Long term study of deoxyribozyme administration to XT-1 mRNA promotes corticospinal tract regeneration and improves behavioral outcome after spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) affects approximately 3 million people around the world, who are desperately awaiting treatment. The pressing need for the development of therapeutics has spurred medical research for decades. To respond to this pressing need, our group developed a potential therapeutic to reduce the presence of proteoglycans at the injury site after acutely traumatizing the spinal cord of rats. With the aid of a DNA enzyme against the mRNA of xylosyltransferase-1 (DNAXT-1as) we adjourn the glycosylation and prevent the assembly of the proteoglycan core protein into the extracellular matrix. Hence, endogenous repair is strengthened due to the allocation of a more growth permissive environment around the lesion site. Here, we present data on a long term study of animals with a dorsal hemisection treated with DNAXT-1as, DNAXT-1mb (control DNA enzyme) or PBS via osmotic minipumps. After successful digestion of the XT-1 mRNA shown by qPCR we observed an overall behavioral improvement of DNAXT-1as treated rats at 8, 10 and 14 weeks after insult to the spine compared to the control animals. This is accompanied by the growth of the cortical spinal tract (CST) in DNAXT-1as treated animals after a 19 week survival period. Furthermore, after evaluating the lesion size tissue-protective effects in the DNAXT-1as treated animals compared to DNAXT-1mb and PBS treated rats are revealed. The results yield new insights into the regeneration processes and provide confirmation to involve DNA enzyme administration in future therapeutic strategies to medicate SCI.

Study of the effectiveness of interferential current as compared to transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in reducing chronic low back pain / Estudo da eficácia da corrente interferencial em comparação à estimulação elétrica transcutânea na redução da dor lombar crônica

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic low back pain has an incidence of 70% in general population and induces significant limitations. As treatment, physiotherapy stands out with a wide variety of techniques among them, for pain relief, electrotherapy is a useful tool. This study aimed at comparing the analgesic effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and interferential current in patients with chronic low back pain. METHODS: Randomized clinical trial carried out between August 2013 and May 2014 in the clinic school of physiotherapy, Ulbra-Torres, with chronic low back pain patients. Patients were divided in two groups: intervention group (IG) treated with interferential current and control group (CG) treated with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Visual analog scale, Oswestry Questionnaire and Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire were used for baseline evaluation. Patients were treated for five weeks, twice a week, in a total of 10 interventions. At the end, they were re-evaluated and one month after they were submitted to follow-up with the visual analog scale. RESULTS: Participated in the study 28 patients, being 14 in IG and 14 in CG. Sample was homogeneous intragroups for gender, age, color and mean pain duration. There has been significant pain improvement in both groups by the visual analog scale and functionality improvement by Oswestry and Roland Morris Disability Questionnaires when comparing baseline and final evaluations (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: There were positive results in chronic low back pain improvement both with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and interferential current, without significant difference between transcutaneous currents. .

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A dor lombar crônica possui incidência de 70% na população induzindo a limitações significativas. Como tratamento, a fisioterapia destaca-se com ampla variedade de técnicas, onde para o alívio da dor a eletroterapia é uma ferramenta aliada. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar os efeitos analgésicos da estimulação elétrica transcutânea e da corrente interferencial em pacientes com lombalgia crônica. MÉTODOS: Ensaio clínico randômico realizado entre agosto de 2013 e maio de 2014 na clínica escola de fisioterapia da Ulbra - Torres, com pacientes com dor lombar crônica. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos: grupo intervenção (GI), recebendo tratamento através da corrente interferencial e grupo controle (GC), realizando tratamento através da estimulação elétrica transcutânea. Foi realizada avaliação inicial com a escala analógica visual, Questionário de Oswestry e Questionário de Incapacidade Roland Morris. Atendidos por cinco semanas, duas vezes na semana, totalizando 10 intervenções, ao final eram reavaliados e após um mês submetidos a um follow-up com escala analógica visual. RESULTADOS: Participaram do estudo 28 pacientes, sendo 14 no GI e 14 no GC. A amostra foi homogênea intragrupos para gênero, idade, cor e média de tempo de dor. Encontrou-se melhora significativa em ambos os grupos na dor pela escala analógica visual e funcionalidade pelos questionários de Oswestry e de Incapacidade Roland Morris da avaliação inicial para a final (p<0,05). CONCLUSÃO: Houve resultados positivos na redução da dor lombar crônica com aplicação tanto com estimulação elétrica transcutânea quanto com corrente interferencial, não havendo diferença significativa entre as correntes transcutâneas. .