Articles: traumatic-brain-injuries.
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J Tradit Complement Med · Apr 2014
ReviewOmega-3 Fatty acids could alleviate the risks of traumatic brain injury - a mini review.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an acquired brain trauma that occurs when any sudden trauma/injury causes damage to the brain. TBI is characterized by tissue damage and imbalance in the cerebral blood flow and metabolism. It has been established through laboratory experiments that the dietary supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) could reduce the oxidative stress developed in brain due to TBI. ⋯ BDNF improves the synaptic transmission by regulating synapsin 1 and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding protein. The brain tissue analysis of TBI models supplemented with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) showed significantly reduced lipid peroxidation, nucleic acid and protein oxidation, thereby promoting neuronal and glial cell survival. Thus, omega-3 FA intake could be considered as a therapeutic option to reduce the secondary neuronal damages initiated by TBI.
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Progress in neurobiology · Feb 2014
ReviewRevisiting the roles of progesterone and allopregnanolone in the nervous system: resurgence of the progesterone receptors.
Progesterone is commonly considered as a female reproductive hormone and is well-known for its role in pregnancy. It is less well appreciated that progesterone and its metabolite allopregnanolone are also male hormones, as they are produced in both sexes by the adrenal glands. In addition, they are synthesized within the nervous system. ⋯ This lack of information about brain functions of PR is unexpected, as the protective and trophic effects of progesterone are much investigated, and as the therapeutic potential of progesterone as a neuroprotective and promyelinating agent is currently being assessed in clinical trials. The little attention devoted to the brain functions of PR may relate to the widely accepted assumption that non-reproductive actions of progesterone may be mainly mediated by allopregnanolone, which does not bind to PR, but acts as a potent positive modulator of γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A) receptors. The aim of this review is to critically discuss effects of progesterone on the nervous system via PR, and of allopregnanolone via its modulation of GABA(A) receptors, with main focus on the brain.
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Critically ill neurologic patients are common in the hospital practice of neurology and are often in extreme states requiring accurate and specific information. Imaging, especially using advanced imaging techniques, can provide an important means of garnering this information. This article focuses on the clinical utilization of selective imaging methods that are commonly used in critically ill neurologic patients to render diagnoses, to monitor effects of treatment, or have contributed to a better understanding of pathophysiology in the intensive care unit.
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When a severe traumatic brain-injured patient arrives to hospital, fear of failure and definite opinions about the outcome modify early care and provoke self-fulfilling prophecies. It is obvious that working on prognosis is not only useful to inform relatives but also permits to maintain a high level of care, key for a better outcome. Mortality is high (40-50%) if deaths in the first days are not excluded. ⋯ Studies with complex statistical methodology give a good estimated probability of bad outcome but must be confirmed by more validation studies. Progress will come from a better understanding of physiopathology. Focuses on processing chain, rapid multi-monitoring, biomarkers, and investigations in MRI and TDI will help to establish opportunities for treatments and to determine limits.
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Transcranial magnetic stimulations (TMS) have been used for many years as a diagnostic tool to explore changes in cortical excitability, and more recently as a tool for therapeutic neuromodulation. We are interested in their applications following brain injury: stroke, traumatic and anoxic brain injury. ⋯ TMS is a useful non-invasive brain stimulation tool to diagnose the effects of brain injury, to study the mechanisms of recovery and a non-invasive neuromodulation promising tool to influence the post-lesional recovery.