Achieving the Minimum Clinically Important Difference in Japanese Orthopaedic Association Score After Surgery for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Predictive Factors and Impact on Patient-Reported Outcome Measures.

Study DesignProspective multicenter cohort study.ObjectivesAlthough surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) often improves neurological function, predicting clinically meaningful recovery remains challenging. To identify preoperative predictors of achieving the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) in the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and to evaluate its association with patient-reported outcomes.

Tracking adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells in the eye: Integrating IVIS imaging and Alu PCR for enhanced detection of human cells.

Introduction: Cell transplantation finds broad applications in medical science, with applications ranging from stem cell therapies to cancer research. Despite its widespread use, inherent risks such as tumor formation and immune rejection necessitate a comprehensive understanding of transplanted cell dynamics. Thus, tracing cellular behavior is a critical aspect of medical research, particularly in the context of cell transplantation.

Clinical Indicators of Surgical Outcomes in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy Assessed Using the JOACMEQ: A Prospective Multicenter Study.

Study Design: Prospective multicenter cohort study.

Objective: To identify clinical indicators associated with postoperative functional and quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM), using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire (JOACMEQ).

Summary Of Background Data: Although surgical intervention is the standard treatment for DCM, a subset of patients experiences suboptimal postoperative outcomes.

Microenvironmental modulation in tandem with human stem cell transplantation enhances functional recovery after chronic complete spinal cord injury.

While rapid advancements in regenerative medicine strategies for spinal cord injury (SCI) have been made, most research in this field has focused on the early stages of incomplete injury. However, the majority of patients experience chronic severe injury; therefore, treatments for these situations are fundamentally important. Here, we hypothesized that environmental modulation via a clinically relevant hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-releasing scaffold and human iPS cell-derived neural stem/progenitor cells (hNS/PCs) transplantation contributes to functional recovery after chronic complete transection SCI.

Rehabilitative Training Enhances Therapeutic Effect of Human-iPSC-Derived Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells Transplantation in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury.

Cell transplantation therapy using human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural stem/progenitor cells (hiPSC-NS/PCs) is a new therapeutic strategy for spinal cord injury (SCI). Preclinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of hiPSC-NS/PCs transplantation in the subacute phase of SCI. However, locomotor recovery secondary to hiPSC-NS/PCs transplantation is limited in the chronic phase, suggesting that additional treatment, including rehabilitative training, is required to ensure recovery.

A non-invasive system to monitor in vivo neural graft activity after spinal cord injury.

Expectations for neural stem/progenitor cell (NS/PC) transplantation as a treatment for spinal cord injury (SCI) are increasing. However, whether and how grafted cells are incorporated into the host neural circuit and contribute to motor function recovery remain unknown. The aim of this project was to establish a novel non-invasive in vivo imaging system to visualize the activity of neural grafts by which we can simultaneously demonstrate the circuit-level integration between the graft and host and the contribution of graft neuronal activity to host behaviour.

Modulation by DREADD reveals the therapeutic effect of human iPSC-derived neuronal activity on functional recovery after spinal cord injury.

Transplantation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NS/PCs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) is considered to be a promising therapy for spinal cord injury (SCI) and will soon be translated to the clinical phase. However, how grafted neuronal activity influences functional recovery has not been fully elucidated. Here, we show the locomotor functional changes caused by inhibiting the neuronal activity of grafted cells using a designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADD).

Long-term selective stimulation of transplanted neural stem/progenitor cells for spinal cord injury improves locomotor function.

In cell transplantation therapy for spinal cord injury (SCI), grafted human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural stem/progenitor cells (hiPSC-NS/PCs) mainly differentiate into neurons, forming synapses in a process similar to neurodevelopment. In the developing nervous system, the activity of immature neurons has an important role in constructing and maintaining new synapses. Thus, we investigate how enhancing the activity of transplanted hiPSC-NS/PCs affects both the transplanted cells themselves and the host tissue.

Scapular Winging Caused by Combined Palsy of the Spinal Accessory Nerve and the Long Thoracic Nerve: A Case Report.

Case: A 37-year-old man with scapular winging, caused by combined palsy of the spinal accessory nerve and the long thoracic nerve, was successfully treated with a pectoralis major transfer to substitute for the serratus anterior muscle, and with levator scapulae and rhomboid muscle transfers to substitute for the trapezius muscle.

Conclusion: The serratus anterior paralysis was thought to have occurred secondary to traction of the long thoracic nerve by the unsupported scapula following the spinal accessory nerve palsy. Even with combined paralyses of the serratus anterior and trapezius muscles, combined muscle transfers that substitute for the paralyzed muscles can improve shoulder function.