Restor Neurol Neuros
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Restor Neurol Neuros · Jan 2004
ReviewModulation of motor function and cortical plasticity in health and disease.
Basic science studies demonstrated mechanisms of plasticity and metaplasticity. More recent human studies identified some of these mechanisms as operating in multiple areas of human cognition, such as learning and memory, and in functional recovery from lesions in the CNS, as in stroke. ⋯ Understanding the mechanisms and functional role of human plasticity could lead to the development of therapeutic options in situations in which there is virtually no treatment alternative, as in chronic stroke. We review some of the work performed to better understand the substrates and mechanisms underlying cortical plasticity and discuss some experimental approaches to enhance cortical plasticity and recovery of function, like cortical stimulation.
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Restor Neurol Neuros · Jan 2004
Comparative StudyAllopregnanolone, a progesterone metabolite, enhances behavioral recovery and decreases neuronal loss after traumatic brain injury.
In the current study we investigated whether allopregnanolone, a metabolite of progesterone, could replicate progesterone's beneficial effects in promoting spatial learning ability after bilateral medial prefrontal cortex contusions in rats. Allopregnanolone has been shown to enhance GABA neurotransmission, whereas its isomer epiallopregnanolone does not have this property. Thus, epiallopregnanolone was chosen as a control substance to examine further the role of GABA transmission in post-trauma neuroprotection. ⋯ Based on our findings, we suggest that allopregnanolone may mediate the effects of progesterone in promoting cognitive and morphological recovery from TBI through, among others, its direct or indirect effects on GABA-modulated neurons in the MDN and the NBM.
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Restor Neurol Neuros · Jan 2004
Inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) signaling by BSF476921 attenuates regional cerebral edema following traumatic brain injury in rats.
In the present study we assessed the ability of BSF476921, an inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) kinase signal transduction, to reduce edema formation and neurologic motor dysfunction following lateral fluid percussion (FP) brain injury in rats. ⋯ To our knowledge, this is the first report of a small molecule VEGFR kinase inhibitor reducing cerebral edema in a widely accepted model of brain injury.
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Restor Neurol Neuros · Jan 2004
Comparative StudyBridging short nerve defects by direct repair under tension, nerve grafts or longitudinal sutures.
To compare the longitudinal suture model for bridging nerve defects with direct approximation under tension or with autologuos nerve grafting. ⋯ Longitudinal sutures can be used to bridge short nerve defects and could be an alternative to nerve grafting.