Targeting inflammation to influence mood following spinal cord injury: a randomized clinical trial

Background: The purpose of the present study was to examine the efficacy of targeting inflammation as a means of improving mood following spinal cord injury (SCI) and explore the potential mechanisms of action. Methods: The study was a randomized, parallel-group, controlled, clinical trial (NCT02099890) whereby 20 participants with varying levels and severities of SCI were randomized (3:2) to either the treatment group, consisting of a 12-week anti-inflammatory diet, or control group. Outcome measures were assessed at baseline, 1 and 3 months, and consisted of CES-D scores of depression, markers of inflammation as assessed by various pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and several amino acids related to depression. Results: A significant group × time interaction was found for CES-D (Center for Epidemiologic studies Depression Scale) score ( p = 0.01), the TRP/LNAA (tryptophan/large neutral amino acid) ratio ( p = 0.04), the composite score of pro-inflammatory cytokines ( p = 0.04), IL-1 β (interleukin-1 beta) ( p = 0.04), and IFN- γ (interferon gamma) ( p = 0.03). Pearson ’ s r correlation showed significance between the Δ IL-1 β and both the Δ CES-D score ( r = 0.740, p < 0.01) and the Δ KYN/TRP (kynurenine/tryptophan) ratio ( r = 0.536, p = 0.02). The Δ KYN/TRP ratio was also significantly correlated with the Δ CES-D score ( r = 0.586, p = 0.01). Mediation analysis showed that the relationship between the Δ KYN/TRP ratio and the Δ CES-D score was mediated by the Δ IL-1 β . Subgroup analysis showed that participants with high CES-D scores had significantly higher concentrations of IL-1 β , and all correlations were maintained or strengthened within this subgroup. Conclusions: Overall, the results demonstrated the effectiveness of targeting inflammation as a means of improving mood in SCI, with potential mechanisms relating to the reduction in IL-1 β and improvements in levels of neuroactive compounds related to the kynurenine pathway. Due to the limited sample size, results should be interpreted with caution; however, they are worthy of further examination due to the potential impact of inflammation on depressio

Syndromics: A Bioinformatics Approach for Neurotrauma Research

Substantial scientific progress has been made in the past 50 years in delineating many of the biological mechanisms involved in the primary and secondary injuries following trauma to the spinal cord and brain. These advances have highlighted numerous potential therapeutic approaches that may help restore function after injury. Despite these advances, bench-to-bedside translation has remained elusive. Translational testing of novel therapies requires standardized measures of function for comparison across different laboratories, paradigms, and species. Although numerous functional assessments have been developed in animal models, it remains unclear how to best integrate this information to describe the complete translational “syndrome” produced by neurotrauma. The present paper describes a multivariate statistical framework for integrating diverse neurotrauma data and reviews the few papers to date that have taken an information-intensive approach for basic neurotrauma research. We argue that these papers can be described as the seminal works of a new field that we call “syndromics”, which aim to apply informatics tools to disease models to characterize the full set of mechanistic inter-relationships from multi-scale data. In the future, centralized databases of raw neurotrauma data will enable better syndromic approaches and aid future translational research, leading to more efficient testing regimens and more clinically relevant findings

Clematis williamsii A. Gray

原著和名:シロバナノハンシャウヅル科名: Ranunculaceae = キンポウゲ科採集地: 和歌山県 高野山 (紀伊 高野山)採集日: 1968/6/2採集者: 萩庭丈壽整理番号: JH002064国立科学博物館整理番号: TNS-VS-95206

Preliminary evaluation of an adaptive robotic training program of the wrist for persons with multiple sclerosis

none5siRobotics can be used to describe wrist kinematics and assess sensorimotor impairments, while the implementation of training algorithms can be aimed at improving neuromuscular control. The purpose of this study was to use a robotic device to develop an adaptive and individualized training program of the distal upper extremity for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). This approach included an online assessment of performance aimed at changing the level of assistance/resistance provided during the task. Participants (N = 7) completed a robotic training program that occurred 3 times weekly for 4 weeks. The training protocol consisted of tracking a target moving along a figure by grasping the end‐effector of the robotic device and moving it along the trajectory. Outcome measures were assessed pre‐ and post‐intervention. Improvements in performance were quantified by average tracking (p = 0.028) and figural error (p = 0.028), which was significantly reduced by 26% and 43%, respectively. Isometric wrist strength significantly improved post‐intervention (flexion: p = 0.043, radial and ulnar deviation: p = 0.028). The results of this work demonstrate that 4‐weeks of adaptive robotic training is a feasible rehabilitative program that has the potential to improve distal upper extremity motor accuracy and muscular strength in a MS population.noneMannella K.; Albanese G.A.; Ditor D.; Zenzeri J.; Holmes M.W.R.Mannella, K.; Albanese, G. A.; Ditor, D.; Zenzeri, J.; Holmes, M. W. R

Examining the psychological and emotional experience of sexuality for men after spinal cord injury

Sexual rehabilitation for men after spinal cord injury (SCI) has focused on physical challenges and has neglected psychosocial factors. Utilizing a descriptive phenomenological approach, the lived psychological experience of sexuality was described for six men (age 24–49) with complete or incomplete SCI (C4-T12; <1 year to 29 years post-injury) who participated in one in-depth, standardized, open-ended interview (68–101 minutes). Participants described the emergence of a new perspective of sexuality placing less emphasis on any one physical act and more importance on emotional factors. Understanding the evolving meaning of sexuality for men after SCI is imperative for delivering effective sexual health information