Acta neurochirurgica
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Acta neurochirurgica · Mar 2007
The prognostic value of serum S-100B protein in spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage.
Despite the major progress in neurophysiological monitoring, there are still difficulties in the early identification and quantification of cerebral damage after a stroke. In this prospective study we examined the associations between serum S-100B protein, a serum marker of brain injury, and initial neurological-neuroimaging severity, secondary deterioration, external ventricular drainage (EVD: therapeutic intervention) and outcome in patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). ⋯ Serum S-100B protein seems to be a useful biochemical indicator of neurological - neuroimaging severity, secondary deterioration, EVD (therapeutic intervention), and outcome in patients with SAH.
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Acta neurochirurgica · Mar 2007
Kinetics of the cellular immune response following closed head injury.
The contribution of brain edema to brain swelling in cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a critical problem. We believe that inflammatory reactions may play a fundamental role in brain swelling following a head injury. Although possible roles of microglia activation and the release of mediators have been suggested, direct evidence of cellular immune reactivity in diffuse brain injury following closed head trauma is lacking. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to assess the temporal pattern of microglia activation and lymphocyte migration in an experimental model of TBI. ⋯ These results lead us to suggest that the acute response to severe head trauma with early edema formation is likely to be associated with inflammatory events which might be triggered by activated microglia and infiltrating lymphocytes. It is difficult to overestimate the clinical significance of these observations, as the early and targeted treatment of patients with severe head injuries with immunosuppressive medication may result in a far more favorable outcome.