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Liew SL, Lin DJ, Cramer SC. Interventions to Improve Recovery After Stroke. Stroke 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-69424-7.00061-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Page SJ, Kasner SE, Bockbrader M, Goldstein M, Finklestein SP, Ning M, El-Feky WH, Wilson CA, Roberts H. A double-blind, randomized, controlled study of two dose strengths of dalfampridine extended release on walking deficits in ischemic stroke. Restor Neurol Neurosci 2021; 38:301-309. [PMID: 32651338 PMCID: PMC7592666 DOI: 10.3233/rnn-201009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stroke-induced ischemia affects both cortex and underlying white matter. Dalfampridine extended release tablets (D-ER) enhance action potential conduction in demyelinated axons, which may positively affect post-stroke recovery. OBJECTIVE Based on promising preliminary data, we compared efficacy of D-ER administered at 7.5 mg or 10 mg with placebo on post-stroke ambulation. Primary study outcome (response) was a ≥20% increase on the 2-minute walk test (2 MinWT) at 12 weeks after first drug administration. METHODS This was a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, 3-arm, parallel-group, safety and efficacy trial. After obtaining baseline measures of 2 MinWT, Walk-12, and Timed Up and Go, subjects entered a 2-week, single-blind placebo run-in period and were randomized 1:1:1 to receive 7.5 mg D-ER, 10 mg D-ER, or placebo, dosed twice-daily for 12 weeks. Follow-up evaluations occurred at weeks 14 and 16 when subjects were off study drug. RESULTS The study was terminated early with 377 of planned 540 patients enrolled, due to no treatment effect. At week 12, mean increase in distances walked in 2 minutes were similar among the 3 study groups (14.9±40.0 feet; 19.4±39.6 feet; and 20.4±38.3 feet for placebo, 7.5 mg D-ER, and 10 mg D-ER, respectively). The proportion of subjects who showed ≥20% improvement on 2 MinWT at week 12 was 13.5%, 14.0%, and 19.0%, for placebo, 7.5 mg D-ER, and 10 mg D-ER, respectively; these were nonsignificant changes from baseline for all groups. CONCLUSIONS D-ER at either a 7.5-mg or 10-mg dose did not significantly increase performance on the 2 MinWT in stroke survivors with gait impairment, although this study was terminated early before full enrollment. (Clinical Trial # NCT02271217).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - MingMing Ning
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Holly Roberts
- Acorda Therapeutics, Inc., Ardsley, NY, USA,Correspondence to: Holly Roberts, MD, Acorda Therapeutics, Inc., 420 Saw Mill River Road, Ardsley, NY 10502, USA.
Tel.: (914) 326 5224; E-mail:
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Guehl NJ, Ramos-Torres KM, Linnman C, Moon SH, Dhaynaut M, Wilks MQ, Han PK, Ma C, Neelamegam R, Zhou YP, Popko B, Correia JA, Reich DS, Fakhri GE, Herscovitch P, Normandin MD, Brugarolas P. Evaluation of the potassium channel tracer [ 18F]3F4AP in rhesus macaques. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2021; 41:1721-1733. [PMID: 33090071 PMCID: PMC8221756 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x20963404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Demyelination causes slowed or failed neuronal conduction and is a driver of disability in multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases. Currently, the gold standard for imaging demyelination is MRI, but despite its high spatial resolution and sensitivity to demyelinated lesions, it remains challenging to obtain specific and quantitative measures of molecular changes involved in demyelination. To understand the contribution of demyelination in different diseases and to assess the efficacy of myelin-repair therapies, it is critical to develop new in vivo imaging tools sensitive to changes induced by demyelination. Upon demyelination, axonal K+ channels, normally located underneath the myelin sheath, become exposed and increase in expression, causing impaired conduction. Here, we investigate the properties of the K+ channel PET tracer [18F]3F4AP in primates and its sensitivity to a focal brain injury that occurred three years prior to imaging. [18F]3F4AP exhibited favorable properties for brain imaging including high brain penetration, high metabolic stability, high plasma availability, high reproducibility, high specificity, and fast kinetics. [18F]3F4AP showed preferential binding in areas of low myelin content as well as in the previously injured area. Sensitivity of [18F]3F4AP for the focal brain injury was higher than [18F]FDG, [11C]PiB, and [11C]PBR28, and compared favorably to currently used MRI methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas J Guehl
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Karla M Ramos-Torres
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Clas Linnman
- Spaulding Neuroimaging Lab, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Sung-Hyun Moon
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maeva Dhaynaut
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Moses Q Wilks
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paul K Han
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chao Ma
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ramesh Neelamegam
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yu-Peng Zhou
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brian Popko
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - John A Correia
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel S Reich
- Translational Neuroradiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Georges El Fakhri
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peter Herscovitch
- Positron Emission Tomography Department, NIH Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Marc D Normandin
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pedro Brugarolas
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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He JQ, Sussman ES, Steinberg GK. Revisiting Stem Cell-Based Clinical Trials for Ischemic Stroke. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:575990. [PMID: 33381020 PMCID: PMC7767918 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.575990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Stroke is the leading cause of serious long-term disability, significantly reducing mobility in almost half of the affected patients aged 65 years and older. There are currently no proven neurorestorative treatments for chronic stroke. To address the complex problem of restoring function in ischemic brain tissue, stem cell transplantation-based therapies have emerged as potential restorative therapies. Aligning with the major cell types found within the ischemic brain, stem-cell-based clinical trials for ischemic stroke have fallen under three broad cell lineages: hematopoietic, mesenchymal, and neural. In this review article, we will discuss the scientific rationale for transplanting cells from each of these lineages and provide an overview of published and ongoing trials using this framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy Q He
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Eric S Sussman
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Gary K Steinberg
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States.,Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States.,Stanford Stroke Center, Stanford Health Care, Stanford, CA, United States
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5
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De Giglio L, Cortese F, Pennisi EM. Aminopiridines in the treatment of multiple sclerosis and other neurological disorders. Neurodegener Dis Manag 2020; 10:409-423. [PMID: 33054615 DOI: 10.2217/nmt-2020-0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Symptomatic treatment has a great relevance for the management of patients with neurologic diseases, since it reduces disease burden and improves quality of life. Aminopyridines (APs) are a group of potassium (K+) channel blocking agents that exert their activity both at central nervous system level and on neuromuscular junction. This review describes the use of APs for the symptomatic treatment of neurological conditions. We will describe trials leading to the approval of the extended-release 4-aminopyridine for MS and evidence in support of the use in other neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura De Giglio
- Department of Medicine, San Filippo Neri Hospital, Neurology Unit, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Cortese
- Department of Medicine, San Filippo Neri Hospital, Neurology Unit, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Maria Pennisi
- Department of Medicine, San Filippo Neri Hospital, Neurology Unit, Rome, Italy
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Silverstein J, Cortes M, Tsagaris KZ, Climent A, Gerber LM, Oromendia C, Fonzetti P, Ratan RR, Kitago T, Iacoboni M, Wu A, Dobkin B, Edwards DJ. Paired Associative Stimulation as a Tool to Assess Plasticity Enhancers in Chronic Stroke. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:792. [PMID: 31427918 PMCID: PMC6687765 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Purpose The potential for adaptive plasticity in the post-stroke brain is difficult to estimate, as is the demonstration of central nervous system (CNS) target engagement of drugs that show promise in facilitating stroke recovery. We set out to determine if paired associative stimulation (PAS) can be used (a) as an assay of CNS plasticity in patients with chronic stroke, and (b) to demonstrate CNS engagement by memantine, a drug which has potential plasticity-modulating effects for use in motor recovery following stroke. Methods We examined the effect of PAS in fourteen participants with chronic hemiparetic stroke at five time-points in a within-subjects repeated measures design study: baseline off-drug, and following a week of orally administered memantine at doses of 5, 10, 15, and 20 mg, comprising a total of seventy sessions. Each week, MEP amplitude pre and post-PAS was assessed in the contralesional hemisphere as a marker of enhanced or diminished plasticity. Strength and dexterity were recorded each week to monitor motor-specific clinical status across the study period. Results We found that MEP amplitude was significantly larger after PAS in baseline sessions off-drug, and responsiveness to PAS in these sessions was associated with increased clinical severity. There was no observed increase in MEP amplitude after PAS with memantine at any dose. Motor threshold (MT), strength, and dexterity remained unchanged during the study. Conclusion Paired associative stimulation successfully induced corticospinal excitability enhancement in chronic stroke subjects at the group level. However, this response did not occur in all participants, and was associated with increased clinical severity. This could be an important way to stratify patients for future PAS-drug studies. PAS was suppressed by memantine at all doses, regardless of responsiveness to PAS off-drug, indicating CNS engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Silverstein
- Human Motor Recovery Laboratory, Burke Neurological Institute, White Plains, NY, United States
| | - Mar Cortes
- Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Katherine Zoe Tsagaris
- Human Motor Recovery Laboratory, Burke Neurological Institute, White Plains, NY, United States
| | - Alejandra Climent
- Sant Joan de Deu Hospital, Department of Neurology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Linda M Gerber
- Department of Healthcare Policy and Research, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Clara Oromendia
- Department of Healthcare Policy and Research, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Pasquale Fonzetti
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States.,Memory Evaluation and Treatment Service, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, White Plains, NY, United States
| | - Rajiv R Ratan
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States.,Burke Neurological Institute, White Plains, NY, United States.,Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Tomoko Kitago
- Human Motor Recovery Laboratory, Burke Neurological Institute, White Plains, NY, United States.,Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Marco Iacoboni
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Allan Wu
- Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Bruce Dobkin
- Department of Neurology, Geffen School of Medicine, Reed Neurologic Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Dylan J Edwards
- Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute, Elkins Park, PA, United States.,School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia
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Leussink VI, Montalban X, Hartung HP. Restoring Axonal Function with 4-Aminopyridine: Clinical Efficacy in Multiple Sclerosis and Beyond. CNS Drugs 2018; 32:637-651. [PMID: 29992409 DOI: 10.1007/s40263-018-0536-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The oral potassium channel blocker 4-aminopyridine has been used in various neurological conditions for decades. Numerous case reports and studies have supported its clinical efficacy in ameliorating the clinical presentation of certain neurological disorders. However, its short half-life, erratic drug levels, and safety-related dose restrictions limited its use as a self-compounded drug in clinical practice. This changed with the introduction of a prolonged-release formulation, which was successfully tested in patients with multiple sclerosis. It was fully approved by the US FDA in January 2010 but initially received only conditional approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in July 2011. After additional clinical studies, this conditional approval was changed to unrestricted approval in August 2017. This article reviews and discusses these recent studies and places aminopyridines and their clinical utility into the context of a broader spectrum of neurological disorders, where clinical efficacy has been suggested. In 2010, prolonged-release 4-aminopyridine became the first drug specifically licensed to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis. About one-third of patients across disease courses benefit from this treatment. In addition, various reports indicate clinical efficacy beyond multiple sclerosis, which may broaden its use in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xavier Montalban
- Servei de Neurologia-Neuroimmunologia, Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.,St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Hans-Peter Hartung
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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Wechsler LR, Bates D, Stroemer P, Andrews-Zwilling YS, Aizman I. Cell Therapy for Chronic Stroke. Stroke 2018; 49:1066-1074. [DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.117.018290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 10/26/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence R. Wechsler
- From the Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC, PA (L.R.W.)
| | - Damien Bates
- SanBio, Inc, Mountain View, CA (D.B., Y.S.A.-Z., I.A.)
| | - Paul Stroemer
- Advanced Therapies Consultancy, Cardiff, Wales, UK (P.S.)
| | | | - Irina Aizman
- SanBio, Inc, Mountain View, CA (D.B., Y.S.A.-Z., I.A.)
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Dalfampridine in Parkinson's disease related gait dysfunction: A randomized double blind trial. J Neurol Sci 2017; 379:7-11. [PMID: 28716283 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2017.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Revised: 04/20/2017] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disease-related gait dysfunction causes extensive disability for persons with Parkinson's disease (PD), with no effective therapies currently available. The potassium channel blocker dalfampridine has been used in multiple neurological conditions and improves walking in persons with multiple sclerosis. OBJECTIVES We aimed to evaluate the effect of dalfampridine extended release (D-ER) 10mg tablets twice daily on different domains of walking in participants with PD. METHODS Twenty-two participants with PD and gait dysfunction were randomized to receive D-ER 10mg twice daily or placebo for 4weeks in a crossover design with a 2-week washout period. The primary outcomes were change in the gait velocity and stride length. RESULTS At 4weeks, gait velocity was not significantly different between D-ER (0.89m/s±0.33) and placebo (0.93m/s±0.27) conditions. The stride length was also similar between conditions: 0.96m±0.38 for D-ER versus 1.06m±0.33 for placebo. D-ER was generally well tolerated with the most frequent side effects being dizziness, nausea and balance problems. CONCLUSIONS D-ER is well tolerated in PD patients, however it did not show significant benefit for gait impairment.
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Bethoux F, Fatemi A, Fowler E, Marciniak C, Mayadev A, Waksman J, Zackowski K, Suarez G, Blight AR, Rabinowicz AL, Carrazana E. Safety, Tolerability, and Sensorimotor Effects of Extended-release Dalfampridine in Adults With Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study. Clin Ther 2017; 39:337-346. [PMID: 28131322 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2016.12.015] [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: 07/15/2016] [Revised: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The goal of this study was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of dalfampridine extended release (D-ER) in a pilot study of adults with cerebral palsy (CP) and limited ambulatory ability, and to explore drug effects on sensorimotor function. METHODS An initial double-blind, single-dose crossover study was performed in 11 individuals randomized 1:1 to receive D-ER (10 mg) or placebo, followed by a 2-day washout period and the opposite treatment, with evaluation for safety and tolerability. A twice daily dosing, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study was then performed. Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to 1 of 2 sequences: 1 week of D-ER (10 mg BID) or placebo, followed by a 1-week washout and 1 week of the opposite treatment. Key inclusion criteria were age 18 to 70 years, body mass index 18.0 to 30.0 kg/m2, diagnosis of CP, and ability to perform all study procedures. Key exclusion criteria were severe CP, moderate or severe renal impairment, history of nonfebrile seizures, and prior dalfampridine use. Primary outcomes were safety profile and tolerability. Exploratory functional outcomes comprised changes in upper and lower extremity sensorimotor function (grip and pinch strength tests), manual dexterity (Box and Block Tests), and walking speed (Timed 25-Foot Walk). The most pronounced measured functional deficit in each individual was defined as the exploratory primary functional end point. Full crossover data were analyzed by using a mixed effects model. FINDINGS Among the 24 total participants who were randomized to treatment and completed the twice daily dosing phase study, their mean age was 38.6 years (range, 20-62 years), 54% were women, and 83% had spastic CP. Adverse events were consistent with previous D-ER trials, most commonly headache (13% D-ER, 4% placebo), fatigue (13% D-ER, 0% placebo), insomnia (8% D-ER, 4% placebo), diarrhea (4% D-ER, 4% placebo), and nausea (4% D-ER, 4% placebo). The mixed model analysis of full crossover data identified no significant difference between D-ER and placebo in the primary functional analysis (the most pronounced deficit; P = 0.70) or in the secondary analyses (hand strength [P = 0.48], manual dexterity [P = 0.13], or walking speed [P = 0.42]). IMPLICATIONS In this preliminary study of adults with CP, a BID dose of 10-mg D-ER was generally safe and well tolerated. The exploratory functional assessments for upper and lower sensorimotor deficits did not establish that the study population was markedly responsive to D-ER relative to placebo. These findings do not provide the proof-of-concept that would support further evaluation of D-ER as a potential intervention to improve function in adults with CP. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01468350.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francois Bethoux
- Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio.
| | - Ali Fatemi
- The Kennedy Krieger Institute, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Eileen Fowler
- Center for Cerebral Palsy, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Christina Marciniak
- Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | | | - Joel Waksman
- Brightech International, LLC, Somerset, New Jersey
| | - Kathleen Zackowski
- The Kennedy Krieger Institute, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
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Sindhurakar A, Mishra AM, Gupta D, Iaci JF, Parry TJ, Carmel JB. Clinically Relevant Levels of 4-Aminopyridine Strengthen Physiological Responses in Intact Motor Circuits in Rats, Especially After Pyramidal Tract Injury. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2017; 31:387-396. [PMID: 28107804 DOI: 10.1177/1545968316688800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND 4-Aminopyridine (4-AP) is a Food and Drug Administration-approved drug to improve motor function in people with multiple sclerosis. Preliminary results suggest the drug may act on intact neural circuits and not just on demyelinated ones. OBJECTIVE To determine if 4-AP at clinically relevant levels alters the excitability of intact motor circuits. METHODS In anesthetized rats, electrodes were placed over motor cortex and the dorsal cervical spinal cord for electrical stimulation, and electromyogram electrodes were inserted into biceps muscle to measure responses. The motor responses to brain and spinal cord stimulation were measured before and for 5 hours after 4-AP administration both in uninjured rats and rats with a cut lesion of the pyramidal tract. Blood was collected at the same time as electrophysiology to determine drug plasma concentration with a goal of 20 to 100 ng/mL. RESULTS We first determined that a bolus infusion of 0.32 mg/kg 4-AP was optimal: it produced on average 61.5 ± 1.8 ng/mL over the 5 hours after infusion. This dose of 4-AP increased responses to spinal cord stimulation by 1.3-fold in uninjured rats and 3-fold in rats with pyramidal tract lesion. Responses to cortical stimulation also increased by 2-fold in uninjured rats and up to 4-fold in the injured. CONCLUSION Clinically relevant levels of 4-AP strongly augment physiological responses in intact circuits, an effect that was more robust after partial injury, demonstrating its broad potential in treating central nervous system injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Asht M Mishra
- 1 Burke Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, USA
| | - Disha Gupta
- 1 Burke Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, USA.,2 Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Jason B Carmel
- 1 Burke Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, USA.,2 Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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