Broad-spectrum neuroprotection exerted by DDD-028 in a mouse model of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.

Neurotoxicity of chemotherapeutics involves peculiar alterations in the structure and function, including abnormal nerve signal transmission, of both the peripheral and central nervous system. The lack of effective pharmacological approaches to prevent chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity necessitates the identification of innovative therapies. Recent evidence suggests that repeated treatment with the pentacyclic pyridoindole derivative DDD-028 can exert both pain-relieving and glial modulatory effects in mice with paclitaxel-induced neuropathy.

Cannabinoid Effect and Safety in Spasticity Following Stroke: A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study.

Background: Nabiximols is a cannabis-based drug to treat spasticity-associated symptoms currently approved for patients with multiple sclerosis only. Cannabinoids are useful in an increasing number of medical conditions but may bear an increased risk for cardiovascular events. SativexStroke is a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled crossover monocentric clinical trial investigating the efficacy and safety of nabiximols in patients with spasticity following stroke.

Comparison of Threshold and Tolerance Nociceptive Withdrawal Reflexes in Horses.

The nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR) is used to investigate nociception in horses. The NWR threshold is a classical model endpoint. The aims of this study were to determine NWR tolerance and to compare threshold and tolerance reflexes in horses.

Measuring Latency Variations in Evoked Potential Components Using a Simple Autocorrelation Technique.

Interpretation of averaged evoked potentials is difficult when the time relationship between stimulus and response is not constant. Later components are more prone to latency jitter, making them insufficiently reliable for routine clinical use even though they could contribute to greater understanding of the functioning of polysynaptic components of the afferent nervous system. This study is aimed at providing a simple but effective method of identifying and quantifying latency jitter in averaged evoked potentials.

Early nociceptive evoked potentials (NEPs) recorded from the scalp.

Objective: Neurophysiological investigation of nociceptive pathway has so far been limited to late cortical responses. We sought to detect early components of the cortical evoked potentials possibly reflecting primary sensory activity.

Methods: The 150 IDE micropatterned electrode was used to selectively activate Aδ intraepidermic fibres of the right hand dorsum in 25 healthy subjects and 3 patients suffering from trigeminal neuralgia.

Detection of movement related cortical potentials in freehand drawing on digital tablet.

Background: Cortical activity connected to movements has been investigated long since, and is related, among other factors, to saliency of the gesture. However, experiments performed on movements in actual situations are rare, as most of them have been performed in laboratory simulations. Besides, no research seems to have been carried out on subjects during freehand drawing.

Using correlation analysis to assess the reliability of evoked potential components identified by signal averaging.

Background: Signal averaging is the conventional method of enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio in recordings of evoked potentials (EPs) from the skin surface in humans. However there may be difficulties in reliably identifying the features of interest especially when a low number of trials are averaged or when large artefacts with similar waveform as the signal are present.

New Method: This method uses the median cross-correlation coefficient of every possible pair of recording repetitions within user-defined windows across the time course of the evoked potential.

The new micropatterned interdigitated electrode for selective assessment of the nociceptive system.

Background: In this neurophysiological study, we aimed at verifying the nociceptive selectivity of the new, micropatterned electrode (150IDE), recently designed to generate an electric field limited to the intraepidermal free nerve endings.

Methods: Using the new 150IDE, we recorded evoked potentials after stimulation of the face and hand dorsum in 22 healthy participants and in patients with exemplary conditions selectively affecting the nociceptive system. We also measured the peripheral conduction velocity at the upper arm and verified the nociceptive selectivity of 150IDE assessing the effect of a selective block of nociceptive nerve fibres of radial nerve with local anaesthetic infiltration.

Micropatterned surface electrode for massive selective stimulation of intraepidermal nociceptive fibres.

Background: No satisfactory neurophysiological test for nociceptive afferents is available to date. Laser stimuli present risks of skin damage, whilst electrical stimulation through specially designed electrodes is not selective enough.

New Method: We present a new electrode designed according to critical issues identified in preliminary computer simulations concerning electric field gradient through the skin.

Rehabilitation of balance disturbances due to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: a pilot study.

Background: Cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) have sensory and motor deficits leading to inappropriate proprioceptive feedback, impaired postural control, and fall risk. Balance training with computerized force platforms has been successfully used in rehabilitation of balance disturbances, but programs specifically developed for CIPN patients are lacking.

Aim: This pilot study evaluated a rehabilitation protocol exclusively based on visual computer-feedback balance training (VCFBT) to improve balance in patients with CIPN.

Relationship between balance and cognitive performance in older people.

We investigated the relationship between balance and cognitive level in a group of 70 women with no definite Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment diagnosis and no impairment of daily activity. Static stabilometry and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test were performed. The antero-posterior sway component was demonstrated to be the best predictor of the MoCA overall score.

Cutaneous innervation of the human face as assessed by skin biopsy.

The morphology of cutaneous sensory and autonomic innervation in human trigeminal territory is still unknown. The aim of this study is to describe facial cutaneous innervation using skin biopsy. This new tool could be useful in understanding the mechanisms underlying several facial pain conditions.

Electrophysiological features of the mouse tail nerves and their changes in chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).

Electrophysiology of tail nerves in rodents has been demonstrated a reliable method to investigate models of peripheral neuropathies. Nevertheless, data concerning mouse models are lacking. We assessed the normal features of sensory and motor conduction of tail nerves in adult mice.

The ITFR, impulsive tail flick reflex by short duration nociceptive stimuli.

A new method for evoking the tail flick reflex is introduced, using short duration or "impulsive" nociceptive stimuli, which allow synchronization and recording of electrophysiological responses. Ten adult rats were studied, by means of thermal (CO(2) laser infrared pulse with 30 ms duration, 7.5 or 10W), electric (a 25 ms train of five 0.

Both Schwann cell and axonal defects cause motor peripheral neuropathy in Ebf2-/- mice.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathies are frequent hereditary disorders of the nervous system and most cases remain without a molecular definition. Mutations in transcription factors have been previously associated to various types of this disease. Mice carrying a null mutation in Ebf2 transcription factor present peripheral nerve abnormalities.

Balance features in Alzheimer's disease and amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

We evaluated alterations of balance by stabilometry in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and with mild-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD). Fifteen patients with aMCI and 15 with mild AD were recruited according to the current diagnostic criteria. Fifteen healthy subjects of the same age range were recruited as controls.

Compound action potential of sensory tail nerves in the rat.

Assessment of the conduction velocity of motor fibers of the rat tail nerves has been used by some authors in the past, but very little is known about the sensory fibers. In 10 adult rats, weighing between 320 and 380 g, responses from the nerves and muscles of the tail have been recorded after stimulation at its root and tip. It was found that stimulation of the tip involved mainly sensory fibers, of which two main groups could be identified.

Persistence of high-dose oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy at long-term follow-up.

Oxaliplatin (L-OHP) has become a standard treatment for advanced colorectal cancer and a valid option for patients in the adjuvant setting. Compared with cisplatin, L-OHP has no renal toxicity, only mild hematological and gastrointestinal toxicity, while neurotoxicity is the limiting toxicity. This side effect has been described as a transient distal dysesthesia, enhanced by exposure to cold, and as a dose-related cumulative mild sensitive neuropathy.

Evaluation of administration of isoflurane at approximately the minimum alveolar concentration on depression of a nociceptive withdrawal reflex evoked by transcutaneous electrical stimulation in ponies.

Objective: To investigate effects of isoflurane at approximately the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) on the nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR) of the forelimb of ponies as a method for quantifying anesthetic potency.

Animals: 7 healthy adult Shetland ponies.

Procedure: Individual MAC (iMAC) for isoflurane was determined for each pony.

Early abnormalities in sciatic nerve function and structure in a rat model of Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A disease.

We investigated early peripheral nervous system impairment in PMP22-transgenic rats ("CMT rat"), an established animal model for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease 1A, at postnatal day 30 (P30), when the clinical phenotype is not yet apparent. Hemizygous CMT1A rats and wildtype littermates were studied by means of behavioral examination, electrophysiology, molecular biology, and light microscopy analysis. Behavioral studies only showed, a mild, but significant, decrease in toe spread 1-5, suggesting a weakness of distal foot muscles in CMT1A rats compared with normal littermates.

Therapy of trigeminal neuralgia secondary to multiple sclerosis.

Trigeminal neuralgia occurs in approximately 1-2% of patients suffering from multiple sclerosis. Its pathophysiology is common to idiopathic forms and resides in altered properties of the sensory axonal membrane at the root entry zone into the pons, leading to parossistic firing. Antiepileptic drugs of the sodium channel blocker type, such as carbamazepine, lamotrigine, and phenytoin are highly effective in controlling pain.

Quantitative assessment of nociception in horses by use of the nociceptive withdrawal reflex evoked by transcutaneous electrical stimulation.

Objectives: To evoke and measure the nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR) by use of electromyographic recordings and to score the behavioral nociceptive responses to electrical pulses in standing nonsedated horses.

Animals: 10 adult horses.

Procedure: The lateral palmar digital nerve of the forelimb was transcutaneously stimulated, and surface electromyographic responses were recorded from the ulnaris lateralis, extensor carpi radialis, and common digital extensor muscles.

Autoantibodies to inner ear and endothelial antigens in Cogan's syndrome.

Background: Cogan's syndrome is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown origin, characterised by sensorineural hearing loss, episcleritis, and vasculitis. An autoimmune origin has been suggested but not proven. Our aim was to establish whether or not an autoimmune process is the cause of the disease.