Restorative neurology and neuroscience
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2015
Randomized Controlled TrialCombined effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) on robot-assisted gait training in patients with chronic stroke: A pilot, double blind, randomized controlled trial.
Preliminary evidence has shown no additional effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on robotic gait training in chronic stroke, probably due to the neural organization of locomotion involving cortical and spinal control. Our aim was to compare the combined effects of tDCS and transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) on robotic gait training in chronic stroke. ⋯ Our preliminary findings support the hypothesis that anodal tDCS combined with cathodal tsDCS may be useful to improve the effects of robotic gait training in chronic stroke.
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2015
Effects of implantable peroneal nerve stimulation on gait quality, energy expenditure, participation and user satisfaction in patients with post-stroke drop foot using an ankle-foot orthosis.
To investigate whether an implantable functional electrical stimulation (FES) system of the common peroneal nerve (ActiGait®) improves relevant aspects of gait in chronic stroke patients with a drop foot typically using an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO). ⋯ Implantable FES improved the use of residual ankle plantarflexion motion, ankle power of the paretic leg and step length symmetry compared to using an AFO, however, not resulting in decreased energy expenditure or improved participation. User satisfaction was highest with FES, but this was not related to the observed gait improvements.
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2015
Cerebellar direct current stimulation modulates pain perception in humans.
The cerebellum is involved in a wide number of integrative functions, but its role in pain experience and in the nociceptive information processing is poorly understood. In healthy volunteers we evaluated the effects of transcranial cerebellar direct current stimulation (tcDCS) by studying the changes in the perceptive threshold, pain intensity at given stimulation intensities (VAS:0-10) and laser evoked potentials (LEPs) variables (N1 and N2/P2 amplitudes and latencies). ⋯ tcDCS modulates pain perception and its cortical correlates. Since it is effective on both N1 and N2/P2 components, we speculate that the cerebellum engagement in pain processing modulates the activity of both somatosensory and cingulate cortices. Present findings prompt investigation of the cerebellar direct current polarization as a possible novel and safe therapeutic tool in chronic pain patients.
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2015
Can transcranial direct current stimulation be useful in differentiating unresponsive wakefulness syndrome from minimally conscious state patients?
Disorders of consciousness (DOC) diagnosis relies on the presence or absence of purposeful motor responsiveness, which characterizes the minimally conscious state (MCS) and the unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS), respectively. Functional neuroimaging studies have raised the question of possible residual conscious awareness also in clinically-defined UWS patients. The aim of our study was to identify electrophysiological parameters, by means of a transcranial magnetic stimulation approach, which might potentially express the presence of residual networks sustaining fragmentary behavioral patterns, even when no conscious behavior can be observed. ⋯ a-tDCS could be useful in identifying residual connectivity markers in clinically-defined UWS, who may lack of purposeful behavior as a result of a motor-output failure.
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2015
The temporal expression patterns of fibronectin and its receptors-α5β1 and αvβ3 integrins on blood vessels after cerebral ischemia.
We previously demonstrated that 7 days post-ischemia, angiogenic vessels in the ischemic penumbra show strong upregulation of fibronectin (Fn) and its receptors, α5β1 and αvβ3 integrins. The aim of the current study was to precisely define the time-course of angiogenic responses and glial activation following experimental ischemia in the mouse. ⋯ Our results suggest that upregulation of the Fn-α5β1/αVβ3 integrin axis on blood vessels stimulates BEC proliferation at an early stage of angiogenesis post-ischemia. This could form the basis of novel therapeutic strategies aimed at promoting angiogenesis following cerebral ischemia.