Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Neuroimage 2019 Apr 9. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Division Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland; University Research Priority Program (URPP) "Dynamic of Healthy Aging", University of Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address:

Biometric identification (BI) of individuals is a fast-growing field of research that is producing increasingly sophisticated applications in several spheres of everyday life. Previous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have demonstrated that based on the high inter-individual variability of brain structure and function, it is possible to identify individuals with high accuracy. Otherwise, there is the common belief that electroencephalographic (EEG) data recorded at the surface of the scalp are too noisy for identification purposes with a comparably high hit rate. Read More

Nutrients 2019 Mar 25;11(3). Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Department of Biotechnology and Animal Science, College of Bioresources, National Ilan University, Yilan 26047, Taiwan.

Background: Inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction have been linked to trauma, neurodegeneration, and aging. Impairment of CISD2 expression may trigger the aforementioned pathological conditions in neural cells. We previously reported that curcumin attenuates the downregulation of CISD2 in animal models of spinal cord injury and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated neuronal cells. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2019 Mar 25. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Meyer Building 7-109, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States.

Metastatic disease to the spine are becoming increasingly common with an aging population and improvements in systemic cancer therapies. Surgery, radiation, and vertebroplasty are mainstay modalities for treating painful spine metastases. Recently, image-guided percutaneous ablation techniques have emerged a promising therapeutic option. Read More

Sci China Life Sci 2019 Mar 20. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China.

Grafted embryonic central neural tissue pieces can recover function of hemisected spinal cord in neonatal rats and promote axonal growth in adults. However, spinal cord segments from adults have not been used as donor segments for allogeneic transplantation. Here, we utilized adult spinal cord tissue grafts (aSCGs) as donor constructs for repairing complete spinal cord injury (SCI). Read More

Psychol Health Med 2019 Mar 25:1-12. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

a Department of Rehabilitation Medicine , University of Washington Department of Rehabilitation Medicine , Seattle, WA , USA.

For people living with long-term physical disability (LTPD) social participation may involve managing physical impairments and secondary health conditions (SHCs) that are not due to the pathophysiology of the LTPD diagnosis itself. Prior research found a negative relationship between SHCs and participation in social roles in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). We expand on this research by investigating the influence of SHCs on participation in social roles for people with one of four LTPDs, controlling for co-variates. Read More

Front Cell Neurosci 2019 20;13:50. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.

Neuropathic pain (NP) is among the most intractable comorbidities of spinal cord injury. Dysregulation of non-coding RNAs has also been implicated in the development of neuropathic pain. Here, we identified a novel lncRNA, PKIA-AS1, by using lncRNA array analysis in spinal cord tissue of spinal nerve ligation (SNL) model rats, and investigated the role of PKIA-AS1 in SNL-mediated neuropathic pain. Read More

Curr Med Sci 2019 Feb 13;39(1):67-74. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.

Demyelination of axons plays an important role in the pathology of many spinal cord diseases and injuries. Remyelination in demyelinated lesions is primarily performed by oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), which generate oligodendrocytes in the developing and mature central nervous system. The efficiency of remyelination decreases with age. Read More

Zhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi 2019 Mar;57(3):176-181

Department of Spine Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China.

To investigate the clinical application value of using laminoplasty combine with short-segment pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of cervical spine trauma patients with ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Fifty-four cervical spine trauma patients with OPLL from June 2014 to June 2016 were retrospectively analyzed of Department of Spine Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Military Medical University. There were 31 males and 23 females, aging (68. Read More

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

Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil 2019 ;25(1):62-73

Department of Physical Therapy, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Individuals over age 65 are projected to account for over 20% of the general population by 2030. This trend is reflected in an increase in the age of individuals sustaining traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Based on current evidence, there is concern regarding the needs of older individuals aging with SCI and current health care services. Read More

Neural Regen Res 2019 Jun;14(6):1060-1068

Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud (CICSA), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Anáhuac México Campus Norte, Huixquilucan, Edo. de México, México; Centro de Investigación del Proyecto CAMINA A.C.; Ciudad de México, México.

Spinal cord injury is a very common pathological event that has devastating functional consequences in patients. In recent years, several research groups are trying to find an effective therapy that could be applied in clinical practice. In this study, we analyzed the combination of different strategies as a potential therapy for spinal cord injury. Read More

Acta Neuropathol 2019 Apr 13;137(4):571-583. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Neuroscience and Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, 1275 Center Drive, BOX 100159, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.

There is a fundamental gap in understanding the consequences of tau-ribosome interactions. Tau oligomers and filaments hinder protein synthesis in vitro, and they associate strongly with ribosomes in vivo. Here, we investigated the consequences of tau interactions with ribosomes in transgenic mice, in cells, and in human brain tissues to identify tau as a direct modulator of ribosomal selectivity. 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

Br J Neurosurg 2019 Jan 25:1-5. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

a Department of Hand Surgery , Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University , Shanghai , China.

Objective: Contralateral C7 nerve root transfer surgery has been successfully applied to rescue motor function of a hemiplegic upper extremity in patients with central neurological injury. This surgical technique is challenging, and limited anatomical space makes it difficult to manipulate tissues and may lead to higher complication rates. The authors hypothesis a new surgical route in which cervical nerve roots of both donor and recipient sides are exposed from a posterior intradural approach and neurorrhaphy is performed easily and clearly. Read More

J Clin Med 2019 Jan 23;8(2). Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Department of Physical Therapy, College of Healthcare Medical Science & Engineering, Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.

We investigated the effects of environmental lighting conditions regulating endogenous melatonin production on neural repair, following experimental spinal cord injury (SCI). Rats were divided into three groups randomly: the SCI + L/D (12/12-h light/dark), SCI + LL (24-h constant light), and SCI + DD (24-h constant dark) groups. Controlled light/dark cycle was pre-applied 2 weeks before induction of spinal cord injury. Read More

J Appl Physiol (1985) 2019 Apr 24;126(4):815-822. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

School of Healthcare Science, Manchester Metropolitan University , Manchester , United Kingdom.

In young and older people, skeletal muscle mass is reduced after as little as 7 days of disuse. The declines in muscle mass after such short periods are of high clinical relevance, particularly in older people who show a higher atrophy rate and a slower or even a complete lack of muscle mass recovery after disuse. Ten men (24. Read More

Eur J Transl Myol 2018 Nov 16;28(4):7905. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Istituto di Istologia ed Embriologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.

Neuromuscular disorders, disuse, inadequate nutrition, metabolic diseases, cancer and aging produce muscle atrophy and this implies that there are different types of molecular triggers and signaling pathways for muscle wasting. Exercise and muscle contractions may counteract muscle atrophy by releasing a group of peptides, termed myokines, to protect the functionality and to enhance the exercise capacity of skeletal muscle. In this review, we are looking at the role of myokines in the recovery of permanent denervated and elderly skeletal muscle tissue. Read More

Biomaterials 2019 Mar 7;197:20-31. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China. Electronic address:

Complete transected spinal cord injury (SCI) severely influences the quality of life and mortality rates of animals and patients. In the past decade, many simple and combinatorial therapeutic treatments have been tested in improving locomotor function in animals with this extraordinarily challenging SCI. The potential mechanism for promotion of locomotor function relies either on direct motor axon regeneration through the lesion gap or indirect neuronal relay bridging to functionally reconnect transected spinal stumps. Read More

Neuroscience 2019 Feb 11;400:169-183. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.

Motor neuron damage caused by diseases, traumatic insults or de-afferentation of the spinal cord is often incurable due to the poor intrinsic regenerative capacity. Moreover, regenerated peripheral nerves often do not reach normal functionality. Here, we investigated cardiolipin in the process of neuro-differentiation, since cardiolipin is closely linked to the mitochondrial energy supply in cells. Read More

J Extracell Vesicles 2018 23;7(1):1535750. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Department of Cell Biology, Kraków, Poland.

The last decade has seen a sharp increase in the number of scientific publications describing physiological and pathological functions of extracellular vesicles (EVs), a collective term covering various subtypes of cell-released, membranous structures, called exosomes, microvesicles, microparticles, ectosomes, oncosomes, apoptotic bodies, and many other names. However, specific issues arise when working with these entities, whose size and amount often make them difficult to obtain as relatively pure preparations, and to characterize properly. The International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) proposed Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles ("MISEV") guidelines for the field in 2014. Read More

Spinal Cord 2019 Jan 8. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To describe the association between cardiovascular risk factors (body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), blood pressure, blood glucose and lipids) and leisure time physical activity (LTPA) in older adults with long-term spinal cord injury (SCI).

Setting: Community settings, southern Sweden. Read More

Front Neurol 2018 13;9:1059. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Orthopaedics, The Affiliated Southeast Hospital of Xiamen University, Orthopaedic Center of People's Liberation Army, Zhangzhou, China.

Sorting nexin 27 (SNX27) is an endosome-associated cargo adaptor that is involved in various pathologies and development of neurological diseases. However, the role of SNX27 in spinal cord injury (SCI) remains unclear. In this study, we found that SNX27 was up-regulated in injured mice spinal cords by western blot and immunofluorescence. Read More

Front Aging Neurosci 2018 13;10:403. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.

Manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) rose to prominence in the 1990s as a sensitive approach to high contrast imaging. Following the discovery of manganese conductance through calcium-permeable channels, MEMRI applications expanded to include functional imaging in the central nervous system (CNS) and other body systems. MEMRI has since been employed in the investigation of physiology in many animal models and in humans. Read More

Front Hum Neurosci 2018 13;12:488. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.

The aim of this study was to examine whether older adults use the same task-specific brain activation patterns during two different bimanual hand movement tasks as younger adults. Functional magnetic resonance brain imaging was performed in 18 younger (mean age: 30.3 ± 3. Read More

Brain Imaging Behav 2019 Jan 8. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

The corticospinal tract (CST) is one of the most well studied tracts in human neuroanatomy. Its clinical significance can be demonstrated in many notable traumatic conditions and diseases such as stroke, spinal cord injury (SCI) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). With the advent of diffusion MRI and tractography the computational representation of the human CST in a 3D model became available. Read More

Sex Med Rev 2019 Jan 3. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Texas McGovern Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA; University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA. Electronic address:

Introduction: Nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity (NPTR) monitoring with RigiScan was considered one of the most reliable methods to differentiate psychogenic erectile dysfunction (pED) from organic ED. However, its reliability has been questioned because of some limitations in the practice.

Aim: To present contemporary views on the role of NPTR monitoring in the diagnosis of pED. Read More

J Neurosurg Spine 2018 Dec;30(1):1-18

1Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, and.

Acute traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating event with far-reaching physical, emotional, and economic consequences for patients, families, and society at large. Timely delivery of specialized care has reduced mortality; however, long-term neurological recovery continues to be limited. In recent years, a number of exciting neuroprotective and regenerative strategies have emerged and have come under active investigation in clinical trials, and several more are coming down the translational pipeline. Read More

Pain 2019 Jan;160(1):53-59

Department of Neurophysiology, CBTM, Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.

The upcoming 11th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) of the World Health Organization (WHO) offers a unique opportunity to improve the representation of painful disorders. For this purpose, the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) has convened an interdisciplinary task force of pain specialists. Here, we present the case for a reclassification of nervous system lesions or diseases associated with persistent or recurrent pain for ≥3 months. Read More

Curr Gerontol Geriatr Res 2018 19;2018:4017858. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Department of Education Psychology and Philosophy, State University of Cagliari, Italy.

Spinal cord injury is a disabling disorder, worldwide spread, with important consequences on functioning and health conditions and impacts on physical, psychological, and social well-being. The consequences are related to the lesion itself and to other complications related to the lesion. In the last decades, there have been an increasing of the mean ages of onset and also an increase in life expectancy after the lesion. Read More

Eur J Appl Physiol 2019 Feb 11;119(2):315-331. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.

Mitochondria are responsible for aerobic respiration and large-scale ATP production in almost all cells of the body. Their function is decreased in many neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disease states, in metabolic disorders such as type II diabetes and obesity, and as a normal component of aging. Disuse of skeletal muscle from immobilization or unloading triggers alterations of mitochondrial density and activity. Read More

Neuroscience 2019 02 7;398:55-63. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Spinal Cord & Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States. Electronic address:

Sleep disturbances are a common early symptom of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other age-related dementias, and emerging evidence suggests that poor sleep may be an important contributor to development of amyloid pathology. Of the causes of sleep disturbances, it is estimated that 10-20% of adults in the United States have sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) disorder, with obstructive sleep apnea accounting for the majority of the SBD cases. The clinical and epidemiological data clearly support a link between sleep apnea and AD; yet, almost no experimental research is available exploring the mechanisms associated with this correlative link. Read More

Stem Cells Dev 2019 Feb 28;28(4):239-257. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

1 Regenerative Medicine Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.

Spinal cord injury (SCI), a prominent health issue, represents a substantial portion of the global health care burden. Stem cell-based therapies provide novel solutions for SCI treatment, yet obstacles remain in the form of low survival rate, uncontrolled differentiation, and functional recovery. The application of engineered biomaterials in stem cell therapy provides a physicochemical microenvironment that mimics the stem cell niche, facilitating self-renewal, stem cell differentiation, and tissue reorganization. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Feb 22;122:e1551-e1556. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA. Electronic address:

Background: With the aging population in the United States, it can be anticipated that the prevalence of spinal cord injuries (SCIs) and cancer will increase. Primary or metastatic spine tumors sit at a unique intersection of these 2 realms. Our objective was to evaluate the prevalence, outcomes, and complications after the management of SCI arising from spinal tumors. Read More

Brain Behav Immun 2019 Feb 16;76:139-150. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center (SCoBIRC), Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States. Electronic address:

Objective: The average age at the time of spinal cord injury (SCI) has increased to 43 years old. Middle-aged mice (14 months old, MO) exhibit impaired recovery after SCI with age-dependent increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production through NADPH oxidase (NOX) along with pro-inflammatory macrophage activation. Despite these aging differences, clinical therapies are being examined in individuals regardless of age based upon preclinical data generated primarily using young animals (∼4 MO). Read More

Brain Res 2019 Mar 13;1707:62-73. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Department of Neurology, University of Kentucky, 741 S. Limestone, Lexington, KY 40536, United States; Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, 800 Rose St., Lexington, KY 40536, United States. Electronic address:

Preclinical studies using rodent models of stroke have had difficulty in translating their results to human patients. One possible factor behind this inability is the lack of studies utilizing aged rodents of both sexes. Previously, this lab showed that leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) promoted recovery after stroke through antioxidant enzyme upregulation. Read More

CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets 2019 ;18(1):52-62

Centro de Investigacion en Ciencias de la Salud (CICSA), Universidad Anahuac Mexico Campus Norte, Huixquilucan Estado de Mexico, Mexico.

Background: The chronic phase of Spinal Cord (SC) injury is characterized by the presence of a hostile microenvironment that causes low activity and a progressive decline in neurological function; this phase is non-compatible with regeneration. Several treatment strategies have been investigated in chronic SC injury with no satisfactory results. OBJECTIVE- In this proof-of-concept study, we designed a combination therapy (Comb Tx) consisting of surgical glial scar removal plus scar inhibition, accompanied with implantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), and immunization with neural-derived peptides (INDP). Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2018 Sep;7(17):e009634

1 Center for Perioperative Organ Protection Department of Anesthesiology Duke University Medical Center Durham NC.

Background The mechanisms underlying worse outcome at advanced age after cardiac arrest ( CA ) and resuscitation are not well understood. Because protein homeostasis (proteostasis) is essential for cellular and organismal health, but is impaired after CA , we investigated the effects of age on proteostasis-related prosurvival pathways activated after CA . Methods and Results Young (2-3 months old) and aged (21-22 months old) male C57Bl/6 mice were subjected to CA and cardiopulmonary resuscitation ( CPR ). Read More

J Clin Densitom 2018 Sep 22. Epub 2018 Sep 22.

University Health Network, Osteoporosis Program, Toronto General Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The accumulation of INTERmuscular fat and INTRAmuscular fat (IMF) has been a hallmark of individuals with diabetes, those with mobility impairments such as spinal cord injuries and is known to increase with aging. An elevated amount of IMF has been associated with fractures and frailty, but the imprecision of IMF measurement has so far limited the ability to observe more consistent clinical associations. Magnetic resonance imaging has been recognized as the gold standard for portraying these features, yet reliable methods for quantifying IMF on magnetic resonance imaging is far from standardized. Read More

J Sports Sci 2019 Apr 13;37(7):717-725. Epub 2018 Oct 13.

a GENUD Toledo Research Group , Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha , Toledo , Spain.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) derives in loss of bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD). However, physical activity is an important determinant in bone mass acquisition, which is partially mediated through the lean mass (LM). The aim was to examine the effect of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) on BMD and BMC arms of adult males with SCI and able-bodied controls using the arm LM as a mediator variable. Read More

Disabil Health J 2019 04 5;12(2):214-219. Epub 2018 Oct 5.

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, Box 359612, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98104-2499, USA.

Background: Perceived social support has been found to be associated with depression, subjective well-being and psychological health in cross-sectional studies in people with physical disabilities. No longitudinal studies have been conducted to examine these associations over time using a comprehensive measure of social support.

Objective/hypothesis: We hypothesized that: (1) the amount of perceived social support would be similar across individuals with different diagnoses often associated with disability (i. Read More

J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2018 Dec;77(12):1091-1100

VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder linked to repetitive head impacts and has been associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal, degenerative neuromuscular disorder. The Department of Veterans Affairs Biorepository Brain Bank (VABBB) is a tissue repository that collects antemortem disease progression data and postmortem central nervous system tissue from veterans with ALS. We set out to determine the frequency of co-morbid ALS and CTE in the VABBB cohort and to characterize the clinical, genetic, and pathological distinctions between participants with ALS only and those with both ALS and CTE (ALS+CTE). Read More

Rehabil Psychol 2019 May 8;64(2):221-228. Epub 2018 Oct 8.

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine.

Background: Women with disabling conditions experience health disparities relative to nondisabled women, but few studies have compared women and men with disabling conditions.

Objectives: To investigate gender differences in physical functioning and emotional health among individuals with long-term disabling conditions, that is, neuromuscular disease, multiple sclerosis, postpolio syndrome, or spinal cord injury.

Method: From a mailed survey of 1,862 adults with long-term disabling conditions, we used the 12-item Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) physical functioning to assess physical limitations in activities and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for emotional health and severity of secondary conditions (rated 0-10). Read More

Front Aging Neurosci 2018 20;10:278. Epub 2018 Sep 20.

Institute of Molecular Regenerative Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory CNS disease, which causes demyelinated lesions and damages white and gray matter regions. Aging is a significant factor in the progression of MS, and microglia, the immune cells of the CNS tissue, play an important role in all disease stages. During aging, microglia are functionally altered. Read More

Neurosci Lett 2019 01 6;690:23-28. Epub 2018 Oct 6.

Neuroscience Program, Uniformed Services University, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA; Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Genetics, Uniformed Services University, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA; Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Uniformed Services University, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, USA. Electronic address:

Aging results in increased activation of inflammatory glial cells and decreased neuronal viability following spinal cord injury (SCI). Metabolism and transport of glucose is also decreased with age, although the influence of age on glucose transporter (GLUT) expression or glucose uptake in SCI is currently unknown. We therefore performed [F]Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET imaging of young (3 month) and middle-aged (12 month) rats. Read More

Spinal Cord 2019 Feb 5;57(2):156-164. Epub 2018 Oct 5.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, MetroHealth Medical Center, Institute for Functional Restoration, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Study Design: Replication of previously developed prognostic model.

Objectives: In motor complete injuries at admission to rehabilitation, perform; (1) replication analyses of the relationships between ISNCSCI motor level and motor scores and SCIM and (2) novel analyses to determine if age and/or sex moderate relationship between neurological impairment and function.

Setting: Admission to initial inpatient rehabilitation in the United States. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018 10 1;115(42):E9926-E9933. Epub 2018 Oct 1.

Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden

A particularly essential determinant of a neuron's functionality is its neurotransmitter phenotype. While the prevailing view is that neurotransmitter phenotypes are fixed and determined early during development, a growing body of evidence suggests that neurons retain the ability to switch between different neurotransmitters. However, such changes are considered unlikely in motoneurons due to their crucial functional role in animals' behavior. Read More

Clin Interv Aging 2018 13;13:1739-1746. Epub 2018 Sep 13.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan,

Background: The North American Spine Society states that lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a clinical syndrome, and there is insufficient evidence to make a recommendation for or against a correlation between clinical symptoms or function and the presence of anatomic narrowing of the spinal canal on MRI. The main purpose of this study was to assess the influence of the magnitude of dural tube compression on MRI on LSS symptoms at the cross-sectional and 1-year follow-up.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of 459 participants who were assessed for LSS using a questionnaire and conventional MRI of the lumbar spine. Read More

Front Aging Neurosci 2018 11;10:266. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.

The dearth of effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the largest public health issues worldwide, costing hundreds of billions of dollars per year. From a therapeutic standpoint, research efforts to date have met with strikingly little clinical success. One major issue is that trials begin after substantial pathological change has occurred, and it is increasingly clear that the most effective treatment regimens will need to be administered earlier in the disease process. Read More

Neurobiol Aging 2018 Dec 9;72:188.e3-188.e12. Epub 2018 Aug 9.

Medical Genomics Research Unit, GIGA-R, University of Liège, Belgium; Walloon Excellence in Life sciences and BIOtechnology (WELBIO), Belgium; Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Systematic epistasis analyses in multifactorial disorders are an important step to better characterize complex genetic risk structures. We conducted a hypothesis-free sex-stratified genome-wide screening for epistasis contributing to Alzheimer's disease (AD) susceptibility. We identified a statistical epistasis signal between the single nucleotide polymorphisms rs3733980 and rs7175766 that was associated with AD in males (genome-wide significant p=0. Read More

Front Neurol 2018 22;9:683. Epub 2018 Aug 22.

Department of Orthopaedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe condition that disrupts patients' physiological, mental, and social well-being state and exerts great financial burden on patients, their families and social healthcare system. This review intends to compile studies regarding epidemiological features of SCI in China. Searches were conducted on PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library for relevant studies published through January, 2018. Read More