Traumatic Brain Injury: September 2006 Archives

Natural Protection Against Brain Injury

March of Dimes has found evidence that the natural protection of babies' brains may help provide information that can help against brain injuries during birth. Research from the University of Auckland shows that oxygen deprivation from the preterm brain has natural biochemical defences which help protect injured cells by reducing their energy demand, and therefore their need for oxygen. Laura Bennet of the Fetal Physiology and Neuroscience group says that “brain injury is a very real problem for premature babies, and can cause major issues throughout the rest of their lives."
Natural protection may reduce brain injury

Premature birth is associated with a very high rate of neurodevelopmental problems. Roughly 12% of U.S. babies are born prematurely and the costs associated with caring for premature babies is believe to be double the direct costs of AIDS.

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Lawmakers Told Brain Injury Treatment Often Nonexistent

According to an Oklahoma news station, state lawmakers were told that the treatment system for Oklahomans with traumatic brain injury is lacking. Because the cost of treating traumatic brain injury is often more than insurance, state programs, and accident victims can pay, many patients are left without adequate treatment.

There also exists a shortage in the numbers of medical professionals and rehabilitation centers to provide treatment for traumatic brain injury. In Oklahoma, more than 800 people die each year from traumatic brain injuries and about 3,000 are hospitalized annually with head injuries.

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Too Much Testosterone Kills Brain Cells

Research out of Yale University has found that when brain cells are exposed to too much testosterone, they self destruct in a process similar to that seen in Alzheimer's patients. Barbara Ehrlich, lead researcher of the study, said that "too little testosterone is bad, too much is bad but the right amount is perfect. Other people have shown that high levels of steroid can cause behavioral changes."

Study: Too Much Testosterone Kills Brain Cells

The research explains why drastic changes in behavior often are associated with steroid use. In contrast to testosterone, estrogen was found to have a protective effect on brain cells; Ehrlich said that "if anything, there is less cell death in the presence of estrogen."

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Brain Injury Signature Wound of Iraq

Traumatic brain injuries are being recognized as the signature wound of the war in Iraq, a result of improved armor that protects against injuries which once would have been deadly without the protection, but still cause injury in the form of brain damage. The injuries cause not only physical distress but also emotional damage. Lance Cpl. Sam Reyes said of his injury: "I thought I was a mess-up, just damn near dumb. I thought I was just a failure at this. I was recognized before as being the best. I knew my stuff real well. It made me feel like I wasn't a Marine no more."

Iraq's Signature Wound: Brain Injury

Thus far, about 1,000 soldiers have been treated for the symptoms of traumatic brain injury, which include slowed thinking, severe memory loss, and problems with coordination and impulse control. Many doctors fear that many troops go undiagnosed. Traumatic brain injury shares many symptoms with post-traumatic stress disorder. Many traumatic brain injury symptoms, such as depression, agitation, and social withdrawal, are difficult to treat with medications.

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Recognizing TBI Symptoms

The website for the Center of Disease Control (CDC) contains very helpful information regarding the signs and symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Surprisingly, TBI’s symptoms are often subtle and may not be readily apparent for days or sometimes weeks after an accident. Initially, many people who are suffering from TBI may not even know because they do not act or feel different.

If you have been a victim of a head injury, it is essential that you are aware of the possible symptoms of TBI.
According to the CDC, some of these symptoms include:

Headaches or neck pain that does not go away
Slowness in thinking, speaking, acting, or reading
Difficulty remembering, concentrating, or making decisions

Brain Damaged Patients Wake After Sleeping Pill Treatment

Severely brain damaged patients given Zolpidem, a sleeping pill, are coming out of their comas and showing improvement in speech and movement. "I have treated more than 150 brain-damaged patients with Zolpidem and have seen improvements in about 60 per cent of them," said Wally Nel, a physician who has prescribed the pills to many brain damaged patients.

Daily Mail

Studies are expected to begin in South Africa to discover how the drug has the ability to wake brain cells that were thought to be dead. Brain scans indicate that areas of the brain thought to be dead light up once patients are given Zolpidem.

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ATV Accidents Kill

The Poteau Daily News warns that a popular activity has claimed 17 lives so far in 2006 in Oklahoma. ATV riding is a leisure activity for many; it is popular both in summer and during hunting season. None of the riders killed was wearing a helmet. Cynthia Kincade, mother of Zachary Kincaid who died earlier this year while riding an ATV, said of her son's death: " I don't blame the ATV but I do think that they need to be more regulated, because no matter how good your children are at riding one anything can happen. Zach's accident was a freak accident he wasn't speeding and the roads were dry and clear, he just simply lost control. I do think maybe an age limit of 14 and older would be good even though it wouldn't have applied to my son. Helmet laws are also excellent ideas but a helmet wouldn't have saved my son's life."

Oklahoma State Senator Bernest Cain introduced The Children's ATV Safety Act to help prevent ATV deaths. The bill would have prevented children under the age of 12 from riding on ATVs and would have required all ATV riders under the age of 18 wear a helmet. The bill was not passed, though it is scheduled to be brought up again for legislation. About 75% of ATV accidents end with serious head or spinal cord injuries to the accident victim.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 10:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

CDC TBI Research to be Evaluated by MayaTech

MayaTech Coorporation will conduct an assessment of traumatic brain injury grantee programs funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC). MayaTech often provides consulting and technical services to federal agencies. The CDC requires that all grants be peer reviewed. Jamie Chriqui, director of MayaTech's Center for Health Policy and Legislative Analysis, said of the appointment: "This project builds upon our long-standing commitment to support Federal agencies in their efforts to ensure their programs are effective and have a positive impact on society."

MayaTech to Evaluate CDC Research on Traumatic Brain Injury

About 1.4 million Americans each year sustain traumatic brain injury, typically in falls, car accidents, and being struck by other people or objects. MayaTech's assessment of the CDC-funded research will help identify topics for further study.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 09:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Future Hope For Vicitms of TBI

According to ABC News, a discovery by the New Tasmanian research group may provide hope for those who are victims of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Over 27,000 Australians suffer from TBI each year. Researchers have found the specific protein ERM is essential to the growth and repair of damaged nerve cells. Researchers hope that this may eventually lead scientists to discover additional methods help victims of TBI fully recover from brain injuries.

How is TBI Diagnosed?

The Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery Center provides information many would not know about the evaluation of the seriousness of traumatic brain injuries and how to prevent further injury when dealing with a patient. Medical care personnel must take great care in stabilizing a patient who is believed to have a brain injury; further movement can cause further damage to the head or spinal column. The seriousness of a TBI is typically diagnosed using the Glasgow Coma Scale.

The Glasgow Coma Scale generally is performed by emergency medical personnel and tests eye opening, ability to respond verbally, and the ability to move the arms and legs. Three tests are used to evaluate those three areas and then the scores from those tests are added to determine the patient's overall condition. The Glascow Coma Scale is useful in determining what treatment is best after a traumatic brain injury.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 10:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Harvard Scientists Identify Molecules Stimulating Brain Cell Growth

Researchers at Harvard University have identified several molecules that have the capacity to stimulate cell growth in the brain. This discovery offers hope for restored brain function in those affected by Parkinson's disease, strokes, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological conditions. The research provides an idea as to what compounds may be responsible for neurons to regenerate and restore brain function. "This study opens doors to new therapeutic approaches for a wide range neurological disorders and injuries that were once considered incurable," said Gerald Weissmann, MD, Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal.

Eureka Alert

LTB4 and LXA4 are two molecules which act in an inflammatory response and are regulators of proliferation of several cell types. Stem cells isolated from the brains of mouse embryos were exposed to LTB4 and showed proliferation and differentiation. When exposed to LXA4, the cells showed decreased growth and apoptosis (cellular suicide.)

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 07:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Many Treatments for Trauma "Untried and Untested"

People injured in traffic accidents and in war often are given treatments that are "untried and untested," according to Ian Roberts, professor of public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Some trauma treatments have, in fact, been shown to increase the risk of death in patients. "The first large-scale clinical trial in head injury showed that corticosteroids - a treatment that has been used for over 30 years - was actually killing patients," Professor Roberts said. Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory drugs.

The Independent

Professor Roberts says that most funding randomized clinical trials are set aside for diseases that affect older, more affluent people, like cancer. Trauma injuries typically affect the poor. "The main reason injury is overlooked by the medical research community is that it is a disease of poor people," Professor Roberts said.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 06:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Roller Coasters Dangerous for Women

According to the Rocky Mountain News, Colorado statistics highlight that women are more at risk for brain injury on amusement park rides than are men. During an eight-year period, 165 women reported injuries at Elitch's, an amusement park located in Denver, Colorado. During the same time period, half as many men were injured at the same amusement park. Reporting of brain injuries is left to amusement parks in Colorado. Mahesh Albuquerque, a field inspection program manager with the Department of Labor and Employment says "I'd like to push for reporting immediately, or within 24 hours or sooner."

Peggy Jo Rose suffered brain injuries similar to those of shaken baby syndrome after riding a roller coaster at Elitch Gardens in September of 2004. Today she struggles with basic tasks: she has difficulties balancing a checkbook and performing fourth grade math. Rose reports that her ongoing recovery has been a struggle. To report a serious injury to the Department of Labor, call 303-318-8495 or e-mail oil.inspection@ state.co.us.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 10:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Early Drinking Causes Cognitive Impairment

The New York Times reports that results of a national survey published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine show that teenagers who begin drinking at an early age suffer a greater risk of neurological damage. Alcoholic teenagers show decreased aptitude for tests of verbal and nonverbal memory, attention focusing, and spatial skills. "There is no doubt about it now: there are long-term cognitive consequences to excessive drinking of alcohol in adolescence," said Aaron White, an assistant research professor in the psychiatry department at Duke University and the co-author of a recent study of extreme drinking on college campuses.

The hippocampus is known to be affected by alcohol consumption; it is an area of the brain critical for learning and memory. Alcohol has the capability to drastically suppress the activity of receptors in the region. Studies in rats have indicated that the cognitive abilities of adolescent rats were far more affected after drinking alcohol than adult rats.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 10:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Study Links Lead Exposure to Brain Cancer

A University of Rochester Medical Center study found that exposure to lead while working causes a 50% greater chance of dying from brain cancer. While previous studies attempting to establish a link between lead exposure and cancer have been inconclusive, this study was the largest ever conducted and based on data gathered from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Death Index. Study author Edwin van Wijngaarden advises further probing of the possible link. "If we are able to help explain the cause of even 1 or 2 percent of the total number of cases, that's important," said van Wijngaarden.

Science Daily

The study looked at census data from 317,968 people who had reported their occupations between 1979 and 1981. Lead has been suspected for years of being a carcinogen; it has the capacity to pass through the blood-brain barrier. Van Wijngaarden is following this research with a study to measure the actual bone-lead levels in people diagnosed with brain tumors.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 09:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Football Player's Parents Sue

The parents of a high school student who suffered permanent brain injuries while playing for the football team are suing a sports medicine clinic that they say allowed their son to return to play after he had suffered a concussion. Adam Melka was playing in a game when he ""was involved in one or more on-field collisions causing his sudden collapse and leading to severe permanent brain injury," according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit states that the trainer allowed Melka to continue to play without treatment. Melka's permanent brain injuries were the consequence of injuries in a subsequent scrimmage.

Journal Sentinel Online

Melka's injuries were the result of two hard hits to the head. Melka went to the sidelines with dizziness and began vomiting. Symptoms were recognized as being those of brain trauma and the boy was taken to the hospital for treatment. However, the boy is left with permanent neurological damage. Melka's parents have filed the suit against Orthopaedic Associates of Wisconsin Sports Medicine and Therapy.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 05:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Cooling Devices Ineffective Against Brain Injury

According to MedIndia.com, current cooling devices are ineffective in preventing against brain injury. Research out of the Washington University School of Medicine have found that the devices are ineffective because they do not penetrate deeply enough into the brain. Senior author Dmitriy Yablonskiy said, "Our findings suggest that the reason trials of this kind have so far produced inconsistent results is because we're not cooling enough of the brain."

Traumatic brain injury occurs as a result of sudden trauma to the head or brain. Cold slows the rate of chemical reactions, the same reactions that are problematic in the event of an injury. Attempts to capitalize upon this process were successful enough in animals that they inspired similar study in humans. However, "the problem has been that we have no idea what the temperature of the human brain is and no way to measure it short of surgery, which just isn't the same as measuring temperature in an intact brain," explains Yablonskiy, who is also an adjunct professor of physics in the School of Arts and Sciences.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 07:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Woman Awarded $3.8 After Hospital Injury

A Largo woman who suffered a brain injury when having her intravenous tube removed three years ago has been awarded $3.8 million dollars. Kathleen Leer suffered a stroke and brain damage when removal of the tube at Largo Medical Center caused an air embolism. Leer now suffers from left-side paralysis and cognitive problems. She requires 24-hour care from her husband.

Action News

Hospital attorneys argued that Leer's paralysis was based upon a pre-existing condition. Leer had been admitted to the hospital with a dislodged catheter in her lower back. The hospital is considering an appeal.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 07:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Undiagnosed Sleep Apnea May Injure Brains

Johns Hopkins researchers have concluded that children with sleep apnea suffer damage in two structures of the brain tied to learning ability. This is the first study that has documented neural changes in children with the disease. "This should be a wake-up call to both parents and doctors that undiagnosed or untreated sleep apnea might hurt children's brains," says lead author Ann Halbower, M.D. "This is truly concerning because we saw changes that suggest brain injury in areas of the brain that house critical cognitive functions, such as attention, learning and working memory."

A Wake-up Call for Parents of Children with Sleep Apnea

This is the first time that changes in the brain's chemistry have been linked to sleep apnea. It was been well documented that interrupted sleep, breathing, and oxygen deprivation harms children's learning ability. Children with sleep apnea scored worse on IQ tests than children who did not have the condition.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 07:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Congress Cuts Soldier TBI Funding

According to USA Today, Congress has moved to cut funding for research and treatment of brain injuries caused by the impact of bomb blasts. Supporters of increased funding expressed shock at the motion. "I find it basically unpardonable that Congress is not going to provide funds to take care of our soldiers and sailors who put their lives on the line for their country," says Martin Foil, a member of the center's board of directors. "It blows my imagination."

The Brain Injury Center had been given more money each successive year of the war in Iraq: $6.5 million dollars in 2001 up to $14 million dollars last year. Cuts were blamed on a tight budget this year. The Brain Injury Center researches ways to diagnose and treat service members who suffer brain damage while on duty.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 09:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Skateboard Helmet Recall

Reuters Health reports that about 10,000 skateboarding helmets are being recalled after failing Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) safety standards for impact testing. While no injuries have been reported using the helmets, "consumers should stop using these helmets immediately and return them to the stores where purchased for a full refund," says the CPSC.

World Industries Inc. sold the helmets from October 2000 to May 2001. The recalled helmets come in black, blue, and white and have "World Industries" printed on the chin strap, the back of the helmet, and the inside padding.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 09:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Athletes and TBI and ImPACT

According to the Associated Press, a computerized test called ImPACT is helping coaches and trainers decide whether it is safe to allow athletes to return to the field following a concussion. "It (the computerized test) gives us a more objective tool to measure an athlete's readiness to return to play," said Tim Coyne, of Hopewell Valley Central High School. "They (computers) can grade things much more efficiently then I can."

Concussions are the most common form of traumatic brain injury. They occur when the brain receives trauma from sudden movement or impact. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that more than 300,000 people in the U.S. end up with sports-related brain injuries each year. Concussions can lead to physical, cognitive, and behavioral problems and it is especially dangerous for athletes to return to the field before the brain has had a chance to recover from the concussion.

Related Links:
Legal View:TBI
Sports Concussion

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 08:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

September 30, 2006

Natural Protection Against Brain Injury

September 29, 2006

Lawmakers Told Brain Injury Treatment Often Nonexistent

Too Much Testosterone Kills Brain Cells

September 28, 2006

Brain Injury Signature Wound of Iraq

September 27, 2006

Recognizing TBI Symptoms

September 26, 2006

Brain Damaged Patients Wake After Sleeping Pill Treatment

ATV Accidents Kill

September 25, 2006

CDC TBI Research to be Evaluated by MayaTech

September 24, 2006

Future Hope For Vicitms of TBI

September 23, 2006

How is TBI Diagnosed?

September 22, 2006

Harvard Scientists Identify Molecules Stimulating Brain Cell Growth

September 21, 2006

Many Treatments for Trauma "Untried and Untested"

September 20, 2006

Roller Coasters Dangerous for Women

September 14, 2006

Early Drinking Causes Cognitive Impairment

September 13, 2006

Study Links Lead Exposure to Brain Cancer

September 12, 2006

Football Player's Parents Sue

September 11, 2006

Cooling Devices Ineffective Against Brain Injury

September 08, 2006

Woman Awarded $3.8 After Hospital Injury

September 07, 2006

Undiagnosed Sleep Apnea May Injure Brains

September 06, 2006

Congress Cuts Soldier TBI Funding

September 05, 2006

Skateboard Helmet Recall

September 04, 2006

Athletes and TBI and ImPACT