Prenatal and Early Postnatal Environmental Enrichment Reduce Acute Cell Death and Prevent Neurodevelopment and Memory Impairments in Rats Submitted to Neonatal Hypoxia Ischemia.

Environmental enrichment (EE) is an experimental strategy to attenuate the negative effects of different neurological conditions including neonatal hypoxia ischemia encephalopathy (HIE). The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of prenatal and early postnatal EE in animals submitted to neonatal HIE model at postnatal day (PND) 3. Wistar rats were housed in EE or standard conditions (SC) during pregnancy and lactation periods. Pups of both sexes were assigned to one of four experimental groups, considering the early environmental conditions and the injury: SC-Sham, SC-HIE, EE-sham, and EE-HIE. The offspring were euthanized at two different time points: 48 h after HIE for biochemical analyses or at PND 67 for histological analyses. Behavioral tests were performed at PND 7, 14, 21, and 60. Offspring from EE mothers had better performance in neurodevelopmental and spatial memory tests when compared to the SC groups. HIE animals showed a reduction of IGF-1 and VEGF in the parietal cortex, but no differences in BDNF and TrkB levels were found. EE-HIE animals showed reduction in cell death, lower astrocyte reactivity, and an increase in AKTp levels in the hippocampus and parietal cortex. In addition, the EE was also able to prevent the hippocampus tissue loss. Altogether, present findings point to the protective potential of the prenatal and early postnatal EE in attenuating molecular and histological damage, as well as the neurodevelopmental impairments and the cognitive deficit, caused by HIE insult at PND 3.

Effect of skilled and unskilled training on nerve regeneration and functional recovery

The most disabling aspect of human peripheral nerve injuries, the majority of which affect the upper limbs, is the loss of skilled hand movements. Activity-induced morphological and electrophysiological remodeling of the neuromuscular junction has been shown to influence nerve repair and functional recovery. In the current study, we determined the effects of two different treatments on the functional and morphological recovery after median and ulnar nerve injury. Adult Wistar male rats weighing 280 to 330 g at the time of surgery (N = 8-10 animals/group) were submitted to nerve crush and 1 week later began a 3-week course of motor rehabilitation involving either "skilled" (reaching for small food pellets) or "unskilled" (walking on a motorized treadmill) training. During this period, functional recovery was monitored weekly using staircase and cylinder tests. Histological and morphometric nerve analyses were used to assess nerve regeneration at the end of treatment. The functional evaluation demonstrated benefits of both tasks, but found no difference between them (P > 0.05). The unskilled training, however, induced a greater degree of nerve regeneration as evidenced by histological measurement (P < 0.05). These data provide evidence that both of the forelimb training tasks used in this study can accelerate functional recovery following brachial plexus injury.

Effect of skilled and unskilled training on nerve regeneration and functional recovery.

The most disabling aspect of human peripheral nerve injuries, the majority of which affect the upper limbs, is the loss of skilled hand movements. Activity-induced morphological and electrophysiological remodeling of the neuromuscular junction has been shown to influence nerve repair and functional recovery. In the current study, we determined the effects of two different treatments on the functional and morphological recovery after median and ulnar nerve injury. Adult Wistar male rats weighing 280 to 330 g at the time of surgery (N = 8-10 animals/group) were submitted to nerve crush and 1 week later began a 3-week course of motor rehabilitation involving either "skilled" (reaching for small food pellets) or "unskilled" (walking on a motorized treadmill) training. During this period, functional recovery was monitored weekly using staircase and cylinder tests. Histological and morphometric nerve analyses were used to assess nerve regeneration at the end of treatment. The functional evaluation demonstrated benefits of both tasks, but found no difference between them (P > 0.05). The unskilled training, however, induced a greater degree of nerve regeneration as evidenced by histological measurement (P < 0.05). These data provide evidence that both of the forelimb training tasks used in this study can accelerate functional recovery following brachial plexus injury.

Skilled reaching training promotes astroglial changes and facilitated sensorimotor recovery after collagenase-induced intracerebral hemorrhage.

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the most devastating type of stroke and a leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide. Although rehabilitation improves recovery after ICH the cellular mechanisms involved are poorly understood. We decided to examine if skilled (SK) and unskilled (US) training after sham or intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) surgeries would induce GFAP+ astrocytic changes and whether these modifications can be associated with functional improvement. A 4-week course of motor training, involving either skilled and unskilled training began seven days after surgery; sensorimotor recovery was evaluated using Staircase, ladder walk and cylinder tests. Histological and morphometric analyses were used to assess GFAP+ cell bilaterally in forelimb sensorimotor cortex and dorsolateral striatum. All behavioral tests showed that ICH-SK rats experienced a greater degree of recovery when compared to ICH no task or ICH-US groups; no behavioral differences were found among all sham groups. Astrocytic density was increased in all analyzed structures for ICH no task, ICH-SK and ICH-US rats. Morphological analysis revealed an increased number of primary processes in ipsilateral (to lesion) sensorimotor cortex for all ICH groups. Present results also revealed that both ICH and SK induced an increased length of GFAP+ primary process; there was a further increase in length processes for ICH-SK group in sensorimotor cortex and ipsilateral striatum. We suggest that skilled reaching is an effective intervention to promote astrocytic plasticity and recovery after ICH.

Confiabilidade da tradução e adaptação do Test d'Évaluation des Membres Supérieurs de Personnes Âgées (TEMPA) para o português e validação para adultos com hemiparesia / Reliability of the translation and adaptation of the Test d'Évaluation des Membres Supérieurs des Personnes Âgées (TEMPA) to the Portuguese language and validation for adults with hemiparesis

INTRODUÇÃO: O Test d'Évaluation des Membres Supérieurs de Personnes Âgées (TEMPA) é composto por tarefas padronizadas, representando atividades da vida diária e avalia a função do membro superior (MS) de pessoas com alteração motora. Além da medida do tempo e da graduação funcional, o instrumento propõe uma análise das tarefas executadas. OBJETIVO: Os objetivos do estudo foram: traduzir e adaptar para a língua portuguesa o formulário e o manual de administração do TEMPA; avaliar a confiabilidade teste reteste e interobservadores e a validade para pacientes com hemiparesia. MÉTODOS: Participaram deste estudo 23 pacientes (61±13 anos) com hemiparesia (30±29 meses) e 23 controles (60±12 anos). A confiabilidade interobservadores foi testada comparando o resultado de dois observadores, em avaliações realizadas no mesmo dia. A confiabilidade teste reteste foi testada comparando o resultado das avaliações, repetidas no intervalo de uma semana. A validade para hemiparéticos foi avaliada por meio da correlação com a escala de Fugl-Meyer (EFM). RESULTADOS: Os resultados mostram adequada confiabilidade interobservadores (coeficiente de correlação intraclasse - CCI=0,93) e teste reteste (CCI=0,99) para os escores totais. Nos pacientes com comprometimento motor moderado a grave (EFM<50), todos os itens mostraram adequada confiabilidade teste reteste e interobservadores (CCI entre 0,70 e 1,00). Nos pacientes com comprometimento motor leve (EFM>50), a confiabilidade para a velocidade na execução assim como para o escore funcional total (interobservadores, ICC=0,79 e teste-reteste, ICC=0,78), foi adequada. A correlação do TEMPA com a EFM foi de r=-0,85 (p=0,001). CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados sugerem adequada confiabilidade para a versão brasileira do TEMPA e validade para pacientes com hemiparesia.

INTRODUCTION: The Test d'Évaluation des Membres Supérieurs de Personnes Âgées (TEMPA) is composed of standardized tasks that represent activities of daily living. This test evaluates upper limb function in individuals with motor deficits. In addition to measuring time and functional level, this instrument also provides analysis of the tasks performed. OBJECTIVE: The aims were: to translate and to adapt the TEMPA form and administration manual to the Portuguese language; and to assess interrater and test-retest reliability and the validity of TEMPA for patients with hemiparesis. METHODS: Twenty-three patients (61±13 years) with hemiparesis (30±29 months) and 23 controls (60±12 years) participated in this study. The interrater reliability was tested by comparing the results from two examiners, in evaluations on the same day. The test-retest reliability was tested by comparing the results from evaluations repeated within a one-week interval. The validity of TEMPA for hemiparetics was assessed by correlation with the Fugl-Meyer scale (FMS). RESULTS: The results showed adequate interrater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient - ICC=0.93) and test-retest reliability (ICC=0.99) for the total scores. In patients with moderate to severe motor deficits (FMS<50), all the items showed adequate test-retest and interrater reliability (ICC between 0.70 and 1.00). In patients with mild motor deficits (FMS>50), the reliability regarding speed of execution and total functional score (interrater, ICC=0.79 and test-retest, ICC=0.78) was adequate. The correlation of TEMPA with FMS was r=-0.85 (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the Brazilian version of TEMPA is reliable and that it is valid for patients with hemiparesis.