Articles tagged with Spinal Cord Injuries
Researchers found that human neural stem cells retained an intrinsic human rate of maturation despite being placed in a traumatic rodent environment. The study's findings suggest that clinical outcome measures for future trials need to focus on long time points after grafting, as success may take time.
A new study in mice found that transplantation of donor stem cells from human brain tissue can help repair an injured spinal cord. However, the effectiveness of these stem cells is hindered by the body's immune response to injury. Immune cell depletion can improve the recovery outcome for animals receiving transplanted stem cells.
A team of scientists at Boston Children's Hospital has developed a therapeutic cocktail that promotes axon regrowth after spinal cord injury or stroke, resulting in improved fine motor skills. The treatment showed significant improvement in mice with either condition, with error rates dropping to 30% and 46% respectively.
Researchers have pinpointed key molecules that prompt damaged nerve fibres in zebrafish to regenerate themselves. Understanding these signals could hold clues for therapies to help heal the spinal cord after injury.
Scientists developed an algorithm for a robotic harness that provides personalized support to address motor defects in stroke and spinal cord injury patients. Wearing the harness allows participants to walk with abilities comparable to healthy individuals, offering a promising alternative to traditional rehabilitation programs.
The SRK-015 antibody program demonstrated beneficial effects in a preclinical model of spinal cord injury, reducing muscle atrophy, fat infiltration, and improving muscle function. The findings support the potential of SRK-015 to address unmet needs in treating degenerative neuromuscular conditions.
A novel study found that cortical targets can be used to enhance hand motor output in humans with spinal cord injury, showing improved force and electromyographic activity. The research provides new insights into the potential of cortical targets for rehabilitation therapies targeting beneficial plasticity.
Researchers developed a new brain stimulation protocol using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and excitatory intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), which showed significant benefits in reducing spasticity in spinal cord injury patients. The study found that improvements persisted even after the treatment ended.
Researchers will explore personal and environmental factors influencing functional independence and community participation among racial/ethnically diverse people with SCI. The three-year $392,000 grant aims to improve outcomes among underserved groups living with SCI.
A new discovery at the University of Alberta found that chronic ischemia after spinal cord injury disrupts blood flow, leading to poor oxygenation and motor dysfunction. Elevating oxygen levels improved blood flow and restored function in rat models.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes create stem cell-derived V2a interneurons that transmit signals in the spinal cord, potentially repairing spinal cord injuries. These cells integrate with existing cells and restore movement in mice, offering new hope for spinal cord injury treatment.
Scientists have made significant breakthroughs in cardiovascular research, including the use of neuroprosthetics to restore heart function in patients with spinal cord injuries. Researchers also created patient-specific mitral valve models using 3-D printing to help surgeons personalize their approach and improve patient outcomes.
Scientists have created a new type of stretchable neural implant that can be used to study spinal cord neurons and potentially restore function. The fibers, developed by MIT researchers, can flex and stretch while delivering both optical and electrical impulses.
A Phase I clinical trial demonstrates the safety of transplanting autologous Schwann cells into a spinal cord lesion, showing no negative effects after 1 year. The study successfully determined safety and feasibility for performing peripheral nerve harvests within 5-30 days followed by intra-spinal transplantation within 4-7 weeks.
The University of Miami's Miami project successfully completes a Phase I clinical trial of schwann cell transplantation to treat spinal cord injuries. The trial demonstrates the safety and feasibility of transplanting autologous human Schwann cells to repair damaged spinal cords.
Patients with spinal cord injuries are at risk for various systemic complications, including pneumonia, cardiovascular disease, and chronic pain. Eighty percent of patients suffer from chronic pain, which affects their daily activities and emotional well-being.
Researchers aim to identify effective treatments for cognitive deficits in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. Dr. Chiaravalloti's project seeks to improve everyday functioning and quality of life for individuals with SCI.
Researchers identified a potential target for restoring ejaculation in men with spinal cord injuries or ejaculatory disorders by targeting the L3-L5 spinal segments. The study suggests that this approach could be a promising therapy for patients unable to ejaculate due to spinal cord injury or other ejaculatory disorders.
Scientists have found a key protein, connective tissue growth factor A (ctgfa), that facilitates spinal cord regeneration in zebrafish. The protein promotes the formation of bridges across damaged tissue, leading to improved healing outcomes.
Dr. Jeanne M. Zanca's three-year project aims to boost the quality of personal care assistance services for people with SCI. The online course will provide a foundation of knowledge about SCI, addressing unique care needs and improving communication between individuals with SCI and their caregivers.
Researchers found that spinal cord injuries cause profound changes in gut microbiota, leading to dysbiosis. However, feeding mice probiotics after a spinal cord injury improves functional recovery and elicits a protective immune response.
Research suggests that spinal cord injuries alter the type of bacteria living in the gut, exacerbating neurological damage and impairing recovery. Probiotics may counteract these changes, aiding patients' recovery from spinal cord injuries by activating regulatory T cells and promoting neuronal growth.
A brain implant has restored touch in a paralyzed man's hand, allowing him to sense sensations like warmth and pressure from his fingers. The study suggests that electrical brain stimulation can reestablish realistic touch in paralyzed patients, guiding the design of better neuroprosthetic limbs.
Researchers successfully boosted regeneration of mature nerve cells in the spinal cords of adult mammals, increasing the number of newly matured neurons by tenfold. The approach involves silencing the p53-p21 protein pathway and adding growth factors to boost neuron production.
The Kessler Foundation has been awarded a $2.3 million Spinal Cord Injury Model System (SCIMS) grant to support the Northern New Jersey SCI System. The grant will enable research into pharmacologic approaches to managing bladder dysfunction and improve care for respiratory complications.
Research on therapeutic antibodies for spinal cord injury reveals potential applications in myelin repair, neuroprotection, axon outgrowth, and anti-immune reaction. Several antibodies are reviewed as reagents to promote neurite outgrowth and inhibit immune responses.
Researchers used human embryonic stem cells to treat spinal cord injuries in mice, finding that the cells produced GABA, reduced neuropathic pain and bladder dysfunction, and improved voiding ability. The study suggests a new approach for treating chronic pain and bladder issues in spinal cord injury patients.
Researchers from the Walk Again Project have reported significant recovery of neurological function in paraplegic patients who trained with a brain-controlled system. Patients regained leg muscle movement, touch sensation, and bladder/bowel control, with some experiencing improved cardiovascular function.
Researchers developed a brain-machine interface to help paraplegic patients regain motor function and sensation in their paralyzed limbs. After a year of training, patients showed significant improvements in bladder and bowel control, cardiovascular function, and even reduced hypertension.
Two-part series of studies examines health behaviors and management challenges in spinal cord injury patients, highlighting strategies for overcoming obstacles and improving quality of life. Recent research findings emphasize the importance of proactive health management and resilience after a spinal cord injury.
Neuropathic pain is a common complication of spinal cord injuries, affecting every person differently. The new guidelines recommend screening and diagnosis, treatment models, and care approaches to manage pain and ensure patients can fully benefit from rehabilitation.
Researchers at the University of Helsinki have developed a novel rehabilitation method that uses paired associative stimulation to restore movement in patients with spinal cord injuries. After six months of treatment, two patients showed significant improvements, including bending and grasping abilities.
Researchers studying infant locomotion have discovered common neural primitives used by humans and animals to walk. These findings could lead to new rehabilitation methods for patients with spinal cord injuries and cerebral palsy.
Researchers found that transplanting olfactory ensheathing cells into damaged spinal cord areas significantly improves locomotor performance. The study analyzed 49 studies and identified key factors influencing the therapeutic effect, including timing of application and surgical micro-dissection.
A new literature review assesses the benefits of stem cells for treating spinal cord injuries. Different types of stem cells show varying degrees of effectiveness in restoring function, and an ideal treatment protocol remains unclear.
University of Louisville researchers have identified CD2AP as a crucial player in neural growth, which could lead to therapies for various neurological conditions. The protein orchestrates the branching of nerve axons, creating new connections, but excessive growth can be harmful.
Researchers identified an underlying cause of immune suppression in spinal cord injuries and proposed a possible treatment using chemogenetic agents. Chemogenetic silencing reversed the immune suppressive reflex, reversing spleen atrophy and increasing white blood cell counts in mouse models.
A device called NeuroLife has enabled a paralyzed man to perform complex movements such as swiping a credit card and playing a guitar video game with his fingers and hand. The technology, developed by Battelle and Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, interprets brain signals and bypasses the spinal cord to stimulate muscles.
Biologists at UC San Diego found that manipulating the Ryk signaling protein enhances the return of function after traumatic injury, allowing for partial restoration of neural circuits with rehabilitative training. This discovery opens up new opportunities to apply nervous system development principles to treat paralysis in adulthood.
Researchers found that genetically modified cord blood cells carrying VEGF and GDNF transgenes can promote tissue sparing, axonal regeneration, and motor function recovery in rats with spinal cord injuries. The study suggests these cells may be a promising strategy for enhancing posttraumatic spinal cord regeneration.
A recent mouse study reveals that scar-forming cells called astrocytes are required for repair and regrowth following spinal cord injury. The research supports axon growth through astrocyte scars, challenging the long-held idea that scars hinder neuronal regrowth.
Researchers found that aging diminishes the mammalian central nervous system's ability to regenerate axons after a spinal cord injury. As a result, middle-aged adults already have a significantly reduced ability to regenerate compared to young adults.
A new study by ETH Zurich researchers sheds light on the body representation in paraplegics, finding altered communication between the brain and foot. The study used a task to analyze participants' responses to pictures of foreign body parts, revealing longer response times for those with complete spinal cord damage.
Scientists have identified neuregulin-1 as a molecular signal that drives and enables spontaneous remyelination in the spinal cord after injury. This natural process aims to restore function and mobility, but current treatments are largely ineffective.
Dr. Fyffe will compare care and benefits for service-related vs non-service-related spinal cord injuries in a three-year study funded by the Department of Defense Spinal Cord Injury Research Program. The research aims to optimize care for all veterans with SCI, improving health status and functional outcomes.
Researchers discovered that lactate, a waste product of exercise, can protect neurons against excitotoxicity, a process that damages nerve cells after stroke or spinal cord injury. Lactate triggers the production of ATP, activating defense mechanisms that help neurons withstand overwhelming signals from NMDA receptors.
UAB researchers have identified a protein called IL-37 that suppresses the inflammatory response after spinal cord injuries, minimizing tissue degeneration and functional disabilities. This discovery opens the door to a new treatment for acute spinal cord injuries, which currently has no effective treatment available.
The Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering will receive funding to support research on implantable devices that promote brain plasticity and reanimate paralyzed limbs. The goal is to achieve proof-of-concept demonstrations in humans within five years, laying the groundwork for eventual clinical devices approved by the FDA.
Frank Bradke's groundbreaking research on neural regeneration and spinal cord injuries has earned him the coveted Leibniz Prize. His work aims to promote axon regeneration after spinal cord injury, inhibiting scar tissue formation and activating nerve cells' regenerative potential.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have developed a stem cell treatment that mediates an immune response to spinal cord injury, reducing tissue damage and preserving function. The treatment, involving multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPCs), was effective in preventing the cascade of immune responses that often lead to l...
Researchers at UT Dallas have made a breakthrough in developing vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy for spinal cord injuries outside the forebrain. The study found that VNS paired with rehabilitation can restore 75% more forelimb strength after a cervical spinal cord injury, opening up new possibilities for treatment.
A zebrafish study has discovered that serotonin boosts the growth of new motor neurons after a spinal cord injury, a finding that could lead to new therapies for neurodegenerative conditions. Researchers hope that understanding this repair mechanism in zebrafish may eventually trigger similar processes in human stem cells.
Case Western Reserve University's Institute for Functional Restoration and Synapse Biomedical form a partnership to commercialize technology restoring movement in paralyzed patients. The partnership aims to bring the technology to those who need it, ensuring sustainable access through non-profit efforts.
A pioneering technique redirects peripheral nerves in the arms and hands of quadriplegic patients by connecting healthy nerves to injured ones. Patients experience improved hand and arm function, with some regaining independence in daily activities such as feeding themselves or writing with a pen.
A study published in Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation found that living in areas with greater mixed land use was associated with poorer perceived health among New Jersey residents with spinal cord injury. This contrasts with general population studies, which suggest benefits from more populated areas with mixed land use.
Research finds that motivating patients with spinal cord injury activates the brain's motor cortex, promoting early-stage recovery. Psychological support is crucial for functional reinstatement of hand control.
A participant with complete paralysis regained walking ability using a brain-controlled system that utilizes electroencephalogram signals. The study, published in Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, demonstrates the feasibility of non-invasive leg muscle stimulation using direct brain control.
A neuroimaging study will use diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to assess recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI), enabling medical professionals to predict motor recovery and provide more accurate prognoses. The study aims to improve rehabilitation outcomes for individuals with incomplete SCI.
Researchers found that primates, like humans, recover partial motor control within the first six months after a spinal cord injury, whereas rats show limited recovery. The primate-specific mechanism of recovery involves detour circuits around lesions, restoring communication between brain and spinal cords.
Gerard E. Francisco, a renowned expert in physical medicine and rehabilitation, is being honored by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R). His research focuses on developing innovative treatments to help stroke survivors regain hand movement and speech.