Repair of the musculocutaneous nerve using the vagus nerve as donor by helicoid end-to-side technique: an experimental study in rats.

Although several donor nerves can be chosen to repair avulsed brachial plexus nerve injury, available nerves are still limited. The purpose of this study is to validate whether the vagus nerve (VN) can be used as a donor. Eighteen Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into three groups (n = 6).

Increasing Calcium Level Limits Schwann Cell Numbers In Vitro following Peripheral Nerve Injury.

 After peripheral nerve injury, there is an increase in calcium concentration in the injured nerves. Our previous publications have shown that increase in calcium concentration correlated well with degree of nerve injury and that local infusion of calcitonin has a beneficial effect on nerve recovery. Schwann cells play a pivotal role in regeneration and recovery.

Best time window for the use of calcium-modulating agents to improve functional recovery in injured peripheral nerves-An experiment in rats.

Peripheral nerve injury can have a devastating effect on daily life. Calcium concentrations in nerve fibers drastically increase after nerve injury, and this activates downstream processes leading to neuron death. Our previous studies showed that calcium-modulating agents decrease calcium accumulation, which aids in regeneration of injured peripheral nerves; however, the optimal therapeutic window for this application has not yet been identified.

Effect of calcitonin on cultured schwann cells.

Introduction: After nerve injury, calcium concentrations in intranerve fibers quickly increase. We have shown that functional recovery of injured nerves correlates with calcium absorption. A slight increase in calcium reduces the number of Schwann cells present.

Early Axonal Area Measurement Predicts Early Nerve Regeneration Outcomes.

Background: Study of peripheral nerve injury and regeneration in laboratory animals can be time consuming and expensive. This study determines if it is possible to reduce time and cost for a peripheral nerve regeneration study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if nerve axonal area (NXA) or nerve fiber counting (NFC) correlates with compound muscle action potential (CMAP) recovery which is known to predict functional muscular recovery in the early stage of nerve regeneration.

Cumulative Brain Injury from Motor Vehicle-Induced Whole-Body Vibration and Prevention by Human Apolipoprotein A-I Molecule Mimetic (4F) Peptide (an Apo A-I Mimetic).

Background: Insidious cumulative brain injury from motor vehicle-induced whole-body vibration (MV-WBV) has not yet been studied. The objective of the present study is to validate whether whole-body vibration for long periods causes cumulative brain injury and impairment of the cerebral function. We also explored a preventive method for MV-WBV injury.

Comparison of Peripheral Nerve Axonal Area Differences in Central and Peripheral Zones of Injured and Repaired Nerves.

Background: Histological analysis remains a cornerstone approach for the investigation of peripheral nerve regeneration. This study investigates a newly recognized histological difference between peripheral and central zones within the regenerating nerve trunks.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine if the nerve axonal area (NXA) in regenerating peripheral nerves differs within central and peripheral areas, when viewed in cross-section.

A quantitative study of vibration injury to peripheral nerves-introducing a new longitudinal section analysis.

Purpose: Long-term vibrations are known to cause neurovascular diseases, which are common in workers who operate handheld power tools or motor vehicles. Understanding the neuropathology of vibration-induced nerve injury is critical to its prevention and treatment. This study aims to evaluate whether light microscopy of longitudinal nerve sections can be used as a simple yet effective method for quantifying nerve injury.

Calcitonin pump improves nerve regeneration after transection injury and repair.

Introduction: After nerve injury, excessive calcium impedes nerve regeneration. We previously showed that calcitonin improved nerve regeneration in crush injury. We aimed to validate the direct effect of calcitonin on transected and repaired nerve.

A new computerized morphometric analysis for peripheral nerve study.

The commonly used methods to quantify axon numbers and mean area include manual and semiautomated procedures. The authors introduce a new fully automated method of morphometric analysis using ImageJ and Paint.net software to improve efficiency and accuracy.

A rat model for long-gap peripheral nerve reconstruction.

Background: The rat model has had limited utility for the study of long nerve gaps because of the small size of the animal. The authors sought to develop a simple, effective rat model for reconstruction of long nerve gap defects.

Methods: Fifteen rats had a sciatic nerve transection followed by reconstruction.

The correlation between calcium intensity and histopathological changes in brachial plexus nerve injuries.

Background: After nerve injury, an influx of calcium exceeds the homeostatic capacity, which damages peripheral nerves. Previous studies identified that following nerve crush, function improves as calcium levels normalize.

Methods: Electrophysiological analysis was performed to measure the compound muscle action potential of 15 patients' damaged nerves.

The effect of calcium modulating agents on peripheral nerve recovery after crush.

After a nerve injury, calcium concentration in the intra-nerve fiber drastically increases. The purpose of our study was to test an implantable micro-osmotic pump to deliver medications to accelerate calcium absorption, thereby greatly improving nerve regeneration. Twenty-four SD rats were divided into four groups of six each: (1) Sham control: crush injury to sciatic nerve only; (2) Crush injury with a Nifedipine pump; (3) Crush injury with a Calcitonin pump; (4) Crush injury with a Saline pump.

[Antigenicity characterization of six different fragments of SARS-CoV N protein expressed in E. coli].

Objective: To determine the antigen characteristics of different fragments of SARS-CoV N protein expressed in E. Coli and their application in the serological diagnosis.

Methods: Based on preliminary analysis of 39 different segments of the N protein, We choosed six purified N protein for further antigenicity characterization in this study, including that PN360 (1 -360aa), PN301 (1-301aa), PN199 (30-228aa), PN185 (30-214aa), PN155b (60-214aa), and PN125 (90-214aa).

The preventive effects of apolipoprotein mimetic D-4F from vibration injury-experiment in rats.

Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is a debilitating sequela of neurological and vascular injuries caused by prolonged occupational exposure to hand-transmitted vibration. Our previous study demonstrated that short-term exposure to vibration can induce vasoconstriction and endothelial cell damage in the ventral artery of the rat's tail. The present study investigated whether pretreatment with D-4F, an apolipoprotein A-1 mimetic with known anti-oxidant and vasodilatory properties, prevents vibration-induced vasoconstriction, endothelial cell injury, and protein nitration.

Helicoid end-to-side and oblique attachment technique in repair of the musculocutaneous nerve injury with the phrenic nerve as a donor: an experimental study in rats.

The purpose of this study was to identify if a modified end-to-side repair can achieve equal results of nerve regeneration compared to an end-to-end repair using donor phrenic nerves in repair of the musculocutaneous nerve and also pulmonary protection. Eighteen rats were divided into three groups of six each comparing two nerve graft techniques: helicoid end-to-side plus distal oblique repair vs. traditional end-to-end repair, using a donor phrenic nerve.

Qualitative effect on mRNAs of injury-associated proteins by cell phone like radiation in rat facial nerves.

Rats were exposed to cell phone radiation for 6 hours per day for 18 weeks. The buccal and mandibular branches of the facial nerve were evaluated for this study. The mRNA levels of four proteins that are usually up regulated when an injury has occurred were investigated; included were Calcium ATP-ase, Endothelin, Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule, and Neural Growth Factor.

The correlation between calcium absorption and electrophysiological recovery in crushed rat peripheral nerves.

The correlation between calcium ion (Ca2+) concentration and electrophysiological recovery in crushed peripheral nerves has not been studied. Observing and quantifying the Ca2+ intensity in live normal and crushed peripheral nerves was performed using a novel microfine tearing technique and Calcium Green-1 Acetoxymethyl ester stain, a fluorescent Ca2+ indicator. Ca2+ was shown to be homogeneously distributed in the myelinated sheaths.

Persistent reduction of conduction velocity and myelinated axon damage in vibrated rat tail nerves.

Prolonged hand-transmitted vibration exposure in the workplace has been recognized for almost a century to cause neurodegenerative and vasospastic disease. Persistence of the diseased state for years after cessation of tool use is of grave concern. To understand persistence of vibration injury, the present study examined recovery of nerve conduction velocity and structural damage of myelinated axons in a rat tail vibration model.

[Herba Saxifragae cream in treatment of chronic eczema: a randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To explore the clinical efficacy of Herba Saxifragae cream (HS), a compound of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on chronic eczema.

Methods: A total of 42 cases of chronic eczema were randomly divided into HS group (22 cases) and hydrocortisone (HC) group (20 cases). To the HS group, HS was externally applied twice a day continuously for 4 weeks.

Intraoperative electrophysiological studies to predict the efficacy of neurolysis after nerve injury-experiment in rats.

Compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) can be used to analyze injury and recovery of nerve. This standardized study evaluates the value of CMAP analysis in predicting the long-term efficacy of neurolysis. CMAP amplitude is also used to determine the optimal extent of neurolysis.

Serological tests for diagnosis and staging of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS).

The current gold standard for the diagnosis and staging of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is the Stockholm workshop scale, which is subjective and relies on the patient's recalling ability and honesty. Therefore, great potentials exist for diagnostic and staging errors. The purpose of this study is to determine if objective serum tests, such as levels of soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), may be used in the diagnosis and staging of HAVS.

Upregulation of specific mRNA levels in rat brain after cell phone exposure.

Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to regular cell phones for 6 h per day for 126 days (18 weeks). RT-PCR was used to investigate the changes in levels of mRNA synthesis of several injury-associated proteins. Calcium ATPase, Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule, Neural Growth Factor, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor were evaluated.

Pathophysiological process of traumatic vascular spasm in multiple crush injury.

Despite recent advances in microsurgery, the incidence of thrombosis of repaired digital vessels following crush injury is higher than that of uncrushed arteries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of traumatic crush injury on uncrushed segments of artery adjacent to crushed segments. Sprague-Dawley rat-tail arteries were crushed for 1 hour by 30 pounds of force at two separate 3-mm-wide segments, with 10 mm of uncrushed artery between segments.