Journal of neurotrauma
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Journal of neurotrauma · Nov 2007
Randomized Controlled TrialMultiplex assessment of cytokine and chemokine levels in cerebrospinal fluid following severe pediatric traumatic brain injury: effects of moderate hypothermia.
This study performed a comprehensive analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytokine levels after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children using a multiplex bead array assay and to evaluate the effects of moderate hypothermia on cytokine levels. To this end, samples were collected during two prospective randomized controlled trials of therapeutic moderate hypothermia in pediatric TBI. Thirty-six children with severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score of
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Journal of neurotrauma · Nov 2007
ReviewEarly excision and late excision of heterotopic ossification after traumatic brain injury are equivalent: a systematic review of the literature.
Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a common complication in patients with coma after brain injury. As the optimal timing of surgical resection is still controversial and unclear, a review of the literature was performed in order to determine the impact of early operation on recurrence rate and joint mobility. We identified all types of studies dealing with surgical excision of HO in patients after head injury in major medical and publishers' databases. ⋯ The predicted probability of recurrence after 13, 21, and 30 months of waiting was 9%, 14%, and 19%, respectively. The length of coma period and patient's neurologic deficit were statistically significant negative predictors for both recurrence rate and functional outcome. Although no conclusive inferences can be drawn from the identified studies, the available data do not support the concept that early excision triggers later recurrence.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Nov 2007
Platelet dysfunction in patients with severe traumatic brain injury.
Coagulopathy is a common phenomenon in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and a major contributor to a poor outcome. Thrombocytopenia is a strong negative prognostic factor in TBI, but bleeding tendency can be present even with a normal platelet count. We investigated platelet function in patients with TBI by means of modified thromboelastography (i.e., platelet mapping [TEG-PM]). ⋯ Patients with TBI develop platelet dysfunction, which most likely contributes to bleeding complications. The observed platelet dysfunction appears to involve the cyclooxygenase pathway. TEG-PM analysis can be used to identify patients with a high risk of bleeding complications.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Nov 2007
Social and environmental enrichment improves sensory and motor recovery after severe contusive spinal cord injury in the rat.
Neuropathic pain and motor dysfunction are difficult problems following spinal cord injury (SCI). Social and environmental enrichment (SEE), which models much of the clinical rehabilitation environment for post-SCI persons, is the focus of the current investigation which examines the effects of multiple-housing and the addition of climbing spaces, improved bedding and crawl toys on the sensory and motor recovery following a severe contusive SCI. Efficacy was determined with sensory testing, open-field motor behavioral testing, lesion volume analysis and quantification of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the lumbar spinal cord with and without SEE provided during the recovery period. ⋯ SEE significantly increased the total volume of a thoracic segment of cord encompassing the injury site at 12 weeks, by reducing cavitation and increasing both the volume of grey and white matter spared, compared to SCI alone. When BDNF levels were examined in the injured lumbar spinal cord, SEE significantly returned BDNF levels to near-normal. These data suggest that immediate use of SEE after contusive SCI is able to improve overall spinal cell survival and prevent much of the sensory and motor dysfunction that accompanies contusive SCI.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Nov 2007
Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in spinal cord contusion injury and the effects of chondroitinase treatment.
Chondroitinase treatment of experimental spinal cord injury improves recovery of sensory, motor, and autonomic functions. Chondroitinase catalyzes the cleavage of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) from the core proteins of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs). Little is known about changes in production of these proteoglycans in the clinically relevant contusion model of spinal cord injury or if CSPG content is altered by chondroitinase treatment. ⋯ Chondroitinase treatment had little impact upon the CPSG protein content. Changes in message levels of these CSPGs are also reported. This demonstrates that expression patterns of CSPGs in contusion injury are similar to those surrounding surgical hemisection lesions and demonstrates that the sensory and motor function enhancing effects of chondroitinase are likely due to removal of GAG chains rather than reduction in CSPG content.