The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of platelet derived wound healing formula (PDWHF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in the treatment of experimental spinal cord injury. PDWHF is a conglomerate of growth factors which include platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), platelet derived angiogenesis factor (PDAF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) and platelet factor IV (PF IV). Complete spinal cord transection was performed at T12 and treatment of the spinal cord injury was achieved by filling the dead space with type 1 collagen gel impregnated with PDWHF, or with 2.5S-NGF. Controls were treated with only type 1 collagen gel. Animals were taken care for either 1, 2, or 3 months. Histopathologically, increased axonal regrowth was noted in animals treated with trophic factors, especially in the NGF group. Most of the control animals formed only thin, short axonal bundles, however, the NGF group formed thick axonal bundles and abundant neuroma. Axonal regeneration occurred from both the spinal cord and the nerve roots, however, the most active axonal regrowth was observed from the nerve roots. Increased angiogenesis was observed in the fibrous scar tissue and the injured spinal cord tissue in the PDWHF group. Tissue autolysis and cavity formation expanded 1-3mm into the cord stumps. The volume of cavitation was less in the two treated groups. A greater number of surviving nerve cells were observed in this region in the NGF group. Recent studies have shown that mammalian adult CNS possesses the ability for structural and/or functional plasticity following injury under appropriate circumstances. In this study, exogenous NGF appeared to induce axonal outgrowth and nerve cell survival. PDWHF produced notable angiogenesis which seemed to improve the extracellular microenvironment. This may be important for the delivery of exogenous trophic factors, nutrients and changes of extracellular matrices to support nerve cells and axons. These pharmacological approaches with exogenous trophic factors may affect the future rehabilitational approach for the spinal cord injured patients.

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To clarify the effect of therapeutic exercises in neuromuscular diseases, we investigated influences of endurance training on muscle fibers in experimental steroid myopathy.
With the use of 8-week-old male Wistar rats, we made comparisons among 3 groups. Control group (Co), 5 rats, no steroid nor exercise for 8 weeks. Steroid Group (S), 48 rats, has given 1mg/kg triamcinolone acetate every day for the same period without exercise. Steroid and Exercise group (SE) comprised 16 rats, injected the same amount of daily steroid after free-running exercise for 8 weeks.
At sacrifice, we obtained soleus (SOL) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle samples. These samples were stained for myofibrillar ATPase, after preincubation at pH 10.8, 4.6 and 4.3, to identify four major types of muscle fiber. For each fiber type, we measured fiber areas for comparison. A cluster of 200 muscle fibers was selected for measurement in each sample.
The results revealed type 2B dominant muscle fiber atrophy in group S and SE. The extent of atrophy, however, was lower in group SE. Besides there was no evidence of muscle fiber damage. Exercise may prevent steroid induced atrophy of muscle fibers.
In addition, steroid also transforms from type 1 to type 2 fibers and free running exercise may transform from type 2 to type 1.

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A 38-year-old male patient with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy underwent the operation for making the intestinal stoma because of his severe watery diarrhea. After the operation, his new colon function was normal without any particular troubles. He did not have to pay much attention for the diarrhea especially at night. This therapy may be very beneficial for him because he had been restricted his daily life by severe diarrhea.

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