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Wu Z, Feng K, Huang J, Ye X, Yang R, Huang Q, Jiang Q. Brain region changes following a spinal cord injury. Neurochem Int 2024; 174:105696. [PMID: 38354751 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2024.105696] [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: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Brain-related complications are common in clinical practice after spinal cord injury (SCI); however, the molecular mechanisms of these complications are still unclear. Here, we reviewed the changes in the brain regions caused by SCI from three perspectives: imaging, molecular analysis, and electrophysiology. Imaging studies revealed abnormal functional connectivity, gray matter volume atrophy, and metabolic abnormalities in brain regions after SCI, leading to changes in the structure and function of brain regions. At the molecular level, chemokines, inflammatory factors, and damage-associated molecular patterns produced in the injured area were retrogradely transmitted through the corticospinal tract, cerebrospinal fluid, or blood circulation to the specific brain area to cause pathologic changes. Electrophysiologic recordings also suggested abnormal changes in brain electrical activity after SCI. Transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation, and deep brain stimulation alleviated pain and improved motor function in patients with SCI; therefore, transcranial therapy may be a new strategy for the treatment of patients with SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwu Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ganzhou People's Hospital (Ganzhou Hospital-Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University), 16th Mei-guan Avenue, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Kaiming Feng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ganzhou People's Hospital (Ganzhou Hospital-Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University), 16th Mei-guan Avenue, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Jinqing Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ganzhou People's Hospital (Ganzhou Hospital-Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University), 16th Mei-guan Avenue, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Xinyun Ye
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ganzhou People's Hospital (Ganzhou Hospital-Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University), 16th Mei-guan Avenue, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Ruijin Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ganzhou People's Hospital (Ganzhou Hospital-Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University), 16th Mei-guan Avenue, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Qianliang Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ganzhou People's Hospital (Ganzhou Hospital-Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University), 16th Mei-guan Avenue, Ganzhou, 341000, China.
| | - Qiuhua Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ganzhou People's Hospital (Ganzhou Hospital-Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University), 16th Mei-guan Avenue, Ganzhou, 341000, China.
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Saita K, Sumitani M, Koyama Y, Sugita S, Matsubayashi Y, Ogata T, Ohtsu H, Chikuda H. Neuropathic pain development and maintenance and its association with motor recovery after cervical spinal cord injury. J Spinal Cord Med 2024:1-8. [PMID: 38391257 DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2024.2309421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In our published randomized controlled trial, we revealed that patients with acute ASIA Grade C incomplete cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) who underwent early surgery (within 24 h post-injury) had accelerated motor recovery at six months than those with delayed surgery (>2 weeks post-injury); however, neuropathic pain (NeP) worsened regardless of surgery timing. Here, we conducted post-hoc analyses to intensively assess NeP development and maintenance. METHODS Of 44 patients (median 64.5 years; three female; early intervention, n = 26), NeP was categorized into at-level and below-level pain and evaluated at two weeks and one year after injury using the Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI). We compared the two groups based on background characteristics. A mixed-design analysis of variance with sex as a covariate was conducted to analyze motor recovery and Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in groups with severe (NPSI ≥ 10) or mild (NPSI < 10) pain. RESULTS Upper and lower limb motor impairments were comparable between both groups regardless of pain severity. Severe at-level pain remained stable and worsened at one year than mild at-level pain; however, the upper- and lower-limb motor scores and HRQOL had comparable recovery. Background characteristics did not affect severity or time course of NeP. Patients with severe below-level pain demonstrated slower lower-limb motor recovery than those with mild below-level pain, whereas HRQOL improved regardless of pain severity. CONCLUSIONS Both at-level and below-level NeP developed and persisted relatively early in the course of traumatic SCI with incomplete motor paralysis; their severities worsened over time or remained severe since onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosuke Saita
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Relief Center, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiko Sumitani
- Department of Pain and Palliative Medicine, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yurie Koyama
- School of Nursing, Kitasato University, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Shurei Sugita
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center, Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Toru Ogata
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Ohtsu
- National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Chikuda
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gunma University, Gunma, Japan
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Wang L, Chen X, Zheng W, Yang Y, Yang B, Chen Q, Li X, Liang T, Li B, Hu Y, Du J, Lu J, Chen N. The possible neural mechanism of neuropathic pain evoked by motor imagery in pediatric patients with complete spinal cord injury: A preliminary brain structure study based on VBM. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24569. [PMID: 38312693 PMCID: PMC10835172 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, we observed pediatric complete spinal cord injury (CSCI) patients receiving MI training and divided them into different groups according to the effect of motor imagery (MI) training on neuropathic pain (NP). Then, we retrospectively analysed the differences in brain structure of these groups before the MI training, identifying brain regions that may predict the effect of MI on NP. Thirty pediatric CSCI patients were included, including 12 patients who experienced NP during MI and 18 patients who did not experience NP during MI according to the MI training follow-up. The 3D high-resolution T1-weighted images of all subjects were obtained using a 3.0 T MRI system before MI training. A two-sample t-test was performed to evaluate the differences in gray matter volume (GMV) between patients who experienced NP and those who did not experience NP during MI. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to compute the sensitivity and specificity of the imaging biomarkers for the effect of MI on NP in pediatric CSCI patients. MI evoked NP in some of the pediatric CSCI patients. Compared with patients who did not experience NP, patients who experienced NP during MI showed larger GMV in the right primary sensorimotor cortex (PSMC) and insula. When using the GMV of the right PSMC and insula in combination as a predictor, the area under the curve (AUC) reached 0.824. Our study demonstrated that MI could evoke NP in some pediatric CSCI patients, but not in others. The individual differences in brain reorganization of the right PSMC and insula may contribute to the different effects of MI on NP. Moreover, the GMV of the right PSMC and insula in combination may be an effective indicator for screening pediatric CSCI patients before MI training therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Wang
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Weimin Zheng
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Yanhui Yang
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Beining Yang
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Xuejing Li
- Department of Radiology, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing, 100068, China
| | - Tengfei Liang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Engineering University, Handan, 056008, China
| | - Baowei Li
- Department of Medical Imaging, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Engineering University, Handan, 056008, China
| | - Yongsheng Hu
- Department of Functional Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Jubao Du
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Jie Lu
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Nan Chen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Beijing, 100053, China
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Mandloi S, Syed M, Ailes I, Shoraka O, Leiby B, Miao J, Thalheimer S, Heller J, Mohamed FB, Sharan A, Harrop J, Krisa L, Alizadeh M. Exploring Functional Connectivity in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury Patients With Neuropathic Pain Versus Without Neuropathic Pain. Neurotrauma Rep 2024; 5:16-27. [PMID: 38249324 PMCID: PMC10797176 DOI: 10.1089/neur.2023.0070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The great majority of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients have debilitating chronic pain. Despite decades of research, these pain pathways of neuropathic pain (NP) are unknown. SCI patients have been shown to have abnormal brain pain pathways. We hypothesize that SCI NP patients' pain matrix is altered compared to SCI patients without NP. This study examines the functional connectivity (FC) in SCI patients with moderate-severe chronic NP compared to SCI patients with mild-no NP. These groups were compared to control subjects. The Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire and neurological evaluation based on the International Standard Neurological Classification of SCI were utilized to define the severity and level of injury. Of the 10 SCI patients, 7 (48.6 ± 17.02 years old, 6 male and 1 female) indicated that they had NP and 3 did not have NP (39.33 ± 8.08 years old, 2 male and 1 female). Ten uninjured neurologically intact participants were used as controls (24.8 ± 4.61 years old, 5 male and 5 female). FC metrics were obtained from the comparisons of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging among our various groups (controls, SCI with NP, and SCI without NP). For each comparison, a region-of-interest (ROI)-to-ROI connectivity analysis was pursued, encompassing a total of 175 ROIs based on a customized atlas derived from the AAL3 atlas. The analysis accounted for covariates such as age and sex. To correct for multiple comparisons, a strict Bonferroni correction was applied with a significance level of p < 0.05/NROIs. When comparing SCI patients with moderate-to-severe pain to those with mild-to-no pain, specific thalamic nuclei had altered connections. These nuclei included: medial pulvinar; lateral pulvinar; medial geniculate nucleus; lateral geniculate nucleus; and mediodorsal magnocellular nucleus. There was increased FC between the lateral geniculate nucleus and the anteroventral nucleus in NP post-SCI. Our analysis additionally highlights the relationships between the frontal lobe and temporal lobe with pain. This study successfully identifies thalamic neuroplastic changes that occur in patients with SCI who develop NP. It additionally underscores the pain matrix and involvement of the frontal and temporal lobes as well. Our findings complement that the development of NP post-SCI involves cognitive, emotional, and behavioral influences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreya Mandloi
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mashaal Syed
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Isaiah Ailes
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Omid Shoraka
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Benjamin Leiby
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jingya Miao
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sara Thalheimer
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Joshua Heller
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Feroze B. Mohamed
- Thomas Jefferson Integrated Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ashwini Sharan
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - James Harrop
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Laura Krisa
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mahdi Alizadeh
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Thomas Jefferson Integrated Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Chen X, Wang L, Zheng W, Yang Y, Yang B, Hu Y, Du J, Li X, Lu J, Chen N. The gray matter atrophy and related network changes occur in the higher cognitive region rather than the primary sensorimotor cortex after spinal cord injury. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16172. [PMID: 37842067 PMCID: PMC10569206 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore brain structural and related network changes in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods Thirty-one right-handed SCI patients and 31 gender- and age-matched healthy controls (HC) were included. The gray matter volume (GMV) changes in SCI patients were observed using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Then, these altered gray matter clusters were used as the regions of interest (ROIs) for whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) analysis to detect related functional changes. The potential association between GMV and FC values with the visual analog scale (VAS), the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score, and the course of injuries was investigated through partial correlation analysis. Results GMV of the frontal, temporal, and insular cortices was lower in the SCI group than in the HC group. No GMV changes were found in the primary sensorimotor area in the SCI group. Besides, the altered FC regions were not in the primary sensorimotor area but in the cingulate gyrus, supplementary motor area, precuneus, frontal lobe, and insular. Additionally, some of these altered GMV and FC regions were correlated with ASIA motor scores, indicating that higher cognitive regions can affect motor function in SCI patients. Conclusions This study demonstrated that gray matter and related network reorganization in patients with SCI occurred in higher cognitive regions. Future rehabilitation strategies should focus more on cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Chen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Beijing, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Beijing, China
| | - Weimin Zheng
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Beijing, China
| | - Yanhui Yang
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Beijing, China
| | - Beining Yang
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Beijing, China
| | - Yongsheng Hu
- Department of Functional Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jubao Du
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuejing Li
- Department of Radiology, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Lu
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Chen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Beijing, China
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Mandloi S, Syed M, Shoraka O, Ailes I, Kang KC, Sathe A, Heller J, Thalheimer S, Mohamed FB, Sharan A, Harrop J, Krisa L, Matias C, Alizadeh M. The role of the insula in chronic pain following spinal cord injury: A resting-state fMRI study. J Neuroimaging 2023; 33:781-791. [PMID: 37188633 DOI: 10.1111/jon.13117] [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: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in the loss of motor and sensory function from disconnections between efferent and afferent pathways. Most SCI patients are affected with chronic neuropathic pain, but there is a paucity of data concerning neuroplastic changes following SCI. Chronic pain disrupts default networks and is associated with abnormal insular connectivity. The posterior insula (PI) is associated with the degree of pain and intensity of pain. The anterior insula (AI) is related to signal changes. Comprehension of SCI pain mechanisms is essential to elucidate effective treatment options. METHODS This study examines the insular gyri functional connectivity (FC) of seven (five male, two female) SCI participants with moderate-severe chronic pain compared to 10 (five male, five female) healthy controls (HC). All subjects had 3-Tesla MRI performed and resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) was acquired. FC metrics were obtained from the comparisons of resting-state fMRI among our various groups. A seed-to-voxel analysis was pursued, encompassing six gyri of the insula. For multiple comparisons, a correction was applied with a significance level of p < .05. RESULTS There were significant differences in FC of the insula between SCI participants with chronic pain compared with HC. In the SCI participants, there was hyperconnectivity of the AI and PI to the frontal pole. In addition, there was increased FC noted between the PI and the anterior cingulate cortex. Hyperconnectivity was also observed between the AI and the occipital cortex. CONCLUSIONS These findings illustrate that there is a complex hyperconnectivity and modulation of pain pathways after traumatic SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreya Mandloi
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mashaal Syed
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Omid Shoraka
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Isaiah Ailes
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ki Chang Kang
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Anish Sathe
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Joshua Heller
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sara Thalheimer
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Feroze B Mohamed
- Thomas Jefferson Integrated Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ashwini Sharan
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - James Harrop
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Laura Krisa
- Department of Physical Therapy, Jefferson College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Caio Matias
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mahdi Alizadeh
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Thomas Jefferson Integrated Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Lee SE, Greenough EK, Fonken LK, Gaudet AD. Spinal cord injury in mice amplifies anxiety: A novel light-heat conflict test exposes increased salience of anxiety over heat. Exp Neurol 2023; 364:114382. [PMID: 36924982 PMCID: PMC10874685 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) predisposes individuals to anxiety and chronic pain. Anxiety- and pain-like behavior after SCI can be tested in rodents, yet commonly used tests assess one variable and may not replicate effects of SCI or sex differences seen in humans. Thus, novel preclinical tests should be optimized to better evaluate behaviors relating to anxiety and pain. Here, we use our newly developed conflict test - the Thermal Increments Dark-Light (TIDAL) test - to explore how SCI affects anxiety- vs. pain-like behavior, and whether sex affects post-SCI behavior. The TIDAL conflict test consists of two plates connected by a walkway; one plate remains illuminated and at an isothermic temperature, whereas the other plate is dark but is heated incrementally to aversive temperatures. A control mice thermal place preference test was also performed in which both plates are illuminated. Female and male mice received moderate T9 contusion SCI or remained uninjured. At 7 days post-operative (dpo), mice with SCI increased dark plate preference throughout the TIDAL conflict test compared to uninjured mice. SCI increased dark plate preference for both sexes, although female (vs. male) mice remained on the heated-dark plate to higher temperatures. Mice with SCI that repeated TIDAL at 7 and 21 dpo showed reduced preference for the dark-heated plate at 21 dpo. Overall, in female and male mice, SCI enhances the salience of anxiety (vs. heat sensitivity). The TIDAL conflict test meets a need for preclinical anxiety- and pain-related tests that recapitulate the human condition; thus, future rodent behavioral studies should incorporate TIDAL or other conflict tests to help understand and treat neurologic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney E Lee
- Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts, The University of Texas at Austin, 108 E. Dean Keeton St, Mail Stop A800, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Department of Neurology, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Emily K Greenough
- Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts, The University of Texas at Austin, 108 E. Dean Keeton St, Mail Stop A800, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Department of Neurology, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Laura K Fonken
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W. Dean Keeton St, Stop C0875 BME 3.510, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
| | - Andrew D Gaudet
- Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts, The University of Texas at Austin, 108 E. Dean Keeton St, Mail Stop A800, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Department of Neurology, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
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Kowalski JL, Morse LR, Troy K, Nguyen N, Battaglino RA, Falci SP, Linnman C. Resting state functional connectivity differentiation of neuropathic and nociceptive pain in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 38:103414. [PMID: 37244076 PMCID: PMC10238876 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Many individuals with spinal cord injury live with debilitating chronic pain that may be neuropathic, nociceptive, or a combination of both in nature. Identification of brain regions demonstrating altered connectivity associated with the type and severity of pain experience may elucidate underlying mechanisms, as well as treatment targets. Resting state and sensorimotor task-based magnetic resonance imaging data were collected in 37 individuals with chronic spinal cord injury. Seed-based correlations were utilized to identify resting state functional connectivity of regions with established roles in pain processing: the primary motor and somatosensory cortices, cingulate, insula, hippocampus, parahippocampal gyri, thalamus, amygdala, caudate, putamen, and periaqueductal gray matter. Resting state functional connectivity alterations and task-based activation associated with individuals' pain type and intensity ratings on the International Spinal Cord Injury Basic Pain Dataset (0-10 scale) were evaluated. We found that intralimbic and limbostriatal resting state connectivity alterations are uniquely associated with neuropathic pain severity, whereas thalamocortical and thalamolimbic connectivity alterations are associated specifically with nociceptive pain severity. The joint effect and contrast of both pain types were associated with altered limbocortical connectivity. No significant differences in task-based activation were identified. These findings suggest that the experience of pain in individuals with spinal cord injury may be associated with unique alterations in resting state functional connectivity dependent upon pain type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse L Kowalski
- Spaulding Neuroimaging Laboratory, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 79/96 13th St, Charlestown, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Minnesota, MMC 297, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States.
| | - Leslie R Morse
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Minnesota, MMC 297, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States.
| | - Karen Troy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609, United States.
| | - Nguyen Nguyen
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Minnesota, MMC 297, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States.
| | - Ricardo A Battaglino
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Minnesota, MMC 297, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States.
| | - Scott P Falci
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Minnesota, MMC 297, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States; Department of Neurosurgery, Swedish Medical Center, 501 E Hampden Ave, Englewood, CO 80113, United States.
| | - Clas Linnman
- Spaulding Neuroimaging Laboratory, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 79/96 13th St, Charlestown, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Minnesota, MMC 297, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States.
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Trolle C, Goldberg E, Linnman C. Spinal cord atrophy after spinal cord injury - A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 38:103372. [PMID: 36931004 PMCID: PMC10026037 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Cervical spinal cord atrophy occurs after spinal cord injury. The atrophy and how level of injury affects atrophy differs between studies. A systematic review and metaanalysis were done after systematic searches of PubMed, CINAHL, APA PsycInfo and Web of Science. English language original studies analyzing MRI cervical spinal cord cross-sectional area in adults with spinal cord injury were included. Atrophy and correlation between injury level and atrophy were estimated with random-effects models, standardized mean differences, and 95% confidence intervals. 24 studies were identified. 13/24 studies had low risk of bias. Cord atrophy meta-analysis of 18 articles corresponded to a standardized mean difference of -1.48 (95% CI -1.78 to -1.19) with moderate to large interstudy heterogeneity. Logarithmic time since injury influenced heterogeneity. Longitudinal atrophy was best described by a logarithmic model, indicating that rate of spinal atrophy decreases over time. Meta-correlation of eight studies indicated more severe atrophy in more rostral injuries (0.41, 95% CI 0.20-0.59). Larger and preferably longitudinal studies, data sharing, and standardized protocols are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl Trolle
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medical Sciences, Rehabilitation Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Estee Goldberg
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Clas Linnman
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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10
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Schading S, David G, Max Emmenegger T, Achim C, Thompson A, Weiskopf N, Curt A, Freund P. Dynamics of progressive degeneration of major spinal pathways following spinal cord injury: A longitudinal study. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 37:103339. [PMID: 36758456 PMCID: PMC9939725 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Following spinal cord injury (SCI), disease processes spread gradually along the spinal cord forming a spatial gradient with most pronounced changes located at the lesion site. However, the dynamics of this gradient in SCI patients is not established. OBJECTIVE This study tracks the spatiotemporal dynamics of remote anterograde and retrograde spinal tract degeneration in the upper cervical cord following SCI over two years utilizing quantitative MRI. METHODS Twenty-three acute SCI patients (11 paraplegics, 12 tetraplegics) and 21 healthy controls were scanned with a T1-weighted sequence for volumetry and a FLASH sequence for myelin-sensitive magnetization transfer saturation (MTsat) of the upper cervical cord. We estimated myelin content from MTsat maps within the corticospinal tracts (CST) and dorsal columns (DC) and measured spinal cord atrophy by means of left-right width (LRW) and anterior-posterior width (APW) on the T1-weighted images across cervical levels C1-C3. MTsat in the CST and LRW were considered proxies for retrograde degeneration, while MTsat in the DC and APW provided evidence for anterograde degeneration, respectively. Using regression models, we compared the temporal and spatial trajectories of these MRI readouts between tetraplegics, paraplegics, and controls over a 2-year period and assessed their associations with clinical improvement. RESULTS Linear rates and absolute differences in myelin-sensitive MTsat indicated retrograde and anterograde neurodegeneration in the CST and DC, respectively. Changes in MTsat within the CST and in LRW progressively developed over time forming a gradient towards lower cervical levels by 2 years after injury, especially in tetraplegics (change per cervical level in MTsat: -0.247 p.u./level, p = 0.034; in LRW: -0.323 mm/level, p = 0.024). MTsat within the DC was already decreased at cervical levels C1-C3 at baseline (1.5 months after injury) in both tetra- and paraplegics, while linear decreases in APW over time were similar across C1-C3, preserving the spatial gradient. The relative improvement in light touch score was associated with MTsat within the DC at baseline (rs = 0.575, p = 0.014). CONCLUSION Rostral and remote to the injury, the CST and DC show ongoing structural changes, indicative of myelin reductions and atrophy within 2 years after SCI. While anterograde degeneration in the DC was already detectable uniformly at C1-C3 early following SCI, retrograde degeneration in the CST developed over time revealing specific spatial and temporal neurodegenerative gradients. Disentangling and quantifying such dynamic pathological processes may provide biomarkers for regenerative and remyelinating therapies along entire spinal pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Schading
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gergely David
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tim Max Emmenegger
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Cristian Achim
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alan Thompson
- Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nikolaus Weiskopf
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; Felix Bloch Institute for Solid State Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Armin Curt
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Freund
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.
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11
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Disrupted interhemispheric functional connectivity in primary angle-closure glaucoma: a functional MRI study: voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity in primary angle-closure glaucoma patients. Neuroreport 2022; 33:604-611. [DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000001823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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12
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Sanganahalli BG, Pavuluri S, Chitturi J, Herman P, Elkabes S, Heary R, Hyder F, Kannurpatti SS. Lateralized Supraspinal Functional Connectivity Correlate with Pain and Motor Dysfunction in Rat Hemicontusion Cervical Spinal Cord Injury. Neurotrauma Rep 2022; 3:421-432. [PMID: 36337081 PMCID: PMC9622206 DOI: 10.1089/neur.2022.0040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Afferent nociceptive activity in the reorganizing spinal cord after SCI influences supraspinal regions to establish pain. Clinical evidence of poor motor functional recovery in SCI patients with pain, led us to hypothesize that sensory-motor integration transforms into sensory-motor interference to manifest pain. This was tested by investigating supraspinal changes in a rat model of hemicontusion cervical SCI. Animals displayed ipsilateral forelimb motor dysfunction and pain, which persisted at 6 weeks after SCI. Using resting state fMRI at 8 weeks after SCI, RSFC across 14 ROIs involved in nociception, indicated lateral differences with a relatively weaker right-right connectivity (deafferented-contralateral) compared to left-left (unaffected-ipsilateral). However, the sensory (S1) and motor (M1/M2) networks showed greater RSFC using right hemisphere ROI seeds when compared to left. Voxel seeds from the somatosensory forelimb (S1FL) and M1/M2 representations reproduced the SCI-induced sensory and motor RSFC enhancements observed using the ROI seeds. Larger local connectivity occurred in the right sensory and motor networks amidst a decreasing overall local connectivity. This maladaptive reorganization of the right (deafferented) hemisphere localized the sensory component of pain emerging from the ipsilateral forepaw. A significant expansion of the sensory and motor network s overlap occurred globally after SCI when compared to sham, supporting the hypothesis that sensory and motor interference manifests pain. Voxel-seed based analysis revealed greater sensory and motor network overlap in the left hemisphere when compared to the right. This left predominance of the overlap suggested relatively larger pain processing in the unaffected hemisphere, when compared to the deafferented side.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basavaraju G. Sanganahalli
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Swathi Pavuluri
- Department of Radiology, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences–New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jyothsna Chitturi
- Department of Radiology, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences–New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Peter Herman
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Stella Elkabes
- Department of Neurosurgery, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences–New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Robert Heary
- Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Mountainside Medical Center, Montclair, New Jersey, USA
| | - Fahmeed Hyder
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sridhar S. Kannurpatti
- Department of Radiology, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences–New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA.,Address correspondence to: Sridhar S. Kannurpatti, PhD, Department of Radiology, RUTGERS–New Jersey Medical School, MSB, F-506, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
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13
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Yu H, Chen D, Jiang H, Fu G, Yang Y, Deng Z, Chen Y, Zheng Q. Brain morphology changes after spinal cord injury: A voxel-based meta-analysis. Front Neurol 2022; 13:999375. [PMID: 36119697 PMCID: PMC9477418 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.999375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Spinal cord injury (SCI) remodels the brain structure and alters brain function. To identify specific changes in brain gray matter volume (GMV) and white matter volume (WMV) following SCI, we conducted a voxel-based meta-analysis of whole-brain voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies. Methods We performed a comprehensive literature search on VBM studies that compared SCI patients and healthy controls in PubMed, Web of Science and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure from 1980 to April 2022. Then, we conducted a voxel-based meta-analysis using seed-based d mapping with permutation of subject images (SDM-PSI). Meta-regression analysis was performed to identify the effects of clinical characteristics. Results Our study collected 20 studies with 22 GMV datasets and 15 WMV datasets, including 410 patients and 406 healthy controls. Compared with healthy controls, SCI patients showed significant GMV loss in the left insula and bilateral thalamus and significant WMV loss in the bilateral corticospinal tract (CST). Additionally, a higher motor score and pinprick score were positively related to greater GMV in the right postcentral gyrus, whereas a positive relationship was observed between the light touch score and the bilateral postcentral gyrus. Conclusion Atrophy in the thalamus and bilateral CST suggest that SCI may trigger neurodegeneration changes in the sensory and motor pathways. Furthermore, atrophy of the left insula may indicate depression and neuropathic pain in SCI patients. These indicators of structural abnormalities could serve as neuroimaging biomarkers for evaluating the prognosis and treatment effect, as well as for monitoring disease progression. The application of neuroimaging biomarkers in the brain for SCI may also lead to personalized treatment strategies. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021279716, identifier: CRD42021279716.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyang Yu
- Department of Orthopedics, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Duanyong Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hai Jiang
- Department of Orthopedics, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guangtao Fu
- Department of Orthopedics, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuhui Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhantao Deng
- Department of Orthopedics, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuanfeng Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Research Department of Medical Science, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Qiujian Zheng
| | - Qiujian Zheng
- Department of Orthopedics, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Orthopedics, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Yuanfeng Chen
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14
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Adeel M, Lin BS, Chen HC, Lai CH, Liou JC, Wu CW, Chan WP, Peng CW. Motor Neuroplastic Effects of a Novel Paired Stimulation Technology in an Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury Animal Model. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169447. [PMID: 36012710 PMCID: PMC9409074 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Paired stimulation of the brain and spinal cord can remodel the central nervous tissue circuitry in an animal model to induce motor neuroplasticity. The effects of simultaneous stimulation vary according to the extent and severity of spinal cord injury. Therefore, our study aimed to determine the significant effects on an incomplete SCI rat brain and spinal cord through 3 min and 20 min stimulations after 4 weeks of intervention. Thirty-three Sprague Dawley rats were classified into six groups: (1) normal, (2) sham, (3) iTBS/tsDCS, (4) iTBS/ts-iTBS, (5) rTMS/tsDCS, and (6) rTMS/ts-iTBS. Paired stimulation of the brain cortex and spinal cord thoracic (T10) level was applied simultaneously for 3−20 min. The motor evoked potential (MEP) and Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) scores were recorded after every week of intervention for four weeks along with wheel training for 20 min. Three-minute stimulation with the iTBS/tsDCS intervention induced a significant (p < 0.050 *) increase in MEP after week 2 and week 4 treatments, while 3 min iTBS/ts-iTBS significantly improved MEP (p < 0.050 *) only after the week 3 intervention. The 20 min rTMS/ts-iTBS intervention showed a significant change only in post_5 min after week 4. The BBB score also changed significantly in all groups except for the 20 min rTMS/tsDCS intervention. iTBS/tsDCS and rTMS/ts-iTBS interventions induce neuroplasticity in an incomplete SCI animal model by significantly changing electrophysiological (MEP) and locomotion (BBB) outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Adeel
- School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- International Ph.D. Program in Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Taipei University, New Taipei City 237, Taiwan
| | - Bor-Shing Lin
- Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Taipei University, New Taipei City 237, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Chou Chen
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 235, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Hung Lai
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Jian-Chiun Liou
- School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- International Ph.D. Program in Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Wei Wu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Wing P. Chan
- Department of Radiology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Wei Peng
- School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- International Ph.D. Program in Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- School of Gerontology and Long-Term Care, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- Research Center of Biomedical Device, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel./Fax: +886-2-2736-1661 (ext. 3070)
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15
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Meng X, Yue L, Liu A, Tao W, Shi L, Zhao W, Wu Z, Zhang Z, Wang L, Zhang X, Zhou W. Distinct basolateral amygdala excitatory inputs mediate the somatosensory and aversive-affective components of pain. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102207. [PMID: 35772494 PMCID: PMC9304789 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Pain is a multidimensional perception that includes unpleasant somatosensory and affective experiences; however, the underlying neural circuits that mediate different components of pain remain elusive. Although hyperactivity of basolateral amygdala glutamatergic (BLAGlu) neurons is required for the somatosensory and emotional processing of pain, the precise excitatory inputs to BLAGlu neurons and their roles in mediating different aspects of pain are unclear. Here, we identified two discrete glutamatergic neuronal circuits in male mice: a projection from the insular cortex glutamatergic (ICGlu) to BLAGlu neurons, which modulates both the somatosensory and affective components of pain, and a projection from the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MDGlu) to BLAGlu neurons, which modulates only the aversive-affective component of pain. Using whole-cell recording and fiber photometry, we found that neurons within the IC→BLA and MD→BLA pathways were activated in mice upon inflammatory pain induced by injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into their paws. Optical inhibition of the ICGlu→BLA pathway increased the nociceptive threshold and induced behavioral place preference in CFA mice. In contrast, optical inhibition of the MDGlu→BLA pathway did not affect the nociceptive threshold but still induced place preference in CFA mice. In normal mice, optical activation of the ICGlu→BLA pathway decreased the nociceptive threshold and induced place aversion, while optical activation of the MDGlu→BLA pathway only evoked aversion. Taken together, our results demonstrate that discrete ICGlu→BLA and MDGlu→BLA pathways are involved in modulating different components of pain, provide insights into its circuit basis, and better our understanding of pain perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojing Meng
- Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China
| | - Lingxiao Yue
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Department of Pathology, Anhui Medical College, Hefei, China
| | - An Liu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wenjuan Tao
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Li Shi
- Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China
| | - Wan Zhao
- Department of Otolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zhongmin Wu
- Department of Anatomy, Medical College of Taizhou University, Taizhou, China
| | - Zhi Zhang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Liecheng Wang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
| | - Xulai Zhang
- Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China.
| | - Wenjie Zhou
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
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16
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Future Treatment of Neuropathic Pain in Spinal Cord Injury: The Challenges of Nanomedicine, Supplements or Opportunities? Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10061373. [PMID: 35740395 PMCID: PMC9219608 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10061373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain (NP) is a common chronic condition that severely affects patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI). It impairs the overall quality of life and is considered difficult to treat. Currently, clinical management of NP is often limited to drug therapy, primarily with opioid analgesics that have limited therapeutic efficacy. The persistence and intractability of NP following SCI and the potential health risks associated with opioids necessitate improved treatment approaches. Nanomedicine has gained increasing attention in recent years for its potential to improve therapeutic efficacy while minimizing toxicity by providing sensitive and targeted treatments that overcome the limitations of conventional pain medications. The current perspective begins with a brief discussion of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying NP and the current pain treatment for SCI. We discuss the most frequently used nanomaterials in pain diagnosis and treatment as well as recent and ongoing efforts to effectively treat pain by proactively mediating pain signals following SCI. Although nanomedicine is a rapidly growing field, its application to NP in SCI is still limited. Therefore, additional work is required to improve the current treatment of NP following SCI.
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17
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Guo Y, Ge Y, Li J, Dou W, Pan Y. Impact of injury duration on a sensorimotor functional network in complete spinal cord injury. J Neurosci Res 2022; 100:1765-1774. [PMID: 35608180 PMCID: PMC9541761 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Connectivity changes after spinal cord injury (SCI) appear as dynamic post‐injury procedures. The present study aimed to investigate the alterations in the functional connectivity (FC) in different injury duration in complete SCI using resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). A total of 30 healthy controls (HCs) and 27 complete SCI patients were recruited in this study. A seed‐based connectivity analysis compared FC differences between HCs and SCI and among SCI subgroups (SCI patients with post‐injury within 6 months (early stage, n = 13) vs. those with post‐injury beyond 6 months (late stage, n = 14)). Compared to HCs, SCI patients showed an increase in FC between sensorimotor cortex and cognitive, visual, and auditory cortices. The FC between motor cortex and cognitive cortex increased over time after injury. The FC between sensory cortex and visual cortex increased within 6 months after SCI, while FC between the sensory cortex and auditory cortex increased beyond 6 months after injury. The FC between sensorimotor cortex and cognitive, visual, auditory regions increased in complete SCI patients. The brain FC changed dynamically, and rehabilitation might be adapted over time after SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Guo
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Beijing, China.,School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yunxiang Ge
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology (BNRist), Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianjun Li
- School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Spinal and Neural Functional Reconstruction, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing, China
| | - Weibei Dou
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology (BNRist), Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Pan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Beijing, China.,School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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18
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Acioglu C, Heary RF, Elkabes S. Roles of neuronal toll-like receptors in neuropathic pain and central nervous system injuries and diseases. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 102:163-178. [PMID: 35176442 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are innate immune receptors that are expressed in immune cells as well as glia and neurons of the central and peripheral nervous systems. They are best known for their role in the host defense in response to pathogens and for the induction of inflammation in infectious and non-infectious diseases. In the central nervous system (CNS), TLRs modulate glial and neuronal functions as well as innate immunity and neuroinflammation under physiological or pathophysiological conditions. The majority of the studies on TLRs in CNS pathologies investigated their overall contribution without focusing on a particular cell type, or they analyzed TLRs in glia and infiltrating immune cells in the context of neuroinflammation and cellular activation. The role of neuronal TLRs in CNS diseases and injuries has received little attention and remains underappreciated. The primary goal of this review is to summarize findings demonstrating the pivotal and unique roles of neuronal TLRs in neuropathic pain, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and CNS injuries. We discuss how the current findings warrant future investigations to better define the specific contributions of neuronal TLRs to these pathologies. We underline the paucity of information regarding the role of neuronal TLRs in other neurodegenerative, demyelinating, and psychiatric diseases. We draw attention to the importance of broadening research on neuronal TLRs in view of emerging evidence demonstrating their distinctive functional properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cigdem Acioglu
- The Reynolds Family Spine Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, United States
| | - Robert F Heary
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Mountainside Medical Center, Montclair, NJ 07042, United States
| | - Stella Elkabes
- The Reynolds Family Spine Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, United States.
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19
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Bao SS, Zhao C, Chen HW, Feng T, Guo XJ, Xu M, Rao JS. NT3 treatment alters spinal cord injury-induced changes in the gray matter volume of rhesus monkey cortex. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5919. [PMID: 35396344 PMCID: PMC8993853 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09981-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) may cause structural alterations in brain due to pathophysiological processes, but the effects of SCI treatment on brain have rarely been reported. Here, voxel-based morphometry is employed to investigate the effects of SCI and neurotrophin-3 (NT3) coupled chitosan-induced regeneration on brain and spinal cord structures in rhesus monkeys. Possible association between brain and spinal cord structural alterations is explored. The pain sensitivity and stepping ability of animals are collected to evaluate sensorimotor functional alterations. Compared with SCI, the unique effects of NT3 treatment on brain structure appear in extensive regions which involved in motor control and neuropathic pain, such as right visual cortex, superior parietal lobule, left superior frontal gyrus (SFG), middle frontal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, insula, secondary somatosensory cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and bilateral caudate nucleus. Particularly, the structure of insula is significantly correlated with the pain sensitivity. Regenerative treatment also shows a protective effect on spinal cord structure. The associations between brain and spinal cord structural alterations are observed in right primary somatosensory cortex, SFG, and other regions. These results help further elucidate secondary effects on brain of SCI and provide a basis for evaluating the effects of NT3 treatment on brain structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Sheng Bao
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Neural Regeneration, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Can Zhao
- Institute of Rehabilitation Engineering, China Rehabilitation Science Institute, Beijing, 100068, China. .,School of Rehabilitation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100068, China.
| | - Hao-Wei Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Neural Regeneration, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Ting Feng
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Neural Regeneration, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Guo
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Neural Regeneration, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Meng Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
| | - Jia-Sheng Rao
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Neural Regeneration, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China.
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20
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Cohen‐Adad J, Alonso‐Ortiz E, Alley S, Lagana MM, Baglio F, Vannesjo SJ, Karbasforoushan H, Seif M, Seifert AC, Xu J, Kim J, Labounek R, Vojtíšek L, Dostál M, Valošek J, Samson RS, Grussu F, Battiston M, Gandini Wheeler‐Kingshott CAM, Yiannakas MC, Gilbert G, Schneider T, Johnson B, Prados F. Comparison of multicenter
MRI
protocols for visualizing the spinal cord gray matter. Magn Reson Med 2022; 88:849-859. [DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Julien Cohen‐Adad
- NeuroPoly Lab Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal Montreal Canada
- Functional Neuroimaging Unit, CRIUGM University of Montreal Montreal Canada
- Mila ‐ Quebec AI Institute Montreal Canada
| | - Eva Alonso‐Ortiz
- NeuroPoly Lab Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal Montreal Canada
| | - Stephanie Alley
- NeuroPoly Lab Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal Montreal Canada
| | | | | | - Signe Johanna Vannesjo
- Wellcome Center for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford UK
- Department of Physics Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
| | - Haleh Karbasforoushan
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program Northwestern University School of Medicine Chicago IL USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine Stanford University Stanford CA USA
| | - Maryam Seif
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
- Department of Neurophysics Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig Germany
| | - Alan C. Seifert
- Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York NY USA
| | - Junqian Xu
- Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York NY USA
| | - Joo‐Won Kim
- Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York NY USA
| | - René Labounek
- Departments of Neurology and Biomedical Engineering University Hospital Olomouc Olomouc Czech Republic
- Division of Clinical Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, University of Minnesota Minneapolis MN USA
| | - Lubomír Vojtíšek
- Central European Institute of Technology Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic
| | - Marek Dostál
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine University Hospital Brno Brno Czech Republic
| | - Jan Valošek
- Departments of Neurology and Biomedical Engineering University Hospital Olomouc Olomouc Czech Republic
| | - Rebecca S. Samson
- Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences University College London London UK
| | - Francesco Grussu
- Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences University College London London UK
- Radiomics Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus Barcelona Spain
| | - Marco Battiston
- Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences University College London London UK
| | - Claudia A. M. Gandini Wheeler‐Kingshott
- Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences University College London London UK
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences University of Pavia Pavia Italy
- Brain MRI 3T Research Center C. Mondino National Neurological Institute Pavia Italy
| | - Marios C. Yiannakas
- Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences University College London London UK
| | | | | | - Brian Johnson
- MR Clinical Development, Philips North America Gainesville FL USA
| | - Ferran Prados
- Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences University College London London UK
- e‐Health Center, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya Barcelona Spain
- Center for Medical Imaging Computing, Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London London UK
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21
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Matisz C, Gruber A. Neuroinflammatory remodeling of the anterior cingulate cortex as a key driver of mood disorders in gastrointestinal disease and disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 133:104497. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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22
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Leemhuis E, Giuffrida V, De Martino ML, Forte G, Pecchinenda A, De Gennaro L, Giannini AM, Pazzaglia M. Rethinking the Body in the Brain after Spinal Cord Injury. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11020388. [PMID: 35054089 PMCID: PMC8780443 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11020388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injuries (SCI) are disruptive neurological events that severly affect the body leading to the interruption of sensorimotor and autonomic pathways. Recent research highlighted SCI-related alterations extend beyond than the expected network, involving most of the central nervous system and goes far beyond primary sensorimotor cortices. The present perspective offers an alternative, useful way to interpret conflicting findings by focusing on the deafferented and deefferented body as the central object of interest. After an introduction to the main processes involved in reorganization according to SCI, we will focus separately on the body regions of the head, upper limbs, and lower limbs in complete, incomplete, and deafferent SCI participants. On one hand, the imprinting of the body’s spatial organization is entrenched in the brain such that its representation likely lasts for the entire lifetime of patients, independent of the severity of the SCI. However, neural activity is extremely adaptable, even over short time scales, and is modulated by changing conditions or different compensative strategies. Therefore, a better understanding of both aspects is an invaluable clinical resource for rehabilitation and the successful use of modern robotic technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Leemhuis
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (E.L.); (V.G.); (M.L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.D.G.); (A.M.G.)
- Action and Body Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Giuffrida
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (E.L.); (V.G.); (M.L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.D.G.); (A.M.G.)
- Action and Body Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa De Martino
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (E.L.); (V.G.); (M.L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.D.G.); (A.M.G.)
- Action and Body Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Forte
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (E.L.); (V.G.); (M.L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.D.G.); (A.M.G.)
- Action and Body Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (G.F.); (M.P.); Tel.: +39-6-49917633 (M.P.)
| | - Anna Pecchinenda
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (E.L.); (V.G.); (M.L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.D.G.); (A.M.G.)
| | - Luigi De Gennaro
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (E.L.); (V.G.); (M.L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.D.G.); (A.M.G.)
- Action and Body Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Giannini
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (E.L.); (V.G.); (M.L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.D.G.); (A.M.G.)
| | - Mariella Pazzaglia
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy; (E.L.); (V.G.); (M.L.D.M.); (A.P.); (L.D.G.); (A.M.G.)
- Action and Body Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (G.F.); (M.P.); Tel.: +39-6-49917633 (M.P.)
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23
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Jaimini A, Chopra J, D'souza M, Sharma R, Saw S, Pandey S, Solanki Y. 18F-FDG positron emission tomography imaging of cortical reorganization in spinal trauma. Indian J Nucl Med 2022; 37:126-132. [PMID: 35982816 PMCID: PMC9380813 DOI: 10.4103/ijnm.ijnm_133_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Spinal cord injury (SCI) extensively impacts the sensorimotor reorganization in the brain. The effects can be both anatomical and functional. To date, not many studies using 18F-Fluoro-2-Deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) to evaluate metabolic changes in the brain are done. Understanding such changes is crucial for developing clinical management and evidence-based rehabilitation strategies for these patients. Subjects and Methods: In this study, we compared 18F-FDG PET imaging of 6 SCI patients with complete paraplegia and 19 controls. Statistical parametric mapping software was utilized to compare the images on a voxel to voxel basis (significance level P < 0.05 and clusters having >50 voxels). Results: The study showed raised metabolism in supplementary motor areas, comprehension centers, some areas in the parietal and temporal lobe, putamen and cerebellum while reduced metabolic uptake in areas like anterior cingulate gyrus, hippocampus and sensory cortical areas when SCI patients were compared against healthy controls. The frontal lobe showed varied results where certain regions showed higher metabolism while the others showed lower in patients compared with controls. Conclusion: Cerebral deafferentation or disuse atrophy can be linked with reduced metabolism while raised uptake can be associated with initiation and planning of movement and cognitive changes in the brain posttrauma.
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24
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Defrin R, Gruener H, Gaidukov E, Bondi M, Rachamim-Katz O, Ringler E, Blumen N, Zeilig G. From acute to long-term alterations in pain processing and modulation after spinal cord injury: mechanisms related to chronification of central neuropathic pain. Pain 2022; 163:e94-e105. [PMID: 33863855 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT A severe and debilitating consequence of a spinal cord injury (SCI) is central neuropathic pain (CNP). Our aim was to investigate the processes leading to CNP emergence and chronification by analyzing causal relationship over time between spinothalamic function, pain excitability, and pain inhibition after SCI. This longitudinal follow-up study included 53 patients with acute SCI and 20 healthy controls. Spinothalamic, pain excitability, and intrasegmental and extrasegmental pain inhibition indices were repeatedly evaluated at 1.5, 3, and 6 months post-SCI. Between- and within-group analyses were conducted among those patients who eventually developed CNP and those who did not. Healthy controls were evaluated twice for repeatability analysis. Patients who developed CNP, compared with those who did not, exhibited increased thermal thresholds (P < 0.05), reduced pain adaptation (P < 0.01), and conditioned pain modulation (P < 0.05), early post-injury, and the CNP group's manifestations remained worse throughout the follow-up. By contrast, allodynia frequency was initially similar across SCI groups, but gradually increased in the subacute phase onward only among the CNP group (P < 0.001), along with CNP emergence. Early worse spinothalamic and pain inhibition preceded CNP and predicted its occurrence, and early worse pain inhibition mediated the link between spinothalamic function and CNP. Crossover associations were observed between early and late pain inhibition and excitability. Inefficient intrasegmental and extrasegmental inhibition, possibly resulting from spinothalamic deafferentation, seems to ignite CNP chronification. Pain excitability probably contributes to CNP maintenance, possibly via further exhaustion of the inhibitory control. Preemptive treatment promoting antinociception early post-SCI may mitigate or prevent CNP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Defrin
- Department of Physical Therapy at Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Hila Gruener
- Department of Physical Therapy at Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Evgeni Gaidukov
- Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Department of Rehabilitation Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Moshe Bondi
- Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Department of Rehabilitation Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Orna Rachamim-Katz
- Barzilai Day Care Rehabilitation Unit, Barzilai Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel
| | - Erez Ringler
- Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Department of Rehabilitation Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Nava Blumen
- Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Department of Rehabilitation Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Gabi Zeilig
- Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Department of Rehabilitation Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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25
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Huynh V, Lütolf R, Rosner J, Luechinger R, Curt A, Kollias S, Hubli M, Michels L. Supraspinal nociceptive networks in neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury. Hum Brain Mapp 2021; 42:3733-3749. [PMID: 34132441 PMCID: PMC8288099 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury involves plastic changes along the whole neuroaxis. Current neuroimaging studies have identified grey matter volume (GMV) and resting-state functional connectivity changes of pain processing regions related to neuropathic pain intensity in spinal cord injury subjects. However, the relationship between the underlying neural processes and pain extent, a complementary characteristic of neuropathic pain, is unknown. We therefore aimed to reveal the neural markers of widespread neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury subjects and hypothesized that those with greater pain extent will show higher GMV and stronger connectivity within pain related regions. Thus, 29 chronic paraplegic subjects and 25 healthy controls underwent clinical and electrophysiological examinations combined with neuroimaging. Paraplegics were demarcated based on neuropathic pain and were thoroughly matched demographically. Our findings indicate that (a) spinal cord injury subjects with neuropathic pain display stronger connectivity between prefrontal cortices and regions involved with sensory integration and multimodal processing, (b) greater neuropathic pain extent, is associated with stronger connectivity between the posterior insular cortex and thalamic sub-regions which partake in the lateral pain system and (c) greater intensity of neuropathic pain is related to stronger connectivity of regions involved with multimodal integration and the affective-motivational component of pain. Overall, this study provides neuroimaging evidence that the pain phenotype of spinal cord injury subjects is related to the underlying function of their resting brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Huynh
- Department of Neuroradiology, Clinical Neuroscience CenterUniversity Hospital Zurich & University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
- Spinal Cord Injury CenterBalgrist University Hospital, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Robin Lütolf
- Spinal Cord Injury CenterBalgrist University Hospital, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Jan Rosner
- Spinal Cord Injury CenterBalgrist University Hospital, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
- Department of Neurology, InselspitalBern University Hospital, University of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Roger Luechinger
- Institute for Biomedical EngineeringUniversity and ETH ZürichZürichSwitzerland
| | - Armin Curt
- Spinal Cord Injury CenterBalgrist University Hospital, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Spyridon Kollias
- Department of Neuroradiology, Clinical Neuroscience CenterUniversity Hospital Zurich & University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Michèle Hubli
- Spinal Cord Injury CenterBalgrist University Hospital, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Lars Michels
- Department of Neuroradiology, Clinical Neuroscience CenterUniversity Hospital Zurich & University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
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26
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Chen H, Lian Z, Liu J, Shi Z, Du Q, Feng H, Zhang Q, Yang M, Wu X, Zhou H. Brain changes correlate with neuropathic pain in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2021; 53:103048. [PMID: 34090129 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2021.103048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuropathic pain (NP) is a highly disturbing sensory experience in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD). However, the brain changes in NMOSD patients with NP have rarely been studied. OBJECTIVE The aim of the cross-sectional and follow-up longitudinal study was to investigate the brain changes in NMOSD patients with NP. METHODS In the cross-sectional study, comparisons were performed between groups with NP (W-NP) and without NP (Wo-NP), and age, sex and years of education were adjusted. We compared the voxel-wise whole-brain gray matter (GM) volume, cortical thickness (CT), cortical surface area (CSA) and local gyrification index (LGI). Probabilistic tractography started from regions with significant between-group differences in GM volume, CT, CSA and LGI. We also compared fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), radial diffusivity (RD) and axial diffusivity (AD) of the white matter (WM) skeleton using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS). In the longitudinal study, the patients were followed for 2.0±0.0 years and underwent the same imaging scanning as the cross-sectional study. Changes of the CT, CSA, LGI and WM were obtained. RESULTS Patients in the W-NP group were older than those in the Wo-NP group and showed significantly reduced LGI of the left temporal lobe and adjacent regions(regions of interest, ROIs), which participated in neuropathic pain processing, possibly by emotion and attention control. Probabilistic tractography started from ROIs, and the generated WM tracts showed decreased MD and RD in the W-NP group compared to the Wo-NP group. Using TBSS, both MD and RD decreased in extensive WM skeleton in the right hemisphere of the patients in the W-NP group. Additionally, in the follow-up longitudinal study, compared with patients in the Wo-NP group, patients in the W-NP group showed lower mean reduction rates of LGI of ROIs, and less increase of FA and more increases of MD, AD and RD in the extensive WM skeleton. CONCLUSIONS These findings support the hypothesis that brain changes might correlate with NP in NMOSD patients and predict the changes related to NP over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxi Chen
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhiyun Lian
- Department of Neurology, Chongqing City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, China
| | - Ju Liu
- Department of Neurology, the first Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Ziyan Shi
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qin Du
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Huiru Feng
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu Office of People's Government of Tibetan Autonomous Region, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qin Zhang
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Mu Yang
- Sichuan Cancer Hospital and research Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Xi Wu
- Department of Computer Science, Chengdu University of Information Technology.
| | - Hongyu Zhou
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
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27
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Kyathanahally SP, Azzarito M, Rosner J, Calhoun VD, Blaiotta C, Ashburner J, Weiskopf N, Wiech K, Friston K, Ziegler G, Freund P. Microstructural plasticity in nociceptive pathways after spinal cord injury. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2021; 92:jnnp-2020-325580. [PMID: 34039630 PMCID: PMC8292587 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2020-325580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To track the interplay between (micro-) structural changes along the trajectories of nociceptive pathways and its relation to the presence and intensity of neuropathic pain (NP) after spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS A quantitative neuroimaging approach employing a multiparametric mapping protocol was used, providing indirect measures of myelination (via contrasts such as magnetisation transfer (MT) saturation, longitudinal relaxation (R1)) and iron content (via effective transverse relaxation rate (R2*)) was used to track microstructural changes within nociceptive pathways. In order to characterise concurrent changes along the entire neuroaxis, a combined brain and spinal cord template embedded in the statistical parametric mapping framework was used. Multivariate source-based morphometry was performed to identify naturally grouped patterns of structural variation between individuals with and without NP after SCI. RESULTS In individuals with NP, lower R1 and MT values are evident in the primary motor cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, while increases in R2* are evident in the cervical cord, periaqueductal grey (PAG), thalamus and anterior cingulate cortex when compared with pain-free individuals. Lower R1 values in the PAG and greater R2* values in the cervical cord are associated with NP intensity. CONCLUSIONS The degree of microstructural changes across ascending and descending nociceptive pathways is critically implicated in the maintenance of NP. Tracking maladaptive plasticity unravels the intimate relationships between neurodegenerative and compensatory processes in NP states and may facilitate patient monitoring during therapeutic trials related to pain and neuroregeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreenath P Kyathanahally
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, University Hospital Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michela Azzarito
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, University Hospital Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jan Rosner
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, University Hospital Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Vince D Calhoun
- Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS): Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Claudia Blaiotta
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - John Ashburner
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Nikolaus Weiskopf
- Neurophysics, Max-Planck-Institut fur Kognitions- und Neurowissenschaften, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Katja Wiech
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Karl Friston
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Gabriel Ziegler
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Disease (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Patrick Freund
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, University Hospital Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
- Neurophysics, Max-Planck-Institut fur Kognitions- und Neurowissenschaften, Leipzig, Germany
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28
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Tong Y, Huang X, Qi CX, Shen Y. Altered Functional Connectivity of the Primary Visual Cortex in Patients With Iridocyclitis and Assessment of Its Predictive Value Using Machine Learning. Front Immunol 2021; 12:660554. [PMID: 34025659 PMCID: PMC8137842 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.660554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To explore the intrinsic functional connectivity (FC) alteration of the primary visual cortex (V1) between individuals with iridocyclitis and healthy controls (HCs) by the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique, and to investigate whether FC findings be used to differentiate patients with iridocyclitis from HCs. Methods Twenty-six patients with iridocyclitis and twenty-eight well-matched HCs were recruited in our study and underwent resting-state fMRI examinations. The fMRI data were analyzed by Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM12), Data Processing and Analysis for Brain Imaging (DPABI), and Resting State fMRI Data Analysis Toolkit (REST) software. Differences in FC signal values of the V1 between the individuals with iridocyclitis and HCs were compared using independent two-sample t-tests. Significant differences in FC between two groups were chosen as classification features for distinguishing individuals with iridocyclitis from HCs using a support vector machine (SVM) classifier that involved machine learning. Classifier performance was evaluated using permutation test analysis. Results Compared with HCs, patients with iridocyclitis displayed significantly increased FC between the left V1 and left cerebellum crus1, left cerebellum 10, bilateral inferior temporal gyrus, right hippocampus, and left superior occipital gyrus. Moreover, patients with iridocyclitis displayed significantly lower FC between the left V1 and both the bilateral calcarine and bilateral postcentral gyrus. Patients with iridocyclitis also exhibited significantly higher FC values between the right V1 and left cerebellum crus1, bilateral thalamus, and left middle temporal gyrus; while they displayed significantly lower FC between the right V1 and both the bilateral calcarine and bilateral postcentral gyrus (voxel-level P<0.01, Gaussian random field correction, cluster-level P<0.05). Our results showed that 63.46% of the participants were correctly classified using the leave-one-out cross-validation technique with an SVM classifier based on the FC of the left V1; and 67.31% of the participants were correctly classified based on the FC of the right V1 (P<0.001, non-parametric permutation test). Conclusion Patients with iridocyclitis displayed significantly disturbed FC between the V1 and various brain regions, including vision-related, somatosensory, and cognition-related regions. The FC variability could distinguish patients with iridocyclitis from HCs with substantial accuracy. These findings may aid in identifying the potential neurological mechanisms of impaired visual function in individuals with iridocyclitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Tong
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xin Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, Nanchang, China
| | - Chen-Xing Qi
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yin Shen
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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29
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Lee HL, Yeum CE, Lee H, Oh J, Kim JT, Lee WJ, Ha Y, Yang YI, Kim KN. Peripheral Nerve-Derived Stem Cell Spheroids Induce Functional Recovery and Repair after Spinal Cord Injury in Rodents. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22084141. [PMID: 33923671 PMCID: PMC8072978 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cell therapy is one of the most promising candidate treatments for spinal cord injury. Research has shown optimistic results for this therapy, but clinical limitations remain, including poor viability, engraftment, and differentiation. Here, we isolated novel peripheral nerve-derived stem cells (PNSCs) from adult peripheral nerves with similar characteristics to neural-crest stem cells. These PNSCs expressed neural-crest specific markers and showed multilineage differentiation potential into Schwann cells, neuroglia, neurons, and mesodermal cells. In addition, PNSCs showed therapeutic potential by releasing the neurotrophic factors, including glial cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor, insulin-like growth factor, nerve growth factor, and neurotrophin-3. PNSC abilities were also enhanced by their development into spheroids which secreted neurotrophic factors several times more than non-spheroid PNSCs and expressed several types of extra cellular matrix. These features suggest that the potential for these PNSC spheroids can overcome their limitations. In an animal spinal cord injury (SCI) model, these PNSC spheroids induced functional recovery and neuronal regeneration. These PNSC spheroids also reduced the neuropathic pain which accompanies SCI after remyelination. These PNSC spheroids may represent a new therapeutic approach for patients suffering from SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Lan Lee
- Spine & Spinal Cord Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea; (H.-L.L.); (H.L.); (J.O.); (Y.H.)
| | - Chung-Eun Yeum
- Paik Inje Memorial Institute for Clinical Research, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan 47392, Korea; (C.-E.Y.); (J.-T.K.); (W.-J.L.)
| | - HyeYeong Lee
- Spine & Spinal Cord Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea; (H.-L.L.); (H.L.); (J.O.); (Y.H.)
| | - Jinsoo Oh
- Spine & Spinal Cord Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea; (H.-L.L.); (H.L.); (J.O.); (Y.H.)
| | - Jong-Tae Kim
- Paik Inje Memorial Institute for Clinical Research, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan 47392, Korea; (C.-E.Y.); (J.-T.K.); (W.-J.L.)
| | - Won-Jin Lee
- Paik Inje Memorial Institute for Clinical Research, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan 47392, Korea; (C.-E.Y.); (J.-T.K.); (W.-J.L.)
| | - Yoon Ha
- Spine & Spinal Cord Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea; (H.-L.L.); (H.L.); (J.O.); (Y.H.)
- POSTECH Biotech Center, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Korea
| | - Young-Il Yang
- Paik Inje Memorial Institute for Clinical Research, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan 47392, Korea; (C.-E.Y.); (J.-T.K.); (W.-J.L.)
- Correspondence: (Y.-I.Y.); (K.-N.K.)
| | - Keung-Nyun Kim
- Spine & Spinal Cord Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea; (H.-L.L.); (H.L.); (J.O.); (Y.H.)
- Correspondence: (Y.-I.Y.); (K.-N.K.)
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30
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Li X, Chen Q, Zheng W, Chen X, Wang L, Qin W, Li K, Lu J, Chen N. Inconsistency between cortical reorganization and functional connectivity alteration in the sensorimotor cortex following incomplete cervical spinal cord injury. Brain Imaging Behav 2021; 14:2367-2377. [PMID: 31444779 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-019-00190-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore whether there will be any alterations in sensorimotor-related cortex and the possible causes of sensorimotor dysfunction after incomplete cervical spinal cord injury (ICSCI). Structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) of nineteen ICSCI patients and nineteen healthy controls (HCs) was acquired. Voxel based morphometry (VBM) and tract-based spatial statistics were performed to assess differences in gray matter volume (GMV) and white matter integrity between ICSCI patients and HCs. Whole brain functional connectivity (FC) was analyzed using the results of VBM as seeds. Associations between the clinical variables and the brain changes were studied. Compared with HCs, ICSCI patients demonstrated reduced GMV in the right fusiform gyrus (FG) and left orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) but no changes in areas directly related to sensorimotor function. There were no significant differences in brain white matter. Additionally, the FC in the left primary sensorimotor cortex and cerebellum decreased when the FG and OFC, respectively, were used as seeds. Subsequent relevance analysis suggests a weak positive correlation between the left OFC's GMV and visual analog scale (VAS) scores. In conclusion, brain structural changes following ICSCI occur mainly in certain higher cognitive regions, such as the FG and OFC, rather than in the brain areas directly related to sensation or motor control. The functional areas of the brain that are related to cognitive processing may play an important role in sensorimotor dysfunction through the decreased FC with sensorimotor areas after ICSCI. Therefore, cognition-related functional training may play an important role in rehabilitation of sensorimotor function after ICSCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejing Li
- Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 45 Chang-chun St, Xicheng District, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, No. 45 Chang-chun St, Xicheng District, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 95 Yongan Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, China
| | - Weimin Zheng
- Department of Radiology, Aerospace Central Hospital, No. 15 Yuquan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 45 Chang-chun St, Xicheng District, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, No. 45 Chang-chun St, Xicheng District, Beijing, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 45 Chang-chun St, Xicheng District, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, No. 45 Chang-chun St, Xicheng District, Beijing, China
| | - Wen Qin
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, No. 154, Anshan Road, Heping District, Tianjin, China
| | - Kuncheng Li
- Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 45 Chang-chun St, Xicheng District, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, No. 45 Chang-chun St, Xicheng District, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Lu
- Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 45 Chang-chun St, Xicheng District, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, No. 45 Chang-chun St, Xicheng District, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Chen
- Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 45 Chang-chun St, Xicheng District, Beijing, China. .,Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, No. 45 Chang-chun St, Xicheng District, Beijing, China.
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31
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Huynh V, Staempfli P, Luetolf R, Luechinger R, Curt A, Kollias S, Hubli M, Michels L. Investigation of Cerebral White Matter Changes After Spinal Cord Injury With a Measure of Fiber Density. Front Neurol 2021; 12:598336. [PMID: 33692736 PMCID: PMC7937730 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.598336] [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] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Remote neurodegenerative changes in supraspinal white matter (WM) can manifest after central lesions such as spinal cord injury (SCI). The majority of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies use traditional metrics such as fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) to investigate microstructural changes in cerebral WM after SCI. However, interpretation of FA readouts is often challenged by inherent limitations of the tensor model. Recent developments in novel diffusion markers, such as fiber density (FD), allows more accurate depictions of WM pathways and has shown more reliable quantification of WM alterations compared to FA in recent studies of neurological diseases. This study investigated if FD provides useful characterization of supraspinal WM integrity after SCI in addition to the traditional DTI readouts. FA, MD, and FD maps were derived from diffusion datasets of 20 patients with chronic SCI and compared with 19 healthy controls (HC). Group differences were investigated across whole brain WM using tract-based spatial statistics and averaged diffusion values of the corticospinal tract (CST) and thalamic radiation (TR) were extracted for comparisons between HC and SCI subgroups. We also related diffusion readouts of the CST and TR with clinical scores of sensorimotor function. To investigate which diffusion markers of the CST and TR delineate HC and patients with SCI a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed. Overall, patients with an SCI showed decreased FA of the TR and CST. ROC analysis differentiated HC and SCI based on diffusion markers of large WM tracts including FD of the TR. Furthermore, patients' motor function was positively correlated with greater microstructural integrity of the CST. While FD showed the strongest correlation, motor function was also associated with FA and MD of the CST. In summary, microstructural changes of supraspinal WM in patients with SCI can be detected using FD as a complementary marker to traditional DTI readouts and correlates with their clinical characteristics. Future DTI studies may benefit from utilizing this novel marker to investigate complex large WM tracts in patient cohorts with varying presentations of SCI or neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Huynh
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Staempfli
- MR-Center of the Psychiatric University Hospital and the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Robin Luetolf
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roger Luechinger
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Armin Curt
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Spyros Kollias
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michèle Hubli
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lars Michels
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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32
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Blumenthal GH, Nandakumar B, Schnider AK, Detloff MR, Ricard J, Bethea JR, Moxon KA. Modelling at-level allodynia after mid-thoracic contusion in the rat. Eur J Pain 2021; 25:801-816. [PMID: 33296535 DOI: 10.1002/ejp.1711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The rat mid-thoracic contusion model has been used to study at-level tactile allodynia, a common type of pain that develops after spinal cord injury (SCI). An important advantage of this model is that not all animals develop hypersensitivity. Therefore, it can be used to examine mechanisms that are strictly related to the development of pain-like behaviour separately from mechanisms related to the injury itself. However, how to separate animals that develop hypersensitivity from those that do not is unclear. METHODS The aims of the current study were to identify where hypersensitivity and spasticity develop and use this information to identify metrics to separate animals that develop hypersensitivity from those that do not to study differences in their behaviour. To accomplish these aims, a grid was used to localize hypersensitivity on the dorsal trunk relative to thoracic dermatomes and supraspinal responses to tactile stimulation were tallied. These supraspinal responses were used to develop a hypersensitivity score to separate animals that develop hypersensitivity, or pain-like response to nonpainful stimuli. RESULTS Similar to humans, the development of hypersensitivity could occur with the development of spasticity or hyperreflexia. Moreover, the time course and prevalence of hypersensitivity phenotypes (at-, above-, or below level) produced by this model were similar to that observed in humans with SCI. CONCLUSION However, the amount of spared spinal matter in the cord did not explain the development of hypersensitivity, as previously reported. This approach can be used to study the mechanisms underlying the development of hypersensitivity separately from mechanisms related to injury alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary H Blumenthal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Bharadwaj Nandakumar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Ashley K Schnider
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Megan R Detloff
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Spinal Cord Research Center, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jerome Ricard
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - John R Bethea
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Karen A Moxon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,Center for Neuroscience, Davis, CA, USA
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33
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Austin PD, Siddall PJ. Virtual reality for the treatment of neuropathic pain in people with spinal cord injuries: A scoping review. J Spinal Cord Med 2021; 44:8-18. [PMID: 30707649 PMCID: PMC7919871 DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2019.1575554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Context: Virtual and augmented imagery are emerging technologies with potential to reduce the severity and impact of neuropathic pain in people with spinal cord injury (SCI).Objective: We aimed to identify and discuss studies using virtual and augmented reality applications for the management of neuropathic pain in people with spinal cord injury.Methods (data sources, data extraction): A systematic literature search was conducted using PRISMA scoping review guidelines. Articles were searched in PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases using search terms relating to SCI, virtual and augmented reality and neuropathic pain. With no strong evidence for visual imagery in the treatment of pain in SCI patients, we selected exploratory, feasibility and more rigorous methodologies such as randomized controlled trials and case-control studies. We only selected studies evaluating the effects of visual imagery on neuropathic pain at or below the spinal cord injury level.Results: Of 60 articles located, we included nine articles involving 207 participants. All studies were exploratory using head-mounted devices or 3D and 2D screens with virtual walking or limb movement imagery. Outcomes included pain sensitivity, motor function and body ownership. Eight of the nine studies reported significant reductions in neuropathic pain intensity. However, given small sample sizes in all studies, results may be unreliable.Conclusion: Although the number of studies and individual sample sizes are small, these initial findings are promising. Given the limited options available for the effective treatment of neuropathic SCI pain and early evidence of efficacy, they provide valuable incentive for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip D. Austin
- Department of Pain Management, HammondCare, Greenwich Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia,Correspondence to: Philip D. Austin, Department of Pain Management, HammondCare, Greenwich Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Ph: +61 28878 3943.
| | - Philip J. Siddall
- Department of Pain Management, HammondCare, Greenwich Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia,Sydney Medical School-Northern, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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34
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Farzaneh M, Anbiyaiee A, Khoshnam SE. Human Pluripotent Stem Cells for Spinal Cord Injury. Curr Stem Cell Res Ther 2020; 15:135-143. [PMID: 31656156 DOI: 10.2174/1574362414666191018121658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) as a serious public health issue and neurological insult is one of the most severe cause of long-term disability. To date, a variety of techniques have been widely developed to treat central nervous system injury. Currently, clinical treatments are limited to surgical decompression and pharmacotherapy. Because of their negative effects and inefficiency, novel therapeutic approaches are required in the management of SCI. Improvement and innovation of stem cell-based therapies have a huge potential for biological and future clinical applications. Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) including embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are defined by their abilities to divide asymmetrically, self-renew and ultimately differentiate into various cell lineages. There are considerable research efforts to use various types of stem cells, such as ESCs, neural stem cells (NSCs), and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the treatment of patients with SCI. Moreover, the use of patient-specific iPSCs holds great potential as an unlimited cell source for generating in vivo models of SCI. In this review, we focused on the potential of hPSCs in treating SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Farzaneh
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Anbiyaiee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz 61357-15794, Iran
| | - Seyed Esmaeil Khoshnam
- Physiology Research Center, Department of Physiology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
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35
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Torrecillas-Martínez L, Catena A, O'Valle F, Solano-Galvis C, Padial-Molina M, Galindo-Moreno P. On the Relationship Between White Matter Structure and Subjective Pain. Lessons From an Acute Surgical Pain Model. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:558703. [PMID: 33328926 PMCID: PMC7732636 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.558703] [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] [Received: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Pain has been associated with structural changes of the brain. However, evidence regarding white matter changes in response to acute pain protocols is still scarce. In the present study, we assess the existence of differences in brain white matter related to pain intensity reported by patients undergoing surgical removal of a mandibular impacted third molar using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) analysis. Methods: 30 participants reported their subjective pain using a visual analog scale at three postsurgical stages: under anesthesia, in pain, and after the administration of an analgesic. The diffusion data were acquired prior to surgery. Results: DTI analysis yielded significant positive associations of fractional anisotropy in white matter areas related to pain processing (corticospinal tract, corona radiata, corpus callosum) with the differences in pain between the three postsurgery stages. Extent and location of these associations depended on the magnitude of the subjective pain differences. Tractography analysis indicated that some pain–tract associations are significant only when pain stage is involved in the contrast (posterior corona radiata), while others (middle cerebellar peduncle, pontine crossing) are only when anesthesia is involved in the contrast. Conclusions: The association of white matter fractional anisotropy and connectivity, measured before the pain stages, with subjective pain depends on the magnitude of the differences in pain scores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Torrecillas-Martínez
- Department of Oral Surgery and Implant Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Andrés Catena
- Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Francisco O'Valle
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine and Instituto de Biopatología y Medicina Reparativa, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - César Solano-Galvis
- Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Miguel Padial-Molina
- Department of Oral Surgery and Implant Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Pablo Galindo-Moreno
- Department of Oral Surgery and Implant Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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36
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Asseyer S, Kuchling J, Gaetano L, Komnenić D, Siebert N, Chien C, Scheel M, Oertel FC, Ruprecht K, Bellmann-Strobl J, Finke C, Chakravarty MM, Magon S, Wuerfel J, Paul F, Papadopoulou A, Brandt AU. Ventral posterior nucleus volume is associated with neuropathic pain intensity in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2020; 46:102579. [DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2020.102579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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37
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Kuang C, Zha Y, Liu C, Chen J. Altered Topological Properties of Brain Structural Covariance Networks in Patients With Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:364. [PMID: 33100992 PMCID: PMC7500316 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.00364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Brain structural alterations play an important role in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). However, while there have been studies on regional brain structural alterations, only few studies have focused on the topological organization of the brain structural covariance network. This work aimed to describe the structural covariance network architecture alterations that are possibly linked to cortex reorganization in patients with CSM. Methods High-resolution anatomical images of 31 CSM patients and 31 healthy controls (HCs) were included in the study. The images were acquired using a sagittal three-dimensional T1-weighted BRAVO sequence. Firstly, the gray matter volume of 90 brain regions of automated anatomical labeling atlas were computed using a VBM toolbox based on the DARTEL algorithm. Then, the brain structural covariance network was constructed by thresholding the gray matter volume correlation matrices. Subsequently, the network measures and nodal property were calculated based on graph theory. Finally, the differences in the network metrics and nodal property between groups were compared using a non-parametric test. Results Patients with CSM showed larger global efficiency and smaller local efficiency, clustering coefficient, characteristic path length, and sigma values than HCs. Patients with CSM had greater betweenness in the left superior parietal gyrus (SPG.L) and the left supplementary motor area (SMA.L) than HCs. Besides, patients with CSM had smaller betweenness in right middle occipital gyrus. The brain structural covariance networks of CSM patients exhibited equal resilience to random failure as those of HCs. However, the maximum relative size of giant connected components was approximately 10% larger in HCs than in CSM patients, upon removal of 44 nodes in targeted attack. Conclusion These observed alternations in global network measures in CSM patients reflect that the brain structural covariance network in CSM exhibits the less optimal small-world model compared to that in HCs. Increased betweenness in SPG.L and SMA.L seems to be related to cortex reorganization to recover multiple sensory functions after spinal cord injury in CSM patients. The network resilience of patients with CSM exhibiting a relative mild vulnerability, compared to HCs, is probably attributable to the balance and interplay between cortex reorganization and ongoing degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuili Kuang
- Department of Radiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yunfei Zha
- Department of Radiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Changsheng Liu
- Department of Radiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Department of Radiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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38
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Huber E, Patel R, Hupp M, Weiskopf N, Chakravarty MM, Freund P. Extrapyramidal plasticity predicts recovery after spinal cord injury. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14102. [PMID: 32839540 PMCID: PMC7445170 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70805-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to wide-spread neurodegeneration across the neuroaxis. We explored trajectories of surface morphology, demyelination and iron concentration within the basal ganglia-thalamic circuit over 2 years post-SCI. This allowed us to explore the predictive value of neuroimaging biomarkers and determine their suitability as surrogate markers for interventional trials. Changes in markers of surface morphology, myelin and iron concentration of the basal ganglia and thalamus were estimated from 182 MRI datasets acquired in 17 SCI patients and 21 healthy controls at baseline (1-month post injury for patients), after 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Using regression models, we investigated group difference in linear and non-linear trajectories of these markers. Baseline quantitative MRI parameters were used to predict 24-month clinical outcome. Surface area contracted in the motor (i.e. lower extremity) and pulvinar thalamus, and striatum; and expanded in the motor thalamus and striatum in patients compared to controls over 2-years. In parallel, myelin-sensitive markers decreased in the thalamus, striatum, and globus pallidus, while iron-sensitive markers decreased within the left caudate. Baseline surface area expansions within the striatum (i.e. motor caudate) predicted better lower extremity motor score at 2-years. Extensive extrapyramidal neurodegenerative and reorganizational changes across the basal ganglia-thalamic circuitry occur early after SCI and progress over time; their magnitude being predictive of functional recovery. These results demonstrate a potential role of extrapyramidal plasticity during functional recovery after SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Huber
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - R Patel
- Computational Brain Anatomy Laboratory (CoBrA Lab), Douglas Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Biological and Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - M Hupp
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - N Weiskopf
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.,Felix Bloch Institute for Solid State Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 5, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - M M Chakravarty
- Computational Brain Anatomy Laboratory (CoBrA Lab), Douglas Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Biological and Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - P Freund
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. .,Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK. .,Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK. .,Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.
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39
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Park E, Cha H, Kim E, Min YS, Kim AR, Lee HJ, Jung TD, Chang Y. Alterations in power spectral density in motor- and pain-related networks on neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2020; 28:102342. [PMID: 32798908 PMCID: PMC7453139 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Motor and pain-related intrinsic neural networks alter after spinal cord injury. Alterations are inversely and simultaneously related to mobility and neuropathic pain. Disabilities of mobility and neuropathic pain may be mutually influenced by supraspinal plasticity.
Background The mechanisms by which mobility function and neuropathic pain are mutually influenced by supraspinal plasticity in motor- and pain-related brain networks following spinal cord injury (SCI) remains poorly understood. Objective To determine cortical and subcortical resting-state network alterations using power spectral density (PSD) analysis and investigate the relationships between these intrinsic alterations and mobility function and neuropathic pain following SCI. Methods A total of 41 patients with incomplete SCI and 33 healthy controls were included. The degree of mobility and balance function and severity of neuropathic pain and depressive mood were evaluated. The resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data of low-frequency fluctuations were analyzed based on PSD. Differences in PSD values between patients with SCI and controls were assessed using the two-sample t-test (false discovery rate-corrected P < 0.05). The relationship between PSD values and mobility function and pain intensity was assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient adjusted for the severity of depressive mood. Results Compared with healthy controls, lower PSD values in supplementary motor and medial prefrontal areas (the anterior cingulate cortex, ventral medial prefrontal cortex, and superior orbito-prefrontal cortex) were associated with greater pain severity and poorer postural balance and mobility (P < 0.05) in patients with SCI, whereas higher PSD values in the primary motor cortex, premotor cortex, thalamus, and periaqueductal gray were associated with greater pain severity and poorer postural balance and mobility (P < 0.05). Conclusions Cortical and subcortical plastic alterations in intrinsic motor- and pain-related networks were observed in patients with SCI and were simultaneously associated with neuropathic pain intensity and degree of mobility function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunhee Park
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41944, Korea; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea
| | - Hyunsil Cha
- Department of Medical & Biological Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Eunji Kim
- Department of Medical & Biological Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Yu-Sun Min
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41944, Korea; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea
| | - Ae Ryoung Kim
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41944, Korea; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea
| | - Hui Joong Lee
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea; Department of Radiology, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea
| | - Tae-Du Jung
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41944, Korea; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea.
| | - Yongmin Chang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41944, Korea; Department of Radiology, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea; Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
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O'Reilly ML, Tom VJ. Neuroimmune System as a Driving Force for Plasticity Following CNS Injury. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:187. [PMID: 32792908 PMCID: PMC7390932 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Following an injury to the central nervous system (CNS), spontaneous plasticity is observed throughout the neuraxis and affects multiple key circuits. Much of this spontaneous plasticity can elicit beneficial and deleterious functional outcomes, depending on the context of plasticity and circuit affected. Injury-induced activation of the neuroimmune system has been proposed to be a major factor in driving this plasticity, as neuroimmune and inflammatory factors have been shown to influence cellular, synaptic, structural, and anatomical plasticity. Here, we will review the mechanisms through which the neuroimmune system mediates plasticity after CNS injury. Understanding the role of specific neuroimmune factors in driving adaptive and maladaptive plasticity may offer valuable therapeutic insight into how to promote adaptive plasticity and/or diminish maladaptive plasticity, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micaela L O'Reilly
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Veronica J Tom
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Pfyffer D, Wyss PO, Huber E, Curt A, Henning A, Freund P. Metabolites of neuroinflammation relate to neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury. Neurology 2020; 95:e805-e814. [PMID: 32591473 PMCID: PMC7605501 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether cervical cord levels of metabolites are associated with pain sensation after spinal cord injury (SCI) by performing magnetic resonance spectroscopy in patients with SCI with and without neuropathic pain (NP). METHODS Cervical cord single-voxel spectroscopic data of 24 patients with SCI (14 with NP, 10 pain-free) and 21 healthy controls were acquired at C2/3 to investigate metabolite ratios associated with neuroinflammation (choline-containing compounds to myoinositol [tCho/mI]) and neurodegeneration (total N-acetylaspartate to myo-inositol [tNAA/mI]). NP levels were measured, and Spearman correlation tests assessed associations between metabolite levels, cord atrophy, and pinprick score. RESULTS In patients with NP, tCho/mI levels were increased (p = 0.024) compared to pain-free patients and negatively related to cord atrophy (p = 0.006, r = 0.714). Better pinprick score was associated with higher tCho/mI levels (p = 0.032, r = 0.574). In pain-free patients, tCho/mI levels were not related to cord atrophy (p = 0.881, r = 0.055) or pinprick score (p = 0.676, r = 0.152). tNAA/mI levels were similar in both patient groups (p = 0.396) and were not associated with pinprick score in patients with NP (p = 0.405, r = 0.242) and pain-free patients (p = 0.117, r = 0.527). CONCLUSIONS Neuroinflammatory metabolite levels (i.e., tCho/mI) were elevated in patients with NP, its magnitude being associated with less cord atrophy and greater pain sensation (e.g., pinprick score). This suggests that patients with NP have more residual spinal tissue and greater metabolite turnover than pain-free patients. Neurodegenerative metabolite levels (i.e., tNAA/mI) were associated with greater cord atrophy but unrelated to NP. Identifying the metabolic NP signature provides new NP treatment targets and could improve patient stratification in interventional trials. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE This study provides Class II evidence that levels of magnetic resonance spectroscopy-identified metabolites of neuroinflammation were elevated in patients with SCI with NP compared to those without NP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Pfyffer
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center (D.P., E.H., A.C., P.F.), Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich; Institute for Biomedical Engineering (A.H., P.O.W.), University and ETH, Zurich; Department of Radiology (P.O.W.), Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland; Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics (P.O.W., A.H.), Tuebingen, Germany; Advanced Imaging Research Center (A.H.), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas TX; Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation (P.F.) and Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging (P.F.), UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK; and Department of Neurophysics (P.F.), Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Patrik O Wyss
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center (D.P., E.H., A.C., P.F.), Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich; Institute for Biomedical Engineering (A.H., P.O.W.), University and ETH, Zurich; Department of Radiology (P.O.W.), Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland; Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics (P.O.W., A.H.), Tuebingen, Germany; Advanced Imaging Research Center (A.H.), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas TX; Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation (P.F.) and Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging (P.F.), UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK; and Department of Neurophysics (P.F.), Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Eveline Huber
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center (D.P., E.H., A.C., P.F.), Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich; Institute for Biomedical Engineering (A.H., P.O.W.), University and ETH, Zurich; Department of Radiology (P.O.W.), Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland; Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics (P.O.W., A.H.), Tuebingen, Germany; Advanced Imaging Research Center (A.H.), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas TX; Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation (P.F.) and Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging (P.F.), UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK; and Department of Neurophysics (P.F.), Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Armin Curt
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center (D.P., E.H., A.C., P.F.), Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich; Institute for Biomedical Engineering (A.H., P.O.W.), University and ETH, Zurich; Department of Radiology (P.O.W.), Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland; Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics (P.O.W., A.H.), Tuebingen, Germany; Advanced Imaging Research Center (A.H.), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas TX; Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation (P.F.) and Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging (P.F.), UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK; and Department of Neurophysics (P.F.), Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anke Henning
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center (D.P., E.H., A.C., P.F.), Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich; Institute for Biomedical Engineering (A.H., P.O.W.), University and ETH, Zurich; Department of Radiology (P.O.W.), Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland; Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics (P.O.W., A.H.), Tuebingen, Germany; Advanced Imaging Research Center (A.H.), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas TX; Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation (P.F.) and Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging (P.F.), UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK; and Department of Neurophysics (P.F.), Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Patrick Freund
- From the Spinal Cord Injury Center (D.P., E.H., A.C., P.F.), Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich; Institute for Biomedical Engineering (A.H., P.O.W.), University and ETH, Zurich; Department of Radiology (P.O.W.), Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland; Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics (P.O.W., A.H.), Tuebingen, Germany; Advanced Imaging Research Center (A.H.), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas TX; Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation (P.F.) and Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging (P.F.), UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK; and Department of Neurophysics (P.F.), Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.
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Osinski T, Acapo S, Bensmail D, Bouhassira D, Martinez V. Central Nervous System Reorganization and Pain After Spinal Cord Injury: Possible Targets for Physical Therapy-A Systematic Review of Neuroimaging Studies. Phys Ther 2020; 100:946-962. [PMID: 32201890 DOI: 10.1093/ptj/pzaa043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Revised: 08/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pain is one of the main symptoms associated with spinal cord injury (SCI) and can be associated with changes to the central nervous system (CNS). PURPOSE This article provides an overview of the evidence relating to CNS changes (structural and functional) associated with pain in SCIs. DATA SOURCES A systematic review was performed, according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations, on PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science in March 2018. STUDY SELECTION Studies were selected if they concerned changes in the CNS of patients with SCI, regardless of the type of imagery. DATA EXTRACTION Data were extracted by 2 blinded reviewers. DATA SYNTHESIS There is moderate evidence for impaired electroencephalographic function and metabolic abnormalities in the anterior cingulate in patients experiencing pain. There is preliminary evidence that patients with pain have morphological and functional changes to the somatosensory cortex and alterations to thalamic metabolism. There are conflicting data regarding the relationships between lesion characteristics and pain. In contrast, patients without pain can display protective neuroplasticity. LIMITATIONS AND CONCLUSION Further studies are required to elucidate fully the relationships between pain and neuroplasticity in patients with SCIs. However, current evidence might support the use of physical therapist treatments targeting CNS plasticity in patients with SCI pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Osinski
- INSERM UMR 987-CETD-Hôpital Ambroise Paré, 9 Avenue Charles De Gaulle, Boulogne-Billancourt, 92100 France; and Université Versailles Saint-Quentin, Versailles, France
| | - Sessi Acapo
- Laboratoire de Thérapeutique, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Djamel Bensmail
- Université Versailles Saint-Quentin; and Service de Médecine Physique et Réadaptation, Hôpital Raymond-Poincaré, Garches, France
| | - Didier Bouhassira
- INSERM UMR 987-CETD-Hôpital Ambroise Paré; and Université Versailles Saint-Quentin
| | - Valéria Martinez
- INSERM UMR 987-CETD-Hôpital Ambroise Paré; Université Versailles Saint-Quentin; Service d'Anesthésie, Hôpital Raymond-Poincaré; and Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Garches, France
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Solstrand Dahlberg L, Viessmann O, Linnman C. Heritability of cervical spinal cord structure. Neurol Genet 2020; 6:e401. [PMID: 32185240 PMCID: PMC7061306 DOI: 10.1212/nxg.0000000000000401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Measures of spinal cord structure can be a useful phenotype to track disease severity and development; this observational study measures the hereditability of cervical spinal cord anatomy and its correlates in healthy human beings. METHODS Twin data from the Human Connectome Project were analyzed with semiautomated spinal cord segmentation, evaluating test-retest reliability and broad-sense heritability with an AE model. Relationships between spinal cord metrics, general physical measures, regional brain structural measures, and motor function were assessed. RESULTS We found that the spinal cord C2 cross-sectional area (CSA), left-right width (LRW), and anterior-posterior width (APW) are highly heritable (85%-91%). All measures were highly correlated with the brain volume, and CSA only was positively correlated with thalamic volumes (p = 0.005) but negatively correlated with the occipital cortex area (p = 0.001). LRW was correlated with the participant's height (p = 0.00027). The subjects' sex significantly influenced these metrics. Analyses of a test-retest data set confirmed validity of the approach. CONCLUSIONS This study provides the evidence of genetic influence on spinal cord structure. MRI metrics of cervical spinal cord anatomy are robust and not easily influenced by nonpathological environmental factors, providing a useful metric for monitoring normal development and progression of neurodegenerative disorders affecting the spinal cord, including-but not limited to-spinal cord injury and MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Solstrand Dahlberg
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine (L.S.D., C.L.), Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, MA; Departments of Psychiatry and Radiology (L.S.D., C.L.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery (L.S.D.), Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Canada; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (O.V.), Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Boston; and Spaulding Neuroimaging Lab (C.L.), Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Olivia Viessmann
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine (L.S.D., C.L.), Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, MA; Departments of Psychiatry and Radiology (L.S.D., C.L.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery (L.S.D.), Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Canada; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (O.V.), Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Boston; and Spaulding Neuroimaging Lab (C.L.), Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Clas Linnman
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine (L.S.D., C.L.), Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, MA; Departments of Psychiatry and Radiology (L.S.D., C.L.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery (L.S.D.), Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Canada; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (O.V.), Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Boston; and Spaulding Neuroimaging Lab (C.L.), Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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The Reorganization of Insular Subregions in Individuals with Below-Level Neuropathic Pain following Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury. Neural Plast 2020; 2020:2796571. [PMID: 32211038 PMCID: PMC7085828 DOI: 10.1155/2020/2796571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate the reorganization of insular subregions in individuals suffering from neuropathic pain (NP) after incomplete spinal cord injury (ISCI) and further to disclose the underlying mechanism of NP. Method The 3D high-resolution T1-weighted structural images and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) of all individuals were obtained using a 3.0 Tesla MRI system. A comparative analysis of structure and function connectivity (FC) with insular subareas as seeds in 10 ISCI individuals with below-level NP (ISCI-P), 11 ISCI individuals without NP (ISCI-N), and 25 healthy controls (HCs) was conducted. Associations between the structural and functional alteration of insula subregions and visual analog scale (VAS) scores were analyzed using the Pearson correlation in SPSS 20. Results Compared with ISCI-N patients, when the left posterior insula as the seed, ISCI-P showed increased FC in right cerebellum VIIb and cerebellum VIII, Brodmann 37 (BA 37). When the left ventral anterior insula as the seed, ISCI-P indicated enhanced FC in right BA18 compared with ISCI-N patients. These increased FCs positively correlated with VAS scores. Relative to HCs, ISCI-P presented increased FC in the left hippocampus when the left dorsal anterior insula was determined as the seed. There was no statistical difference in the volume of insula subregions among the three groups. Conclusion Our study indicated that distinctive patterns of FC in each subregion of insula suggest that the insular subareas participate in the NP processing through different FC following ISCI. Further, insula subregions could serve as a therapeutic target for NP following ISCI.
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Azzarito M, Seif M, Kyathanahally S, Curt A, Freund P. Tracking the neurodegenerative gradient after spinal cord injury. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2020; 26:102221. [PMID: 32145681 PMCID: PMC7058923 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To quantify neurodegenerative changes along the cervical spinal cord rostral to a spinal cord injury (SCI) by means of quantitative MRI (qMRI) and to determine its relationship with clinical impairment. METHODS Thirty chronic SCI patients (15 tetraplegics and 15 paraplegics) and 23 healthy controls underwent a high-resolution T1-weighted and myelin-sensitive magnetization transfer (MT) MRI. We assessed macro- and microstructural changes along the cervical cord from levels C1 to C4, calculating cross-sectional spinal cord area, its anterior-posterior and left-right width and myelin content (i.e. MT). Regression analysis determined associations between qMRI parameters and clinical impairment. RESULTS In SCI patients, cord area decreased by 2.67 mm2 (p = 0.004) and left-right width decreased by 0.35 mm (p = 0.002) per cervical cord level in the caudal direction when compared to the healthy controls. This gradient of neurodegeneration was greater in tetraplegic than paraplegics in the cross-sectional cervical cord area (by 3.28 mm2, p = 0.011), left-right width (by 0.36 mm, p = 0.03), and mean cord MT (by 0.13%, p = 0.04), but independant of lesion severity (p > 0.05). Higher lesion level was associated with greater magnitudes of neurodegeneration. Greater loss in myelin content in the dorsal columns and spinothalamic tract was associated with worse light touch (p = 0.016) and pin prick score (p = 0.024), respectively. CONCLUSIONS A gradient of neurodegeneration is evident in the cervical cord remote from a SCI. Tract-specific associations with appropriate clinical outcomes highlight that remote neurodegenerative changes are clinically eloquent. Monitoring the neurodegenerative gradient could be used to track treatment effects of regenerative and neuroprotective agents, both in trials targeting cervical and thoracic SCI patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Azzarito
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Maryam Seif
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | | | - Armin Curt
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Patrick Freund
- Spinal Cord Injury Center Balgrist, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom; Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Huynh V, Rosner J, Curt A, Kollias S, Hubli M, Michels L. Disentangling the Effects of Spinal Cord Injury and Related Neuropathic Pain on Supraspinal Neuroplasticity: A Systematic Review on Neuroimaging. Front Neurol 2020; 10:1413. [PMID: 32116986 PMCID: PMC7013003 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.01413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) and its accompanying changes of brain structure and function have been widely studied and reviewed. Debilitating chronic neuropathic pain (NP) is reported in 53% of SCI patients, and brain changes have been shown to be involved with the presence of this secondary complication. However, there is yet a synthesis of current studies that investigated brain structure, resting connectivity, and metabolite changes that accompanies this condition. Methods: In this review, a systematic search was performed using Medical Subject Headings heading search terms in PubMed and SCOPUS to gather the appropriate published studies. Neuroimaging studies that investigated supraspinal structural, resting-state connectivity, and metabolite changes in SCI subjects with NP were included. To this end, voxel-based morphometry, diffusion tensor imaging, resting-state functional MRI, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and PET studies were summarized and reviewed. Further inclusion and exclusion criteria allowed delineation of appropriate studies that included SCI subgroups with and without NP. Results: A total of 12 studies were eligible for qualitative synthesis. Overall, current studies that investigated NP-associated changes within the SCI cohort show primarily metabolite concentration alterations in sensory-pain processing regions, alongside bidirectional changes of brain structure. Moreover, in comparison to healthy controls, there remains limited evidence of structural and connectivity changes but a range of alterations in metabolite concentrations in SCI subjects with NP. Conclusions: There is some evidence suggesting that the magnitude and presence of NP following SCI results in both adaptive and maladaptive structural plasticity of sensorimotor regions, alongside altered metabolism of brain areas involved with descending pain modulation, pain perception (i.e., anterior cingulate cortex) and sensory integration (i.e., thalamus). However, based on the fact that only a few studies investigated structural and glucose metabolic changes in chronic SCI subjects with NP, the underlying mechanisms that accompany this condition remains to be further elucidated. Future cross-sectional or longitudinal studies that aim to disentangle NP related to SCI may benefit from stricter constraints in subject cohorts, controlled subgroups, improved pain phenotyping, and implementation of multimodal approaches to discover sensitive biomarkers that profile pain and optimize treatment in SCI subjects with NP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Huynh
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jan Rosner
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Neurology, Bern University Hospital (Inselspital), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Armin Curt
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Spyros Kollias
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michèle Hubli
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lars Michels
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,MR-Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Regional Hyperexcitability and Chronic Neuropathic Pain Following Spinal Cord Injury. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2020; 40:861-878. [PMID: 31955281 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-020-00785-7] [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] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes maladaptive changes to nociceptive synaptic circuits within the injured spinal cord. Changes also occur at remote regions including the brain stem, limbic system, cortex, and dorsal root ganglia. These maladaptive nociceptive synaptic circuits frequently cause neuronal hyperexcitability in the entire nervous system and enhance nociceptive transmission, resulting in chronic central neuropathic pain following SCI. The underlying mechanism of chronic neuropathic pain depends on the neuroanatomical structures and electrochemical communication between pre- and postsynaptic neuronal membranes, and propagation of synaptic transmission in the ascending pain pathways. In the nervous system, neurons are the only cell type that transmits nociceptive signals from peripheral receptors to supraspinal systems due to their neuroanatomical and electrophysiological properties. However, the entire range of nociceptive signaling is not mediated by any single neuron. Current literature describes regional studies of electrophysiological or neurochemical mechanisms for enhanced nociceptive transmission post-SCI, but few studies report the electrophysiological, neurochemical, and neuroanatomical changes across the entire nervous system following a regional SCI. We, along with others, have continuously described the enhanced nociceptive transmission in the spinal dorsal horn, brain stem, thalamus, and cortex in SCI-induced chronic central neuropathic pain condition, respectively. Thus, this review summarizes the current understanding of SCI-induced neuronal hyperexcitability and maladaptive nociceptive transmission in the entire nervous system that contributes to chronic central neuropathic pain.
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Rashvand M, Danyali S, Manaheji H. The Potential Role of Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β in Neuropathy-Induced Apoptosis in Spinal Cord. Basic Clin Neurosci 2020; 11:15-30. [PMID: 32483472 PMCID: PMC7253818 DOI: 10.32598/bcn.11.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2018] [Revised: 01/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β (GSK-3β) participates in several signaling pathways and plays a crucial role in neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, and neuropathic pain. The ratio of phosphorylated GSK-3β over total GSK-3β (p-GSK-3β/t-GSK-3β) is reduced following nerve injury. Apoptosis is a hallmark of many neuronal dysfunctions in the context of neuropathic pain. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the contribution of p-GSK-3β/t-GSK-3β ratio in spinal dorsal horn apoptosis following peripheral nerve injury. Methods: In this study, adult male Wistar rats (220–250 g) underwent Spinal Nerve Ligation (SNL) surgery. Mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia were assessed before the surgery (day 0); then, every other day up to day 8. GSK-3β selective inhibitor, AR-014418 [0.3 mg/kg, Intraperitoneal (IP)] was administrated 1 h prior to SNL on day 0, then daily up to the day 8. The GSK-3β activity and apoptosis in the lumbar section (L4, L5, or L6) of the study rat’s spinal cord were assessed by immunohistochemical and Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) staining, respectively on day 8 post-SNL. Results: Following the SNL, the mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia increased on day 2 up to day 8 post-SNL. The ratio of p-GSK-3β/t-GSK-3β decreased, and the number of apoptotic cells increased in the spinal dorsal horn on day 8. However, AR-A014418 administration could increase the p-GSK-3β/t-GSK-3β ratio and decreased apoptosis in the SNL rats. In addition, AR-A014418 decreased the mechanical allodynia from day 4 up to day 8; however, it did not affect thermal hyperalgesia. Conclusion: The study findings suggested that increasing the p-GSK-3β/t-GSK-3β ratio might be a helpful strategy for reducing the apoptotic cells and subsequent neuropathic pain during peripheral nerve injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Rashvand
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Student Research Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samira Danyali
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Student Research Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Neurophysiology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Homa Manaheji
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Characteristic cerebral structural changes identified using voxel-based morphometry in patients with post-surgical chronic myelopathic pain. Spinal Cord 2019; 58:467-475. [PMID: 31801981 DOI: 10.1038/s41393-019-0391-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVE Patients who undergo intramedullary spinal surgery occasionally experience post-surgical chronic pain; however, the underlying mechanisms are not yet completely understood. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the cerebral structural changes in patients with post-surgical chronic myelopathic pain using voxel-based morphometry. SETTING Single university hospital in Tokyo, Japan. METHODS Forty-nine patients who had undergone intramedullary spinal surgery between January 2002 and April 2014 participated in this study. Participants were classified into two groups based on their post-surgical chronic pain intensity: control (numeric rating scale score of <3) and pain (numeric rating scale score of ≥3) groups. We compared pain questionnaire and brain MRI between two groups. Brain MRI data of each participants was analyzed using voxel-based morphometry. RESULTS Voxel-based morphometry revealed that the gray matter volume in the left supplementary motor area, left primary motor area, and left posterior cingulate cortex was higher in the pain group than that in the control group. In addition, the numeric rating scale score was significantly correlated with increased gray matter volume in the left primary motor area, left posterior cingulate cortex, and right superior parietal lobule. CONCLUSION Present study elucidates the characteristic cerebral structural changes after an intramedullary spinal surgery using voxel-based morphometry and indicates that the structural changes in specific cerebral areas are associated with post-surgical chronic myelopathic pain.
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50
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Freund P, Seif M, Weiskopf N, Friston K, Fehlings MG, Thompson AJ, Curt A. MRI in traumatic spinal cord injury: from clinical assessment to neuroimaging biomarkers. Lancet Neurol 2019; 18:1123-1135. [DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(19)30138-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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