Background and Objective
Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability. Currently, there are no consistently effective rehabilitative treatments for chronic stroke patients. Our recent studies demonstrate that VNS paired with rehabilitative training improves recovery of function in multiple models of stroke. Here, we evaluated the ability of VNS paired with rehabilitative training to improve recovery of forelimb strength when initiated many weeks after a cortical and subcortical ischemic lesion in subjects with stable, chronic motor deficits.
Methods
Rats were trained to perform an automated, quantitative measure of voluntary forelimb strength. Once proficient, rats received injections of endothelin-1 to cause a unilateral cortical and subcortical ischemic lesion. Six weeks after lesion, rats underwent rehabilitative training paired with VNS (Paired VNS; n = 10), rehabilitative training with equivalent VNS delivered two hours after daily rehabilitative training (Delayed VNS; n = 10), or rehabilitative training without VNS (Rehab, n = 9).
Results
VNS paired with rehabilitative training significantly improved recovery of forelimb function compared to control groups. The Paired VNS group displayed an 86% recovery of strength, the Rehab group exhibited 47% recovery, and the Delayed VNS group exhibited 42% recovery. Improvement in forelimb function was sustained in the Paired VNS group after the cessation of stimulation, potentially indicating lasting benefits. No differences in intensity of rehabilitative training, lesion size, or MAP-2 expression were observed between groups.
Conclusion
VNS paired with rehabilitative training confers significantly greater recovery of forelimb function after chronic ischemic stroke in rats.
Background: Glaucoma is the cause of blindness. Beta blocker and prostaglandins are used as a first line treatment of open angle glaucoma. The exact target with mono therapy for reducing intraocular pressure is achieved within 2 years, so patient prefers fixed dose combination therapy.
Objective: For reducing intraocular pressure efficacy, travoprost mono therapy and timolol/brinzolamide fixed dose combination therapy is compared.
Material and methods: For 3 months, patients are randomly received 0.5% timolol and 0.2% brinzolamide twice daily and travporost once daily 0.004%.Then compared intraocular pressure, pulse rate, blood pressure, and cup disc ratio over 12 weeks of treatment.
Results: 27.99% and 30.49% reduction in intraocular pressure is observed with mono therapy and fixed dose combination respectively. Pulse rate (9beats/min) and systolic pressure reduction by (2.35mmHg) were seen with fixed dose combination but no cup disc ratio observed.
Conclusion: It is proved that 0.5% timolol and 0.2% brinzolamide causes more reduction in intraocular pressure than the 0.004% travporost mono therapy.
Keywords: Glaucoma, travporost and lantoprost
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