Frontiers in neurology
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Frontiers in neurology · Jan 2019
Pre-injury Comorbidities Are Associated With Functional Impairment and Post-concussive Symptoms at 3- and 6-Months After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A TRACK-TBI Study.
Introduction: Over 70% of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are classified as mild (mTBI), which present heterogeneously. Associations between pre-injury comorbidities and outcomes are not well-understood, and understanding their status as risk factors may improve mTBI management and prognostication. Methods: mTBI subjects (GCS 13-15) from TRACK-TBI Pilot completing 3- and 6-month functional [Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOSE)] and post-concussive outcomes [Acute Concussion Evaluation (ACE) physical/cognitive/sleep/emotional subdomains] were extracted. ⋯ Conclusions: Pre-injury psychiatric and pre-injury headache/migraine symptoms are risk factors for worse functional and post-concussive outcomes at 3- and 6-months post-mTBI. mTBI patients presenting to acute care should be evaluated for psychiatric and headache/migraine history, with lower thresholds for providing TBI education/resources, surveillance, and follow-up/referrals. Clinical Trial Registration: www. ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT01565551.
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Frontiers in neurology · Jan 2019
Combined Cerebrospinal Fluid Neurofilament Light Chain Protein and Chitinase-3 Like-1 Levels in Defining Disease Course and Prognosis in Multiple Sclerosis.
Background: Neurofilament light chain protein (NFL) and chitinase3-like1 (CHI3L1) have gained importance recently as prognostic biomarkers in multiple sclerosis (MS). Objectives: We aimed to investigate NFL and CHI3L1 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) profiles in multiple sclerosis and the informative and prognostic potential of the individual and combined measures. Methods: CSF NFL and CHI3L1 levels were measured in a cross-sectional cohort of 157 MS patients [99 relapsing-remitting (RRMS), 35 secondary progressive (SPMS), and 23 primary progressive (PPMS)]. ⋯ Conclusions: Individual measures of CSF NFL and CHI3L1 are biomarkers of disease activity and progression, respectively. The pattern of combined measure discriminates MS phenotypes. It also predicts the subset of RRMS patients that will progress clinically allowing early intervention.
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Frontiers in neurology · Jan 2019
Decompressive Craniectomy for Traumatic Brain Injury: Postoperative TCD Cerebral Hemodynamic Evaluation.
Background: There are no studies describing the cerebral hemodynamic patterns that can occur in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients following decompressive craniectomy (DC). Such data have potentially clinical importance for guiding the treatment. The objective of this study was to investigate the postoperative cerebral hemodynamic patterns, using transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography, in patients who underwent DC. ⋯ Conclusion: There is a wide heterogeneity of postoperative cerebral hemodynamic findings among TBI patients who underwent DC, including hemodynamic heterogeneity between their cerebral hemispheres. DC was proved to be effective for the treatment of cerebral oligoemia. Our data support the concept of heterogeneous nature of the pathophysiology of the TBI and suggest that DC as the sole treatment modality is insufficient.
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Frontiers in neurology · Jan 2019
Characterizing the Penumbras of White Matter Hyperintensities and Their Associations With Cognitive Function in Patients With Subcortical Vascular Mild Cognitive Impairment.
Normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) surrounding white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), frequently known as the WMH penumbra, is associated with subtle white matter injury and has a high risk for future conversion to WMHs. The goal of this study was to define WMH penumbras and to further explore whether the diffusion and perfusion parameters of these penumbras could better reflect cognitive function alterations than WMHs in subjects with subcortical vascular mild cognitive impairment (svMCI). Seventy-three svMCI subjects underwent neuropsychological assessments and 3T MRI scans, including diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and arterial spin labeling (ASL). ⋯ Only the mean FA value of the PVWMH-FA penumbra was correlated with the composite z-scores of global cognition before correction (r = 0.268, p = 0.024), but that correlation did not survive after correcting the p-value for multiple comparisons. Our findings showed extensive white matter perfusion disturbances including white matter tissue, both with and without microstructural alterations. The imaging parameters investigated, however, did not correlate to cognition.
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Frontiers in neurology · Jan 2019
The Diagnostic Value of Electromyography in Identifying Patients With Pain-Related Temporomandibular Disorders.
Introduction: Orofacial pain disorders can be divided into several subgroups. One of them is temporomandibular disorders (TMD) with recognizable signs such as joint noises, limitations in the range of motion, or mandibular deviation during function and symptoms-pain in the muscles or joint. Surface electromyography (sEMG) is a diagnostic tool that ensures reliable and valid evaluation of muscle activity. sEMG detects electrical potentials and on this account may conceivably be employed in the TMD recognition. ⋯ A moderate degree of EMG accuracy in differentiating between pain-related TMD and non-TMD children was observed for the mean values of masseter muscle activity and the Asymmetry Index of the masseter muscles at rest. Conclusion: An evaluation of electromyography exhibits its diagnostic usability in recognition of patients with pain-related TMD and it could be used as an adjunctive tool in the identification of this disorder. Clinical Trial Registration: This clinical research was registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov database under the number NCT03308266.