Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Weihong Du, Yongbing Deng, Rong Jiang, Luyao Tong, Ruixue Li, Xue Jiang
Summary: Recent evidence suggests that demyelination and axonal degeneration occur in spinal cord injury during the secondary injury phase. Treatment with clemastine, an FDA-approved drug, was shown to preserve myelin integrity, decrease axonal loss, and improve functional recovery in a rat SCI model. This indicates that myelination-enhancing strategies could potentially be a therapeutic approach for functional recovery in SCI.
NEUROCHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Azizul Haque, Kelsey P. Drasites, April Cox, Mollie Capone, Ali Myatich, Ramsha Shams, Denise Matzelle, Dena P. Garner, Mikhail Bredikhin, Donald C. Shields, Alexey Vertegel, Naren L. Banik
Summary: The study demonstrates that local delivery of E2 via nanoparticles to the injured spinal cord can reduce inflammation and improve functional outcomes following SCI.
NEUROCHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Nadia Al-Sammarraie, Mohammed Mahmood, Swapan K. Ray
Summary: Spinal cord injury is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in young adults, and the difficulty in neuron regeneration is a main obstacle leading to permanent paralysis. Recent research has shown that preventing secondary damages to neurons and glial cells can slow down the progression of spinal cord injury by reactivating regenerative proteins like Noggin. However, the therapeutic efficacy and safety of Noggin treatment in human spinal cord injury still need more investigation.
NEURAL REGENERATION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ning Li, Min Yao, Jiaxin Liu, Zhiyuan Zhu, Tsz-Lung Lam, Pingde Zhang, Karrie Mei-Yee Kiang, Gilberto Ka-Kit Leung
Summary: The study showed that VitD treatment improved hindlimb movement in rats post-TSCI, but those with prior deficiency did not benefit. Maintaining sufficient VitD levels was essential for preserving myelin integrity after injury.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Agnes E. Haggerty, Ines Maldonado-Lasuncion, Yohshiro Nitobe, Kentaro Yamane, Megan M. Marlow, Hua You, Chi Zhang, Brian Cho, Xiaowei Li, Sashank Reddy, Hai-Quan Mao, Martin Oudega
Summary: The study found that combining MSC and NHC for treating spinal cord injuries can reduce the number of inflammatory cells, promote a shift from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory environment at the injury site, decrease injury size, increase the presence of astrocytes and axons, but has no significant impact on MSC transplant survival and hind limb function.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fuze Liu, Yue Huang, Hai Wang
Summary: Spinal cord injury (SCI) has devastating consequences on the patient's health, and there is currently no effective treatment. Animal models are crucial for studying the pathology, mechanisms, and treatment of SCI. However, each injury model has different pathological changes, making it challenging to select appropriate models for different research purposes.
NEUROCHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Jin Young Hong, Junseon Lee, Hyun Kim, Changhwan Yeo, Wan-Jin Jeon, Yoon Jae Lee, In- Hyuk Ha
Summary: Spinal cord injury often leads to the formation of glial scar tissue, hindering neural regeneration. This study demonstrates that Shinbaro2 (Sh2) can ameliorate glial scars and promote axon growth after spinal cord injury. Sh2 reduces inflammation, inhibits scar formation, and enhances motor function recovery.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cong Li, Wu Xiong, Bowen Wan, Guang Kong, Siming Wang, Yingying Wang, Jin Fan
Summary: Secondary spinal cord injury is caused by an irreversible inflammatory response cascade, and the immune system plays a crucial role in mediating inflammation. Investigating the mechanisms and functions of peripheral immune cells at the site of injury is significant for identifying clinical therapeutic targets.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Caixia Fan, Wen Yang, Lulu Zhang, Hui Cai, Yan Zhuang, Yanyan Chen, Yannan Zhao, Jianwu Dai
Summary: Spinal cord injury is a severe damage to the central nervous system, often leading to the loss of spinal cord structure and function. Researchers have developed a new hydrogel material with mechanical and electrical properties similar to the spinal cord, which can be used for spinal cord regeneration. By introducing glutathione and MMP-responsive proteins into the hydrogel, biomolecules can be released in response to the microenvironment of spinal cord injury, promoting axon regeneration and angiogenesis, and improving motor function recovery.
Review
Neurosciences
Harun Najib Noristani
Summary: This article describes the different response of ascending dorsal column axons and descending corticospinal tract (CST) axons after spinal cord injury (SCI), as well as the efficacy of molecules targeting intrinsic axon regeneration in promoting their regrowth. Accumulating evidence suggests important differences in regenerative response between dorsal column and CST axons when targeting intrinsic pro-regenerative molecules.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Vasiliki Tsata, Daniel Wehner
Summary: The capacity for long-distance axon regeneration and functional recovery after spinal cord injury is poor in mammals but remarkable in some vertebrates, like fish and salamanders. The cellular and molecular basis of this difference is starting to emerge, including the identification of target cells reacting to injury and cues directing pro-regenerative responses. Zebrafish is one of the most understood models in terms of successful spinal cord regeneration, with neuron-intrinsic and extrinsic factors playing pivotal roles in axon regeneration and function recovery.
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Katarzyna Pieczonka, Hiroaki Nakashima, Narihito Nagoshi, Kazuya Yokota, James Hong, Anna Badner, Jonathon C. T. Chio, Shinsuke Shibata, Mohamad Khazaei, Michael G. Fehlings
Summary: Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) causes the loss of neurons and glial cells. Current interventions for SCI lack regenerative solutions. Neural stem/progenitor cell (NPC) transplantation is a promising strategy for regeneration but inconsistent differentiation hinders functional recovery. This study generated oligodendrogenically biased NPCs (oNPCs) from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and demonstrated their effectiveness in a rodent model of cervical SCI, showing enhanced tissue preservation, remyelination, and functional recovery without adverse effects. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of oNPCs in cervical SCI and call for further investigation to optimize this approach.
STEM CELLS TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Emergency Medicine
Yu Zhang, Shuhai Yang, Chang Liu, Xiaoxiao Han, Xiaosong Gu, Songlin Zhou
Summary: Spinal cord injury often results in permanent disability due to the loss of functional recovery. The formation of a glial scar around the damaged tissue can interrupt the healing process, and therapeutic treatments targeting scar components are important for improving functional recovery.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Yuya Nakamoto, Gentarou Tsujimoto, Akito Ikemoto, Koichi Omori, Tatsuo Nakamura
Summary: This study investigated the histopathological changes following SCI in dogs within 2 weeks post-injury, revealing severe hemorrhage, spongiosis, parenchymal necrosis, and gliosis. These changes became more severe in 1-2 weeks, enhancing the utility of the canine model in assessing secondary spinal cord histopathology in human SCI.
EUROPEAN SPINE JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Jingjia Ye, Shuang Jin, Wanxiong Cai, Xiangfeng Chen, Hanyu Zheng, Tianfang Zhang, Wujie Lu, Xiaojian Li, Chengzhen Liang, Qixin Chen, Yaxian Wang, Xiaosong Gu, Bin Yu, Zuobing Chen, Xuhua Wang
Summary: A self-assembling hydrogel depot that releases anti-inflammatory drugs and growth factors locally has been proposed as a solution to repair severe spinal cord injuries and promote nerve regrowth.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Sepehr Khosravi, Amirmahdi Khayyamfar, Milad Shemshadi, Masoud Pourghahramani Koltapeh, Mohsen Sadeghi-Naini, Zahra Ghodsi, Farhad Shokraneh, Mohadeseh Sarbaz Bardsiri, Pegah Derakhshan, Khalil Komlakh, Alex R. Vaccaro, Michael G. Fehlings, James D. Guest, Vanessa Noonan, Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar
Summary: The scoping review identified 87 quality of care indicators for individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury, covering assessment of healthcare system structure, medical processes, and outcomes related to spinal cord injury.
GLOBAL SPINE JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Katie L. Gant, James D. Guest, Anne E. Palermo, Aditya Vedantam, George Jimsheleishvili, Mary Bartlett Bunge, Adriana E. Brooks, Kim D. Anderson, Christine K. Thomas, Andrea J. Santamaria, Monica A. Perez, Rosie Curiel, Mark S. Nash, Efrat Saraf-Lavi, Damien D. Pearse, Eva Widerstrom-Noga, Aisha Khan, W. Dalton Dietrich, Allan D. Levi
Summary: The study investigated the feasibility and safety of autologous human Schwann cell transplantation for patients with chronic spinal cord injury, showing that it is safe and effective within a certain range.
JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Allan D. Levi, Jan M. Schwab
Summary: The corticospinal tract (CST) is the main voluntary motor pathway that controls human movements. It plays a crucial role in the loss and recovery of neurological function after incomplete cervical spinal cord injury, particularly in hand function.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY-SPINE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Education, Scientific Disciplines
Yerko Berrocal, Andrew Darr, Hany Ibrahim, Alice Akunyili
Article
Neurosciences
Erin T. Williams, Xi Chen, P. Anthony Otero, Darren J. Moore
Summary: Perturbations of the endolysosomal pathway, specifically involving VPS35 and the retromer complex, play an important role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. This review focuses on the impact of the PD-linked D620N mutation in causing retromer dysfunction and its implications in neurodegeneration. The association of VPS35 and the retromer with other neurodegenerative diseases is also discussed.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Turki Elarjani, Gregory W. Basil, Iahn Cajigas, Victor M. Lu, Christopher N. Chin, Andrea Alonzo, Frederic A. Vallejo, Courtney Sparger, Gabriela Alonzo, Allan D. Levi
Summary: This study examined the use of social media accounts in U.S. neurosurgery programs and found that larger programs and certain subspecialties, particularly vascular and oncology, are more likely to have social media accounts. The study suggests the need for increased engagement among spine faculty across social media platforms.
WORLD NEUROSURGERY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Aria M. Jamshidi, Sauson Soldozy, Allan D. Levi
Summary: This study observed 21 young athletes who underwent percutaneous direct pars repair after failure of conservative management. The results showed that the surgery significantly reduced back pain and had a fusion rate of 95%. This surgical technique is particularly beneficial for young athletes and should be considered in this patient population.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Aria M. Jamshidi, Vaidya Govindarajan, Alan D. Levi
Summary: This study presents a case series of older patients who underwent successful resection of retro-odontoid lesions using a transdural approach. The surgery was performed smoothly and patients showed clear improvement in neurological function postoperatively. The results suggest that posterior cervical transdural approach is a safe and effective method for treating patients with progressive myelopathy.
Letter
Clinical Neurology
Oliver Ayling, Richard B. Rodgers, Allan D. Levi
JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY-SPINE
(2023)
Letter
Clinical Neurology
Victor M. Lu, Joacir Graciolli Cordeiro, Timur Urakov, Ronald J. Benveniste, Allan D. Levi, Ricardo J. Komotar
Article
Orthopedics
Emily R. R. Finkelstein, Joanne Buitrago, Jean Jose, Allan D. D. Levi, Kyle Y. Y. Xu, S. Shelby Burks
Summary: This technical case series demonstrates the utility and versatility of preoperative ultrasound-guided needle localization for excision of lower extremity neuromas and other pathology of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The technique simplifies nerve course marking prior to dissection and leads to efficient intraoperative identification of all tumors without complications. It provides safe, accurate, and efficient perioperative and intraoperative identification of neuromas and other PNS tumors of the lower extremity.
SKELETAL RADIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Sauson Soldozy, Tyler Warner, Joseph A. Yunge Tigre, Bianca Marquez, S. Shelby Burks, Allan D. Levi
Summary: This retrospective case series analyzed the clinical data and surgical outcomes of 42 patients who underwent lumbosacral plexus tumor surgery performed by a single neurosurgeon from May 2000 to July 2021. The results showed that patients had preserved or improved neurological function after surgery, with fewer postoperative complications.
WORLD NEUROSURGERY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Vaidya Govindarajan, Ashish H. Shah, Alexis A. Morell, Veronica Borowy, Shreya M. Ingle, Mynor J. Mendez Valdez, Sarah Rivas, Daniel G. Eichberg, Evan Luther, Victor Lu, John Heiss, Ricardo J. Komotar, Allan D. Levi
Summary: The increasing centralization of high-level neurosurgical practice at academic centers has led to a greater need for academic neurosurgeons. This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of the University of Miami residency program to assess academic success among trainees using pre-residency and intra-residency metrics. The results showed that factors such as higher Step 1 percentile and leadership skills were associated with pursuing an academic career.
WORLD NEUROSURGERY
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Monzurul Roni, Kevin Kim, Nicholas Xie, Leslie Hammersmith, Yerko Berrocal
JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Review
Education, Scientific Disciplines
Monzurul A. Roni, Yerko Berrocal, Richard Tapping
Summary: Committee reviews can improve the quality of multiple-choice question exams, but they usually require a significant amount of faculty time and administrative resources. This study presents a review process that is resource-efficient, leading to a substantial increase in item discrimination for reviewed questions in all exams. The findings support the practicality of a review process and provide health profession educators with a more practical and efficient approach for enhancing the quality of in-house MCQ exams.
MEDICAL SCIENCE EDUCATOR
(2022)
