Spinal Cord Injury News
A collection of posts on news, information and resources for those with spinal cord injuries.
Improving Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries
Osmotic therapy device reduces swelling to prevent secondary injuries in rats
When injured, the spinal cord swells, restricting blood flow and causing critical and permanent motor, sensory, and autonomic function damage. Rapid prevention of spinal cord swelling immediately after injury is key to preventing more serious damage. The only treatment to date has been steroid therapy with methylprednisolone, which is minimally effective.
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Posted in Research for a Cure, Therapies and Procedures on August 14th, 2020.
Implanted Neural Stem Cell Grafts Show Functionality in Spinal Cord Injuries
In mouse studies, the specialized grafts integrated with host networks and behaved much like neurons in a healthy, undamaged spinal cord.
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Posted in Uncategorized on August 5th, 2020.
Rotterdam Researchers’ Breakthrough Could Help Paraplegics Stand with Support
Researchers at the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam had a breakthrough that could help paralyzed people be able to stand on their own feet with support. They found that the stimulation of a nerve node in the lower back, the spinal ganglion, elicits muscle responses that allow people with a full spinal cord injury to bear their own weight, the hospital said.
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Posted in Therapies and Procedures on July 28th, 2020.
Restoring Mobility by Identifying the Neurons that Make it Possible
Researchers at EPFL were able to get paralyzed rodents walking again by stimulating the animals’ damaged spinal cords. This promising treatment has already helped paraplegics regain mobility during clinical trials at Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV). Now, using artificial intelligence, the researchers can pinpoint which neurons are involved in the gait reacquisition process. The results, which have been published in Nature Biotechnology, could lead to the development of new approaches, making treatments even more effective, as well as paving the way for advances in other areas of biomedical research.
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Posted in Research for a Cure on July 21st, 2020.
Paralyzed Mice with Spinal Cord Injury Made to Walk Again
Most people with spinal cord injury are paralyzed from the injury site down, even when the cord isn’t completely severed. Why don’t the spared portions of the spinal cord keep working? Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital now provide insight into why these nerve pathways remain quiet. They also show that a small-molecule compound, given systemically, can revive these circuits in paralyzed mice, restoring their ability to walk.
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Posted in Research for a Cure on July 20th, 2020.