Background: In recent years, some studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of stem cells from different sources on patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). This study was carried out to evaluate the feasibility and therapeutic potential of autologous bone marrow cell (BMC) transplantation in 11 complete spinal cord injured patients at thoracic level. Methods and materials: This nonrandomized clinical trial compared the results of autologous BMC transplantation into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) via lumbar puncture (LP) in 11 patients having complete SCI, with 20 patients as control group who received conventional treatment without BMC transplantation. The patients underwent preoperative and follow-up neurological assessments using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale. Then, the participants were followed for 12-33 months. Results: Eleven patients with the mean age of 33.2 ± 8.9 years and 20 patients with the mean age of 33.5 ± 7.2 years were enrolled in the study and in the control group, respectively. None of the patients in the study and control group experienced any adverse reaction and complications, neither after routine treatment nor after cell transplantation. Five patients out of 11 (45.5%) in the study group and three patients in the control group (15%) showed marked recovery, but the result was statistically borderline (P = 0.095). Conclusion: We conclude that transplantation of autologous BMC via LP is a feasible and safe technique, but at the moment, no clear answer can be given regarding the clinical potential, despite a potential tendency to treat SCI patients, observed through statistics.

Disc nucleus pulposus microscopic calcification is a common event occurring in adult patients suffering from lumbar disc herniation. Mechanisms that link disc degeneration, angiogenesis, and calcification remain a focus for further researches that may be useful in future medical treatments before surgical treatment of lumbar disc herniation.

To permit appropriate targeted therapy, the present clinical study was aimed to investigate the effects of progesterone on the outcome and the serum markers of injury, oxidant activity and inflammation in diffuse axonal injury (DAI). Forty-eight male DAI patients were divided into two groups (control and progesterone). Progesterone group received progesterone in dose of 1mg/kg per 12h for five days. The outcome was investigated using Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS-E) and functional independence measure (FIM). The markers of inflammation [interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)], injury (brain protein of S-100B), and oxidant activity [malondialdehyde (MDA)] were evaluated in the serum of the patients. Higher GOS-E and FIM scores were observed in progesterone group at the six-month follow-up (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). Meanwhile, a reduction in the serum levels of IL-1β, MDA and S-100B was noticed in progesterone group 24h after injury (P<0.05, P<0.001 and P<0.05, respectively), and there was an increase in serum levels of IL-6 and TGF-β1 (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). Also, lower levels of MDA and S-100B, and higher levels of TGF-β1 were observed in progesterone group six days after injury (P<0.05). According to these findings, progesterone may improve the outcome in DAI patients probably through modulation in the levels of cytokines, and reduction in the injury and oxidant activity.

Study DesignProspective study.PurposeWe compared the effects of two methods of epidural steroid injection in patients with recurrent disc herniation.Overview of LiteratureTo our knowledge, there is no previous report of such a comparison in these patients.MethodsThe study was performed with 30 patients with relapsed lumbar disc herniation whose pain was not relieved by conservative remedies. The patients were divided into two groups, each of 15 patients, and entered the study for caudal or transforaminal injections. The degree of pain, ability to stand and walk, and the Prolo function score were evaluated in both groups before the injection and 2 months and 6 months after the injection.ResultsThe degrees of pain reduction in the caudal injection group in the second and sixth months were 0.6 and 1.63, respectively, and in the transforaminal injection group were 1.33 and 1.56, respectively. The difference between the two methods was not statistically significant. Similarly, no other evaluated criterion showed a significant difference between the methods.ConclusionsIn the current study, the caudal and transforaminal steroid injection methods showed similar outcomes in the treatment of relapsed lumbar disc herniation. However, more detailed patient categorizing may help in finding possible subgroups with differences.

Findings of this study suggest that progesterone may be neuroprotective in patients with DAI. However, large clinical trials are needed to assess progesterone as a promising drug in DAI.

BackgroundImprovement of neurologic outcome in progesterone-administered patients with diffuse axonal injury (DAI) has been found in a recent study. Also, there has been interest in the importance of serum parameters as predictors of outcome in traumatic brain injury.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to examine the effect of progesterone administration on serum levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in clinical DAI.Patients and MethodsIn this study, the serum levels of ICAM-1 and NSE of 32 male DAI patients (18 - 60 years of age, a Glasgow coma scale of 12 or less, and admitted within 4 hours after injury) who were randomized for a controlled phase II trial of progesterone were analyzed. The analysis was performed between the control and progesterone groups at admission time, and 24 hours and six days after DAI, respectively.ResultsA reduction in the serum level of ICAM-1 was noticed in the progesterone group 24 hours after the injury (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the serum level of NSE between the study groups during evaluation. At 24 hours after the injury, the level of ICAM-1 in the control group was higher than that at admission time (P < 0.05). The lowest level of NSE in the two groups was seen six days after DAI (P < 0.01).ConclusionsIn summary, progesterone administration reduced serum ICAM-1, and whereby may attenuate blood brain barrier disruption, the latter needs further investigation for confirmation.

Study DesignA retrospective study.PurposeThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of delayed hypothermia on spinal cord injuries in rats. In addition, the effect of methylprednisolone on therapeutic window of hypothermia was evaluated.Overview of LiteratureSeveral studies have demonstrated that early hypothermia is the most effective neuroprotective modality. However, delayed hypothermia seems to be more practical for patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries. A combination of hypothermia and other neuroprotective methods, such as using methylprednisolone, may help extend the therapeutic window of hypothermia.MethodsOne hundred and twenty male rats were categorized into six groups. The rats in five groups were subjected to spinal cord injury using the weight drop method, followed by treatment, consisting of early hypothermia, late hypothermia, late hypothermia plus methylprednisolone, or methylprednisolone only. Biochemical tests including catalase, malondialdehyde, and superoxide level were evaluated in the injured spinal cord. Behavioral functions of the hind limb were evaluated by Basso-Battle-Bresnaham locomotor rating scale and tail-flick tests.ResultsFunctional and biochemical evaluation showed both early and late hypothermia had significant neuroprotective effects. The treated groups did not differ significantly from one another in the behavioral tests. Hypothermia had better biochemical results compared to methylprednisolone. Also, methylprednisolone was shown to extend the therapeutic window of delayed hypothermia.ConclusionsHypothermia showed a significant neuroprotective effect, which can be improved with further studies optimizing the duration of hypothermia and the rewarming period. Moreover, the therapeutic effect of the delayed hypothermia can be extended by methylprednisolone.

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