Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41439994›Full record

Trial reportCells2025

Testosterone and Long-Pulse-Width Stimulation (TLPS) on Denervated Muscles and Cardio-Metabolic Risk Factors After Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Randomized Trial.

Ashraf S Gorgey, Refka E Khalil, Ahmad Alazzam, Ranjodh Gill, Jeannie Rivers, Deborah Caruso, Ryan Garten, James T Redden, Michael J McClure, Teodoro Castillo and 4 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Cells, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Ashraf S GorgeySpinal Cord Injury and Disorders, Central Virginia VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23249, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-9157-6034
Refka E KhalilSpinal Cord Injury and Disorders, Central Virginia VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23249, USA.
Ahmad AlazzamSpinal Cord Injury and Disorders, Central Virginia VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23249, USA.
Ranjodh GillEndocrinology Service, Central Virginia VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23249, USA.
Jeannie RiversSurgery Service, Central Virginia VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23249, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-8553-8648
Deborah CarusoDepartment of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Central Virginia VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23249, USA.
Ryan GartenKinesiology and Health Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23249, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-8939-6093
James T ReddenDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23249, USA.
Michael J McClureDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23249, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-5428-5270
Teodoro CastilloSpinal Cord Injury and Disorders, Central Virginia VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23249, USA.
Lance GoetzSpinal Cord Injury and Disorders, Central Virginia VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23249, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-4250-551X
Qun ChenDivision of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Pauley Heart Center Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23249, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-5683-7844
Edward J LesnefskyDivision of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Pauley Heart Center Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23249, USA.
Robert A AdlerEndocrinology Service, Central Virginia VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23249, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-2019-0417

Funding

RRD VA I01 RX002649RRD VA IK2 RX000732Veterans for America 1 I01 RX002649-01A;
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLong pulse width stimulation (LPWS; 120-150 ms) has the potential to stimulate denervated muscles in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). We examined whether testosterone treatment (TT) + LPWS would increase skeletal muscle size, leg lean mass and improve overall metabolic health in SCI persons with denervation. We hypothesized that one year of combined TT + LPWS would downregulate gene expression of muscle atrophy and upregulate gene expression of muscle hypertrophy and increase mitochondrial health in SCI persons with lower motor neuron (LMN) injury.

methodsTen SCI participants with chronic LMN injury were randomized into either 12 months, twice weekly, of TT + LPWS (n = 5) or a TT+ standard neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES; n = 5). Measurements were conducted at baseline (week 0), 6 months following training (post-intervention 1), and one week following 12 months of training (post-intervention 2). Measurements included body composition assessment using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Metabolic profile assessment encompassed measurements of resting metabolic rate, carbohydrate and lipid profiles. Finally, muscle biopsy was captured to measure RNA signaling pathways and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.

resultsCompliance and adherence were greater in the TT + NMES compared to the TT + LPWS group. There was a 25% increase in the RF muscle CSA following P1 measurement in the TT + LPWS group. There was a recognizable non-significant decrease in intramuscular fat in both groups. There was a trend (

conclusionsThese pilot data demonstrated the safety of applying LPWS in persons with SCI. Six months of TT + LPWS demonstrated increases in rectus femoris muscle CSA. The effects on muscle size were modest between groups. Signaling pathway analysis suggested downregulation of genes involved in muscle atrophy pathways. Future clinical trials may consider a home-based approach with more frequent applications of LPWS.

Indexed as

Cardiometabolic Risk FactorsElectric Stimulation TherapyMuscle DenervationMuscle, SkeletalSpinal Cord InjuriesTestosteroneAdultBody CompositionFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedMuscular AtrophyPilot ProjectsTestosteronedenervationlong pulse width stimulationlower motor neuron injuryneuromuscular electrical stimulationspinal cord injurytestosterone treatment

Identifiers

PMID41439994
PMCPMC12731934

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.