Spinal cord
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Comparative Study
Translation of the rat thoracic contusion model; part 2 - forward versus backward locomotion testing.
Experimental animal study. ⋯ Our data show that backward locomotion is a highly sensitive and quick test to discriminate between sham, mild and moderate SCI, even after 6 weeks. Backward locomotion testing may improve the translational value of experimental results for the clinic.
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Currently, effective therapeutic strategy for spinal cord injury (SCI) is not clinically available. To establish a better method that may help repair the injured spinal cord, sodium hyaluronate-ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) gelatinous particles were generated. ⋯ Sodium hyaluronate-CNTF gelatinous particles may provide an effective method for treating SCI.
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Experimental animal study. ⋯ Decreased below-level withdrawal thresholds do not reflect pain-like hypersensitivity in rodent models of (thoracic contusion) SCI. A large body of previous preclinical SCI pain research needs reinterpretation. We actually found below-level thermal and mechanical hypoesthesia and we also excluded a relation between withdrawal hyperreflexia and spasticity. Withdrawal hyperreflexia might still prove useful to model spasms or clonus, which are, like hypoesthesia, also significant clinical problems after SCI.
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Prospective cohort study. ⋯ In this study we identified differences in the structural CSF biomarkers NSE, S-100β and NFH between motor complete and motor incomplete SCI patients. Our data showed no clear differences in any of the protein concentrations between the different AIS grades.