Journal of neurotrauma
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jun 2021
Altered Brain Network Connectivity Underlies Persistent Post-Traumatic Headache following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Youth.
Post-traumatic headaches (PTHs) are associated with mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) and may predict the persistence of concussion symptoms. Altered brain networks implicated in brain injury and the affective components of headache-related pain may underlie the resolution of PTH. This is a hypothesis-generating investigation to evaluate the extent to which pain symptom reporting and functional brain changes are different in a cohort of young mTBI patients with resolved (PTH-R) and persistent (PTH-P) post-traumatic headache symptoms relative to healthy controls. ⋯ Our results indicate that a core network of brain regions implicated in the affective pain response are functionally altered in PTH cohorts. Results should be interpreted given limitations on sample size and multiple comparisons. Despite the resolution of symptoms, persons who experience PTH may experience ongoing functional brain abnormalities, which may underlie symptom chronification.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jun 2021
Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell concentrated conditioned medium alters the expression pattern of glutamate regulatory proteins and aquaporin-4 in the retina after mild traumatic brain injury.
Concentrated conditioned media from adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASC-CCM) show promise for retinal degenerative diseases. In this study, we hypothesized that ASC-CCM could rescue retinal damage and thereby improve visual function by acting through Müller glia in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Adult C57Bl/6 mice were subjected to a 50-psi air pulse on the left side of the head, resulting in an mTBI. ⋯ Additionally, an increase in aquaporin-4 (AQP4) in Müller cells in blast mice received saline restored to normal levels in blast mice that received ASC-CCM. In vitro studies on rMC-1 Müller glia exposed to 100 ng/mL glutamate or RNA interference knockdown of GLAST expression mimicked the increased Müller cell glial fibrillary acidic protein (a marker of gliosis) seen with mTBI, and suggested that an increase in glutamate and/or a decrease in GLAST might contribute to the Müller cell activation in vivo. Taken together, our data suggest a novel neuroprotective role for ASC-CCM in the rescue of the visual deficits and pathologies of mTBI via restoration of Müller cell health.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jun 2021
Imaging markers for the characterization of grey and white matter changes from acute to chronic stages after experimental traumatic brain injury.
Despite clinical symptoms, a large majority of people with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) have normal computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Therefore, present-day neuroimaging tools are insufficient to diagnose or classify low grades of TBI. Advanced neuroimaging techniques, such as diffusion-weighted and functional MRI, may yield novel biomarkers that may aid in the diagnosis of TBI. ⋯ No significant changes in individual outcome measures were detected after mild TBI. However, multivariate analysis showed a significant additive contribution of diffusion parameters in the distinction between control and different grades of TBI-affected brains. Therefore, combining multiple imaging markers may increase the sensitivity for TBI-related pathology.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jun 2021
Unexpected findings from a pilot study on vision training as a potential intervention to reduce sub-concussive head impacts during a collegiate ice hockey season.
Player-to-player contact is the most frequent head impact mechanism in collegiate ice hockey. Training with three-dimensional multiple-object tracking (3D-MOT) could potentially reduce the quantity and severity of head impacts by enhancing player anticipation of these impacts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of 3D-MOT training to reduce the numbers of head impacts sustained by National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III men's and women's ice hockey players. ⋯ Conversely, 3D-MOT defensemen sustained head impacts with a mean peak rotational velocity less than that of C defensemen (3D-MOT = 11.54 ± 6.76 rad.sec-1; C = 13.65 ± 8.43 rad.sec-1). There was no significant difference for all other parameters analyzed between 3D-MOT and C groups. Player position may play an important role in future interventions to reduce head impacts in collegiate ice hockey.