Month: March 2017

New Test to Quickly Identify Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Posted on by

A new test using peripheral vision reaction time could lead to earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment of mild traumatic brain injury, often referred to as a concussion. Identify Brain Injury

A new test using peripheral vision reaction time could lead to earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment of mild traumatic brain injury, often referred to as a concussion, according to Peter J. Bergold, PhD, professor of physiology and pharmacology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and corresponding author of a study newly published online by the Journal of Neurotrauma.

While most patients with mild traumatic brain injury or concussion fully recover, a significant number do not, and earlier diagnosis could lead to better management of patients at risk for developing persistent symptoms, according to Dr. Bergold and his co-authors.

Lingering symptoms may include loss of concentration and/or memory, confusion, anxiety, headaches, irritability, noise and light sensitivity, dizziness, and fatigue.

“Mild traumatic brain injury is currently diagnosed with subjective clinical assessments,” says Dr. Bergold. “The potential utility of the peripheral vision reaction test is clear because it is an objective, inexpensive, and rapid test that identifies mild traumatic brain injury patients who have a more severe underlying injury.”

Dr. Bergold’s co-authors include colleagues from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; The University of Texas at Dallas; Washington University; the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; and SUNY Downstate.

The article published by the Journal of Neurotrauma is titled “Measurement of Peripheral Vision Reaction Time Identifies White Matter Disruption in Patients with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.”

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKZnMC5vzhU[/embedyt]

Story Source:

Materials provided by SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

  1. Kyle B. Womack, Christopher Paliotta, Jeremy F. Strain, Johnson S. Ho, Yosef Skolnick, William W. Lytton, L. Christine Turtzo, Roderick McColl, Ramon Diaz-Arrastia, Peter J. Bergold. Measurement of Peripheral Vision Reaction Time Identifies White Matter Disruption in Patients with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Journal of Neurotrauma, 2017; DOI:10.1089/neu.2016.4670

SUNY Downstate Medical Center. “New test may quickly identify mild traumatic brain injury with underlying brain damage.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 16 February 2017. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170216120538.htm>.

 

What is a Diffuse Axonal Injury? (DAI)

Posted on by

“As tissue slides over tissue, a shearing injury occurs. This causes the lesions that are responsible for unconsciousness, as well as the vegetative state that occurs after a severe head injury. A diffuse axonal injury also causes brain cells to die, which cause swelling in the brain.”
DAI is characterized by axonal separation, in which the axon is torn at the site of stretch and the part distal to the tear degrades. While it was once thought that the main cause of axonal separation was tearing due to mechanical forces during the trauma, it is now understood that axons are not typically torn upon impact; rather, secondary biochemical cascades, which occur in response to the primary injury (which occurs as the result of mechanical forces at the moment of trauma) and take place hours to days after the initial injury, are largely responsible for the damage to axons.
Though the processes involved in secondary brain injury are still poorly understood, it is now accepted that stretching of axons during injury causes physical disruption to and proteolytic degradation of the cytoskeleton.[1] It also opens sodium channels in the axolemma, which causes voltage-gated calcium channels to open and Ca2+ to flow into the cell. The intracellular presence of Ca2+ unleashes several different pathways, including activating phospholipases and proteolytic enzymes, damaging mitochondria and the cytoskeleton, and activating secondary messengers, which can lead to separation of the axon and death of the cell.

Tips on How To Recover from a TBI

Posted on by

Recovering from a Brain Injury could be a long and grueling process, especially if you do not have the information to better assist you to heal.  In this post, we go over how to help accelerate the healing of your brain.

Recover – Get a lot of rest around evening time, and rest amid the day.
Maintain a strategic distance from exercises that are physically requesting (e.g., substantial housecleaning, weightlifting/working-out) or require a considerable measure of fixation (e.g., adjusting your checkbook). They can exacerbate your manifestations and moderate your recuperation.

Stay away from exercises, for example, contact or recreational games, that could prompt to another blackout (it is best to maintain a strategic distance from fast entertainment mecca rides that can exacerbate your side effects or even cause a blackout).
At the point when your medicinal services proficient says you are alright, come back to your typical exercises bit by bit, not at the same time.
Since your capacity to respond might be slower after a blackout, ask your social insurance proficient when you can securely drive an auto, ride a bicycle, or work overwhelming gear.
Converse with your medicinal services proficient about when you can come back to work. Get some information about how you can help your boss comprehend what has transpired.
Consider chatting with your boss about coming back to work step by step and about changing your work exercises or timetable until you recoup (e.g., work half-days).
Take just those medications that your medicinal services proficient has endorsed.
Try not to drink mixed refreshments until your social insurance proficient says you are all around ok. Liquor and different medications may moderate your recuperation and put you at danger of further damage.
Record the things that might be harder than regular for you to recollect.
In case you’re effectively occupied, attempt to do one thing at any given moment. For instance, don’t attempt to sit in front of the TV while settling supper.
Counsel with relatives or dear companions when settling on essential choices.
Try not to disregard your fundamental needs, for example, eating great and getting enough rest.
Maintain a strategic distance from supported PC utilize, including PC/computer games ahead of schedule in the recuperation procedure.
A few people report that flying in planes aggravates their side effects soon after a blackout.