Journal of neurotrauma
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jun 2018
Poor Motor-Function Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury in Anxiety-Model Mice with Phospholipase C-Related Catalytically Inactive Protein Type 1 Knockout.
Mice with a knockout of phospholipase C (PLC)-related inactive protein type 1 (PRIP1-/- mice) display anxiety-like behavior and altered γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A-receptor pharmacology. Here, we examined associations between anxiety and motor-function recovery in PRIP1-/- mice after a spinal cord injury (SCI) induced by a moderate contusion injury at the 10th thoracic level. Uninjured PRIP1-/- mice showed less distance than wild-type (WT) mice in the center 25% in an open field test (OFT), indicating anxiety-like behavior. ⋯ In PRIP1-/- mice after SCI, the percentage of distance spent in the center 25% of the OFT was correlated with the OFT distance traveled and with the latency to fall in the rotarod test. Six weeks after SCI, ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expressions were elevated at the lesion epicenter in PRIP1-/- mice, and spinal cord atrophy and demyelination were more severe than in WT mice. The axonal fiber development was also decreased in PRIP1-/- mice, consistent with the poor motor-function recovery after SCI in these mice.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jun 2018
Partial Recovery of Proprioception in Rats with Dorsal Root Injury after Human Olfactory Bulb Cell Transplantation.
Transplanted human olfactory ensheathing cells (hOECs) were mixed with collagen into a unilateral transection of four dorsal roots (C6-T1) in a rat model. By mixing with collagen, the limited numbers of hOEC were maximized from an olfactory bulb biopsy and optimize cavity filling. Cyclosporine was administered daily to prevent immune rejection. ⋯ Responder and nonresponder rats were compared with regard to microglial activation within the deep dorsal horn of cervical levels C7, C8 and also axon loss within the cuneate fasciculus at cervical level C3. Little difference was seen in microglial activation or axonal loss that could account for the improved proprioception in the responders group. This preliminary study is the first to transplant human olfactory bulb cells into a rat model of dorsal root injury; by refining each component part of the procedure, the repair potential of OECs can be maximized in a clinical setting.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jun 2018
Prophylactic Riluzole Attenuates Oxidative Stress Damage in Spinal Cord Distraction.
Spinal cord injury (SCI) without radiographical abnormalities (SCIWORA) presents a significant challenge because of the loss of function despite an apparent normal anatomy. The cause of dysfunction is not understood, and specific treatment options are lacking. Some scoliosis corrective surgeries result in SCIWORA, where stretching of the spinal cord can lead to vascular compromise and hypoxia. ⋯ However, in contrast to the oxidative stress and metabolic impairments observed in vehicle-treated distraction animals, in which protein carbonylation increased significantly (5.88 ± 1.3 nmol/mL), riluzole kept these levels within the normal range (1.8 ± 1.0 nmol/mL). This neurprotection also prevented ventral motor neuron hypoplasia and pyknosis, characteristic features of this atraumatic SCI model, and maintained normal gait function (e.g., stride length and stance time). This study provides evidence for the use of prophylactic neuroprotective strategies in which thoracic or spine surgeries present the risk of causing atraumatic SCI.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jun 2018
Making Football Safer: Assessing the Current National Football League Policy on the Type of Helmets Allowed on the Playing Field.
In an effort to reduce concussions in football, a helmet safety-rating system was developed in 2011 that rated helmets based on their ability to reduce g-forces experienced by the head across a range of impact forces measured on the playing field. Although this was considered a major step in making the game safer, the National Football League (NFL) continues to allow players the right to choose what helmet to wear during play. This prompted us to ask: What helmets do NFL players wear and does this helmet policy make the game safer? Accordingly, we identified the helmets worn by nearly 1000 players on Week 13 of the 2015-2016 season and Week 1 of the 2016-2017 season. ⋯ Using a helmet-to-helmet impactor, we found that the g-forces experienced in the highest safety-rated helmets were roughly 30% less than that for the lowest safety-rated helmets. These results suggest that the current NFL helmet policy puts players at increased risk of receiving a concussion as many players are wearing low safety-rated helmets, which transmits more energy to the brain than higher safety-rated helmets, following collision. Thus, to reduce concussions, the NFL should mandate that players only wear helmets that receive the highest safety rating.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jun 2018
Divergent Classification Methods of Post-Concussion Syndrome after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Prevalence Rates, Risk Factors, and Functional Outcome.
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a common diagnosis and approximately one third of mTBI patients experience a variety of cognitive, emotional, psychosocial, and behavioral post-concussion symptoms. When a cluster of these symptoms persists for more than 3 months they are often classified as post-concussion syndrome (PCS). The objective of this study was to determine prevalence rates, risk factors, and functional outcome associated with PCS 6 months after mTBI, applying divergent classification methods. ⋯ Applying the divergent classification methods resulted in a different set of predictors being statistically significantly associated with PCS, and a different percentage of overlap with functional impairment, measured with the GOSE. In conclusion, depending on the classification method and rating score used, prevalence rates of PCS deviated considerably. For future research, consensus regarding the diagnostic criteria for PCS and the analysis of the RPQ should be reached, to enhance comparability of studies regarding PCS after mTBI.