Angelica Sinensis attenuates inflammatory reaction in experimental rat models having spinal cord injury.

This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of Angelica Sinensis on experimental rat models in which spinal cord injury was induced by studying different factors. Different factors causing inflammation play a key role in pathophysiology of SCI. Here three groups of rats (n=15, each was used). These included a sham control group where only laminectomy was performed, SCI group where SCI was induced and AS/SCI group where although SCI was induced but Angelica Sinensis was also administered to study its effect and draw a comparison with control. The expression of I-kBα and NF-kB p65 was also studied using western blotting and after recording optical density (OD) values of western blots. MPO activity was used to measure the effect of 20 mg/kg Angelica Sinensis. The levels of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6 were also studied. As compared with SCI group and sham control it was observed that Angelica Sinensis significantly reduced the expression of I-kBα and NF-kB p65, (P<0.05), while MPO activity was also significantly reduced. Proinflammatory cytokine level was also reduced in treated group as compared to both other groups. On the basis of this study we concluded that the use of 20 mg/kg Angelica Sinensis in rat models can attenuate the secondary damage caused by SCI and thus help in controlling the pathology of SCI in rats.

Effects of palmitoylethanolamide on release of mast cell peptidases and neurotrophic factors after spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) has a significant impact on quality of life, expectancy, and economic burden, with considerable costs associated with primary care and loss of income. The complex pathophysiology of SCI may explain the difficulty in finding a suitable therapy for limiting neuronal injury and promoting regeneration. Although innovative medical care, advances in pharmacotherapy have been limited. The aim of the present study was to carefully investigate molecular pathways and subtypes of glial cells involved in the protective effect of PEA on inflammatory reaction associated with an experimental model of SCI. The compression model induced by applying an aneurysm clip to the spinal cord in mice is closer to the human situation, since it replicates the persistence of cord compression. Spinal cord trauma was induced in mice by the application of vascular clips to the dura via a four-level T5-T8 laminectomy. Repeated PEA administration (10 mg/kg i.p., 6 and 12 h after SCI) significantly reduced the degree of the severity of spinal cord trauma through the reduction of mast cell infiltration and activation. Moreover, PEA treatment significantly reduced the activation of microglia and astrocytes expressing cannabinoid CB(2) receptor after SCI. Importantly, the protective effect of PEA involved changes in the expression of neurotrophic factors, and in spinal cord dopaminergic function. Our results enhance our understanding about mechanisms related to the anti-inflammatory property of the PEA suggesting that this N-acylethanolamine may represent a crucial therapeutic intervention both diminishing the immune/inflammatory response and promoting the initiation of neurotrophic substance after SCI.

Effects of hyperthermia on the central nervous system: what was learnt from animal studies?

Animal studies show that nervous tissue is sensitive to heat. Although inter-species variations may play a role, the data indicate that the maximum heat dose without obvious complications after localized hyperthermia in regions of the central nervous system (CNS) lies in the range of 40-60 min at 42-42.5 degrees C or 10-30 min at 43 degrees C. Expression of thermotolerance after a 'conditioning' heat dose was clearly observed in the spinal cord of rodents and the thermotolerance ratio's (ratio between heat doses with and without conditioning required to obtain a certain defined effect) were high, approximately 2. The thermotolerant state of CNS is shown to protect also against other types of injury as well: pre-treatment of rats with hyperthermia protected against spinal cord ischemic injury. During the rather long period required for temperature elevation which is inherent to WBH, some degree of thermotolerance may develop. The correlation between thermotolerance and hsp70 induction in CNS is obvious. Heat, at least if applied shortly after X-rays, enhances the response of nervous tissue to radiation. Data on the combined effects of X-ray irradiation and hyperthermia on rodent spinal cord clearly show that the radiation response can be enhanced with a factor of 1.1-1.3. There are no clear experimental data indicating an increase in adverse effects specific to the CNS after localized or whole body hyperthermia as a result of combined treatment with chemotherapy.

Severe tick borne encephalitis with simultaneous brain stem, bithalamic, and spinal cord involvement documented by MRI.

A case of tick borne encephalitis (TBE) is reported, with simultaneous brain stem, spinal cord, and bilateral thalamic involvement confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). After exposure to a TBE endemic region, the patient developed a biphasic clinical course with initial flu-like symptoms followed by a severe brain stem syndrome. The diagnosis of TBE was confirmed serologically. Repeated MRI scans showed brain stem, bithalamic, and spinal cord involvement. The outcome was favourable. TBE cases with concomitant myelitis tend to have a more severe clinical course and more likelihood of needing intensive care support. They should therefore be identified early in order to be prepared for life threatening respiratory complications.

MRI of radiation myelitis: a report of a case treated with hyperbaric oxygen.

Radiation therapy is commonly applied as a primary or adjuvant therapy for malignancies. One of the major complications following radiation therapy is the necrosis of the otherwise normal surrounding soft tissues and/or bone. Post-radiation myelopathy rarely occurs when the spinal cord is included within the radiation field, in cases of high total radiation doses or for high radiation doses per fractionation. Up until the present, no tolerance dose for the spinal cord has accurately been defined and no treatment has proved satisfactory. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is already currently used as adjuvant treatment for osteoradionecrosis and for radionecrosis of soft tissues with satisfactory results, whereas results for the treatment of post-attinic myelitis were contradictory. The aim of our report is to describe a case of radiation myelitis with a progressive improvement in the clinicoradiologic picture following hyperbaric oxygen treatment.