Journal of neurotrauma
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Journal of neurotrauma · Apr 2018
Hyperthermia and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Effects on Inflammation and the Cerebral Vasculature.
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) or concussion represents the majority of brain trauma in the United States. The pathophysiology of mTBI is complex and may include both focal and diffuse injury patterns. In addition to altered circuit dysfunction and traumatic axonal injury (TAI), chronic neuroinflammation has also been implicated in the pathophysiology of mTBI. ⋯ Together, these results demonstrate significant differences in the cellular and molecular consequences of raised brain temperature at the time of mTBI. The observed polarization toward a M1-phenotype with mild hyperthermia would be expected to augment chronic inflammatory cascades, sustained functional deficits, and increased vulnerability to secondary insults. Mild elevations in brain temperature may contribute to the more severe and longer lasting consequences of mTBI or concussion reported in some patients.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Apr 2018
Increased Myo-Inositol in Primary Motor Cortex of Contact Sports Athletes without a History of Concussion.
The objective of the study was to determine whether repetitive hits to the head at a subclinical level are associated with structural and functional brain abnormalities and whether these effects are influenced by high levels of fitness associated with intense physical activity. Seventy-two college students were recruited: 24 nonathletic, 24 athletes practicing a varsity contact sport, and 24 athletes practicing a varsity noncontact sport. They were recruited for a neuropsychological evaluation and a magnetic resonance imaging session that included magnetic resonance spectroscopy of primary motor cortex (M1) and prefrontal cortex and susceptibility-weighted imaging. ⋯ Varsity contact sports are associated with area-specific alterations in mIns concentration in the primary motor cortex. In the prefrontal cortex, high levels of fitness could modulate the effects of head impact exposure on prefrontal metabolite concentration. Indeed, although athletes in contact and noncontact sports show different neurometabolic profiles, they do not differ from sedentary controls.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Apr 2018
Effects of Veliparib on Microglial Activation and Functional Outcomes after Traumatic Brain Injury in the Rat and Pig.
The inflammation response induced by brain trauma can impair recovery. This response requires several hours to develop fully and thus provides a clinically relevant therapeutic window of opportunity. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors suppress inflammatory responses, including brain microglial activation. ⋯ CCI in the pig did not, however, induce detectable persisting cognitive or motor impairment. Our results showed veliparib suppression of CCI-induced microglial activation with a delay-to-treatment interval of at least 24 h in both rats and pigs, but with no associated functional improvement. The lack of improvement in long-term recovery underscores the complexities in translating anti-inflammatory effects to clinically relevant outcomes.