Objective To observe the effect of transplantation of telomerase immortalized human neural progenitor cells to acute injured canine spinal cord by using MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).Methods Telomerase immortalized human neural progenitor cells with expression of green fluorescent protein were prepared for transplantation. Eight adult canines with left spinal cord hemisection at the level of T13 were examined by MR diffusion tensor imaging four times sequentially: prior to injury, one week after injury, one week after transplantation (two weeks after injury), and four weeks after transplantation. Results The ADC values of the injured spinal cord were (1.00?0.15)?10 -3 mm2/s, (1.65?0.45)?10 -3 mm2/s, (1.44?0.48)?10 -3 mm2/s, and (1.43?0.26) ?10 -3 mm2/s, respectively. There was statistically significant difference between the data obtained at different times (F=6.038, P=0.005). The FA values of the injured spinal cord were 0.59?0.11, 0.30?0.17, 0.36?0.25, and 0.34?0.11, respectively. There was also statistically significant difference between the data obtained at different times ( F=5.221,P=0.009). The ADC values of the intact spinal cord were (1.01?0.17)?10 -3 mm2/s, (1.32?0.06)?10 -3 mm2/s, (1.10?0.24)?10 -3 mm2/s, and (1.14?0.22) ?10 -3 mm2/s, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the data obtained at different times ( F=1.303,P=0.306). The FA values of the intact spinal cord were 0.60?0.09, 0.38?0.25, 0.46?0.15, and 0.50?0.21, respectively. There was also no statistically significant difference between the data obtained at different times (F=2.797,P=0.072).Conclusion DTI can provide useful information for spinal cord injury and regeneration in experimental spinal cord injury.

Objective:To explore the effect of combining functional electric stimulation (FES) with upper limb cycle training in rehabilitating upper limb motor function and ability in the activities of daily living after a stroke.Methods:Sixty hemiplegic stroke survivors were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group. In addition to conventional rehabilitation therapy, the experimental group underwent 20 minutes of MOTOmed upper limb cycle training every day while receiving FES. The control group received only the 20 minutes of cycle training. Before and after 4 weeks, Brunnstrom staging was used to quantify hand and upper extremity functioning. The Fulg-Meyer assessment upper extremity scale (FMA-UE) and the modified Barthel index (MBI) were also used before the training and after 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks of the treatments.Results:After 4 weeks of treatment, significant differences were observed in the average BS scores of both groups compared with before the intervention. The average hand and upper limb stages of the experimental group were significantly better than the control group′s averages. Significant improvement was also observed in the average FMA-UE and MBI scores of both groups after only one week, with significantly greater improvement in the experimental group.Conclusions:Supplementing upper limb cycle training with FES can significantly improve the upper limb motor function and ability in the activities of daily living of stroke survivors. It is more effective than the MOTOmed exercise alone.