Articles: traumatic-brain-injuries.
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Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a form of neurodegeneration that results from repetitive brain trauma. Not surprisingly, CTE has been linked to participation in contact sports such as boxing, hockey and American football. In American football getting "dinged" equates to moments of dizziness, confusion, or grogginess that can follow a blow to the head. ⋯ In this review, we discuss recent advances in understanding the etiology of CTE. It is now known that those instances of mild concussion or "dings" that we may have previously not noticed could very well be causing progressive neurodegenerative damage to a player's brain. In the future, focused and intensive study of the risk factors could potentially uncover methods to prevent and treat this disease.
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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been associated with an acute stress response mediated by the sympathoadrenomedullary axis, which can be assessed by measuring blood glucose level. ⋯ Mild, moderate, and severe TBI were associated with an increase in blood glucose levels during admission, and the mean increase in glucose levels is based on the severity of the isolated TBI. Surgical intervention did not cause further significant changes in blood glucose levels. Patients with isolated TBI and minimal increases in blood glucose levels were more likely to have a favourable outcome.
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Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab · Sep 2011
Pituitary dysfunction after traumatic brain injury: screening and hormone replacement.
This article highlights the risk of hypopituitarism in survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI), an underdiagnosed clinical problem. Clinical evidence shows that anterior pituitary dysfunction is common in TBI survivors evaluated at least 6 months after the TBI, with an estimated prevalence of up to 27.5%. ⋯ Since many of the symptoms of hypopituitarism are similar to those of TBI, it is important for clinicians to be aware of this clinical problem. Moreover, we will address questions such as when to screen and who should be screened, along with a discussion of current management of pituitary dysfunction in patients with TBI.
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Int J Crit Illn Inj Sci · Jul 2011
Resource utilization in the management of traumatic brain injury patients in a critical care unit: An audit from rural setup of a developing country.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are steadily increasing and are a major cause of mortality and morbidity, particularly in the young population, leading to the loss of life and productivity in the developing countries. Providing critical care to these patients with TBI is a challenge even in well-advanced centers in major cities of India. In the present study, we describe our experience of resource utilization in the management of TBI in a critical care unit (CCU) from a rural setup. ⋯ Apparently it seems possible to use the existing health care structures in rural areas to improve trauma care. It becomes particularly relevant in poor resource, developing countries, where health care facilities and access to specialized care units are still far below the acceptable standard, there is a need to compare with the reference group to further support the evidence.
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Dialogues Clin Neurosci · Jan 2011
ReviewClinical translation of stem cell therapy in traumatic brain injury: the potential of encapsulated mesenchymal cell biodelivery of glucagon-like peptide-1.
Traumatic brain injury remains a major cause of death and disability; it is estimated that annually 10 million people are affected. Preclinical studies have shown the potential therapeutic value of stem cell therapies. ⋯ This article summarizes the current experimental evidence and points out hurdles for clinical application. Focusing on a cell therapy in the acute stage of head injury, the potential of encapsulated cell biodelivery as a novel cell-therapeutic approach will also be discussed.