1
|
Sousa CS, Monteiro A, Salgado AJ, Silva NA. Combinatorial therapies for spinal cord injury repair. Neural Regen Res 2025; 20:1293-1308. [PMID: 38845223 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-24-00061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injuries have profound detrimental effects on individuals, regardless of whether they are caused by trauma or non-traumatic events. The compromised regeneration of the spinal cord is primarily attributed to damaged neurons, inhibitory molecules, dysfunctional immune response, and glial scarring. Unfortunately, currently, there are no effective treatments available that can fully repair the spinal cord and improve functional outcomes. Nevertheless, numerous pre-clinical approaches have been studied for spinal cord injury recovery, including using biomaterials, cells, drugs, or technological-based strategies. Combinatorial treatments, which target various aspects of spinal cord injury pathophysiology, have been extensively tested in the last decade. These approaches aim to synergistically enhance repair processes by addressing various obstacles faced during spinal cord regeneration. Thus, this review intends to provide scientists and clinicians with an overview of pre-clinical combinatorial approaches that have been developed toward the solution of spinal cord regeneration as well as update the current knowledge about spinal cord injury pathophysiology with an emphasis on the current clinical management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carla S Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar - gualtar, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's Associate Lab, PT Government Associated Lab, Campus de Gualtar - gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Andreia Monteiro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar - gualtar, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's Associate Lab, PT Government Associated Lab, Campus de Gualtar - gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - António J Salgado
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar - gualtar, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's Associate Lab, PT Government Associated Lab, Campus de Gualtar - gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Nuno A Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar - gualtar, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's Associate Lab, PT Government Associated Lab, Campus de Gualtar - gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tashiro S, Shibata S, Nagoshi N, Zhang L, Yamada S, Tsuji T, Nakamura M, Okano H. Do Pharmacological Treatments Act in Collaboration with Rehabilitation in Spinal Cord Injury Treatment? A Review of Preclinical Studies. Cells 2024; 13:412. [PMID: 38474376 DOI: 10.3390/cells13050412] [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: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
There is no choice other than rehabilitation as a practical medical treatment to restore impairments or improve activities after acute treatment in people with spinal cord injury (SCI); however, the effect is unremarkable. Therefore, researchers have been seeking effective pharmacological treatments. These will, hopefully, exert a greater effect when combined with rehabilitation. However, no review has specifically summarized the combinatorial effects of rehabilitation with various medical agents. In the current review, which included 43 articles, we summarized the combinatorial effects according to the properties of the medical agents, namely neuromodulation, neurotrophic factors, counteraction to inhibitory factors, and others. The recovery processes promoted by rehabilitation include the regeneration of tracts, neuroprotection, scar tissue reorganization, plasticity of spinal circuits, microenvironmental change in the spinal cord, and enforcement of the musculoskeletal system, which are additive, complementary, or even synergistic with medication in many cases. However, there are some cases that lack interaction or even demonstrate competition between medication and rehabilitation. A large fraction of the combinatorial mechanisms remains to be elucidated, and very few studies have investigated complex combinations of these agents or targeted chronically injured spinal cords.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Syoichi Tashiro
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyorin University, Tokyo 181-8611, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Shibata
- Division of Microscopic Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata 951-8510, Japan
| | - Narihito Nagoshi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Liang Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyorin University, Tokyo 181-8611, Japan
| | - Shin Yamada
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyorin University, Tokyo 181-8611, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Tsuji
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Masaya Nakamura
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Fallahi MS, Azadnajafabad S, Maroufi SF, Pour-Rashidi A, Khorasanizadeh M, Sattari SA, Faramarzi S, Slavin KV. Application of Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation. World Neurosurg 2023; 174:11-24. [PMID: 36858292 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.02.101] [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: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a prevalent devastating condition causing significant morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries. The pathophysiology of SCI involves ischemia, neuroinflammation, cell death, and scar formation. Due to the lack of definitive therapy for SCI, interventions mainly focus on rehabilitation to reduce deterioration and improve the patient's quality of life. Currently, rehabilitative exercises and neuromodulation methods such as functional electrical stimulation, epidural electrical stimulation, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation are being tested in patients with SCI. Other spinal stimulation techniques are being developed and tested in animal models. However, often these methods require complex surgical procedures and solely focus on motor function. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is currently used in patients with epilepsy, depression, and migraine and is being investigated for its application in other disorders. In animal models of SCI, VNS significantly improved locomotor function by ameliorating inflammation and improving plasticity, suggesting its use in human subjects. SCI patients also suffer from nonmotor complications, including pain, gastrointestinal dysfunction, cardiovascular disorders, and chronic conditions such as obesity and diabetes. VNS has shown promising results in alleviating these conditions in non-SCI patients, which makes it a possible therapeutic option in SCI patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Sadegh Fallahi
- Neurosurgical Research Network (NRN), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran; School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sina Azadnajafabad
- Neurosurgical Research Network (NRN), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran; Department of Surgery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Farzad Maroufi
- Neurosurgical Research Network (NRN), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran; Department of Neurosurgery, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Pour-Rashidi
- Neurosurgical Research Network (NRN), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran; Department of Neurosurgery, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - MirHojjat Khorasanizadeh
- Department of Neurosurgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Shahab Aldin Sattari
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sina Faramarzi
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Konstantin V Slavin
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Farpour S, Asadi-Shekaari M, Borhani Haghighi A, Farpour HR. Improving Swallowing Function and Ability in Post Stroke Dysphagia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Dysphagia 2023; 38:330-339. [PMID: 35715574 PMCID: PMC9205412 DOI: 10.1007/s00455-022-10470-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Post-stroke dysphagia is a prevalent, life threatening condition. Scientists recommended implementing behavioral therapies with new technologies such as transcranial direct current of stimulation (TDCS). Studies showed promising TDCS effects, and scientists suggested the investigation of the effectiveness of different montages. Supramarginal gyrus (SMG) is important in swallowing function. Our study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of stimulating SMG in improving post-stroke dysphagia. Forty-four patients finished the study (a randomized, double-blind one). All of them received behavioral therapy. The real group received anodal (2 mA, 20 min) stimulation on the intact SMG, and the sham group received the same for 30 s (5 sessions). Patients were assessed with Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) and Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA) after treatment and at one-month follow-up. The results showed that the difference between groups at baseline was not significant. According to MASA both groups improved significantly during the time (p-value < 0.001). The improvement in the real group was significantly higher than in the sham group after treatment (p-value = 0.002) and after one-month follow-up (p-value < 0.001). According to FOIS, most of the patients in the real group (72.70%) reached level 6 or 7 after one-month follow-up which was significantly higher than the sham group (31.80%, p-value = 0.007). In conclusion, TDCS applied to the scalp's surface associated with SMG localization may improve swallowing function in the stroke patients with dysphagia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sima Farpour
- grid.412105.30000 0001 2092 9755Neuroscience Research Center, Neuropharmacology Institute, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Majid Asadi-Shekaari
- grid.412105.30000 0001 2092 9755Neuroscience Research Center, Neuropharmacology Institute, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Afshin Borhani Haghighi
- grid.412571.40000 0000 8819 4698Faculty of Medicine, Clinical Neurology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Khalili Street, Shiraz, Iran
- grid.412571.40000 0000 8819 4698Clinical Neurology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hamid Reza Farpour
- grid.412571.40000 0000 8819 4698Faculty of Medicine, Bone and Joint Diseases Research Center, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Emam Hossein Street, Shiraz, Iran
- grid.412571.40000 0000 8819 4698Bone and Joint Diseases Research Center, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- grid.412571.40000 0000 8819 4698Shiraz Geriatrics Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hu D, Wang S, Li B, Liu H, He J. Spinal Cord Injury-Induced Changes in Encoding and Decoding of Bipedal Walking by Motor Cortical Ensembles. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11091193. [PMID: 34573213 PMCID: PMC8469283 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11091193] [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: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that motor recovery following spinal cord injury (SCI) is task-specific. However, most consequential conclusions about locomotor functional recovery from SCI have been derived from quadrupedal locomotion paradigms. In this study, two monkeys were trained to perform a bipedal walking task, mimicking human walking, before and after T8 spinal cord hemisection. Importantly, there is no pharmacological therapy with nerve growth factor for monkeys after SCI; thus, in this study, the changes that occurred in the brain were spontaneous. The impairment of locomotion on the ipsilateral side was more severe than that on the contralateral side. We used information theory to analyze single-cell activity from the left primary motor cortex (M1), and results show that neuronal populations in the unilateral primary motor cortex gradually conveyed more information about the bilateral hindlimb muscle activities during the training of bipedal walking after SCI. We further demonstrated that, after SCI, progressively expanded information from the neuronal population reconstructed more accurate control of muscle activity. These results suggest that, after SCI, the unilateral primary motor cortex could gradually regain control of bilateral coordination and motor recovery and in turn enhance the performance of brain–machine interfaces.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dingyin Hu
- School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (B.L.); (H.L.); (J.H.)
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing 100081, China;
- Correspondence:
| | - Shirong Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing 100081, China;
| | - Bo Li
- School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (B.L.); (H.L.); (J.H.)
| | - Honghao Liu
- School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (B.L.); (H.L.); (J.H.)
| | - Jiping He
- School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (B.L.); (H.L.); (J.H.)
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing 100081, China;
- Center for Neural Interface Design, School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 86287, USA
| |
Collapse
|