Journal of neurotrauma
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jan 2022
How do CRASH and IMPACT Compare to a Machine Learning-Based Predictive Model from Tanzania?
Hospitals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) could benefit from decision support technologies to reduce time to triage, diagnosis, and surgery for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Corticosteroid Randomization after Significant Head Injury (CRASH) and International Mission for Prognosis and Clinical Trials in Traumatic Brain Injury (IMPACT) are robust examples of TBI prognostic models, although they have yet to be validated in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Moreover, machine learning and improved data quality in LMICs provide an opportunity to develop context-specific, and potentially more accurate, prognostic models. ⋯ CRASH had the best calibration, although all model predictions could be successfully calibrated. The top performing models, KCMC and CRASH, were both developed using LMIC data, suggesting that locally derived models may outperform imported ones from different contexts of care. Further work is needed to externally validate the KCMC model.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jan 2022
ReviewPermeability of the blood brain barrier after traumatic brain injury: radiological considerations.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability, especially in young persons, and constitutes a major socioeconomic burden worldwide. It is regarded as the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in previously healthy young persons. ⋯ There is a growing research interest in identifying optimal biological and radiological biomarkers of severity of BBB dysfunction and its effects on outcomes after TBI. This review explores the microscopic changes occurring at the neurovascular unit, after TBI, and current radiological adjuncts for its evaluation in pre-clinical and clinical practice.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jan 2022
Elevated Neuropsychological Intra-Individual Variability Predicts Poorer Health-Related Quality of Life in Veterans with a History of mTBI.
We examined the association between cognitive functioning and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) in military veterans with a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) using two methods to assess cognition: mean performance on cognitive composite scores and across-test intraindividual variability (IIV). The sample included 73 veterans (84.9% male; age, mean = 32.47 years) who completed neuropsychological testing and self-report questionnaires ∼7 years post-injury. Three cognitive composite scores representing mean performance were computed, including memory, attention/processing speed (A/PS), and executive functioning (EF). ⋯ Examination of the standardized coefficients showed that the A/PS-IIV index was uniquely associated with HR-QOL, such that higher A/PS-IIV scores significantly predicted poorer HR-QOL. Our results are the first to show that, in veterans with remote mTBI histories, greater fluctuations in cognitive performance significantly contribute to poorer HR-QOL, even after accounting for PTSD symptom severity. Moreover, findings suggest that, compared to traditional mean cognitive performance scores, measures of IIV may represent more sensitive indicators of clinical outcome and better align with subjective experiences of distress.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jan 2022
Observational StudyConcussion screening in community-level football: The association between observable signs of concussion, SCAT3 and Cogstate performance.
Video surveillance and detection of players with visible signs of concussion by experienced medical staff facilitates rapid on-field screening of suspected concussion in professional sports. This method, however has not been validated in community sports where video footage is unavailable. This study aimed to explore the utility of visible signs of concussion to identify players with decrements in performance on concussion screening measures. ⋯ All CoSign+ players observed to have a blank/vacant look demonstrated clinically significant decline on the Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC). Detection of visible signs of concussion represents a rapid, real-time method for screening players suspected of concussion in community sports where video technology and medical personnel are rarely present. Consistent with community guidelines, it is recommended that all CoSign+ players be immediately removed from play for further concussion screening.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jan 2022
Clinical TrialThe effect of subconcussive head impact exposure and jugular vein compression on behavioral and cognitive outcomes after a single season of high-school football: A prospective longitudinal trial.
This prospective longitudinal trial aimed to (1) determine the role of head impact exposure on behavioral/cognitive outcomes, and (2) assess the protective effect(s) of a jugular vein compression (JVC) collar on behavioral/cognitive outcomes after one season of high-school football. Participants included 284 male high-school football players aged 13-18 years enrolled from seven Midwestern high-schools. Schools were allocated to the JVC collar intervention (four teams, 140 players) or no collar/no intervention control (three teams, 144 players) condition. ⋯ There was no effect of head impact exposure on ANT performance; however, the JVC collar group had greater post-season Alerting network scores than the no collar group (p = 0.026, d = 0.22). Findings provide preliminary evidence that the JVC collar may provide some protection to the alerting attention system. These findings should be interpreted cautiously as a greater understanding of the long-term sequelae of head impact exposure and the role of cumulative head impact exposure behavioral/cognitive outcomes is required.