OBJECTIVES Studies on nonhuman primates have demonstrated that the cortico-rubro-spinal system can compensate for damage to the pyramidal tract (PT). In humans, so-called alternate motor fibers (aMF), which may comprise the cortico-rubro-spinal tract, have been suggested to play a similar role in motor recovery after stroke. Using diffusion tensor imaging, we examined PT and aMF in the context ...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to quantify variables that influence outcome after median and ulnar nerve transection injuries. The authors present a meta-analysis based on individual patient data on motor and sensory recovery after microsurgical nerve repair. METHODS From 130 studies found after literature review, 23 articles were ultimately included, giving individual data for 623 medi...

Although peripheral nerves can regenerate after injury, proximal nerve injury in humans results in minimal restoration of motor function. One possible explanation for this is that injury-induced axonal growth is too slow. Heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) is a regeneration-associated protein that accelerates axonal growth in vitro. Here, we have shown that it can also do this in mice after peripher...

In this study, we compared the effects of Type I benzodiazepine receptor-selective agonists (zolpidem, quazepam) and Type I/II non-selective agonists (zopiclone, triazolam, nitrazepam) with either an ultra-short action (zolpidem, zopiclone, triazolam) or long action (quazepam, nitrazepam) on motor coordination (rota-rod test) and muscle relaxation (traction test) following the recovery from thi...

BACKGROUND Stroke remains the leading cause for long-term motor impairment in the industrialized world. New techniques are needed to improve outcomes. OBJECTIVE To propose chronic electrical stimulation of the dentatothalamocortical pathway as a method for enhancing cortical excitability and improving motor recovery following stroke. METHOD In previous studies, motor evoked potentials were ...

Background: The failure of regeneration after spinal cord injury (SCI) has been attributed to axonal demyelination and neuronal death. Cellular replacement and white matter regeneration are both necessary for SCI repair. In this study, we evaluated the co-transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells (OEC) and embryonic stem (ES) cell-derived motor neurons (ESMN) on contused SCI. Methods: OEC...

Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability. Recovery after stroke shares similar molecular and cellular properties with learning and memory. A main component of learning-induced plasticity involves signaling through AMPA receptors (AMPARs). We systematically tested the role of AMPAR function in motor recovery in a mouse model of focal stroke. AMPAR function controls functional recovery beg...

BACKGROUND Recovery post stroke is well documented in the field of stroke rehabilitation. The structure and process of rehabilitation are different between developed and developing countries. The aim of the present study was to compare the motor and functional recovery of stroke patients in Germany versus stroke patients receiving rehabilitation in South Africa. METHODS This study used second...

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are currently widely used in the field of the neuromodulation not only because of their anti-depressive effects but also due to their ability to promote plasticity and enhance motor recovery in patients with stroke. Recent studies showed that fluoxetine promotes motor recovery after stroke through its effects on the serotonergic system enhancing m...

BACKGROUND Stroke is a leading cause of disability. The ability to live independently after stroke depends largely on the reduction of motor impairment and the recovery of motor function. Accurate prediction of motor recovery assists rehabilitation planning and supports realistic goal setting by clinicians and patients. Initial impairment is negatively related to degree of recovery, but inter-i...