Articles tagged with Spinal Cord
A recent study found that an inflammatory monocyte population plays a key role in ALS progression, suggesting it as a potential therapeutic target. Monocyte depletion reduced cellular recruitment to the spinal cord, decreased CNS cell death, and extended survival time in mice with ALS.
Researchers discovered a protein that promotes the adoption of bipolar glial shape in zebrafish, encouraging nerve regeneration and potentially offering a new therapeutic target. The findings suggest an alternative approach to scar tissue formation, which is a major barrier to spinal cord repair in mammals.
Researchers found that a diet enriched with DHA and curcumin preserved walking ability in rats with spinal-cord injury, while a Western diet caused measurable walking problems. The study suggests that dietary supplements may help repair nerve cells and maintain neurological function after degenerative damage to the neck.
Researchers found that a diet enriched with DHA and curcumin can protect the injured spinal cord and minimize clinical and biochemical effects of myelopathy in rats. The combination reduces inflammation, provides structural material to plasma membranes, and produces strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
A new study reveals the immune system and inflammation may play a significant role in Lou Gehrig's disease, specifically targeting motor neurons for clean-up by macrophages. Resolvin D1, an omega-3 fatty acid derivative, was found to curb inflammation and block harmful proteins, offering a potential new approach to treating ALS.
Researchers at EPFL successfully rehabilitated rats with spinal cord injuries using a combination of robotic harnesses and electrical-chemical stimulation. The study, published in Science, reveals that the dormant spinal column can be awakened to restore voluntary movement, suggesting new methods for treating paralysis.
The University of Louisville has received a $6.3 million grant to develop technology to help paralyzed people regain movement in their limbs, with the goal of improving quality of life. Researchers aim to advance research and treatment options for individuals with spinal cord injuries.
Researchers have successfully transplanted embryonic cells into adult mouse spinal cords to alleviate persistent pain. The study suggests that this approach may not only treat symptoms but also correct underlying disease pathology. This new therapy offers hope for patients with neuropathic pain, a condition with limited treatment options.
Researchers found that mental distractions, especially those requiring cognitive effort, reduce pain perception by inhibiting early spinal cord responses to painful stimuli. This effect is mediated by endogenous opioids, naturally produced by the brain.
A combination of treatments including a polymer scaffold, neurotrophin-3, and chondroitinase enhanced the benefits of neural stem cell transplantation in rat models. This approach promoted nerve growth, improved cell survival and migration, and restored neuroplasticity.
The Phase I trial of Neuralstem's spinal cord stem cells found one patient showed improvement in clinical status, while the treatment was safe and tolerable for all 12 patients. The trial has been approved to proceed with cervical transplantations targeting motor neurons that control respiratory function.
A team of scientists has identified a key player in the amplification of pain signals in the spinal cord, which could lead to the development of novel treatments for chronic pain. By removing an enzyme called PKG-1 from pain-sensing nerves, researchers found that LTP was abolished and pain-related memory and behavior were also altered.
Researchers have discovered that administering FTY720, an oral drug shown promise for multiple sclerosis, significantly improves motor function recovery in mice with spinal cord injuries. The study suggests targeting sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors may be a new avenue to counteract the degeneration of the spinal cord in human SCI.
The American Academy of Neurology recommends monitoring the spinal cord during spinal surgery and certain chest surgeries to prevent paralysis. Intraoperative monitoring can alert surgeons to potential problems before damage occurs, reducing the risk of complications.
The 2011 revision of the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) was published to guide consistent classification of spinal cord injuries. The new guidelines improve data reliability for clinical care and research studies.
Researchers found changes in motor cortex of the brain in patients with spinal cord compression, which may impact surgical procedures and patient outcomes. The study also identified a 15% decrease in N-acetylaspartate levels, suggesting potential implications for reversibility and treatment.
Researchers from RUB have deciphered the role of proteins in cell environment, revealing tenascin C's crucial function in regulating astrocyte development. The absence of tenascin C leads to delayed cell division and migration, resulting in an increased number of mature astrocytes.
A one-time injection of fibronectin immediately after spinal cord injury can limit pain for an extended period, according to Cleveland Clinic research. The treatment suppresses inflammatory response and maintains blood-spinal cord barrier integrity.
Researchers at Northwestern University have discovered a second faulty gene, sequestosome1, contributing to the degeneration of motor neurons in ALS. The study provides new insights into the disease's progression and potential targets for drug therapies.
Researchers found that TDP-43 binds to NF-kB p65 in spinal cords of ALS patients, promoting inflammation and killing neurons. Treatment with an agent blocking p65 activity eased disease symptoms in a mouse model.
Patients with recurrent inflammatory spinal cord diseases have significantly lower vitamin D levels compared to those with monophasic disease. The study suggests a common link between low vitamin D levels and immunologic dysregulation in these conditions.
Researchers have found evidence that meninges, a membrane surrounding the central nervous system, contains self-renewing stem cells. This discovery may lead to new treatments for spinal cord injuries and degenerative brain disorders, as these stem cells can proliferate and form glial scars after injury.
A new technology, FLAMES (floating light activated micro-electrical stimulators), has been developed to help individuals with spinal cord injuries. The device is wirelessly controlled and can activate nerves in the spinal cord, allowing patients to regain motor functions.
A new study reveals that defects in peripheral tissues contribute to SMA pathology, and systemic antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) increase survival time by 25-fold. ASO treatment also restores normal IGF-1 levels, which are reduced in untreated mice with severe SMA.
A new class of stem cell-like radial glial cells has been identified in the spinal cord, which may offer a fresh avenue for therapies to treat spinal cord injury and disease. These cells were discovered using the Allen Spinal Cord Atlas and display a unique progenitor phenotype.
Researchers at University of British Columbia have discovered radial glial cells in the spinal cord that can function as stem cells and regenerate portions of the central nervous system. These cells share unique genes with other neural stem cells and could be targeted for potential gene therapy treatments.
Scientists have discovered a common cause of all forms of ALS, a fatal neurodegenerative disease, by identifying a broken down protein recycling system in neurons. This finding provides a common target for drug therapy and suggests that all types of ALS are tributaries pouring into a common river of cellular incompetence.
SUNY Downstate researchers found that female animals had higher levels of a specific opioid receptor complex that could explain why certain opioids are more effective in women than men. This discovery suggests new molecular targets for pain management in women, taking into account the stage of their menstrual cycle.
A team of researchers from Caltech and UCLA used an electrode array to stimulate a paralyzed man's spinal cord, allowing him to stand, step, and regain voluntary leg movements. The treatment improved autonomic functions such as bladder control, temperature regulation, and muscle tone over time.
A team of scientists has achieved a significant breakthrough in treating paralysis, allowing a paralyzed man to stand and take steps with assistance. The study uses epidural electrical stimulation to mimic brain signals, enabling the spinal cord's neural network to initiate movement.
Researchers at the University of Louisville have achieved significant breakthroughs in treating paraplegia through epidural spinal cord stimulation and extensive locomotor training. The study's results, published in The Lancet, show that a paralyzed man can stand, step, and move his legs voluntarily with assistance.
Researchers mapped spinal cord function using MRI to improve injury diagnosis and treatment. Attention levels impact spinal cord processing, affecting pain management for those with spinal cord injuries.
Researchers found a significant decrease in macrophage activity at spinal cord injury sites in mice without spleens, indicating the spleen's role in promoting inflammation. Understanding how these cells function and manipulating their release could improve treatment options for spinal cord injuries.
Researchers discovered that connections in the spinal cord regrew spontaneously and extensively after a mild spinal cord injury in primates, restoring 60% of original connections. This finding holds significant promise for developing new treatments for patients with spinal cord injuries.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered how stem cells and other cells repair damaged spinal cord tissue in mice. The study identified ependymal cells as a key player in this process, which is crucial for developing therapies for spinal cord injury.
The Journal will provide a strong multidisciplinary forum to advance the understanding of therapeutic hypothermia. Novel findings from translational preclinical investigations as well as clinical studies and trials will be featured in original articles.
Scientists at NYU Langone Medical Center have discovered a single type of gene that acts as a master organizer of motor neurons in the spinal cord. The finding, published in Neuron, could lead to new treatments for diseases such as Lou Gehrig's disease and spinal cord injury.
A study reveals that mutant SOD1 interacts with VDAC1, disrupting its function and leading to mitochondrial damage and motor neuron degeneration. Reduced VDAC1 activity accelerates the onset of fatal paralysis in ALS mice.
Researchers at UCI, UCSD, and Harvard have induced robust regeneration of nerve connections that control voluntary movement after spinal cord injury. By deleting a cell growth inhibitor called PTEN, they achieved this breakthrough by turning back the developmental clock in a molecular pathway critical for the growth of corticospinal tr...
Researchers have successfully reversed symptoms of Type III SMA in mice by introducing an ASO into their spinal cords, promoting efficient inclusion of a critical exon and increasing SMN protein production. The treatment persisted for half a year after administration and showed no toxicity or inflammation.
Researchers at Rhode Island Hospital tested spinal cord stimulation in a single patient with Parkinson's disease, finding that low-frequency SCS worsened symptoms while high-frequency SCS improved motor function. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore potential benefits of this approach for PD patients.
A team of researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has shown that treating injured rat spinal cords with the enzyme sialidase improves nerve regrowth, motor recovery, and nervous system function. The treatment also showed improvements in blood pressure control and increased number of sprouted nerve ends.
Researchers found that folic acid can promote nerve cell regeneration following injury in rodents. This discovery provides a rationale for testing folate supplementation in patients with spinal cord and brain trauma. The study suggests that folate may play a role in promoting healing and recovery from brain and spinal cord injuries.
Researchers discover chitosan can repair damaged spinal cord nerve cell membranes, reducing leakage and oxidative stress. The compound restores electrical signal transmission to the brain, offering hope for spinal injury patients.
A study published by the German Cancer Research Center found that CD95L promotes tissue-damaging inflammatory reactions in injured spinal cord tissue. Blocking this molecule may offer a new approach to treating severe inflammatory diseases.
Researchers at UTHealth have demonstrated that transplanting genetically modified adult stem cells into an injured spinal cord can help restore electrical pathways associated with movement. The new cells, called oligodendrocyte precursor cells, facilitate remyelination and increase behavioral recovery.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have created a genetically modified mouse that can walk when exposed to blue light. The study provides insight into the neural control of locomotion and has potential implications for treating spinal cord injuries.
A study published in Developmental Cell has identified protease-activated receptors as crucial for neural tube closure, a process disrupted in congenital birth defects such as anencephaly and spina bifida. The research suggests that this PAR signaling system may regulate the integrity of tissue to prevent neural tube defects.
Researchers identified a link between Sec24b and Vangl2 genes in mouse spinal cord development, which may lead to new research on all spinal defects. The discovery opens doors for investigating the root of spinal cord defects in humans.
A new study suggests that a damaging inflammatory response following spinal cord injury can prevent healing and promote chronic pain. Anti-inflammatory macrophages, which are typically involved in later stages of injury repair, were found to promote effective growth of axons but disappear shortly after an injury.
Scientists have discovered a compound that dramatically slows the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in mice by extending their lifespan by 25 percent and reducing muscle wasting. The enzyme APC has been shown to protect neurons from cell death caused by SOD1 mutations, which are linked to most sporadic cases of ALS.
A new study by neuroscientists at Ohio State University suggests that immune responses to spinal cord injuries may actually worsen and extend the damage. Inhibiting antibody-producing B cells may promote healing and reduce long-term effects of spinal cord injury.
Researchers discover regeneration of severed nerve fibers is not required for paraplegic rats to learn to walk again. Daily treadmill training enables rats to regain full weight-bearing walking abilities.
Researchers discover gecko tails have intricate movement patterns after shedding, including flips up to 3cm in height. The isolated tail serves as a vehicle for studying spinal cord function and nerve-muscle coordination.
Scientists discovered that endocannabinoids in the human body can disable brakes on pain signals, leading to prolonged chronic pain. In contrast, THC from cannabis may worsen toothaches, but could alleviate neuropathic pain.
In a breakthrough study, researchers identified itch-specific neurons in mice that can be targeted to alleviate chronic itching. The discovery suggests that itch and pain signals are transmitted through different pathways in the spinal cord, offering new hope for treatments.
A University of Alberta study found that morning people's brains are most excitable at 9am, while evening people's brains are most active at 9pm. This suggests different nervous-system functions and implications for human performance.
Researchers developed a prosthetic device that applies electrical stimulation to the dorsal column in the spinal cord, improving movement in dopamine-depleted animals. The device was found to be effective and less invasive than other alternatives to medication, with potential for widespread use.
Researchers reported on eight patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) who received multiple route bone marrow stem cell injections, showing functional improvements such as bladder control. The study demonstrated the safety and feasibility of multiple route administration of bone marrow-derived stem cells for SCI treatment.
A new area of the cerebral cortex has evolved to enable complex movements, such as picking up small objects and using tools, in humans and higher primates. This new area is home to cortico-motoneuronal cells that directly control spinal cord motor neurons, bypassing limitations imposed by spinal cord circuitry.