Review
Neurosciences
Margo Randelman, Lyandysha V. Zholudeva, Stephane Vinit, Michael A. Lane
Summary: This article reviews the anatomical incompleteness and neuroplasticity resulting from spinal cord injuries, as well as how non-invasive respiratory treatments can enhance recovery. It focuses on current clinically used respiratory training strategies and those in development, while also considering the impact of training on non-respiratory networks. Insights are given on advances in pre-clinical and translational research in this area, with a look into future directions for enhancing plasticity and improving functional outcomes after SCI.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xinwang Ying, Qingfeng Xie, Xiaolan Yu, Shengcun Li, Qiaoyun Wu, Xiaolong Chen, Jingjing Yue, Kecheng Zhou, Wenzhan Tu, Songhe Jiang
Summary: The study demonstrated that water treadmill training (TT) protects the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) after spinal cord injury (SCI) by upregulating the BDNF/TrkB-CREB signalling pathway, while application of the inhibitor blocks this protective effect.
NEUROCHEMISTRY INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Wouter A. J. Vints, Oron Levin, Nerijus Masiulis, Jeanine Verbunt, Charlotte C. M. van Laake-Geelen
Summary: Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) may experience accelerated cognitive aging, and myokines released during exercise may improve brain health and cognition. However, there is currently a lack of research on the effects of myokines on cognitive function in individuals with SCI, indicating a need for further investigation.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Sisi Mi, Zhuo Chang, Xue Wang, Jiaxin Gao, Yu Liu, Wenjia Liu, Wangxiao He, Zhongquan Qi
Summary: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe injury of the central nervous system, causing functional dysfunction and paralysis in millions of patients. A bioactive scaffold, called a spinal cord assembly (SCA), was created using cell-sheet technology and stem cells. This scaffold released neurotrophic exosomes, promoting neuronal regeneration, axonal extension, angiogenesis, and inhibiting glial scar formation in a SCI rat model.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Takahiro Kondo, Risa Saito, Yuta Sato, Kenta Sato, Akito Uchida, Kimika Yoshino-Saito, Munehisa Shinozaki, Syoichi Tashiro, Narihito Nagoshi, Masaya Nakamura, Junichi Ushiba, Hideyuki Okano
Summary: This study developed a rehabilitation model of severe traumatic spinal cord injury in nonhuman primates and found that locomotor recovery can be promoted through rehabilitation training, restoring the connection between supraspinal input and the lumbosacral network.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Angela Martins, Debora Gouveia, Ana Cardoso, Ines Viegas, Oscar Gamboa, Antonio Ferreira
Summary: The study compared locomotor recovery in dogs post-surgery for incomplete SCI undergoing BWSTT or COGI training, finding that BWSTT led to faster and better recovery outcomes. 90% of dogs achieved functional recovery and 100% recovered bladder function after training.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Yunhang Wang, Haodong Luo, Yuan Liu, Ce Yang, Ying Yin, Botao Tan
Summary: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating neurological disorder that impacts millions of people worldwide, resulting in severe and permanent disabilities. Rehabilitation is an effective treatment for neurological disabilities, but combining multiple modalities of rehabilitative strategies has shown promising results in promoting functional recovery. However, few studies have investigated the combination of different forms of rehabilitative training.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Katarina Kiss Bimbova, Maria Bacova, Alexandra Kisucka, Jan Galik, Peter Zavacky, Nadezda Lukacova
Summary: Endurance training significantly upregulated the expression of growth factors and their receptors in low thoracic segments, and activated neuroplasticity and regeneration pathways in rats with spinal cord injury. Pre-training prior to SCI improved neurological scores and overall activity levels in rats.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Jadwiga N. Bilchak, Kyle Yeakle, Guillaume Caron, Dillon Malloy, Marie-Pascale Cote
Summary: Increasing KCC2 activity to restore chloride homeostasis and endogenous inhibition is an effective approach to reduce spastic symptoms in individuals with SCI, potentially avoiding severe side effects and improving quality of life.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Marcel Simis, Deniz Doruk Camsari, Marta Imamura, Thais Raquel Martins Filippo, Daniel Rubio De Souza, Linamara Rizzo Battistella, Felipe Fregni
Summary: Functional changes after SCI are linked to cortical plasticity, which can be measured by EEG and used as a clinical biomarker. In a study with participants undergoing RAGT, high beta EEG activity negatively correlated with gait and balance at baseline, while improvement in gait and balance correlated with changes in alpha/theta ratio. These findings suggest that EEG may serve as a potential surrogate marker for functional improvement during SCI rehabilitation.
FRONTIERS IN HUMAN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Syed Faraz Kazim, Christian A. Bowers, Chad D. Cole, Samantha Varela, Zafar Karimov, Erick Martinez, Jonathan Ogulnick, Meic H. Schmidt
Summary: Spinal cord injury is a devastating condition affecting millions worldwide. While axonal regeneration in the adult CNS is limited, there is evidence of spontaneous neural reorganization and plasticity in the corticospinal motor circuitry, showing promise for functional recovery after SCI. Various therapeutic approaches, including neuromodulation and rehabilitative training, have been used to harness this neuroplasticity for improved outcomes in both animal models and clinical studies.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Keith K. Fenrich, Ben W. Hallworth, Romana Vavrek, Pamela J. F. Raposo, John E. Misiaszek, David J. Bennett, Karim Fouad, Abel Torres-Espin
Summary: The study shows that more rehabilitation training and increased training intensity can improve performance in skilled forelimb motor tasks in rodents with cervical SCI, with better performance linked to differences in corticospinal tract axon collateral densities in injured spinal cords. However, the data also indicate that rehabilitation training becomes progressively less efficient as both the amount and intensity of training increases.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Milap S. Sandhu, William Z. Rymer
Summary: Acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) is emerging as a potential intervention to improve breathing and enhance strength and endurance, with the effects showing rapid emergence and prolonged duration. Further research is needed to confirm the therapeutic effects of AIH in clinical settings for promoting recovery and rehabilitation after neurological injuries.
CURRENT OPINION IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Natalie Prowse, Shawn Hayley
Summary: Studies suggest that microglia can modulate neuronal plasticity through brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is important due to its link with neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative pathology. Certain activated states of microglia are believed to play a role in maintaining the delicate balance of BDNF release onto neuronal synapses.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Anastasiia O. Sosnovtseva, Olga V. Stepanova, Aleksei A. Stepanenko, Anastasia D. Voronova, Andrey V. Chadin, Marat P. Valikhov, Vladimir P. Chekhonin
Summary: The regeneration of nerve tissue after spinal cord injury is a complex and poorly understood process. Medication and surgery are not very effective treatments for patients with spinal cord injuries. Gene therapy, particularly using recombinant adenoviruses as vectors, has gained popularity as a potential approach for treatment. This review discusses the advantages, limitations, and prospects of adenovectors in spinal cord injury therapy.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)