Journal of neurotrauma
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jul 2019
Mild Closed-Head Injury in Conscious Rats Causes Transient Neurobehavioral and Glial Disturbances: A Novel Experimental Model of Concussion.
Rodent models can provide insights into the most pertinent issues surrounding concussion. Nonetheless, the relevance of some existing models to clinical concussion can be questioned, particularly with regard to the use of surgery and anesthesia and the mechanism and severity of injury. Accordingly, we have co-developed an awake closed-head injury (ACHI) model in rats. ⋯ A single ACHI impaired spatial memory on the Y-maze task at both 5 min and 24 h post-ACHI; however, no deficits were apparent at 48 h. Immunostaining revealed region-specific increases in ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein expression at 3 days post-impact, with no differences found at either 1 or 14 days. Taken together, our findings indicate that a single ACHI results in transient neurobehavioral and glial disturbances and as such, this model may be a valuable tool for pre-clinical concussion research.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jul 2019
Head impact locations in US high school boys' and girls' soccer concussions, 2012/13-2015/16.
This study describes concussions and concussion-related outcomes sustained by high school soccer players by head impact location, sex, and injury mechanism. Data were obtained for the 2012/13-2015/16 school years from the National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance System, High School RIO™. This Internet-based sports injury surveillance system captures data reported by athletic trainers from an annual average of 162 U. ⋯ Head impact location was generally independent of symptom resolution time, return-to-play time, and recurrence among high school soccer concussions. However, impact location may be associated with reported symptom frequency. Further, many of these clinical concussion descriptors were associated with sex.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jul 2019
Functional and Structural Improvement with a Catalytic Carbon Nano-Antioxidant in Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury Complicated by Hypotension and Resuscitation.
Hypotension worsens outcome after all severities of traumatic brain injury (TBI), with loss of cerebral autoregulation being a potential contributor. Previously, we demonstrated that intravenous injection of a high capacity catalytic antioxidant, poly(ethylene)glycol conjugated hydrophilic carbon clusters (PEG-HCCs) rapidly restored cerebral perfusion and acutely restored brain oxidative balance in a TBI model complicated by hemorrhagic hypotension without evidence of toxicity. Here, we tested whether these acute effects translated into behavioral and structural benefit. ⋯ Performance on beam walking (performed on days 1-5) and Morris water maze (MWM) (performed on days 11-15) was tested, and lesion size was determined at the termination. PEG-HCC treatment nearly completely prevented motor dysfunction (p < 0.001 vs. diluent), improved MWM performance (p < 0.001; treatment vs. time interaction) and reduced lesion size by 61% (p = 0.054). Here we show that treatment with PEG-HCCs at a clinically realistic time point (onset of resuscitation) prevented a major portion of the neurological dysfunction induced in this TBI model, and that PEG-HCCs are candidates for additional study as a potential therapeutic agent.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jul 2019
Randomized Controlled TrialA Pilot Investigation of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Post-Traumatic Brain Injury Depression: Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy.
Depression following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is common and difficult to treat using standard approaches. The current study investigated, for the first time, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for the treatment of post TBI depression. We specifically assessed the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of TMS in this patient population. ⋯ There were significant improvements in cognition following active rTMS in the areas of working memory (p = 0.021) and executive function (p = 0.029). rTMS was shown to be safe and well tolerated in patients who had developed depression after a TBI. We did not find a therapeutic effect for post-TBI depression; however, this approach may have some utility in improving cognitive function. Future research should focus on alternative rTMS treatment approaches for post-TBI depression and the direct investigation of rTMS as a treatment for cognitive impairment in TBI.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jul 2019
College football players less likely to report concussions and other injuries with increased injury accumulation.
Athletes sometimes choose not to report suspected concussions, risking delays in treatment and health consequences. How and why do athletes make these reporting decisions? Using original survey data from a cohort of college football players, we evaluate two assumptions of the current literature on injury reporting: first, that the probability of reporting a concussion or injury is constant over time; second, that athletes make reasoned deliberative decisions about whether to report their concussion or other injury. ⋯ Sports medicine clinicians sometimes use four concussions as a time to discuss possibly curtailing sports participation, which may influence athletes' subsequent reporting behavior. Sports medicine clinicians may want to consider athlete injury history as a risk factor for concussion and injury under-reporting.