Neurocritical care
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While systolic dysfunction has been observed following traumatic brain injury (TBI), the relationship between early hemodynamics and the development of systolic dysfunction has not been investigated. Our study aimed to determine the early hemodynamic profile that is associated with the development of systolic dysfunction after TBI. ⋯ Patients who develop systolic dysfunction following TBI have a distinctive hemodynamic profile, with early hypertension and tachycardia, followed by a decrease in blood pressure over the first day after TBI. This profile suggests an early maladaptive catecholamine-excess state as a potential underlying mechanism of TBI-induced systolic dysfunction.
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Autophagy is a process that recycles damaged proteins and organelles. Beclin 1 is involved in the nucleation phase, while p62 is consumed during the elongation phase. We hypothesized that these autophagy biomarkers are increased in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children and associated with unfavorable outcome. ⋯ Beclin 1 and p62 are increased in CSF after TBI, suggesting increased autophagy with impairment of, and/or exceeding the capacity for, autophagic flux. The association of increased p62 with unfavorable outcome suggests that autophagy in excess of the capacity to clear degradation products may be deleterious after TBI.