Objective: To investigate the adaptational changes in excitability of spinal neuronal circuits below the level of lesion from spinal shock to spasticity in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).
Methods: More than 6 months after an acute SCI, clinical follow-up examinations were paralleled by electrophysiologic recordings with tibial nerve stimulation (M-wave, F-wave, H-reflex, and flexor reflex).
Results: During spinal shock, the loss of tendon tap reflexes and flaccid muscle tone were associated with low persistence of F-waves and loss of flexor reflexes, whereas H-reflexes were already elicitable. During the transition to spasticity, the reappearance of tendon tap reflexes and muscle tone and the occurrence of spasms was associated with the recovery of F-waves and flexor reflex excitability, whereas the H-to-M ratio remained about stable over months. At later stages (2 to 6 months after SCI) when clinical signs of spasticity became established, the electrophysiologic measures showed little change. In paraplegic patients, in contrast to tetraplegic patients, M-wave and flexor reflex amplitudes even decreased.
Conclusions: The late decrease in M-wave and flexor reflex amplitude in paraplegic patients suggests a secondary impairment/degeneration of premotoneuronal circuits and of motoneurons. The divergent course of clinical signs of spasticity and their probable neuronal correlates indicates the occurrence of non-neuronal changes contributing to spasticity.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/wnl.54.8.1574 | DOI Listing |
Trauma Surg Acute Care Open
January 2025
Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 1138603, Japan.
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Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, and Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing, China.
Background: Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) requires emergency surgery, but the choice of primary surgery remains controversial. It is believed that simple ascending aorta replacement may lead to higher postoperative survival rate, while the Sun procedure [frozen elephant trunk (FET) + total arch replacement (TAR)] performed in the first stage may obtain better long-term results. The study aimed to compare the outcome of ATAAD patients who underwent the Sun procedure with those without TAR + FET.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWorld Neurosurg
January 2025
Department of Clinical Anatomy, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, South Africa. Electronic address:
Background: Understanding the morphological patterns of degenerative and traumatic spinal conditions is essential for precise diagnosis and management plans. This study evaluates the sequence of structural changes in degenerative spinal disorder patients' disco-vertebral unit and the traumatic spinal injury patterns in a northwestern Nigerian population.
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J Nanobiotechnology
January 2025
Department of Orthopedics, Zhuhai Medical College (Zhuhai People's Hospital), State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Zhuhai, 519000, China.
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a critical condition affecting the central nervous system that often has permanent and debilitating consequences, including secondary injuries. Oxidative damage and inflammation are critical factors in secondary pathological processes. Selenium nanoparticles have demonstrated significant antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties via a non-immunosuppressive pathway; however, their clinical application has been limited by their inadequate stability and functionality to cross the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCureus
December 2024
Department of Orthopaedics, Tokyo Metropolitan Bokutoh Hospital, Tokyo, JPN.
Hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HP) is a rare inflammatory disease that causes the thickening of the dura mater. Its etiology is mainly classified as idiopathic or secondary, and autoimmune disease is one of the main causes of secondary HP. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis and IgG4-related disease are common among autoimmune diseases.
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