intraoperative disappearance of motor waveforms related to patient positioning in neurologically asymptomatic patients with spinal deformity.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of 190 neurologically asymptomatic patients aged seven to 17 years planned for posterior instrumentation under neuromonitoring. There were 159 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and 31 patients with secondary scoliosis. Read More

J Cogn Neurosci 2019 Apr 16:1-11. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

The University of Sydney.

"Action tendencies" can be elicited by motivationally salient stimuli (e.g., appetitive rewards) or objects that support "utilization behaviors. Read More

Case Reports Plast Surg Hand Surg 2019 2;6(1):43-46. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Jacksonville, FL, USA.

Avulsion of C5 and C7 nerve roots was confirmed intraoperatively in a 21 year old male presenting after motor vehicle accident with confirmed absence of somatosensory evoked potentials upon stimulation via ultra-high-frequency ultrasound (70 MHz). Ultra-high-frequency ultrasound can be used as a reliable tool to directly visualise nerve injury. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Apr;98(15):e15067

Department of Orthopaedic.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the application of multimodal intraoperative monitoring (MIOM) system in patients with congenital scoliosis (CS) and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).Twelve patients who underwent posterior surgical correction of scoliosis for CS and AIS from June 2014 to July 2018 were enrolled in this study. During the operation, we monitored the functional status of the spinal cord by MIOM. Read More

Pain 2019 Apr 10. Epub 2019 Apr 10.

Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.

In this clinical and neurophysiological study using a novel cold stimulator we aim at investigating whether cold evoked potentials may prove to be a reliable diagnostic tool to assess trigeminal small-fibre function.Using a novel device consisting of micro-Peltier elements, we recorded cold evoked potentials after stimulating the supraorbital and perioral regions and the hand dorsum in 15 healthy participants and in two patients with exemplary facial neuropathic pain conditions. We measured peripheral conduction velocity at the upper arm and studied the brain generators using source analysis. Read More

Front Neurol 2019 26;10:258. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Movement Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, Movement and Rehabilitation Science, Bouve College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) induced motor evoked potentials (MEPs) are an established proxy of corticospinal excitability. As a binary measure, the presence (MEP+) or absence (MEP-) of ipsilesional hemisphere MEPs early following stroke is a robust indicator of long-term recovery, however this measure does not provide information about spatial cortical reorganization. MEPs have been systematically acquired over the sensorimotor cortex to "map" motor topography. Read More

Front Neuroinform 2019 26;13. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Motor Recovery Lab, Burke Neurological Institute, White Plains, NY, United States.

Stimulating the nervous system and measuring muscle response offers a unique opportunity to interrogate motor system function. Often, this is performed by stimulating motor cortex and recording muscle activity with electromyography; the evoked response is called the motor evoked potential (MEP). To understand system dynamics, MEPs are typically recorded through a range of motor cortex stimulation intensities. Read More

Neuroreport 2019 May;30(8):562-566

Health and Nutrition, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) combined with motor imagery (MI) on corticospinal excitability. Ten healthy individuals participated in two kinds of short-term sessions: rPMS combined with MI [magnetic stimulation motor imagery (MSMI)] and rPMS alone (magnetic stimulation) on different days. We measured the motor-evoked potentials before and after the session, and the MI ability of each participant using the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-Revised. Read More

IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2019 Apr 2. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Recently, a specific repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) waveform, namely the theta burst stimulation (TBS) protocol, has been proposed for more efficiently inducing neuroplasticity for various clinic rehabilitation purposes. However, few studies have explored the feasibility of using the TBS combined with direct current (DC) waveform for brain neuromodulation; this waveform is transcranially delivered using electrical current power rather than magnetic power. This study implemented a prototype of a novel transcranial electrostimulation device that can flexibly output a waveform that combined DC and the TBS-like protocol and assessed the effects of the novel combinational waveform on neuroplasticity. Read More

Swiss Med Wkly 2019 Mar 5;149:w20062. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland.

Among spontaneous intracranial haemorrhages, primary non-traumatic brainstem haemorrhages are associated with the highest mortality rate. Patients classically present with rapid neurological deterioration. Previous studies have found that the severity of initial neurological symptoms and hydrocephalus are predictors of poor outcomes. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Apr 1. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Professor and Head of Department, Department of Neurosurgery, K.E.M. Hospital and Seth G.S. Medical College, Parel, Mumbai. and, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Bandra (E), Mumbai. Electronic address:

Aim: The outcome of neurophysiological motor evoked potential (MEP) monitoring during surgery for Chiari formation by atlantoaxial fixation and without any bone or dural foramen magnum decompression is analyzed.

Material And Methods: During the period August 2017 to October 2018, 20 patients having Chiari formation with or without syringomyelia were surgically treated by atlantoaxial fixation. Apart from other forms of monitoring, MEP monitoring formed the basis of study. Read More

J Chin Med Assoc 2019 Mar 29. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.

Background: In the present study, we investigated whether blink synkinesis monitoring during microvascular decompression (MVD) is effective for predicting long-term outcomes in patients with hemifacial spasm (HFS).

Methods: This retrospective study included 69 patients who had undergone MVD for HFS at a tertiary hospital. All patients underwent intra-operative monitoring of blink synkinesis, lateral spread responses (LSRs), and facial nerve motor evoked potentials (FNMEPs). Read More

Elife 2019 Apr 4;8. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Special Lab Primate Neurobiology, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany.

An individual may need to take different actions to the same stimulus in different situations to achieve a given goal. The selection of the appropriate action hinges on the previously learned associations between stimuli, actions, and outcomes in the situations. Here, using a go/no-go paradigm and a symmetrical reward, we show that early auditory cortex of nonhuman primates represents such associations, in both the spiking activity and the local field potentials. Read More

Cell Mol Life Sci 2019 Apr 3. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, DUEC 3802, 2351 Erwin Road, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.

Nucleocytoplasmic transport is dysregulated in sporadic and familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and retinal ganglion neurons (RGNs) are purportedly involved in ALS. The Ran-binding protein 2 (Ranbp2) controls rate-limiting steps of nucleocytoplasmic transport. Mice with Ranbp2 loss in Thy1-motoneurons develop cardinal ALS-like motor traits, but the impairments in RGNs and the degree of dysfunctional consonance between RGNs and motoneurons caused by Ranbp2 loss are unknown. Read More

Transl Stroke Res 2019 Apr 2. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Gastrointestinal Physiology Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Hospital de Mataró, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Carretera de Cirera s/n, 08304, Mataró, Spain.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) is a common post-stroke complication and is associated with respiratory infections. The aim was to assess the biomechanical impairments in swallow function and the afferent and efferent swallowing pathways impairing swallow safety in chronic post-stroke patients. We studied 30 patients with unilateral stroke and chronic OD (> 3 months from stroke onset) with impaired safety of swallow (Penetration-Aspiration Scale [PAS] ≥ 2). Read More

J Orthop Traumatol 2019 Apr 2;20(1):19. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Via Alvaro Del Portillo, 200, 00128, Rome, Italy.

Background: Intraoperative somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) and transcranial motor evoked potential (tcMEP) monitoring are frequently used in spinal as well as spinal cord surgery for so-called intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM), while the combination of these techniques is known as concomitant multimodal intraoperative monitoring (MIOM). The aim of this review is to collect available evidence concerning use of IONM and MIOM in cervical decompression surgery in the degenerative setting and attempt to identify the best practice to be advocated.

Materials And Methods: A review of the PubMed and MEDLINE databases and Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials was performed. Read More

Restor Neurol Neurosci 2019 ;37(2):167-180

Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Background: Intensive robot-assisted arm training in the chronic phase of stroke recovery can lead to clinical improvement. Combinatorial therapeutic approaches are sought to further optimize stroke recovery. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is one candidate to combine with robotic training, as transient increases in excitability and improvements in motor behavior have separately been reported. Read More

Front Neurol 2019 15;10:231. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

Department of Neurology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.

Cervical dystonia is a movement disorder causing abnormal postures and movements of the head. While the exact pathophysiology of cervical dystonia has not yet been fully elucidated, a growing body of evidence points to the cerebellum as an important node. Here, we examined the impact of cerebellar interference by transcranial magnetic stimulation on finger-tapping related brain activation and neurophysiological measures of cortical excitability and inhibition in cervical dystonia and controls. Read More

Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2019 Mar 24. Epub 2019 Mar 24.

Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.

Introduction: The possibility of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as an alternative therapy for essential tremor (ET) patients has emerged. However, its effect on medicated ET patients is lacking. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the effect of cerebellar low-frequency rTMS as an "add-on" treatment. Read More

J Neurosurg Spine 2019 03 29:1-11. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

1Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario; and.

OBJECTIVE Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) is a useful adjunct in spine surgery, with proven benefit in scoliosis-correction surgery. However, its utility for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is unclear, as there are few head-to-head comparisons of ACDF outcomes with and without the use of IONM. The authors sought to evaluate the impact of IONM on the safety and cost of ACDF. Read More

J Neurosurg 2019 03 29:1-9. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Departments of1Neurosurgery and.

OBJECTIVE Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IOM), particularly of somatosensory-evoked potentials (SSEPs) and motor-evoked potentials (MEPs), evolved as standard of care in a variety of neurosurgical procedures. Case series report a positive impact of IOM for elective microsurgical clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (ECUIA), whereas systematic evaluation of its predictive value is lacking. Therefore, the authors analyzed the neurological outcome of patients undergoing ECUIA before and after IOM introduction to this procedure. Read More

Exp Brain Res 2019 Mar 27. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, AALTO, P.O. Box 12200, 00076, Espoo, Finland.

Chronic neuropathic pain is known to alter the primary motor cortex (M1) function. Less is known about the normal, physiological effects of experimental neurogenic pain on M1. The objective of this study is to determine how short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) is altered in the M1 representation area of a muscle exposed to experimental pain compared to SICI of another muscle not exposed to pain. Read More

Neurodiagn J 2019 ;59(1):34-44

g Department of Neurosurgery University of Texas Health Science Center , San Antonio , Texas.

Bowel and bladder function are at risk during tumor resection of the conus, cauda equina, and nerve roots. This study demonstrates the ability to acquire transcranial electrical motor evoked potentials (TCeMEPs) from the urethral sphincter muscles (USMEPs) by utilizing a urethral catheter with an embedded electrode. A retrospective analysis of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) data from nine intradural tumors, four tethered cord releases, and two spinal stenosis procedures was performed (n = 15). Read More

Gait Posture 2019 May 20;70:260-263. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Department of Kinesiology and Health Science, Utah State University, 7000 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT, 84322-7000, USA; Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Utah State University, 2810 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT, 84322-2810, USA. Electronic address:

Background: When automatic, yet unwanted action is quickly inhibited, short-lived suppression throughout the motor system ensues. This effect is referred to as global suppression. Although response inhibition is essential for behavioral flexibility, widespread motor suppression may delay action reprogramming. Read More

J Physiol 2019 Mar 25. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Gastrointestinal (GI) Sciences, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Gastroenterology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Salford Royal Hospital (part of the Manchester Academic Health Sciences Center (MAHSC)), Salford, UK.

Key Points: Despite evidence that the human cerebellum has an important role in swallowing neurophysiology, the effects of cerebellar stimulation on swallowing in the disrupted brain have not been explored. In this study, for the first time, the application of cerebellar neurostimulation is characterized in a human model of disrupted swallowing (using a cortical virtual lesion). It is demonstrated that cerebellar stimulation can reverse the suppressed activity in the cortical swallowing system and restore swallowing function in a challenging behavioural task, suggesting the findings may have important therapeutic implications. Read More

Burns 2019 Mar 20. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Burn Injury Research Unit, School of Surgery, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia; Burns Service of Western Australia, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia.

Objective: The study aimed to investigate short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) in burns survivors and non-injured controls, and establish whether paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a sensitive tool to investigate SICI after burn-injury.

Methods: Burn survivors underwent experimental assessments at 6- and 12-weeks after injury, and control participants underwent two equivalent sessions 6 weeks apart. Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to record motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) from a hand muscle and paired-pulse TMS was used to measure SICI. Read More

Exp Brain Res 2019 Mar 21. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Institute of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark.

Impaired plantar flexor muscle activation during push-off in late stance contributes importantly to reduced gait ability in adults with cerebral palsy (CP). Here we used low-intensity transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to suppress soleus EMG activity during push-off as an estimate of corticospinal drive in CP adults and neurologically intact (NI) adults. Ten CP adults (age 34 years, SD 14. Read More

Behav Brain Res 2019 Jul 18;366:56-66. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Santa Lucia Foundation (IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia), Rome, Italy; University of Rome "Foro Italico" - Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Rome, Italy.

Background: The contribution of higher-order cognitive functions to postural control is poorly understood. It is recognized that the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is active after postural perturbations, however little is known about anticipatory PFC activity occurring before an upcoming perturbation. Here we aim at advancing our understanding on the contribution of higher-order cognitive functions in the fore period before postural perturbations. Read More

Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc 2019 Mar 18. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Department of Orthopedics, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in transcranial electric motor-evoked potentials - TceMEP on upper limbs and the incidences of postoperative brachial plexopathy between patients with kyphotic and scoliotic trunk shapes.

Methods: In the period of January 2011-January 2017, 61 consecutive patients (mean age: 18.4 years ± 4. Read More

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2019 Mar 20. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.

Objectives: The presence of collateral network circulation to the spinal cord, which is reflected in the repair of a descending thoracic aortic aneurysm (dAo) and a thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAo), has been demonstrated in clinical and animal experimental data. The latissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) including the thoracodorsal artery might be one of the major sources of this collateral network. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact on spinal cord safety of a left anteroaxillary thoracotomy with minimal muscle division including preservation of the LDM in surgery for dAo and TAAo. Read More

Exp Brain Res 2019 Mar 20. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada.

Recently (Ansari et al., PeerJ 6:e6163, 2018a; Somatosens Mot Res 35:69-79, 2018b), we showed using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) that focal application of innocuous thermal stimuli to the distal hand produced variable responses in terms of motor-evoked potential (MEP) suppression or enhancement. Here, we sought to investigate possible causes of this variability by examining circuits mediating sensorimotor integration and intra-cortical inhibition. Read More

Brain Stimul 2019 Mar 12. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Division of Functional and Restorative Neurosurgery, Tuebingen NeuroCampus, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany. Electronic address:

Background: Motor imagery (MI) engages cortical areas in the human brain similar to motor practice. Corticospinal excitability (CSE) is facilitated during but not after MI practice. We hypothesized that lasting CSE changes could be achieved by associatively pairing this endogenous modulation with exogenous stimulation of the same intracortical circuits. Read More

Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019 Apr 18;512(2):367-372. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, 613 West Huangpu RD, Guangzhou, 510632, China. Electronic address:

Perforin plays an important role in autoimmune and infectious diseases, but its function in immune inflammatory responses after spinal cord injury (SCI) has received insufficient attention. The goal of this study is to determine the influence of perforin after spinal cord injury (SCI) on secondary inflammation. Compared recovery from SCI in perforin knockout (Prf1) and wild-type(WT)mice, WT mice had significantly lower the Basso mouse score (BMS), CatWalk XT, and motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) than Prf1 mice. Read More

J Clin Neurophysiol 2019 Mar 14. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Surgical Neurophysiology Program, Department of Neurology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

Purpose: Transcranial motor evoked potentials (TcMEPs) are used to assess the corticospinal tract during surgery. Transcranial motor evoked potentials are elicited by preferentially activating the anode over the target cortex. Crossover occurs when stimulation also induces activation of ipsilateral motor evoked responses. Read More

J Spinal Cord Med 2019 Mar 19:1-9. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

a Department of Orthopedic Surgery , Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine , Ube , Yamaguchi , Japan.

Objective: To investigate factors associated with excellent outcomes after conservative treatment in patients with proximal cervical spondylotic amyotrophy (CSA) using electrophysiological, radiological, and neurological findings.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Yamaguchi University Hospital. Read More

Neurol Res 2019 Mar 19:1-8. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

e Department of Neurology , Groupe Hospitalier Pellegrin , Bordeaux , France.

Background: Vitamin B12 (B12) has a fundamental role in both central and peripheral nervous system function at all ages. Neurologic manifestations may be the earliest and often the only manifestation of B12 deficiency. Mostly because of the poor sensitivity of methods of determination for B12 levels, peripheral neuropathy remains a classical but underdiagnosed complication of B12 deficiency. Read More

Brain Sci 2019 Mar 16;9(3). Epub 2019 Mar 16.

University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada.

Prior work showed differential alterations in early somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and improved motor learning while in acute tonic pain. The aim of the current study was to determine the interactive effect of acute tonic pain and early motor learning on corticospinal excitability as measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Two groups of twelve participants ( = 24) were randomly assigned to a control (inert lotion) or capsaicin (capsaicin cream) group. Read More

Brain Behav 2019 Apr 18;9(4):e01252. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Shanghai Punan Hospital of Pudong New District, Shanghai, China.

Background: Motor imagery (MI) improves motor skill learning, which is further enhanced when MI is paired with primary motor cortex transcranial brain stimulation or with electrical stimulation of the peripheral median nerve. Applying both stimulation types (here with 25 ms intervals) is called paired associative stimulation (PAS25). The final primary motor cortex output is determined by combined excitatory and intracortical inhibitory circuits, and reducing the latter is associated with enhanced synaptic transmission and efficacy. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2019 Mar 4. Epub 2019 Mar 4.

Department of Orthopedics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, P. R. China.

Study Design: This is a retrospective cases study from a prospective patient register.

Objective: To clarify the clinical implication regard to the survivals of MEP response.

Summary Of Background Data: Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) has become an essential component for decreasing the incidence of neurological deficits during spine surgeries. Read More

Neural Plast 2019 7;2019:4750768. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Klab4Recovery Research Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Staten Island, New York, NY 10314, USA.

The objectives of this study were to establish cortical and subcortical contributions to neuroplasticity induced by noninvasive repetitive transspinal stimulation in human subjects free of any neurological disorder. To meet our objectives, before and after 40 minutes of transspinal stimulation we established changes in tibialis anterior (TA) motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) in response to paired transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) pulses at interstimulus intervals (ISIs) consistent with I-wave periodicity. In order to establish to what extent similar actions are exerted at the spinal cord and motor axons, changes in soleus H-reflex and transspinal evoked potential (TEP) amplitude following transspinal and group Ia afferent conditioning stimulation, respectively, were established. Read More

J Neurosurg 2019 Mar 15:1-11. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

1Department of Neurosurgery.

OBJECTIVEResection of gliomas in the precentral gyrus carries a risk of severe motor dysfunction. To prevent permanent, severe postoperative motor dysfunction, reliable intraoperative predictors of postoperative function are required. Since 2005, the authors have removed gliomas in the precentral gyrus with combined functional mapping and estimation of intraoperative voluntary movement (IVM) during awake craniotomy and transcortical motor evoked potentials (MEPs). Read More

J Neurosurg Pediatr 2019 Mar 15:1-9. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

Departments of1Rehabilitation Medicine.

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to investigate the feasibility and safety of intraoperative motor evoked potential (MEP) monitoring in infants less than 3 months of age.METHODSThe authors investigated 25 cases in which infants younger than 3 months (mean age 72.8 days, range 39-87) underwent neurosurgery between 2014 and 2017. Read More

Med Sci Monit 2019 Mar 15;25:1960-1969. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

Department of Anesthesiology, The First Peoples' Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China (mainland).

BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the effects of abdominal aortic transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) on the expression of inflammatory cytokines in a rat model of spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury. MATERIAL AND METHODS Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats (N=160) were divided into five groups: the sham operation group (N-32); the control group (N=32); the BMMSC transplanted group (N=32); the anti-ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF)-treated BMMSC transplanted group (N=32); and the CNTF small interfering RNA (siRNA)-treated BMMSC transplanted group (N=32). Motor behavior was assessed using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor scale. Read More

Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2019;119(2):44-48

Research Institute of Traumatology, Orthopedics and Neurosurgery 'Razumovsky Saratov State Medical University' of Ministry Health of the Russian Federation, Saratov, Russia.

Aim: To estimate the character of neurophysiological monitoring in patients with thoracic and lumbar spine injuries at different treatment stages.

Material And Methods: Thirty-eight patients with non-complicated (22 patients, group 1) and complicated (16 patients, group 2) thoracic and lumbar spine injuries underwent electroneuromyography (ENM) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The examination was performed at early (up to 2 weeks) and later (more than 1 month) post-injury periods, before the operation and on the 10 day after decompressing-stabilizing interventions. Read More