Journal of neurotrauma
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Journal of neurotrauma · Nov 2012
Neuron-specific enolase, but not S100B or myelin basic protein, increases in peripheral blood corresponding to lesion volume after cortical impact in piglets.
A peripheral indicator of the presence and magnitude of brain injury has been a sought-after tool by clinicians. We measured neuron-specific enolase (NSE), myelin basic protein (MBP), and S100B, prior to and after scaled cortical impact in immature pigs, to determine if these purported markers increase after injury, correlate with the resulting lesion volume, and if these relationships vary with maturation. Scaled cortical impact resulted in increased lesion volume with increasing age. ⋯ Even with allometric scaling of blood volume and a uniform mechanism of injury, NSE had only a fair to poor predictive value. In a clinical setting, where the types of injuries are varied, more investigation is required to yield a panel of serum markers that can reliably predict the extent of injury. Allometric scaling may improve estimation of serum marker release in pediatric populations.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Nov 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effect of hyperbaric oxygen on symptoms after mild traumatic brain injury.
In this single-center, double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled, prospective trial at the U. S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, the effects of 2.4 atmospheres absolute (ATA) hyperbaric oxygen (HBO₂) on post-concussion symptoms in 50 military service members with at least one combat-related, mild traumatic brain injury were examined. ⋯ Paired t-test results revealed 10 ImPACT scale scores in the sham-control group improved from pre- to post-testing, whereas two scale scores significantly improved in the HBO₂ group. One PCL-M measure improved from pre- to post-testing in both groups. This study showed that HBO₂ at 2.4 ATA pressure had no effect on post-concussive symptoms after mild TBI.
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Traumatic injury is a common cause of coagulopathy, primarily due to blood loss and hemodilution secondary to fluid resuscitation. Traumatic injury-associated coagulopathy often follows a course of transition from hyper- to hypocoagulable state exemplified in disseminated intravascular coagulation. The incidence of coagulopathy is significantly higher in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), especially those with penetrating trauma compared to injury to the trunk and limbs. ⋯ Studies in the past have shown that brain tissue is highly enriched in key procoagulant molecules. This review focuses on the biochemical and cellular characteristics of these molecules and pathways that could make brain uniquely procoagulant and prone to coagulopathy. Understanding this unique procoagulant environment will help to identify new therapeutic targets that could reverse a state of coagulopathy with minimal impacts on hemostasis, a critical requirement for neurosurgical treatments of TBI.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Nov 2012
Decreased spinothalamic and dorsal column medial lemniscus-mediated function is associated with neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury.
Neuropathic pain (NP) after spinal cord injury (SCI) can significantly and negatively affect quality of life and is often refractory to currently available treatments. In order to find more effective therapeutic avenues, it would be helpful to identify the primary underlying pathophysiological mechanisms in each individual. The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between the presence and severity of NP after SCI and measures of somatosensory function mediated via the dorsal column medial lemniscal (DCML) pathway and the spinothalamic tract (STT). ⋯ Our results suggest that both impaired STT and DCML-mediated function are necessary for the development of NP after SCI. However, within the SCI-NP group, greater NP severity was associated with greater sensitivity to thermal stimuli below the LOI. This finding concurs with other studies suggesting that STT damage with some sparing is associated with NP.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Nov 2012
The influence of pain on cerebral functioning after mild traumatic brain injury.
More than 75% of patients with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) report chronic pain whose potential detrimental effects on cognitive recovery need to be identified. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between pain, performance on a working memory task, gray matter density, and mid-dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (mid-DLPFC) activation in subjects with a MTBI. For comparison purposes, we performed identical correlation analyses with a group of subjects without MTBI who sustained sports injuries. ⋯ Gray matter density measures were independent of pain level. This study showed that behavioral performance and cerebral functioning are affected by pain after a MTBI. Moreover, this study suggests that pain, cognition, and cerebral functioning interactions could not easily be generalized from one clinical population to another.