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McLoughlin RJ, Lu Z, Warneryd AC, Swanson RL. A Systematic Review of Testosterone Therapy in Men With Spinal Cord Injury or Traumatic Brain Injury. Cureus 2023; 15:e34264. [PMID: 36855479 PMCID: PMC9968415 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.34264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injuries (SCI) and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) increase the risk of testosterone deficiency and result in adverse changes in body composition and poor functional outcomes. The current systematic review aims to provide insights into the use of testosterone therapy for treating men with SCI and TBI. The PubMed and EMBASE databases were systematically reviewed using appropriate terms, and resulting manuscripts were screened using defined Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) criteria. The patient population included male patients with SCI or TBI. Further inclusion criteria were: a) human participants 18 years of age or older; b) manuscript published in English; c) study included an intervention with exogenous testosterone; and d) articles published in peer-reviewed journals with full text available. Two reviewers independently extracted data regarding injury type, intervention, and outcomes. Following screening for inclusion/exclusion criteria, a total of 12 primary research studies conducted over the last 30 years were included. Men with SCI were investigated in 11 articles. The combination of testosterone patches and resistance training with functional electrical stimulation (FES) for 16 weeks in men with SCI and an average baseline testosterone level above the cutoff for testosterone deficiency increased muscle mass, strength, bone quality, and basal metabolic rate while testosterone patches without exercise for 16 weeks produced no significant changes in these parameters. Testosterone patches for 12 months in men with SCI and testosterone deficiency also increased lean tissue mass (LTM) and resting energy expenditure (REE). In one study, men with TBI and testosterone deficiency receiving testosterone gel for eight weeks showed a non-statistically significant greater absolute change in functional independence measure (FIM) and grip strength compared to a placebo group. Testosterone therapy with exercise may help improve muscle mass, bone health, strength, energy expenditure, and cardiac health in men with SCI without major side effects. It is difficult to draw conclusions regarding the effects of testosterone therapy in men with TBI based on the limited available evidence. Further investigation is warranted to explore the relationship between testosterone therapy and recovery after SCI and TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J McLoughlin
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Zhiye Lu
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Amelie C Warneryd
- College of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Randel L Swanson
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA (Veteran Affairs) Medical Center, Philadelphia, USA.,Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA
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Bekhet AH, Jahan AM, Bochkezanian V, Musselman KE, Elsareih AA, Gorgey AS. Effects of Electrical Stimulation Training on Body Composition Parameters After Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2022; 103:1168-1178. [PMID: 34687676 DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2021.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) or functional electrical stimulation (FES), or both, training on different body composition parameters in individuals with spinal cord injury. DATA SOURCES Three independent reviewers searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Central, and Virtual Health Library until March 2020. STUDY SELECTION Studies were included if they applied NMES/FES on the lower limb muscles after spinal cord injury, reported stimulation parameters (frequency, pulse duration, and amplitude of current), and body composition parameters, which included muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), fat-free mass, lean mass (LM), fat mass, visceral adipose tissue, and intramuscular fat. DATA SYNTHESIS A total of 46 studies were included in the final analysis with a total sample size of 414 subjects. NMES loading exercise and FES cycling exercise were commonly used for training. Increases in muscle CSA ranged from 5.7-75%, with an average of 26% (n=33). Fifteen studies reported changes (both increase and decrease) in LM or fat-free mas ranged from -4% to 35%, with an average of less than 5%. Changes in fat mass (n=10) were modest. The effect on ectopic adipose tissue is inconclusive, with 2 studies showing an average reduction in intramuscular fat by 9.9%. Stimulation parameters ranged from 200-1000 μs for pulse duration, 2-60 Hz for the frequency, and 10-200 mA in amplitude. Finally, increase in weekly training volumes after NMES loading exercise resulted in a remarkable increase in percentage changes in LM or muscle CSA. CONCLUSIONS NMES/FES is an effective rehabilitation strategy for muscle hypertrophy and increasing LM. Weekly training volumes are associated with muscle hypertrophy after NMES loading exercise. Furthermore, positive muscle adaptations occur despite the applied stimulation parameters. Finally, the included studies reported wide range of stimulation parameters without reporting rationale for such selection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alhadi M Jahan
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Vanesa Bochkezanian
- Department of Exercise and Health Sciences, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia
| | - Kristin E Musselman
- KITE, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, Canada; Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Amr A Elsareih
- Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Ashraf S Gorgey
- Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt; Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Center, Hunter Holmes McGuire VAMC, 1201 Broad Rock Boulevard, Richmond, VA; Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Richmond, VA.
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Fenton JM, King JA, Hoekstra SP, Valentino SE, Phillips SM, Goosey-Tolfrey VL. Protocols aiming to increase muscle mass in persons with motor complete spinal cord injury: a systematic review. Disabil Rehabil 2022; 45:1433-1443. [PMID: 35465798 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2022.2063420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this review was to compare all intervention modalities aimed at increasing skeletal muscle mass (SMM) in the paralysed limbs of persons with chronic (>1-year post-injury), motor complete spinal cord injury (SCI). MATERIALS AND METHODS A systematic review of EMBASE, MEDLINE, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus databases was conducted from inception until December 2021. Published intervention studies aimed to increase SMM (measured by magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, ultrasound, muscle biopsy, or lean soft tissue mass by dual X-ray absorptiometry) in the paralysed limbs of adults (>18 years) with SCI were included. RESULTS Fifty articles were included that, overall, demonstrated a high risk of bias. Studies were categorised into six groups: neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) with and without external resistance, functional electrical stimulation cycling, walking- and standing-based interventions, pharmacological treatments, and studies that compared or combined intervention modalities. Resistance training (RT) using NMES on the quadriceps produced the largest and most consistent increases in SMM of all intervention modalities. CONCLUSIONS Current evidence suggests that clinical practise aiming to increase SMM in the paralysed limbs of persons with motor complete SCI should perform NMES-RT. However, more high-quality randomised control trials are needed to determine how training variables, such as exercise volume and intensity, can be optimised for increasing SMM. Implications for rehabilitationPersons with spinal cord injury (SCI) experience severe reductions in skeletal muscle mass (SMM) post-injury, which may exacerbate their risk of obesity and metabolic disease.Out of all exercise and non-exercise-based interventions, this systematic review shows that neuromuscular electrical stimulation-based resistance training demonstrates the most robust and consistent evidence for increasing skeletal muscle mass in the paralysed limbs of adults with motor complete spinal cord injury.The findings from this review can be used to inform evidence-based practise for exercise practitioners, as well as direct future research focused on increasing muscle mass in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan M. Fenton
- National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
- Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | - James A. King
- National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Sven P. Hoekstra
- National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
- Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | | | - Stuart M. Phillips
- Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Victoria L. Goosey-Tolfrey
- National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
- Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
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Goldsmith JA, Ennasr AN, Farkas GJ, Gater DR, Gorgey AS. Role of exercise on visceral adiposity after spinal cord injury: a cardiometabolic risk factor. Eur J Appl Physiol 2021; 121:2143-2163. [PMID: 33891156 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-021-04688-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is associated with cardiometabolic disease risk in able-bodied (AB) populations. However, the underlying mechanisms of VAT-induced disease risk are unknown in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Potential mechanisms of VAT-induced cardiometabolic dysfunction in persons with SCI include systemic inflammation, liver adiposity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and anabolic deficiency. Moreover, how exercise interventions impact these mechanisms associated with VAT-induced cardiometabolic dysfunction are still being explored. METHODS A search for relevant scientific literature about the effects of exercise on VAT and cardiometabolic health was conducted on the PubMed database. Literature from reference lists was also included when appropriate. RESULTS Both aerobic and resistance exercise training beneficially impact health and VAT mass via improving mitochondrial function, glucose effectiveness, and inflammatory signaling in SCI and AB populations. Specifically, aerobic exercise appears to also modulate cellular senescence in AB populations and animal models, while resistance exercise seems to augment anabolic signaling in persons with SCI. CONCLUSIONS The current evidence supports regular engagement in exercise to reduce VAT mass and the adverse effects on cardiometabolic health in persons with SCI. Future research is needed to further elucidate the precise mechanisms by which VAT negatively impacts health following SCI. This will likely facilitate the development of rehabilitation protocols that target VAT reduction in persons with SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob A Goldsmith
- Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Center, Central Virginia VA Health Care System, 1201 Broad Rock Boulevard, Richmond, VA, 23249, USA
| | - Areej N Ennasr
- Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Center, Central Virginia VA Health Care System, 1201 Broad Rock Boulevard, Richmond, VA, 23249, USA
| | - Gary J Farkas
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - David R Gater
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Ashraf S Gorgey
- Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Center, Central Virginia VA Health Care System, 1201 Broad Rock Boulevard, Richmond, VA, 23249, USA. .,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.
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Lai RE, Gorgey AS. Low-dose testosterone replacement therapy and electrically evoked resistance training enhance muscle quality after spinal cord injury. Neural Regen Res 2021; 16:1544-1545. [PMID: 33433474 PMCID: PMC8323675 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.303026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Raymond E Lai
- Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders, Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VI, USA
| | - Ashraf S Gorgey
- Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders, Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VI, USA
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Wang H, Zhou WX, Huang JF, Zheng XQ, Tian HJ, Wang B, Fu WL, Wu AM. Endocrine Therapy for the Functional Recovery of Spinal Cord Injury. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:590570. [PMID: 33390881 PMCID: PMC7773784 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.590570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a major cause of physical disability and leads to patient dissatisfaction with their quality of life. Patients with SCI usually exhibit severe clinical symptoms, including sensory and motor dysfunction below the injured levels, paraplegia, quadriplegia and urinary retention, which can exacerbate the substantial medical and social burdens. The major pathological change observed in SCI is inflammatory reaction, which induces demyelination, axonal degeneration, and the apoptosis and necrosis of neurons. Traditional medical treatments are mainly focused on the recovery of motor function and prevention of complications. To date, numerous studies have been conducted to explore the cellular and molecular mechanism of SCI and have proposed lots of effective treatments, but the clinical applications are still limited due to the complex pathogenesis and poor prognosis after SCI. Endocrine hormones are kinds of molecules that are synthesized by specialized endocrine organs and can participate in the regulation of multiple physiological activities, and their protective effects on several disorders have been widely discussed. In addition, many studies have identified that endocrine hormones can promote nerve regeneration and functional recovery in individuals with central nervous system diseases. Therefore, studies investigating the clinical applications of endocrine hormones as treatments for SCI are necessary. In this review, we described the neuroprotective roles of several endocrine hormones in SCI; endocrine hormone administration reduces cell death and promotes functional repair after SCI. We also proposed novel therapies for SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics, Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Wen-Xian Zhou
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics, Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jin-Feng Huang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics, Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xuan-Qi Zheng
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics, Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Hai-Jun Tian
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopaedic Implants, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Sports Medicine and Adult Reconstruction Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei-Li Fu
- Department of Orthopaedics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ai-Min Wu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics, Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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Stewart AN, MacLean SM, Stromberg AJ, Whelan JP, Bailey WM, Gensel JC, Wilson ME. Considerations for Studying Sex as a Biological Variable in Spinal Cord Injury. Front Neurol 2020; 11:802. [PMID: 32849242 PMCID: PMC7419700 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In response to NIH initiatives to investigate sex as a biological variable in preclinical animal studies, researchers have increased their focus on male and female differences in neurotrauma. Inclusion of both sexes when modeling neurotrauma is leading to the identification of novel areas for therapeutic and scientific exploitation. Here, we review the organizational and activational effects of sex hormones on recovery from injury and how these changes impact the long-term health of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. When determining how sex affects SCI it remains imperative to expand outcomes beyond locomotor recovery and consider other complications plaguing the quality of life of patients with SCI. Interestingly, the SCI field predominately utilizes female rodents for basic science research which contrasts most other male-biased research fields. We discuss the unique caveats this creates to the translatability of preclinical research in the SCI field. We also review current clinical and preclinical data examining sex as biological variable in SCI. Further, we report how technical considerations such as housing, size, care management, and age, confound the interpretation of sex-specific effects in animal studies of SCI. We have uncovered novel findings regarding how age differentially affects mortality and injury-induced anemia in males and females after SCI, and further identified estrus cycle dysfunction in mice after injury. Emerging concepts underlying sexually dimorphic responses to therapy are also discussed. Through a combination of literature review and primary research observations we present a practical guide for considering and incorporating sex as biological variable in preclinical neurotrauma studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew N Stewart
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.,Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Steven M MacLean
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.,Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Arnold J Stromberg
- Department of Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Jessica P Whelan
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.,Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - William M Bailey
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.,Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - John C Gensel
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.,Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Melinda E Wilson
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
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