Saturday, October 17, 2015

Neurologic repair

Chemical transformation of human astroglial cells into neurons for brain repair
October 15, 2015

Astroglial cells after treatment with small-molecule cocktails in the lab of Gong Chen at Penn State University, showing transformation into neurons with long axons and dendrites (credit: Gong Chen lab, Penn State University) 
May lead to drugs that restore brain functions lost after traumatic injuries, stroke, or diseases such as Alzheimer's
Researchers have succeeded in transforming human support brain cells, called astroglial cells, into functioning neurons for brain repair. The new technology opens the door to future development of drugs that patients could take as pills to regenerate neurons and to restore brain functions lost after traumatic injuries, stroke, or diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Previous research, … more…


Surgeons reroute nerves to restore hand, arm movement to quadriplegic patients
October 15, 2015

A nerve transfer bypasses the zone of a spinal cord injury (C7). Functional nerves (green) that are under volitional control are rerouted (yellow) to nerves (red) that come off below the spinal cord injury. (credit: Washington University in St. Louis) A pioneering surgical technique has restored some hand and arm movement to nine patients immobilized by spinal cord injuries in the neck, reports a new study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Bypassing the spinal cord, the surgeons rerouted healthy nerves sitting above the injury site, usually in the shoulders or elbows, to paralyzed … more…
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