Preliminary in vivo magnetofection data using magnetic calcium phosphate nanoparticles immobilizing DNA and iron oxide nanocrystals

The data reported herein are in association with our research article entitled "Rapid one-pot fabrication of magnetic calcium phosphate nanoparticles immobilizing DNA and iron oxide nanocrystals using injection solutions for magnetofection and magnetic targeting" (Shubhra et al. 2017) [1]. This article reports morphological and gene delivery (in vitro and preliminary in vivo) data of those calcium phosphate (CaP) naonparticles (NPs) with various iron oxide (IO) contents, named as CaP-Fe(1), CaP-Fe(2), CaP-Fe(3), CaP-Fe(4), and CaP-Fe(5), which were prepared via coprecipitation in supersaturated CaP solutions with nominal Fe concentrations 6.97, 13.94, 27.87, 55.74, and 139.35 μg/mL, respectively. Morphological data of four different NPs: CaP-Fe(1), CaP-Fe(2), CaP-Fe(4), and CaP-Fe(5) are shown here. Data of the luciferase reporter gene expression assay show the effects of the coprecipitation time and the dosage of the CaP-Fe(3) NPs on gene expression levels of CHO-K1 cells transfected by the NPs without external magnetic field. It is demonstrated using digital and microscopic images that the CaP-Fe(3) NPs localize near the periphery of the external magnet that was placed under the cell culture plate. Using the CaP-Fe(3) NPs, animal experiments were conducted to obtain preliminary in vivo magnetofection data

Balanced single-vector co-delivery of VEGF/PDGF-BB improves functional collateralization in chronic cerebral ischemia

The myoblast-mediated delivery of angiogenic genes represents a cell-based approach for targeted induction of therapeutic collateralization. Here, we tested the superiority of myoblast-mediated co-delivery of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF) together with platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) on transpial collateralization of an indirect encephalomyosynangiosis (EMS) in a model of chronic cerebral ischemia. Mouse myoblasts expressing a reporter gene alone (empty vector), VEGF, PDGF-BB or VEGF and PDGF-BB through a single bi-cistronic vector (VIP) were implanted into the temporalis muscle of an EMS following permanent ipsilateral internal carotid artery occlusion in adult, male C57BL/6N mice. Over 84 days, myoblast engraftment and gene product expression, hemodynamic impairment, transpial collateralization, angiogenesis, pericyte recruitment and post-ischemic neuroprotection were assessed. By day 42, animals that received PDGF-BB in combination with VEGF (VIP) showed superior hemodynamic recovery, EMS collateralization and ischemic protection with improved pericyte recruitment around the parenchymal vessels and EMS collaterals. Also, supplementation of PDGF-BB resulted in a striking astrocytic activation with intrinsic VEGF mobilization in the cortex below the EMS. Our findings suggest that EMS surgery together with myoblast-mediated co-delivery of VEGF/PDGF-BB may have the potential to serve as a novel treatment strategy for augmentation of collateral flow in the chronically hypoperfused brain

Medial medullary infarction caused by antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-related vasculitis: Case report and review of the literature

Rationale: Medial medullary infarction accounts for less than 1% of brain infarctions, and medial medullary infarctions is very rarely caused by antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis.Patient concerns: We report the case of a 76-year-old man at low risk of arteriosclerosis who presented with disorders on the left side including gaze-evoked nystagmus, paralysis of the extremities, pyramidal signs, sensory disturbance, and dysesthesia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging also showed right medial medullary infarction.Diagnoses: Medial medullary infarction caused by ANCA-related vasculitis was diagnosed based on mild renal dysfunction and high levels of blood leukocytes, C-reactive protein (CRP), and myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA.Interventions and outcomes: He underwent two 3-day courses of steroid pulse therapy involving daily 1000 mg doses of methylpredonine. He then received 30 mg/day (0.5 mg/kg/day) of prednisolone (PSL) without other immunosuppressants. Levels of MPO-ANCA and the inflammatory marker CRP decreased rapidly a month after admission. Once MPO-ANCA became undetectable, the PSL dose was carefully reduced to 10 mg/day. To treat his paralysis, we provided rehabilitation with a Hybrid Assistive Limb five times starting at a month post-onset. His Barthel index score rose from 45 to 70 points.Lessons: Medullary infarction is mostly caused by arteriosclerosis and vertebral arterial dissection. When systemic inflammatory findings are obtained, ANCA-associated vasculitis should be considered a potential cause, and steroid pulse therapy should be promptly administered

Reshaping of Bilateral Gait Coordination in Hemiparetic Stroke Patients After Early Robotic Intervention

Hemiparetic gait is a common condition after stroke which alters importantly the quality of life of stroke survivors. In recent years, several robotic interventions have been developed to support and enhance rehabilitation strategies for such population. The Hybrid Assistive Limb® (HAL) robot suit is a unique device able to collect in real time bioelectric signals from the patient to support and enhance voluntary gait. HAL has been used before in early stages of stroke showing gait improvement after the intervention. However, evaluation of the coordination of gait has not been done yet. Coordination is a key factor for an adequate gait performance; consequently, its changes may be closely related to gait recovery. In this study, we used planar covariation to evaluate coordination changes in hemiparetic stroke patients after early HAL intervention. Before starting, impaired intersegmental coordination for the paretic and non-paretic side was evident. HAL intervention was able to induce recovery of the covariation loop shape and deviation from the covariation plane improving intersegmental coordination. Also, there was a tendency of recovery for movement range evidenced by comparison of peak elevation angles of each limb segment of the patients before and after HAL intervention, and also when compared to healthy volunteers. Our results suggest that early HAL intervention contributed to the improvement of gait coordination in hemiparetic stroke patients by reinforcing central pattern generators and therefore reshaping their gait pattern.Trial registration: UMIN000022410 2016/05/23

Lateral Symmetry of Synergies in Lower Limb Muscles of Acute Post-stroke Patients After Robotic Intervention

Gait disturbance is commonly associated with stroke, which is a serious neurological disease. With current technology, various exoskeletons have been developed to provide therapy, leading to many studies evaluating the use of such exoskeletons as an intervention tool. Although these studies report improvements in patients who had undergone robotic intervention, they are usually reported with clinical assessment, which are unable to characterize how muscle activations change in patients after robotic intervention. We believe that muscle activations can provide an objective view on gait performance of patients. To quantify improvement of lateral symmetry before and after robotic intervention, muscle synergy analysis with Non-Negative Matrix Factorization was used to evaluate patients\u27 EMG data. Eight stroke patients in their acute phase were evaluated before and after a course of robotic intervention with the Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL), lasting over 3 weeks. We found a significant increase in similarity between lateral synergies of patients after robotic intervention. This is associated with significant improvements in gait measures like walking speed, step cadence, stance duration percentage of gait cycle. Clinical assessments [Functional Independence Measure-Locomotion (FIM-Locomotion), FIM-Motor (General), and Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Lower Extremity (FMA-LE)] showed significant improvements as well. Our study shows that muscle synergy analysis can be a good tool to quantify the change in neuromuscular coordination of lateral symmetry during walking in stroke patients

Reshaping of Bilateral Gait Coordination in Hemiparetic Stroke Patients After Early Robotic Intervention

Hemiparetic gait is a common condition after stroke which alters importantly the quality of life of stroke survivors. In recent years, several robotic interventions have been developed to support and enhance rehabilitation strategies for such population. The Hybrid Assistive Limb® (HAL) robot suit is a unique device able to collect in real time bioelectric signals from the patient to support and enhance voluntary gait. HAL has been used before in early stages of stroke showing gait improvement after the intervention. However, evaluation of the coordination of gait has not been done yet. Coordination is a key factor for an adequate gait performance; consequently, its changes may be closely related to gait recovery. In this study, we used planar covariation to evaluate coordination changes in hemiparetic stroke patients after early HAL intervention. Before starting, impaired intersegmental coordination for the paretic and non-paretic side was evident. HAL intervention was able to induce recovery of the covariation loop shape and deviation from the covariation plane improving intersegmental coordination. Also, there was a tendency of recovery for movement range evidenced by comparison of peak elevation angles of each limb segment of the patients before and after HAL intervention, and also when compared to healthy volunteers. Our results suggest that early HAL intervention contributed to the improvement of gait coordination in hemiparetic stroke patients by reinforcing central pattern generators and therefore reshaping their gait pattern

A subpopulation of endothelial progenitor cells with low aldehyde dehydrogenase activity attenuates acute ischemic brain injury in rats

Previous studies have examined the therapeutic effect of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) during the chronic phase of cerebral infarction in rats; however, few studies have investigated the effects of EPCs during the acute phase of infarction. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic effect of EPCs with low aldehyde dehydrogenase activity (Alde-Low EPCs) in rats with acute cerebral infarction, and our results provide insight that may help to identify a therapeutic mechanism of EPCs for acute cerebral infarction. The administration of Alde-Low EPCs into rats with acute cerebral infarction results in the accumulation and migration of the Alde-Low EPCs into the infarct area and the subsequent decrease of infarct volume. Moreover, we found that the stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) signaling pathway may regulate the accumulation of Alde-Low EPCs. The transplantation of Alde-Low EPCs may represent a potential treatment strategy for acute cerebral infarction