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Al-Shawwa A, Craig M, Ost K, Anderson D, Jacobs WB, Evaniew N, Tripathy S, Bouchard J, Casha S, Cho R, du Plessis S, Lewkonia P, Nicholls F, Salo PT, Soroceanu A, Swamy G, Thomas KC, Yang MMH, Cadotte DW. Focal compression of the cervical spinal cord alone does not indicate high risk of neurological deterioration in patients with a diagnosis of mild degenerative cervical myelopathy. J Neurol Sci 2024; 461:123042. [PMID: 38788286 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2024.123042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy (DCM) is the functional derangement of the spinal cord resulting from vertebral column spondylotic degeneration. Typical neurological symptoms of DCM include gait imbalance, hand/arm numbness, and upper extremity dexterity loss. Greater spinal cord compression is believed to lead to a higher rate of neurological deterioration, although clinical experience suggests a more complex mechanism involving spinal canal diameter (SCD). In this study, we utilized machine learning clustering to understand the relationship between SCD and different patterns of cord compression (i.e. compression at one disc level, two disc levels, etc.) to identify patient groups at risk of neurological deterioration. 124 MRI scans from 51 non-operative DCM patients were assessed through manual scoring of cord compression and SCD measurements. Dimensionality reduction techniques and k-means clustering established patient groups that were then defined with their unique risk criteria. We found that the compression pattern is unimportant at SCD extremes (≤14.5 mm or > 15.75 mm). Otherwise, severe spinal cord compression at two disc levels increases deterioration likelihood. Notably, if SCD is normal and cord compression is not severe at multiple levels, deterioration likelihood is relatively reduced, even if the spinal cord is experiencing compression. We elucidated five patient groups with their associated risks of deterioration, according to both SCD range and cord compression pattern. Overall, SCD and focal cord compression alone do not reliably predict an increased risk of neurological deterioration. Instead, the specific combination of narrow SCD with multi-level focal cord compression increases the likelihood of neurological deterioration in mild DCM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Al-Shawwa
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Mike Craig
- Combined Orthopedic and Neurosurgery Spine Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada
| | - Kalum Ost
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - David Anderson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - W Bradley Jacobs
- Combined Orthopedic and Neurosurgery Spine Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Section of Neurosurgery, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada
| | - Nathan Evaniew
- Combined Orthopedic and Neurosurgery Spine Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada; Section of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada
| | - Saswati Tripathy
- Combined Orthopedic and Neurosurgery Spine Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada
| | - Jacques Bouchard
- Combined Orthopedic and Neurosurgery Spine Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada; Section of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada
| | - Steve Casha
- Combined Orthopedic and Neurosurgery Spine Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Section of Neurosurgery, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada
| | - Roger Cho
- Combined Orthopedic and Neurosurgery Spine Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada; Section of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada
| | - Stephen du Plessis
- Combined Orthopedic and Neurosurgery Spine Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Section of Neurosurgery, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada
| | - Peter Lewkonia
- Combined Orthopedic and Neurosurgery Spine Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada; Section of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada
| | - Fred Nicholls
- Combined Orthopedic and Neurosurgery Spine Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada; Section of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada
| | - Paul T Salo
- Combined Orthopedic and Neurosurgery Spine Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada; Section of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada
| | - Alex Soroceanu
- Combined Orthopedic and Neurosurgery Spine Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada; Section of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada
| | - Ganesh Swamy
- Combined Orthopedic and Neurosurgery Spine Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada; Section of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada
| | - Kenneth C Thomas
- Combined Orthopedic and Neurosurgery Spine Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada; Section of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada
| | - Michael M H Yang
- Combined Orthopedic and Neurosurgery Spine Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Section of Neurosurgery, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada
| | - David W Cadotte
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Combined Orthopedic and Neurosurgery Spine Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Section of Neurosurgery, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada.
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Freund P, Boller V, Emmenegger TM, Akbar M, Hupp M, Pfender N, Wheeler-Kingshott CAMG, Cohen-Adad J, Fehlings MG, Curt A, Seif M. Quantifying neurodegeneration of the cervical cord and brain in degenerative cervical myelopathy: A multicentre study using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging. Eur J Neurol 2024:e16297. [PMID: 38713645 DOI: 10.1111/ene.16297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Simultaneous assessment of neurodegeneration in both the cervical cord and brain across multiple centres can enhance the effectiveness of clinical trials. Thus, this study aims to simultaneously assess microstructural changes in the cervical cord and brain above the stenosis in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a multicentre study. METHODS We applied voxelwise analysis with a probabilistic brain/spinal cord template embedded in statistical parametric mappin (SPM-BSC) to process multi parametric mapping (MPM) including effective transverse relaxation rate (R2*), longitudinal relaxation rate (R1), and magnetization transfer (MT), which are indirectly sensitive to iron and myelin content. Regression analysis was conducted to establish associations between neurodegeneration and clinical impairment. Thirty-eight DCM patients (mean age ± SD = 58.45 ± 11.47 years) and 38 healthy controls (mean age ± SD = 41.18 ± 12.75 years) were recruited at University Hospital Balgrist, Switzerland and Toronto Western Hospital, Canada. RESULTS Remote atrophy was observed in the cervical cord (p = 0.002) and in the left thalamus (0.026) of the DCM group. R1 was decreased in the periaqueductal grey matter (p = 0.014), thalamus (p = 0.001), corpus callosum (p = 0.0001), and cranial corticospinal tract (p = 0.03). R2* was increased in the primary somatosensory cortices (p = 0.008). Sensory impairments were associated with increased iron-sensitive R2* in the thalamus and periaqueductal grey matter in DCM. CONCLUSIONS Simultaneous assessment of the spinal cord and brain revealed DCM-induced demyelination, iron deposition, and atrophy. The extent of remote neurodegeneration was associated with sensory impairment, highlighting the intricate and expansive nature of microstructural neurodegeneration in DCM, reaching beyond the stenosis level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Freund
- Spinal Cord Injury Centre, University Hospital Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Viveka Boller
- Spinal Cord Injury Centre, University Hospital Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tim M Emmenegger
- Spinal Cord Injury Centre, University Hospital Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Muhammad Akbar
- Spine Program Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto and Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Markus Hupp
- Spinal Cord Injury Centre, University Hospital Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nikolai Pfender
- Spinal Cord Injury Centre, University Hospital Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Angela Michela Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, University College London (UCL) Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, London, UK
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Digital Neuroscience Research Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Julien Cohen-Adad
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Functional Neuroimaging Unit, CRIUGM, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Michael G Fehlings
- Spine Program Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto and Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Armin Curt
- Spinal Cord Injury Centre, University Hospital Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Maryam Seif
- Spinal Cord Injury Centre, University Hospital Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
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3
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Morris S, Swift-LaPointe T, Yung A, Prevost V, George S, Bauman A, Kozlowski P, Samadi-Bahrami Z, Fournier C, Mattu PS, Parker L, Streijger F, Hirsch-Reinshagen V, Moore GRW, Kwon BK, Laule C. Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging Biomarkers of the Injured Spinal Cord: A Comparative Study of Imaging and Histology in Human Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury. J Neurotrauma 2024; 41:1223-1239. [PMID: 38318802 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2023.0208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
A significant problem in the diagnosis and management of traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) is the heterogeneity of secondary injury and the prediction of neurological outcome. Imaging biomarkers specific to myelin loss and inflammation after tSCI would enable detailed assessment of the pathophysiological processes underpinning secondary damage to the cord. Such biomarkers could be used to biologically stratify injury severity and better inform prognosis for neurological recovery. While much work has been done to establish magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarkers for SCI in animal models, the relationship between imaging findings and the underlying pathology has been difficult to discern in human tSCI because of the paucity of human spinal cord tissue. We utilized post-mortem spinal cords from individuals who had a tSCI to examine this relationship by performing ex vivo MRI scans before histological analysis. We investigated the correlation between the histological distribution of myelin loss and inflammatory cells in the injured spinal cord and a number of myelin and inflammation-sensitive MRI measures: myelin water fraction (MWF), inhomogeneous magnetization transfer ratio (ihMTR), and diffusion tensor and diffusion kurtosis imaging-derived fractional anisotropy (FA) and axial, radial, and mean diffusivity (AD, RD, MD). The histological features were analyzed by staining with Luxol Fast Blue (LFB) for myelin lipids and Class II major histocompatibility complex (Class II MHC) and CD68 for microglia and macrophages. Both MWF and ihMTR were strongly correlated with LFB staining for myelin, supporting the use of both as biomarkers for myelin loss after SCI. A decrease in ihMTR was also correlated with the presence of Class II MHC positive immune cells. FA and RD correlated with both Class II MHC and CD68 and may therefore be useful biomarkers for inflammation after tSCI. Our work demonstrates the utility of advanced MRI techniques sensitive to biological tissue damage after tSCI, which is an important step toward using these MRI techniques in the clinic to aid in decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Morris
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Departments of University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Radiology, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Taylor Swift-LaPointe
- Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Andrew Yung
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Departments of University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Radiology, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- UBC MRI Research Centre, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Valentin Prevost
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Departments of University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Radiology, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- UBC MRI Research Centre, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Shana George
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Departments of University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Andrew Bauman
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Departments of University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Radiology, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- UBC MRI Research Centre, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Piotr Kozlowski
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Departments of University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Radiology, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- UBC MRI Research Centre, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Zahra Samadi-Bahrami
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Departments of University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Caron Fournier
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Departments of University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Lisa Parker
- Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Femke Streijger
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Departments of University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Veronica Hirsch-Reinshagen
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Departments of University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - G R Wayne Moore
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Departments of University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Brian K Kwon
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Departments of University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Vancouver Spine Surgery Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Orthopaedics, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Cornelia Laule
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Departments of University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Radiology, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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4
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Wu J, Xue W, Yun Z, Liu Q, Sun X. Biomedical applications of stimuli-responsive "smart" interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels. Mater Today Bio 2024; 25:100998. [PMID: 38390342 PMCID: PMC10882133 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2024.100998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, owing to the ongoing advancements in polymer materials, hydrogels have found increasing applications in the biomedical domain, notably in the realm of stimuli-responsive "smart" hydrogels. Nonetheless, conventional single-network stimuli-responsive "smart" hydrogels frequently exhibit deficiencies, including low mechanical strength, limited biocompatibility, and extended response times. In response, researchers have addressed these challenges by introducing a second network to create stimuli-responsive "smart" Interpenetrating Polymer Network (IPN) hydrogels. The mechanical strength of the material can be significantly improved due to the topological entanglement and physical interactions within the interpenetrating structure. Simultaneously, combining different network structures enhances the biocompatibility and stimulus responsiveness of the gel, endowing it with unique properties such as cell adhesion, conductivity, hemostasis/antioxidation, and color-changing capabilities. This article primarily aims to elucidate the stimulus-inducing factors in stimuli-responsive "smart" IPN hydrogels, the impact of the gels on cell behaviors and their biomedical application range. Additionally, we also offer an in-depth exposition of their categorization, mechanisms, performance characteristics, and related aspects. This review furnishes a comprehensive assessment and outlook for the advancement of stimuli-responsive "smart" IPN hydrogels within the biomedical arena. We believe that, as the biomedical field increasingly demands novel materials featuring improved mechanical properties, robust biocompatibility, and heightened stimulus responsiveness, stimuli-responsive "smart" IPN hydrogels will hold substantial promise for wide-ranging applications in this domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiuping Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Wu Xue
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130041, China
| | - Zhihe Yun
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130041, China
| | - Qinyi Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130041, China
| | - Xinzhi Sun
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
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Mihailovic JM, Sanganahalli BG, Hyder F, Chitturi J, Elkabes S, Heary RF, Kannurpatti SS. Cross-hemicord spinal fiber reorganization associates with cortical sensory and motor network expansion in the rat model of hemicontusion cervical spinal cord injury. Neurosci Lett 2024; 820:137607. [PMID: 38141752 PMCID: PMC10797561 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging plays an important role in characterizing microstructural changes and reorganization after traumatic injuries to the nervous system. In this study, we tested the feasibility of ex-vivo spinal cord diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in combination with in vivo brain functional MRI to characterize spinal reorganization and its supraspinal association after a hemicontusion cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). DTI parameters (fractional anisotropy [FA], mean diffusion [MD]) and fiber orientation changes related to reorganization in the contused cervical spinal cord were compared to sham specimens. Altered fiber density and fiber directions occurred across the ipsilateral and contralateral hemicords but with only ipsilateral FA and MD changes. The hemicontusion SCI resulted in ipsilateral fiber breaks, voids and vivid fiber reorientations along the injury epicenter. Fiber directional changes below the injury level were primarily inter-hemispheric, indicating prominent below-level cross-hemispheric reorganization. In vivo resting state functional connectivity of the brain from the respective rats before obtaining the spinal cord samples indicated spatial expansion and increased connectivity strength across both the sensory and motor networks after SCI. The consistency of the neuroplastic changes along the neuraxis (both brain and spinal cord) at the single-subject level, indicates that distinctive reorganizational relationships exist between the spinal cord and the brain post-SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena M Mihailovic
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 Cedar St, New Haven, CT 06520, United States.
| | - Basavaraju G Sanganahalli
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 Cedar St, New Haven, CT 06520, United States.
| | - Fahmeed Hyder
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 Cedar St, New Haven, CT 06520, United States.
| | - Jyothsna Chitturi
- Department of Radiology, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences-New Jersey Medical School, 30 Bergen Street, Newark, NJ 07103, United States
| | - Stella Elkabes
- Department of Neurosurgery, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences-New Jersey Medical School. 205 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103, United States.
| | - Robert F Heary
- Division of Neurosurgery, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Mountainside Medical Center, Montclair, NJ, United States.
| | - Sridhar S Kannurpatti
- Department of Radiology, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences-New Jersey Medical School, 30 Bergen Street, Newark, NJ 07103, United States.
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6
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Lebret A, Lévy S, Pfender N, Farshad M, Altorfer FCS, Callot V, Curt A, Freund P, Seif M. Investigation of perfusion impairment in degenerative cervical myelopathy beyond the site of cord compression. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22660. [PMID: 38114733 PMCID: PMC10730822 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49896-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine tissue-specific blood perfusion impairment of the cervical cord above the compression site in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) using intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging. A quantitative MRI protocol, including structural and IVIM imaging, was conducted in healthy controls and patients. In patients, T2-weighted scans were acquired to quantify intramedullary signal changes, the maximal canal compromise, and the maximal cord compression. T2*-weighted MRI and IVIM were applied in all participants in the cervical cord (covering C1-C3 levels) to determine white matter (WM) and grey matter (GM) cross-sectional areas (as a marker of atrophy), and tissue-specific perfusion indices, respectively. IVIM imaging resulted in microvascular volume fraction ([Formula: see text]), blood velocity ([Formula: see text]), and blood flow ([Formula: see text]) indices. DCM patients additionally underwent a standard neurological clinical assessment. Regression analysis assessed associations between perfusion parameters, clinical outcome measures, and remote spinal cord atrophy. Twenty-nine DCM patients and 30 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. At the level of stenosis, 11 patients showed focal radiological evidence of cervical myelopathy. Above the stenosis level, cord atrophy was observed in the WM (- 9.3%; p = 0.005) and GM (- 6.3%; p = 0.008) in patients compared to healthy controls. Blood velocity (BV) and blood flow (BF) indices were decreased in the ventral horns of the GM (BV: - 20.1%, p = 0.0009; BF: - 28.2%, p = 0.0008), in the ventral funiculi (BV: - 18.2%, p = 0.01; BF: - 21.5%, p = 0.04) and lateral funiculi (BV: - 8.5%, p = 0.03; BF: - 16.5%, p = 0.03) of the WM, across C1-C3 levels. A decrease in microvascular volume fraction was associated with GM atrophy (R = 0.46, p = 0.02). This study demonstrates tissue-specific cervical perfusion impairment rostral to the compression site in DCM patients. IVIM indices are sensitive to remote perfusion changes in the cervical cord in DCM and may serve as neuroimaging biomarkers of hemodynamic impairment in future studies. The association between perfusion impairment and cervical cord atrophy indicates that changes in hemodynamics caused by compression may contribute to the neurodegenerative processes in DCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lebret
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Simon Lévy
- CNRS, CRMBM, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
- APHM, CEMEREM, Hôpital Universitaire Timone, Marseille, France
- MR Research Collaborations, Siemens Healthcare Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nikolai Pfender
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Mazda Farshad
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Balgrist University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Virginie Callot
- CNRS, CRMBM, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
- APHM, CEMEREM, Hôpital Universitaire Timone, Marseille, France
| | - Armin Curt
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Freund
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, Wellcome Trust Center for Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Maryam Seif
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.
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7
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Zhang C, Zhai T, Zhu J, Wei D, Ren S, Yang Y, Gao F, Zhao L. Research Progress of Antioxidants in Oxidative Stress Therapy after Spinal Cord Injury. Neurochem Res 2023; 48:3473-3484. [PMID: 37526867 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-023-03993-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious problem in the central nervous system resulting in high disability and mortality with complex pathophysiological mechanisms. Oxidative stress is one of the main secondary reactions of SCI, and its main pathophysiological marker is the production of excess reactive oxygen species. The overproduction of reactive oxygen species and insufficient antioxidant capacity lead to the occurrence of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, and the dysregulation of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation leads to further aggravation of damage. Oxidative stress can initiate a variety of inflammatory and apoptotic pathways, and targeted antioxidant therapy can greatly reduce oxidative stress and reduce neuroinflammation, which has a certain positive effect on rehabilitation and prognosis in SCI. This article reviewed the research on different types of antioxidants and related treatments in SCI, focusing on the mechanisms of oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Zhang
- Medical School of Yan'an University, No. 580 Shengdi Road, Baota District, Yan'an, 716000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Tianyu Zhai
- Medical School of Yan'an University, No. 580 Shengdi Road, Baota District, Yan'an, 716000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jinghui Zhu
- Medical School of Yan'an University, No. 580 Shengdi Road, Baota District, Yan'an, 716000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Dongmin Wei
- Medical School of Yan'an University, No. 580 Shengdi Road, Baota District, Yan'an, 716000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shuting Ren
- Medical School of Yan'an University, No. 580 Shengdi Road, Baota District, Yan'an, 716000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yanling Yang
- Medical School of Yan'an University, No. 580 Shengdi Road, Baota District, Yan'an, 716000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Feng Gao
- Medical School of Yan'an University, No. 580 Shengdi Road, Baota District, Yan'an, 716000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lin Zhao
- Medical School of Yan'an University, No. 580 Shengdi Road, Baota District, Yan'an, 716000, Shaanxi, China.
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Middleton DM, Li Y, Chen A, Shinohara R, Fisher J, Krisa L, Elliot M, Faro SH, Woo JH, Flanders AE, Mohamed FB. Harmonization of multi-site diffusion tensor imaging data for cervical and thoracic spinal cord at 1.5 T and 3 T using longitudinal ComBat. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19809. [PMID: 37957164 PMCID: PMC10643628 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46465-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
MRI scanner hardware, field strengths, and sequence parameters are major variables in diffusion studies of the spinal cord. Reliability between scanners is not well known, particularly for the thoracic cord. DTI data was collected for the entire cervical and thoracic spinal cord in thirty healthy adult subjects with different MR vendors and field strengths. DTI metrics were extracted and averaged for all slices within each vertebral level. Metrics were examined for variability and then harmonized using longitudinal ComBat (longComBat). Four scanners were used: Siemens 3 T Prisma, Siemens 1.5 T Avanto, Philips 3 T Ingenia, Philips 1.5 T Achieva. Average full cord diffusion values/standard deviation for all subjects and scanners were FA: 0.63, σ = 0.10, MD: 1.11, σ = 0.12 × 10-3 mm2/s, AD: 1.98, σ = 0.55 × 10-3 mm2/s, RD: 0.67, σ = 0.31 × 10-3 mm2/s. FA metrics averaged for all subjects by level were relatively consistent across scanners, but large variability was found in diffusivity measures. Coefficients of variation were lowest in the cervical region, and relatively lower for FA than diffusivity measures. Harmonized metrics showed greatly improved agreement between scanners. Variability in DTI of the spinal cord arises from scanner hardware differences, pulse sequence differences, physiological motion, and subject compliance. The use of longComBat resulted in large improvement in agreement of all DTI metrics between scanners. This study shows the importance of harmonization of diffusion data in the spinal cord and potential for longitudinal and multisite clinical research and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devon M Middleton
- Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, 909 Walnut Street, First Floor COB, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA.
| | - Yutong Li
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Andrew Chen
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics (CBICA), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Russell Shinohara
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics (CBICA), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Laura Krisa
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mark Elliot
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Scott H Faro
- Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, 909 Walnut Street, First Floor COB, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - John H Woo
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Adam E Flanders
- Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, 909 Walnut Street, First Floor COB, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Feroze B Mohamed
- Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, 909 Walnut Street, First Floor COB, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
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9
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Middleton DM, Shahrampour S, Krisa L, Liu W, Nair G, Jacobson S, Conklin CJ, Alizadeh M, Faro SH, Mulcahey MJ, Mohamed FB. Correlations of diffusion tensor imaging and clinical measures with spinal cord cross-sectional area measurements in pediatric spinal cord injury patients. J Spinal Cord Med 2023; 46:950-957. [PMID: 34855576 PMCID: PMC10653768 DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2021.1997027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this work was to employ a semi-automatic method for measuring spinal cord cross-sectional area (SCCSA) and investigate the correlations between diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics and SCCSA for the cervical and thoracic spinal cord for typically developing pediatric subjects and pediatric subject with spinal cord injury. METHODS Ten typically developing (TD) pediatric subjects and ten pediatric subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI) were imaged using a Siemens Verio 3 T MR scanner to acquire DTI and high-resolution anatomic scans covering the cervical and thoracic spinal cord (C1-T12). SCCSA was measured using a semi-automated edge detection algorithm for the entire spinal cord. DTI metrics were obtained from whole cord axial ROIs at each vertebral level. SCCSA measures were compared to DTI metrics by vertebral level throughout the entire cord, and above and below the injury site. Correlation analysis was performed to compare SCCSA, DTI and clinical measures as determined by the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) examination. RESULTS In subjects with SCI, FA and SCCSA had a positive correlation (r = 0.81, P < 0.01), while RD and SCCSA had a negative correlation (r = -0.68, P = 0.02) for the full spinal cord. FA and SCCSA were correlated above (r = 0.56, P < 0.01) and below (r = 0.54, P < 0.01) the injury site. TD subjects showed negative correlations between AD and SCCSA (r = -0.73, P = 0.01) and RD and SCCSA (r = -0.79, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION The ability to quickly and effectively measure SCCSA in subjects with SCI has the potential to allow for a better understanding of the progression of atrophy following a SCI. Correlations between cord cross section and DTI metrics by vertebral level suggest that imaging inferior and superior to lesion may yield useful information for diagnosis and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devon M. Middleton
- Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Shiva Shahrampour
- Department of Bioengineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Laura Krisa
- College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Winston Liu
- School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Govind Nair
- National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Steven Jacobson
- National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Mahdi Alizadeh
- Department of Neurosurgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Scott H. Faro
- Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - M. J. Mulcahey
- College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Feroze B. Mohamed
- Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Chen LM, Wang F, Mishra A, Yang PF, Sengupta A, Reed JL, Gore JC. Longitudinal multiparametric MRI of traumatic spinal cord injury in animal models. Magn Reson Imaging 2023; 102:184-200. [PMID: 37343904 PMCID: PMC10528214 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2023.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Multi-parametric MRI (mpMRI) technology enables non-invasive and quantitative assessments of the structural, molecular, and functional characteristics of various neurological diseases. Despite the recognized importance of studying spinal cord pathology, mpMRI applications in spinal cord research have been somewhat limited, partly due to technical challenges associated with spine imaging. However, advances in imaging techniques and improved image quality now allow longitudinal investigations of a comprehensive range of spinal cord pathological features by exploiting different endogenous MRI contrasts. This review summarizes the use of mpMRI techniques including blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) functional MRI (fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), quantitative magnetization transfer (qMT), and chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI in monitoring different aspects of spinal cord pathology. These aspects include cyst formation and axonal disruption, demyelination and remyelination, changes in the excitability of spinal grey matter and the integrity of intrinsic functional circuits, and non-specific molecular changes associated with secondary injury and neuroinflammation. These approaches are illustrated with reference to a nonhuman primate (NHP) model of traumatic cervical spinal cord injuries (SCI). We highlight the benefits of using NHP SCI models to guide future studies of human spinal cord pathology, and demonstrate how mpMRI can capture distinctive features of spinal cord pathology that were previously inaccessible. Furthermore, the development of mechanism-based MRI biomarkers from mpMRI studies can provide clinically useful imaging indices for understanding the mechanisms by which injured spinal cords progress and repair. These biomarkers can assist in the diagnosis, prognosis, and evaluation of therapies for SCI patients, potentially leading to improved outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Min Chen
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Feng Wang
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Arabinda Mishra
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Pai-Feng Yang
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Anirban Sengupta
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jamie L Reed
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - John C Gore
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
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11
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Yang C, Yang X. Early versus late surgical intervention for cervical spinal cord injury: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e33322. [PMID: 36961173 PMCID: PMC10035988 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000033322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) is a catastrophic event with substantial physical, emotional, and economic burdens to patients, families, and society. Spinal cord decompression is recommended for the treatment of acute SCI. However, the optimal surgical timing remains controversial. Therefore, we perform a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the efficacy of early and late surgical intervention for acute SCI. METHODS This systematic review and meta-analysis follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols statement, which have been registered in advance in the International prospective register of systematic reviews (registration number: CRD42023397592). We will search the following databases for randomized controlled trials: the Cochrane Skin Group Trials Register, MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Chinese Medical Current Content, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. The risk of bias of the included studies will be appraised using the Cochrane Collaboration tool for randomized controlled trials. Statistical analysis will be performed using IBM SPSS Statistics (Armonk, NY). RESULT The results of this systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSION This systematic review will provide evidence regarding the optimal timing for spinal cord decompression in patients with acute SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaowei Yang
- Graduate School of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, China
| | - Xinming Yang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, China
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12
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Kheram N, Boraschi A, Pfender N, Friedl S, Rasenack M, Fritz B, Kurtcuoglu V, Schubert M, Curt A, Zipser CM. Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure Dynamics as a Bedside Test in Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury to Assess Surgical Spinal Cord Decompression: Safety, Feasibility, and Proof-of-Concept. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2023; 37:171-182. [PMID: 36919616 PMCID: PMC10152574 DOI: 10.1177/15459683231159662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sufficient and timely spinal cord decompression is a critical surgical objective for neurological recovery in spinal cord injury (SCI). Residual cord compression may be associated with disturbed cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP) dynamics. OBJECTIVES This study aims to assess whether intrathecal CSFP dynamics in SCI following surgical decompression are feasible and safe, and to explore the diagnostic utility. METHODS Prospective cohort study. Bedside lumbar CSFP dynamics and cervical MRI were obtained following surgical decompression in N = 9 with mostly cervical acute-subacute SCI and N = 2 patients with non-traumatic SCI. CSFP measurements included mean CSFP, cardiac-driven CSFP peak-to-valley amplitudes (CSFPp), Valsalva maneuver, and Queckenstedt's test (firm pressure on jugular veins, QT). From QT, proxies for cerebrospinal fluid pulsatility curve were calculated (ie, relative pulse pressure coefficient; RPPC-Q). CSFP metrics were compared to spine-healthy patients. computer tomography (CT)-myelography was done in 3/8 simultaneous to CSFP measurements. RESULTS Mean age was 45 ± 9 years (range 17-67; 3F), SCI was complete (AIS A, N = 5) or incomplete (AIS B-D, N = 6). No adverse events related to CSFP assessments. CSFP rise during QT was induced in all patients [range 9.6-26.6 mmHg]. However, CSFPp was reduced in 3/11 (0.1-0.3 mmHg), and in 3/11 RPPC-Q was abnormal (0.01-0.05). Valsalva response was reduced in 8/11 (2.6-23.4 mmHg). CSFP dynamics corresponded to CT-myelography. CONCLUSIONS Comprehensive bedside lumbar CSFP dynamics in SCI following decompression are safe, feasible, and can reveal distinct patterns of residual spinal cord compression. Longitudinal studies are required to define critical thresholds of impaired CSFP dynamics that may impact neurological recovery and requiring surgical revisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najmeh Kheram
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute of Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Boraschi
- Institute of Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nikolai Pfender
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Susanne Friedl
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Maria Rasenack
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin Fritz
- Department of Radiology, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Martin Schubert
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Armin Curt
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Carl M Zipser
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
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13
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Trolle C, Goldberg E, Linnman C. Spinal cord atrophy after spinal cord injury - A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 38:103372. [PMID: 36931004 PMCID: PMC10026037 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Cervical spinal cord atrophy occurs after spinal cord injury. The atrophy and how level of injury affects atrophy differs between studies. A systematic review and metaanalysis were done after systematic searches of PubMed, CINAHL, APA PsycInfo and Web of Science. English language original studies analyzing MRI cervical spinal cord cross-sectional area in adults with spinal cord injury were included. Atrophy and correlation between injury level and atrophy were estimated with random-effects models, standardized mean differences, and 95% confidence intervals. 24 studies were identified. 13/24 studies had low risk of bias. Cord atrophy meta-analysis of 18 articles corresponded to a standardized mean difference of -1.48 (95% CI -1.78 to -1.19) with moderate to large interstudy heterogeneity. Logarithmic time since injury influenced heterogeneity. Longitudinal atrophy was best described by a logarithmic model, indicating that rate of spinal atrophy decreases over time. Meta-correlation of eight studies indicated more severe atrophy in more rostral injuries (0.41, 95% CI 0.20-0.59). Larger and preferably longitudinal studies, data sharing, and standardized protocols are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl Trolle
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medical Sciences, Rehabilitation Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Estee Goldberg
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Clas Linnman
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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14
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Liu Y, Zhang F, Sun Q, Liang L. Adalimumab combined with erythropoietin improves recovery from spinal cord injury by suppressing microglial M1 polarization-mediated neural inflammation and apoptosis. Inflammopharmacology 2023; 31:887-897. [PMID: 36642757 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-022-01090-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Adalimumab (ADM), a humanized antibody against tumour necrosis factor (TNF), is widely applied in treating inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, but its usage in spinal cord injury (SCI) is rarely reported. Hence, this study aimed to explore the effect of ADM with or without erythropoietin (EPO) on microglial polarization, neuroinflammation, neural apoptosis, and functional recovery in SCI. METHODS Primary microglia were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and then treated with ADM, EPO, or ADM combined with EPO. Then, primary neurons were incubated in the microglial culture medium. SCI rats were established and then treated with ADM, EPO or ADM combined with EPO. RESULTS ADM suppressed LPS-induced microglial M1 polarization, as reflected by downregulated iNOS and CD86 expression, and neuroinflammation, as reflected by decreased TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 expression, in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, ADM inhibited microglia-induced neural apoptosis, as reflected by TUNEL assay results and the expression of apoptotic markers (C-Caspase3 and Bcl2), in a dose-dependent manner. EPO monotherapy displayed an effect similar to that of ADM monotherapy. Furthermore, ADM combined with EPO therapy exhibited greater effects than either monotherapy in terms of inhibiting microglial M1 polarization, neuroinflammation, and neural apoptosis. In vivo experiments confirmed the findings of the in vitro experiments and showed that ADM combined with EPO improved SCI functional recovery and neural injury compared with monotherapy. CONCLUSION ADM combined with EPO improves recovery from SCI by suppressing microglial M1 polarization-mediated neural inflammation and apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanming Liu
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Zibo Central Hospital, No. 54 Communist Youth League West Road, Zhangdian District, Zibo, 255000, Shandong, China
| | - Feiyue Zhang
- Obstetrics Department, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, Shandong, China
| | - Qi Sun
- Department of Scientific Research and International Cooperation, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, Shandong, China
| | - Lichao Liang
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Zibo Central Hospital, No. 54 Communist Youth League West Road, Zhangdian District, Zibo, 255000, Shandong, China.
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15
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Schading S, David G, Max Emmenegger T, Achim C, Thompson A, Weiskopf N, Curt A, Freund P. Dynamics of progressive degeneration of major spinal pathways following spinal cord injury: A longitudinal study. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 37:103339. [PMID: 36758456 PMCID: PMC9939725 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Following spinal cord injury (SCI), disease processes spread gradually along the spinal cord forming a spatial gradient with most pronounced changes located at the lesion site. However, the dynamics of this gradient in SCI patients is not established. OBJECTIVE This study tracks the spatiotemporal dynamics of remote anterograde and retrograde spinal tract degeneration in the upper cervical cord following SCI over two years utilizing quantitative MRI. METHODS Twenty-three acute SCI patients (11 paraplegics, 12 tetraplegics) and 21 healthy controls were scanned with a T1-weighted sequence for volumetry and a FLASH sequence for myelin-sensitive magnetization transfer saturation (MTsat) of the upper cervical cord. We estimated myelin content from MTsat maps within the corticospinal tracts (CST) and dorsal columns (DC) and measured spinal cord atrophy by means of left-right width (LRW) and anterior-posterior width (APW) on the T1-weighted images across cervical levels C1-C3. MTsat in the CST and LRW were considered proxies for retrograde degeneration, while MTsat in the DC and APW provided evidence for anterograde degeneration, respectively. Using regression models, we compared the temporal and spatial trajectories of these MRI readouts between tetraplegics, paraplegics, and controls over a 2-year period and assessed their associations with clinical improvement. RESULTS Linear rates and absolute differences in myelin-sensitive MTsat indicated retrograde and anterograde neurodegeneration in the CST and DC, respectively. Changes in MTsat within the CST and in LRW progressively developed over time forming a gradient towards lower cervical levels by 2 years after injury, especially in tetraplegics (change per cervical level in MTsat: -0.247 p.u./level, p = 0.034; in LRW: -0.323 mm/level, p = 0.024). MTsat within the DC was already decreased at cervical levels C1-C3 at baseline (1.5 months after injury) in both tetra- and paraplegics, while linear decreases in APW over time were similar across C1-C3, preserving the spatial gradient. The relative improvement in light touch score was associated with MTsat within the DC at baseline (rs = 0.575, p = 0.014). CONCLUSION Rostral and remote to the injury, the CST and DC show ongoing structural changes, indicative of myelin reductions and atrophy within 2 years after SCI. While anterograde degeneration in the DC was already detectable uniformly at C1-C3 early following SCI, retrograde degeneration in the CST developed over time revealing specific spatial and temporal neurodegenerative gradients. Disentangling and quantifying such dynamic pathological processes may provide biomarkers for regenerative and remyelinating therapies along entire spinal pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Schading
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gergely David
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tim Max Emmenegger
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Cristian Achim
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alan Thompson
- Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nikolaus Weiskopf
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; Felix Bloch Institute for Solid State Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Armin Curt
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Freund
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.
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16
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Zhou Y, Li L, Mao C, Zhou D. Astragaloside IV ameliorates spinal cord injury through controlling ferroptosis in H 2O 2-damaged PC12 cells in vitro. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2022; 10:1176. [PMID: 36467371 PMCID: PMC9708485 DOI: 10.21037/atm-22-5196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with significant paralysis and high fatality. Recent research has revealed that ferroptosis participates in the pathogenesis of SCI. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), the main active ingredient of the plant Astragalus membranaceus, has been reported to promote motor function recovery in rats with SCI. This study explored the effects of AS-IV in H2O2-treated PC12 pheochromocytoma cells. METHODS The optimal concentration and duration of AS-IV treatment in PC12 cells was assessed using the cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay. Subsequently, the SCI cell model was established in PC12 cells using H2O2. The effects of AS-IV, FIN56, and transcription factor EB (TFEB) small interfering (si)RNA on cell viability and apoptosis in the SCI model were determined using the CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Caspase‑3 and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were measured by colorimetric assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by flow cytometry combined with dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay. The cellular ultrastructure was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The ferroptosis pathway-related proteins were confirmed using Western blot analysis. TFEB expression was confirmed by Western blot and immunofluorescence. RESULTS The optimal concentration and duration of AS-IV treatment in PC12 cells was determined to be 1.0 µM and 48 h, respectively. AS-IV markedly accelerated proliferation, suppressed apoptosis, and reduced ROS and LDH accumulation. Furthermore, AS-IV enhanced TFEB expression in H2O2-damaged PC12 cells. The effects of AS-IV on SCI were inhibited by si-TFEB, and this inhibition was further reinforced by the addition of FIN56. CONCLUSIONS The results of this investigation using the SCI cell model suggested that AS-IV alleviated SCI by promoting TFEB expression and subsequently mediating ferroptosis. This may represent a potential clinical treatment for SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifei Zhou
- Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Lin Li
- Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Chenghuang Mao
- Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Dongsheng Zhou
- Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
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17
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The Efficacy of Anterior Cervical Corpectomy and Fusion and Posterior Total Laminectomy on Cervical Spinal Cord Injury and Quality of Life. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2022; 2022:8216339. [PMID: 36213573 PMCID: PMC9536979 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8216339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This study is aimed at investigating the efficacy of anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion and posterior total laminectomy in the treatment of cervical spinal cord injury and assessing the impact of the two approaches on cervical spine function and patient quality of life. Retrospectively analyze the clinical data from 180 patients with cervical spinal cord injury who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from June 2019 to June 2021. The patients were divided into an anterior approach group (n = 89, treated with anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion) and a posterior approach group (n = 91, treated with posterior total laminectomy). The amount of blood loss in the posterior approach group was larger compared to the anterior approach group. Patients in the posterior approach group had higher wound diameters and operation times compared to the anterior approach group, as well as the operation cost. The visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of patients in the posterior approach group were significantly higher than in the anterior approach group one month after operation. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA), neck disability index (NDI), and American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scores of patients in both groups at 1, 6, and 9 months after surgery were higher compared to those before surgery, yet no significant differences were observed between the two groups. Also, no significant difference was observed in the incidence of complication and the quality of life between the two groups before and after treatment. Anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion and posterior total laminectomy can effectively restore the cervical nerve function in the treatment of cervical spinal cord injury. However, anterior subtotal vertebral resection is associated with improved perioperative indicators compared to posterior total laminectomy. Clinically, surgical methods can be selected according to imaging findings, the general condition of patients, and individual economic status.
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18
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Zipser CM, Fehlings MG, Margetis K, Curt A, Betz M, Sadler I, Tetreault L, Davies BM. Proposing a Framework to Understand the Role of Imaging in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Enhancement of MRI Protocols Needed for Accurate Diagnosis and Evaluation. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2022; 47:1259-1262. [PMID: 35857708 PMCID: PMC9365266 DOI: 10.1097/brs.0000000000004389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Carl M. Zipser
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael G. Fehlings
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spinal Program, University of Toronto and Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Armin Curt
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Betz
- University Spine Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Iwan Sadler
- Myelopathy Support, Myelopathy.org, Cambridge, UK
| | - Lindsay Tetreault
- Department of Neurology, NYU Langone Health, Graduate Medical Education, New York, NY
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19
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Soufi K, Nouri A, Martin AR. Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy and Spinal Cord Injury: Introduction to the Special Issue. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11154253. [PMID: 35893344 PMCID: PMC9331834 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11154253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Khadija Soufi
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, Davis, CA 95817, USA;
| | - Aria Nouri
- Division of Neurosurgery, Geneva University Hospitals, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland;
| | - Allan R. Martin
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, Davis, CA 95817, USA;
- Correspondence:
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20
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Xu X, Wang L, Jing J, Zhan J, Xu C, Xie W, Ye S, Zhao Y, Zhang C, Huang F. Conductive Collagen-Based Hydrogel Combined With Electrical Stimulation to Promote Neural Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:912497. [PMID: 35782495 PMCID: PMC9247657 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.912497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Injectable biomimetic hydrogels are a promising strategy for enhancing tissue repair after spinal cord injury (SCI) by restoring electrical signals and increasing stem cell differentiation. However, fabricating hydrogels that simultaneously exhibit high electrical conductivities, excellent mechanical properties, and biocompatibility remains a great challenge. In the present study, a collagen-based self-assembling cross-linking polymer network (SCPN) hydrogel containing poly-pyrrole (PPy), which imparted electroconductive properties, is developed for potential application in SCI repair. The prepared collagen/polypyrrole (Col/PPy)-based hydrogel exhibited a continuous and porous structure with pore sizes ranging from 50 to 200 μm. Mechanical test results indicated that the Young’s moduli of the prepared hydrogels were remarkably enhanced with PPy content in the range 0–40 mM. The conductivity of Col/PPy40 hydrogel was 0.176 ± 0.07 S/cm, which was beneficial for mediating electrical signals between tissues and accelerating the rate of nerve repair. The investigations of swelling and degradation of the hydrogels indicated that PPy chains interpenetrated and entangled with the collagen, thereby tightening the network structure of the hydrogel and improving its stability. The cell count kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and live/dead staining assay demonstrated that Col/PPy40 coupled with electrical simulation promoted the proliferation and survival of neural stem cells (NSCs). Compared with the other groups, the immunocytochemical analysis, qPCR, and Western blot studies suggested that Col/PPy40 coupled with ES maximally induced the differentiation of NSCs into neurons and inhibited the differentiation of NSCs into astrocytes. The results also indicated that the neurons in ES-treated Col/PPy40 hydrogel have longer neurites (170.8 ± 37.2 μm) and greater numbers of branch points (4.7 ± 1.2). Therefore, the prepared hydrogel system coupled with ES has potential prospects in the field of SCI treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinzhong Xu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Juehua Jing
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Junfeng Zhan
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Chungui Xu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wukun Xie
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Shuming Ye
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yao Zhao
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Chi Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- *Correspondence: Chi Zhang, ; Fei Huang,
| | - Fei Huang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- *Correspondence: Chi Zhang, ; Fei Huang,
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21
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Nrf2 signaling in the oxidative stress response after spinal cord injury. Neuroscience 2022; 498:311-324. [PMID: 35710066 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a central nervous system trauma that can cause severe neurological impairment. A series of pathological and physiological changes after SCI (e.g., inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction) promotes further deterioration of the microenvironment at the site of injury, leading to aggravation of neurological function. The multifunctional transcription factor NF-E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) has long been considered a key factor in antioxidant stress. Therefore, Nrf2 may be an ideal therapeutic target for SCI. A comprehensive understanding of the function and regulatory mechanism of Nrf2 in the pathophysiology of SCI will aid in the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for SCI. This review discusses the roles of Nrf2 in SCI, with the aim of aiding in further elucidation of SCI pathophysiology and in efforts to provide Nrf2-targeted strategies for the treatment of SCI.
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22
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Xing C, Jia Z, Qu H, Liu S, Jiang W, Zhong H, Zhou M, Zhu S, Ning G, Feng S. Correlation Analysis Between Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Anatomical Assessment and Behavioral Outcome in a Rat Contusion Model of Chronic Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:838786. [PMID: 35527814 PMCID: PMC9069114 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.838786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Although plenty of evidences from preclinical studies have led to potential treatments for patients with spinal cord injury (SCI), the failure to translate promising preclinical findings into clinical advances has long puzzled researchers. Thus, a more reliable combination of anatomical assessment and behavioral testing is urgently needed to improve the translational worth of preclinical studies. To address this issue, the present study was designed to relate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based anatomical assessment to behavioral outcome in a rat contusion model. Rats underwent contusion with three different heights to simulate various severities of SCI, and their locomotive functions were evaluated by the grid-walking test, Louisville swim scale (LSS), especially catwalk gait analysis system and basic testing, and Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) score. The results showed that the lesion area (LA) is a better indicator for damage assessment compared with other parameters in sagittal T2-weighted MRI (T2WI). Although two samples are marked as outliers by the box plot analysis, LA correlated closely with all of the behavioral testing without ceiling effect and floor effect. Moreover, with a moderate severity of SCI in a contusion height of 25 mm, the smaller the LA of the spinal cord measured on sagittal T2WI the better the functional performance, the smaller the cavity region and glial scar, the more spared the myelin, the higher the volatility, and the thicker the bladder wall. We found that LA significantly related with behavior outcomes, which indicated that LA could be a proxy of damage assessment. The combination of sagittal T2WI and four types of behavioral testing can be used as a reliable scheme to evaluate the prognosis for preclinical studies of SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Xing
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin, China
| | - Zeyu Jia
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin, China
| | - Haodong Qu
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin, China
| | - Song Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin, China
| | - Wang Jiang
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Hao Zhong
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin, China
| | - Mi Zhou
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin, China
| | - Shibo Zhu
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin, China
| | - Guangzhi Ning
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin, China
| | - Shiqing Feng
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin, China
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23
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Valošek J, Bednařík P, Keřkovský M, Hluštík P, Bednařík J, Svatkova A. Quantitative MR Markers in Non-Myelopathic Spinal Cord Compression: A Narrative Review. J Clin Med 2022; 11:2301. [PMID: 35566426 PMCID: PMC9105390 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11092301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Degenerative spinal cord compression is a frequent pathological condition with increasing prevalence throughout aging. Initial non-myelopathic cervical spinal cord compression (NMDC) might progress over time into potentially irreversible degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). While quantitative MRI (qMRI) techniques demonstrated the ability to depict intrinsic tissue properties, longitudinal in-vivo biomarkers to identify NMDC patients who will eventually develop DCM are still missing. Thus, we aim to review the ability of qMRI techniques (such as diffusion MRI, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), magnetization transfer (MT) imaging, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS)) to serve as prognostic markers in NMDC. While DTI in NMDC patients consistently detected lower fractional anisotropy and higher mean diffusivity at compressed levels, caused by demyelination and axonal injury, MT and 1H-MRS, along with advanced and tract-specific diffusion MRI, recently revealed microstructural alterations, also rostrally pointing to Wallerian degeneration. Recent studies also disclosed a significant relationship between microstructural damage and functional deficits, as assessed by qMRI and electrophysiology, respectively. Thus, tract-specific qMRI, in combination with electrophysiology, critically extends our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of degenerative spinal cord compression and may provide predictive markers of DCM development for accurate patient management. However, the prognostic value must be validated in longitudinal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Valošek
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University Olomouc, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (J.V.); (P.H.)
- Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University Olomouc, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Olomouc, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Bednařík
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark;
- Department of Radiology, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Miloš Keřkovský
- Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (M.K.); (J.B.)
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Brno, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Hluštík
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University Olomouc, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (J.V.); (P.H.)
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Olomouc, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Josef Bednařík
- Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (M.K.); (J.B.)
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Brno, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Svatkova
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark;
- Department of Radiology, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
- Department of Medicine III, Clinical Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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24
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Winkler CW, Clancy CS, Rosenke R, Peterson KE. Zika virus vertical transmission in interferon receptor1-antagonized Rag1 -/- mice results in postnatal brain abnormalities and clinical disease. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:46. [PMID: 35379362 PMCID: PMC8981715 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01351-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms by which vertically transmitted Zika virus (ZIKV) causes postnatal brain development abnormalities and congenital disease remain poorly understood. Here, we optimized the established anti-IFNAR1 treated, Rag1-/- (AIR) mouse model of ZIKV infection to examine the consequence of vertical transmission on neonate survival and postnatal brain development. We found that modulating the infectious dose and the frequency of anti-IFNAR1 treatment of pregnant mice (termed AIRlow mice) prolonged neonatal survival allowing for pathogenesis studies of brain tissues at critical postnatal time points. Postnatal AIRlow mice all had chronic ZIKV infection in the brain that was associated with decreased cortical thickness and cerebellar volume, increased gliosis, and higher levels of cell death in many brain areas including cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum when compared to controls. Interestingly, despite active infection and brain abnormalities, the neurodevelopmental program remained active in AIRlow mice as indicated by elevated mRNA expression of critical neurodevelopmental genes in the brain and enlargement of neural-progenitor rich regions of the cerebellum at a developmental time point analogous to birth in humans. Nevertheless, around the developmental time point when the brain is fully populated by neurons, AIRlow mice developed neurologic disease associated with persistent ZIKV infection in the brain, gliosis, and increased cell death. Together, these data show that vertically transmitted ZIKV infection in the brain of postnatal AIRlow mice strongly influences brain development resulting in structural abnormalities and cell death in multiple regions of the brain.
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25
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Chen S, Wang Y, Wu X, Chang J, Jin W, Li W, Song P, Wu Y, Zhu J, Qian Y, Shen C, Yu Y, Dong F. Degeneration of the Sensorimotor Tract in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy and Compensatory Structural Changes in the Brain. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:784263. [PMID: 35444527 PMCID: PMC9014124 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.784263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Degenerative cervical myelopathy is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, that has become increasingly prevalent in the aging population worldwide. The current study determined the factors affecting degeneration in the sensorimotor tract with degenerative cervical myelopathy and its relationship with brain structure. We divided patients into hyperintensity (HS) and non-hyperintensity (nHS) groups and measured the fractional anisotropy and apparent diffusion coefficients of the lateral corticospinal tract (CST), fasciculus gracilis and fasciculus cuneatus (FGC). Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) techniques were used to estimate brain structure changes. Correlation of the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score, light touch, pinprick, motor score, and fractional anisotropy (FA) ratios of the CST at different levels were analyzed. Compared to healthy controls, the FA ratios of CST in the HS and nHS groups were decreased at all levels, and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) ratio was increased only at C4/5 levels in the HS group. The FA ratio of FGC was decreased at the C3/4 and C4/5 levels in the HS group and only decreased at the C4/5 level in the nHS group. The ADC ratio was decreased only at the C4/5 level in the HS group. VBM analysis revealed that the volume of the precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, and paracentral lobule increased in patients compared to controls. TBSS analysis found no statistical significance between the sensory and motor tracts in white matter. The volume of clusters in HS and nHS groups negatively correlated with the C1/2 FA ratio of the CST. The results showed that the degeneration distance of the CST was longer than the FGC, and the degeneration distance was related to the degree of compression and spinal cord damage. Structural compensation and the neurotrophin family may lead to enlargement of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senlin Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xianyong Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jianchao Chang
- Department of Orthopedics, Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Weiming Jin
- Department of Orthopedics, Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Peiwen Song
- Department of Orthopedics, Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wu
- Department of Medical Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jiajia Zhu
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yinfeng Qian
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Cailiang Shen
- Department of Orthopedics, Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yongqiang Yu
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Fulong Dong
- Department of Orthopedics, Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
- *Correspondence: Fulong Dong
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26
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David G, Vallotton K, Hupp M, Curt A, Freund P, Seif M. Extent of cord pathology in the lumbosacral enlargement in non-traumatic versus traumatic spinal cord injury. J Neurotrauma 2022; 39:639-650. [PMID: 35018824 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2021.0389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study compares remote neurodegenerative changes caudal to a cervical injury in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) (i.e., non-traumatic) and incomplete traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) patients, using MRI-based tissue area measurements and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Eighteen mild to moderate DCM patients with sensory impairments (mJOA score: 16.2±1.9), 14 incomplete tetraplegic tSCI patients (AIS C&D), and 20 healthy controls were recruited. All participants received DTI and T2*-weighted scans in the lumbosacral enlargement (caudal to injury) and at C2/C3 (rostral to injury). MRI readouts included DTI metrics in the white matter (WM) columns and cross-sectional WM and gray matter area. One-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-hoc comparison (p<0.05) was used to assess group differences. In the lumbosacral enlargement, compared to DCM, tSCI patients exhibited decreased fractional anisotropy in the lateral (tSCI vs. DCM, -11.9%, p=0.007) and ventral WM column (-8.0%, p=0.021), and showed trend toward lower values in the dorsal column (-8.9%, p=0.068). At C2/C3, compared to controls, fractional anisotropy was lower in both groups in the dorsal (DCM vs. controls, -7.9%, p=0.024; tSCI vs. controls, -10.0%, p=0.007) and in the lateral column (DCM: -6.2%, p=0.039; tSCI: -13.3%, p<0.001), while tSCI patients had lower fractional anisotropy than DCM patients in the lateral column (-7.6%, p=0.029). WM areas were not different between patient groups but were lower compared to controls in the lumbosacral enlargement (DCM: -16.9%, p<0.001; tSCI, -10.5%, p=0.043) and at C2/C3 (DCM: -16.0%, p<0.001; tSCI: -18.1%, p<0.001). In conclusion, mild to moderate DCM and incomplete tSCI lead to similar degree of degeneration of the dorsal and lateral columns at C2/C3, but tSCI results in more widespread white matter damage in the lumbosacral enlargement. These remote changes are likely to contribute to the patients' impairment and recovery. DTI is a sensitive tool to assess remote pathological changes in DCM and tSCI patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergely David
- University of Zurich, Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.,University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 37734, Department of Systems Neuroscience, Hamburg, Germany;
| | - Kevin Vallotton
- University of Zurich, Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland;
| | - Markus Hupp
- University of Zurich, 27217, Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland;
| | - Armin Curt
- University of Zurich, 27217, Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland;
| | - Patrick Freund
- University of Zurich, 27217, Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.,UCL Institute of Neurology, 61554, Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.,UCL Institute of Neurology, 61554, Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.,Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, 27184, Department of Neurophysics, Leipzig, Germany;
| | - Maryam Seif
- University of Zurich, 27217, Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.,Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, 27184, Leipzig, Department of Neurophysics, Germany;
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27
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Smith AC, O’Dell DR, Albin SR, Berliner JC, Dungan D, Robinson E, Elliott JM, Carballido-Gamio J, Stevens-Lapsley J, Weber KA. Lateral Corticospinal Tract and Dorsal Column Damage: Predictive Relationships With Motor and Sensory Scores at Discharge From Acute Rehabilitation After Spinal Cord Injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2022; 103:62-68. [PMID: 34371017 PMCID: PMC8712383 DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2021.07.792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine if lateral corticospinal tract (LCST) integrity demonstrates a significant predictive relationship with future ipsilateral lower extremity motor function (LEMS) and if dorsal column (DC) integrity demonstrates a significant predictive relationship with future light touch (LT) sensory function post spinal cord injury (SCI) at time of discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. DESIGN Retrospective analyses of imaging and clinical outcomes. SETTING University and academic hospital. PARTICIPANTS A total of 151 participants (N=151) with SCI. INTERVENTIONS Inpatient rehabilitation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES LEMS and LT scores at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. RESULTS In 151 participants, right LCST spared tissue demonstrated a significant predictive relationship with right LEMS percentage recovered (β=0.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37-0.73; R=0.43; P<.001). Left LCST spared tissue demonstrated a significant predictive relationship with left LEMS percentage recovered (β=0.66; 95% CI, 0.50-0.82; R=0.51; P<.001). DC spared tissue demonstrated a significant predictive relationship with LT percentage recovered (β=0.69; 95% CI, 0.52-0.87; R=0.55; P<.001). When subgrouping the participants into motor complete vs incomplete SCI, motor relationships were no longer significant, but the sensory relationship remained significant. Those who had no voluntary motor function but recovered some also had significantly greater LCST spared tissue than those who did not recover motor function. CONCLUSIONS LCST demonstrated significant moderate predictive relationships with lower extremity motor function at the time of discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, in an ipsilesional manner. DC integrity demonstrated a significant moderate predictive relationship with recovered function of LT. With further development, these neuroimaging methods might be used to predict potential deficits after SCI and to provide corresponding targeted interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C. Smith
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy Program, Aurora, CO USA,Regis University School of Physical Therapy, Denver, CO USA
| | - Denise R. O’Dell
- Regis University School of Physical Therapy, Denver, CO USA,Craig Hospital, Englewood, CO USA
| | | | | | - David Dungan
- Craig Hospital, Englewood, CO USA,Radiology Imaging Associates, Denver, CO USA
| | | | - James M. Elliott
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Northern Sydney Local Health District, The Kolling Research Institute, St Leonards, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Jennifer Stevens-Lapsley
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy Program, Aurora, CO USA
| | - Kenneth A. Weber
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Palo Alto, CA USA
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Martín-López M, González-Muñoz E, Gómez-González E, Sánchez-Pernaute R, Márquez-Rivas J, Fernández-Muñoz B. Modeling chronic cervical spinal cord injury in aged rats for cell therapy studies. J Clin Neurosci 2021; 94:76-85. [PMID: 34863466 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2021.09.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
With an expanding elderly population, an increasing number of older adults will experience spinal cord injury (SCI) and might be candidates for cell-based therapies, yet there is a paucity of research in this age group. The objective of the present study was to analyze how aged rats tolerate behavioral testing, surgical procedures, post-operative complications, intra-spinal cell transplantation and immunosuppression, and to examine the effectiveness of human iPSC-derived Neural Progenitor Cells (IMR90-hiPSC-NPCs) in a model of SCI. We performed behavioral tests in rats before and after inducing cervical hemi-contusions at C4 level with a fourth-generation Ohio State University Injury Device. Four weeks later, we injected IMR90-hiPSC-NPCs in animals that were immunosuppressed by daily cyclosporine injection. Four weeks after injection we analyzed locomotor behavior and mortality, and histologically assessed the survival of transplanted human NPCs. As rats aged, their success at completing behavioral tests decreased. In addition, we observed high mortality rates during behavioral training (41.2%), after cervical injury (63.2%) and after cell injection (50%). Histological analysis revealed that injected cells survived and remained at and around the grafted site and did not cause tumors. No locomotor improvement was observed in animals four weeks after IMR90-hiPSC-NPC transplantation. Our results show that elderly rats are highly vulnerable to interventions, and thus large groups of animals must be initially established to study the potential efficacy of cell-based therapies in age-related chronic myelopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Martín-López
- Unidad de Producción y Reprogramación celular (UPRC), Red Andaluza de Diseño y Traslación de Terapias Avanzadas (RAdytTA), 41092 Sevilla, Spain; Grupo de Neurociencia Aplicada, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas de Sevilla (IBIS), 41013 Sevilla, Spain; Programa de Doctorado en Biología Molecular, Biomedicina e Investigación Clínica, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Elena González-Muñoz
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Genética y Fisiología, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, (CIBER-BBN), 29071 Málaga, Spain.
| | - Emilio Gómez-González
- Grupo de Neurociencia Aplicada, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas de Sevilla (IBIS), 41013 Sevilla, Spain; Grupo de Física Interdisciplinar, Departamento de Física Aplicada III, ETS Ingeniería, Universidad de Sevilla, 41092 Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Rosario Sánchez-Pernaute
- Unidad de Coordinación, Red Andaluza de Diseño y Traslación de Terapias Avanzadas (RAdytTA), 41092 Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Javier Márquez-Rivas
- Grupo de Neurociencia Aplicada, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas de Sevilla (IBIS), 41013 Sevilla, Spain; Departamento de Neurocirugía, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, 41013 Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Beatriz Fernández-Muñoz
- Unidad de Producción y Reprogramación celular (UPRC), Red Andaluza de Diseño y Traslación de Terapias Avanzadas (RAdytTA), 41092 Sevilla, Spain.
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Pfyffer D, Freund P. Spinal cord pathology revealed by MRI in traumatic spinal cord injury. Curr Opin Neurol 2021; 34:789-795. [PMID: 34619692 DOI: 10.1097/wco.0000000000000998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review covers recent advances in identifying conventional and quantitative neuroimaging spinal cord biomarkers of lesion severity and remote spinal cord pathology following traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). It discusses the potential of the most sensitive neuroimaging spinal cord biomarkers to complement clinical workup and improve prediction of recovery. RECENT FINDINGS At the injury site, preserved midsagittal tissue bridges - based on conventional sagittal T2-weighted scans - can be identified in the majority of SCI patients; its width being predictive of recovery. Remote from the injury, diffusion indices, and myelin/iron-sensitive neuroimaging-based changes are sensitive to secondary disease processes; its magnitude of change being associated with neurological outcome. SUMMARY Neuroimaging biomarkers reveal focal and remote cord pathology. These biomarkers show sensitivity to the underlying disease processes and are clinically eloquent. Thus, they improve injury characterization, enable spatiotemporal tracking of cord pathology, and predict recovery of function following traumatic SCI. Neuroimaging biomarkers, therefore, hold potential to complement the clinical diagnostic workup, improve patient stratification, and can serve as potential endpoints in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Pfyffer
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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30
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Generic acquisition protocol for quantitative MRI of the spinal cord. Nat Protoc 2021; 16:4611-4632. [PMID: 34400839 PMCID: PMC8811488 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-021-00588-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Quantitative spinal cord (SC) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) presents many challenges, including a lack of standardized imaging protocols. Here we present a prospectively harmonized quantitative MRI protocol, which we refer to as the spine generic protocol, for users of 3T MRI systems from the three main manufacturers: GE, Philips and Siemens. The protocol provides guidance for assessing SC macrostructural and microstructural integrity: T1-weighted and T2-weighted imaging for SC cross-sectional area computation, multi-echo gradient echo for gray matter cross-sectional area, and magnetization transfer and diffusion weighted imaging for assessing white matter microstructure. In a companion paper from the same authors, the spine generic protocol was used to acquire data across 42 centers in 260 healthy subjects. The key details of the spine generic protocol are also available in an open-access document that can be found at https://github.com/spine-generic/protocols . The protocol will serve as a starting point for researchers and clinicians implementing new SC imaging initiatives so that, in the future, inclusion of the SC in neuroimaging protocols will be more common. The protocol could be implemented by any trained MR technician or by a researcher/clinician familiar with MRI acquisition.
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31
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Vallotton K, David G, Hupp M, Pfender N, Cohen-Adad J, Fehlings MG, Samson RS, Wheeler-Kingshott CAMG, Curt A, Freund P, Seif M. Tracking White and Gray Matter Degeneration along the Spinal Cord Axis in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy. J Neurotrauma 2021; 38:2978-2987. [PMID: 34238034 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2021.0148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aims to determine tissue-specific neurodegeneration across the spinal cord in patients with mild-moderate degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). Twenty-four mild-moderate DCM and 24 healthy subjects were recruited. In patients, a T2-weighted scan was acquired at the compression site, whereas in all participants a T2*-weighted and diffusion-weighted scan was acquired at the cervical level (C2-C3) and in the lumbar enlargement (i.e., rostral and caudal to the site of compression). We quantified intramedullary signal changes, maximal canal and cord compression, white (WM) and gray matter (GM) atrophy, and microstructural indices from diffusion-weighted scans. All patients underwent clinical (modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association; mJOA) and electrophysiological assessments. Regression analysis assessed associations between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) readouts and electrophysiological and clinical outcomes. Twenty patients were classified with mild and 4 with moderate DCM using the mJOA scale. The most frequent site of compression was at the C5-C6 level, with maximum cord compression of 38.73% ± 11.57%. Ten patients showed imaging evidence of cervical myelopathy. In the cervical cord, WM and GM atrophy and WM microstructural changes were evident, whereas in the lumbar cord only WM showed atrophy and microstructural changes. Remote cervical cord WM microstructural changes were pronounced in patients with radiological myelopathy and associated with impaired electrophysiology. Lumbar cord WM atrophy was associated with lower limb sensory impairments. In conclusion, tissue-specific neurodegeneration revealed by quantitative MRI is already apparent across the spinal cord in mild-moderate DCM before the onset of severe clinical impairments. WM microstructural changes are particularly sensitive to remote pathologically and clinically eloquent changes in DCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Vallotton
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gergely David
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Markus Hupp
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nikolai Pfender
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Julien Cohen-Adad
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Functional Neuroimaging Unit, CRIUGM, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Mila-Quebec AI Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Michael G Fehlings
- Department of Surgery and Spine Program, University of Toronto and Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rebecca S Samson
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, London, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia A M Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Brain Connectivity Centre, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Armin Curt
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Freund
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maryam Seif
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
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32
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Valošek J, Labounek R, Horák T, Horáková M, Bednařík P, Keřkovský M, Kočica J, Rohan T, Lenglet C, Cohen-Adad J, Hluštík P, Vlčková E, Kadaňka Z, Bednařík J, Svatkova A. Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging reveals tract-specific microstructural correlates of electrophysiological impairments in non-myelopathic and myelopathic spinal cord compression. Eur J Neurol 2021; 28:3784-3797. [PMID: 34288268 PMCID: PMC8530898 DOI: 10.1111/ene.15027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Non-myelopathic degenerative cervical spinal cord compression (NMDC) frequently occurs throughout aging and may progress to potentially irreversible degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). Whereas standard clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electrophysiological measures assess compression severity and neurological dysfunction, respectively, underlying microstructural deficits still have to be established in NMDC and DCM patients. The study aims to establish tract-specific diffusion MRI markers of electrophysiological deficits to predict the progression of asymptomatic NMDC to symptomatic DCM. METHODS High-resolution 3 T diffusion MRI was acquired for 103 NMDC and 21 DCM patients compared to 60 healthy controls to reveal diffusion alterations and relationships between tract-specific diffusion metrics and corresponding electrophysiological measures and compression severity. Relationship between the degree of DCM disability, assessed by the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale, and tract-specific microstructural changes in DCM patients was also explored. RESULTS The study identified diffusion-derived abnormalities in the gray matter, dorsal and lateral tracts congruent with trans-synaptic degeneration and demyelination in chronic degenerative spinal cord compression with more profound alterations in DCM than NMDC. Diffusion metrics were affected in the C3-6 area as well as above the compression level at C3 with more profound rostral deficits in DCM than NMDC. Alterations in lateral motor and dorsal sensory tracts correlated with motor and sensory evoked potentials, respectively, whereas electromyography outcomes corresponded with gray matter microstructure. DCM disability corresponded with microstructure alteration in lateral columns. CONCLUSIONS Outcomes imply the necessity of high-resolution tract-specific diffusion MRI for monitoring degenerative spinal pathology in longitudinal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Valošek
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czechia.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital, Olomouc, Czechia
| | - René Labounek
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czechia.,Division of Clinical Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Tomáš Horák
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia.,Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Magda Horáková
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia.,Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Petr Bednařík
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia.,High Field MR Centre, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Miloš Keřkovský
- Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia.,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Jan Kočica
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia.,Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Tomáš Rohan
- Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia.,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Christophe Lenglet
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Julien Cohen-Adad
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Functional Neuroimaging Unit, CRIUGM, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Mila - Quebec AI Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Petr Hluštík
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czechia
| | - Eva Vlčková
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia.,Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Zdeněk Kadaňka
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia.,Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Josef Bednařík
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia.,Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Alena Svatkova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia.,Department of Medicine III, Clinical Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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33
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Chitturi J, Sanganahalli BG, Herman P, Hyder F, Ni L, Elkabes S, Heary R, Kannurpatti SS. Association Between Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Spinal Morphometry and Sensorimotor Behavior in a Hemicontusion Model of Incomplete Cervical Spinal Cord Injury in Rats. Brain Connect 2020; 10:479-489. [PMID: 32981350 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2020.0812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Structural connectivity in the reorganizing spinal cord after injury dictates functional connectivity and hence the neurological outcome. As magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based structural parameters are mostly accessible across spinal cord injury (SCI) patients, we studied MRI-based spinal morphological changes and their relationship to neurological outcome in the rat model of cervical SCI. Introduction: Functional connectivity assessments on patients with SCI rely heavily on MRI-based approaches to investigate the complete neural axis (both spinal cord and brain). Hence, underlying MRI-based structural and morphometric changes in the reorganizing spinal cord and their relationship to neurological outcomes is crucial for meaningful interpretation of functional connectivity changes across the neural axis. Methods: Young adult rats, aged 1.5 months, underwent a precise mechanical impact hemicontusion incomplete cervical SCI at the C4/C5 level, after which sensorimotor behavioral assessments were tracked during the reorganization period of 1-6 weeks, followed by MRI of the cervical spinal cord at 8 weeks after SCI. Results: A significant ipsilesional forelimb motor debilitation was observed from 1 to 6 weeks after injury. Heat sensitivity testing (Hargreaves) showed ipsilesional forelimb hypersensitivity at 5 and 6 weeks after SCI. MRI of the cervical spine showed ipsilateral T1- and T2-weighted lesions across all SCI rats compared with no significant lesions in sham rats. Morphometric assessments of the lesional and nonlesional changes showed the diverse nature of their interindividual variability in the SCI receiving rats. While the various T1 and T2 MRI lesional volumes associated weakly or moderately with neurological outcome, the nonlesional spinal morphometric changes associated much more strongly. The results have important implications for interpreting functional MRI-based functional connectivity after SCI by providing vital underlying structural changes and their relative neurological impact. Impact statement Functional connectivity assessments on patients with SCI relies heavily upon MRI based approaches. Hence, underlying MRI based structural and morphometric changes in the reorganizing spinal cord and its relationship to neurological outcomes is vital for meaningful interpretation of functional connectivity changes across the complete neural axis (both spinal cord and the brain).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyothsna Chitturi
- Department of Radiology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Basavaraju G Sanganahalli
- Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Magnetic Resonance Research Center (MRRC), Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Quantitative Neuroscience with Magnetic Resonance (QNMR) Core Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Peter Herman
- Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Magnetic Resonance Research Center (MRRC), Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Quantitative Neuroscience with Magnetic Resonance (QNMR) Core Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Fahmeed Hyder
- Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Magnetic Resonance Research Center (MRRC), Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Quantitative Neuroscience with Magnetic Resonance (QNMR) Core Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Li Ni
- Department of Neurosurgery, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Stella Elkabes
- Department of Neurosurgery, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Robert Heary
- Hackensack University School of Medicine, Nutley, New Jersey, USA
| | - Sridhar S Kannurpatti
- Department of Radiology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, USA
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34
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David G, Mohammadi S, Martin AR, Cohen-Adad J, Weiskopf N, Thompson A, Freund P. Traumatic and nontraumatic spinal cord injury: pathological insights from neuroimaging. Nat Rev Neurol 2019; 15:718-731. [PMID: 31673093 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-019-0270-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Pathophysiological changes in the spinal cord white and grey matter resulting from injury can be observed with MRI techniques. These techniques provide sensitive markers of macrostructural and microstructural tissue integrity, which correlate with histological findings. Spinal cord MRI findings in traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) and nontraumatic spinal cord injury - the most common form of which is degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) - have provided important insights into the pathophysiological processes taking place not just at the focal injury site but also rostral and caudal to the spinal injury. Although tSCI and DCM have different aetiologies, they show similar degrees of spinal cord pathology remote from the injury site, suggesting the involvement of similar secondary degenerative mechanisms. Advanced quantitative MRI protocols that are sensitive to spinal cord pathology have the potential to improve diagnosis and, more importantly, predict outcomes in patients with tSCI or nontraumatic spinal cord injury. This Review describes the insights into tSCI and DCM that have been revealed by neuroimaging and outlines current activities and future directions for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergely David
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Siawoosh Mohammadi
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Allan R Martin
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julien Cohen-Adad
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nikolaus Weiskopf
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK.,Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alan Thompson
- Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Patrick Freund
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. .,Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK. .,Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany. .,Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK. .,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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