Patients with baclofen pumps may safely undergo transcutaneous spinal stimulation

Kessler pilot study shows pump delivery system unaffected although interference with communication may occur during the pump’s log transmission

2023-03-21

(Press-News.org) East Hanover, NJ. March 21, 2023. Researchers from Kessler Foundation and Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation (collectively “Kessler”) conducted the first prospective study to assess whether transcutaneous spinal stimulation (TSS) interacts with implanted intrathecal baclofen (ITB) pump delivery systems for managing spasticity. The article, "Transcutaneous spinal stimulation in patients with intrathecal baclofen pump delivery system: A preliminary safety study," (doi: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1075293), was published December 21, 2022, in Frontiers in Neuroscience. It is available open access at:

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2022.1075293/full

The pilot study was conducted at the Tim and Caroline Reynolds Center for Spinal Stimulation by John Lopez, DO, Gail Forrest, PhD, Einat Engel-Haber, MD, Brittany Snider, MD, Kam Momeni, PhD, Manikandan Ravi, MS, and Steven Kirshblum, MD.

Due to a lack of adequate data on how spinal stimulation affects intrathecal medication delivery, individuals with pump delivery systems are often excluded from TSS trials. In this study, Kessler team members tested their hypothesis that TSS would not interfere with the ITB pump system. The five study participants were adults with chronic traumatic spinal cord injury, each with an anteriorly implanted ITB pump delivery system (Medtronic SynchroMed™ II).

Each participant underwent two trials of TSS: the first to establish intensity of lower thoracic stimulation as measured by surface electromyography of the lower extremity muscles, and the second to deliver 30 minutes of moderate-intensity stimulation. To monitor pump function, the pump was interrogated before, during, and after stimulation.

Results revealed no evidence for pump dysfunction as measured by pump log evaluations. Interference of the communication between the interrogator and the pump was evidenced by lapses in log transmission during TSS, most likely due to transient electromagnetic interference. One participant had an adverse event that was likely unrelated to the TSS, but rather related to a bladder issue and underlying urinary tract infection.

“Based on our preliminary findings, individuals with implanted baclofen pumps may be considered for TSS studies involving the low thoracic spine,” said Dr. Lopez, staff physiatrist at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation. “While communication between the pump and its interrogator may be briefly affected, there was no evidence that medication delivery was disrupted.”

Given the potential benefits of TSS in the population with spinal cord injury, further research is warranted, according to Dr. Kirshblum, chief medical officer of Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and Kessler Foundation and director of Spinal Cord Injury Services at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation. “We need to study the effects of various patterns and intensities of transcutaneous stimulation in patients with baclofen pumps,” he noted, “as well as the effects of repeated sessions and stimulation at multiple sites.”

Funding: Tim and Caroline Reynolds

About Kessler Foundation

Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability, is a global leader in rehabilitation research. Our scientists seek to improve cognition, mobility, and long-term outcomes, including employment, for adults and children with neurological and developmental disabilities of the brain and spinal cord including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and autism. Kessler Foundation also leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities. For more information, visit KesslerFoundation.org.

About Select Medical

Select Medical is one of the largest operators of critical illness recovery hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, and occupational health centers in the United States based on number of facilities. As of December 31, 2022, Select Medical operated 103 critical illness recovery hospitals in 28 states, 31 rehabilitation hospitals in 12 states, and 1,928 outpatient rehabilitation clinics in 39 states and the District of Columbia. Concentra operated 540 occupational health centers in 41 states. At December 31, 2022, Select Medical had operations in 46 states and the District of Columbia. For more information, visit: www.selectmedical.com

For more information, or to interview an expert, contact: Carolann Murphy, CMurphy@KesslerFoundation.org.

END

[Attachments] See images for this press release:

Patients with baclofen pumps may safely undergo transcutaneous spinal stimulation 2

Patients with baclofen pumps may safely undergo transcutaneous spinal stimulation 3

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Co-infection with ‘superbug’ bacteria increases SARS-CoV-2 replication up to 15 times, Western study finds

2023-03-21

Global data shows nearly 10 per cent of severe COVID-19 cases involve a secondary bacterial co-infection – with Staphylococcus aureus, also known as Staph A., being the most common organism responsible for co-existing infections with SARS-CoV-2. Researchers at Western have found if you add a ‘superbug’ – methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) – into the mix, the COVID-19 outcome could be even more deadly. The mystery of how and why these two pathogens, when combined, ...

Advisory role: New research suggests peer-advisor relationship is key to success

2023-03-21

Collaborative research across the country has shown that strengthening the relationship between the student and advisor can increase retention rates in engineering doctoral studies. Dr. Marissa Tsugawa, along with professors from Penn State, The University of Oregon, Indiana University Bloomington, University of Reno, Nevada and North Carolina State University, recently published a study with the Journal of Engineering Education on March 17. The study connects an engineering student’s identity and the intention to complete a Ph.D. in engineering. Identity is a role that students give themselves during their experiences in the lab and classroom. The authors argue ...

Researchers get to the “bottom” of how beetles use their butts to stay hydrated

2023-03-21

Beetles are champions at surviving in extremely dry environments. In part, this property is due to their ability to suck water from the air with their rear ends. A new collaborative study by researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Edinburgh explains just how. Beyond helping to explain how beetles thrive in environments where few other animals can survive, the knowledge could eventually be used for more targeted and delicate control of global pests such as the grain weevil and red flour beetle. Insect pests eat their way through thousands of tons of food around the world every year. Food security in developing ...

New MU study shapes understanding of adaptive clothing customer needs

2023-03-21

With the growth of the niche adaptive clothing market comes new challenges for retailers, including making the process of online shopping more inclusive for people with varying degrees of disability as well as expanding the functionality and aesthetic appeal of individual garments. This study involved mining online reviews to understand the perspectives of adaptive clothing customers. University of Missouri researchers identified two main challenges for adaptive clothing consumers. Customers said ...

Aging | Age-related methylation changes in the human sperm epigenome

2023-03-21

“[...] we identified > 1,000 candidate genes with genome-wide significant age-related methylation changes in sperm.” BUFFALO, NY- March 21, 2023 – A new research paper was published in Aging (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as "Aging (Albany NY)" and "Aging-US" by Web of Science) Volume 15, Issue 5, entitled, “Age-related methylation changes in the human sperm epigenome.” Advanced paternal age is associated with increased risks for reproductive and offspring medical problems. Accumulating evidence suggests age-related changes ...

Study finds similar association of progestogen-only and combined hormonal contraceptives with breast cancer risk

2023-03-21

There is a relative increase of 20% to 30% in breast cancer risk associated with both combined and progesterone-only contraceptives, whatever the mode of delivery, though with five years of use, the 15-year absolute excess incidence is at most 265 cases per 100,000 users. The results appear in a new study publishing March 21st in the open access journal PLOS Medicine by Kirstin Pirie of University of Oxford, UK, and colleagues. Use of combined oral contraceptives, containing both estrogen and progestogen, has previously been associated with a small increase in breast cancer risk but there is limited data about the ...

Exercise therapy is safe, may improve quality of life for many people with heart failure

2023-03-21

CONTENT UPDATED 3/17 - note new references to cardiac rehabilitation. Statement Highlights: A new scientific statement indicates supervised exercise therapy may help improve symptoms for people with one of the most common types of heart failure, known as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), in which the heart muscle’s pumping strength is intact. Exercise therapy had comparable or better results on improving exercise capacity for people with preserved EF compared to those who have heart failure with reduced ...

COVID-19 unemployment stigma is real and could threaten future job prospects: uOttawa study

2023-03-21

Regina Bateson, an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Social Science’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, details the findings of her study, which shows the significant social and economic impacts to individuals who were out of work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Below she answers questions about her study. Question: How was this research performed? Regina Bateson: “In this study, I conducted a pre-registered survey experiment with a nationally representative sample of 974 U.S. adults. ...

Ultra-lightweight multifunctional space skin created to withstand extreme conditions in space

2023-03-21

A new nano-barrier coating could help protect ultra-lightweight carbon composite materials from extreme conditions in space, according to a study from the University of Surrey and Airbus Defence and Space. The new functionality added to previously developed ‘space skin’ structures adds a layer of protection to help maintain space payloads while travelling in space, similar to having its very own robust ultralight protective jacket. The research team has shown that their innovative nano-barrier would help drastically increase the stability of carbon fibre materials, while reducing radiation ...

Researchers identify new genes that modulate the toxicity of the protein β-amyloid, responsible for causing Alzheimer’s disease

2023-03-21

An international study led by the Molecular Physiology Laboratory at the UPF Department of Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS) identifies new genes that modulate the toxicity of the protein β-amyloid, responsible for causing Alzheimer’s disease. Combining molecular biology, genomics and bioinformatics techniques, 238 amyloid toxicity protective or activator genes have been identified. Among them, the gene Surf4 stands out. It is involved in the control of intracellular calcium and, by increasing the toxicity of the β-amyloid protein, contributes to the disease. The research has been carried out thanks to the support ...

Patients with baclofen pumps may safely undergo transcutaneous spinal stimulation

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: