Restorative neurology and neuroscience
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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.
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2013
Combined bilateral anterior cingulotomy and ventral capsule/ventral striatum deep brain stimulation for refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder with major depression: do combined procedures have a long-term benefit?
The ventral capsule (VC), ventral striatum (VS), and the anterior cingulate gyrus are parts of the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression circuits. We assessed whether a combination of bilateral anterior cingulotomy and VC/VS deep brain stimulation (DBS) had an additive effect in patients with OCD and major depression. ⋯ The combination of the two therapies did not yield superior outcomes, as the clinical outcomes were comparable to those of previous reports for VC/VS DBS alone. Wide-area VC/VS DBS may be sufficient to control refractory OCD.
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialAnodal transcranial direct current stimulation in early rehabilitation of patients with post-stroke non-fluent aphasia: a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled pilot study.
Recent research in patients with chronic aphasia shows an association between excitatory anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (A-tDCS) of the stroke-affected left hemisphere coupled with speech and language therapy (SLT) and better language performance. The present study aimed to investigate this association during the early post-stroke rehabilitation period, when adaptive changes are most possible on neurophysiological and behavioral levels. ⋯ The findings provide only weak evidence for A-tDCS-related language gains during early neurorehabilitation of post-stroke aphasia. Further research is needed to explore the effectiveness of this kind of neuromodulation.
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2013
Modulatory effects of locomotor training on extensor spasticity in individuals with motor-incomplete spinal cord injury.
Sparse data exist about effects of locomotor training on spasticity in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). We investigated changes in spastic responses in individuals with motor-incomplete SCI (MISCI) associated with locomotor training and examined properties of a biomechanical measure of clonus severity, plantar flexor reflex threshold angle (PF RTA). ⋯ In persons with spastic paresis due to MISCI, locomotor training was associated with decreased spasticity as measured by decreased plantar flexor excitability, ankle clonus, and quadriceps spasm.
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2013
Towards physiological ankle movements with the ActiGait implantable drop foot stimulator in chronic stroke.
Functional electrical stimulation represents an alternative to conventional and passive ankle foot orthosis (AFO) for the treatment of stroke-related drop foot. We evaluated the implantable 4-channel stimulator ActiGait, which selectively and directly stimulates the peroneal nerve. In addition, it bypasses the need for surface electrodes and cables. ⋯ The ActiGait system increased gait speed, walking endurance and the physiology of important ankle joint kinematics. This is most likely a result of ankle dorsiflexion by active peroneal stimulation during the swing phase of gait and optimized prepositioning (IA) of the foot at the beginning of stance phase. The ActiGait system represents a therapeutic option for the treatment of patients suffering drop foot due to a cerebrovascular insult.