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Objective@#To investigate the effect of early-stage training combined with the ultrashort wave therapy on the functional recovery of rats after a spinal cord injury, and to observe the expression of aquaporin protein-4 (AQP-4) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP).@*Methods@#Fifty female Sprague-Dawley rats had spinal cord injury (SCI) induced using the modified Allen′s method. After successful modeling, 40 were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a control group, an ultrashort wave group, a treadmill group and a combined group, each of 8. Motor function in their hind limbs was evaluated 4 weeks after the operation using BBB scoring. GFAP and AQP-4 immunohistochemical staining were used to determine the integral optical density (IOD) of the protein expression.@*Results@#The average BBB score of the sham operation group was 21, while the other four groups averages were all less than 1 on the 1st day after the operation. They gradually increased with time, and by 4 weeks the increases were significant. Compared with the control group at the same time point, the average BBB scores of the treadmill and the combined groups were significantly higher. Compared with the ultrashort wave group, the average BBB score of the treadmill group was higher after 4 weeks, and the combined group′s average was significantly higher at 2, 3 and 4 weeks after the operation. Four weeks after the SCI modeling, the average AQP-4 IOD and GFAP IOD levels of the ultrashort wave group, the treadmill group and the combined group were lower than that of the control group, while the average AQP-4 and GFAP IOD levels of the combined group were significantly lower than those of the ultrashort wave group. Compared with the treadmill group, the combined group had a significantly lower average GFAP level.@*Conclusions@#Both treadmill training and ultrashort wave treatment promote motor function recovery after a spinal cord injury. The mechanism may be related to downregulation of AQP-4 and GFAP expression at the injured site. Combining the two treatments gives better effects.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of early-stage training combined with the ultrashort wave therapy on the functional recovery of rats after a spinal cord injury, and to observe the expression of aquaporin pro-tein-4 ( AQP-4) and glial fibrillary acidic protein ( GFAP ) . Methods Fifty female Sprague-Dawley rats had spinal cord injury ( SCI) induced using the modified Allen's method. After successful modeling, 40 were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a control group, an ultrashort wave group, a treadmill group and a combined group, each of 8. Motor function in their hind limbs was evaluated 4 weeks after the operation using BBB scoring. GFAP and AQP-4 immunohistochemical staining were used to determine the integral optical density ( IOD) of the protein expres-sion. Results The average BBB score of the sham operation group was 21, while the other four groups averages were all less than 1 on the 1st day after the operation. They gradually increased with time, and by 4 weeks the increa-ses were significant. Compared with the control group at the same time point, the average BBB scores of the treadmill and the combined groups were significantly higher. Compared with the ultrashort wave group, the average BBB score of the treadmill group was higher after 4 weeks, and the combined group's average was significantly higher at 2, 3 and 4 weeks after the operation. Four weeks after the SCI modeling, the average AQP-4 IOD and GFAP IOD levels of the ultrashort wave group, the treadmill group and the combined group were lower than that of the control group, while the average AQP-4 and GFAP IOD levels of the combined group were significantly lower than those of the ultrashort wave group. Compared with the treadmill group, the combined group had a significantly lower average GFAP level. Conclusions Both treadmill training and ultrashort wave treatment promote motor function recovery after a spinal cord injury. The mechanism may be related to downregulation of AQP-4 and GFAP expression at the injured site. Combining the two treatments gives better effects.
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Objective To investigate the effects of bone marrow stromal cells(BMSCs)transplantation combined with low dose ultrashort wave (USW)radiation on functional recovery and the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)and ED?1 after spinal cord injury(SCI)in rats,and further discuss its action mechanism. Methods Female Sprague?Dawley rats(n=30)were randomly divided into 5 groups:sham?oper?ated,as well as control,USW,BMSCs,and USW+BMSCs that were subjected to spinal cord injury(SCI). Basso?Beattie?Bresnahan(BBB)tests were carried out before the operation and at 1 d,1 week,2 weeks,3 weeks,4 weeks after SCI. 4 weeks later,animals were sacrificed and tissues were collected to make paraffin section. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to observe the expression of GFAP and ED?1. Results 4 weeks after SCI,BBB scores were significantly higher in the USW and USW+BMSCs groups than in the control group(both P<0.001). No signifi?cant difference was observed between the BMSCs group and control group. On the expression of GFAP ,only USW+BMSCs group showed signifi?cantly decreased compared with the control group(P<0.05). All treatment groups exhibited lower ED?1 expression than the control group(all P<0.05). Conclusion Our results indicate that USW radiation alone can obviously improve neural functional recovery after SCI. The USW radi?ation and BMSCs transplantation treatment can reduce inflammation ,and USW radiation is more effective. The combination therapy did not show a synergistic action on promoting functional recovery ,but do have an effect on reducing the inflammatory response and glial scar formation.
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Objective To investigate the effect of ultrashort wave therapy on edema and inflammatory reaction after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. Methods 56 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham-operated group (n=8), model group (n=24) and ultrashort wave group (n=24). The model was established with Allen's method. The sham-operated group was exposed endorhachis without hit. The ultra-short wave group was exposed to ultrashort wave radiation 7 minutes, once a day, 24 hours after modeling until the animals were sacrificed. Locomotors functional recovery was assessed every week post operation period by BBB score. Immunohistochemical staining was per-formed to observe the expression of the aquaporin-4(AQP-4) and ED-1. Results The BBB scores increased in the model group and the ultra-short wave group after treatment, and was higher in the ultrashort wave group than in the model group from 1 week after treatment (t>3.368, P3.156, t>4.466, P<0.05). Conclu-sion Ultrashort wave therapy can alleviate the edema after SCI, reduce the activation and infiltration of inflammatory cells, and promote the recovery of neurological function.
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@#Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effects of electromyography feedback functional electrical stimulation (FES) on plantar pressure of stroke patients. Methods 18 subjects were included in this study, who were with drop foot resulting from stroke, but could partly dorsiflex the paretic limb's ankle (Manual Muscle Test >2). They were tested on the RS-footscan plate before and after stimulation. The plantar pressure data of paretic foot and walking velocity before and after stimulation were compared. Results The initial touchdown points of most paretic foot were changed from Meta (metatarsal) 5 to heel; the time of initial touchdown of heel medial and heel lateral significantly improved, while that of Meta 3, Meta 4 and Meta 5 significantly delayed; the peak force, impulse and contact area of the heel significantly improved after stimulation (P<0.05). At the same time, the time of initial touchdown of heel medial and heel lateral of nonparetic foot significantly improved (P<0.05). Conclusion Electromyography feedback functional electrical stimulation can improve the gait pattern and the stability of patients with stroke.
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Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effects of electromyography feedback functional electrical stimulation (FES) on plan-tar pressure of stroke patients. Methods 18 subjects were included in this study, who were with drop foot resulting from stroke, but could partly dorsiflex the paretic limb's ankle (Manual Muscle Test>2). They were tested on the RS-footscan plate before and after stimulation. The plantar pressure data of paretic foot and walking velocity before and after stimulation were compared. Results The initial touchdown points of most paretic foot were changed from Meta (metatarsal) 5 to heel;the time of initial touchdown of heel medial and heel lateral sig-nificantly improved, while that of Meta 3, Meta 4 and Meta 5 significantly delayed;the peak force, impulse and contact area of the heel sig-nificantly improved after stimulation (P<0.05). At the same time, the time of initial touchdown of heel medial and heel lateral of nonparetic foot significantly improved (P<0.05). Conclusion Electromyography feedback functional electrical stimulation can improve the gait pattern and the stability of patients with stroke.