Restorative neurology and neuroscience
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2018
Assessment of systemic administration of PEGylated IGF-1 in a mouse model of traumatic brain injury.
Traumatic brain injury can result in lasting cognitive dysfunction due to degeneration of mature hippocampal neurons as well as the loss of immature neurons within the dentate gyrus. While endogenous neurogenesis affords a partial recovery of the immature neuron population, hippocampal neurogenesis may be enhanced through therapeutic intervention. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has the potential to improve cognitive function and promote neurogenesis after TBI, but its short half-life in the systemic circulation makes it difficult to maintain a therapeutic concentration. IGF-1 modified with a polyethylene glycol moiety (PEG-IGF-1) exhibits improved stability and half-life while retaining its ability to enter the brain from the periphery, increasing its viability as a translational approach. ⋯ In contrast to its efficacy in rodent models of neurodegenerative diseases, PEG- IGF-1 was not effective in ameliorating early neuronal loss after contusion brain trauma.
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2017
Transcranial direct current stimulation combined with visuo-motor training as treatment for chronic stroke patients.
Recent studies exploring the combined effect of motor learning and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for stroke rehabilitation have shown partially conflicting results. ⋯ Four-week visuo-motor training combined with tDCS showed no difference between the Active and Sham groups in the total UE FMA score, which may be explained by heterogeneity of the degree of recovery in the Active group. However, the shoulder-elbow FMA sub-score improved significantly more in the Active compared to the Sham group, which deserves further study.
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2017
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyUse of melatonin versus valproic acid in prophylaxis of migraine patients: A double-blind randomized clinical trial.
Melatonin is known to be effective in curing migraine. ⋯ The adjuvant treatment with melatonin was found to be superior to the placebo and had the same clinical efficacy as sodium valproate, but with higher tolerability. Melatonin may prove to be an efficient substitute for sodium valproate, as a chronic migraine prophylaxis.
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2017
Randomized Controlled TrialRobotic-assisted gait training combined with transcranial direct current stimulation in chronic stroke patients: A pilot double-blind, randomized controlled trial.
Although robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) is becoming a standard method in stroke rehabilitation, its effect on chronic stroke patients is uncertain. ⋯ This pilot study suggested that anodal tDCS on the leg motor cortex in the impaired hemisphere may facilitate the effect of RAGT on functional ambulation in chronic stroke patients. Larger clinical trials will be needed to confirm the effect of RAGT combined with tDCS in chronic stroke patients based on the present study.
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2017
Comparative StudytDCS does not enhance the effects of robot-assisted gait training in patients with subacute stroke.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, which can modulate cortical excitability and combined with rehabilitation therapies may improve motor recovery after stroke. ⋯ Combined tDCS and robotic training is a safe and feasible procedure in subacute stroke patients. However, adding tDCS to robot-assisted gait training shows no benefit over robotic gait training alone.