Journal of neurotrauma
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Journal of neurotrauma · May 2010
Finite element analysis of controlled cortical impact-induced cell loss.
The controlled cortical impact (CCI) model has been extensively used to study region-specific patterns of neuronal injury and cell death after a focal traumatic brain injury. Although external parameters such as impact velocity and depth of penetration have been defined in this injury model, little is known about the intracranial mechanical responses within cortical and subcortical brain regions where neuronal loss is prevalent. At present, one of the best methods to determine the internal responses of the brain is finite element (FE) modeling. ⋯ A linear relationship was found between the percentage of the neuronal loss observed in vivo and the FE model-predicted maximum principal strain (R(2) = 0.602). Interestingly, the FE model also predicted some risk of injury in the cerebellum, located remote from the point of impact, with a 25% neuronal loss for the "severe" impact condition. More research is needed to examine other regions that do not have histological data for comparison with FE model predictions before this injury mechanism and the associated injury threshold can be fully established.
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Journal of neurotrauma · May 2010
Prokineticin 2 expression is associated with neural repair of injured adult zebrafish telencephalon.
Prokineticin 2 (PROK2) is a secreted protein that regulates diverse biological processes including olfactory bulb neurogenesis in adult mammals. However, its precise role in this process is as yet not fully understood. Because it is well known that adult teleost fish, including zebrafish, display an intense proliferative activity in several brain regions, we took advantage of this feature to analyze the distribution of PROK2 transcripts in the adult zebrafish brain and during injury-induced telencephalon (TC) regeneration. ⋯ In addition, we observed a transient over-expression of PROK2 transcripts, which was detected in cells surrounding the lesion during the very first days post injury, and, a few days later, in broad cell rows extending from cortical regions of the TC toward injury sites. PROK2 over-expression was no longer detected when the regeneration process was close to completion, showing that ectopic PROK2 transcription paralleled neuronal regeneration. Taken together, our results suggest that in adult zebrafish brain, PROK2 may play a role in both constitutive and injury-induced neurogenesis.
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Journal of neurotrauma · May 2010
Attitude and opinion of neurosurgeons concerning protective bicycle-helmet use.
Wearing protective helmets decreases the risk of incurring traumatic brain injury (TBI) in bicycle accidents. In 2007, the German Neurosurgical Society advocated compulsory use of bicycle helmets. Although neurosurgeons are the specialists who primarily treat patients with TBI in Europe, the distribution of helmet users among neurosurgeons (NS), as well as factors that influence the decision to wear helmets and whether professional knowledge or experience in TBI influences the use or attitude concerning bicycle helmets, remains unclear. ⋯ With respect to compulsory helmet use, NS are also split in half. Experience with TBI and trauma education has effects. However, education alone does not suffice in promoting the use of bicycle helmets.
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Journal of neurotrauma · May 2010
What contributes to quality of life in adult survivors of childhood traumatic brain injury?
Adult outcome from childhood brain injury is largely unknown, and health professionals have minimal evidence available to inform families about their child's long-term prognosis. This study aimed to investigate long-term outcomes in this group, focusing on quality of life (QOL) and the injury, developmental, and environmental factors that influence this domain, using a retrospective and cross-sectional design. The sample was ascertained via medical record audit at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, and included 130 adult survivors of child traumatic brain injury (TBI) (84 men). ⋯ While most adult survivors of childhood TBI rated their QOL as intact, 17% of the sample reported poor QOL. Poor QOL was more likely with low levels of perceived independence, severe TBI, younger age at injury, failure to complete high school, and psychological problems. In conclusion, QOL in adult survivors of childhood TBI is better than expected and closely associated with both injury and noninjury factors, most consistently with the individual's perception of their level of independence.
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Journal of neurotrauma · May 2010
Sensory stimulation prior to spinal cord injury induces post-injury dysesthesia in mice.
Chronic pain and dysesthesias are debilitating conditions that can arise following spinal cord injury (SCI). Research studies frequently employ rodent models of SCI to better understand the underlying mechanisms and develop better treatments for these phenomena. While evoked withdrawal tests can assess hypersensitivity in these SCI models, there is little consensus over how to evaluate spontaneous sensory abnormalities that are seen in clinical SCI subjects. ⋯ Mice subjected to either stimulus paradigm showed increased OG compared with unstimulated or uninjured mice. Histological analysis showed no difference in spinal cord lesion size due to sensory stimulation, or between mice that overgroomed or did not overgroom. The relationship between prior stimulation and contusion injury in mice that display OG indicates a critical interaction that may underlie one facet of spontaneous neuropathic symptoms after SCI.