Metoprolol treatment decreases tissue myeloperoxidase activity after spinal cord injury in rats

Neutrophil infiltration has been reported to play an important role in spinal cord injury (SCI). In addition to their cardioprotective effects, beta-blockers have been found to have neuroprotective effects on the central nervous system, but their effect on SCI has not yet been studied. In the current study, we investigated the effect of metoprolol on myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, a marker of neutrophil activation, in the spinal cord after experimental SCI in rats. Rats were divided into six groups: controls received only laminectomy and spinal cord samples were taken immediately; the sham operated group received laminectomy, and spinal cord samples were taken 4 h after laminectomy; the trauma only group underwent a 50 g/cm contusion injury but received no medication; and three other groups underwent trauma as for the trauma group, and received 30 mg/kg methylprednisolone, 1 mg/kg metoprolol, or 1 mL saline, respectively. All the medications were given intraperitoneally as single doses, immediately after trauma. Spinal cord samples were taken 4 h after trauma and studied for MPO activity. The results showed that tissue MPO activity increased after injury. Both metoprolol and methylprednisolone treatments decreased MPO activity, indicating a reduction in neutrophil infiltration in damaged tissue. The effect of metoprolol on MPO activity was found to be similar to methylprednisolone. In view of these data, we conclude that metoprolol may be effective in protecting rat spinal cord from secondary injury. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier Ltd

Clinical Results of Median Corpectomy in Cervical Spondylotic Patients with Myelopathy

WOS: 000372668500013PubMed: 26768874AIM: To determine the factors in choosing the right surgical technique for patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. MATERIAL and METHODS: 60 patients were operated with anterior median corpectomy and anterior fusion for cervical myelopathy in Ankara Ataturk Education and Research Hospital between the years 2006-2011. All data were obtained from patient files retrospectively. Patients were evaluated in the preoperative and early postoperative stages and 45 days after discharge by referring to their neurological examinations, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) and Nurick scores and radiological findings. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 53.8 +/- 9.9 years (38-78) and 45 were male (75%) and 15 were female (25%). Diabetics made up 16.7% (n=10) of the group and nondiabetics 83.3% (n=50). Of the nondiabetic patients, the Nurick score on the first month after surgery was statistically lower than the preoperative and after 24 hours Nurick score (p<0.001). In the patients in the group that had 1 or 2 myelopathic findings, the Nurick score on the first month after surgery was statistically lower than the preoperative and after 24 hours Nurick score (p<0.001). The JOA score one month after surgery was statistically lower in patients with myelomalacia than in patients without myelomalacia (p=0.002). CONCLUSION: Median corpectomy and anterior fusion technique had better scores in patients that had few and early myelopathic symptoms, no myelomalacia on MRI, and no systemic disease