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Sutar S, Ganpule SG. In Silico Investigation of Biomechanical Response of a Human Brain Subjected to Primary Blast. J Biomech Eng 2024; 146:081007. [PMID: 38421339 DOI: 10.1115/1.4064968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The brain response to the explosion-induced primary blast waves is actively sought. Over the past decade, reasonable progress has been made in the fundamental understanding of blast traumatic brain injury (bTBI) using head surrogates and animal models. Yet, the current understanding of how blast waves interact with human is in nascent stages, primarily due to the lack of data in human. The biomechanical response in human is critically required to faithfully establish the connection to the aforementioned bTBI models. In this work, the biomechanical cascade of the brain under a primary blast has been elucidated using a detailed, full-body human model. The full-body model allowed us to holistically probe short- (<5 ms) and long-term (200 ms) brain responses. The full-body model has been extensively validated against impact loading in the past. We have further validated the head model against blast loading. We have also incorporated the structural anisotropy of the brain white matter. The blast wave transmission, and linear and rotational motion of the head were dominant pathways for the loading of the brain, and these loading paradigms generated distinct biomechanical fields within the brain. Blast transmission and linear motion of the head governed the volumetric response, whereas the rotational motion of the head governed the deviatoric response. Blast induced head rotation alone produced diffuse injury pattern in white matter fiber tracts. The biomechanical response under blast was comparable to the impact event. These insights will augment laboratory and clinical investigations of bTBI and help devise better blast mitigation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Sutar
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - S G Ganpule
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, Uttarakhand, India
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2
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Asfaw ZK, Greisman JD, Comuniello B, Shlobin NA, Etienne M, Zuckerman SL, Laeke T, Al-Sharshahi ZF, Barthélemy EJ. Global Neurosurgery Advances From Trenches to Bedside: Lessons From Neurosurgical Care in War, Humanitarian Assistance, and Disaster Response. Mil Med 2024; 189:e532-e540. [PMID: 37261884 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usad170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION War has influenced the evolution of global neurosurgery throughout the past century. Armed conflict and mass casualty disasters (MCDs), including Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief missions, require military surgeons to innovate to meet extreme demands. However, the military medical apparatus is seldom integrated into the civilian health care sector. Neurosurgeons serving in the military have provided a pragmatic template for global neurosurgeons to emulate in humanitarian disaster responses. In this paper, we explore how wars and MCD have influenced innovations of growing interest in the resource-limited settings of global neurosurgery. METHODS We performed a narrative review of the literature examining the influence of wars and MCD on contemporary global neurosurgery practices. RESULTS Wartime innovations that influenced global neurosurgery include the development of triage systems and modernization with airlifts, the implementation of ambulance corps, early operation on cranial injuries in hospital camps near the battlefield, the use of combat body armor, and the rise of damage control neurosurgery. In addition to promoting task-shifting and task-sharing, workforce shortages during wars and disasters contributed to the establishment of the physician assistant/physician associate profession in the USA. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face similar challenges in developing trauma systems and obtaining advanced technology, including neurosurgical equipment like battery-powered computed tomography scanners. These challenges-ubiquitous in low-resource settings-have underpinned innovations in triage and wound care, rapid evacuation to tertiary care centers, and minimizing infection risk. CONCLUSION War and MCDs have catalyzed significant advancements in neurosurgical care both in the pre-hospital and inpatient settings. Most of these innovations originated in the military and subsequently spread to the civilian sector as military neurosurgeons and reservist civilian neurosurgeons returned from the battlefront or other low-resource locations. Military neurosurgeons have utilized their experience in low-resource settings to make volunteer global neurosurgery efforts in LMICs successful. LMICs have, by necessity, responded to challenges arising from resource shortages by developing innovative, context-specific care paradigms and technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zerubabbel K Asfaw
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Jacob D Greisman
- Department of Neurology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
| | - Briana Comuniello
- Department of Neurology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
| | - Nathan A Shlobin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Mill Etienne
- Department of Neurology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
| | - Scott L Zuckerman
- Department of Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Tsegazeab Laeke
- Neurosurgery Division, Department of Surgery, Addis Ababa University, Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Zahraa F Al-Sharshahi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Ernest J Barthélemy
- Division of Neurosurgery, SUNY Downstate College of Medicine, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA
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Li C, Chen S, Siedhoff HR, Grant D, Liu P, Balderrama A, Jackson M, Zuckerman A, Greenlief CM, Kobeissy F, Wang KW, DePalma RG, Cernak I, Cui J, Gu Z. Low-intensity open-field blast exposure effects on neurovascular unit ultrastructure in mice. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:144. [PMID: 37674234 PMCID: PMC10481586 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01636-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) induced by low-intensity blast (LIB) is a serious health problem affecting military service members and veterans. Our previous reports using a single open-field LIB mouse model showed the absence of gross microscopic damage or necrosis in the brain, while transmission electron microscopy (TEM) identified ultrastructural abnormalities of myelin sheaths, mitochondria, and synapses. The neurovascular unit (NVU), an anatomical and functional system with multiple components, is vital for the regulation of cerebral blood flow and cellular interactions. In this study, we delineated ultrastructural abnormalities affecting the NVU in mice with LIB exposure quantitatively and qualitatively. Luminal constrictive irregularities were identified at 7 days post-injury (DPI) followed by dilation at 30 DPI along with degeneration of pericytes. Quantitative proteomic analysis identified significantly altered vasomotor-related proteins at 24 h post-injury. Endothelial cell, basement membrane and astrocyte end-foot swellings, as well as vacuole formations, occurred in LIB-exposed mice, indicating cellular edema. Structural abnormalities of tight junctions and astrocyte end-foot detachment from basement membranes were also noted. These ultrastructural findings demonstrate that LIB induces multiple-component NVU damage. Prevention of NVU damage may aid in identifying therapeutic targets to mitigate the effects of primary brain blast injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Li
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, One Hospital Drive, Medical Science Building, M741, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, China
| | - Shanyan Chen
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, One Hospital Drive, Medical Science Building, M741, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
- Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA
| | - Heather R Siedhoff
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, One Hospital Drive, Medical Science Building, M741, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
- Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA
| | - DeAna Grant
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Pei Liu
- Charles W. Gehrke Proteomic Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Ashley Balderrama
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, One Hospital Drive, Medical Science Building, M741, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
- Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA
| | - Marcus Jackson
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, One Hospital Drive, Medical Science Building, M741, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
| | - Amitai Zuckerman
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, One Hospital Drive, Medical Science Building, M741, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
- Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA
| | - C Michael Greenlief
- Charles W. Gehrke Proteomic Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Firas Kobeissy
- Department of Neurobiology, Center for Neurotrauma, Multiomics & Biomarkers (CNMB), Neuroscience Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30310-1458, USA
- Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA, 30033, USA
| | - Kevin W Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, Center for Neurotrauma, Multiomics & Biomarkers (CNMB), Neuroscience Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30310-1458, USA
- Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA, 30033, USA
| | - Ralph G DePalma
- Office of Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, 20420, USA
- Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Ibolja Cernak
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, GA, 31207, USA
| | - Jiankun Cui
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, One Hospital Drive, Medical Science Building, M741, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
- Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA
| | - Zezong Gu
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, One Hospital Drive, Medical Science Building, M741, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA.
- Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA.
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Naumenko Y, Yuryshinetz I, Zabenko Y, Pivneva T. Mild traumatic brain injury as a pathological process. Heliyon 2023; 9:e18342. [PMID: 37519712 PMCID: PMC10372741 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as dysfunction or other evidence of brain pathology caused by external physical force. More than 69 million new cases of TBI are registered worldwide each year, 80% of them - mild TBI. Based on the physical mechanism of induced trauma, we can separate its pathophysiology into primary and secondary injuries. Many literature sources have confirmed that mechanically induced brain injury initiates ionic, metabolic, inflammatory, and neurovascular changes in the CNS, which can lead to acute, subacute, and chronic neurological consequences. Despite the global nature of the disease, its high heterogeneity, lack of a unified classification system, rapid fluctuation of epidemiological trends, and variability of long-term consequences significantly complicate research and the development of new therapeutic strategies. In this review paper, we systematize current knowledge of biomechanical and molecular mechanisms of mild TBI and provide general information on the classification and epidemiology of this complex disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yana Naumenko
- Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Department of Sensory Signalization, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Irada Yuryshinetz
- Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Department of Sensory Signalization, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Yelyzaveta Zabenko
- Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Department of Sensory Signalization, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Tetyana Pivneva
- Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Department of Sensory Signalization, Kyiv, Ukraine
- Kyiv Academic University, Kyiv, Ukraine
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Hellewell SC, Granger DA, Cernak I. Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Results in Spatially Distinct Gray Matter Alteration Alongside Hormonal Alteration: A Preliminary Investigation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076797. [PMID: 37047768 PMCID: PMC10094760 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Blast-induced neurotrauma (BINT) frequently occurs during military training and deployment and has been linked to long-term neuropsychological and neurocognitive changes, and changes in brain structure. As military personnel experience frequent exposures to stress, BINT may negatively influence stress coping abilities. This study aimed to determine the effects of BINT on gray matter volume and hormonal alteration. Participants were Canadian Armed Forces personnel and veterans with a history of BINT (n = 12), and first responder controls (n = 8), recruited due to their characteristic occupational stress professions. Whole saliva was collected via passive drool on the morning of testing and analyzed for testosterone (pg/mL), cortisol (μg/dL), and testosterone/cortisol (T/C) ratio. Voxel-based morphometry was performed to compare gray matter (GM) volume, alongside measurement of cortical thickness and subcortical volumes. Saliva analyses revealed distinct alterations following BINT, with significantly elevated testosterone and T/C ratio. Widespread and largely symmetric loci of reduced GM were found specific to BINT, particularly in the temporal gyrus, precuneus, and thalamus. These findings suggest that BINT affects hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and -gonadal axis function, and causes anatomically-specific GM loss, which were not observed in a comparator group with similar occupational stressors. These findings support BINT as a unique injury with distinct structural and endocrine consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C Hellewell
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia
- The Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Douglas A Granger
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Ibolja Cernak
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Mercer University School of Medicine, Columbus, GA 31902, USA
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Muresanu DF, Sharma A, Tian ZR, Lafuente JV, Nozari A, Feng L, Buzoianu AD, Wiklund L, Sharma HS. Nanowired Delivery of Cerebrolysin with Mesenchymal Stem Cells Attenuates Heat Stress-Induced Exacerbation of Neuropathology Following Brain Blast Injury. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 32:231-270. [PMID: 37480463 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-32997-5_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Blast brain injury (bBI) following explosive detonations in warfare is one of the prominent causes of multidimensional insults to the central nervous and other vital organs injury. Several military personnel suffered from bBI during the Middle East conflict at hot environment. The bBI largely occurs due to pressure waves, generation of heat together with release of shrapnel and gun powders explosion with penetrating and/or impact head trauma causing multiple brain damage. As a result, bBI-induced secondary injury causes breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and edema formation that further results in neuronal, glial and axonal injuries. Previously, we reported endocrine imbalance and influence of diabetes on bBI-induced brain pathology that was significantly attenuated by nanowired delivery of cerebrolysin in model experiments. Cerebrolysin is a balanced composition of several neurotrophic factors, and active peptide fragment is capable of neuroprotection in several neurological insults. Exposure to heat stress alone causes BBB damage, edema formation and brain pathology. Thus, it is quite likely that hot environment further exacerbates the consequences of bBI. Thus, novel therapeutic strategies using nanodelivery of stem cell and cerebrolysin may further enhance superior neuroprotection in bBI at hot environment. Our observations are the first to show that combined nanowired delivery of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and cerebrolysin significantly attenuated exacerbation of bBI in hot environment and induced superior neuroprotection, not reported earlier. The possible mechanisms of neuroprotection with MSCs and cerebrolysin in bBI are discussed in the light of current literature.
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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
| | - Z Ryan Tian
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
| | - José Vicente Lafuente
- LaNCE, Department of Neuroscience, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Ala Nozari
- Anesthesiology & Intensive Care, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lianyuan Feng
- Department of Neurology, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Zhongshan, Hebei Province, China
| | - Anca D Buzoianu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - 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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Belding JN, Kolaja CA, Rull RP, Trone DW. Single and repeated high-level blast, low-level blast, and new-onset self-reported health conditions in the U.S. Millennium Cohort Study: An exploratory investigation. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1110717. [PMID: 37025202 PMCID: PMC10070873 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1110717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Although previous research suggests that overpressure exposure from either high-level blast (HLB) or low-level blast (LLB) are harmful to health, to date no large-scale studies with representative samples of military personnel have utilized prospective designs and self-reported measures to examine the relationships between blast exposure and health conditions. To address these limitations, this analysis of data from the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), the largest and longest running study of U.S. service members and veterans, examined (1) whether single or repeated HLB exposure is associated with self-reported diagnoses of illness and injury, (2) whether repeated HLB is associated with greater risk than single HLB, (3) potential adverse consequences of LLB exposure using military occupation as a proxy, and (4) the combined effects of single or repeated HLB and LLB exposure. Method MCS participants who completed the 2011-2013 survey (N = 138,949) were classified as having been exposed to "no," "single," or "repeated" HLB exposure, and into low or high risk of exposure to LLB based on occupation. Participants self-reported diagnosis of 45 medical conditions; newly reported diagnoses were regressed on single and repeated (vs. no) HLB, occupational risk of LLB, and relevant interactions using logistic regression. Results Single and repeated HLB were associated with new onset of 25 and 29 diagnoses, respectively; repeated HLB exposure was associated with greater risk than single HLB exposure for five diagnoses (e.g., PTSD, depression). Occupational risk of LLB was associated with 11 diagnoses (e.g., PTSD, significant hearing loss). Additionally, 14 significant interactions were detected across 11 diagnoses. Discussion Findings suggest that overpressure exposure (including single HLB, repeated HLB, and occupational risk of LLB) may increase the risks of self-reporting clinical diagnoses of PTSD, hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, neuropathy-caused reduced sensation in the hands and feet, depression, vision loss, sinusitis, reflux, and anemia. Furthermore, the combination of HLB and LLB exposure may be associated with greater risk of migraines, PTSD, and impaired fecundity. These findings provide further evidence of the potential adverse consequences associated with overpressure exposure and underscore the necessity of public health surveillance initiatives for blast exposure and/or safety recommendations for training and operational environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer N. Belding
- Leidos, San Diego, CA, United States
- Deployment Health Research Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Jennifer N. Belding
| | - Claire A. Kolaja
- Leidos, San Diego, CA, United States
- Deployment Health Research Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Rudolph P. Rull
- Deployment Health Research Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Daniel W. Trone
- Deployment Health Research Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
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Hong XJ, Han KW, Chen RB, Zhao L, Zhang DF, Jiang L, Li YM, Lv LQ, Hou LJ, Xu T. Treating traumatic brain injury at sea: how to improve the skills and capabilities of the naval medical personnel. Mil Med Res 2022; 9:67. [PMID: 36464723 PMCID: PMC9721064 DOI: 10.1186/s40779-022-00428-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Jie Hong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Kai-Wei Han
- Department of Neurosurgery, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Rong-Bin Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Liang Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Dan-Feng Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Lei Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Yi-Ming Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Li-Quan Lv
- Department of Neurosurgery, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Li-Jun Hou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China.
| | - Tao Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China.
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Bibineyshvili Y, Schiff ND, Calderon DP. Dexmedetomidine-mediated sleep phase modulation ameliorates motor and cognitive performance in a chronic blast-injured mouse model. Front Neurol 2022; 13:1040975. [DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1040975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple studies have shown that blast injury is followed by sleep disruption linked to functional sequelae. It is well established that improving sleep ameliorates such functional deficits. However, little is known about longitudinal brain activity changes after blast injury. In addition, the effects of directly modulating the sleep/wake cycle on learning task performance after blast injury remain unclear. We hypothesized that modulation of the sleep phase cycle in our injured mice would improve post-injury task performance. Here, we have demonstrated that excessive sleep electroencephalographic (EEG) patterns are accompanied by prominent motor and cognitive impairment during acute stage after secondary blast injury (SBI) in a mouse model. Over time we observed a transition to more moderate and prolonged sleep/wake cycle disturbances, including changes in theta and alpha power. However, persistent disruptions of the non-rapid eye movement (NREM) spindle amplitude and intra-spindle frequency were associated with lasting motor and cognitive deficits. We, therefore, modulated the sleep phase of injured mice using subcutaneous (SC) dexmedetomidine (Dex), a common, clinically used sedative. Dex acutely improved intra-spindle frequency, theta and alpha power, and motor task execution in chronically injured mice. Moreover, dexmedetomidine ameliorated cognitive deficits a week after injection. Our results suggest that SC Dex might potentially improve impaired motor and cognitive behavior during daily tasks in patients that are chronically impaired by blast-induced injuries.
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10
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Close proximity to blast: No long-term or lasting effect on cognitive performance in service members with and without TBI during blast exposure. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2022:1-10. [PMID: 36200831 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617722000558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Blast related characteristics may contribute to the diversity of findings on whether mild traumatic brain injury sustained during war zone deployment has lasting cognitive effects. This study aims to evaluate whether a history of blast exposure at close proximity, defined as exposure within 30 feet, has long-term or lasting influences on cognitive outcomes among current and former military personnel. METHOD One hundred participants were assigned to one of three groups based on a self-report history of blast exposure during combat deployments: 47 close blast, 14 non-close blast, and 39 comparison participants without blast exposure. Working memory, processing speed, verbal learning/memory, and cognitive flexibility were evaluated using standard neuropsychological tests. In addition, assessment of combat exposure and current post-concussive, posttraumatic stress, and depressive symptoms, and headache was performed via self-report measures. Variables that differed between groups were controlled as covariates. RESULTS No group differences survived Bonferroni correction for family-wise error rate; the close blast group did not differ from non-close blast and comparison groups on measures of working memory, processing speed, verbal learning/memory, or cognitive flexibility. Controlling for covariates did not alter these results. CONCLUSION No evidence emerged to suggest that a history of close blast exposure was associated with decreased cognitive performance when comparisons were made with the other groups. Limited characterization of blast contexts experienced, self-report of blast distance, and heterogeneity of injury severity within the groups are the main limitations of this study.
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11
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Dang DD, Boulter JH, Meister MR, Dang JV, Ling G, Ecklund J. Operation "NeuroTeam": rendering the absolute best care for the most deserving patients under the most difficult conditions. Neurosurg Focus 2022; 53:E17. [DOI: 10.3171/2022.6.focus22242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The tenets of neurosurgery worldwide, whether in the civilian or military sector, espouse vigilance, the ability to adapt, extreme ownership, and, of course, an innate drive for developing a unique set of technical skills. At a time in history when the complexity of battlefield neurotrauma climaxed coupled with a chronic shortage of military neurosurgeons, modernized solutions were mandated in order to deliver world-class neurological care to our servicemen and servicewomen. Complex blast injuries, as caused by an increased incidence of improvised explosive devices, yielded widespread systemic inflammatory responses with multiorgan damage. In response to these challenges, the "NeuroTeam," originally a unit of two neurosurgeons as deployed during Operation Desert Storm, was redesigned to instead pair a neurosurgeon with a neurointensivist and launched itself during two specialized missions in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Representing a hybridized version of present-day neurocritical care teams, the purpose of this unit was to optimize neurosurgical care by focusing on interdisciplinary collaboration in an Echelon III combat support hospital. The NeuroTeam provided unique workflow capabilities never seen collectively on the battlefield: downrange neurosurgical capability by a board-certified neurological surgeon within 60 minutes from the point of injury paired with a neurocritical care–trained intensivist. This also set the stage for intraoperative telemedicine infrastructure for neurosurgery and optimized the ability to evaluate, triage, and stabilize patients prior to medical evacuation. This novel military partnership ultimately allowed the neurosurgeon to focus on the tenets of the craft and thereby the dynamic needs of the patient first and foremost.
Since the success of these missions, the NeuroTeam has evolved into a detachable unit, the "Head and Neck Team," comprising neurosurgeons, otolaryngologists, and ophthalmologists, supported by a postinjury hospital unit, which includes an embedded neurocritical care physician. The creation and evolution of the NeuroTeam, necessitated by a shortage of military neurosurgeons and the dangerous shift in military wartime tactics, best exemplifies multidisciplinary collaboration and military medicine agility. As neurocritical care continues to evolve into a highly complex, distinct specialty, the lessons learned by the NeuroTeam ultimately serve as a reminder for civilian and military physicians alike. Despite the conditions and despite one’s professional ego, patients with highly complex morbid neurological disease deserve expert, multidisciplinary management for survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle D. Dang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Inova Neurosciences, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Falls Church, Virginia
| | - Jason H. Boulter
- Department of Neurosurgery, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Melissa R. Meister
- Department of Neurosurgery, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - John V. Dang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland; and
| | - Geoffrey Ling
- Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, Anesthesia, & Critical Care, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - James Ecklund
- Department of Neurosurgery, Inova Neurosciences, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Falls Church, Virginia
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12
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Tung KTS, Wong RS, Ho FK, Chan KL, Wong WHS, Leung H, Leung M, Leung GKK, Chow CB, Ip P. Development and Validation of Indicators for Population Injury Surveillance in Hong Kong: Development and Usability Study. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2022; 8:e36861. [PMID: 35980728 PMCID: PMC9437780 DOI: 10.2196/36861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Injury is an increasingly pressing global health issue. An effective surveillance system is required to monitor the trends and burden of injuries. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to identify a set of valid and context-specific injury indicators to facilitate the establishment of an injury surveillance program in Hong Kong. METHODS This development of indicators adopted a multiphased modified Delphi research design. A literature search was conducted on academic databases using injury-related search terms in various combinations. A list of potential indicators was sent to a panel of experts from various backgrounds to rate the validity and context-specificity of these indicators. Local hospital data on the selected core indicators were used to examine their applicability in the context of Hong Kong. RESULTS We reviewed 142 articles and identified 55 indicators, which were classified into 4 domains. On the basis of the ratings by the expert panel, 13 indicators were selected as core indicators because of their good validity and high relevance to the local context. Among these indicators, 10 were from the construct of health care service use, and 3 were from the construct of postdischarge outcomes. Regression analyses of local hospitalization data showed that the Hong Kong Safe Community certification status had no association with 5 core indicators (admission to intensive care unit, mortality rate, length of intensive care unit stay, need for a rehabilitation facility, and long-term behavioral and emotional outcomes), negative associations with 4 core indicators (operative intervention, infection rate, length of hospitalization, and disability-adjusted life years), and positive associations with the remaining 4 core indicators (attendance to accident and emergency department, discharge rate, suicide rate, and hospitalization rate after attending the accident and emergency department). These results confirmed the validity of the selected core indicators for the quantification of injury burden and evaluation of injury-related services, although some indicators may better measure the consequences of severe injuries. CONCLUSIONS This study developed a set of injury outcome indicators that would be useful for monitoring injury trends and burdens in Hong Kong.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith T S Tung
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Rosa S Wong
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Frederick K Ho
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Ko Ling Chan
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Wilfred H S Wong
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Hugo Leung
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Ming Leung
- Accident and Emergency Department, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Gilberto K K Leung
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Chun Bong Chow
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Patrick Ip
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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13
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Improvised explosive devices have resulted in a unique polytrauma injury pattern termed dismounted complex blast injury (DCBI), which is frequent in the modern military theater. Dismounted complex blast injury is characterized by extremity amputations, junctional vascular injury, and blast traumatic brain injury (bTBI). We developed a combat casualty relevant DCBI swine model, which combines hemorrhagic shock (HS) and tissue injury (TI) with a bTBI, to study interventions in this unique and devastating military injury pattern. METHODS A 50-kg male Yorkshire swine were randomized to the DCBI or SHAM group (instrumentation only). Those in the DCBI group were subjected to HS, TI, and bTBI. The blast injury was applied using a 55-psi shock tube wave. Tissue injury was created with bilateral open femur fractures. Hemorrhagic shock was induced by bleeding from femoral arteries to target pressure. A resuscitation protocol modified from the Tactical Combat Casualty Care guidelines simulated battlefield resuscitation for 240 minutes. RESULTS Eight swine underwent the DCBI model and five were allocated to the SHAM group. In the DCBI model the mean base excess achieved at the end of the HS shock was -8.57 ± 5.13 mmol·L -1 . A significant coagulopathy was detected in the DCBI model as measured by prothrombin time (15.8 seconds DCBI vs. 12.86 seconds SHAM; p = 0.02) and thromboelastography maximum amplitude (68.5 mm DCBI vs. 78.3 mm in SHAM; p = 0.0003). For the DCBI models, intracranial pressure (ICP) increased by a mean of 13 mm Hg, reaching a final ICP of 24 ± 7.7 mm Hg. CONCLUSION We created a reproducible large animal model to study the combined effects of severe HS, TI, and bTBI on coagulation and ICP in the setting of DCBI, with significant translational applications for the care of military warfighters. Within the 4-hour observational period, the swine developed a consistent coagulopathy with a concurrent brain injury evidenced by increasing ICP.
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14
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Kingston ACN, Woodin SA, Wethey DS, Speiser DI. Snapping shrimp have helmets that protect their brains by dampening shock waves. Curr Biol 2022; 32:3576-3583.e3. [PMID: 35793681 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.06.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Shock waves are supersonic high-amplitude pressure waves that cause barotrauma when they transfer kinetic energy to the tissues of animals.1-4 Snapping shrimp (Alpheidae) produce shock waves and are exposed to them frequently, so we asked if these animals have evolved mechanisms of physical protection against them. Snapping shrimp generate shock waves by closing their snapping claws rapidly enough to form cavitation bubbles that release energy as an audible "snap" and a shock wave when they collapse.5-8 We tested if snapping shrimp are protected from shock waves by a helmet-like extension of their exoskeleton termed the orbital hood. Using behavioral trials, we found shock wave exposure slowed shelter-seeking and caused a loss of motor control in Alpheus heterochaelis from which we had removed orbital hoods but did not significantly affect behavior in shrimp with unaltered orbital hoods. Shock waves thus have the potential to harm snapping shrimp but may not do so under natural conditions because of protection provided to shrimp by their orbital hoods. Using pressure recordings, we discovered the orbital hoods of A. heterochaelis dampen shock waves. Sealing the anterior openings of orbital hoods diminished how much they altered the magnitudes of shock waves, which suggests these helmet-like structures dampen shock waves by trapping and expelling water so that kinetic energy is redirected and released away from the heads of shrimp. Our results indicate orbital hoods mitigate blast-induced neurotrauma in snapping shrimp by dampening shock waves, making them the first biological armor system known to have such a function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra C N Kingston
- Department of Biological Science, The University of Tulsa, 800 South Tucker Drive, Tulsa, OK 74104 USA; Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, 715 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208 USA.
| | - Sarah A Woodin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, 715 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208 USA
| | - David S Wethey
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, 715 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208 USA
| | - Daniel I Speiser
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, 715 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208 USA
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15
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Hubbard WB, Velmurugan GV, Brown EP, Sullivan PG. Resilience of females to acute blood–brain barrier damage and anxiety behavior following mild blast traumatic brain injury. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:93. [PMID: 35761393 PMCID: PMC9235199 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01395-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractLow-level blast exposure can result in neurological impairment for military personnel. Currently, there is a lack of experimental data using sex as a biological variable in neurovascular outcomes following blast exposure. To model mild blast traumatic brain injury (mbTBI), male and female rats were exposed to a single 11 psi static peak overpressure blast wave using the McMillan blast device and cohorts were then euthanized at 6 h, 24 h, 7 d and 14 d post-blast followed by isolation of the amygdala. After mbTBI, animals experience immediate bradycardia, although no changes in oxygen saturation levels or weight loss are observed. Male mbTBI animals displayed significantly higher levels of anxiety-like behavior (open field and elevated plus maze) compared to male sham groups; however, there was no anxiety phenotype in female mbTBI animals. Blast-induced neurovascular damage was explored by measuring expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins (zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), occludin and claudin-5), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and astrocyte end-feet coverage around the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Western blot analysis demonstrates that TJ protein levels were significantly decreased at 6 h and 24 h post-mbTBI in male rats, but not in female rats, compared to sham. Female animals have decreased GFAP at 6 h post-mbTBI while male animals display decreased GFAP expression at 24 h post-mbTBI. By 7 d post-mbTBI, there were no significant differences in TJ or GFAP levels between groups in either sex. At 24 h post-mbTBI, vascular integrity and astrocytic end-feet coverage around the BBB was significantly decreased in males following mbTBI. These results demonstrate that loss of GFAP expression may be due to astrocytic damage at the BBB. Our findings also demonstrate sex differences in acute vascular and behavioral outcomes after single mbTBI. Female animals display a lack of BBB pathology after mbTBI corresponding to improved acute neuropsychological outcomes as compared to male animals.
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16
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Cralley AL, Moore EE, Fox CJ, Kissau D, DeBot M, Schaid TR, Mitra S, Hom P, Fragoso M, Ghasabyan A, Erickson C, D'Alessandro A, Hansen KC, Cohen MJ, Silliman CC, Sauaia A. Zone 1 REBOA in a combat DCBI swine model does not worsen brain injury. Surgery 2022; 172:751-758. [PMID: 35690490 PMCID: PMC9675949 DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2022.04.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Zone 1 resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta has been recommended for refractory shock after a dismounted complex blast injury for the austere combat scenario. While resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta should enhance coronary perfusion, there is a potential risk of secondary brain injury due to loss of cerebral autoregulation. We developed a combat casualty relevant dismounted complex blast injury swine model to evaluate the effects of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta zone I on intracranial pressure and cerebral edema. We hypothesized that zone 1 aortic occlusion with resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta would increase mean arterial pressure transmitted in excessive intracranial pressure, thereby worsening brain injury. METHODS 50 kg male Yorkshire swine were subjected to a combination dismounted complex blast injury model consisting of blast traumatic brain injury (50 psi, ARA Mobile Shock Laboratory), tissue injury (bilateral femur fractures), and hemorrhagic shock (controlled bleeding to a base deficit goal of 10 mEq/L). During the shock phase, pigs were randomized to no aortic occlusion (n = 8) or to 30 minutes of zone 1 resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (zone 1 aortic occlusion group, n = 6). After shock, pigs in both groups received a modified Tactical Combat Casualty Care-based resuscitation and were monitored for an additional 240 minutes until euthanasia/death for a total of 6 hours. Intracranial pressure was monitored throughout, and brains were harvested for water content. Linear mixed models for repeated measures were used to compare mean arterial pressure and intracranial pressure between zone 1 aortic occlusion and no aortic occlusion groups. RESULTS After dismounted complex blast injury, the zone 1 group had a significantly higher mean arterial pressure during hemorrhagic shock compared to the control group (41.2 mm Hg vs 16.7 mm Hg, P = .002). During balloon occlusion, intracranial pressure was not significantly elevated in the zone 1 aortic occlusion group vs control, but intracranial pressure was significantly lower in the zone 1 group at the end of the observation period. In addition, the zone 1 aortic occlusion group did not have increased brain water content (zone 1 aortic occlusion: 3.95 ± 0.1g vs no aortic occlusion: 3.95 ± 0.3 g, P = .87). Troponin levels significantly increased in the no aortic occlusion group but did not in the zone 1 aortic occlusion group. CONCLUSION Zone 1 aortic occlusion using resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta in a large animal dismounted complex blast injury model improved proximal mean arterial pressure while not significantly increasing intracranial pressure during balloon inflation. Observation up to 240 minutes postresuscitation did not show clinical signs of worsening brain injury or cardiac injury. These data suggest that in a dismounted complex blast injury swine model, resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta in zone 1 may provide neuro- and cardioprotection in the setting of blast traumatic brain injury. However, longer monitoring periods may be needed to confirm that the neuroprotection is lasting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ernest E Moore
- Department of Surgery, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO; Ernest E. Moore Shock Trauma Center at Denver Health, CO
| | - Charles J Fox
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University of Maryland Vascular Surgery Baltimore, MD
| | - Daniel Kissau
- Department of Surgery, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO
| | - Margot DeBot
- Department of Surgery, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO
| | - Terry R Schaid
- Department of Surgery, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO
| | | | - Patrick Hom
- Department of Surgery, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO
| | - Miguel Fragoso
- Department of Surgery, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO
| | | | - Christopher Erickson
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University of Maryland Vascular Surgery Baltimore, MD
| | - Angelo D'Alessandro
- Department of Proteomics and Metabolomics, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO
| | - Kirk C Hansen
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University of Maryland Vascular Surgery Baltimore, MD; Department of Proteomics and Metabolomics, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO
| | | | - Christopher C Silliman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO; Vitalant Research Institute, Denver, CO
| | - Angela Sauaia
- Department of Health Systems, Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO
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17
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Colamaria A, Blagia M, Carbone F, Fochi NP. Blast-related traumatic brain injury: Report of a severe case and review of the literature. Surg Neurol Int 2022; 13:151. [PMID: 35509563 PMCID: PMC9062926 DOI: 10.25259/sni_1134_2021] [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: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a well-known brain dysfunction commonly encountered in activities such as military combat or collision sports. The etiopathology can vary depending on the context and bomb explosions are becoming increasingly common in war zones, urban terrorist attacks, and civilian criminal feuds. Blast-related TBI may cause the full severity range of neurotrauma, from a mild concussion to severe, penetrating injury. Recent classifications of the pathophysiological mechanisms comprise five factors that reflect the gravity of the experienced trauma and suggest to the clinician different pathways of injury and consequent pathology caused by the explosion. Case Description: In the present report, the authors describe a case of 26 years old presenting with blast-related severe TBI caused by the detonation of an explosive in an amusement arcade. Surgical decompression to control intracranial pressure and systemic antibiotic treatment to manage and prevent wound infections were the main options available in a civilian hospital. Conclusion: While numerous studies examined the burden of blast-related brain injuries on service members, few papers have tackled this problem in a civilian setting, where hospitals are not sufficiently equipped, and physicians lack the necessary training. The present case demonstrates the urgent need for evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic protocols in civilian hospitals that would improve the outcome of such patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Blagia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bari,
| | - Francesco Carbone
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Foggia, Foggia, Puglia, Italy
| | - Nicola Pio Fochi
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Foggia, Foggia, Puglia, Italy
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18
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Estimated Prevalence of Functional Hearing Difficulties in Blast-Exposed Service Members With Normal to Near-Normal-Hearing Thresholds. Ear Hear 2021; 42:1615-1626. [PMID: 34108398 DOI: 10.1097/aud.0000000000001067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Over the past decade, U.S. Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs audiologists have reported large numbers of relatively young adult patients who have normal to near-normal audiometric thresholds but who report difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments. Many of these service members also reported having experienced exposure to explosive blasts as part of their military service. Recent studies suggest that some blast-exposed patients with normal to near-normal-hearing thresholds not only have an awareness of increased hearing difficulties, but also poor performance on various auditory tasks (sound source localization, speech recognition in noise, binaural integration, gap detection in noise, etc.). The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of functional hearing and communication deficits (FHCD) among healthy Active-Duty service men and women with normal to near-normal audiometric thresholds. DESIGN To estimate the prevalence of such FHCD in the overall military population, performance of roughly 3400 Active-Duty service members with hearing thresholds mostly within the normal range were measured on 4 hearing tests and a brief 6-question survey to assess FHCD. Subjects were subdivided into 6 groups depending on the severity of the blast exposure (3 levels: none, far away, or close enough to feel heat or pressure) and hearing thresholds (2 levels: audiometric thresholds of 20 dB HL or better, slight elevation in 1 or more thresholds between 500 and 4000 Hz in either ear). RESULTS While the probability of having hearing difficulty was low (≈4.2%) for the overall population tested, that probability increased by 2 to 3 times if the service member was blast-exposed from a close distance or had slightly elevated hearing thresholds (>20 dB HL). Service members having both blast exposure and mildly elevated hearing thresholds exhibited up to 4 times higher risk for performing abnormally on auditory tasks and more than 5 times higher risk for reporting abnormally low ratings on the subjective questionnaire, compared with service members with no history of blast exposure and audiometric thresholds ≤20 dB HL. Blast-exposed listeners were roughly 2.5 times more likely to experience subjective or objective hearing deficits than those with no-blast history. CONCLUSIONS These elevated rates of abnormal performance suggest that roughly 33.6% of Active-Duty service members (or approximately 423,000) with normal to near-normal-hearing thresholds (i.e., H1 profile) are at some risk for FHCD, and about 5.7% (approximately 72,000) are at high risk, but are currently untested and undetected within the current fitness-for-duty standards. Service members identified as "at risk" for FHCD according to the metrics used in the present study, in spite of their excellent hearing thresholds, require further testing to determine whether they have sustained damage to peripheral and early-stage auditory processing (bottom-up processing), damage to cognitive processes for speech (top-down processing), or both. Understanding the extent of damage due to noise and blast exposures and the balance between bottom-up processing deficits and top-down deficits will likely lead to better therapeutic strategies.
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19
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Wiri S, Needham C, Ortley D, Duckworth J, Gonzales A, Walilko T, Bentley TB. Development of a Fast-Running Algorithm to Approximate Incident Blast Parameters Using Body-Mounted Sensor Measurements. Mil Med 2021; 187:e1354-e1362. [PMID: 34626472 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usab411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Office of Naval Research sponsored the Blast Load Assessment-Sense and Test program to develop a rapid, in-field solution that could be used by team leaders, commanders, and medical personnel to make science-based stand-down decisions for service members exposed to blast overpressure. However, a critical challenge to this goal was the reliable interpretation of surface pressure data collected by body-worn blast sensors in both combat and combat training scenarios. Without an appropriate standardized metric, exposures from different blast events cannot be compared and accumulated in a service member's unique blast exposure profile. In response to these challenges, we developed the Fast Automated Signal Transformation, or FAST, algorithm to automate the processing of large amounts of pressure-time data collected by blast sensors and provide a rapid, reliable approximation of the incident blast parameters without user intervention. This paper describes the performance of the FAST algorithms developed to approximate incident blast metrics from high-explosive sources using only data from body-mounted blast sensors. METHODS AND MATERIALS Incident pressure was chosen as the standardized output metric because it provides a physiologically relevant estimate of the exposure to blast that can be compared across multiple events. In addition, incident pressure serves as an ideal metric because it is not directionally dependent or affected by the orientation of the operator. The FAST algorithms also preprocess data and automatically flag "not real" traces that might not be from blasts events (false positives). Elimination of any "not real" blast waveforms is essential to avoid skewing the results of subsequent analyses. To evaluate the performance of the FAST algorithms, the FAST results were compared to (1) experimentally measured pressures and (2) results from high-fidelity numerical simulations for three representative real-world events. RESULTS The FAST results were in good agreement with both experimental data and high-fidelity simulations for the three case studies analyzed. The first case study evaluated the performance of FAST with respect to body shielding. The predicted incident pressure by FAST for a surrogate facing the charge, side on to charge, and facing away from the charge was examined. The second case study evaluated the performance of FAST with respect to an irregular charge compared to both pressure probes and results from high-fidelity simulations. The third case study demonstrated the utility of FAST for detonations inside structures where reflections from nearby surfaces can significantly alter the incident pressure. Overall, FAST predictions accounted for the reflections, providing a pressure estimate typically within 20% of the anticipated value. CONCLUSIONS This paper presents a standardized approach-the FAST algorithms-to analyze body-mounted blast sensor data. FAST algorithms account for the effects of shock interactions with the body to produce an estimate of incident blast conditions, allowing for direct comparison of individual exposure from different blast events. The continuing development of FAST algorithms will include heavy weapons, providing a singular capability to rapidly interpret body-worn sensor data, and provide standard output for analysis of an individual's unique blast exposure profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suthee Wiri
- Applied Research Associates, Inc, Albuquerque, NM 87110, USA
| | | | - David Ortley
- Applied Research Associates, Inc, Albuquerque, NM 87110, USA
| | - Josh Duckworth
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Andrea Gonzales
- Applied Research Associates, Inc, Albuquerque, NM 87110, USA
| | - Timothy Walilko
- Applied Research Associates, Inc, Albuquerque, NM 87110, USA
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20
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Teasing apart trauma: neural oscillations differentiate individual cases of mild traumatic brain injury from post-traumatic stress disorder even when symptoms overlap. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:345. [PMID: 34088901 PMCID: PMC8178364 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01467-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are highly prevalent and closely related disorders. Affected individuals often exhibit substantially overlapping symptomatology - a major challenge for differential diagnosis in both military and civilian contexts. According to our symptom assessment, the PTSD group exhibited comparable levels of concussion symptoms and severity to the mTBI group. An objective and reliable system to uncover the key neural signatures differentiating these disorders would be an important step towards translational and applied clinical use. Here we explore use of MEG (magnetoencephalography)-multivariate statistical learning analysis in identifying the neural features for differential PTSD/mTBI characterisation. Resting state MEG-derived regional neural activity and coherence (or functional connectivity) across seven canonical neural oscillation frequencies (delta to high gamma) were used. The selected features were consistent and largely confirmatory with previously established neurophysiological markers for the two disorders. For regional power from theta, alpha and high gamma bands, the amygdala, hippocampus and temporal areas were identified. In line with regional activity, additional connections within the occipital, parietal and temporal regions were selected across a number of frequency bands. This study is the first to employ MEG-derived neural features to reliably and differentially stratify the two disorders in a multi-group context. The features from alpha and beta bands exhibited the best classification performance, even in cases where distinction by concussion symptom profiles alone were extremely difficult. We demonstrate the potential of using 'invisible' neural indices of brain functioning to understand and differentiate these debilitating conditions.
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21
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Al-Hajj S, Dhaini HR, Mondello S, Kaafarani H, Kobeissy F, DePalma RG. Beirut Ammonium Nitrate Blast: Analysis, Review, and Recommendations. Front Public Health 2021; 9:657996. [PMID: 34150702 PMCID: PMC8212863 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.657996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A massive chemical detonation occurred on August 4, 2020 in the Port of Beirut, Lebanon. An uncontrolled fire in an adjacent warehouse ignited ~2,750 tons of Ammonium Nitrate (AN), producing one of the most devastating blasts in recent history. The blast supersonic pressure and heat wave claimed the lives of 220 people and injured more than 6,500 instantaneously, with severe damage to the nearby dense residential and commercial areas. This review represents one of the in-depth reports to provide a detailed analysis of the Beirut blast and its health and environmental implications. It further reviews prior AN incidents and suggests actionable recommendations and strategies to optimize chemical safety measures, improve emergency preparedness, and mitigate the delayed clinical effects of blast and toxic gas exposures. These recommended actionable steps offer a starting point for government officials and policymakers to build frameworks, adopt regulations, and implement chemical safety protocols to ensure safe storage of hazardous materials as well as reorganizing healthcare system disaster preparedness to improve emergency preparedness in response to similar large-scale disasters and promote population safety. Future clinical efforts should involve detailed assessment of physical injuries sustained by blast victims, with systemic mitigation and possible treatment of late blast effects involving individuals, communities and the region at large.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samar Al-Hajj
- Health Management and Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hassan R Dhaini
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Stefania Mondello
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Haytham Kaafarani
- Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Firas Kobeissy
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ralph G DePalma
- Office of Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, United States
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22
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Conditioned Contextual Freezing is A Neurobehavioral Biomarker of Axonal Injury Indicated by Reduced Fractional Anisotropy in A Mouse Model of Blast-Induced Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Shock 2021; 53:744-753. [PMID: 31689268 DOI: 10.1097/shk.0000000000001424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an important public health problem generated by closed head injury. This study is focused on the impact of blast-induced mild TBI on auditory trace and delay fear conditioning, models of declarative and non-declarative memory, respectively, and the correlation of conditioned freezing and fractional anisotropy, a measure of axonal state. A supersonic helium pressure wave was generated by a shock tube to blast 8-week-old male mice on Day 1 for 1.4 msec with an incident pressure of 16 psi, corresponding to a reflected pressure of 56.9 psi at the mouse head. On Day 3, the mice were subjected to auditory trace- or delay-fear conditioning. On Day 4, contextual freezing in the trained context, and precue and cued freezing in a novel context were determined. After cardiac perfusion on Day 5, ex vivo images were obtained with diffusion tensor imaging at 14.1 Tesla. We observed that delay fear conditioning prevented or reversed the decrease in fractional anisotropy in both the medial and lateral corpus callosum suggesting axonal stabilization of potentially behavioral therapeutic significance. Moderately strong and statistically significant Pearson correlations were found between fractional anisotropy and contextual freezing in the medial and lateral corpus callosum of blasted and sham-blasted delay- or trace-fear conditioned mice. Thus, contextual freezing is a neurobehavioral biomarker for axonal injury in mild TBI and is a reliable and high-throughput behavioral assay for the evaluation of potential therapeutics to treat mild TBI.
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Miller ST, Cooper CF, Elsbernd P, Kerwin J, Mejia-Alvarez R, Willis AM. Localizing Clinical Patterns of Blast Traumatic Brain Injury Through Computational Modeling and Simulation. Front Neurol 2021; 12:547655. [PMID: 34093380 PMCID: PMC8173077 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.547655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Blast traumatic brain injury is ubiquitous in modern military conflict with significant morbidity and mortality. Yet the mechanism by which blast overpressure waves cause specific intracranial injury in humans remains unclear. Reviewing of both the clinical experience of neurointensivists and neurosurgeons who treated service members exposed to blast have revealed a pattern of injury to cerebral blood vessels, manifested as subarachnoid hemorrhage, pseudoaneurysm, and early diffuse cerebral edema. Additionally, a seminal neuropathologic case series of victims of blast traumatic brain injury (TBI) showed unique astroglial scarring patterns at the following tissue interfaces: subpial glial plate, perivascular, periventricular, and cerebral gray-white interface. The uniting feature of both the clinical and neuropathologic findings in blast TBI is the co-location of injury to material interfaces, be it solid-fluid or solid-solid interface. This motivates the hypothesis that blast TBI is an injury at the intracranial mechanical interfaces. In order to investigate the intracranial interface dynamics, we performed a novel set of computational simulations using a model human head simplified but containing models of gyri, sulci, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), ventricles, and vasculature with high spatial resolution of the mechanical interfaces. Simulations were performed within a hybrid Eulerian—Lagrangian simulation suite (CTH coupled via Zapotec to Sierra Mechanics). Because of the large computational meshes, simulations required high performance computing resources. Twenty simulations were performed across multiple exposure scenarios—overpressures of 150, 250, and 500 kPa with 1 ms overpressure durations—for multiple blast exposures (front blast, side blast, and wall blast) across large variations in material model parameters (brain shear properties, skull elastic moduli). All simulations predict fluid cavitation within CSF (where intracerebral vasculature reside) with cavitation occurring deep and diffusely into cerebral sulci. These cavitation events are adjacent to high interface strain rates at the subpial glial plate. Larger overpressure simulations (250 and 500kPa) demonstrated intraventricular cavitation—also associated with adjacent high periventricular strain rates. Additionally, models of embedded intraparenchymal vascular structures—with diameters as small as 0.6 mm—predicted intravascular cavitation with adjacent high perivascular strain rates. The co-location of local maxima of strain rates near several of the regions that appear to be preferentially damaged in blast TBI (vascular structures, subpial glial plate, perivascular regions, and periventricular regions) suggest that intracranial interface dynamics may be important in understanding how blast overpressures leads to intracranial injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott T Miller
- Computational Solid Mechanics & Structural Dynamics, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Candice F Cooper
- Terminal Ballistics Technology, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Paul Elsbernd
- Department of Neurology, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX, United States
| | - Joseph Kerwin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Ricardo Mejia-Alvarez
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Adam M Willis
- Department of Neurology, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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24
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Sullivan DR, Miller MW, Wolf EJ, Logue MW, Robinson ME, Fortier CB, Fonda JR, Wang DJ, Milberg WP, McGlinchey RE, Salat DH. Cerebral perfusion is associated with blast exposure in military personnel without moderate or severe TBI. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2021; 41:886-900. [PMID: 32580671 PMCID: PMC7983507 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x20935190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Due to the use of improvised explosive devices, blast exposure and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) have become hallmark injuries of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Although the mechanisms of the effects of blast on human neurobiology remain active areas of investigation, research suggests that the cerebrovasculature may be particularly vulnerable to blast via molecular processes that impact cerebral blood flow. Given that recent work suggests that blast exposure, even without a subsequent TBI, may have negative consequences on brain structure and function, the current study sought to further understand the effects of blast exposure on perfusion. One hundred and eighty military personnel underwent pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) imaging and completed diagnostic and clinical interviews. Whole-brain analyses revealed that with an increasing number of total blast exposures, there was significantly increased perfusion in the right middle/superior frontal gyri, supramarginal gyrus, lateral occipital cortex, and posterior cingulate cortex as well as bilateral anterior cingulate cortex, insulae, middle/superior temporal gyri and occipital poles. Examination of other neurotrauma and clinical variables such as close-range blast exposures, mTBI, and PTSD yielded no significant effects. These results raise the possibility that perfusion may be an important neural marker of brain health in blast exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle R Sullivan
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark W Miller
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Erika J Wolf
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark W Logue
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.,Biomedical Genetics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Meghan E Robinson
- Core for Advanced MRI and Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Catherine B Fortier
- Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) and Geriatric Research, Educational and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer R Fonda
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.,Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) and Geriatric Research, Educational and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Danny Jj Wang
- Laboratory of FMRI Technology (LOFT), Mark & Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, CA, USA.,Department of Neurology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - William P Milberg
- Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) and Geriatric Research, Educational and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Regina E McGlinchey
- Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) and Geriatric Research, Educational and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David H Salat
- Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) and Geriatric Research, Educational and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.,Neuroimaging Research for Veterans Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.,Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA
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25
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Tate DF, Dennis EL, Adams JT, Adamson MM, Belanger HG, Bigler ED, Bouchard HC, Clark AL, Delano-Wood LM, Disner SG, Eapen BC, Franz CE, Geuze E, Goodrich-Hunsaker NJ, Han K, Hayes JP, Hinds SR, Hodges CB, Hovenden ES, Irimia A, Kenney K, Koerte IK, Kremen WS, Levin HS, Lindsey HM, Morey RA, Newsome MR, Ollinger J, Pugh MJ, Scheibel RS, Shenton ME, Sullivan DR, Taylor BA, Troyanskaya M, Velez C, Wade BS, Wang X, Ware AL, Zafonte R, Thompson PM, Wilde EA. Coordinating Global Multi-Site Studies of Military-Relevant Traumatic Brain Injury: Opportunities, Challenges, and Harmonization Guidelines. Brain Imaging Behav 2021; 15:585-613. [PMID: 33409819 PMCID: PMC8035292 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-020-00423-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is common among military personnel and the civilian population and is often followed by a heterogeneous array of clinical, cognitive, behavioral, mood, and neuroimaging changes. Unlike many neurological disorders that have a characteristic abnormal central neurologic area(s) of abnormality pathognomonic to the disorder, a sufficient head impact may cause focal, multifocal, diffuse or combination of injury to the brain. This inconsistent presentation makes it difficult to establish or validate biological and imaging markers that could help improve diagnostic and prognostic accuracy in this patient population. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe both the challenges and opportunities when conducting military-relevant TBI research and introduce the Enhancing NeuroImaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) Military Brain Injury working group. ENIGMA is a worldwide consortium focused on improving replicability and analytical power through data sharing and collaboration. In this paper, we discuss challenges affecting efforts to aggregate data in this patient group. In addition, we highlight how "big data" approaches might be used to understand better the role that each of these variables might play in the imaging and functional phenotypes of TBI in Service member and Veteran populations, and how data may be used to examine important military specific issues such as return to duty, the late effects of combat-related injury, and alteration of the natural aging processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- David F Tate
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
- George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
| | - Emily L Dennis
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Imaging Genetics Center, Stevens Neuroimaging & Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Marina del Rey, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - John T Adams
- Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, USA
| | - Maheen M Adamson
- Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, VA Palo Alto, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Neurosurgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Heather G Belanger
- United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), Tampa, FL, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
- St Michaels Inc, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Erin D Bigler
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
- Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Heather C Bouchard
- Duke-UNC Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Alexandra L Clark
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Lisa M Delano-Wood
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Seth G Disner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Blessen C Eapen
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carol E Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Elbert Geuze
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Brain Research and Innovation Centre, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Naomi J Goodrich-Hunsaker
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Kihwan Han
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jasmeet P Hayes
- Psychology Department, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Chronic Brain Injury Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Sidney R Hinds
- Department of Defense/United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, USA
- Department of Neurology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Cooper B Hodges
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Elizabeth S Hovenden
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Andrei Irimia
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kimbra Kenney
- Department of Neurology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
- National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Inga K Koerte
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - William S Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Harvey S Levin
- H. Ben Taub Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hannah M Lindsey
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Rajendra A Morey
- Duke-UNC Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Mary R Newsome
- H. Ben Taub Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - John Ollinger
- National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mary Jo Pugh
- Information Decision-Enhancement and Analytic Sciences Center, VA Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Randall S Scheibel
- H. Ben Taub Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Martha E Shenton
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Brockton Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, Brockton, MA, USA
| | - Danielle R Sullivan
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brian A Taylor
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Maya Troyanskaya
- H. Ben Taub Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Carmen Velez
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Benjamin Sc Wade
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Ashley L Ware
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ross Zafonte
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paul M Thompson
- Imaging Genetics Center, Stevens Neuroimaging & Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Marina del Rey, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Radiology, USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Engineering, USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Elisabeth A Wilde
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- H. Ben Taub Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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26
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Kawoos U, Abutarboush R, Gu M, Chen Y, Statz JK, Goodrich SY, Ahlers ST. Blast-induced temporal alterations in blood-brain barrier properties in a rodent model. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5906. [PMID: 33723300 PMCID: PMC7971015 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84730-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The consequences of blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) on the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and components of the neurovascular unit are an area of active research. In this study we assessed the time course of BBB integrity in anesthetized rats exposed to a single blast overpressure of 130 kPa (18.9 PSI). BBB permeability was measured in vivo via intravital microscopy by imaging extravasation of fluorescently labeled tracers (40 kDa and 70 kDa molecular weight) through the pial microvasculature into brain parenchyma at 2–3 h, 1, 3, 14, or 28 days after the blast exposure. BBB structural changes were assessed by immunostaining and molecular assays. At 2–3 h and 1 day after blast exposure, significant increases in the extravasation of the 40 kDa but not the 70 kDa tracers were observed, along with differential reductions in the expression of tight junction proteins (occludin, claudin-5, zona occluden-1) and increase in the levels of the astrocytic water channel protein, AQP-4, and matrix metalloprotease, MMP-9. Nearly all of these measures were normalized by day 3 and maintained up to 28 days post exposure. These data demonstrate that blast-induced changes in BBB permeability are closely coupled to structural and functional components of the BBB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Usmah Kawoos
- Neurotrauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA. .,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Rania Abutarboush
- Neurotrauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ming Gu
- Neurotrauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ye Chen
- Neurotrauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jonathan K Statz
- Neurotrauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Samantha Y Goodrich
- Neurotrauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Stephen T Ahlers
- Neurotrauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
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27
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Belding JN, Englert RM, Fitzmaurice S, Jackson JR, Koenig HG, Hunter MA, Thomsen CJ, da Silva UO. Potential Health and Performance Effects of High-Level and Low-Level Blast: A Scoping Review of Two Decades of Research. Front Neurol 2021; 12:628782. [PMID: 33776888 PMCID: PMC7987950 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.628782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although blast exposure has been recognized as a significant source of morbidity and mortality in military populations, our understanding of the effects of blast exposure, particularly low-level blast (LLB) exposure, on health outcomes remains limited. This scoping review provides a comprehensive, accessible review of the peer-reviewed literature that has been published on blast exposure over the past two decades, with specific emphasis on LLB. We conducted a comprehensive scoping review of the scientific literature published between January 2000 and 2019 pertaining to the effects of blast injury and/or exposure on human and animal health. A three-level review process with specific inclusion and exclusion criteria was used. A full-text review of all articles pertaining to LLB exposure was conducted and relevant study characteristics were extracted. The research team identified 3,215 blast-relevant articles, approximately half of which (55.4%) studied live humans, 16% studied animals, and the remainder were non-subjects research (e.g., literature reviews). Nearly all (99.49%) of the included studies were conducted by experts in medicine or epidemiology; approximately half of these articles were categorized into more than one medical specialty. Among the 51 articles identified as pertaining to LLB specifically, 45.1% were conducted on animals and 39.2% focused on human subjects. Animal studies of LLB predominately used shock tubes to induce various blast exposures in rats, assessed a variety of outcomes, and clearly demonstrated that LLB exposure is associated with brain injury. In contrast, the majority of LLB studies on humans were conducted among military and law enforcement personnel in training environments and had remarkable variability in the exposures and outcomes assessed. While findings suggest that there is the potential for LLB to harm human populations, findings are mixed and more research is needed. Although it is clear that more research is needed on this rapidly growing topic, this review highlights the detrimental effects of LLB on the health of both animals and humans. Future research would benefit from multidisciplinary collaboration, larger sample sizes, and standardization of terminology, exposures, and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer N. Belding
- Defense Health Group, Leidos, San Diego, CA, United States
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Robyn M. Englert
- Defense Health Group, Leidos, San Diego, CA, United States
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Shannon Fitzmaurice
- Defense Health Group, Leidos, San Diego, CA, United States
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Jourdan R. Jackson
- Defense Health Group, Leidos, San Diego, CA, United States
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Hannah G. Koenig
- Defense Health Group, Leidos, San Diego, CA, United States
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Michael A. Hunter
- Defense Health Group, Leidos, San Diego, CA, United States
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Cynthia J. Thomsen
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Uade Olaghere da Silva
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
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28
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Muller CR, Courelli V, Lucas A, Williams AT, Li JB, Dos Santos F, Cuddington CT, Moses SR, Palmer AF, Kistler EB, Cabrales P. Resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock after traumatic brain injury with polymerized hemoglobin. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2509. [PMID: 33510204 PMCID: PMC7843604 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81717-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often accompanied by hemorrhage, and treatment of hemorrhagic shock (HS) after TBI is particularly challenging because the two therapeutic treatment strategies for TBI and HS often conflict. Ischemia/reperfusion injury from HS resuscitation can be exaggerated by TBI-induced loss of autoregulation. In HS resuscitation, the goal is to restore lost blood volume, while in the treatment of TBI the priority is focused on maintenance of adequate cerebral perfusion pressure and avoidance of secondary bleeding. In this study, we investigate the responses to resuscitation from severe HS after TBI in rats, using fresh blood, polymerized human hemoglobin (PolyhHb), and lactated Ringer's (LR). Rats were subjected to TBI by pneumatic controlled cortical impact. Shortly after TBI, HS was induced by blood withdrawal to reduce mean arterial pressure (MAP) to 35-40 mmHg for 90 min before resuscitation. Resuscitation fluids were delivered to restore MAP to ~ 65 mmHg and animals were monitored for 120 min. Increased systolic blood pressure variability (SBPV) confirmed TBI-induced loss of autoregulation. MAP after resuscitation was significantly higher in the blood and PolyhHb groups compared to the LR group. Furthermore, blood and PolyhHb restored diastolic pressure, while this remained depressed for the LR group, indicating a loss of vascular tone. Lactate increased in all groups during HS, and only returned to baseline level in the blood reperfused group. The PolyhHb group possessed lower SBPV compared to LR and blood groups. Finally, sympathetic nervous system (SNS) modulation was higher for the LR group and lower for the PolyhHb group compared to the blood group after reperfusion. In conclusion, our results suggest that PolyhHb could be an alternative to blood for resuscitation from HS after TBI when blood is not available, assuming additional testing demonstrate similar favorable results. PolyhHb restored hemodynamics and oxygen delivery, without the logistical constraints of refrigerated blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia R Muller
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093-0412, USA
| | - Vasiliki Courelli
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093-0412, USA
| | - Alfredo Lucas
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093-0412, USA
| | - Alexander T Williams
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093-0412, USA
| | - Joyce B Li
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093-0412, USA
| | - Fernando Dos Santos
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Clayton T Cuddington
- William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Savannah R Moses
- William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Andre F Palmer
- William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Erik B Kistler
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Pedro Cabrales
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093-0412, USA.
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29
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Kim JH, Goodrich JA, Situ R, Rapuano A, Hetherington H, Du F, Parks S, Taylor W, Westmoreland T, Ling G, Bandak FA, de Lanerolle NC. Periventricular White Matter Alterations From Explosive Blast in a Large Animal Model: Mild Traumatic Brain Injury or "Subconcussive" Injury? J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2020; 79:605-617. [PMID: 32386412 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlaa026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuropathology of mild traumatic brain injury in humans resulting from exposure to explosive blast is poorly understood as this condition is rarely fatal. A large animal model may better reflect the injury patterns in humans. We investigated the effect of explosive blasts on the constrained head minimizing the effects of whole head motion. Anesthetized Yucatan minipigs, with body and head restrained, were placed in a 3-walled test structure and exposed to 1, 2, or 3 explosive blast shock waves of the same intensity. Axonal injury was studied 3 weeks to 8 months postblast using β-amyloid precursor protein immunohistochemistry. Injury was confined to the periventricular white matter as early as 3-5 weeks after exposure to a single blast. The pattern was also present at 8 months postblast. Animals exposed to 2 and 3 blasts had more axonal injury than those exposed to a single blast. Although such increases in axonal injury may relate to the longer postblast survival time, it may also be due to the increased number of blast exposures. It is possible that the injury observed is due to a condition akin to mild traumatic brain injury or subconcussive injury in humans, and that periventricular injury may have neuropsychiatric implications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Hoby Hetherington
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Fu Du
- FD NeuroTechnologies Inc., Ellicott City, Maryland
| | | | | | | | - Geoffrey Ling
- Department of Neurology, F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
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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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31
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Whiting MD, Dengler BA, Rodriguez CL, Blodgett D, Cohen AB, Januszkiewicz AJ, Rasmussen TE, Brody DL. Prehospital Detection of Life-Threatening Intracranial Pathology: An Unmet Need for Severe TBI in Austere, Rural, and Remote Areas. Front Neurol 2020; 11:599268. [PMID: 33193067 PMCID: PMC7662094 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.599268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries, and in austere, rural, and remote settings. The purpose of this Perspective is to challenge the notion that accurate and actionable diagnosis of the most severe brain injuries should be limited to physicians and other highly-trained specialists located at hospitals. Further, we aim to demonstrate that the great opportunity to improve severe TBI care is in the prehospital setting. Here, we discuss potential applications of prehospital diagnostics, including ultrasound and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for detection of life-threatening subdural and epidural hemorrhage, as well as monitoring of cerebral hemodynamics following severe TBI. Ultrasound-based methods for assessment of cerebrovascular hemodynamics, vasospasm, and intracranial pressure have substantial promise, but have been mainly used in hospital settings; substantial development will be required for prehospital optimization. Compared to ultrasound, NIRS is better suited to assess certain aspects of intracranial pathology and has a smaller form factor. Thus, NIRS is potentially closer to becoming a reliable method for non-invasive intracranial assessment and cerebral monitoring in the prehospital setting. While one current continuous wave NIRS-based device has been FDA-approved for detection of subdural and epidural hemorrhage, NIRS methods using frequency domain technology have greater potential to improve diagnosis and monitoring in the prehospital setting. In addition to better technology, advances in large animal models, provider training, and implementation science represent opportunities to accelerate progress in prehospital care for severe TBI in austere, rural, and remote areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Whiting
- The Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.,Stephens Family Clinical Research Institute, Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Bradley A Dengler
- Department of Neurosurgery, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Carissa L Rodriguez
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - David Blodgett
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, United States
| | - Adam B Cohen
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, United States.,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | | | - Todd E Rasmussen
- The Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.,Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - David L Brody
- The Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.,Department of Neurology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States.,Laboratory of Functional and Molecular Imaging, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD, United States
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32
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Khokhar B, Jorgensen-Wagers K, Marion D, Kiser S. Military Acute Concussion Evaluation: A Report on Clinical Usability, Utility, and User's Perceived Confidence. J Neurotrauma 2020; 38:210-217. [PMID: 32808563 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2020.7176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The signs and symptoms of concussion may not always be clear. Therefore, the Military Acute Concussion Evaluation (MACE) tool was created to help deployed medics and corpsmen identify concussions, particularly in deployed settings. Since 2008, the MACE has been updated multiple times, but each new version of the tool is more complex and takes longer to complete. The objective of this study was to assess the usability, utility, and perceived confidence among military healthcare providers for the latest version, MACE 2. Therefore, a semi-structured interview, including Likert-scale and open-ended questions, was conducted among military healthcare providers at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in order to assess the usability, utility and perceived confidence of the MACE 2. All of the providers had completed a training course on the MACE 2 and had used it for at least 3 months in their clinics. A total of 28 participants were recruited, including 22 medics, two physicians, three nurses, and one physician assistant. Average scores of usability, utility, and confidence were 5.7, 6.6, and 6.3, respectively, with 7.0 being the most positive score, and thus indicating positive assessments in all categories. The open-ended questions revealed high usability and confidence and the desire for additional training on the tool. In conclusion, despite the increased complexity and duration of the MACE 2 compared with the previous version of this tool, military providers and army medics found the new MACE 2 very useable and had a high degree of confidence in its performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Khokhar
- Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.,General Dynamics Information Technology, Falls Church, Virginia, USA
| | - Kendra Jorgensen-Wagers
- Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany.,General Dynamics Information Technology, Falls Church, Virginia, USA
| | - Donald Marion
- Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.,General Dynamics Information Technology, Falls Church, Virginia, USA
| | - Seth Kiser
- Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.,General Dynamics Information Technology, Falls Church, Virginia, USA
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33
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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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34
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Robinson-Freeman KE, Collins KL, Garber B, Terblanche R, Risling M, Vermetten E, Besemann M, Mistlin A, Tsao JW. A Decade of mTBI Experience: What Have We Learned? A Summary of Proceedings From a NATO Lecture Series on Military mTBI. Front Neurol 2020; 11:836. [PMID: 32982907 PMCID: PMC7477387 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI, also known as a concussion) as a consequence of battlefield blast exposure or blunt force trauma has been of increasing concern to militaries during recent conflicts. This concern is due to the frequency of exposure to improvised explosive devices for forces engaged in operations both in Iraq and Afghanistan coupled with the recognition that mTBI may go unreported or undetected. Blasts can lead to mTBI through a variety of mechanisms. Debate continues as to whether exposure to a primary blast wave alone is sufficient to create brain injury in humans, and if so, exactly how this occurs with an intact skull. Resources dedicated to research in this area have also varied substantially among contributing NATO countries. Most of the research has been conducted in the US, focused on addressing uncertainties in management practices. Development of objective diagnostic tests should be a top priority to facilitate both diagnosis and prognosis, thereby improving management. It is expected that blast exposure and blunt force trauma to the head will continue to be a potential source of injury during future conflicts. An improved understanding of the effects of blast exposure will better enable military medical providers to manage mTBI cases and develop optimal protective measures. Without the immediate pressures that come with a high operational tempo, the time is right to look back at lessons learned, make full use of available data, and modify mitigation strategies with both available evidence and new evidence as it comes to light. Toward that end, leveraging our cooperation with the civilian medical community is critical because the military experience over the past 10 years has led to a renewed interest in many similar issues pertaining to mTBI in the civilian world. Such cross-fertilization of knowledge will undoubtedly benefit all. This paper highlights similarities and differences in approach to mTBI patient care in NATO and partner countries and provides a summary of and lessons learned from a NATO lecture series on the topic of mTBI, demonstrating utility of having patients present their experiences to a medical audience, linking practical clinical care to policy approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kassondra L Collins
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Bryan Garber
- Research and Analysis Section, Directorate of Mental Health, Canadian Forces Health Services Group, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Ronel Terblanche
- Centre for Mental and Cognitive Health, DMRC Headey Court, Epsom, United Kingdom
| | - Marten Risling
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Eric Vermetten
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Markus Besemann
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Canadian Forces Health Services Group, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Alan Mistlin
- Centre for Mental and Cognitive Health, DMRC Headey Court, Epsom, United Kingdom
| | - Jack W Tsao
- Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States.,Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Children's Foundation Research Institute, Memphis, TN, United States
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35
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Edwards KA, Leete JJ, Tschiffely AE, Moore CY, Dell KC, Statz JK, Carr W, Walker PB, LoPresti ML, Ahlers ST, Yarnell AM, Gill J. Blast exposure results in tau and neurofilament light chain changes in peripheral blood. Brain Inj 2020; 34:1213-1221. [DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2020.1797171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Katie A. Edwards
- National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jacqueline J. Leete
- National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Anna E. Tschiffely
- Department of Neurotrauma, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Candace Y. Moore
- National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kristine C. Dell
- Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Jonathan K. Statz
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Department of Neurotrauma, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Walter Carr
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Peter B. Walker
- Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, Arlington, VA, USA
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Military Emergency Medicine Department, Uniformed Services, University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Matthew L. LoPresti
- Center for Military Psychiatry & Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Stephen T. Ahlers
- Operational & Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Angela M. Yarnell
- Operational & Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Jessica Gill
- National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
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36
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Abdul-Wahab R, Long MT, Ordaz R, Lyeth BG, Pfister BJ. Outcome measures from experimental traumatic brain injury in male rats vary with the complete temporal biomechanical profile of the injury event. J Neurosci Res 2020; 98:2027-2044. [PMID: 32741029 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Millions suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year wherein the outcomes associated with injury can vary greatly between individuals. This study postulates that variations in each biomechanical parameter of a head trauma lead to differences in histological and behavioral outcome measures that should be considered collectively in assessing injury. While trauma severity typically scales with the magnitude of injury, much less is known about the effects of rate and duration of the mechanical insult. In this study, a newly developed voice-coil fluid percussion injury system was used to investigate the effects of injury rate and fluid percussion impulse on a collection of post-injury outcomes in male rats. Collectively the data suggest a potential shift in the specificity and progression of neuronal injury and function rather than a general scaling of injury severity. While a faster, shorter fluid percussion first presents as a mild TBI, neuronal loss and some behavioral tasks were similar among the slower and faster fluid percussion injuries. This study concludes that the sequelae of neuronal degeneration and behavioral outcomes are related to the complete temporal profile of the fluid percussion and do not scale only with peak pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radia Abdul-Wahab
- Center for Injury Biomechanics, Materials and Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, USA.,Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Mathew T Long
- Center for Injury Biomechanics, Materials and Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Rafael Ordaz
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Bruce G Lyeth
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Bryan J Pfister
- Center for Injury Biomechanics, Materials and Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, USA
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37
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Mechanisms of cell damage due to mechanical impact: an in vitro investigation. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12009. [PMID: 32686715 PMCID: PMC7371734 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68655-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The dynamic response of cells when subjected to mechanical impact has become increasingly relevant for accurate assessment of potential blunt injuries and elucidating underlying injury mechanisms. When exposed to mechanical impact, a biological system such as the human skin, brain, or liver is rapidly accelerated, which could result in blunt injuries. For this reason, an acceleration of greater than > 150 g is the most commonly used criteria for head injury. To understand the main mechanism(s) of blunt injury under such extreme dynamic threats, we have developed an innovative experimental method that applies a well-characterized and -controlled mechanical impact to live cells cultured in a custom-built in vitro setup compatible with live cell microscopy. Our studies using fibroblast cells as a model indicate that input acceleration (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$${a}_{in}$$\end{document}ain) alone, even when it is much greater than the typical injury criteria, e.g., \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$${a}_{in}>1{,}000$$\end{document}ain>1,000 g, does not result in cell damage. On the contrary, we have observed a material-dependent critical pressure value above which a sudden decrease in cell population and cell membrane damage have been observed. We have unambiguously shown that (1) this critical pressure is associated with the onset of cavitation bubbles in a cell culture chamber and (2) the dynamics of cavitation bubbles in the chamber induces localized compressive/tensile pressure cycles, with an amplitude that is considerably greater than the acceleration-induced pressure, to cells. More importantly, the rate of pressure change with time for cavitation-induced pressure is significantly faster (more than ten times) than acceleration-induced pressure. Our in vitro study on the dynamic response of biological systems due to mechanical impact is a crucial step towards understanding potential mechanism(s) of blunt injury and implementing novel therapeutic strategies post-trauma.
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38
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Frueh BC, Madan A, Fowler JC, Stomberg S, Bradshaw M, Kelly K, Weinstein B, Luttrell M, Danner SG, Beidel DC. "Operator syndrome": A unique constellation of medical and behavioral health-care needs of military special operation forces. Int J Psychiatry Med 2020; 55:281-295. [PMID: 32052666 DOI: 10.1177/0091217420906659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE U.S. military special operation forces represent the most elite units of the U.S. Armed Forces. Their selection is highly competitive, and over the course of their service careers, they experience intensive operational training and combat deployment cycles. Yet, little is known about the health-care needs of this unique population. METHOD Professional consultations with over 50 special operation forces operators (and many spouses or girlfriends) over the past 6 years created a naturalistic, observational base of knowledge that allowed our team to identify a unique pattern of interrelated medical and behavioral health-care needs. RESULTS We identified a consistent pattern of health-care difficulties within the special operation forces community that we and other special operation forces health-care providers have termed "Operator Syndrome." This includes interrelated health and functional impairments including traumatic brain injury effects; endocrine dysfunction; sleep disturbance; obstructive sleep apnea; chronic joint/back pain, orthopedic problems, and headaches; substance abuse; depression and suicide; anger; worry, rumination, and stress reactivity; marital, family, and community dysfunction; problems with sexual health and intimacy; being "on guard" or hypervigilant; memory, concentration, and cognitive impairments; vestibular and vision impairments; challenges of the transition from military to civilian life; and common existential issues. CONCLUSIONS "Operator Syndrome" may be understood as the natural consequences of an extraordinarily high allostatic load; the accumulation of physiological, neural, and neuroendocrine responses resulting from the prolonged chronic stress; and physical demands of a career with the military special forces. Clinical research and comprehensive, intensive immersion programs are needed to meet the unique needs of this community.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Christopher Frueh
- Department of Psychology, University of Hawaii, Hilo, HI, USA.,Trauma and Resilience Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Behavioral Health, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alok Madan
- Trauma and Resilience Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Behavioral Health, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - J Christopher Fowler
- Trauma and Resilience Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Behavioral Health, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sasha Stomberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Major Bradshaw
- Trauma and Resilience Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Behavioral Health, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Karen Kelly
- Department of Warfighter Performance, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin Weinstein
- Trauma and Resilience Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Behavioral Health, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Morgan Luttrell
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Summer G Danner
- Trauma and Resilience Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Deborah C Beidel
- Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
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39
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Zhu Y, Howard JT, Edsall PR, Morris RB, Lund BJ, Cleland JM. Blast Exposure Induces Ocular Functional Changes with Increasing Blast Over-pressures in a Rat Model. Curr Eye Res 2020; 44:770-780. [PMID: 30947563 DOI: 10.1080/02713683.2019.1567791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: Blast-related brain and ocular injuries can lead to acute and chronic visual dysfunction. The chronic visual consequences of blast exposure and its progression remain unclear. The goal of this study is to analyze ocular functional response to four levels of blast exposure and identify a threshold of blast exposure leading to acute and chronic visual dysfunction. Methods: Anesthetized adult male Long-Evans rats received a single-blast exposure at a peak overpressure of 78, 117, 164 or 213 kPa, delivered by a compressed air-driven shock tube. Clinical eye examination, intraocular pressure (IOP), flash electroretinography (fERG) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) images were assessed prior to, and at multiple time points post exposure. Results: No abnormal fERG were observed for the two lowest-level blast groups (78 kPa or 117 kPa). For the 164 kPa group, the a- and b-wave amplitudes of the fERG were decreased at 3 days postexposure (p = 0.009 for a-wave, p = 0.010 for b-wave), but recovered to baseline levels by 7 days post-exposure. The IOP was unchanged for the 117 kPa and 164 kPa groups. The 78 kPa group demonstrated a small transient increase during week one (p = 0.046). For the highest blast group (213 kPa), the IOP was significantly elevated immediately post-exposure (p = 0.0001), but recovered by 24 hr. A bimodal depression in the fERG a- and b-wave amplitudes was observed for this group: the amplitudes were depressed at day 3 post-exposure (p = 0.007 for a-wave, p = 0.012 for b-wave), and recovered by day 7 post-exposure. However, the fERG amplitudes were once again depressed at week 8 post-exposure, suggesting a chronic retinal dysfunction. All retinae appeared normal in SD-OCT images. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that a single-blast exposure may result in acute and chronic fERG deficit, and traumatic IOP elevation. Noninvasive functional tests may hold promise for identifying individuals with a risk for developing chronic visual deficits, and indicating a time window for early clinical diagnosis, rehabilitation, and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanli Zhu
- a Ocular Trauma Division , Staff Scientist US Army Institute of Surgical Research, Joint Base San Antonio, USA
| | - Jeffrey T Howard
- a Ocular Trauma Division , Staff Scientist US Army Institute of Surgical Research, Joint Base San Antonio, USA
| | - Peter R Edsall
- b Ocular Trauma Division , Engineer US Army Institute of Surgical Research, Joint Base San Antonio, USA
| | - Ryan B Morris
- c Ocular Trauma Division , Research Technician US Army Institute of Surgical Research, Joint Base San Antonio, USA
| | - Brian J Lund
- a Ocular Trauma Division , Staff Scientist US Army Institute of Surgical Research, Joint Base San Antonio, USA
| | - Jeffery M Cleland
- d Former Director Ocular Trauma Division US Army Institute of Surgical Research, Joint Base San Antonio, USA
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40
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Oral ascorbic acid 2-glucoside prevents coordination disorder induced via laser-induced shock waves in rat brain. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230774. [PMID: 32240226 PMCID: PMC7117653 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress is considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of primary blast-related traumatic brain injury (bTBI). We evaluated the effects of ascorbic acid 2-glucoside (AA2G), a well-known antioxidant, to control oxidative stress in rat brain exposed to laser-induced shock waves (LISWs). The design consisted of a controlled animal study using male 10-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats. The study was conducted at the University research laboratory. Low-impulse (54 Pa•s) LISWs were transcranially applied to rat brain. Rats were randomized to control group (anesthesia and head shaving, n = 10), LISW group (anesthesia, head shaving and LISW application, n = 10) or LISW + post AA2G group (AA2G administration after LISW application, n = 10) in the first study. In another study, rats were randomized to control group (n = 10), LISW group (n = 10) or LISW + pre and post AA2G group (AA2G administration before and after LISW application, n = 10). The measured outcomes were as follows: (i) motor function assessed by accelerating rotarod test; (ii) levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), an oxidative stress marker; (iii) ascorbic acid in each group of rats. Ascorbic acid levels were significantly decreased and 8-OHdG levels were significantly increased in the cerebellum of the LISW group. Motor coordination disorder was also observed in the group. Prophylactic AA2G administration significantly increased the ascorbic acid levels, reduced oxidative stress and mitigated the motor dysfunction. In contrast, the effects of therapeutic AA2G administration alone were limited. The results suggest that the prophylactic administration of ascorbic acid can reduce shock wave-related oxidative stress and prevented motor dysfunction in rats.
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41
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Venkatasubramanian PN, Pina-Crespo JC, Mathews K, Rigby PH, Smith M, Duckworth JL, Wyrwicz AM, Spiess J. Initial Biphasic Fractional Anisotropy Response to Blast-Induced Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in a Mouse Model. Mil Med 2020; 185:243-247. [PMID: 32074348 PMCID: PMC7029837 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usz307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Blast-induced mild traumatic brain injury was generated in a mouse model using a shock tube to investigate recovery and axonal injury from single blast. Methods A supersonic helium wave hit the head of anesthetized male young adult mice with a reflected pressure of 69 psi for 0.2 ms on Day 1. Subsequently, the mice were cardioperfused on Days 2, 5, or 12. The isolated brains were subjected to diffusion tensor imaging. Reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) indicated axonal injury. Results After single blast, FA showed a biphasic response in the corpus callosum with decrease on Days 2 and 12 and increase on Day 5. Conclusions Blast-induced mild traumatic brain injury in a mouse model follows a biphasic FA response within 12 days after a single blast similar to that reported for human subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Juan C Pina-Crespo
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Kiran Mathews
- L3 Applied Technologies, 10180 Barnes Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92121
| | - Paul H Rigby
- L3 Applied Technologies, 10180 Barnes Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92121
| | - Matthew Smith
- Northshore University Health System, 1001 University Place, Evanston, IL 60201
| | - Josh L Duckworth
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Rd, Bethesda, MD 20814
| | - Alice M Wyrwicz
- Northshore University Health System, 1001 University Place, Evanston, IL 60201
| | - Joachim Spiess
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037.,Cortrop Inc., 271 Cerro Street, Encinitas, CA 92024
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42
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Wang Z, Wilson CM, Mendelev N, Ge Y, Galfalvy H, Elder G, Ahlers S, Yarnell AM, LoPresti ML, Kamimori GH, Carr W, Haghighi F. Acute and Chronic Molecular Signatures and Associated Symptoms of Blast Exposure in Military Breachers. J Neurotrauma 2019; 37:1221-1232. [PMID: 31621494 PMCID: PMC7232647 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2019.6742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Injuries from exposure to explosions rose dramatically during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, which motivated investigations of blast-related neurotrauma and operational breaching. In this study, military “breachers” were exposed to controlled, low-level blast during a 10-day explosive breaching course. Using an omics approach, we assessed epigenetic, transcriptional, and inflammatory profile changes in blood from operational breaching trainees, with varying levels of lifetime blast exposure, along with daily self-reported symptoms (with tinnitus, headaches, and sleep disturbances as the most frequently reported). Although acute exposure to blast did not confer epigenetic changes, specifically in DNA methylation, differentially methylated regions (DMRs) with coordinated gene expression changes associated with lifetime cumulative blast exposures were identified. The accumulative effect of blast showed increased methylation of PAX8 antisense transcript with coordinated repression of gene expression, which has been associated with sleep disturbance. DNA methylation analyses conducted in conjunction with reported symptoms of tinnitus in the low versus high blast incidents groups identified DMRS in KCNE1 and CYP2E1 genes. KCNE1 and CYP2E1 showed the expected inverse correlation between DNA methylation and gene expression, which have been previously implicated in noise-related hearing loss. Although no significant transcriptional changes were observed in samples obtained at the onset of the training course relative to chronic cumulative blast, we identified a large number of transcriptional perturbations acutely pre- versus post-blast exposure. Acutely, 67 robustly differentially expressed genes (fold change ≥1.5), including UFC1 and YOD1 ubiquitin-related proteins, were identified. Inflammatory analyses of cytokines and chemokines revealed dysregulation of MCP-1, GCSF, HGF, MCSF, and RANTES acutely after blast exposure. These data show the importance of an omics approach, revealing that transcriptional and inflammatory biomarkers capture acute low-level blast overpressure exposure, whereas DNA methylation marks encapsulate chronic long-term symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoyu Wang
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Caroline M Wilson
- Medical Epigenetics, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA.,Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Natalia Mendelev
- Medical Epigenetics, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA.,Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yongchao Ge
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Hanga Galfalvy
- Medical Epigenetics, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA.,Department of Biostatistics in Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Gregory Elder
- Neurology Service, James J. Peters VA 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
| | - Stephen Ahlers
- Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Angela M Yarnell
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Gary H Kamimori
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Walter Carr
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.,Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
| | - Fatemeh Haghighi
- Medical Epigenetics, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA.,Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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43
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Satoh Y, Araki Y, Kashitani M, Nishii K, Kobayashi Y, Fujita M, Suzuki S, Morimoto Y, Tokuno S, Tsumatori G, Yamamoto T, Saitoh D, Ishizuka T. Molecular Hydrogen Prevents Social Deficits and Depression-Like Behaviors Induced by Low-Intensity Blast in Mice. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2019; 77:827-836. [PMID: 30053086 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nly060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Detonation of explosive devices creates blast waves, which can injure brains even in the absence of external injuries. Among these, blast-induced mild traumatic brain injury (bmTBI) is increasing in military populations, such as in the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. Although the clinical presentation of bmTBI is not precisely defined, it is frequently associated with psycho-neurological deficits and usually manifests in the form of poly-trauma including psychiatric morbidity and cognitive disruption. Although the underlying mechanisms of bmTBI are largely unknown, some studies suggested that bmTBI is associated with blood-brain barrier disruption, oxidative stress, and edema in the brain. The present study investigated the effects of novel antioxidant, molecular hydrogen gas, on bmTBI using a laboratory-scale shock tube model in mice. Hydrogen gas has a strong prospect for clinical use due to easy preparation, low-cost, and no side effects. The administration of hydrogen gas significantly attenuated the behavioral deficits observed in our bmTBI model, suggesting that hydrogen application might be a strong therapeutic method for treatment of bmTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yoshiyuki Araki
- Department of Defense Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan
| | - Masashi Kashitani
- Department of Aerospace Engineering, National Defense Academy of Japan, Yokosuka, Japan
| | | | - Yasushi Kobayashi
- Department of Defense Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan
| | | | - Shinya Suzuki
- Kameda Medical Center, Emergency and Trauma Center, Kamogawa, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yuji Morimoto
- Department of Integrated Physiology Bio-Nano Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan
| | - Shinichi Tokuno
- Department of Defense Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan
| | - Gentaro Tsumatori
- Department of Defense Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Yamamoto
- Military Medicine Research Unit, Test and Evaluation Command, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daizoh Saitoh
- Division of Traumatology, Research Institute, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan
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44
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Miansari M, Mehta MD, Schilling JM, Kurashina Y, Patel HH, Friend J. Inducing Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in C. elegans via Cavitation-Free Surface Acoustic Wave-Driven Ultrasonic Irradiation. Sci Rep 2019; 9:12775. [PMID: 31485018 PMCID: PMC6726767 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47295-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury is an all-too-common outcome from modern warfare and sport, and lacks a reproducible model for assessment of potential treatments and protection against it. Here we consider the use of surface acoustic wave (SAW) irradiation of C. elegans worms—without cavitation—as a potential, ethically reasonable animal-on-a-chip model for inducing traumatic brain injury in an animal, producing significant effects on memory and learning that could prove useful in a model that progress from youth to old age in but a few weeks. We show a significant effect by SAW on the ability of worms to learn post-exposure through associative learning chemotaxis. At higher SAW intensity, we find immediate, thorough, but temporary paralysis of the worms. We further explore the importance of homogeneous exposure of the worms to the SAW-driven ultrasound, an aspect poorly controlled in past efforts, if at all, and demonstrate the absence of cavitation through a change in fluids from a standard media for the worms to the exceedingly viscous polyvinyl alcohol. Likewise, we demonstrate that acoustic streaming, when present, is not directly responsible for paralysis nor learning disabilities induced in the worm, but is beneficial at low amplitudes to ensuring homogeneous ultrasound exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morteza Miansari
- Medically Advanced Devices Laboratory, Center for Medical Devices, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive MC0411, La Jolla, 92093, CA, United States of America.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, P.O. Box 484, Babol, Iran.,Department of Cancer Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Babol, Iran
| | - Meghna D Mehta
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr MC0801, La Jolla, 92093, California, USA
| | - Jan M Schilling
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr MC0801, La Jolla, 92093, California, USA
| | - Yuta Kurashina
- Medically Advanced Devices Laboratory, Center for Medical Devices, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive MC0411, La Jolla, 92093, CA, United States of America.,School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta, Yokohama, 4259, Japan
| | - Hemal H Patel
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr MC0801, La Jolla, 92093, California, USA
| | - James Friend
- Medically Advanced Devices Laboratory, Center for Medical Devices, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive MC0411, La Jolla, 92093, CA, United States of America.
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45
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Mayer AR, Dodd AB, Vermillion MS, Stephenson DD, Chaudry IH, Bragin DE, Gigliotti AP, Dodd RJ, Wasserott BC, Shukla P, Kinsler R, Alonzo SM. A systematic review of large animal models of combined traumatic brain injury and hemorrhagic shock. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 104:160-177. [PMID: 31255665 PMCID: PMC7307133 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and severe blood loss (SBL) frequently co-occur in human trauma, resulting in high levels of mortality and morbidity. Importantly, each of the individual post-injury cascades is characterized by complex and potentially opposing pathophysiological responses, complicating optimal resuscitation and therapeutic approaches. Large animal models of poly-neurotrauma closely mimic human physiology, but a systematic literature review of published models has been lacking. The current review suggests a relative paucity of large animal poly-neurotrauma studies (N = 52), with meta-statistics revealing trends for animal species (exclusively swine), characteristics (use of single biological sex, use of juveniles) and TBI models. Although most studies have targeted blood loss volumes of 35-45%, the associated mortality rates are much lower relative to Class III/IV human trauma. This discrepancy may result from potentially mitigating experimental factors (e.g., mechanical ventilation prior to or during injury, pausing/resuming blood loss based on physiological parameters, administration of small volume fluid resuscitation) that are rarely associated with human trauma, highlighting the need for additional work in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R Mayer
- The Mind Research Network/Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Pete & Nancy Domenici Hall, 1011 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, United States; Neurology Department, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States; Psychiatry Department, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States; Psychology Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States.
| | - Andrew B Dodd
- The Mind Research Network/Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Pete & Nancy Domenici Hall, 1011 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, United States
| | - Meghan S Vermillion
- The Mind Research Network/Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Pete & Nancy Domenici Hall, 1011 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, United States
| | - David D Stephenson
- The Mind Research Network/Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Pete & Nancy Domenici Hall, 1011 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, United States
| | - Irshad H Chaudry
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-0019, United States
| | - Denis E Bragin
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Andrew P Gigliotti
- The Mind Research Network/Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Pete & Nancy Domenici Hall, 1011 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, United States
| | - Rebecca J Dodd
- The Mind Research Network/Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Pete & Nancy Domenici Hall, 1011 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, United States
| | - Benjamin C Wasserott
- The Mind Research Network/Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Pete & Nancy Domenici Hall, 1011 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, United States
| | - Priyank Shukla
- The Mind Research Network/Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Pete & Nancy Domenici Hall, 1011 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, United States
| | - Rachel Kinsler
- Department of the Army Civilian, U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory, Fort Rucker, AL 36362-0577, United States
| | - Sheila M Alonzo
- The Mind Research Network/Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Pete & Nancy Domenici Hall, 1011 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, United States
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46
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Bustamante MC, Cronin DS. Cavitation threshold evaluation of porcine cerebrospinal fluid using a Polymeric Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar-Confinement chamber apparatus. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2019; 100:103400. [PMID: 31476553 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2019.103400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Studies investigating mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) in the military population using experimental head surrogates and Finite Element (FE) head models have demonstrated the existence of transient negative pressures occurring within the head at the contrecoup location to the blast wave impingement. It has been hypothesized that this negative pressure may cause cavitation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and possibly lead to brain tissue damage from cavitation bubble collapse. The cavitation pressure threshold of human CSF is presently unknown, although existing FE studies in the literature have assumed a value of -100 kPa. In the present study, the cavitation threshold of degassed porcine CSF at body temperature (37 °C) was measured using a unique modified Polymeric Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar apparatus, and compared to thresholds of distilled water at various conditions. The loading pulse generated in the apparatus was comparable to experimentally measured pressures resulting from blast exposure, and those predicted by an FE model. The occurrence of cavitation was identified using high-speed imaging and the corresponding pressures were determined using a computational model of the apparatus that was previously developed and validated. The probability of cavitation was calculated (ISO/TS, 18506) from forty-one experimental tests on porcine CSF, representing an upper bound for in vivo CSF. The 50% probability of cavitation for CSF (-0.467 MPa ± 7%) was lower than that of distilled water (-1.37 MPa ± 16%) under the same conditions. The lesser threshold of CSF could be related to the constituents such as blood cells and proteins. The results of this study can be used to inform FE head models subjected to blast exposure and improve prediction of the potential for CSF cavitation and response of brain tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Bustamante
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, ON, N2L3G1, Canada.
| | - D S Cronin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, ON, N2L3G1, Canada.
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47
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Weppner J, Linsenmeyer M, Ide W. Military Blast-Related Traumatic Brain Injury. CURRENT PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION REPORTS 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40141-019-00241-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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48
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Sullivan DR, Logue MW, Wolf EJ, Hayes JP, Salat DH, Fortier CB, Fonda JR, McGlinchey RE, Milberg WP, Miller MW. Close-Range Blast Exposure Is Associated with Altered White Matter Integrity in Apolipoprotein ɛ4 Carriers. J Neurotrauma 2019; 36:3264-3273. [PMID: 31232163 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2019.6489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence suggests that blast exposure has profound negative consequences for the health of the human brain, and that it may confer risk for the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although the molecular mechanisms linking blast exposure to subsequent neurodegeneration is an active focus of research, recent studies suggest that genetic risk for AD may elevate the risk of neurodegeneration following traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, it is currently unknown if blast exposure also interacts with AD risk to promote neurodegeneration. In this study we examined whether apolipoprotein (APOE) ɛ4, a well-known genetic risk factor for AD, influenced the relationship between blast exposure and white matter integrity in a cohort of 200 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. Analyses revealed a significant interaction between close-range blast exposure (CBE) (close range being within 10 m) and APOE ɛ4 carrier status in predicting white matter abnormalities, measured by a voxelwise cluster-based method that captures spatial heterogeneity in white matter disruptions. This interaction remained significant after controlling for TBI, pointing to the specificity of CBE and APOE in white matter disruptions. Further, among veteran ɛ4 carriers exposed to close-range blast, we observed a positive association between the number of CBEs and the number of white matter abnormalities. These results raise the possibility that CBE interacts with AD genetic influences on neuropathological processes such as the degradation of white matter integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle R Sullivan
- National Center for PTSD, Educational and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mark W Logue
- National Center for PTSD, Educational and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts.,Biomedical Genetics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Erika J Wolf
- National Center for PTSD, Educational and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jasmeet P Hayes
- National Center for PTSD, Educational and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.,Neuroimaging Research for Veterans Center, Educational and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - David H Salat
- Neuroimaging Research for Veterans Center, Educational and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts.,Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) and Geriatric Research, Educational and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts.,Anthinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, Massachusetts
| | - Catherine B Fortier
- Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) and Geriatric Research, Educational and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jennifer R Fonda
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.,Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) and Geriatric Research, Educational and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Regina E McGlinchey
- Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) and Geriatric Research, Educational and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - William P Milberg
- Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) and Geriatric Research, Educational and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mark W Miller
- National Center for PTSD, Educational and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
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49
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Wischik DL, Magny-Normilus C, Whittemore R. Risk Factors of Obesity in Veterans of Recent Conflicts: Need for Diabetes Prevention. Curr Diab Rep 2019; 19:70. [PMID: 31368008 PMCID: PMC7530827 DOI: 10.1007/s11892-019-1191-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To identify factors associated with obesity in veterans of the recent, Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation New Dawn (OND) war conflicts. RECENT FINDINGS Over 44% OEF/OIF/OND veterans are obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2), which exceeds the national obesity prevalence rate of 39% in people younger than 45. Obesity increases morbidity, risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D), and mortality as well as decreases quality of life. A scoping review method was used to identify factors associated with obesity in young veterans. Military exposures, such as multiple deployments and exposure to combat, contribute to challenges in re-integration to civilian life in all veterans. Factors that contribute to increased risk for obesity include changes in eating patterns/eating disorders, changes in physical activity, physical disability, and psychological comorbidity. These conditions can contribute to a rapid weight gain trajectory, changes in metabolism, and obesity. Young veterans face considerable challenges related to obesity risk. Further research is needed to better understand young veterans' experiences and health needs in order to adapt or expand existing programs and improve access, engagement, and metabolic outcomes in this vulnerable population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Robin Whittemore
- Yale School of Nursing, 400 West Campus Drive, Orange, CT, 06477, USA
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Abutarboush R, Gu M, Kawoos U, Mullah SH, Chen Y, Goodrich SY, Lashof-Sullivan M, McCarron RM, Statz JK, Bell RS, Stone JR, Ahlers ST. Exposure to Blast Overpressure Impairs Cerebral Microvascular Responses and Alters Vascular and Astrocytic Structure. J Neurotrauma 2019; 36:3138-3157. [PMID: 31210096 PMCID: PMC6818492 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2019.6423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to blast overpressure may result in cerebrovascular impairment, including cerebral vasospasm. The mechanisms contributing to this vascular response are unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between blast and functional alterations of the cerebral microcirculation and to investigate potential underlying changes in vascular microstructure. Cerebrovascular responses were assessed in sham- and blast-exposed male rats at multiple time points from 2 h through 28 days after a single 130-kPa (18.9-psi) exposure. Pial microcirculation was assessed through a cranial window created in the parietal bone of anesthetized rats. Pial arteriolar reactivity was evaluated in vivo using hypercapnia, barium chloride, and serotonin. We found that exposure to blast leads to impairment of arteriolar reactivity >24 h after blast exposure, suggesting delayed injury mechanisms that are not simply attributed to direct mechanical deformation. Observed vascular impairment included a reduction in hypercapnia-induced vasodilation, increase in barium-induced constriction, and reversal of the serotonin effect from constriction to dilation. A reduction in vascular smooth muscle contractile proteins consistent with vascular wall proliferation was observed, as well as delayed reduction in nitric oxide synthase and increase in endothelin-1 B receptors, mainly in astrocytes. Collectively, the data show that exposure to blast results in delayed and prolonged alterations in cerebrovascular reactivity that are associated with changes in the microarchitecture of the vessel wall and astrocytes. These changes may contribute to long-term pathologies involving dysfunction of the neurovascular unit, including cerebral vasospasm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rania Abutarboush
- Neurotrauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ming Gu
- Neurotrauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Usmah Kawoos
- Neurotrauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Saad H Mullah
- Neurotrauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ye Chen
- Neurotrauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Samantha Y Goodrich
- Neurotrauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Margaret Lashof-Sullivan
- Neurotrauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Richard M McCarron
- Neurotrauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland.,Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jonathan K Statz
- Neurotrauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Randy S Bell
- Neurosurgery Department, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - James R Stone
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Stephen T Ahlers
- Neurotrauma Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland
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