Search results for "spinal cord"

Rubinstein–Taybi syndrome 2 with cerebellar abnormality and neural tube defect

2019

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RSTS) is a rare dominant disorder with intellectual disability, postnatal growth deficiency, and multiple congenital anomalies. Approximately 50-70% of the patients have a mutation in the CREBBP gene (RSTS1) and 5-10% display an EP300 gene mutation (RSTS2). Craniospinal abnormalities such as microcranium, scoliosis, and lordosis are frequent findings in RSTS1, but malformations of the brain or spinal cord are seen only occasionally. Here, we report on a 3-year-old boy with facial abnormalities of RSTS, broad thumbs and halluces, developmental delay, autistic features, cerebellar underdevelopment, and a neural tube defect. Molecular diagnostic of the CREBBP and EP3…

Cytopathologic and neurochemical correlates of progression to motor/cognitive impairment in SIV-infected rhesus monkeys.

1994

Neurochemical, pathologic, virologic, and histochemical correlates of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-associated central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction were assessed serially or at necropsy in rhesus monkeys that exhibited motor and cognitive deficits after SIV infection. Some infected monkeys presented with signs of acquired immunodeficiency disease (AIDS) at the time of sacrifice. Seven of eight animals exhibited motor skill impairment which was associated with elevated quinolinic acid in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Examination of the brains revealed diffuse increases in glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreacti vity in cerebral cortex in all animals, regardless of evidence of imm…

Components and connections of the circadian timing system in mammals

1996

The circadian timing system is a neural network consisting of the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus, aided by the retina, other hypothalamic nuclei, autonomic regions of the spinal cord, sympathetic ganglia and the pineal gland. Extensive studies conducted over the last two decades have unravelled the principal items of its functional neuroanatomy. The system is responsible for the generation of the circadian rhythm, its synchronization by environmental factors such as light, and its mediation with respect to morphological, physiological and biochemical parameters of mammals that exhibit distinct alterations throughout the 24-h cycle. This review characterizes the brain sites involved an…

Neurochemical anatomy of the mammalian spinal cord: Functional implications

1992

Endothelialization of chitosan porous conduits via immobilization of a recombinant fibronectin fragment (rhFNIII7–10)

2013

Abstract The present study aimed to develop a pre-endothelialized chitosan (CH) porous hollowed scaffold for application in spinal cord regenerative therapies. CH conduits with different degrees of acetylation (DA; 4% and 15%) were prepared, characterized (microstructure, porosity and water uptake) and functionalized with a recombinant fragment of human fibronectin (rhFNIII 7–10 ). Immobilized rhFNIII 7–10 was characterized in terms of amount ( 125 I-radiolabelling), exposure of cell-binding domains (immunofluorescence) and ability to mediate endothelial cell (EC) adhesion and cytoskeletal rearrangement. Functionalized conduits revealed a linear increase in immobilized rhFNIII 7–10 with rhF…

Ultrastructure of Spinal Dura Mater

2014

Pia mater is the innermost of the three meningeal membranes, closely surrounding the brain, the spinal cord, and the portion of spinal nerve roots extending towards their exit across the dura mater. A cellular layer and a subpial compartment shape the structure of the pia mater. The cellular layer is made up of flat, overlapping pial cells with amorphous, fundamental substance interposed among them. The surface of the cellular plane appears smooth and bright under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Transmission electron microscopy shows that the cellular component is about three to five pial cells thick at the medullary level and two to three cells thick at the level of the nerve roots. Th…

Type IV collagen and its degradation in paralyzed human muscle: Effect of functional electrical stimulation

2000

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of spinal cord injury (SCI) and functional electrical stimulation (FES) of paralyzed muscles on type IV collagen content and proteins involving its degradation, which is initiated by matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 and regulated by their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs)-2 and -1. Ten SCI subjects participated in an 18-month program of functional electrical stimulation (FES) of their leg muscles. Needle biopsies were taken from the vastus lateralis muscle before and at various times during the training period, and from able-bodied controls. Type IV collagen concentration was unaltered. ProMMP-2 level of SCI subjects before the training p…

Evidence for an involvement of NMDA and non-NMDA receptors in synaptic excitation of phrenic motoneurons in the rabbit

1991

Abstract The action of endogenous excitatory amino acids on phrenic motoneurons was studied in anesthetized, vagotomized, paralyzed and artificially ventilated rabbits. The NMDA receptor antagonists APV and ketamine, as well as the non-NMDA receptor antagonists GAMS and DNQX were administered by microinjection into the ventral horn of the spinal segments C3-C5. Injection of each antagonist resulted in a reversible reduction of the phrenic nerve activity. Results suggest an important function of endogenous excitatory amino acids in the excitation of phrenic motneurons. NMDA as well as non-NMDA receptors are involved. The functional role of both receptor types in bulbospinal neurotransmission…

Recovery from chronic diseases of consciousness: State of the art in neuromodulation for persistent vegetative state and minimally conscious state

2017

Chronic diseases of consciousness (CDC) can still be considered a challenging frontier for modern medicine, probably because of their not completely understood physiopathological mechanisms. Following encouraging evidence on cerebral hemodynamics, some authors have hypothesized a role for neuromodulation in the treatment of CDC patients. In the past 40 years, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and deep brain stimulation (DBS) have been used experimentally for the treatment of patients in a severe altered state of consciousness, with some interesting but not conclusive results. The present review summarizes the data currently available in the literature on this particular and debated topic. On th…

How a Fish’s Brain May Move a Fish’s Body

1990

The brainstem of the electric fish Eigenmannia virescens contains a small number of neural networks projecting directly onto the motoneuron pools of the spinal cord such that each segment is reached by at least one neuron of all the networks. Quantitative data of movement patterns, recorded from freely moving animals as well as elicited by electrical stimulation of the single networks, suggest that each network contains a full program for a particular movement, e. g. bending of the body axis to one side. By virtue of the structural relationship the programs are executable with a small number of segments. Mixing of small pieces of programs along the body axis allows for a far larger variety …