Abstract
BACKGROUND:
In our previous report, 3 of 10 patients with spinal cord injury who were injected with autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) showed motor improvement in the upper extremities ...and in activities of daily living.
OBJECTIVE:
To report on the results of a phase III clinical trial of autologous MSCs therapy.
METHODS:
Patients were selected based on the following criteria: chronic American Spinal Injury Association B status patients who had more than 12 months of cervical injury, and no neurological changes during the recent 3 months of vigorous rehabilitation. We injected 1.6 × 107 autologous MSCs into the intramedullary area at the injured level and 3.2 × 107 autologous MSCs into the subdural space. Outcome data were collected over 6 months regarding neurological examination, magnetic resonance imaging with diffusion tensor imaging, and electrophysiological analyses.
RESULTS:
Among the 16 patients, only 2 showed improvement in neurological status (unilateral right C8 segment from grade 1 to grade 3 in 1 patient and bilateral C6 from grade 3 to grade 4 and unilateral right C8 from grade 0 to grade 1 in 1 patient). Both patients with neurological improvement showed the appearance of continuity in the spinal cord tract by diffusion tensor imaging. There were no adverse effects associated with MSCs injection.
CONCLUSION:
Single MSCs application to intramedullary and intradural space is safe, but has a very weak therapeutic effect compared with multiple MSCs injection. Further clinical trials to enhance the effect of MSCs injection are necessary.
Occipital neuralgia is defined by the International Headache Society as paroxysmal shooting or stabbing pain in the dermatomes of the greater or lesser occipital nerve. Various treatment methods ...exist, from medical treatment to open surgical procedures. Local injection with corticosteroid can improve symptoms, though generally only temporarily. More invasive procedures can be considered for cases that do not respond adequately to medical therapies or repeated injections. Radiofrequency lesioning of the greater occipital nerve can relieve symptoms, but there is a tendency for the pain to recur during follow-up. There also remains a substantial group of intractable patients that do not benefit from local injections and conventional procedures. Moreover, treatment of occipital neuralgia is sometimes challenging. More invasive procedures, such as C2 gangliotomy, C2 ganglionectomy, C2 to C3 rhizotomy, C2 to C3 root decompression, neurectomy, and neurolysis with or without sectioning of the inferior oblique muscle, are now rarely performed for medically refractory patients. Recently, a few reports have described positive results following peripheral nerve stimulation of the greater or lesser occipital nerve. Although this procedure is less invasive, the significance of the results is hampered by the small sample size and the lack of long-term data. Clinicians should always remember that destructive procedures carry grave risks: once an anatomic structure is destroyed, it cannot be easily recovered, if at all, and with any destructive procedure there is always the risk of the development of painful neuroma or causalgia, conditions that may be even harder to control than the original complaint.
An efficient interfacial heating system composed of a light-absorbing material and a hydrophilic porous support is developed through eco-friendly and energy-effective fabrication processes. Lignin ...nanoparticles (NPs) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) are harnessed as biorenewable light absorbers and hydrophilic supports, respectively. Lignin NPs are prepared using a solvent exchange process of the fractionated lignin with organic solvents to improve its π–π stacking and light-absorbing property for efficient photothermal conversion. Then, the lignin NPs are mixed with CNFs and lyophilized to obtain a light-absorbing porous hydrogel (LAPH), and the resulting LAPHs are covalently cross-linked and hybridized with Au NPs through a seed-mediated growth to further enhance their mechanical stability, hydrophilicity, and photothermal conversion properties. The resulting LAPHs exhibit an outstanding and prolonged performance as a solar steam generator such as high salt and pH tolerance, evaporation rate (3.17 kg m–2 h–1), and solar steam generation efficiency (83.4%) under 1 sun irradiation.
Toxicological studies of O-ethyl-O-(4-nitrophenyl) phenylphosphonothioate (EPN) to aquatic vertebrates have been reported, but no reports on toxic mechanism was reported. As zebrafish (Danio rerio) ...embryos were exposed to EPN, no changes in their survival and hatching rates were observed until 96 h post fertilization (hpf), even at the highest treated concentration of 500 μg/L. In both 250 μg/L and 500 μg/L, edemas were observed in the heart and yolk sac, and a blood pool was also found. Acridine orange staining confirmed apoptotic phynotype, which was the strongest in embryos at 48 hpf. No noticeable difference in the formation and the shape of blood vessels of Tg(fli1a:EGFP) was observed. However, the total body length and number of somite were decreased. Heart formation in Tg(cmlc2:EGFP) were not properly proceeded, and the ventricle did not beat normally at 500 μg/L level. Cardiac development-related genes, myl7 and nppa, were significantly down- and up-regulated in a concentration-dependent manner. The slowed heartbeat was confirmed using Tg(gata1:EGFP), showing stagnant blood flow and seizure-like events were observed. Altogether, EPN can be the cause for the abnormal heart development accompanied by blood stagnation in embryos, interfering normal development with their inner circulatory system.
Display omitted
•EPN showed no changes in survival and hatching rates of zebrafish embryos.•In 250 ppb and 500 ppb levels, edemas were observed in heart and yolk sac.•Abnormal heart formation in Tg(cmlc2:EGFP) was clearly observed at 500 ppb level.•The slowed heartbeat confirmed using Tg(gata1:EGFP), showing stagnant blood flow.•Seizure-like events were determined using EEG system in EPN-treated larvae.
Background
Postoperative C5 palsy is a widely known complication of cervical decompression surgery. Many studies have focused on its etiology and factors affecting it. However, no study to date has ...evaluated the association between the clinical outcome and recovery duration of post-operative C5 palsy. We evaluated this in our current report.
Methods
A retrospective analysis was conducted for 710 consecutive degenerative cervical spine decompression surgeries performed in a single institution. We included all patients who underwent any type of surgical procedure for cervical spinal stenosis, ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), or cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Demographic, radiologic, clinical information was recorded. Finally, correlation analysis was conducted to identify demographic, radiologic, or clinical factors related with recovery duration (within or after 6 months).
Results
The incident rate of postoperative C5 palsy was 5.1 % (36/710 cases). Analysis of recovery duration revealed that 18 patients had recovered within 6 months and 33 (91.7 %) within 2 years, whilst 3 individuals (8.3 %) had not fully recovered within the follow-up period. Factors related to longer recovery (>6 months) included motor grade ≤2 (
p
< 0.001), presence of multi-segment paresis involving more than the C5 root (
p
= 0.002), loss of somatic sensation with pain (
p
= 0.008), and the degree of posterior spinal cord shifting (
p
= 0.040). Furthermore, multivariate analysis revealed that motor grade ≤2 (
p
= 0.010) had a significant effect on a recovery duration beyond 6 months.
Conclusions
A motor grade ≤2, the presence of multi-segment paresis involving more than the C5 root, the loss of somatic sensation with pain, and the degree of posterior spinal cord shifting significantly influence whether the duration of recovery from postoperative C5 palsy will take longer than 6 months.
The prevalence of microplastic (MP) contamination has become a significant environmental concern due to its pervasive nature and persistent effects. While sediments are considered major repositories ...for MPs, information on their spatial distribution within these matrices is insufficient. This research examined both the horizontal and vertical presence of MPs in the sediments surrounding Lake Paldang in South Korea, alongside a comprehensive evaluation of the physicochemical characteristics of the samples obtained. The total content of MPs varied from 2.15 to 122.2 particles g−1. The average contents of MPs on surface sediments were 40.47, 34.14, 5.01, and 8.19 particles g−1 in north mainstream (NM), south mainstream (SM), tributary (TB), and Tributary catchment (TC) based on Sonae Island, Gyeongan stream, respectively. The most abundant MP types were polyethylene (PE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and polypropylene (PP), accounting for more than 70% of the total MPs. The most abundant sizes of MPs were within 45–100 µm. At all sediment depths, polymers were distributed in the order PE, PP, and polyester in NM, SM, and TC, respectively, whereas PTFE mainly occurred in the surface layer. MPs distribution also exhibited seasonal variation as larger inflows and flow rates varied with season.
Display omitted
•Microplastics in Lake Paldang sediments were analyzed by FT-IR with microscope.•The most abundant MPs were PE, PTFE, and PP with the size ranges of 45-100 µm.•MPs such as PP, PE and polyester were found in all sediment depths.•Only PTFE was primarily found in the surface layer of sediment.•Distribution of MPs was according to seasonal variations with larger inflows.
Purpose
To investigate radiographic parameters to improve the accuracy of radiologic diagnosis for ossification of ligamentum flavum (OLF)-induced thoracic myelopathy and thereby establish a useful ...diagnostic method for identifying the responsible segment.
Methods
We classified 101 patients who underwent surgical treatment for OLF-induced thoracic myelopathy as the myelopathy group and 102 patients who had incidental OLF and were hospitalized with compression fracture as the non-myelopathy group between January 2009 and December 2016. We measured the thickness of OLF (TOLF), cross-sectional area of OLF (AOLF), anteroposterior canal diameter, and the ratio of each of these parameters.
Results
Most OLF cases with lateral-type axial morphology were in the non-myelopathy group and most with fused and tuberous type in the myelopathy group. Most grade-I and grade-II cases were also in the non-myelopathy group, whereas grade-IV cases were mostly observed in the myelopathy group. The AOLF ratio was found to be the best radiologic parameter. The optimal cutoff point of the AOLF ratio was 33.00%, with 87.1% sensitivity and 87.3% specificity. The AOLF ratio was significantly correlated with preoperative neurological status.
Conclusions
An AOLF ratio greater than 33% is the most accurate diagnostic indicator of OLF-induced thoracic myelopathy. In cases of multiple-segment OLF, confirmation of cord signal change on MRI and an AOLF measurement will help determine the responsible segment. AOLF measurement will also improve the accuracy of diagnosis of OLF-induced thoracic myelopathy in cases of grade III or extended-type axial morphology.
Graphical abstract
These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.
Abstract
Background
Cytoplasmic inclusions of transactive response DNA binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) in neurons and astrocytes are a feature of some neurodegenerative diseases, such as ...frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43 (FTLD-TDP) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, the role of TDP-43 in astrocyte pathology remains largely unknown.
Methods
To investigate whether TDP-43 overexpression in primary astrocytes could induce inflammation, we transfected primary astrocytes with plasmids encoding
Gfp
or
TDP
-
43
-
Gfp
. The inflammatory response and upregulation of PTP1B in transfected cells were examined using quantitative RT-PCR and immunoblot analysis. Neurotoxicity was analysed in a transwell coculture system of primary cortical neurons with astrocytes and cultured neurons treated with astrocyte-conditioned medium (ACM). We also examined the lifespan, performed climbing assays and analysed immunohistochemical data in pan-glial TDP-43-expressing flies in the presence or absence of a
Ptp61f
RNAi transgene.
Results
PTP1B inhibition suppressed TDP-43-induced secretion of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)) in primary astrocytes. Using a neuron-astrocyte coculture system and astrocyte-conditioned media treatment, we demonstrated that PTP1B inhibition attenuated neuronal death and mitochondrial dysfunction caused by overexpression of TDP-43 in astrocytes. In addition, neuromuscular junction (NMJ) defects, a shortened lifespan, inflammation and climbing defects caused by pan-glial overexpression of TDP-43 were significantly rescued by downregulation of
ptp61f
(the
Drosophila
homologue of PTP1B) in flies.
Conclusions
These results indicate that PTP1B inhibition mitigates the neuronal toxicity caused by TDP-43-induced inflammation in mammalian astrocytes and
Drosophila
glial cells.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Although the transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) after spinal cord injury (SCI) has shown promising results in animals, less is known about the effects of autologous ...MSCs in human SCI.
OBJECTIVE:
To describe the long-term results of 10 patients who underwent intramedullary direct MSCs transplantation into injured spinal cords.
METHODS:
Autologous MSCs were harvested from the iliac bone of each patient and expanded by culturing for 4 weeks. MSCs (8 × 106) were directly injected into the spinal cord, and 4 × 107 cells were injected into the intradural space of 10 patients with American Spinal Injury Association class A or B injury caused by traumatic cervical SCI. After 4 and 8 weeks, an additional 5 × 107 MSCs were injected into each patient through lumbar tapping. Outcome assessments included changes in the motor power grade of the extremities, magnetic resonance imaging, and electrophysiological recordings.
RESULTS:
Although 6 of the 10 patients showed motor power improvement of the upper extremities at 6-month follow-up, 3 showed gradual improvement in activities of daily living, and changes on magnetic resonance imaging such as decreases in cavity size and the appearance of fiber-like low signal intensity streaks. They also showed electrophysiological improvement. All 10 patients did not experience any permanent complication associated with MSC transplantation.
CONCLUSION:
Three of the 10 patients with SCI who were directly injected with autologous MSCs showed improvement in the motor power of the upper extremities and in activities of daily living, as well as significant magnetic resonance imaging and electrophysiological changes during long-term follow-up.
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