Brain injury : [BI]
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Brain injury : [BI] · Jan 2016
PTSD confounds detection of compromised cerebral white matter integrity in military veterans reporting a history of mild traumatic brain injury.
Based on high comorbidity between mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among deployed military service members, this study tested the hypothesis that the presence of PTSD disrupts the association between mTBI and lower white matter integrity identified in non-military samples. Research design/Methods and procedures: In a sample of 124 recent veterans with a range of mTBI and PTSD history, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics of white matter integrity in 20 regions were compared using multiple mTBI and PTSD contrasts. ⋯ Overall, a main effect of civilian mTBI indicates long-term disruptions to white matter are likely present, while the interaction between deployment mTBI and PTSD indicates that a history of PTSD alters this relationship.
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Brain injury : [BI] · Jan 2016
ReviewBrain injury biomarkers in the setting of cardiac surgery: Still a world to explore.
Brain injury is an important, potentially devastating, complication in cardiac surgery. A significant number of patients suffer perioperative complications involving the central nervous system. Clinical manifestations of brain injury are associated with significantly increased mortality, morbidity and health resource utilization. Serum biomarkers have been studied in cardiac surgery to measure the degree and incidence of brain injury and to improve patient management. ⋯ These biomarkers, independently of clinical and radiological findings, show global cerebral situation at the cellular level and the degree of brain dysfunction. However, up to date, there is no biomarker entirely suitable for the detection of brain injury after cardiac surgery.
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Brain injury : [BI] · Jan 2016
ReviewParoxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity: Autonomic instability and muscle over-activity following severe brain injury.
Children who suffer from moderate-to-severe brain injury can develop a complicating phenomenon known as paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH), characterized by autonomic instability and identified clinically as a cluster of symptoms that can include recurrent fever without a source of infection, hypertension, tachycardia, tachypnea, agitation, diaphoresis and dystonia. Studies with adults have demonstrated that this cluster of symptoms is associated with poorer clinical outcomes (prolonged hospitalizations, poorer cognitive and motor function). However, there have been limited studies in children with PSH. ⋯ The majority of the research regarding PSH following severe brain injury has been descriptive in nature. Few studies, however, have explored PSH in children with brain injury; therefore, little is known about whether the outcomes of children with PSH are different and, if so, in what ways.
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Brain injury : [BI] · Jan 2016
Tracheostomy risk factors and outcomes after severe traumatic brain injury.
To determine risk factors associated with tracheostomy placement after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and subsequent outcomes among those who did and did not receive a tracheostomy. ⋯ Age and insurance status are independently associated with tracheostomy placement, but not with mortality after severe TBI. Tracheostomy placement is associated with increased survival after severe TBI.
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Brain injury : [BI] · Jan 2016
Basilar dolichoectasia and the spontaneous intradural vertebral artery dissection.
Basilar dolichoectasia (BD) is an atherosclerotic, a distinct arteriopathy or a chronic-phase dissection characterized by elongation and dilation of the basilar artery. Spontaneous intradural vertebral artery dissection (siVAD) is an important cause of stroke in young and middle-aged people. It is hypothesized that the BD and the siVAD might partially share aetiologies and this study aimed to examine the relationship. ⋯ The present study suggested that BD was related to the siVAD. A randomized study from multi-institutions with an adequate sample size is needed to make a strong argument about the association between BD and siVAD.