Paraplegia News and Research

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Paraplegia is an impairment in motor or sensory function of the lower extremities. It is usually the result of spinal cord injury or a congenital condition such as spina bifida which affects the neural elements of the spinal canal.

Scientists focus on critical regulatory protein to find clues on cancer, neurodegenerative diseases

James McNew's and Michael Stern's biochemical hunt for the root cause of a rare, paralyzing genetic disorder is a 10-year quest that's taken an unexpected turn toward everyday killers such as Alzheimer's disease, cancer and aging.

30 Jun 2018

Discovery of new ALS gene points to cytoskeleton as potential target for drug development

An international team of researchers led by John Landers, PhD, at UMass Medical School, and Bryan Traynor, MD, PhD, at the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health, has identified KIF5A as a new gene associated with the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

21 Mar 2018

Stem cell treatment allows paraplegic rats to walk and regain sensory perception

Engineered tissue containing human stem cells has allowed paraplegic rats to walk independently and regain sensory perception.

16 Nov 2017

NSF grant to support development of brain-machine interface to restore walking in people with paraplegia

People with paraplegia due to spinal cord injury may eventually get a chance to suit up, walk out the door and feel the ground beneath their feet, thanks to a five-year, $8 million Cyber-Physical Systems Frontier grant from the National Science Foundation.

13 Sep 2017

Study: Antibiotic therapy does not work for nearly one in four adults with community-acquired pneumonia

Approximately one in four (22.1 percent) adults prescribed an antibiotic in an outpatient setting (such as a doctor's office) for community-acquired pneumonia does not respond to treatment, according to a new study presented at the 2017 American Thoracic Society International Conference.

22 May 2017

Study shows safety of Schwann cell transplantation for treating subacute thoracic spinal cord injury

A Phase I clinical trial that targeted individuals with new onset paraplegia to evaluate the safety of transplanting their own potentially neuroprotective Schwann cells into a trauma-induced spinal cord lesion showed no evidence of adverse effects after 1 year.

22 Mar 2017

Research findings suggest potential strategies to combat IBMPFD and other degenerative diseases

UCLA researchers have discovered the molecular basis of, and identified potential treatment for, an incurable disease known as inclusion body myopathy, Paget disease with frontotemporal dementia, or IBMPFD.

21 Mar 2017

Brain implant enables ALS patient to operate speech computer with the mind

In the UMC Utrecht a brain implant has been placed in a patient enabling her to operate a speech computer with her mind.

15 Nov 2016

Researchers describe how genetic mutations cause unnamed neurological disorder

In rare cases -- for instance, among siblings in two families from Pakistan and Oman described in a new study -- children have been born with an unnamed neurological disorder.

6 Sep 2016

New mouse model offers more insight into development of ASD in humans

A new mouse model, developed by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is the first to show that when more of a specific biological molecule moves between different parts of nerve cells in the mouse brain, it can lead to behaviors that resembles some aspects of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in humans.

2 Jun 2016

MNI scientists move a step forward in efforts to treat hereditary spastic paraplegia

Scientists at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital have identified novel gene mutations that cause hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), a step forward in efforts to treat this debilitating disease.

11 May 2016

Manipulation of signals in nervous system can enhance recovery after traumatic injury

Neurobiologists at UC San Diego have discovered how signals that orchestrate the construction of the nervous system also influence recovery after traumatic injury. They also found that manipulating these signals can enhance the return of function.

12 Apr 2016

Exome sequencing improves speed, accuracy of neurogenetic disorder diagnosis

UCLA researchers have found that a state-of-the-art molecular genetic test greatly improves the speed and accuracy with which they can diagnose neurogenetic disorders in children and adults. The discovery could lead directly to better care for people with rare diseases like spinocerebellar ataxia, leukodsystrophy, spastic paraplegia and many other conditions.

6 Apr 2016

Deleting microRNA-155 prevents diet-induced obesity in female mice

Researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center seeking a way to combat the growing epidemic of obesity have found that deleting microRNA-155 in female mice prevents diet-induced obesity.

23 Mar 2016

Indego exoskeleton receives FDA certification for U.S. use

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given clearance to market and sell the powered lower-limb exoskeleton created by a team of Vanderbilt engineers and commercialized by the Parker Hannifin Corporation for both clinical and personal use in the United States.

11 Mar 2016

Hereditary spastic paraplegia characteristics unveiled

Researchers have detailed the characteristics of a large cohort of patients with hereditary spastic paraplegias.

15 Feb 2016

UAB study shows IL-37 protein suppresses inflammatory response after spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injuries cause severe functional disabilities in those who sustain them, including paraplegia or tetraplegia, depending on the scale of the injury. This is due to the degeneration of the spinal pathways that carry nerve signals from the brain to the different parts of the body and vice versa, resulting in loss of mobility and sensitivity underneath the injured area.

22 Jan 2016

Invitae announces dramatic expansion of genetic testing menu

Invitae Corporation (NYSE: NVTA), a genetic information company, has announced that it has more than doubled the size of its genetic testing platform to include more than 600 genes and will begin releasing the new content between now and the end of the year. Invitae is immediately expanding its menu with dozens of new test panels for hereditary cancer, cardiovascular, neuromuscular, pediatric and other rare disorders.

7 Oct 2015

Novel brain-computer interface technology allows paralyzed man to walk

Novel brain-computer interface technology created by University of California, Irvine researchers has allowed a paraplegic man to walk for a short distance.

25 Sep 2015

Mesenchymal stem cell exosomes offer hope in healing chronic wounds

Dr. Badiavas’ research demonstrates how mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) exosomes, cell-derived vesicles that exist in biological fluids, function to repair non-healing wounds.

19 Aug 2015