Journal of neurotrauma
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jun 2020
Modulation of post-traumatic immune response using the IL-1 receptor antagonist anakinra for improved visual outcomes.
The purpose of this study was to characterize acute changes in inflammatory pathways in the mouse eye after blast-mediated traumatic brain injury (bTBI) and to determine whether modulation of these pathways could protect the structure and function of retinal ganglion cells (RGC). The bTBI was induced in C57BL/6J male mice by exposure to three 20 psi blast waves directed toward the head with the body shielded, with an inter-blast interval of one hour. Acute cytokine expression in retinal tissue was measured through reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) four hours post-blast. ⋯ Optic nerve integrity analysis demonstrated a trend of decreased damage suggesting that IL-1 blockade also prevents axonal damage after blast. Blast exposure results in increased retinal inflammation including upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and activation of resident microglia and macroglia. This may explain partially the RGC loss we observed in this model, as blockade of the acute inflammatory response after injury with the IL-1R1 antagonist anakinra resulted in preservation of RGC function and RGC layer thickness.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jun 2020
Comparative StudyComparison of Four Quality of Life Inventories for Patients with Traumatic Brain Injuries and Orthopedic Injuries.
The value of assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients has been increasingly recognized in recent years. Yet, research examining generic and TBI-specific quality of life (QOL) methodologies within this population has been limited, rendering decisions to use one alternative over another difficult and based largely on conceptual grounds. The current study compared widely used generic QoL/HRQOL measures (Satisfaction With Life Scale, 36-item Short Form Survey) and newer population-specific HRQoL measures (Quality of Life after Brain Injury [QOLIBRI], Trauma-Quality of Life [TQoL]) among 77 TBI and 23 orthopedically injured trauma control patients. ⋯ Endorsement rates for unique TQoL items ranged from 1.4-75.7%. Overall, the QOLIBRI and TQoL appear to capture important information pertinent to patients with TBI and trauma. Inclusion of these disease-specific HRQoL measures is recommended over the use of only generic measures among TBI populations.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jun 2020
TRAJECTORIES AND PREDICTORS OF CLINICIAN-DETERMINED RECOVERY AFTER CHILD CONCUSSION.
By age 16, 20% of children will suffer a concussion. Many experience persisting post-concussive symptoms (PCS), the cause(s) of which remain unclear. We mapped concussion recovery to 3 months post-injury and explored non-modifiable (e.g., age, sex, pre-injury factors, injury mechanism, acute PCS) and modifiable (post-acute child symptoms) predictors of persisting symptoms in order to identify opportunities for early intervention. ⋯ They all demonstrated lower parent-rated PCS and less internalizing behaviors (all, p < 0.01). No differences were detected for child age, sex, injury factors, pre-injury parent-rated PCS, or acute physical and cognitive status. Our findings also highlight the importance of considering both pre- and post-injury mental health status in managing post-concussion.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jun 2020
Alterations in plasma microRNA and protein levels in war veterans with chronic mild traumatic brain injury.
Blast-related mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is considered the "signature" injury of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Identifying biomarkers that could aid in diagnosis and assessment of chronic mTBI are urgently needed, as little progress has been made toward identifying blood-based biomarkers of repetitive mTBI in the chronic state. Addressing this knowledge gap is especially important in the population of military veterans who are receiving assessment and care often years after their last exposure. ⋯ These miRNAs were predominantly associated with pathways involved in neuronal function, vascular remodeling, blood-brain barrier integrity, and neuroinflammation. In addition, the plasma proteome was analyzed and showed that the concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and membrane metalloendopeptidase (MME) were elevated in chronic mTBI samples. These plasma miRNAs and proteins could potentially be used as biomarkers and provide insights into the molecular processes associated with the long-term health outcomes associated with blast-related chronic mTBI.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jun 2020
Observational StudyInfluence of Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity on Brain Protein Biomarker Clearance in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Longitudinal Prospective Study.
Brain protein biomarker clearance to blood in traumatic brain injury (TBI) is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect that a disrupted blood-brain barrier (BBB) had on biomarker clearance. Seventeen severe TBI patients admitted to Karolinska University Hospital were prospectively included. ⋯ These findings are novel and important, but must be carefully interpreted because of different characteristics between the two proteins. Nonetheless, we present the first data that indicate that S100B and NSE are cleared differently from the central nervous system, and that both the disrupted BBB and additional alternative pathways, such as the recently described glymphatic system, may play a role. This is of importance both for clinicians aiming to utilize these biomarkers and for the pathophysiological understanding of brain protein clearance, but warrants further examination.