Articles tagged with Brain Injuries
A study found that only 14 of 15 hospitals provided inadequate discharge information, with most instruction sheets written at a high reading level. The researchers propose an evidence-based emergency department discharge form to improve patient safety and reduce the risk of brain hemorrhage or swelling.
A new study found that traumatic brain injury reduces potassium-chloride co-transporter 2 (KCC2) levels in the dentate gyrus, leading to abnormal activity and seizures. The research also suggests that this imbalance may impair memory formation, particularly antegrade memory.
A study at Emory University Health Sciences Center found that giving progesterone to trauma victims shortly after a brain injury may reduce the risk of death and disability. The researchers also found a 50% reduction in death rate and significant improvement in functional outcome among patients who received progesterone.
Researchers found that severely impaired patients taking rivastigmine showed significant improvement in attention and verbal memory test scores compared to placebo-treated patients. Rivastigmine was also found to be safe and well-tolerated with common side effects including nausea and dizziness.
Scientists have identified special proteins that help repair and protect the brain after it has been damaged by a lack of oxygen. Dr Nicole Jones and her team found that these proteins increase during oxygen deprivation, regulating processes like red blood cell production and glucose flow to the brain.
Researchers found that chronic ibuprofen therapy given after brain injury worsened cognitive abilities in animal models. The study suggests potential implications for traumatic brain injury patients who often receive ibuprofen for chronic pain.
Researchers like Joseph Messina and Patrick Kochanek explore ways to improve survival rates for patients with trauma injuries using insulin-sensitizing agents and novel resuscitation fluids.
Researchers found that cooling a person by 2°C during the first day after resuscitation can significantly improve their chances of recovering from cardiac arrest. The study, which used rats to replicate human brain injury, showed that even modest cooling of the brain can have beneficial effects on recovery.
A new study is recruiting over 3,500 rugby union players aged 16-35 to gather data on head injuries and recovery. The research will inform the development of evidence-based guidelines to manage player return to sport after concussion.
Researchers tracked individuals infected with EBV, RRV, or Q fever and found post-infective fatigue syndrome lasting six months or longer. The study suggests that brain damage during acute infection phase may be responsible for chronic fatigue symptoms.
Rochester researchers emphasize the need for more accurate and rapid diagnostic tests for concussions to improve treatment outcomes and prevent long-term neurological damage. Current CT scans are often biased, leading to underdiagnosis of significant axonal injuries.
A study by Steinar Sulheim and colleagues found that helmet use is associated with a 60% reduced risk of head injury among skiers and snowboarders. The risk for head injury was also found to be higher among snowboarders than alpine skiers, highlighting the importance of helmet use in preventing these injuries.
Research by Lingraphicare America reveals that speech generating devices can help stroke patients recover from aphasia, even years after the initial injury. The study found nearly half of subjects improved to a less severe diagnostic category, with gains observed across all severity levels.
Pittsburgh researchers found biomarkers in infant blood that can identify possible cases of shaken baby syndrome, a traumatic brain injury often misdiagnosed. The study's findings have significant implications for decreasing morbidity and mortality in infants with SBS.
A recent study compared neurocognitive recovery in NFL and high school athletes after concussion. The results showed that NFL players returned to pre-injury baseline performance in just one week, while high school athletes took longer to recover. The study used computerized neurocognitive testing tool ImPACT to evaluate the athletes.
A new study published in the Journal of Athletic Training found that traditional neck muscle resistance training does not reduce a player's head acceleration during impact, contrary to popular thinking in athletics. The eight-week program did improve neck muscle strength but failed to enhance head stabilization.
A large-scale observational study found that athletes wearing the Riddell Revolution helmet were 31% less likely to sustain a concussion compared to those wearing traditional helmets. However, proper injury management and recovery time remained unchanged between the two groups.
A Phase I clinical trial is underway to test the safety and potential of using child's own bone marrow stem cells to treat traumatic brain injury. The study aims to establish the safety of the procedure and observe possible therapeutic effects.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a new technique to image brain deformation after impact, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The study shows that the brain tries to pull away from attachments, leading to significant deformation of the front of the brain.
A study of 18 children who suffered injuries from private-use go-carts found that head injuries were the most common, with 22% of cases requiring surgery. The primary cause of these injuries was loss of control leading to collisions or ejection, highlighting the need for adult supervision and safety equipment.
A recent study found go-cart injuries among children to be severe and often preventable, highlighting the importance of adult supervision and strict safety regulations. The researchers analyzed medical records from 160 hospitalized children aged 16 and under, resulting in 18 confirmed go-cart injuries with average age 10.3 years.
A recent study has found that patients with head injuries are ten times more likely to die than those with other types of injuries. The lack of neurosurgical care is associated with a significant increase in mortality rates, highlighting the need for improved emergency response systems.
Scientists have found a biomarker, a protein called NF-H, that signals the presence of disease or injury in the blood and spinal fluid. The discovery could lead to a simple handheld device for diagnosing brain or spinal injuries with just a few drops of blood.
Researchers found that brain regions beyond the injury site play a critical role in understanding behavioral deficits and assessing options for acceleration of recovery from stroke-related spatial neglect. Functional magnetic resonance imaging scans revealed activity changes in distant brain areas correlated with impairment severity.
Researchers found that hypothermia significantly reduced brain injury and death from oxygen loss in newborns. The study, led by Seetha Shankaran, M.D., at Wayne State University, showed a 44% lower rate of moderate to severe disability or death in infants treated with cooling compared to those in the control group.
A new study at UNC reveals that retired professional football players have a 37% higher risk of Alzheimer's disease due to concussions. The study found that history of recurrent concussions and sub-concussive contacts may be risk factors for late-life memory impairment, mild cognitive impairment, and early expression of Alzheimer's dis...
Researchers found that language activity in the brain becomes more evenly distributed between both hemispheres with age, allowing for potential rehabilitation. This shift may explain why young children who have had a portion of their brain removed can recover completely.
Researchers found that adult stem cell therapy significantly improves recovery of motor function and balance in an animal model of cerebral palsy. The treatment, which involves injecting stem cells directly into the brain, showed a 20% reduction in favoring the unaffected side and a 25% improvement in balance.
A new study by UCLA researchers reveals that heart-failure patients suffer from both physical and mental injuries, with brain damage impacting their ability to exercise. The findings emphasize the need for cardiologists to recognize this connection and develop therapies to prevent brain injury and boost brain function.
A study found that doctors and caregivers often focus on physical and cognitive effects, but patients report additional challenges such as social isolation and self-consciousness. The research highlights areas that deserve more attention and suggests interventions like lip reading training and videos to improve patient recovery.
Researchers found that pomegranate juice reduced brain tissue loss by 60% in mice whose mothers drank water mixed with pomegranate concentrate. The study suggests that pomegranate juice may provide neuroprotective effects and potentially reduce the impacts of hypoxic ischemic brain injury.
A University of Pittsburgh study published in the Journal of Neurosurgery found that athletes with post-traumatic migraine (PTM) after a concussion experienced increased neurocognitive function impairment. This suggests that clinicians should exercise caution when managing concussed athletes with PTM.
The CRASH trial found that corticosteroids increased the risk of death at two weeks compared to a placebo. The study also showed higher risks of death or severe disability in the corticosteroid group than in the placebo group. Corticosteroids are widely used to treat head injuries, but this practice may be harmful.
Researchers have found that an experimental drug can effectively prevent much of the brain damage caused by traumatic injury. In a study using rat models, the drug was shown to reduce brain damage and improve cognitive and motor function. The breakthrough could potentially lead to new treatments for human traumatic brain injuries.
The OHSU study found that ThinkFirst significantly improves knowledge of injury prevention among program participants, leading to a decline in traffic-related fatalities and injuries. The program has educated over 250,000 children on injury prevention since its inception in Oregon.
Ivan Soltesz, a UCI neurobiologist, received the Senator Jacob Javits Award in the Neurosciences to investigate post-traumatic epilepsy research. The $2.7 million grant aims to develop new anti-epileptic treatment strategies for people who have recovered from severe head trauma.
A review of 71 studies found that well-motivated, younger patients with no loss of consciousness are less likely to suffer from postconcussional syndrome. The majority of patients recover completely within three to six months, but some predictors include female gender and being involved in a lawsuit.
Researchers found that induced moderate hypothermia (32–33°C) is a safe therapeutic intervention for children with severe traumatic brain injury, reducing mortality and intracranial hypertension. The treatment protocol also showed potential to improve functional outcomes in young patients.
Researchers found that football players suffered significantly more neck injuries than those playing hockey or soccer. The study attributed this increase to the design of football tackles, which impede opposing player motion.
Researchers identify basal forebrain cholinergic system as essential substrate for cortical plasticity and functional recovery after focal cortical injury. The study found that rats lacking a cholinergic system recovered only about 18% of their reaching ability after rehabilitation training.
A study published in the Journal of Neurosurgery found that golf-related head injuries in children increased by 15% between 1996 and 2002. The majority of these injuries occurred outside golf courses, highlighting the need for cautionary guidelines and safety training programs to prevent accidents.
A Penn State-led education program has significantly reduced incidents of shaken baby syndrome in western New York, resulting in a 47% decrease in cases. The program, which costs less than $10 per infant, provides critical information to parents at the time of birth and is designed to be implemented with minimal time and resources.
A new evaluation tool, DOCS, reliably predicts recovery from coma by tracking neurobehavioral functioning changes. This allows for improved medical and rehabilitation management.
Researchers developed a new scale to predict recovery of consciousness from coma after brain injury. The Disorders of Consciousness Scale (DOCS) accurately detected improvements, declines, and plateaus in neurobehavioral functioning.
Studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) show that individuals with brain deficits can relearn matching visual input with sensory input. This study used fMRI and a cyber glove to demonstrate the effectiveness of remapping motor commands, a crucial step in stroke recovery.
Out-of-hospital intubation may be more harmful than helpful for patients with severe head injuries. Patients who are intubated prior to hospital arrival have a higher risk of death and neurologic impairment compared to those intubated in the hospital.
A study by Jefferson neuroscientists has discovered that lead exposure early in life can significantly hinder the brain's ability to recover from later injuries. The research used rats with specific brain damage and found that those exposed to lead suffered less recovery, suggesting long-term consequences of lead poisoning.
A study published in American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that infections occur around birth are associated with an increased risk of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), a condition causing brain tissue death. PVL is the most common form of brain injury in premature infants, resulting in cerebral palsy.
The MRC CRASH* trial found that giving patients corticosteroids after a head injury increased the risk of death within two weeks, with 21% of those treated dying compared to 18% on placebo. The trial involved over 10,000 patients from nearly 50 countries and challenges previous studies' findings.
A large international study has found that anti-inflammatory drugs commonly used to treat severe head injuries can increase the risk of death by up to 20% within two weeks. The CRASH trial recruited over 20,000 patients from 49 countries and concluded that these drugs should not be used routinely to treat head injury
Researchers identify a new mechanism for stroke damage, revealing acid-sensing ion channels as major players. Blocking these channels with existing pharmacologic agents may provide a potential therapeutic target for stroke therapy.
Researchers explore how prosthetic legs can be tailored to improve mobility and comfort for amputees. Studies examine the impact of different shoes, sock liners, and physical activities on residual limb soft tissue damage and overall health outcomes.
Children with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) often face difficulties in retrieving and retaining information, and many struggle academically due to impairments. The study suggests that schools should provide better support and follow-up care for children returning from hospital after a head injury.
The study found that three players died during the 2003 season due to direct injuries suffered on the field, while seven others died from natural causes related to strenuous exercise. Coaches need to prioritize player safety by ensuring they get enough water, taking regular cooling breaks, and monitoring temperature and humidity levels.
New prosthetic fitting system offers improved match for knee arthritis patients, while researchers find nearly 80% of patients satisfied with brace treatment. Meanwhile, studies on traumatic brain injury research reveal legal and ethical concerns, as well as effective wound healing methods using electrical stimulation.
Researchers found that language capacity 'evens out' with age, with older adults using more of both hemispheres relative to language skills. The study suggests improvements in linguistic skills and maturation of the central nervous system contribute to increased hemisphere dominance in childhood.
A new UNC study found that child abuse brain injuries were five times more common in the hardest-hit counties after Hurricane Floyd, while non-abuse injuries increased by over 10 times. The research suggests that families affected by the disaster experienced heightened stress, poverty, and depression.
Concussions are linked to depression and confusion in athletes after injury. The study found that emotional changes disappeared within three weeks of recovery.
Researchers found that patients who lost consciousness for at least 12 hours were less likely to develop posttraumatic stress disorder compared to those who remained conscious. The study, which examined 46 inpatients with traumatic brain injuries, suggests that losing consciousness may be a protective factor against developing PTSD.
Research finds that neonatal white matter injury is associated with culture-positive infections and rare instances of metabolic acidosis. The study refutes the idea that delivery complications cause these injuries.