It’s like pulling a rabbit out of a hat. Researchers have reached inside the brain of a rat and pulled out neural stem cells – without harming the animal. Since the technique uses nanoparticles already approved for use in humans,…
Category: Research (page 36)
Geron stem cell work for SCI takes a step closer to revival
After more than a year of not-so-secret negotiations, Geron has finally auctioned off its long-stalled embryonic stem cell pipeline, handing it over to BioTime, a newly created subsidiary, in exchange for shares. BioTime has recruited ex-Geron CEO Thomas Okarma to…
Students developing nano-particles that could aid victims of spinal cord injuries
Dr. Santaneel Ghosh of the Physics and Engineering Physics Department and his students are optimistic about their research. Based on their findings, it is possible that in the near future their nano-structures could be manipulated to reverse the adverse effects…
First patient treated in Acorda Therapeutics Phase 2 clinical trial for acute spinal cord injury
This Phase 2 trial will evaluate the safety and tolerability of Acorda Therapeutics’ drug, AC105, in people with traumatic SCI, and also incorporates several exploratory efficacy measures. “In preclinical studies, AC105 improved motor function in SCI when therapy was initiated within…
A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids reduces chronic pain in spinal cord injury
The study by Loma Linda University Health had rats with spinal cord injury fed with control feed and feed enriched with omega-3 fatty acids for a total of 16 weeks. The pain tests conducted on the animals showed that the group consuming…
Patients with spinal cord injuries are at a greatly increased risk for stroke and cardiovascular disease
A Canadian health survey showed 2.72-fold increased odds for heart disease and a 4-fold increased risk of stroke among patients with spinal cord injury, according to Jacquelyn Cragg, MPH, of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and colleagues. The…
Chinese herbal medicine JSK improves spinal cord injury outcomes in rats
A new study published in Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience demonstrates that Chinese herbal medicine Ji-Sui-Kang (JSK), given systemically for three weeks after injury in rats, improved locomotor function, reduced tissue damage, and preserved the structure of neural cells compared to control rats.…
Inflammation must be controlled for treadmill training to have positive effect on recovery after spinal cord injury
New research from The Ohio State University suggests that treadmill training soon after a spinal cord injury can have long-lasting positive effects on recovery – as long as the training is accompanied by efforts to control inflammation in the lower spinal cord. The…
Researchers developed a drug that duplicates the benefits of exercise
An international group of scientists has shown that a drug candidate designed by scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) significantly increases exercise endurance in mice. “The animals actually get muscles like an athlete who has…
California scientist discovers novel mechanism in spinal cord injury
In a paper published in this week’s PLOS ONE, Dr Kuo-Fen Lee and his colleagues at The Salk Institute describe how a protein named P45 may yield insight into a possible molecular mechanism to promote rerouting for spinal cord healing and…