Articles: brain-injuries.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jul 2024
Characterizing diffusion from microdialysis catheters in the human brain: a magnetic resonance imaging study with gadobutrol.
Cerebral microdialysis (CMD) catheters allow continuous monitoring of patients' cerebral metabolism in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). The catheters consist of a terminal semi-permeable membrane that is inserted into the brain's interstitium to allow perfusion fluid to equalize with the surrounding cerebral extracellular environment before being recovered through a central non-porous channel. However, it is unclear how far recovered fluid and suspended metabolites have diffused from within the brain, and therefore what volume or region of brain tissue the analyses of metabolism represent. ⋯ Cerebral microdialysis allows continuous monitoring of regional cerebral metabolism-the volume of which is now clearer from this study. It also has the potential to deliver small molecule therapies to focal pathologies of the human brain. This study provides a platform for future development of new catheters optimally designed to treat such conditions.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jul 2024
DREADD-mediated activation of the periaqueductal gray restores nociceptive descending inhibition after traumatic brain injury in rats.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients frequently experience chronic pain that can enhance their suffering and significantly impair rehabilitative efforts. Clinical studies suggest that damage to the periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) following TBI, a principal center involved in endogenous pain control, may underlie the development of chronic pain. We hypothesized that TBI would diminish the usual pain control functions of the PAG, but that directly stimulating this center using a chemogenetic approach would restore descending pain modulation. ⋯ Descending pain control originating in the PAG is mediated through opioid receptors in uninjured rats. TBI, however, fundamentally alters the descending nociceptive control circuitry such that serotonergic influences predominate, and those are mediated by the 5-HT2A receptor. These results provide further evidence that the PAG is a key target for anti-nociception after TBI.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jul 2024
Multicenter StudyVisualization of the intracranial pressure and time burden in childhood brain trauma: What we have learnt one decade on with KidsBrainIT.
To validate the intracranial pressure (ICP) dose-response visualization plot for the first time in a novel prospectively collected pediatric traumatic brain injury (pTBI) data set from the multi-center, multi-national KidsBrainIT consortium. Prospectively collected minute-by-minute ICP and mean arterial blood pressure time series of 104 pTBI patients were categorized in ICP intensity-duration episodes. These episodes were correlated with the 6-month Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) and displayed in a color-coded ICP dose-response plot. ⋯ The ICP dose-response plot was reproduced in a novel and independent pTBI data set. ICP above 20 mm Hg and CPP below 50 mm Hg for any duration in time were associated with worse outcome. This highlighted a pressing need to reduce pediatric ICP therapeutic thresholds used at the bedside.
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The modified Brain Injury Guidelines (mBIG) provide a framework to stratify traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients based on clinical and radiographic factors in level 1 and 2 trauma centers. Approximately 75% of all U.S. hospitals do not carry any trauma designation yet could also benefit from these guidelines. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of applying the mBIG protocol in a community hospital without any trauma designation. ⋯ The mBIG protocol can safely stratify patients in a nontrauma hospital. Because nontrauma centers tend to see more patients with minor TBIs, implementation could result in significant cost savings, reduce unnecessary hospital and intensive care unit resources, and reduce transfers to a tertiary institution.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Jul 2024
A Four Country Study of Strangulation-related Alterations in Consciousness in Women who have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence: Co-occurrence with Traumatic Brain Injuries and Measures of Psychological Distress.
At least one in three women experience intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime. The most commonly sustained IPV-related brain injuries include strangulation-related alterations in consciousness (S-AICs) and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Moreover, survivors of IPV-related S-AICs and/or TBIs often demonstrate psychological distress such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. ⋯ These data underscore the importance of assessing for S-AIC in women who have experienced IPV and when present, to also assess for TBIs and the presence of psychological distress. Unfortunately, there were methodological differences across sites precluding cross-site comparisons. Nonetheless, data were collected across four culturally and geographically diverse countries and, therefore, highlight IPV-related BIs as a global issue that needs to be aggressively studied with policies established and then implemented to address findings.