Control of locomotor activity in humans and animals in the absence of supraspinal influences.

Electrical epidural stimulation of the dorsal surface of the spinal cord at the level of the second lumbar segment induced step-like movements accompanied by the corresponding electromyographic activity in the leg muscles in patients lacking supraspinal influences as a result of vertebral trauma. Triggering of stepping movements was shown to occur with particular stimulation parameters. The results provide evidence that in humans, as in other mammals, the spinal cord contains a network of interneurons acting as generators of stepping movements and producing coordinated patterns of movement activity. Experiments on chronic spinal cats demonstrated the leading role of the propriospinal system of the spinal cord inactivating the spinal generators of stepping in response to epidural stimuli.

Bioelectric activity of spinal cord in patients with vertebrospinal pathologies.

A method for functional evaluation of spinal cord conducting systems in patients with vertebrospinal diseases is proposed. The method is based on the analysis of changes in electrospinoneurogram recorded with epidural electrodes below the injury during an attempt at voluntary activation of foot muscles. The degree of changes in electrospinoneurogram frequency during voluntary command addressed to motoneurons of the lumbar enlargement reflect the state of descending spinal systems.

The use of micropolarization in the treatment of spinal cord lesions.

Transdermal micropolarization of the spinal cord was performed in patients suffering sequelae of spinal cord trauma and tuberculous spondylitis. Changes in clinical and electrophysiological status were monitored. These studies demonstrated that the use of local direct currents passed via skin electrodes promoted improvements in motor and autonomic functions in these patients, leading to positive changes in measures of the functional state of the spinal cord and heart activity. The possible mechanisms of the action of direct currents acting on the spinal cord are discussed, along with the potential for applying micropolarization in the treatment of spinal cord lesions.

[Control of the human and animal locomotor activity in the absence of supraspinal effects]. / Upravleniie lokomotornoi aktivnost'iu cheloveka i zhivotnykh v usloviiakh otsutstviia supraspinal'nykh vliianii.

In patients deprived of supraspinal effects, electrical epidural stimulation of the spinal cord's dorsal surface at the level of 2nd lumbar segment induces step-like movements accompanied by respective electromyographic activity of the leg's muscles. Triggering of the step-like movements occurs at certain parameters of the stimulation. The data obtained suggest that human spinal cord has networks of interneurons-generators of the step-like movements. A leading role of the spinal cord's propriospinal system in activation of spinal generators of stepping under epidural influences was shown in cats.

[The use micro-polarization in spinal cord lesions]. / Primenenie mikropoliarizatsii v klinike porazheniia spinnogo mozga.

Transdermal micropolarization of the spinal cord was made in patients with consequences of the spinal cord injury or tuberculous spondylitis. Changes in clinical and electrophysiologic status were evaluated. It was found that local direct current through dermal electrodes promotes an improvement of both motor and autonomic functions in such patients. This corresponded to a positive dynamics both of the spinal cord state and cardiac activity. Possible mechanisms of influence of the direct current on the spinal cord as well as perspectives of application of micropolarization in spinal cord's damage are outlined.

[Epidural computed electroneurography and electrostimulation of the spinal cord in the reconstructive surgery of the spine in tuberculous spondylitis]. / Epiduralnaia kompíuternaia életrospinoneirografiia i élektrostimuliatsiia spinnogo mozga v rekonstruktivnoi khirurgii pozvonochnika pri tuberkulëznom spondilite.

The study deals with the development of new diagnostic and therapeutical methods for deep spinal marrow diseases in spinal tuberculosis and its sequelae. The human spinal marrow has been first electroneurophysiologically studied during compression of the spine and ofter its anterolateral decompression. A comprehensive diagnostic technique--computed electrospinoneurography has been proposed; objective criteria for prediction and evaluation of therapeutical efficiency have been defined. The proposed epidural electrostimulation following a surgery for anterolateral decompression of the spine accelerates regression of neurological symptoms and increases the extent of its regression in 89.2% of cases in the early postoperative period and enhances the efficacy of prior operations up to 83.9% in the long-term period. The high efficiency of the method is 87.1%, which allows it to be recommended for introduction into clinical practice.