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Lyons HS, Sassani M, Thaller M, Yiangou A, Grech O, Mollan SP, Wilson DR, Lucas SJE, Mitchell JL, Hill LJ, Sinclair AJ. Evaluating the Phenotypic Patterns of Post-Traumatic Headache: A Systematic Review of Military Personnel. Mil Med 2024:usae353. [PMID: 39028222 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usae353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects a significant number of military personnel, primarily because of physical impact, vehicle incidents, and blast exposure. Post-traumatic headache (PTH) is the most common symptom reported following mild TBI and can persist for several years. However, the current International Classification of Headache Disorders lacks phenotypic characterization for this specific headache disorder. It is important to appropriately classify the headache sub-phenotypes as it may enable more targeted management approaches. This systematic review seeks to identify the most common sub-phenotype of headaches in military personnel with PTH attributed to mild TBI. METHODS We conducted a systematic search following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guidelines, focusing on the military population. PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Clinicaltrials.gov databases were searched. Abstracts and full texts were independently reviewed by two authors using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data extraction was performed using a standardized form. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS Eight papers related to the military population were included in this review. Migraine was the most commonly reported headache sub-phenotype, with a prevalence ranging from 33 to 92%. Additionally, one military study identified tension-type headaches as the most prevalent headache phenotype. Although not the primary phenotype, one military cohort reported that approximately one-third of their cohort experienced trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias, which were associated with exposure to blast injuries and prior concussions. CONCLUSION This systematic review demonstrated that PTH in the military population frequently exhibit migraine-like features. Tension-type headache and trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias also occur, although less commonly reported. Sub-phenotyping PTH may be important for initiating effective treatment since different phenotypes may respond differently to medications. The study populations analyzed in this systematic review display heterogeneity, underscoring the necessity for additional research features, more stringent criteria and comprehensive recording of baseline characteristics. Characterizing headaches following injury is crucial for an accurate diagnosis to enable effective management and rehabilitation planning for our armed forces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah S Lyons
- Translational Brain Science, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- Department of Neurology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham B15 2WB, UK
| | - Matilde Sassani
- Translational Brain Science, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- Department of Neurology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham B15 2WB, UK
| | - Mark Thaller
- Translational Brain Science, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- Department of Neurology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham B15 2WB, UK
| | - Andreas Yiangou
- Translational Brain Science, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- Department of Neurology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham B15 2WB, UK
| | - Olivia Grech
- Translational Brain Science, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- Department of Neurology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham B15 2WB, UK
| | - Susan P Mollan
- Translational Brain Science, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- Department of Ophthalmology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK
| | - Duncan R Wilson
- Defence Medical Directorate (Research & Clinical Innovation), HQ DMS Group, Lichfield WS14 9PY, UK
| | - Samuel J E Lucas
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - James L Mitchell
- Translational Brain Science, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- Department of Neurology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham B15 2WB, UK
- Academic Department of Military Rehabilitation, Defense Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Stanford Hall, Loughborough LE12 5QW, UK
| | - Lisa J Hill
- Translational Brain Science, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Alexandra J Sinclair
- Translational Brain Science, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- Department of Neurology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham B15 2WB, UK
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Sachdeva T, Ganpule SG. Twenty Years of Blast-Induced Neurotrauma: Current State of Knowledge. Neurotrauma Rep 2024; 5:243-253. [PMID: 38515548 PMCID: PMC10956535 DOI: 10.1089/neur.2024.0001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Blast-induced neurotrauma (BINT) is an important injury paradigm of neurotrauma research. This short communication summarizes the current knowledge of BINT. We divide the BINT research into several broad categories-blast wave generation in laboratory, biomechanics, pathology, behavioral outcomes, repetitive blast in animal models, and clinical and neuroimaging investigations in humans. Publications from 2000 to 2023 in each subdomain were considered. The analysis of the literature has brought out salient aspects. Primary blast waves can be simulated reasonably in a laboratory using carefully designed shock tubes. Various biomechanics-based theories of BINT have been proposed; each of these theories may contribute to BINT by generating a unique biomechanical signature. The injury thresholds for BINT are in the nascent stages. Thresholds for rodents are reasonably established, but such thresholds (guided by primary blast data) are unavailable in humans. Single blast exposure animal studies suggest dose-dependent neuronal pathologies predominantly initiated by blood-brain barrier permeability and oxidative stress. The pathologies were typically reversible, with dose-dependent recovery times. Behavioral changes in animals include anxiety, auditory and recognition memory deficits, and fear conditioning. The repetitive blast exposure manifests similar pathologies in animals, however, at lower blast overpressures. White matter irregularities and cortical volume and thickness alterations have been observed in neuroimaging investigations of military personnel exposed to blast. Behavioral changes in human cohorts include sleep disorders, poor motor skills, cognitive dysfunction, depression, and anxiety. Overall, this article provides a concise synopsis of current understanding, consensus, controversies, and potential future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarun Sachdeva
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India
| | - Shailesh G. Ganpule
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India
- Department of Design, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India
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3
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Elder GA, Gama Sosa MA, De Gasperi R, Perez Garcia G, Perez GM, Abutarboush R, Kawoos U, Zhu CW, Janssen WGM, Stone JR, Hof PR, Cook DG, Ahlers ST. The Neurovascular Unit as a Locus of Injury in Low-Level Blast-Induced Neurotrauma. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1150. [PMID: 38256223 PMCID: PMC10816929 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Blast-induced neurotrauma has received much attention over the past decade. Vascular injury occurs early following blast exposure. Indeed, in animal models that approximate human mild traumatic brain injury or subclinical blast exposure, vascular pathology can occur in the presence of a normal neuropil, suggesting that the vasculature is particularly vulnerable. Brain endothelial cells and their supporting glial and neuronal elements constitute a neurovascular unit (NVU). Blast injury disrupts gliovascular and neurovascular connections in addition to damaging endothelial cells, basal laminae, smooth muscle cells, and pericytes as well as causing extracellular matrix reorganization. Perivascular pathology becomes associated with phospho-tau accumulation and chronic perivascular inflammation. Disruption of the NVU should impact activity-dependent regulation of cerebral blood flow, blood-brain barrier permeability, and glymphatic flow. Here, we review work in an animal model of low-level blast injury that we have been studying for over a decade. We review work supporting the NVU as a locus of low-level blast injury. We integrate our findings with those from other laboratories studying similar models that collectively suggest that damage to astrocytes and other perivascular cells as well as chronic immune activation play a role in the persistent neurobehavioral changes that follow blast injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory A. Elder
- Neurology Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA;
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; (M.A.G.S.); (R.D.G.)
- Mount Sinai Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and the Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (C.W.Z.); (P.R.H.)
| | - Miguel A. Gama Sosa
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; (M.A.G.S.); (R.D.G.)
- General Medical Research Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10468, USA
| | - Rita De Gasperi
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; (M.A.G.S.); (R.D.G.)
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA;
| | - Georgina Perez Garcia
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA;
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA;
| | - Gissel M. Perez
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA;
| | - Rania Abutarboush
- Department of Neurotrauma, Operational and Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical ResearchCommand, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (R.A.); (U.K.); (S.T.A.)
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
| | - Usmah Kawoos
- Department of Neurotrauma, Operational and Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical ResearchCommand, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (R.A.); (U.K.); (S.T.A.)
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
| | - Carolyn W. Zhu
- Mount Sinai Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and the Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (C.W.Z.); (P.R.H.)
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA;
- Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - William G. M. Janssen
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA;
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - James R. Stone
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, 480 Ray C Hunt Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA;
| | - Patrick R. Hof
- Mount Sinai Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and the Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (C.W.Z.); (P.R.H.)
- Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA;
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - David G. Cook
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 S Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108, USA;
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St., Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Stephen T. Ahlers
- Department of Neurotrauma, Operational and Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical ResearchCommand, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (R.A.); (U.K.); (S.T.A.)
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Kilgore MO, Hubbard WB. Effects of Low-Level Blast on Neurovascular Health and Cerebral Blood Flow: Current Findings and Future Opportunities in Neuroimaging. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:642. [PMID: 38203813 PMCID: PMC10779081 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Low-level blast (LLB) exposure can lead to alterations in neurological health, cerebral vasculature, and cerebral blood flow (CBF). The development of cognitive issues and behavioral abnormalities after LLB, or subconcussive blast exposure, is insidious due to the lack of acute symptoms. One major hallmark of LLB exposure is the initiation of neurovascular damage followed by the development of neurovascular dysfunction. Preclinical studies of LLB exposure demonstrate impairment to cerebral vasculature and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) at both early and long-term stages following LLB. Neuroimaging techniques, such as arterial spin labeling (ASL) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have been utilized in clinical investigations to understand brain perfusion and CBF changes in response to cumulative LLB exposure. In this review, we summarize neuroimaging techniques that can further our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of blast-related neurotrauma, specifically after LLB. Neuroimaging related to cerebrovascular function can contribute to improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for LLB. As these same imaging modalities can capture the effects of LLB exposure in animal models, neuroimaging can serve as a gap-bridging diagnostic tool that permits a more extensive exploration of potential relationships between blast-induced changes in CBF and neurovascular health. Future research directions are suggested, including investigating chronic LLB effects on cerebral perfusion, exploring mechanisms of dysautoregulation after LLB, and measuring cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) in preclinical LLB models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison O. Kilgore
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA;
| | - W. Brad Hubbard
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA;
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
- Lexington Veterans’ Affairs Healthcare System, Lexington, KY 40502, USA
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5
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Zhang L, Yang Q, Yuan R, Li M, Lv M, Zhang L, Xie X, Liang W, Chen X. Single-nucleus transcriptomic mapping of blast-induced traumatic brain injury in mice hippocampus. Sci Data 2023; 10:638. [PMID: 37730716 PMCID: PMC10511629 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02552-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
As a significant type of traumatic brain injury (TBI), blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) frequently results in severe neurological and psychological impairments. Due to its unique mechanistic and clinical features, bTBI presents diagnostic and therapeutic challenges compared to other TBI forms. The hippocampus, an important site for secondary injury of bTBI, serves as a key niche for neural regeneration and repair post-injury, and is closely associated with the neurological outcomes of bTBI patients. Nonetheless, the pathophysiological alterations of hippocampus underpinning bTBI remain enigmatic, and a corresponding transcriptomic dataset for research reference is yet to be established. In this investigation, the single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) technique was employed to sequence individual hippocampal nuclei of mice from bTBI and sham group. Upon stringent quality control, gene expression data from 17,278 nuclei were obtained, with the dataset's reliability substantiated through various analytical methods. This dataset holds considerable potential for exploring secondary hippocampal injury and neurogenesis mechanisms following bTBI, with important reference value for the identification of specific diagnostic and therapeutic targets for bTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingxuan Zhang
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Qiuyun Yang
- Department of Forensic Genetics, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Ruixuan Yuan
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Manrui Li
- Department of Forensic Genetics, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Meili Lv
- Department of Immunology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xiaoqi Xie
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Weibo Liang
- Department of Forensic Genetics, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Xiameng Chen
- Department of Forensic Pathology and Forensic Clinical Medicine, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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6
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Saar-Ashkenazy R, Naparstek S, Dizitzer Y, Zimhoni N, Friedman A, Shelef I, Cohen H, Shalev H, Oxman L, Novack V, Ifergane G. Neuro-psychiatric symptoms in directly and indirectly blast exposed civilian survivors of urban missile attacks. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:423. [PMID: 37312064 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04943-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blast-explosion may cause traumatic brain injury (TBI), leading to post-concussion syndrome (PCS). In studies on military personnel, PCS symptoms are highly similar to those occurring in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), questioning the overlap between these syndromes. In the current study we assessed PCS and PTSD in civilians following exposure to rocket attacks. We hypothesized that PCS symptomatology and brain connectivity will be associated with the objective physical exposure, while PTSD symptomatology will be associated with the subjective mental experience. METHODS Two hundred eighty nine residents of explosion sites have participated in the current study. Participants completed self-report of PCS and PTSD. The association between objective and subjective factors of blast and clinical outcomes was assessed using multivariate analysis. White-matter (WM) alterations and cognitive abilities were assessed in a sub-group of participants (n = 46) and non-exposed controls (n = 16). Non-parametric analysis was used to compare connectivity and cognition between the groups. RESULTS Blast-exposed individuals reported higher PTSD and PCS symptomatology. Among exposed individuals, those who were directly exposed to blast, reported higher levels of subjective feeling of danger and presented WM hypoconnectivity. Cognitive abilities did not differ between groups. Several risk factors for the development of PCS and PTSD were identified. CONCLUSIONS Civilians exposed to blast present higher PCS/PTSD symptomatology as well as WM hypoconnectivity. Although symptoms are sub-clinical, they might lead to the future development of a full-blown syndrome and should be considered carefully. The similarities between PCS and PTSD suggest that despite the different etiology, namely, the physical trauma in PCS and the emotional trauma in PTSD, these are not distinct syndromes, but rather represent a combined biopsychological disorder with a wide spectrum of behavioral, emotional, cognitive and neurological symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Saar-Ashkenazy
- Faculty of Social-Work, Ashkelon Academic College, 12 Ben Tzvi St, PO Box 9071, 78211, Ashkelon, Israel.
- Department of Cognitive-Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
- Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
| | - S Naparstek
- Department of Psychology Ben-Gurion, University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Y Dizitzer
- Clinical Research Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - N Zimhoni
- Clinical Research Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - A Friedman
- Department of Cognitive-Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H4R2, Canada
| | - I Shelef
- Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - H Cohen
- Anxiety and Stress Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ministry of Health, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - H Shalev
- Department of Psychiatry, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - L Oxman
- Clinical Research Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - V Novack
- Clinical Research Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - G Ifergane
- Department of Neurology, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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Garcia GP, Perez GM, Gasperi RD, Sosa MAG, Otero-Pagan A, Abutarboush R, Kawoos U, Statz JK, Patterson J, Zhu CW, Hof PR, Cook DG, Ahlers ST, Elder GA. (2R,6R)-Hydroxynorketamine Treatment of Rats Exposed to Repetitive Low-Level Blast Injury. Neurotrauma Rep 2023; 4:197-217. [PMID: 37020715 PMCID: PMC10068674 DOI: 10.1089/neur.2022.0088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Many military veterans who experienced blast-related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from chronic cognitive and mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Male rats subjected to repetitive low-level blast exposure develop chronic cognitive and PTSD-related traits that develop in a delayed manner. Ketamine has received attention as a treatment for refractory depression and PTSD. (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine [(2R,6R)-HNK] is a ketamine metabolite that exerts rapid antidepressant actions. (2R,6R)-HNK has become of clinical interest because of its favorable side-effect profile, low abuse potential, and oral route of administration. We treated three cohorts of blast-exposed rats with (2R,6R)-HNK, beginning 7-11 months after blast exposure, a time when the behavioral phenotype is established. Each cohort consisted of groups (n = 10-13/group) as follows: 1) Sham-exposed treated with saline, 2) blast-exposed treated with saline, and 3) blast-exposed treated with a single dose of 20 mg/kg of (2R,6R)-HNK. (2R,6R)-HNK rescued blast-induced deficits in novel object recognition (NOR) and anxiety-related features in the elevated zero maze (EZM) in all three cohorts. Exaggerated acoustic startle was reversed in cohort 1, but not in cohort 3. (2R,6R)-HNK effects were still present in the EZM 12 days after administration in cohort 1 and 27 days after administration in NOR testing of cohorts 2 and 3. (2R,6R)-HNK may be beneficial for the neurobehavioral syndromes that follow blast exposure in military veterans. Additional studies will be needed to determine whether higher doses or more extended treatment regimens may be more effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina Perez Garcia
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Gissel M. Perez
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Rita De Gasperi
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Miguel A. Gama Sosa
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- General Medical Research Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Alena Otero-Pagan
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Rania Abutarboush
- Department of Neurotrauma, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Usmah Kawoos
- Department of Neurotrauma, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jonathan K. Statz
- Department of Neurotrauma, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jacob Patterson
- Department of Neurotrauma, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Carolyn W. Zhu
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Patrick R. Hof
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - David G. Cook
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Stephen T. Ahlers
- Department of Neurotrauma, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Gregory A. Elder
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neurology Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
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Gasperi RD, Gama Sosa MA, Perez Garcia GS, Perez GM, Abutarboush R, Kawoos U, Statz JK, Patterson J, Hof PR, Katsel P, Cook DG, Ahlers ST, Elder GA. Progressive Transcriptional Changes in the Amygdala Implicate Neuroinflammation in the Effects of Repetitive Low-Level Blast Exposure in Male Rats. J Neurotrauma 2023; 40:561-577. [PMID: 36262047 PMCID: PMC10040418 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2022.0282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic mental health problems are common among military veterans who sustained blast-related traumatic brain injuries. The reasons for this association remain unexplained. Male rats exposed to repetitive low-level blast overpressure (BOP) exposures exhibit chronic cognitive and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-related traits that develop in a delayed fashion. We examined blast-induced alterations on the transcriptome in four brain areas (anterior cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, and cerebellum) across the time frame over which the PTSD-related behavioral phenotype develops. When analyzed at 6 weeks or 12 months after blast exposure, relatively few differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found. However, longitudinal analysis of amygdala, hippocampus, and anterior cortex between 6 weeks and 12 months revealed blast-specific DEG patterns. Six DEGs (hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 1 [Hapln1], glutamate metabotropic receptor 2 [Grm2], purinergic receptor P2y12 [P2ry12], C-C chemokine receptor type 5 [Ccr5], phenazine biosynthesis-like protein domain containing 1 [Pbld1], and cadherin related 23 [Cdh23]) were found altered in all three brain regions in blast-exposed animals. Pathway enrichment analysis using all DEGs or those uniquely changed revealed different transcription patterns in blast versus sham. In particular, the amygdala in blast-exposed animals had a unique set of enriched pathways related to stress responses, oxidative phosphorylation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Upstream analysis implicated tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α signaling in blast-related effects in amygdala and anterior cortex. Eukaryotic initiating factor eIF4E (EIF4e), an upstream regulator of P2ry12 and Ccr5, was predicted to be activated in the amygdala. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) validated longitudinal changes in two TNFα regulated genes (cathepsin B [Ctsb], Hapln1), P2ry12, and Grm2. These studies have implications for understanding how blast injury damages the brain and implicates inflammation as a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita De Gasperi
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Miguel A. Gama Sosa
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- General Medical Research Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Georgina S. Perez Garcia
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Gissel M. Perez
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Rania Abutarboush
- Department of Neurotrauma, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Usmah Kawoos
- Department of Neurotrauma, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jonathan K. Statz
- Department of Neurotrauma, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jacob Patterson
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Parsons Corporation, Centreville, Virginia, USA
| | - Patrick R. Hof
- Department of Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Pavel Katsel
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - David G. Cook
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Stephen T. Ahlers
- Department of Neurotrauma, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Gregory A. Elder
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neurology Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
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9
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Double Blast Wave Primary Effect on Synaptic, Glymphatic, Myelin, Neuronal and Neurovascular Markers. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13020286. [PMID: 36831830 PMCID: PMC9954059 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13020286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Explosive blasts are associated with neurological consequences as a result of blast waves impact on the brain. Yet, the neuropathologic and molecular consequences due to blast waves vs. blunt-TBI are not fully understood. An explosive-driven blast-generating system was used to reproduce blast wave exposure and examine pathological and molecular changes generated by primary wave effects of blast exposure. We assessed if pre- and post-synaptic (synaptophysin, PSD-95, spinophilin, GAP-43), neuronal (NF-L), glymphatic (LYVE1, podoplanin), myelin (MBP), neurovascular (AQP4, S100β, PDGF) and genomic (DNA polymerase-β, RNA polymerase II) markers could be altered across different brain regions of double blast vs. sham animals. Twelve male rats exposed to two consecutive blasts were compared to 12 control/sham rats. Western blot, ELISA, and immunofluorescence analyses were performed across the frontal cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, and brainstem. The results showed altered levels of AQP4, S100β, DNA-polymerase-β, PDGF, synaptophysin and PSD-95 in double blast vs. sham animals in most of the examined regions. These data indicate that blast-generated changes are preferentially associated with neurovascular, glymphatic, and DNA repair markers, especially in the brainstem. Moreover, these changes were not accompanied by behavioral changes and corroborate the hypothesis for which an asymptomatic altered status is caused by repeated blast exposures.
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10
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Snapper DM, Reginauld B, Liaudanskaya V, Fitzpatrick V, Kim Y, Georgakoudi I, Kaplan DL, Symes AJ. Development of a novel bioengineered 3D brain-like tissue for studying primary blast-induced traumatic brain injury. J Neurosci Res 2023; 101:3-19. [PMID: 36200530 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Primary blast injury is caused by the direct impact of an overpressurization wave on the body. Due to limitations of current models, we have developed a novel approach to study primary blast-induced traumatic brain injury. Specifically, we employ a bioengineered 3D brain-like human tissue culture system composed of collagen-infused silk protein donut-like hydrogels embedded with human IPSC-derived neurons, human astrocytes, and a human microglial cell line. We have utilized this system within an advanced blast simulator (ABS) to expose the 3D brain cultures to a blast wave that can be precisely controlled. These 3D cultures are enclosed in a 3D-printed surrogate skull-like material containing media which are then placed in a holder apparatus inside the ABS. This allows for exposure to the blast wave alone without any secondary injury occurring. We show that blast induces an increase in lactate dehydrogenase activity and glutamate release from the cultures, indicating cellular injury. Additionally, we observe a significant increase in axonal varicosities after blast. These varicosities can be stained with antibodies recognizing amyloid precursor protein. The presence of amyloid precursor protein deposits may indicate a blast-induced axonal transport deficit. After blast injury, we find a transient release of the known TBI biomarkers, UCHL1 and NF-H at 6 h and a delayed increase in S100B at 24 and 48 h. This in vitro model will enable us to gain a better understanding of clinically relevant pathological changes that occur following primary blast and can also be utilized for discovery and characterization of biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dustin M Snapper
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Bianca Reginauld
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Volha Liaudanskaya
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Vincent Fitzpatrick
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yeonho Kim
- Preclinical Behavior and Modeling Core, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Irene Georgakoudi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Aviva J Symes
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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11
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Rubio JE, Subramaniam DR, Unnikrishnan G, Sajja VSSS, Van Albert S, Rossetti F, Frock A, Nguyen G, Sundaramurthy A, Long JB, Reifman J. A biomechanical-based approach to scale blast-induced molecular changes in the brain. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14605. [PMID: 36028539 PMCID: PMC9418170 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17967-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal studies provide valuable insights on how the interaction of blast waves with the head may injure the brain. However, there is no acceptable methodology to scale the findings from animals to humans. Here, we propose an experimental/computational approach to project observed blast-induced molecular changes in the rat brain to the human brain. Using a shock tube, we exposed rats to a range of blast overpressures (BOPs) and used a high-fidelity computational model of a rat head to correlate predicted biomechanical responses with measured changes in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in rat brain tissues. Our analyses revealed correlates between model-predicted strain rate and measured GFAP changes in three brain regions. Using these correlates and a high-fidelity computational model of a human head, we determined the equivalent BOPs in rats and in humans that induced similar strain rates across the two species. We used the equivalent BOPs to project the measured GFAP changes in the rat brain to the human. Our results suggest that, relative to the rat, the human requires an exposure to a blast wave of a higher magnitude to elicit similar brain-tissue responses. Our proposed methodology could assist in the development of safety guidelines for blast exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose E Rubio
- Department of Defense Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, United States Army Medical Research and Development Command, ATTN: FCMR-TT, 504 Scott Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702-5012, USA.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., 6720-A Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Dhananjay Radhakrishnan Subramaniam
- Department of Defense Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, United States Army Medical Research and Development Command, ATTN: FCMR-TT, 504 Scott Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702-5012, USA.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., 6720-A Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Ginu Unnikrishnan
- Department of Defense Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, United States Army Medical Research and Development Command, ATTN: FCMR-TT, 504 Scott Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702-5012, USA.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., 6720-A Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Venkata Siva Sai Sujith Sajja
- Blast Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Stephen Van Albert
- Blast Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Franco Rossetti
- Blast Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Andrew Frock
- Department of Defense Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, United States Army Medical Research and Development Command, ATTN: FCMR-TT, 504 Scott Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702-5012, USA.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., 6720-A Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Giang Nguyen
- Department of Defense Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, United States Army Medical Research and Development Command, ATTN: FCMR-TT, 504 Scott Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702-5012, USA.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., 6720-A Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Aravind Sundaramurthy
- Department of Defense Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, United States Army Medical Research and Development Command, ATTN: FCMR-TT, 504 Scott Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702-5012, USA.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., 6720-A Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Joseph B Long
- Blast Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Jaques Reifman
- Department of Defense Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, United States Army Medical Research and Development Command, ATTN: FCMR-TT, 504 Scott Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702-5012, USA.
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12
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Baskin B, Lee SJ, Skillen E, Wong K, Rau H, Hendrickson RC, Pagulayan K, Raskind MA, Peskind ER, Phillips PEM, Cook DG, Schindler AG. Repetitive Blast Exposure Increases Appetitive Motivation and Behavioral Inflexibility in Male Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 15:792648. [PMID: 35002648 PMCID: PMC8727531 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.792648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Blast exposure (via detonation of high explosives) represents a major potential trauma source for Servicemembers and Veterans, often resulting in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Executive dysfunction (e.g., alterations in memory, deficits in mental flexibility, difficulty with adaptability) is commonly reported by Veterans with a history of blast-related mTBI, leading to impaired daily functioning and decreased quality of life, but underlying mechanisms are not fully understood and have not been well studied in animal models of blast. To investigate potential underlying behavioral mechanisms contributing to deficits in executive functioning post-blast mTBI, here we examined how a history of repetitive blast exposure in male mice affects anxiety/compulsivity-like outcomes and appetitive goal-directed behavior using an established mouse model of blast mTBI. We hypothesized that repetitive blast exposure in male mice would result in anxiety/compulsivity-like outcomes and corresponding performance deficits in operant-based reward learning and behavioral flexibility paradigms. Instead, results demonstrate an increase in reward-seeking and goal-directed behavior and a congruent decrease in behavioral flexibility. We also report chronic adverse behavioral changes related to anxiety, compulsivity, and hyperarousal. In combination, these data suggest that potential deficits in executive function following blast mTBI are at least in part related to enhanced compulsivity/hyperreactivity and behavioral inflexibility and not simply due to a lack of motivation or inability to acquire task parameters, with important implications for subsequent diagnosis and treatment management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britahny Baskin
- VA Northwest Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Suhjung Janet Lee
- VA Northwest Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Emma Skillen
- VA Northwest Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Katrina Wong
- VA Northwest Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Holly Rau
- VA Northwest Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Rebecca C Hendrickson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,VA Northwest Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Kathleen Pagulayan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,VA Northwest Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Murray A Raskind
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,VA Northwest Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Elaine R Peskind
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,VA Northwest Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Paul E M Phillips
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - David G Cook
- VA Northwest Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Abigail G Schindler
- VA Northwest Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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13
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Ackermans NL, Varghese M, Wicinski B, Torres J, De Gasperi R, Pryor D, Elder GA, Gama Sosa MA, Reidenberg JS, Williams TM, Hof PR. Unconventional animal models for traumatic brain injury and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. J Neurosci Res 2021; 99:2463-2477. [PMID: 34255876 PMCID: PMC8596618 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the main causes of death worldwide. It is a complex injury that influences cellular physiology, causes neuronal cell death, and affects molecular pathways in the brain. This in turn can result in sensory, motor, and behavioral alterations that deeply impact the quality of life. Repetitive mild TBI can progress into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative condition linked to severe behavioral changes. While current animal models of TBI and CTE such as rodents, are useful to explore affected pathways, clinical findings therein have rarely translated into clinical applications, possibly because of the many morphofunctional differences between the model animals and humans. It is therefore important to complement these studies with alternative animal models that may better replicate the individuality of human TBI. Comparative studies in animals with naturally evolved brain protection such as bighorn sheep, woodpeckers, and whales, may provide preventive applications in humans. The advantages of an in-depth study of these unconventional animals are threefold. First, to increase knowledge of the often-understudied species in question; second, to improve common animal models based on the study of their extreme counterparts; and finally, to tap into a source of biological inspiration for comparative studies and translational applications in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole L Ackermans
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Anatomy and Functional Morphology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Merina Varghese
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bridget Wicinski
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joshua Torres
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rita De Gasperi
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- General Medical Research Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Dylan Pryor
- General Medical Research Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Gregory A Elder
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Neurology Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Miguel A Gama Sosa
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- General Medical Research Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Joy S Reidenberg
- Center for Anatomy and Functional Morphology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Terrie M Williams
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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14
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Perez Garcia G, De Gasperi R, Tschiffely AE, Gama Sosa MA, Abutarboush R, Kawoos U, Statz JK, Ciarlone S, Reed EM, Jeyarajah T, Perez G, Otero Pagan A, Pryor D, Hof P, Cook D, Gandy S, Elder G, Ahlers S. Repetitive low-level blast exposure improves behavioral deficits and chronically lowers Aβ42 in an Alzheimer's disease transgenic mouse model. J Neurotrauma 2021; 38:3146-3173. [PMID: 34353119 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2021.0184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Public awareness of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the military increased recently because of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan where blast injury was the most common mechanism of injury. Besides overt injuries, concerns also exist over the potential adverse consequences of subclinical blast exposures, which are common for many service members. TBI is a risk factor for the later development of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like disorders. Studies of acute TBI in humans and animals have suggested that increased processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) towards the amyloid beta protein (Aβ) may explain the epidemiological associations with AD. However, in a prior study we found in both rat and mouse models of blast overpressure exposure (BOP), that rather than increasing, rodent brain Aβ42 levels were decreased following acute blast exposure. Here we subjected APP/presenilin 1 transgenic mice (APP/PS1 Tg) to an extended sequence of repetitive low-level blast exposures (34.5 kPa) administered three times per week over 8 weeks. If initiated at 20 weeks of age, these repetitive exposures, which were designed to mimic human subclinical blast exposures, reduced anxiety and improved cognition as well as social interactions in APP/PS1 Tg mice, returning many behavioral parameters in APP/PS1 Tg mice to levels of non-transgenic wild type mice. Repetitive low-level blast exposure was less effective at improving behavioral deficits in APP/PS1 Tg mice when begun at 36 weeks of age. While amyloid plaque loads were unchanged, Aβ42 levels and Aβ oligomers were reduced in brain of mice exposed to repetitive low-level blast exposures initiated at 20 weeks of age, although levels did not directly correlate with behavioral parameters in individual animals. These results have implications for understanding the nature of blast effects on the brain and their relationship to human neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina Perez Garcia
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 5925, Neurology, 1468 Madison Avenue Annenberg Building Floor 14 Room 60, New York, New York, New York, United States, 10029-6574.,James J Peters VA Medical Center, 20071, Research, 130 W Kingsbridge Rd, The Bronx, NY 10468, Bronx, United States, 10468-3904;
| | - Rita De Gasperi
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Research and Development, 130 west kingsbridge road, RD 3F-20, Bronx, New York, United States, 10468;
| | - Anna E Tschiffely
- Naval Medical Research Center, 19930, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States;
| | - Miguel A Gama Sosa
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Research and Development, 130 W Kingsbridge Rd, Bronx, New York, United States, 10468;
| | - Rania Abutarboush
- Naval Medical Research Center, 19930, Neurotrauma, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, 20910;
| | - Usmah Kawoos
- Naval Medical Research Center, 19930, Neurotrauma, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, 20910.,Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc, 44069, Bethesda, Maryland, United States;
| | | | - Stephanie Ciarlone
- Naval Medical Research Center, 19930, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States;
| | - Eileen M Reed
- Naval Medical Research Center, 19930, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States;
| | - Theepica Jeyarajah
- Naval Medical Research Center, 19930, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States;
| | - Gissel Perez
- James J Peters VA Medical Center, 20071, Research and Development, Bronx, New York, United States;
| | - Alena Otero Pagan
- James J Peters VA Medical Center, 20071, Research and Development, Bronx, New York, United States;
| | - Dylan Pryor
- James J Peters VA Medical Center, 20071, Research, 130 W. Kingsbridge Rd., Bronx, New York, United States, 10468;
| | - Patrick Hof
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 5925, New York, New York, United States;
| | - David Cook
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, 20128, Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, 1660 S Columbian Way, Seattle, Washington, United States, 98108.,University of Washington, 7284, Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Seattle, Washington, United States;
| | - Samuel Gandy
- 88 Mercer AvenueHartsdaleHartsdale, New York, United States, 10530.,Sam Gandy, 88 Mercer Avenue, United States;
| | - Gregory Elder
- James J. Peters VAMC, Research and Development 3F22, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, New York, United States, 10468;
| | - Stephen Ahlers
- Naval Medical Research Center, OUMD, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, 20910;
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15
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Wang C, Shao C, Zhang L, Siedlak SL, Meabon JS, Peskind ER, Lu Y, Wang W, Perry G, Cook DG, Zhu X. Oxidative Stress Signaling in Blast TBI-Induced Tau Phosphorylation. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10060955. [PMID: 34203583 PMCID: PMC8232162 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10060955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury caused by blast is associated with long-term neuropathological changes including tau phosphorylation and pathology. In this study, we aimed to determine changes in initial tau phosphorylation after exposure to a single mild blast and the potential contribution of oxidative stress response pathways. C57BL/6 mice were exposed to a single blast overpressure (BOP) generated by a compressed gas-driven shock tube that recapitulates battlefield-relevant open-field BOP, and cortical tissues were harvested at different time points up to 24 h after blast for Western blot analysis. We found that BOP caused elevated tau phosphorylation at Ser202/Thr205 detected by the AT8 antibody at 1 h post-blast followed by tau phosphorylation at additional sites (Ser262 and Ser396/Ser404 detected by PHF1 antibody) and conformational changes detected by Alz50 antibody. BOP also induced acute oxidative damage at 1 h post-blast and gradually declined overtime. Interestingly, Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) were acutely activated in a similar temporal pattern as the rise and fall in oxidative stress after blast, with p38 showing a similar trend. However, glycogen synthase kinase-3 β (GSK3β) was inhibited at 1 h and remained inhibited for 24 h post blast. These results suggested that mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) but not GSK3β are likely involved in mediating the effects of oxidative stress on the initial increase of tau phosphorylation following a single mild blast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyu Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China;
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; (C.S.); (L.Z.); (S.L.S.); (Y.L.); (W.W.)
| | - Changjuan Shao
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; (C.S.); (L.Z.); (S.L.S.); (Y.L.); (W.W.)
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; (C.S.); (L.Z.); (S.L.S.); (Y.L.); (W.W.)
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Sandra L. Siedlak
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; (C.S.); (L.Z.); (S.L.S.); (Y.L.); (W.W.)
| | - James S. Meabon
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98108, USA; (J.S.M.); (E.R.P.); (D.G.C.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - Elaine R. Peskind
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98108, USA; (J.S.M.); (E.R.P.); (D.G.C.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - Yubing Lu
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; (C.S.); (L.Z.); (S.L.S.); (Y.L.); (W.W.)
| | - Wenzhang Wang
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; (C.S.); (L.Z.); (S.L.S.); (Y.L.); (W.W.)
| | - George Perry
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA;
| | - David G. Cook
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA 98108, USA; (J.S.M.); (E.R.P.); (D.G.C.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
- Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Xiongwei Zhu
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; (C.S.); (L.Z.); (S.L.S.); (Y.L.); (W.W.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-216-368-5903
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16
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Maleki N, Finkel A, Cai G, Ross A, Moore RD, Feng X, Androulakis XM. Post-traumatic Headache and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Brain Networks and Connectivity. Curr Pain Headache Rep 2021; 25:20. [PMID: 33674899 DOI: 10.1007/s11916-020-00935-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Post-traumatic headache (PTH) consequent to mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a complex, multidimensional, chronic neurological disorder. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the current neuroimaging studies on mTBI and PTH with a specific focus on brain networks and connectivity patterns. RECENT FINDINGS We present findings on PTH incidence and prevalence, as well as the latest neuroimaging research findings on mTBI and PTH. Additionally, we propose a new strategy in studying PTH following mTBI. The diversity and heterogeneity of pathophysiological mechanisms underlying mild traumatic brain injury pose unique challenges on how we interpret neuroimaging findings in PTH. Evaluating alterations in the intrinsic brain network connectivity patterns using novel imaging and analytical techniques may provide additional insights into PTH disease state and therefore inform effective treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasim Maleki
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Alan Finkel
- Carolina Headache Institute, 6114 Fayetteville Rd, Suite 109, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Guoshuai Cai
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA
| | - Alexandra Ross
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, 29209, USA
| | - R Davis Moore
- Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA
| | - Xuesheng Feng
- Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, Reserve Component Command, 1683 Gilbert Street, Norfolk, VA, 23511, USA
| | - X Michelle Androulakis
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, 29209, USA. .,Columbia VA Health Care System, Columbia, SC, 20208, USA.
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17
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Perez Garcia G, De Gasperi R, Gama Sosa MA, Perez GM, Otero-Pagan A, Pryor D, Abutarboush R, Kawoos U, Hof PR, Dickstein DL, Cook DG, Gandy S, Ahlers ST, Elder GA. Laterality and region-specific tau phosphorylation correlate with PTSD-related behavioral traits in rats exposed to repetitive low-level blast. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2021; 9:33. [PMID: 33648608 PMCID: PMC7923605 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-021-01128-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Military veterans who experience blast-related traumatic brain injuries often suffer from chronic cognitive and neurobehavioral syndromes. Reports of abnormal tau processing following blast injury have raised concerns that some cases may have a neurodegenerative basis. Rats exposed to repetitive low-level blast exhibit chronic neurobehavioral traits and accumulate tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (Thr181). Using data previously reported in separate studies we tested the hypothesis that region-specific patterns of Thr181 phosphorylation correlate with behavioral measures also previously determined and reported in the same animals. Elevated p-tau Thr181 in anterior neocortical regions and right hippocampus correlated with anxiety as well as fear learning and novel object localization. There were no correlations with levels in amygdala or posterior neocortical regions. Particularly striking were asymmetrical effects on the right and left hippocampus. No systematic variation in head orientation toward the blast wave seems to explain the laterality. Levels did not correlate with behavioral measures of hyperarousal. Results were specific to Thr181 in that no correlations were observed for three other phospho-acceptor sites (threonine 231, serine 396, and serine 404). No consistent correlations were linked with total tau. These correlations are significant in suggesting that p-tau accumulation in anterior neocortical regions and the hippocampus may lead to disinhibited amygdala function without p-tau elevation in the amygdala itself. They also suggest an association linking blast injury with tauopathy, which has implications for understanding the relationship of chronic blast-related neurobehavioral syndromes in humans to neurodegenerative diseases.
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18
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Moriarty H, Robinson KM, Winter L. The additional burden of PTSD on functioning and depression in veterans with traumatic brain injury. Nurs Outlook 2021; 69:167-181. [PMID: 33608113 DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2020.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many United States veterans and active military with a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) also experience challenges from comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), yet the additional burden of PTSD is not clear. PURPOSE To address this knowledge gap, this study examined the relationship of PTSD to cognitive, social, and physical functioning and depressive symptoms in veterans recently diagnosed with TBI. METHODS Veterans were recruited from a VA rehabilitation clinic. The Patient Competency Rating Scale and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale measured functioning and depression, respectively. Chart review captured PTSD diagnosis. FINDINGS In the sample of 83 veterans, 65% had a current PTSD diagnosis. After controlling for sociodemographic variables and TBI severity, PTSD was a significant predictor of lower cognitive, social, and physical functioning and higher depressive symptomatology. DISCUSSION Clinicians should incorporate PTSD assessment in their work with veterans with TBI. Integrated behavioral health and rehabilitation interventions that provide strategies for veterans to manage TBI symptoms and PTSD are critical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helene Moriarty
- Villanova University, M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, Villanova, PA; Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Nursing Service, Philadelphia, PA.
| | - Keith M Robinson
- University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Philadelphia, PA; Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Rehabilitation Medicine Service, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Laraine Winter
- Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Nursing Service, Philadelphia, PA
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19
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Perez Garcia G, Perez GM, De Gasperi R, Gama Sosa MA, Otero-Pagan A, Pryor D, Abutarboush R, Kawoos U, Hof PR, Cook DG, Gandy S, Ahlers ST, Elder GA. Progressive Cognitive and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-Related Behavioral Traits in Rats Exposed to Repetitive Low-Level Blast. J Neurotrauma 2021; 38:2030-2045. [PMID: 33115338 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2020.7398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Many military veterans who experienced blast-related traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan currently have chronic cognitive and mental health problems including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Besides static symptoms, new symptoms may emerge or existing symptoms may worsen. TBI is also a risk factor for later development of neurodegenerative diseases. In rats exposed to repetitive low-level blast overpressure (BOP), robust and enduring cognitive and PTSD-related behavioral traits develop that are present for at least one year after blast exposure. Here we determined the time-course of the appearance of these traits by testing rats in the immediate post-blast period. Three cohorts of rats examined within the first eight weeks exhibited no behavioral phenotype or, in one cohort, features of anxiety. None showed the altered cued fear responses or impaired novel object recognition characteristic of the fully developed phenotype. Two cohorts retested 36 to 42 weeks after blast exposure exhibited the expanded behavioral phenotype including anxiety as well as altered cued fear learning and impaired novel object recognition. Combined with previous work, the chronic behavioral phenotype has been observed in six cohorts of blast-exposed rats studied at 3-4 months or longer after blast injury, and the three cohorts studied here document the progressive nature of the cognitive/behavioral phenotype. These studies suggest the existence of a latent, delayed emerging and progressive blast-induced cognitive and behavioral phenotype. The delayed onset has implications for the evolution of post-blast neurobehavioral syndromes in military veterans and its modeling in experimental animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina Perez Garcia
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA.,Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Gissel M Perez
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Rita De Gasperi
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Miguel A Gama Sosa
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,General Medical Research Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Alena Otero-Pagan
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Dylan Pryor
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Rania Abutarboush
- Department of Neurotrauma, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Usmah Kawoos
- Department of Neurotrauma, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Department of Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - David G Cook
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Sam Gandy
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA.,Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Barbara and Maurice A. Deane Center for Wellness and Cognitive Health, and the Mount Sinai NFL Neurological Care Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Stephen T Ahlers
- Department of Neurotrauma, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Gregory A Elder
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Neurology Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
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20
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Gamboa J, Horvath J, Simon A, Islam MS, Gao S, Perk D, Thoman A, Calderon DP. Secondary-blast injury in rodents produces cognitive sequelae and distinct motor recovery trajectories. Brain Res 2021; 1755:147275. [PMID: 33422537 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.147275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Gamboa
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York 10065, United States
| | - Jessica Horvath
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York 10065, United States
| | - Amanda Simon
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York 10065, United States
| | - Md Safiqul Islam
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York 10065, United States
| | - Sijia Gao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York 10065, United States
| | - Dror Perk
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York 10065, United States
| | - Amy Thoman
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York 10065, United States
| | - Diany Paola Calderon
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York 10065, United States.
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21
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Brain and blood biomarkers of tauopathy and neuronal injury in humans and rats with neurobehavioral syndromes following blast exposure. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:5940-5954. [PMID: 32094584 PMCID: PMC7484380 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0674-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a risk factor for the later development of neurodegenerative diseases that may have various underlying pathologies. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in particular is associated with repetitive mild TBI (mTBI) and is characterized pathologically by aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau into neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). CTE may be suspected when behavior, cognition, and/or memory deteriorate following repetitive mTBI. Exposure to blast overpressure from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) has been implicated as a potential antecedent for CTE amongst Iraq and Afghanistan Warfighters. In this study, we identified biomarker signatures in rats exposed to repetitive low-level blast that develop chronic anxiety-related traits and in human veterans exposed to IED blasts in theater with behavioral, cognitive, and/or memory complaints. Rats exposed to repetitive low-level blasts accumulated abnormal hyperphosphorylated tau in neuronal perikarya and perivascular astroglial processes. Using positron emission tomography (PET) and the [18F]AV1451 (flortaucipir) tau ligand, we found that five of 10 veterans exhibited excessive retention of [18F]AV1451 at the white/gray matter junction in frontal, parietal, and temporal brain regions, a typical localization of CTE tauopathy. We also observed elevated levels of neurofilament light (NfL) chain protein in the plasma of veterans displaying excess [18F]AV1451 retention. These findings suggest an association linking blast injury, tauopathy, and neuronal injury. Further study is required to determine whether clinical, neuroimaging, and/or fluid biomarker signatures can improve the diagnosis of long-term neuropsychiatric sequelae of mTBI.
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22
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Muresanu DF, Sharma A, Sahib S, Tian ZR, Feng L, Castellani RJ, Nozari A, Lafuente JV, Buzoianu AD, Sjöquist PO, Patnaik R, Wiklund L, Sharma HS. Diabetes exacerbates brain pathology following a focal blast brain injury: New role of a multimodal drug cerebrolysin and nanomedicine. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2020; 258:285-367. [PMID: 33223037 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2020.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Blast brain injury (bBI) is a combination of several forces of pressure, rotation, penetration of sharp objects and chemical exposure causing laceration, perforation and tissue losses in the brain. The bBI is quite prevalent in military personnel during combat operations. However, no suitable therapeutic strategies are available so far to minimize bBI pathology. Combat stress induces profound cardiovascular and endocrine dysfunction leading to psychosomatic disorders including diabetes mellitus (DM). This is still unclear whether brain pathology in bBI could exacerbate in DM. In present review influence of DM on pathophysiology of bBI is discussed based on our own investigations. In addition, treatment with cerebrolysin (a multimodal drug comprising neurotrophic factors and active peptide fragments) or H-290/51 (a chain-breaking antioxidant) using nanowired delivery of for superior neuroprotection on brain pathology in bBI in DM is explored. Our observations are the first to show that pathophysiology of bBI is exacerbated in DM and TiO2-nanowired delivery of cerebrolysin induces profound neuroprotection in bBI in DM, not reported earlier. The clinical significance of our findings with regard to military medicine is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dafin F Muresanu
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Medicine & Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; "RoNeuro" Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Aruna Sharma
- International Experimental Central Nervous System Injury & Repair (IECNSIR), Department of Surgical Sciences, Anesthesiology & Intensive Care Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Seaab Sahib
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | - Z Ryan Tian
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | - Lianyuan Feng
- Department of Neurology, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Rudy J Castellani
- Department of Pathology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Ala Nozari
- Anesthesiology & Intensive Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - José Vicente Lafuente
- LaNCE, Department of Neuroscience, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Anca D Buzoianu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Per-Ove Sjöquist
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ranjana Patnaik
- Department of Biomaterials, School of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Lars Wiklund
- International Experimental Central Nervous System Injury & Repair (IECNSIR), Department of Surgical Sciences, Anesthesiology & Intensive Care Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hari Shanker Sharma
- International Experimental Central Nervous System Injury & Repair (IECNSIR), Department of Surgical Sciences, Anesthesiology & Intensive Care Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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23
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Explosive-driven double-blast exposure: molecular, histopathological, and behavioral consequences. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17446. [PMID: 33060648 PMCID: PMC7566442 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74296-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury generated by blast may induce long-term neurological and psychiatric sequelae. We aimed to identify molecular, histopathological, and behavioral changes in rats 2 weeks after explosive-driven double-blast exposure. Rats received two 30-psi (~ 207-kPa) blasts 24 h apart or were handled identically without blast. All rats were behaviorally assessed over 2 weeks. At Day 15, rats were euthanized, and brains removed. Brains were dissected into frontal cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, and brainstem. Western blotting was performed to measure levels of total-Tau, phosphorylated-Tau (pTau), amyloid precursor protein (APP), GFAP, Iba1, αII-spectrin, and spectrin breakdown products (SBDP). Kinases and phosphatases, correlated with tau phosphorylation were also measured. Immunohistochemistry for pTau, APP, GFAP, and Iba1 was performed. pTau protein level was greater in the hippocampus, cerebellum, and brainstem and APP protein level was greater in cerebellum of blast vs control rats (p < 0.05). GFAP, Iba1, αII-spectrin, and SBDP remained unchanged. No immunohistochemical or neurobehavioral changes were observed. The dissociation between increased pTau and APP in different regions in the absence of neurobehavioral changes 2 weeks after double blast exposure is a relevant finding, consistent with human data showing that battlefield blasts might be associated with molecular changes before signs of neurological and psychiatric disorders manifest.
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24
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Blaze J, Choi I, Wang Z, Umali M, Mendelev N, Tschiffely AE, Ahlers ST, Elder GA, Ge Y, Haghighi F. Blast-Related Mild TBI Alters Anxiety-Like Behavior and Transcriptional Signatures in the Rat Amygdala. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:160. [PMID: 33192359 PMCID: PMC7604767 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The short and long-term neurological and psychological consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI), and especially mild TBI (mTBI) are of immense interest to the Veteran community. mTBI is a common and detrimental result of combat exposure and results in various deleterious outcomes, including mood and anxiety disorders, cognitive deficits, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In the current study, we aimed to further define the behavioral and molecular effects of blast-related mTBI using a well-established (3 × 75 kPa, one per day on three consecutive days) repeated blast overpressure (rBOP) model in rats. We exposed adult male rats to the rBOP procedure and conducted behavioral tests for anxiety and fear conditioning at 1-1.5 months (sub-acute) or 12-13 months (chronic) following blast exposure. We also used next-generation sequencing to measure transcriptome-wide gene expression in the amygdala of sham and blast-exposed animals at the sub-acute and chronic time points. Results showed that blast-exposed animals exhibited an anxiety-like phenotype at the sub-acute timepoint but this phenotype was diminished by the chronic time point. Conversely, gene expression analysis at both sub-acute and chronic timepoints demonstrated a large treatment by timepoint interaction such that the most differentially expressed genes were present in the blast-exposed animals at the chronic time point, which also corresponded to a Bdnf-centric gene network. Overall, the current study identified changes in the amygdalar transcriptome and anxiety-related phenotypic outcomes dependent on both blast exposure and aging, which may play a role in the long-term pathological consequences of mTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Blaze
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Inbae Choi
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Zhaoyu Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Michelle Umali
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Natalia Mendelev
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Anna E Tschiffely
- Department of Neurotrauma, Operational and Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Stephen T Ahlers
- Department of Neurotrauma, Operational and Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Gregory A Elder
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.,Neurology Service, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Yongchao Ge
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Fatemeh Haghighi
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.,Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
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25
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McCabe JT, Tucker LB. Sex as a Biological Variable in Preclinical Modeling of Blast-Related Traumatic Brain Injury. Front Neurol 2020; 11:541050. [PMID: 33101170 PMCID: PMC7554632 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.541050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Approaches to furthering our understanding of the bioeffects, behavioral changes, and treatment options following exposure to blast are a worldwide priority. Of particular need is a more concerted effort to employ animal models to determine possible sex differences, which have been reported in the clinical literature. In this review, clinical and preclinical reports concerning blast injury effects are summarized in relation to sex as a biological variable (SABV). The review outlines approaches that explore the pertinent role of sex chromosomes and gonadal steroids for delineating sex as a biological independent variable. Next, underlying biological factors that need exploration for blast effects in light of SABV are outlined, including pituitary, autonomic, vascular, and inflammation factors that all have evidence as having important SABV relevance. A major second consideration for the study of SABV and preclinical blast effects is the notable lack of consistent model design—a wide range of devices have been employed with questionable relevance to real-life scenarios—as well as poor standardization for reporting of blast parameters. Hence, the review also provides current views regarding optimal design of shock tubes for approaching the problem of primary blast effects and sex differences and outlines a plan for the regularization of reporting. Standardization and clear description of blast parameters will provide greater comparability across models, as well as unify consensus for important sex difference bioeffects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph T McCabe
- Pre-clinical Studies Core, Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Bethesda, IL, United States.,Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Genetics, F.E. Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Laura B Tucker
- Pre-clinical Studies Core, Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Bethesda, IL, United States.,Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Genetics, F.E. Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
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26
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Harper MM, Hedberg-Buenz A, Herlein J, Abrahamson EE, Anderson MG, Kuehn MH, Kardon RH, Poolman P, Ikonomovic MD. Blast-Mediated Traumatic Brain Injury Exacerbates Retinal Damage and Amyloidosis in the APPswePSENd19e Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019; 60:2716-2725. [PMID: 31247112 PMCID: PMC6735799 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.18-26353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a risk factor for developing chronic neurodegenerative conditions including Alzheimer's disease (AD). The purpose of this study was to examine chronic effects of blast TBI on retinal ganglion cells (RGC), optic nerve, and brain amyloid load in a mouse model of AD amyloidosis. Methods Transgenic (TG) double-mutant APPswePSENd19e (APP/PS1) mice and nontransgenic (Non-TG) littermates were exposed to a single blast TBI (20 psi) at age 2 to 3 months. RGC cell structure and function was evaluated 2 months later (average age at endpoint = 4.5 months) using pattern electroretinogram (PERG), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and the chromatic pupil light reflex (cPLR), followed by histologic analysis of retina, optic nerve, and brain amyloid pathology. Results APP/PS1 mice exposed to blast TBI (TG-Blast) had significantly lower PERG and cPLR responses 2 months after injury compared to preblast values and compared to sham groups of APP/PS1 (TG-Sham) and nontransgenic (Non-TG-Sham) mice as well as nontransgenic blast-exposed mice (Non-TG-Blast). The TG-Blast group also had significantly thinner RGC complex and more optic nerve damage compared to all groups. No amyloid-β (Aβ) deposits were detected in retinas of APP/PS1 mice; however, increased amyloid precursor protein (APP)/Aβ-immunoreactivity was seen in TG-Blast compared to TG-Sham mice, particularly near blood vessels. TG-Blast and TG-Sham groups exhibited high variability in pathology severity, with a strong, but not statistically significant, trend for greater cerebral cortical Aβ plaque load in the TG-Blast compared to TG-Sham group. Conclusions When combined with a genetic susceptibility for developing amyloidosis of AD, blast TBI exposure leads to earlier RGC and optic nerve damage associated with modest but detectable increase in cerebral cortical Aβ pathology. These findings suggest that genetic risk factors for AD may increase the sensitivity of the retina to blast-mediated damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew M Harper
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States.,The Iowa City VA Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Adam Hedberg-Buenz
- The Iowa City VA Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa, United States.,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Judith Herlein
- The Iowa City VA Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Eric E Abrahamson
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.,Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Michael G Anderson
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States.,The Iowa City VA Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa, United States.,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Markus H Kuehn
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States.,The Iowa City VA Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Randy H Kardon
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States.,The Iowa City VA Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Pieter Poolman
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States.,The Iowa City VA Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Milos D Ikonomovic
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.,Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
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27
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Jaiswal S, Knutsen AK, Wilson CM, Fu AH, Tucker LB, Kim Y, Bittner KC, Whiting MD, McCabe JT, Dardzinski BJ. Mild traumatic brain injury induced by primary blast overpressure produces dynamic regional changes in [18F]FDG uptake. Brain Res 2019; 1723:146400. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.146400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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28
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Current fluid biomarkers, animal models, and imaging tools for diagnosing chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Mol Cell Toxicol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s13273-019-0039-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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29
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Skotak M, Townsend MT, Ramarao KV, Chandra N. A Comprehensive Review of Experimental Rodent Models of Repeated Blast TBI. Front Neurol 2019; 10:1015. [PMID: 31611839 PMCID: PMC6776622 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.01015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
We reviewed the relevant literature delineating advances in the development of the experimental models of repeated blast TBI (rbTBI). It appears this subject is a relatively unexplored area considering the first work published in 2007 and the bulk of peer-reviewed papers was published post-2011. There are merely 34 papers published to date utilizing rodent rbTBI models. We performed an analysis and extracted basic parameters to capture the characteristics of the exposure conditions (the blast intensity, inter-exposure interval and the number of exposures), the age and weight of the animal models most commonly used in the studies, and their endpoints. Our analysis revealed three strains of rodents are predominantly used: Sprague Dawley and Long Evans rats and wild type (C57BL/6J) mice, and young adult animals 8 to 12-week-old are a preferred choice. Typical exposure conditions are the following: (1) peak overpressure in the 27–145 kPa (4–21 psi) range, (2) number of exposures: 2 (13.9%), 3 (63.9%), 5 (16.7%), or 12 (5.6%) with a single exposure used for a baseline comparison in 41.24% of the studies. Two inter-exposure interval durations were used: (1) short (1–30 min.) and (2) extended (24 h) between consecutive shock wave exposures. The experiments included characterization of repeated blast exposure effects on auditory, ocular and neurological function, with a focus on brain etiology in most of the published work. We present an overview of major histopathological findings, which are supplemented by studies implementing MRI (DTI) and behavioral changes after rbTBI in the acute (1–7 days post-injury), subacute (7–14 days), and chronic (>14 days) phases post-injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Skotak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for Injury Biomechanics, Materials, and Medicine, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Molly T Townsend
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for Injury Biomechanics, Materials, and Medicine, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Kakulavarapu V Ramarao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for Injury Biomechanics, Materials, and Medicine, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Namas Chandra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for Injury Biomechanics, Materials, and Medicine, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, United States
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Bryden DW, Tilghman JI, Hinds SR. Blast-Related Traumatic Brain Injury: Current Concepts and Research Considerations. J Exp Neurosci 2019; 13:1179069519872213. [PMID: 31548796 PMCID: PMC6743194 DOI: 10.1177/1179069519872213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a well-known consequence of participation in activities such as military combat or collision sports. But the wide variability in eliciting circumstances and injury severities makes the study of TBI as a uniform disease state impossible. Military Service members are under additional, unique threats such as exposure to explosive blast and its unique effects on the body. This review is aimed toward TBI researchers, as it covers important concepts and considerations for studying blast-induced head trauma. These include the comparability of blast-induced head trauma to other mechanisms of TBI, whether blast overpressure induces measureable biomarkers, and whether a biodosimeter can link blast exposure to health outcomes, using acute radiation exposure as a corollary. This examination is contextualized by the understanding of concussive events and their psychological effects throughout the past century's wars, as well as the variables that predict sustaining a TBI and those that precipitate or exacerbate psychological conditions. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely the views of the authors and not those of the Department of Defense Blast Injury Research Coordinating Office, US Army Medical Research and Development Command, US Army Futures Command, US Army, or the Department of Defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W Bryden
- Booz Allen Hamilton, contract support to
DoD Blast Injury Research Coordinating Office, US Army Medical Research and
Development Command, Fort Detrick, MD, USA
| | - Jessica I Tilghman
- Booz Allen Hamilton, contract support to
DoD Blast Injury Research Coordinating Office, US Army Medical Research and
Development Command, Fort Detrick, MD, USA
| | - Sidney R Hinds
- DoD Blast Injury Research Coordinating
Office, US Army Medical Research and Development Command, Fort Detrick, MD,
USA
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31
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Uddin O, Studlack PE, Parihar S, Keledjian K, Cruz A, Farooq T, Shin N, Gerzanich V, Simard JM, Keller A. Chronic pain after blast-induced traumatic brain injury in awake rats. NEUROBIOLOGY OF PAIN (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2019; 6:100030. [PMID: 31223145 PMCID: PMC6565615 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2019.100030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Explosive blast-induced traumatic brain injury (blast-TBI) in military personnel is a leading cause of injury and persistent neurological abnormalities, including chronic pain. We previously demonstrated that chronic pain after spinal cord injury results from central sensitization in the posterior thalamus (PO). The presence of persistent headaches and back pain in veterans with blast-TBI suggests a similar involvement of thalamic sensitization. Here, we tested the hypothesis that pain after blast-TBI is associated with abnormal increases in activity of neurons in PO thalamus. We developed a novel model with two unique features: (1) blast-TBI was performed in awake, un-anesthetized rats, to simulate the human experience and to eliminate confounds of anesthesia and surgery inherent in other models; (2) only the cranium, rather than the entire body, was exposed to a collimated blast wave, with the blast wave striking the posterior cranium in the region of the occipital crest and foramen magnum. Three weeks after blast-TBI, rats developed persistent, ongoing spontaneous pain. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found no significant differences in the activity of PO neurons, or of neurons in the spinal trigeminal nucleus. There were also no significant changes in gliosis in either of these structures. This novel model will allow future studies on the pathophysiology of chronic pain after blast-TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Uddin
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 20 Penn St, HSF-II S251, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Paige E. Studlack
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 20 Penn St, HSF-II S251, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Saitu Parihar
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 20 Penn St, HSF-II S251, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kaspar Keledjian
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 10 S Pine St, MSTF 634B, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alexis Cruz
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 20 Penn St, HSF-II S251, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tayyiaba Farooq
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 20 Penn St, HSF-II S251, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Naomi Shin
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 20 Penn St, HSF-II S251, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Volodymyr Gerzanich
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 10 S Pine St, MSTF 634B, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - J. Marc Simard
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 10 S Pine St, MSTF 634B, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 10 S Pine St, MSTF, Room 634B, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 10 S Pine St, MSTF, Room 634B, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Asaf Keller
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 20 Penn St, HSF-II S251, Baltimore, MD, USA
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32
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Alnawmasi MM, Chakraborty A, Dalton K, Quaid P, Dunkley BT, Thompson B. The effect of mild traumatic brain injury on the visual processing of global form and motion. Brain Inj 2019; 33:1354-1363. [PMID: 31317788 DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2019.1641842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Cortical visual processing involves the ventral stream (form perception) and the dorsal stream (motion perception). We assessed whether mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) differentially affects these two streams. Eleven adults with mild TBI (28 ± 9 yrs, 17 ± 5 months post injury) and 25 controls (25 ± 5 yrs) participated. Participants completed tests of global processing involving Glass patterns (form) and random dot kinematograms (motion), measurement of contrast thresholds for motion direction discrimination, a comprehensive vision screening and the Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory (PCSI). Our results showed that the mild TBI group had significantly higher (worse) global form (mean ± SD: TBI 25 ± 6%, control 21 ± 5%) and motion (TBI 14 ± 7%, control 11 ± 3%) coherence thresholds than controls. The magnitude of the mild TBI group deficit did not differ between the two tasks. Contrast thresholds for motion direction discrimination did not differ between the groups, but were positively correlated with PCSI score (r2 = 0.51. p = 0.01) in the mild TBI group. The mild TBI group had worse outcomes than controls for all clinical measurements of vision except distance visual acuity. In conclusion, mild TBI affects processing in both the dorsal and ventral cortical processing streams equally. In addition, spatiotemporal contrast sensitivity may be related to the symptoms of mild TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed M Alnawmasi
- a School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo , Waterloo , Canada.,b College of Applied Medical Sciences, Department of Optometry, Qassim University , Buraidah , Saudi Arabia
| | - Arijit Chakraborty
- a School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo , Waterloo , Canada
| | - Kristine Dalton
- a School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo , Waterloo , Canada
| | - Patrick Quaid
- a School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo , Waterloo , Canada.,c VUE Cubed Vision Rehabilitation Clinics, The Guelph Vision Therapy Centre , Guelph , ON , Canada
| | - Benjamin T Dunkley
- a School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo , Waterloo , Canada.,d Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children; Neurosciences & Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute; Medical Imaging, University of Toronto , Toronto , Canada
| | - Benjamin Thompson
- a School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo , Waterloo , Canada
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33
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Elder GA, Ehrlich ME, Gandy S. Relationship of traumatic brain injury to chronic mental health problems and dementia in military veterans. Neurosci Lett 2019; 707:134294. [PMID: 31141716 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.134294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an unfortunately common event in military life. The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have increased public awareness of TBI in the military. Certain injury mechanisms are relatively unique to the military, the most prominent being blast exposure. Blast-related mild TBI (mTBI) has been of particular concern in the most recent veterans although controversy remains concerning separation of the postconcussion syndrome associated with mTBI from post-traumatic stress disorder. TBI is also a risk factor for the development of neurodegenerative diseases including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD, TBI, and CTE are all associated with chronic inflammation. Genome wide association studies (GWAS) have identified multiple genetic loci associated with AD that implicate inflammation and - in particular microglia - as key modulators of the AD- and TBI-related degenerative processes. At the molecular level, recent studies have identified TREM2 and TYROBP/DAP12 as components of a key molecular hub linking inflammation and microglia to the pathophysiology of AD and possibly TBI. Evidence concerning the relationship of TBI to chronic mental health problems and dementia is reviewed in the context of its relevance to military veterans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory A Elder
- Neurology Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA; Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and the Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
| | - Michelle E Ehrlich
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and the Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Sam Gandy
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and the Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA; NFL Neurological Care Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
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34
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Gama Sosa MA, De Gasperi R, Perez Garcia GS, Perez GM, Searcy C, Vargas D, Spencer A, Janssen PL, Tschiffely AE, McCarron RM, Ache B, Manoharan R, Janssen WG, Tappan SJ, Hanson RW, Gandy S, Hof PR, Ahlers ST, Elder GA. Low-level blast exposure disrupts gliovascular and neurovascular connections and induces a chronic vascular pathology in rat brain. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:6. [PMID: 30626447 PMCID: PMC6327415 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-018-0647-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Much concern exists over the role of blast-induced traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the chronic cognitive and mental health problems that develop in veterans and active duty military personnel. The brain vasculature is particularly sensitive to blast injury. The aim of this study was to characterize the evolving molecular and histologic alterations in the neurovascular unit induced by three repetitive low-energy blast exposures (3 × 74.5 kPa) in a rat model mimicking human mild TBI or subclinical blast exposure. High-resolution two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry of purified brain vascular fractions from blast-exposed animals 6 weeks post-exposure showed decreased levels of vascular-associated glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and several neuronal intermediate filament proteins (α-internexin and the low, middle, and high molecular weight neurofilament subunits). Loss of these proteins suggested that blast exposure disrupts gliovascular and neurovascular interactions. Electron microscopy confirmed blast-induced effects on perivascular astrocytes including swelling and degeneration of astrocytic endfeet in the brain cortical vasculature. Because the astrocyte is a major sensor of neuronal activity and regulator of cerebral blood flow, structural disruption of gliovascular integrity within the neurovascular unit should impair cerebral autoregulation. Disrupted neurovascular connections to pial and parenchymal blood vessels might also affect brain circulation. Blast exposures also induced structural and functional alterations in the arterial smooth muscle layer. Interestingly, by 8 months after blast exposure, GFAP and neuronal intermediate filament expression had recovered to control levels in isolated brain vascular fractions. However, despite this recovery, a widespread vascular pathology was still apparent at 10 months after blast exposure histologically and on micro-computed tomography scanning. Thus, low-level blast exposure disrupts gliovascular and neurovascular connections while inducing a chronic vascular pathology.
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35
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Transient disruption of mouse home cage activities and assessment of orexin immunoreactivity following concussive- or blast-induced brain injury. Brain Res 2018; 1700:138-151. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.08.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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36
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Uncertainty quantification for constitutive model calibration of brain tissue. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2018; 85:237-255. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2018.05.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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37
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Perez-Garcia G, Gama Sosa MA, De Gasperi R, Lashof-Sullivan M, Maudlin-Jeronimo E, Stone JR, Haghighi F, Ahlers ST, Elder GA. Chronic post-traumatic stress disorder-related traits in a rat model of low-level blast exposure. Behav Brain Res 2018; 340:117-125. [PMID: 27693852 PMCID: PMC11181290 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.09.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Revised: 09/25/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The postconcussion syndrome following mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) has been regarded as a mostly benign syndrome that typically resolves in the immediate months following injury. However, in some individuals, symptoms become chronic and persistent. This has been a striking feature of the mostly blast-related mTBIs that have been seen in veterans returning from the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. In these veterans a chronic syndrome with features of both the postconcussion syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder has been prominent. Animal modeling of blast-related TBI has developed rapidly over the last decade leading to advances in the understanding of blast pathophysiology. However, most studies have focused on acute to subacute effects of blast on the nervous system and have typically studied higher intensity blast exposures with energies more comparable to that involved in human moderate to severe TBI. Fewer animal studies have addressed the chronic effects of lower level blast exposures that are more comparable to those involved in human mTBI or subclinical blast. Here we describe a rat model of repetitive low-level blast exposure that induces a variety of anxiety and PTSD-related behavioral traits including exaggerated fear responses that were present when animals were tested between 28 and 35 weeks after the last blast exposure. These animals provide a model to study the chronic and persistent behavioral effects of blast including the relationship of PTSD to mTBI in dual diagnosis veterans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina Perez-Garcia
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Miguel A Gama Sosa
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Rita De Gasperi
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Margaret Lashof-Sullivan
- Department of Neurotrauma, Operational and Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Eric Maudlin-Jeronimo
- Department of Neurotrauma, Operational and Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - James R Stone
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Fatemeh Haghighi
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Stephen T Ahlers
- Department of Neurotrauma, Operational and Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Gregory A Elder
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Neurology Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA.
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Song H, Cui J, Simonyi A, Johnson CE, Hubler GK, DePalma RG, Gu Z. Linking blast physics to biological outcomes in mild traumatic brain injury: Narrative review and preliminary report of an open-field blast model. Behav Brain Res 2018; 340:147-158. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.08.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2016] [Revised: 08/13/2016] [Accepted: 08/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Basma A, Melek M, Anis R, Hejer D, Jamel Z, Ridha M. Myélite aiguë par effet blast. Presse Med 2018; 47:174-178. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lpm.2017.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2017] [Revised: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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PTSD-Related Behavioral Traits in a Rat Model of Blast-Induced mTBI Are Reversed by the mGluR2/3 Receptor Antagonist BCI-838. eNeuro 2018; 5:eN-NWR-0357-17. [PMID: 29387781 PMCID: PMC5790754 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0357-17.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Revised: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Battlefield blast exposure related to improvised explosive devices (IEDs) has become the most common cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mental health problems are common after TBI. A striking feature in the most recent veterans has been the frequency with which mild TBI (mTBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have appeared together, in contrast to the classical situations in which the presence of mTBI has excluded the diagnosis of PTSD. However, treatment of PTSD-related symptoms that follow blast injury has become a significant problem. BCI-838 (MGS0210) is a Group II metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR2/3) antagonist prodrug, and its active metabolite BCI-632 (MGS0039) has proneurogenic, procognitive, and antidepressant activities in animal models. In humans, BCI-838 is currently in clinical trials for refractory depression and suicidality. The aim of the current study was to determine whether BCI-838 could modify the anxiety response and reverse PTSD-related behaviors in rats exposed to a series of low-level blast exposures designed to mimic a human mTBI or subclinical blast exposure. BCI-838 treatment reversed PTSD-related behavioral traits improving anxiety and fear-related behaviors as well as long-term recognition memory. Treatment with BCI-838 also increased neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) of blast-exposed rats. The safety profile of BCI-838 together with the therapeutic activities reported here, make BCI-838 a promising drug for the treatment of former battlefield Warfighters suffering from PTSD-related symptoms following blast-induced mTBI.
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Rodriguez UA, Zeng Y, Deyo D, Parsley MA, Hawkins BE, Prough DS, DeWitt DS. Effects of Mild Blast Traumatic Brain Injury on Cerebral Vascular, Histopathological, and Behavioral Outcomes in Rats. J Neurotrauma 2018; 35:375-392. [PMID: 29160141 PMCID: PMC5784797 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2017.5256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
To determine the effects of mild blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI), several groups of rats were subjected to blast injury or sham injury in a compressed air-driven shock tube. The effects of bTBI on relative cerebral perfusion (laser Doppler flowmetry [LDF]), and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) cerebral vascular resistance were measured for 2 h post-bTBI. Dilator responses to reduced intravascular pressure were measured in isolated middle cerebral arterial (MCA) segments, ex vivo, 30 and 60 min post-bTBI. Neuronal injury was assessed (Fluoro-Jade C [FJC]) 24 and 48 h post-bTBI. Neurological outcomes (beam balance and walking tests) and working memory (Morris water maze [MWM]) were assessed 2 weeks post-bTBI. Because impact TBI (i.e., non-blast TBI) is often associated with reduced cerebral perfusion and impaired cerebrovascular function in part because of the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species such as peroxynitrite (ONOO-), the effects of the administration of the ONOO- scavenger, penicillamine methyl ester (PenME), on cerebral perfusion and cerebral vascular resistance were measured for 2 h post-bTBI. Mild bTBI resulted in reduced relative cerebral perfusion and MCA dilator responses to reduced intravascular pressure, increases in cerebral vascular resistance and in the numbers of FJC-positive cells in the brain, and significantly impaired working memory. PenME administration resulted in significant reductions in cerebral vascular resistance and a trend toward increased cerebral perfusion, suggesting that ONOO- may contribute to blast-induced cerebral vascular dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uylissa A. Rodriguez
- Cell Biology Graduate Program, Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Yaping Zeng
- The Moody Project for Translational Traumatic Brain Injury Research, Charles R. Allen Research Laboratories, Department of Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Donald Deyo
- The Moody Project for Translational Traumatic Brain Injury Research, Charles R. Allen Research Laboratories, Department of Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Margaret A. Parsley
- The Moody Project for Translational Traumatic Brain Injury Research, Charles R. Allen Research Laboratories, Department of Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Bridget E. Hawkins
- Cell Biology Graduate Program, Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Donald S. Prough
- The Moody Project for Translational Traumatic Brain Injury Research, Charles R. Allen Research Laboratories, Department of Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Douglas S. DeWitt
- Cell Biology Graduate Program, Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
- The Moody Project for Translational Traumatic Brain Injury Research, Charles R. Allen Research Laboratories, Department of Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
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Fievisohn E, Bailey Z, Guettler A, VandeVord P. Primary Blast Brain Injury Mechanisms: Current Knowledge, Limitations, and Future Directions. J Biomech Eng 2018; 140:2666247. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4038710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Mild blast traumatic brain injury (bTBI) accounts for the majority of brain injury in United States service members and other military personnel worldwide. The mechanisms of primary blast brain injury continue to be disputed with little evidence to support one or a combination of theories. The main hypotheses addressed in this review are blast wave transmission through the skull orifices, direct cranial transmission, skull flexure dynamics, thoracic surge, acceleration, and cavitation. Each possible mechanism is discussed using available literature with the goal of focusing research efforts to address the limitations and challenges that exist in blast injury research. Multiple mechanisms may contribute to the pathology of bTBI and could be dependent on magnitudes and orientation to blast exposure. Further focused biomechanical investigation with cadaver, in vivo, and finite element models would advance our knowledge of bTBI mechanisms. In addition, this understanding could guide future research and contribute to the greater goal of developing relevant injury criteria and mandates to protect our soldiers on the battlefield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Fievisohn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, 440 Kelly Hall, 325 Stanger Street, Blacksburg, VA 24061 e-mail:
| | - Zachary Bailey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, 440 Kelly Hall, 325 Stanger Street, Blacksburg, VA 24061 e-mail:
| | - Allison Guettler
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, 440 Kelly Hall, 325 Stanger Street, Blacksburg, VA 24061 e-mail:
| | - Pamela VandeVord
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, 317 Kelly Hall, 325 Stanger Street, Blacksburg, VA 24061; Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salam, VA 24153 e-mail:
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Chen ST, Siddarth P, Merrill DA, Martinez J, Emerson ND, Liu J, Wong KP, Satyamurthy N, Giza CC, Huang SC, Fitzsimmons RP, Bailes J, Omalu B, Barrio JR, Small GW. FDDNP-PET Tau Brain Protein Binding Patterns in Military Personnel with Suspected Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy1. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 65:79-88. [PMID: 30040711 PMCID: PMC6728605 DOI: 10.3233/jad-171152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Our group has shown that in vivo tau brain binding patterns from FDDNP-PET scans in retired professional football players with suspected chronic traumatic encephalopathy differ from those of tau and amyloid aggregate binding observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and cognitively-intact controls. OBJECTIVE To compare these findings with those from military personnel with histories of mild traumatic brain injury(mTBI). METHODS FDDNP-PET brain scans were compared among 7 military personnel and 15 retired players with mTBI histories and cognitive and/or mood symptoms, 24 AD patients, and 28 cognitively-intact controls. Nonparametric ANCOVAs with Tukey-Kramer adjusted post-hoc comparisons were used to test for significant differences in regional FDDNP binding among subject groups. RESULTS FDDNP brain binding was higher in military personnel compared to controls in the amygdala, midbrain, thalamus, pons, frontal and anterior and posterior cingulate regions (p < 0.01-0.0001). Binding patterns in the military personnel were similar to those of the players except for the amygdala and striatum (binding higher in players; p = 0.02-0.003). Compared with the AD group, the military personnel showed higher binding in the midbrain (p = 0.0008) and pons (p = 0.002) and lower binding in the medial temporal, lateral temporal, and parietal regions (all p = 0.02). CONCLUSION This first study of in vivo tau and amyloid brain signals in military personnel with histories of mTBI shows binding patterns similar to those of retired football players and distinct from the binding patterns in AD and normal aging, suggesting the potential value of FDDNP-PET for early detection and treatment monitoring in varied at-risk populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen T. Chen
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Prabha Siddarth
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- UCLA Longevity Center at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - David A. Merrill
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- UCLA Longevity Center at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jacqueline Martinez
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- UCLA Longevity Center at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Natacha D. Emerson
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- UCLA Longevity Center at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Medical and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Koon-Pong Wong
- Department of Medical and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Nagichettiar Satyamurthy
- Department of Medical and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christopher C. Giza
- Department of Neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sung-Cheng Huang
- Department of Medical and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Julian Bailes
- Department of Neurosurgery, North Shore University Health System and University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Bennet Omalu
- Department of Medical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Jorge R. Barrio
- Department of Medical and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Gary W. Small
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- UCLA Longevity Center at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Tegeler CL, Gerdes L, Shaltout HA, Cook JF, Simpson SL, Lee SW, Tegeler CH. Successful use of closed-loop allostatic neurotechnology for post-traumatic stress symptoms in military personnel: self-reported and autonomic improvements. Mil Med Res 2017; 4:38. [PMID: 29502530 PMCID: PMC5740870 DOI: 10.1186/s40779-017-0147-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Military-related post-traumatic stress (PTS) is associated with numerous symptom clusters and diminished autonomic cardiovascular regulation. High-resolution, relational, resonance-based, electroencephalic mirroring (HIRREM®) is a noninvasive, closed-loop, allostatic, acoustic stimulation neurotechnology that produces real-time translation of dominant brain frequencies into audible tones of variable pitch and timing to support the auto-calibration of neural oscillations. We report clinical, autonomic, and functional effects after the use of HIRREM® for symptoms of military-related PTS. METHODS Eighteen service members or recent veterans (15 active-duty, 3 veterans, most from special operations, 1 female), with a mean age of 40.9 (SD = 6.9) years and symptoms of PTS lasting from 1 to 25 years, undertook 19.5 (SD = 1.1) sessions over 12 days. Inventories for symptoms of PTS (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist - Military version, PCL-M), insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index, ISI), depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, CES-D), and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale, GAD-7) were collected before (Visit 1, V1), immediately after (Visit 2, V2), and at 1 month (Visit 3, V3), 3 (Visit 4, V4), and 6 (Visit 5, V5) months after intervention completion. Other measures only taken at V1 and V2 included blood pressure and heart rate recordings to analyze heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), functional performance (reaction and grip strength) testing, blood and saliva for biomarkers of stress and inflammation, and blood for epigenetic testing. Paired t-tests, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and a repeated-measures ANOVA were performed. RESULTS Clinically relevant, significant reductions in all symptom scores were observed at V2, with durability through V5. There were significant improvements in multiple measures of HRV and BRS [Standard deviation of the normal beat to normal beat interval (SDNN), root mean square of the successive differences (rMSSD), high frequency (HF), low frequency (LF), and total power, HF alpha, sequence all, and systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure] as well as reaction testing. Trends were seen for improved grip strength and a reduction in C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Angiotensin II to Angiotensin 1-7 ratio and Interleukin-10, with no change in DNA n-methylation. There were no dropouts or adverse events reported. CONCLUSIONS Service members or veterans showed reductions in symptomatology of PTS, insomnia, depressive mood, and anxiety that were durable through 6 months after the use of a closed-loop allostatic neurotechnology for the auto-calibration of neural oscillations. This study is the first to report increased HRV or BRS after the use of an intervention for service members or veterans with PTS. Ongoing investigations are strongly warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT03230890 , retrospectively registered July 25, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine L Tegeler
- Department of Neurology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Lee Gerdes
- Brain State Technologies, LLC, 15150 North Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, USA
| | - Hossam A Shaltout
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Jared F Cook
- Department of Neurology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Sean L Simpson
- Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Sung W Lee
- Brain State Technologies, LLC, 15150 North Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, USA
| | - Charles H Tegeler
- Department of Neurology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
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Gama Sosa MA, De Gasperi R, Perez Garcia GS, Sosa H, Searcy C, Vargas D, Janssen PL, Perez GM, Tschiffely AE, Janssen WG, McCarron RM, Hof PR, Haghighi FG, Ahlers ST, Elder GA. Lack of chronic neuroinflammation in the absence of focal hemorrhage in a rat model of low-energy blast-induced TBI. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2017; 5:80. [PMID: 29126430 PMCID: PMC6389215 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-017-0483-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Blast-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been a common cause of injury in the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Blast waves can damage blood vessels, neurons, and glial cells within the brain. Acutely, depending on the blast energy, blast wave duration, and number of exposures, blast waves disrupt the blood-brain barrier, triggering microglial activation and neuroinflammation. Recently, there has been much interest in the role that ongoing neuroinflammation may play in the chronic effects of TBI. Here, we investigated whether chronic neuroinflammation is present in a rat model of repetitive low-energy blast exposure. Six weeks after three 74.5-kPa blast exposures, and in the absence of hemorrhage, no significant alteration in the level of microglia activation was found. At 6 weeks after blast exposure, plasma levels of fractalkine, interleukin-1β, lipopolysaccharide-inducible CXC chemokine, macrophage inflammatory protein 1α, and vascular endothelial growth factor were decreased. However, no differences in cytokine levels were detected between blast-exposed and control rats at 40 weeks. In brain, isolated changes were seen in levels of selected cytokines at 6 weeks following blast exposure, but none of these changes was found in both hemispheres or at 40 weeks after blast exposure. Notably, one animal with a focal hemorrhagic tear showed chronic microglial activation around the lesion 16 weeks post-blast exposure. These findings suggest that focal hemorrhage can trigger chronic focal neuroinflammation following blast-induced TBI, but that in the absence of hemorrhage, chronic neuroinflammation is not a general feature of low-level blast injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Gama Sosa
- General Medical Research Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, New York, 10468, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Rita De Gasperi
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Georgina S Perez Garcia
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Heidi Sosa
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Courtney Searcy
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Danielle Vargas
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Pierce L Janssen
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gissel M Perez
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Anna E Tschiffely
- Operational and Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - William G Janssen
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Richard M McCarron
- Operational and Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, USA
- Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Fatemeh G Haghighi
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephen T Ahlers
- Operational and Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Gregory A Elder
- Neurology Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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The influence of traumatic brain injury on treatment outcomes of Concurrent Treatment for PTSD and Substance Use Disorders Using Prolonged Exposure (COPE) in veterans. Compr Psychiatry 2017; 78:48-53. [PMID: 28803041 PMCID: PMC5600865 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2017.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Revised: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The co-occurrence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorders (SUD), and traumatic brain injury (TBI) in veterans of Operations Enduring/Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn has received much attention in the literature. Although hypotheses have been presented and disseminated that TBI history will negatively influence treatment response, little data exist to support these claims. The present study investigates the influence of TBI history on response to COPE (Concurrent Treatment of PTSD and SUD Using Prolonged Exposure), a 12-session, integrated psychotherapy designed to address co-occurring PTSD and SUD. METHOD Participants were 51 veterans with current PTSD and SUD enrolled in a clinical trial examining COPE. Assessments of PTSD symptoms, substance use, and depression were collected at baseline and each treatment session. A TBI measure was used to dichotomize veterans into groups with and without a history of TBI (ns=30 and 21, respectively). RESULTS Participants with and without TBI history demonstrated significant improvements in PTSD and depression symptoms during the course of treatment. However, participants with TBI history experienced less improvement relative to participants without TBI history. CONCLUSIONS The present findings suggest that, although patients with a TBI history respond to treatment, their response to treatment was less so than that observed in patients without a TBI history. As such, identification, symptom monitoring, and treatment practices may require alteration and further special consideration in individuals with PTSD, SUD and TBI.
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Sawyer TW, Ritzel DV, Wang Y, Josey T, Villanueva M, Nelson P, Song Y, Shei Y, Hennes G, Vair C, Parks S, Fan C, McLaws L. Primary Blast Causes Delayed Effects without Cell Death in Shell-Encased Brain Cell Aggregates. J Neurotrauma 2017; 35:174-186. [PMID: 28726571 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2016.4961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous work in this laboratory used underwater explosive exposures to isolate the effects of shock-induced principle stress without shear on rat brain aggregate cultures. The current study has utilized simulated air blast to expose aggregates in suspension and enclosed within a spherical shell, enabling the examination of a much more complex biomechanical insult. Culture medium-filled spheres were exposed to single pulse overpressures of 15-30 psi (∼6-7 msec duration) and measurements within the sphere at defined sites showed complex and spatially dependent pressure changes. When brain aggregates were exposed to similar conditions, no cell death was observed and no changes in several commonly used biomarkers of traumatic brain injury (TBI) were noted. However, similarly to underwater blast, immediate and transient increases in the protein kinase B signaling pathway were observed at early time-points (3 days). In contrast, the oligodendrocyte marker 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase, as well as vascular endothelial growth factor, both displayed markedly delayed (14-28 days) and pressure-dependent responses. The imposition of a spherical shell between the single pulse shock wave and the target brain tissue introduces greatly increased complexity to the insult. This work shows that brain tissue can not only discriminate the nature of the pressure changes it experiences, but that a portion of its response is significantly delayed. These results have mechanistic implications for the study of primary blast-induced TBI and also highlight the importance of rigorously characterizing the actual pressure variations experienced by target tissue in primary blast studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W Sawyer
- 1 Defence Research and Development Canada, Suffield Research Center , Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Yushan Wang
- 1 Defence Research and Development Canada, Suffield Research Center , Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
| | - Tyson Josey
- 1 Defence Research and Development Canada, Suffield Research Center , Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
| | - Mercy Villanueva
- 1 Defence Research and Development Canada, Suffield Research Center , Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
| | - Peggy Nelson
- 1 Defence Research and Development Canada, Suffield Research Center , Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
| | - Yanfeng Song
- 1 Defence Research and Development Canada, Suffield Research Center , Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
| | - Yimin Shei
- 1 Defence Research and Development Canada, Suffield Research Center , Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
| | - Grant Hennes
- 1 Defence Research and Development Canada, Suffield Research Center , Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
| | - Cory Vair
- 1 Defence Research and Development Canada, Suffield Research Center , Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Changyang Fan
- 4 Canada West Biosciences , Camrose, Alberta, Canada
| | - Lori McLaws
- 1 Defence Research and Development Canada, Suffield Research Center , Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
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Ouyang J, Pace E, Lepczyk L, Kaufman M, Zhang J, Perrine SA, Zhang J. Blast-Induced Tinnitus and Elevated Central Auditory and Limbic Activity in Rats: A Manganese-Enhanced MRI and Behavioral Study. Sci Rep 2017; 7:4852. [PMID: 28687812 PMCID: PMC5501813 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-04941-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 04/27/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Blast-induced tinitus is the number one service-connected disability that currently affects military personnel and veterans. To elucidate its underlying mechanisms, we subjected 13 Sprague Dawley adult rats to unilateral 14 psi blast exposure to induce tinnitus and measured auditory and limbic brain activity using manganese-enhanced MRI (MEMRI). Tinnitus was evaluated with a gap detection acoustic startle reflex paradigm, while hearing status was assessed with prepulse inhibition (PPI) and auditory brainstem responses (ABRs). Both anxiety and cognitive functioning were assessed using elevated plus maze and Morris water maze, respectively. Five weeks after blast exposure, 8 of the 13 blasted rats exhibited chronic tinnitus. While acoustic PPI remained intact and ABR thresholds recovered, the ABR wave P1-N1 amplitude reduction persisted in all blast-exposed rats. No differences in spatial cognition were observed, but blasted rats as a whole exhibited increased anxiety. MEMRI data revealed a bilateral increase in activity along the auditory pathway and in certain limbic regions of rats with tinnitus compared to age-matched controls. Taken together, our data suggest that while blast-induced tinnitus may play a role in auditory and limbic hyperactivity, the non-auditory effects of blast and potential traumatic brain injury may also exert an effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Ouyang
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Edward Pace
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Laura Lepczyk
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Michael Kaufman
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Jessica Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Shane A Perrine
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Jinsheng Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
- Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, Wayne State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
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Ivanov I, Fernandez C, Mitsis EM, Dickstein DL, Wong E, Tang CY, Simantov J, Bang C, Moshier E, Sano M, Elder GA, Hazlett EA. Blast Exposure, White Matter Integrity, and Cognitive Function in Iraq and Afghanistan Combat Veterans. Front Neurol 2017; 8:127. [PMID: 28484418 PMCID: PMC5399028 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2017.00127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The long-term effects of blast exposure are a major health concern for combat veterans returning from the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. We used an optimized diffusion tensor imaging tractography algorithm to assess white matter (WM) fractional anisotropy (FA) in blast-exposed Iraq and Afghanistan veterans (n = 40) scanned on average 3.7 years after deployment/trauma exposure. Veterans diagnosed with a blast-related mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) were compared to combat veterans with blast exposure but no TBI diagnosis. Blast exposure was associated with decreased FA in several WM tracts. However, total blast exposure did not correlate well with neuropsychological testing performance and there were no differences in FA based on mTBI diagnosis. Yet, veterans with mTBI performed worse on every neurocognitive test administered. Multiple linear regression across all blast-exposed veterans using a six-factor prediction model indicated that the amount of blast exposure accounted for 11–15% of the variability in composite FA scores such that as blast exposure increased, FA decreased. Education accounted for 10% of the variability in composite FA scores and 25–32% of FA variability in the right cingulum, such that as level of education increased, FA increased. Total blast exposure, age, and education were significant predictors of FA in the left cingulum. We did not find any effect of post-traumatic stress disorder on cognition or composite FA. In summary, our findings suggest that greater total blast exposure is a contributing factor to poor WM integrity. While FA was not associated with neurocognitive performance, we hypothesize that FA changes in the cingulum in veterans with multiple combat exposures and no head trauma prior to deployment may represent a marker of vulnerability for future deficits. Future work needs to examine this longitudinally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iliyan Ivanov
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Corey Fernandez
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Research & Development, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Effie M Mitsis
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Rehabilitation Medicine Service, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Dara L Dickstein
- Department of Pathology, Uniformed Service University of Health Science, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Edmund Wong
- Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cheuk Y Tang
- Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jessie Simantov
- Rehabilitation Medicine Service, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.,Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Charlene Bang
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Rehabilitation Medicine Service, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Erin Moshier
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mary Sano
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Research & Development, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Gregory A Elder
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Neurology Service, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Erin A Hazlett
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Research & Development, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.,Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC VISN 2 South), James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
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50
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Neuropathology and neurobehavioral alterations in a rat model of traumatic brain injury to occupants of vehicles targeted by underbody blasts. Exp Neurol 2017; 289:9-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2016.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2016] [Revised: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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