Journal of neurotrauma
-
Journal of neurotrauma · Dec 2017
The Default Mode Network as a Biomarker of Persistent Complaints After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Longitudinal fMRI Study.
The objective of this study was to examine longitudinal functional connectivity of resting-state networks in patients with and without complaints after uncomplicated mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Second, we aimed to determine the value of network connectivity in predicting persistent complaints, anxiety, depression and long-term outcome. Thirty mTBI patients with three or more post-traumatic complaints at 2 weeks post-injury, 19 without complaints, and 20 matched healthy controls were selected for this study. ⋯ Minor longitudinal changes in functional connectivity were found for patients with and without complaints after mTBI, which were limited to connectivity within the precuneus component of the default mode network. No significant results were found for the executive and salience networks. Current results suggest that the default mode network may serve as a biomarker of persistent complaints in patients with uncomplicated mTBI.
-
Journal of neurotrauma · Dec 2017
A Season of American Football is not Associated with Changes in Plasma Tau.
American football athletes are routinely exposed to sub-concussive impacts over the course of the season. This study sought to examine the effect of a season of American football on plasma tau, a potential marker of axonal damage. Nineteen National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football athletes underwent serial blood sampling over the course of the 2014-2015 season at those times in which the number and magnitude of head impacts likely changed. ⋯ Despite routine head impacts common to the sport of American football, no changes were observed over the course of the season in football athletes, irrespective of starter status. Further, no difference was observed between football athletes and non-contact control swim athletes following a period of non-contact or contact. These data suggest that plasma tau is not sensitive enough to detect damage associated with repetitive sub-concussive impacts sustained by collegiate-level football athletes.
-
Journal of neurotrauma · Dec 2017
Differences in Brain Architecture in Remote Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is brain trauma from an external impact with a loss of consciousness less than 30 min. Mild TBI results in several biopsychosocial impairments, with pronounced cognitive deficits thought to resolve within 3 months of injury. Previous research suggests that these impairments are due to a temporary inability to appropriately allocate neural resources in response to cognitive demands. ⋯ This frontal region is laterally specialized to regulate function specific to socio-emotional processes. Collectively, neural disruptions and structural insult in mTBI may persist up to 10 years following injury, but injury-related pathology may resolve with longer recovery time. Disruption to frontal-dependent function that supports socio-emotional processes also may interfere with cognitive functioning, as in the case of chronic mTBI.
-
Journal of neurotrauma · Dec 2017
Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Type 1: A Possible Novel Biomarker of Late Pituitary Dysfunction after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.
More than 80% of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients suffer from mild TBI (mTBI). However, even mTBI carries the risk of late pituitary dysfunction. A predictive biomarker at the time of injury that could identify patients who subsequently may develop permanent pituitary dysfunction would help to direct patients toward endocrine care. ⋯ Of the hemostasis parameters studied, lower plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) level at the time of injury was found to be predictive for the development of late pituitary dysfunction; sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 80%, 67%, 32%, and 94%, respectively. Even mTBI carries a substantial risk of endocrine consequences. Serum PAI-1 level at the time of TBI may serve as a predictive biomarker of late pituitary dysfunction in mTBI patients.
-
Journal of neurotrauma · Nov 2017
Pilot Findings of Brain Displacements and Deformations During Roller Coaster Rides.
With 300,000,000 riders annually, roller coasters are a popular recreational activity. Although the number of roller coaster injuries is relatively low, the precise effect of roller coaster rides on our brains remains unknown. Here we present the quantitative characterization of brain displacements and deformations during roller coaster rides. ⋯ Strikingly, on the same ride and at a similar position, the two subjects experienced significantly different head kinematics and brain deformation. These results indicate that head motion and brain deformation during roller coaster rides are highly sensitive to individual subjects. Although our study suggests that roller coaster rides do not present an immediate risk of acute brain injury, their long-term effects require further longitudinal study.