Restorative neurology and neuroscience
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2014
Altered expression of myelin-associated inhibitors and their receptors after traumatic brain injury in the mouse.
When central nervous system axons are injured, regeneration is partly inhibited by myelin-associated inhibitors (MAIs). Following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the rat, pharmacological neutralisation of the MAIs Nogo-A and myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) resulted in improved functional outcome. In contrast, genetic or pharmacological neutralization of the MAI receptors Nogo-66 receptor 1 (NgR1) or paired-immunoglobulin like receptor-B (PirB) showed an unaltered or impaired outcome following TBI in mice. The aim of the present study was thus to evaluate the MAI expression levels following TBI in mice. ⋯ These results suggest that early dynamic changes in MAI gene expression occur following TBI in the mouse, particularly in the hippocampus, which may play an inhibitory role for post-injury regeneration and plasticity.
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2014
Comparative StudyIncreasing human leg motor cortex excitability by transcranial high frequency random noise stimulation.
Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) can increase the excitability of hand area of the primary motor cortex (M1). The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of tRNS and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the leg motor cortex. ⋯ Our results suggest that although the leg area has a deeper position in the cortex compared to the hand area, it can be reached by weak transcranial currents. Both anodal tDCS and tRNS had comparable effect on cortical excitability.
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2014
Clinical TrialAnodal transcranial direct current stimulation over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex improves anorexia nervosa: A pilot study.
Existing treatments for adults with anorexia nervosa (AN) have limited proven efficacy. New treatments that have been suggested involve targeted, brain-directed interventions such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). We describe findings from seven individuals with treatment-resistant AN who received 10 sessions of anodal tDCS, over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). ⋯ These findings suggest that tDCS has potential as an adjuvant treatment for AN and deserves further study.
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2014
Combining enriched environment and induced pluripotent stem cell therapy results in improved cognitive and motor function following traumatic brain injury.
Despite advances towards potential clinically viable therapies there has been only limited success in improving functional recovery following traumatic brain injury (TBI). In rats, exposure to an enriched environment (EE) improves learning and fosters motor skill development. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) have been shown to survive transplantation and influence the recovery process. The current study evaluated EE and iPSC as a polytherapy for remediating cognitive deficits following medial frontal cortex (mFC) controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury. ⋯ Overall, EE or iPSC therapy improved cognition and motor performance, however, full cognitive restoration was seen only with the EE/iPSC treatment. These data suggest that EE/iPSC therapy should be explored as a potential, clinically relevant, treatment for TBI.