Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Aging Ment Health 2019 Feb 21:1-8. Epub 2019 Feb 21.

a Swiss Paraplegic Research , Guido A. Zäch Institute , Nottwil , Switzerland.

Objectives: To investigate type and load of productive activities as potential determinants of mental health and well-being in elderly persons with a physical disability.

Methods: We used data from a Swiss population-based sample of 314 adults at or past the legal retirement age (65 for men, 64 for women) who live with a chronic physical disability, spinal cord injury. Engagement in housework, volunteering, and paid work were dichotomized (no; some engagement) and three groups of engagement types were constructed (none; housework only; volunteering and/or paid work). Read More

Cell Tissue Res 2019 Feb 20. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Gomhoria St., P.O. box 35516, Mansoura, Egypt.

One of the major impacts of spinal cord injury (SCI) is the cerebellar neurological malfunction and deformation of its sub-layers. This could be due to the enormous innervation of the spinocerebellar tract from the posterior gray horn in the spinal cord to the ipsilateral cerebellum. Although the neuroprotective role of estradiol in spinal cord (SC) injuries, as well as its ability to delay secondary cell death changes, is well-known, its effect on cerebellar layers is not fully investigated. Read More

SAGE Open Med Case Rep 2018 20;6:2050313X18819615. Epub 2018 Dec 20.

Department of Spine Surgery, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: Spine injuries seldom affect the subaxial spine in children less than 9 years of age. We describe the management of a chronic paediatric bilateral facet dislocation.

Methods: Case report and literature review. Read More

Spinal Cord 2019 Feb 20. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research, Sydney Medical School/Northern, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

Study Design: Cross-sectional analysis of a mixed retrospective and prospective inception cohort study.

Objectives: To determine health status, quality of life and socioeconomic situation of people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) 6 years after discharge from a hospital in Bangladesh.

Setting: Bangladesh. Read More

Mil Med Res 2019 Feb 20;6(1). Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.

The battlefield treatments of spinal and spinal cord injury vary from civilian settings. However, there is no unified battlefield treatment guidelines for spine trauma in PLA. An expert consensus is reached, based on spine trauma epidemiology and the concepts of battlefield treatment combined with the existing levels of military medical care in modern warfare. Read More

Int Braz J Urol 2019 Feb 10;45. Epub 2019 Feb 10.

Serviço de Lesão Medular, Rede Sarah de Hospitais de Reabilitação, Brasília, DF, Brasil.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) that have been hospitalized for physical-functional rehabilitation purposes.

Objectives: To compare the incidence of urinary tract infection (UTI) after urodynamic study (UDS) in three hospitals that adopted different protocols with regard to the preparation of patients.

Setting: Sarah Network of Rehabilitation Hospitals, Brazil. Read More

BMJ Open 2019 Feb 1;9(1):e025076. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Department of Physiotherapy, The University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.

Introduction: The upsurge in the use of clinical prediction models in general medical practice is a result of evidence-based practice. However, the total number of clinical prediction rules (CPRs) currently being used or undergoing impact analysis in the management of patients who have sustained spinal cord injuries (SCIs) is unknown. This scoping review protocol will describe the current CPRs being used and highlight their possible strengths and weaknesses in SCI management. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Being Institute of Functional Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China.

Objective: To retrospectively evaluate long-term efficacy and safety of dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) lesion for treatment of neuropathic pain within the lower extremities and perineal region following thoracolumbar spine fracture.

Methods: 42 patients were treated with posterior laminectomy under general anesthesia. The DREZ regions of spinal cord segments were ablated under a microscope. Read More

Global Spine J 2019 Feb 10;9(1):48-54. Epub 2018 May 10.

University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA.

Study Design: Retrospective review.

Objectives: To evaluate the rate of nonoperative treatment failure for cervical facet fractures while secondarily validating computed tomography-based criteria proposed by Spector et al for identifying risk of failure of nonoperative management.

Methods: Single-level or multilevel unilateral cervical facet fractures from 2007 to 2014 were included. Read More

Spinal Cord Ser Cases 2019 12;5:17. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

1Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Study Design: A prospective observational study.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of closed reduction of cervical spine injuries (CSIs) using cervical traction and identify probable complications.

Setting: Department of Neurological Surgery, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Read More

Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil 2019 ;25(1):41-61

Department of Occupational Therapy, Graduate School of Human Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan.

It is important to develop further understanding regarding the facilitating and constraining factors that influence participation in daily activities, including social and human rights issues faced by persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) that affect their opportunities to lead full social lives. To identify, describe, and compare factors that influence participation in daily activities by persons with SCI living in high-income countries (HICs) and in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We performed a scoping review of 2,406 articles published between 2001 and 2016 that were identified from electronic databases. Read More

Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil 2019 ;25(1):31-40

Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.

Pressure injuries negatively impact quality of life and participation for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). To examine the factors that may protect against the development of medically serious pressure injuries in adults with SCI. A qualitative analysis was conducted using treatment notes regarding 50 socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals who did not develop medically serious pressure injuries during a 12-month pressure injury prevention intervention program. Read More

J Neurosurg Spine 2019 Feb 15:1-11. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

7Neurosurgery, Pellegrin Hospital, Bordeaux, Nouvelle Aquitaine; and.

OBJECTIVESpinal cord injuries (SCIs) result in loss of movement and sensory feedback, but also organ dysfunction. Nearly all patients with complete SCI lose bladder control and are prone to kidney failure if intermittent catheterization is not performed. Electrical stimulation of sacral spinal roots was initially considered to be a promising approach for restoring continence and micturition control, but many patients are discouraged by the need for surgical deafferentation as it could lead to a loss of sensory functions and reflexes. Read More

J Spinal Cord Med 2019 Feb 15:1-6. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

a Department of Physiology and Biophysics , Stony Brook University School of Medicine , Stony Brook , New York , USA.

Context: Surfer's myelopathy (SM) is an acute syndrome identified by nontraumatic paraparesis or paraplegia. Though traditionally tied to first-time surfers, the condition encompasses any activity involving hyperextension of the back such as gymnastics, yoga, and Pilates.

Methods: MEDLINE and Google Scholar literature searches were gathered to identify relevant case reports for determining the etiology, pathogenesis, evaluation, and management of SM. Read More

Wideochir Inne Tech Maloinwazyjne 2019 Jan 7;14(1):141-144. Epub 2018 Aug 7.

Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Diaphragm paralysis has been observed following cervical spinal cord and diaphragm injuries. Patients with diaphragm paralysis require plication of the diaphragm if significant pulmonary dysfunction occurs. We aimed to report the unsuccessful stapling technique in the correction of diaphragm paralysis. Read More

Fed Pract 2018 Apr;35(Suppl 3):S17-S20

is a Neurologist with Noran Neurological Clinic in Minneapolis, Minnesota. is an Associate Professor of Neurology and Program Director of the Sleep Medicine Fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at King Edward Medical University in Lahore, Pakistan. is the Medical Director at the Center for Sleep Medicine at the VA North Texas Health Care System and Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Researchers developed a restless legs syndrome questionnaire using diagnostic criteria to assess its prevalence among veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders. Read More

Spinal Cord 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Rehabilitation, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.

Study Design: Experimental study.

Objective: Individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) may present with impaired sympathetic control over thermoregulatory responses to environmental and exercise stressors, which can impact regional core temperature (T) measurement. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether regional differences in T responses exist during exercise in individuals with SCI. Read More

Neuroepidemiology 2019 Feb 14;52(3-4):205-213. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland.

Background: Traumatic spinal cord injuries (TSCI) are a neurological condition associated with reduced well-being, increased morbidity and reductions in life expectancy. Estimates of all-cause and cause-specific mortality can aid in identifying targets for prevention and management of contributors for premature mortality.

Objectives: To compare all-cause and cause-specific rates of mortality to that of the Swiss general population; to identify differentials in risk of cause-specific mortality according to lesion characteristics. Read More

Phys Ther Sport 2019 Feb 7;37:1-9. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Ludwig-Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology, Vienna, Austria; Traumacenter Graz, Teaching Hospital of the Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria. Electronic address:

Objectives: Objective return to sport (RTS) criteria after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury are lacking. Study purposes were (1) to report Limb Symmetry Index (LSI) values achieved in a test battery, (2) to detect how many subjects meet RTS criteria 12-18 months post-operative and (3) to identify whether patient-administered scores predict RTS criteria.

Design: Observer-blinded, cross-sectional observational study. Read More

Disabil Rehabil 2019 Feb 14:1-8. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

c Australasian Rehabilitation Outcomes Centre , Wollongong , Australia.

Aim: To compare the rehabilitation of patients with brain and spinal cord injury in specialist rehabilitation units and non-specialist rehabilitation units in Australia over a 10-year period.

Method: A retrospective cohort study design was used. Epidemiological descriptive analysis was used to examine inpatient rehabilitation data held in the Australasian Rehabilitation Outcomes Centre Registry Database at four discrete time points: 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016. Read More

Front Neurol 2019 29;10:27. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is a major challenge in Neurotrauma research. Complex pathophysiological processes take place immediately after the injury and later on as the chronic injury develops. Moreover, SCI is usually accompanied by traumatic injuries because the most common modality of injury is road traffic accidents and falls. Read More

J Spinal Cord Med 2019 Feb 13:1-7. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

a Shriners Hospitals for Children , Chicago , Illinois , USA.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to understand facilitators of and barriers to achieving positive transition results among youth with spinal cord injury (SCI), and to identify areas for intervention to improve transition outcomes.

Design: This study utilized qualitative methods and analysis was completed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis.

Participants: Participants included adolescents (n = 9, range = 13-18 years old), young adults (n = 14, range = 22-30 years old) with an SCI, and their respective caregivers (n = 17). Read More

J Spinal Cord Med 2019 Feb 13:1-11. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

e Division of Physiatry, Division of Medicine , University of Toronto , Toronto , Canada.

Context: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are valuable for capturing the impact of spasticity on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in persons with spinal cord damage (SCD) and evaluating the efficacy of interventions.

Objective: To provide practical guidance for measuring HRQoL in persons with spasticity following SCD.

Methods: Literature reviews identified measures of HRQoL and caregiver burden, utilized in studies addressing spasticity in SCD. Read More

Mymensingh Med J 2019 Jan;28(1):182-192

Dr Md Kamrul Ahsan, Associate Professor of Spinal Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Bangabandhu Sheikk Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Spine injuries, a common component in Polytrauma are usually affects the young people and is a major cause of morbidity and poses a significant health care expenditure and considerable threats to survival and quality of life. We retrospectively assess the demographics, incidence, mode of trauma, associated spine injuries, complications, neurological improvement and mortality. Records of total 1695 admitted patients, spinal injuries were 262 patients. Read More

J Hand Surg Eur Vol 2019 Feb 11:1753193419827814. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

3 Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, Northwestern University and Hines VA Medical Center Chicago, IL, USA.

Reconstructive upper extremity surgeries in tetraplegia are technically challenging because of the many complicated real-time decisions that need to be made, e.g. extent of release of donor muscle-tendon complex, routing of donor muscles, tissue preparation and optimization, tensioning of muscle-tendon units, balancing joints and suturing tendon-to-tendon attachments. Read More

PM R 2018 Nov 19. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL.

Atraumatic spinal cord injuries can be due to inflammatory, vascular, and nutritional etiologies. Due to progression from these causes, the identification and initiation of appropriate treatment are of significant importance. This article explores a case of copper deficiency myeloneuropathy in a patient initially thought to have an inflammatory transverse myelitis. Read More

Disabil Rehabil 2019 Feb 10:1-11. Epub 2019 Feb 10.

a School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine , Monash University , Melbourne , Victoria , Australia.

Aim: Persistent disability following traumatic injuries can disrupt future plans and create uncertainty about how to mitigate future impacts. It is unknown how or whether perceptions of the future change in the years after injury. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore trauma survivors' perceptions of their future over time. Read More

Tissue Cell 2019 Feb 10;56:90-97. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

NeuroBiology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address:

Nowadays there are various models of spinal cord injury (SCI) that recreate mechanisms of human SCI. The ex vivo modeling of injury is a robust approach, confronts with less experimental and ethical challenges. Currently almost all ex vivo models are obtained either from embryonic or postnatal animals, which can hardly mimic features of human SCI. Read More

Tissue Cell 2019 Feb 1;56:31-40. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

Image Analysis Laboratory, School of Veterinary Sciences, National University of La Plata (UNLP), Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Research Council of Science and Technology (CONICET), Argentina.

After injury of the nervous system glial cells react according to the stimuli by modifying their morphology and function. Glia activation was reported in different kainic acid (KA)-induced neurodegeneration models. Here, we describe glial morphometric changes occurring in an excitotoxic KA-induced cervical spinal cord injury model. Read More

Life Sci 2019 Feb 5. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Sahand University of Technology, Dept. of Biomechanics, Sahand, Iran.

Background: In the most of previous experiments, intrathecal administration of stem cells (SCs) was seen in the management of neurogenic bladder (NGB) following contusion or complete transaction in the rodent model of spinal cord injury (SCI). Here, we aimed to investigate whether intra bladder wall autologous bone marrow mesenchymal SC (BM-MSCs) transplantation, as a minimally invasive method, could improve bladder dysfunctions after a chronic phase of hemi- and complete-transection SCI in a female rat model.

Material And Methods: A total of forty-two female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (each in 7) and subjected to complete and incomplete spinal cord transection by a laminectomy at the T9 vertebral level. Read More

Spinal Cord 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Akita Red Cross Hospital, Akita, Japan.

Study Design: Retrospective epidemiological study.

Objective: To investigate the epidemiology of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in the fastest aging area in Japan.

Setting: Hospitals in Akita Prefecture, Japan. Read More

Brain Stimul 2019 Jan 29. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Human Cortical Physiology and Neurorehabilitation Section, NINDS, USA.

Background: Ambulation is an essential aspect of daily living and is often impaired after brain and spinal cord injuries. Despite the implementation of standard neurorehabilitative care, locomotor recovery is often incomplete.

Objective: In this randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind, parallel design study, we aimed to determine if anodal transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (anodal tsDCS) could improve training effects on locomotion compared to sham (sham tsDCS) in healthy subjects. Read More

Enferm Clin 2019 Feb 4. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

School of Nursing, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines. Electronic address:

Objectives: This study identifies and describes children with spinal cord injury with paraplegia and examines an intervention that can contribute to nursing education and practice.

Methods: This qualitative Hermeneutic phenomenological research with multiple triangulations which include data, method, and investigator triangulation, with iterative approach in data analysis were utilized in data collection and analysis. A total of 8 children with their parents or guardians were purposively selected. Read More

Life Sci 2019 Mar 4;220:147-155. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Functional Morphology, Institute of Physiology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address:

Aims: Neuroinflammatory changes in the central nervous system are widely involved in the initiation and maintenance of neuropathic pain after peripheral nerve injury. The present study investigated how losartan treatment may affect the development of neuropathic pain and neuroinflammation.

Main Methods: The effect of losartan treatment on the development of peripheral neuropathy was studied in L5 spinal nerve ligation (SNL) model in rats with systemic (100 mg/kg) or intrathecal (10 μl/ 20 μM solution) application of losartan. Read More

PM R 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.

Background: Pregnant women with congenital or acquired spinal cord injury face challenges due to compromised neurological function and mobility; factors that may also affect fetal/infant health. Few studies have examined pregnancy course and longer-term outcomes in this population.

Objective: To assess pregnancy outcomes among women with spinal cord injury, paralysis, or spina bifida using population-based data. Read More

Spinal Cord Ser Cases 2019 31;5:11. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

1Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, 7601 E. Imperial Highway, Downey, CA 90242 USA.

Study Design: This is a retrospective review.

Objectives: To validate the concept of "non-locality" to explain cases of Spinal Cord Injury Without Radiographic Abnormality (SCIWORA) previously deemed inexplicable. To investigate and challenge the source data for the SCIWORA hypothesis which has the built-in assumption that a traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) can only be caused by a local or adjacent spinal column injury and which, therefore, postulates that the pediatric spinal column is inherently more flexible than the spinal cord to explain SCI whenever a local spinal column injury is not detected. Read More

J Chem Neuroanat 2019 Feb 3;97:9-22. Epub 2019 Feb 3.

Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Neurosurgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Brain and Spinal Injuries Research Center (BASIR), Neuroscience Institute, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address:

The pathophysiology of spinal cord injury (SCI) related processes of axonal degeneration and demyelination are poorly understood. The present systematic review and meta-analysis were performed such to establish quantitative results of animal studies regarding the role of injury severity, SCI models and level of injury on the pathophysiology of axon and myelin sheath degeneration. 39 related articles were included in the analysis. Read More

J Tissue Eng Regen Med 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Prince Felipe Research Center, Valencia, Spain.

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) result in the loss of sensory and motor function with massive cell death and axon degeneration. We have previously shown that transplantation of spinal cord-derived ependymal progenitor cells (epSPC) significantly improves functional recovery after acute and chronic SCI in experimental models, via neuronal differentiation and trophic glial cell support. Here we propose an improved procedure based on transplantation of epSPC in a tubular conduit of hyaluronic acid (HA) containing poly (lactic acid) (PLLA) fibers creating a biohybrid scaffold. Read More

Disabil Rehabil 2019 Feb 6:1-9. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

f Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Rehabilitation and Elderly Care, Guangzhou China.

Objective: To identify the categories of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health most suitable as outcome indicators in the transitional care for people with spinal cord injury in China.

Methods: A three-round Delphi survey was conducted surveying 37 experts selected through purposive sampling. In the first round, each expert was required to suggest the most useful indicators in the transitional care for spinal cord injury patients. Read More

Spinal Cord 2019 Feb 5. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

Study Design: A systematic review.

Objective: The aim of this review was to determine the effectiveness of physiotherapy (PT) interventions for increasing voluntary muscle strength in people with spinal cord injuries (SCI).

Methods: We included randomised controlled trials of PT interventions for people with SCI. Read More

Front Genet 2018 21;9:623. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Laboratory of Nuclear and Genomic Health, Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, London, United Kingdom.

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are increasingly used for cell-based regenerative therapies worldwide, with embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells as potential treatments for debilitating and chronic conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, and type 1 diabetes. However, with the level of genomic anomalies stem cells generate in culture, their safety may be in question. Specifically, hPSCs frequently acquire chromosomal abnormalities, often with gains or losses of whole chromosomes. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Feb 4;9(1):1286. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Spine Surgery, Luohe Central Hospital, Luohe Medical College, Luohe, 462000, People's Republic of China.

Lower cervical dislocation with facet interlocking is one of the most drastic injuries to the cervical spine. The early reduction is thought critical in preventing progressive secondary spinal cord injury. The authors report a new surgical procedure in the management of lower cervical dislocation with facet interlocking. Read More

Dis Model Mech 2019 Feb 1. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Department of Functional Biology, CIBUS, Faculty of Biology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Classical neurotransmitters are mainly known for their roles as neuromodulators, but they also play important roles in the control of developmental and regenerative processes. Here, we used the lamprey model of spinal cord injury to study the effect of serotonin in axon regeneration at the level of individually identifiable descending neurons. Pharmacological and genetic manipulations after a complete spinal cord injury showed that endogenous serotonin inhibits axonal regeneration in identifiable descending neurons through the activation of serotonin 1A receptors and a subsequent decrease in cAMP levels. Read More

Radiol Clin North Am 2019 Mar 17;57(2):319-339. Epub 2018 Nov 17.

Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Avenue, Room M779, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Brain and Spinal Injury Center, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, 1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA.

T2-weighted (T2W) imaging is the most important sequence for detection of acute traumatic spinal cord pathology in clinical practice. Intramedullary hemorrhage on T2W imaging is associated with some component of irreversible injury and arguably the most robust MR imaging predictor of injury severity. The MR imaging appearance of the injured spinal cord in the early stages of injury is highly dynamic, and the time delay from injury to imaging must be considered in image interpretation. Read More

Telemed J E Health 2019 Feb 1. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

3 Alberta Health Services , Alberta, Canada .

Background: Pressure injuries (PIs) represent a frequent, often preventable, secondary complication of spinal cord injury (SCI) with serious consequences to health, societal participation, and quality of life. Specialized knowledge and service delivery related to treatment and prevention are typically located within major health centers.

Introduction: For persons with SCI living at home, it can be challenging to access specialized PI care. Read More

J Spinal Cord Med 2019 Feb 1:1-11. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

a Department of Pain Management, HammondCare , Greenwich Hospital , Sydney , New South Wales , Australia.

Context: Virtual and augmented imagery are emerging technologies with potential to reduce the severity and impact of neuropathic pain in people with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Objective: We aimed to identify and discuss studies using virtual and augmented reality applications for the management of neuropathic pain in people with spinal cord injury. Methods (data sources, data extraction): A systematic literature search was conducted using PRISMA scoping review guidelines. Read More

Radiographics 2019 Feb 1:180039. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

From the Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02115.

The biomechanical stability of the spine is altered in patients with a rigid spine, rendering it vulnerable to fracture even from relatively minor impact. The rigid spine entities are ankylosing spondylitis (AS), diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, degenerative spondylosis, and a surgically fused spine. The most common mechanism of injury resulting in fracture is hyperextension, which often leads to unstable injury in patients with a rigid spine per the recent AOSpine classification system. Read More

J Comp Neurol 2019 Feb 1. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.

Meissner's corpuscles (MCs) are cutaneous mechanoreceptors found in glabrous skin and are exquisitely sensitive to light touch. Along with other receptors, they provide continuous sensory feedback that informs the execution of fine manual behaviors. Following cervical spinal deafferentation injuries, hand use can be initially severely impaired, but substantial recovery occurs over many weeks, even when ~95% of the original input is permanently lost. Read More

IBRO Rep 2019 Jun 11;6:74-86. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Biocenter Kuopio, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland.

Inflammation is a prominent feature of the neuropathology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Emerging evidence suggests that inflammatory cascades contributing to the disease progression are not restricted to the central nervous system (CNS) but also occur peripherally. Indeed, alterations in T cell responses and their secreted cytokines have been detected in ALS patients and in animal models of ALS. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Jan 31;9(1):1064. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Center for Neuroscience, Shantou University Medical College, 22 Xin Ling Road, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, People's Republic of China.

Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs), up-regulated in and around the glial scar after mammalian spinal cord injury, have been suggested to be key inhibitory molecules for functional recovery by impeding axonal regrowth/sprouting and synaptic rearrangements. CSPG-mediated inhibition is mainly associated with the glycosaminoglycan chains of CSPGs, and chondroitin-4-sulfate (C4S) is the predominant sulfated structure that regulates axonal guidance and growth in the adult nervous system. With the aim to find molecules that neutralize the inhibitory functions of C4S, we screened a phage display library for peptides binding to C4S. Read More