To prevent hyperextension of your knee, there are a variety of braces available that lock out at varying degrees. Both of these pieces of equipment may be fitted by a physical therapist, who will also be able to perform soft tissue mobilization to further increase your range of motion as well as teach you specific exercises to maintain strength as long as possible. Try to find a PT that is familiar with ALS if you can. Pons S, Torres-Aleman I Cellular and Molecular Neuroendocrinology Laboratory, Instituto Cajal de Neurobiologia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Av. Doctor Arce 37, Madrid E28002, Spain.
Astrocytes represent the most abundant cell type of the adult nervous system.
Under normal conditions, astrocytes participate in neuronal feeding and detoxification. However, following brain injury, local increases in inflammatory cytokines trigger a reactive phenotype in astrocytes during which these cells produce their own inflammatory cytokines and neurotoxic free radicals. Indeed, progression of this inflammatory reaction is responsible for most neurological damage associated with brain trauma. Here, we demonstrate that in astrocyte cultures IGF-I regulates NFkappaB, a transcription factor known to play a key role in the inflammatory reaction. Finally, we show that dephosphorylation of IkappaBalpha by IGF-I pathways requires activation of calcineurin.