We previously reported that brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a pronociceptive neurotransmitter, induces synaptic facilitation of EPSC in lamina II neurons of neonatal rats up to P14 in an NMDA-receptor dependent manner (Garraway et al. 2003). Here we used the patch-clamp technique to study synaptic and NMDA-evoked responses in transverse spinal slices in the lumbar enlargement as well ...

The Role of Stress in Recovery of Function after Spinal Cord Injury. (August 2007) Stephanie Nicole Washburn, B.S.; M.S., Texas A&M University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. James W. Grau Research has shown that exposure to just 6 minutes of uncontrollable shock 24 hours following contusion injury impairs locomotor recovery and leads to greater tissue loss at the injury epicenter. Uncontrolla...

OBJECTIVE To study the transplantation efficacy of neural stem cells (NSCs) and Schwann cells (SC) in a rat model of spinal cord contusion injury. METHODS Multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs) and Schwann cells were harvested from the spinal cords of embryonic rats at 16 days post coitus and sciatic nerves of newborn rats, respectively. The differential characteristics of NSCs in vitro induced...

Transmission through descending pathways to lumbar motoneurons, although important for voluntary walking in humans and rats, has not been fully understood at the cellular level in contusion models. Major descending pathways innervating lumbar motoneurons include those at corticospinal tract (CST) and ventrolateral funiculus (VLF). We examined transmission and plasticity at synaptic pathways fro...

Vascular trauma is a rare injury in young children, and mostly mild, such as spasm or short contusion of the artery, rarely requiring surgical revascularization [1]. Therefore, when encountering complicated case.

BACKGROUND Bone contusions are frequently encountered in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation of knee anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Their role as indicators of injury severity remains unclear, primarily due to indeterminate levels of joint injury forces and to a lack of preinjury imaging. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to 1) quantify bone contusion pathogenesis foll...

Leontiasis ossea (leonine facies) or cervical canal stenosis are rare complications of polyostotic fibrous dysplasia (PFD). This case report documents dramatic leontiasis ossea in PFD as well as post traumatic cervical cord contusion due to hyperextension injury in a patient with generalized PFD involving the cranio-facial bones, axial skeleton and entire spine with secondary cervical canal ste...

A 52-year-old motorbike driver was struck by a trailer. His left shoulder was swollen and no pulse was evident at his left wrist. In the emergency room, a scapulothoracic dissociation with subclavian artery dissection and a complex fracture of the humerus were evident (Fig. 1). Carotido-subclavian bypass restored blood flow with preservation of the arm in follow-up (Fig. 2). Fig. 1. 3D-computer...