Traumatic Brain Injury: October 2006 Archives

Parents of Brain Injured Boy Settle for $4.6 Million

The parents of a Utah boy who suffered a brain injury that left him blind, deaf, and a quadriplegic have settled their medical negligence lawsuit against the federal government for $4.6 million. The federal government was named a defendant in the lawsuit because the baby was treated by federal employees at a Salt Lake City clinic; they continue to maintain that they were not guilty of negligence in the boy's case. The boy was taken to the clinic for a "well child" exam when he was nine days old. During his visit, the boy's head diameter increased in size by 5 cm. The suit alleges that the doctor treating the boy should have recognized the growth as being indicative of obstructive hydrocephalus.

Family settles suit over infant's brain injury for $4.6M

Obstructive hydrocephalus occurs when an excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain. If treated, infants with the condition have a normal life span and normal intelligence.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Brain Injury Association Calls for NFL Investigation

The president of the Brain Injury Association of New York State is calling Congress to conduct hearings about fraudulent medical research conducted, reported, and relied upon by the National Football League to determine when players who suffer concussions can play again. Rushing players who have suffered concussions back onto the field exposes players to the potential for further brain injury. Additionally, young children participating in contact sports may be encouraged back onto the field after concussions as a result of watching NFL idols do the same.

President of Brain Injury Association Calls for Congressional Investigation of Brain Injury in the National Football League

A report in ESPN magazine exposed the fraudulent research and conclusions regarding player safety in return to play decisions. Michael V. Kaplen, president of the Brain Injury Association says that further concussion research is important because "when kids, their parents and their coaches hear about this fraudulent research and see that the NFL allows their players to return to play, they think that it's safe to return to play themselves. This fraudulent research and reckless indifference to the life long effects of concussions exposes children of all ages to further serious and life long brain damage."

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Study May Influence Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment

According to a report by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, researchers have made some exciting new findings which could dramatically affect the treatment for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Scientists found that TBI reduces the amount of protein in the brain, which typically contributes to health brain activity. The result is common TBI symptoms including seizures and memory problems.

According to a leading physician with the Children’s Hospital “A traumatic brain injury occurs to someone in the United States every 23 seconds. TBI is the leading cause of death among children and young adults in this country. Our hope is that our research may contribute to potential therapies for TBI patients.”

Posted by Ryan Jardine at 04:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

New Medical Device May Help Treat Traumatic Brain Injury

According to a press release, a new medical device, developed by Luna Innovations Incorporated, may assist in treating traumatic brain injuries (TBI) . The device is called EN-TACT (Emergency Noninvasive Tissue and Compartment Testing) and is able to quickly read and analyze intramuscular and intracranial pressure. This system will enable doctors and medical technicians to quickly detect any abnormal pressure in the head that may be the result of brain swelling from a brain injury.

Posted by Ryan Jardine at 04:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Researchers Tackle Traumatic Brain Injuries in Football Games

An interesting report in the Collegiate Times reports on the efforts of researchers to try to prevent traumatic brain injuries during football games. Scientists with Virginia Tech-Wake Forest Center for Injury Biomechanics designed helmets which are padded with sensors to monitor the location and force of head impacts. During a game the helmets report to the scientists each hit to the head a player receives.

Following the game, the researcher analyze and compare the data. Virginia Tech is the first football team in the world to use this new technology to prevent traumatic brain injury. According to the team trainer and director of Virginia Tech sports medicine, “It’s very important that people in my profession do all we can to try to make the game safer.”

Posted by Ryan Jardine at 06:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Many Bike Injuries Are Preventable

A report in the Sooke News underscores the importance of wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle, whether you are an adult or a child. Nearly 100 Canadian’s die annually from injuries sustained while riding a bike. In addition, nearly 50,000 Canadian children are injured in bicycle accidents. Surprisingly, most bicycle accidents do not happen on busy streets. They occur on quiet streets, close to home and do not include a motor vehicle.

Most accidents on bicycles are the result of incidents such as the cyclist falling off the bike or colliding with potholes, fences, telephone posts, pedestrians, or other bikes. The report indicates that bicycle accidents are likely to cause severe brain and head injuries which could result in serious intellectual, memory and personality impairment. Many of these injuries are easily preventable by wearing a helmet. Studies show the just wearing a helmet reduces your risk of traumatic brain injury by 85%.

Posted by Ryan Jardine at 06:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Concussions Dangerous for Athletes

12-year-old William Baun suffered his third concussion making a tackle during football practice and after this, it became evident to his parents that he had suffered some brain damage. Baun came home and did not recognize his parents or the family's dogs. "He said those are two cute little dogs. Hey, whose dogs are they?" Baun's father, Robert, said. "We believe he had no clue who we really were."

The risk of sports injuries

There are more than 300,000 sports-related concussions in the United States each year in both adults and in children. Nine out of ten concussions do not involve loss of consciousness, but this does not make them harmless. Kids may not admit something is wrong, even if they are suffering from headaches, dizziness, fatigue, sensitivity to noise and light and other symptoms of concussions. William stopped playing football after suffering memory loss and still is unable to remember the months after his third concussion.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Day Care Provider to Stand Trial for Child Abuse

Navy Saha, a California day care provider, will stand trial on charges of child abuse. The 10-month year old girl was under Saha's care when she sustained a brain injury in November of 2005. Saha has pleaded not guilty to charges of child abuse with enhancements of inflicting great bodily injury and brain damage.

Day care provider to stand trial on child abuse charges

A medical expert previously testified that Saha shook the baby; however, an expert defense witness testified that the girl had a pre-existing condition and neither shaking nor an impact to the head was the cause of her injury. "This is not a previously well child," said Stanford University neuroradiologist Patrick Barnes.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 10:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Brain Implant Chip to Help Stroke Victims

An electric processor, called Neurochip, has been developed. Neurochip will be implanted in the brains of stroke victims to help establish new nerve connections that may have been lost as a result of the brain damage from the stroke. The study shows that the device can induce brain changes in monkeys lasting longer than a week. The researchers from University of Washington who conducted the study say that the strengthening of weak connections through this mechanism may have potential in the rehabilitation of patients with brain injuries, stroke, or paralysis.

Brain implant chip designed to help stroke victims

The researchers tested a miniature, self-contained device with a computer chip by placing them on top of the heads of monkeys, who then went about normal activities. "The Neurochip records the activity of motor cortex cells," Fetz explained. "It can convert this activity into a stimulus that can be sent back to the brain, spinal cord, or muscle, and thereby set up an artificial connection that operates continuously during normal behaviour. This recurrent brain-computer interface creates an artificial motor pathway that the brain may learn to use to compensate for impaired pathways."

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 01:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Chronic Drinking Damages Brain

Long term, heavy drinking has been found to damage the part of the brain related to learning and short term memory, researchers have found. Alcoholic men were found to have a lower hippocampus volume compared to those men who did not drink heavily on a regular basis. The lower volume could mean a loss of tissue in that area of the brain. Dr. Gary Wand, a professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University, said that this study is important because "although previous studies have shown a similar effect, this study was better controlled ... making the findings more believable."

Chronic drinking may damage brain, memory

The study was led by Dr. Thomas Beresford of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. The hippocampus is responsible for the formation of new memory and has two parts: a right section and a left section. Total hippocampus volume shrank, though the let hippocampus shrank more than the right. It is unknown at this point whether long-term drinking leads to permanent damage or kills hippocampus cells.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 09:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Youth Sports Creates Risk of TBI

According to a Boston Globe Report, a group of women have formed the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts in order to help people cope with traumatic brain injury (TBI). These women in the 1980’s had children who received serious head injuries in car accidents. They are now focusing their efforts on ensuring that children are protected from TBI during youth sports. The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control reports TBI annually causes 50,000 deaths, 235,000 hospitalizations and 1.1 million emergency room visits. The Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts hopes to have a conference on sports injuries with coaches, parents and health care professions. They plan to address treating sports related head injuries.

Posted by Ryan Jardine at 11:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Brain Injury Association "Walk for Thought"

This weekend the Brain Injury Association of Connecticut has organized a “Walk for Thought” in recognition of the effect of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on our society. Victims of TBI, their friends, family and advocates will participate in the walk on Saturday at 11 a.m. According to the East Hartford Gazette, brain injuries occur six times as often as other debilitating conditions such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and HIV/AIDS.

Posted by Ryan Jardine at 10:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Brain Site for Rapid Learning Determined

U.S. researchers have provided the first evidence that a specific area of the brain is needed for rapid learning. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers say that their findings help explain why injury or Alzheimer's disease leads to the inability to remember new memories of facts and events.

Brain site for rapid learning determined

The researchers genetically engineered mice not to have a receptor for a key neurotransmitter. Mice without neurotransmitters at the dentate gyrus juncture "learned normally when trained slowly with hours or days between trials, but showed learning deficits when challenged to learn the same tasks quickly, with only minutes between trials," said Thomas McHugh, one of the researchers. "This advance in the understanding of how the hippocampal circuit functions suggests possible therapeutic targets in diseases that lead to memory deficits."

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 10:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation to Treat Spinal Cord Injury Pain

Using Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation To Treat Pain Associated With Spinal Cord Injury

The study was reported in the Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development. Only males were looked at in the study.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 07:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Bike Helmet Debate Revived

Austin, Texas is currently debating whether or not its bikers should be required to wear helmets. Two area hospitals will conduct a yearlong study on head injuries from bike accidents beginning November 1 and will use the data to determine if a new law should be put into place. "The debate became too emotionally charged to be productive," said former Austin Mayor Bruce Todd. Todd credits a helmet with saving his life in a bicycle crash and has fought for a law requiring helmets to be put into place.

Debate over bike helmets heats up again

Austin already requires that bikers 17 and younger wear helmets. Rob D'Amico of the League of Bicycling Voters says that he agrees that helmets are a good thing, but fears that an ordinance will cause people to think bicycling is dangerous. Those opposed to the ordinance do not think that helmets prevent injuries and think that bike lanes and other ways to protect bikers from traffic would do more good than helmets.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 12:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Marines Work to Prevent Traumatic Brain Injury

According to a report by 24 Hour News 8, the Marine Corps has decided to send additional pads to Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan in order to protect against traumatic brain injury (TBI). Many months ago the Army provided helmet pads to soldiers but the Marines did not. This led a heated debate on whether those pads actually had any affect on the occurrence of TBI. Officials with the Marine Corp, following testing, determined that helmets with pads do provide additional protection against explosive impacts such as roadside bombs. The Marines anticipate 100,000 pads will be provided to Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan by the end of 2006.

Posted by Ryan Jardine at 05:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

High Schooler to Promote Insurance Increase for Lack of Helmets

Erin Cloninger, a Florida high school student, wants to increase state insurance requirements for motorcycle riders who do not wear helmets. She is in favor of bringing back the mandatory helmet law that was in place in Florida until 2000; however, because bringing back that law likely will be nearly impossible, she is settling for a bill that would more than double the amount of insurance motorcyclists without helmets would need. Hospitals and state health officials also are in favor of increasing the insurance. Currently, motorcyclists must carry $10,000 in insurance, an amount that does not cover medical care for most serious crashes. Hospitals end up covering the costs of treatment if a patient is unable to pay.

Student seeks new helmet rule

Cloninger's father died in 2004 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 12:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Life Can Continue After Brain Injury

Emily Ziebell suffered a life-threatening head injury when the sled she was riding crashed into a tree in 2004. She would spend 19 days in a coma and 16 months in a hospital trying to get some semblance of a normal life back. Her medical costs, most covered by insurance or Medicaid, have reached three-quarters of a million dollars. Ziebell has lost memories both before and after the accident, but still says that "I'm extremely happy my injury happened to me."

Finally, life goes on after brain injury

Ziebell's positive attitude has helped make her the "poster girl" for the Brain Injury Association of Wisconsin. Ziebell's dedication to her rehabilitation made it possible for her to get her driver's license back and she has started going back to school with the intention of becoming a full time daycare teacher. Ziebell's story shows that it is, in fact, possible to overcome brain injury.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 06:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Human Brain Works Like Computer

Professor Randall O'Reilly of the University of Colorado at Boulder postulates that a region of the human brain that is imperative to human intellectual abilities operates similarly to a digital computer. The prefrontal cortex and the basal ganglia in the human brain operate like a digital computer system; such an analogy will help researchers better understand the functioning of human intelligence. Similar operating mechanisms in computers, such as using electrical signals to cause "on" and "off" states, also are at play in the human brain. "Many researchers who create these models shun the computer metaphor. My work comes out of a tradition that says people's brains are nothing like computers, and now all of a sudden as we look at them, in fact, in a certain respect they are like computers," O'Reilly said.

Human brain works like a digital computer

O'Reilly says that the brain as an entity operates more like a social network than as a computer; neurons communicate to allow learning and the creation of memory. However, the more computer-like elements of the brain allow the brain to become more flexible in processing novel and symbolic information, according to O'Reilly.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 06:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Lawmakers Want Quicker Pace for Brain Injury Research

Representative Bill Pascrell Jr., D-NJ, wants more federal funding for research of brain injuries and says that the federal government needs to put more effort into the issue. Pascrell is a member of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, which is trying to get more money for the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center. Pascrell says that brain injury research should be more of a priority: “We must find a way through research to help our [troops] with brain injury to return to as near-normal a life as possible,” he said. “Because brain injuries can require lifelong care, the need for treatment and care for the victim and their family does not stop when injured troops are discharged from the hospital.”

Lawmaker wants quicker pace for brain injury research

More than 1,500 troops have been diagnosed with brain injuries from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Roughly one in ten service members in Iraq returns with some kind of concussion, although the number may actually be higher because brain injuries often are not diagnosed.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 12:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Skateboarding Accidents Cause Head Injuries

According to the AP, a 13-year-old boy died as a result of a serious head injury from a skateboarding accident. Three boys were skateboarding in the Bellevue, Nebraska when two collided and one hit his head on the pavement. His condition deteriorated very quickly and physicians were unable to save his life. Another skateboarder was rushed to the hospital in Kansas City after he was stuck by an SUV in a hit-and-run accident. He also experienced a severe head injury that may have resulted in a skull fracture.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and the American Academy of Pediatrics warn that the injury and death rates for children participating in sports like skateboarding are dangerously high, but can be prevented by taking common-sense precautions, such as wearing a helmet. Each year over 3.5 million children under the age of 14 are victims of sports injuries. Simply wearing a bike helmet can reduce the risk of traumatic head injury in children by 85%.

Posted by Ryan Jardine at 05:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Chemo Brain" Real Condition

A recent study has shown that chemotherapy cause changes to the brain's metabolism and blood flow that can last ten years after treatment. The findings help clarify why some chemotherapy patients complain of disrupted thought processes and confusion for years after treatment. Dr. David Silverman, head of neuronuclear imaging at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA says that "people with 'chemo brain' often can't focus, remember things or multitask the way they did before chemotherapy. Our study demonstrates for the first time that patients suffering from these cognitive symptoms have specific alterations in brain metabolism."

Scientists Find 'Chemo Brain' No Figment Of The Imagination

Although "chemo brain" is a recognized phenomenon, it still is not known what causes it. More studies will be needed to determine the mechanisms and how future methods of chemotherapy might be able to prevent it.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Brain Injury Settlement

The BBC reports that woman who received a serious brain injury following child birth has received a settlement of millions of dollars. After Sally Gardner had given birth, she was required to have surgery on her placenta. Due to an adverse reaction to a drug given during surgery, she suffered severe brain damage that has left her in need of 24-hour assistance for the rest of her life.

She is a mother of three children and according to her a hospital representative, “One acknowledges this injury has had an impact not solely on Sally Gardner but has also had an untold impact on her close family. My clients hope that this settlement will alleviate both Sally’s life and that of her family.”

Congressman Calls for Increase Federal Funding for TBI Research

A Congressman from New Jersey, Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., is calling upon congress to increase federal funding for additional research on possible treatments for traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Many troops injured in combat during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have returned home with TBI.

In fact, one in ten combat service men and women will return from tours in Iraq with concussions and other brain injuries. Rep. Pascrell, a member of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, is trying to accumulate money for a Defense and Veteran’s Brain Injury Center. Pascrell believes that “We must find a way through research to help our troops with brain injury to return to as near normal a life as possible.”

Posted by Ryan Jardine at 09:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Should Brain-Injury Patients be Used for Research?

Several top bioethicists suggest that maybe brain injury patients who are in a "persistent vegetative state" (PVS) should be used for medical experimentation, whether or not prior consent was obtained. Using brain dead patients would be beneficial in that it would essentially allow a living body to be experimented upon. Such an opportunity would be important for research into animal organ transplants as well as many other procedures. However, not all agree. Dr. John Shea, medical advisor to Campaign Life Coalition, said that it never would be ethical to use a living person for experimentation, regardless of their cognitive functioning. Said Dr. Shea, “A person who has PVS is not dead! If you claim to respect the sacredness of human life, you can’t use a human person for medical experimentation—that would be grossly immoral.”

Brain-Injury Patients Should be Used for Medical Experiments, Suggest Bioethicists

Little is understood about levels of awareness and understanding in people with severe brain injuries. There have been documented cases of people in permanent states of PVS who have awoken. Dr. Steve Curry, who supports experimentation on PVS patients said it would be difficult to convince the public that PVS patients actually were dead enough to be used for experimentation.

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Amateur Boxing Linked to TBI

The September issue of Archives of Neurology has found a link between amateur boxing and traumatic brain injury. A study of 14 Swedish amateur boxers showed higher levels of certain chemicals in their cerebrospinal fluid in the days following a fight; these chemicals indicate brain damage. According to the report, "the cerebrospinal fluid levels of these proteins increase in disorders with neuronal and axonal degeneration and damage, and the increase is known to correlate with the size of the brain lesion," the authors write. "When applied to the results of this study, the increases in neurofilament protein and total tau probably reflect damage to neuronal axons from hits to the head during a bout."

Amateur Boxing Linked to Brain Cell Injry

About 20 percent of professional boxers end up with chronic traumatic brain injury. Amateur boxers also are possibly more prone to damaging their nervous systems, though the shorter fights may cause the effects to be less severe than in professional boxing. Boxers had significantly higher neurofilament light protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein present than control subjects.

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Progesterone May Reduce Risk of Death from TBI

According to a report by MedPage Today, it appears that providing progesterone treatment to people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) can reduce their risk of near-term death by 50%. According to Dr. David Wright of the Morehouse School of Medicine, “We found encouraging evidence that progesterone is safe in the setting of traumatic brain injury….we found a 50% reduction in the rate of death…” This is a very promising study for those who experience severe head injuries. The researchers plan to continue additional research in order to more fully determine the affects of progesterone on TBI.

Study Could Prevent Brain Injury During Birth

Research out of Auckland, New Zealand could save future premature baby brain injuries that occur during birth. The Fetal Physiology and Neuroscience group at the University of Auckland has been given a grant for a three year project.

Study could help prevent brain injury during birth

Prior research supports the idea that the premature brain has built-in defenses to protect injured cells. Associate Professor Laura Bennet said that the study would help increase the number of babies who sustain brain injuries at an early age.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 11:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Side Impact Airbags Reduce Traumatic Brain Injury

CNNMoney.com reported a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety indicated that side-impact airbags substantially protect passengers from serious head injuries. The research suggests that side airbags that protect passenger’s heads such as side curtain airbags will reduce the risk of death by 37%. Currently, over 80% of new cars and SUV’s provide side airbags as standard or optional equipment.
Read more about this study.

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Progesterone Shows Promise as TBI Treatment

A new study out of Emory University shows that giving progesterone to brain injury victims soon after the injury occurs may reduce the risk of death and the degree of disability suffered by the victim. No side effects were noted. Arthur Kellermann, a co-author of the study, said the results were important because "progesterone treatment for TBI has been extensively studied in laboratory animals for more than 15 years, but this is the world's first use of progesterone to treat brain injury in humans."

Legal View: Traumatic Brain Injury
Rehabilitation for Traumatic Brain Injury
Progesterone for Traumatic brain injury??

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Bill Passed to Treat Traumatic Brain Injury

"The Keeping Seniors Safe from Falls and Reauthorization of the Traumatic Brain Injury Act" has been passed. The bill intends to study the occurrence and treatment of traumatic brain injury and intends to expand research on fall prevention and treatment for senior citizens. U.S. Senator Mike Enzi said that "each year, approximately 1.4 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI), causing significant – and often lifelong – disability and discomfort. This bill will shed new light on methods of preventing and treating TBI.”

Help Committee Passes Public Health Bill To Treat Traumatic Brain Injury

“Anyone who has an elderly parent, relative or friend who lives alone knows about the concern that comes with an unanswered phone call,” said Enzi. “For many of our nation’s elderly, a fall means serious injury. This act will help to prevent falls and ease our minds." Falls are a serious health risk for senior citizens. One of every three Americans over the age of 65 falls each year and these falls frequently result in hospital visits.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 09:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Household Injuries Cause Severe Head Injuries in Babies

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have concluded that the rapid head rotations caused when a baby's head contacts a hard surface during household falls can lead to pronounced brain injuries. The results bring into question the old view that infant falls are unlikely to cause widespread brain injury. Susan S. Marguiles, associate professor of bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania said of the results: "Previously falls were considered relatively benign, because the head was assumed to move in a linear path at the terminus of a fall. Linear motions are most frequently associated with skull fractures and focal brain injuries, but it is primarily rotational movements that produce more severe diffuse brain injuries. We found that when the head contacted a firm surface before the body, significant rotational motions were produced."

Household Falls May Produce More Severe Brain Injuries in Infants Than Previously Thought

Traumatic brain injury is the most common cause of death in childhood, according to Marguiles. Marguiles has been using anthromorphic dolls since 1987 to study infant head injuries. Sensors on the dolls measure changes in rotational velocity and acceleration. "We found that vigorous shaking of this infant model had effects similar to one-foot falls and falls onto foam, but inflicted impacts of the head onto hard surfaces produced significantly greater rotational decelerations and changes in velocity than those onto foam, vigorous shakes and even a five-foot fall onto concrete," Margulies said.

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Certain Chemicals Indicate Brain Injury

Researchers believe that certain chemicals in the blood may be indicative of brain injury. The research, Research out of the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, shows that increased levels of certain proteins in the blood or spinal fluid may be a sign of brain injury in infants with vomiting, fussiness, and other symptoms of brain injury. Rachel Pardes Berger, one of the researchers, says the results are important because misdiagnosis of brain injury is common. "Proper diagnosis of inflicted traumatic brain injury, or shaken baby syndrome, is often difficult even for experienced and astute physicians because caregivers rarely provide a history of trauma, children present with nonspecific symptoms such as vomiting, and the physical examination can be completely normal."

Researchers Discover that Certain Chemicals in the Blood May Indicate Brain Injury

Infants with shaken baby syndrome often are too young to communicate to doctors that they have been shaken, and parents, obviously, are unlikely to report that they have shaken their baby. It is important to properly diagnose shaken baby syndrome to prevent infants from being returned to abusive parents. The parents, oftentimes, are not even responsible for having shaken their baby. "One of the interesting aspects of the study was that in many of the children who were ultimately identified as having SBS, the caretaker who brought the child to the hospital for evaluation did not know that the child had been shaken," said Dr. Berger. "It is so important for physicians to realize that the adult who brings a child to the Emergency Department may have no idea that the child is being abused by another family member, babysitter, family friend or nanny."

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 09:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Rivastigmine Improves Memory Loss in TBI Patients

Traumatic brain loss patients taking the drug rivastigmine showed memory improvement, according to a study published in the September issue of Neurology. Lead author of the study, Jonathan M. Silver, said of the results: "With an estimated 1.5 million people suffering from traumatic brain injury each year in the United States, rivastigmine shows promising results for these patients with moderate to severe memory loss."

Rivastigmine Improves Memory Loss for Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

Attention and verbal memory test scores were found to be drastically improved among patients with severe traumatic brain injury. 134 men and women were studied in the test. However, rivastigmine was not as effective in improving memory loss in patients who had less severe memory loss. The study found rivastigmine to be safe and well-tolerated, though nausea, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, and dizziness was noted in about 10% of the rivastigmine group.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 10:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

NZ Woman Who Fakes Brain Injury Gets No Sympathy

According to a New Zealand newspaper, Nicola Hayes of New Zealand faked a brain injury in order to get medical certificates saying she could not work. Hayes was in an accident in 1997 and gave the ACC 29 medical certificates saying she was unfit to work, gaining $155,000 for her disability. Hayes's lawyer argued that Hayes had "diminished responsibility" as a result of her brain injury.

During the time Hayes supposedly was injured, she managed a disposal business and also performed manual labor. Hayes was found guilty of 29 counts of fraud.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 10:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Brain Trauma, Railroad Work Linked

The Washington Times reports that a study performed by researchers at West Virginia University, the University of Pittsburgh, and Johns Hopkins University showed that railroad workers exposed to certain cleaning solvents experience shrinking of the brain. Continual exposure to chemicals used to degrease locomotives caused a bridge of tissue linking the brain's two hemispheres to shrink. Haut Marc, lead author of the report said the study was brought about because of complaints from workers: "These individuals we studied have numerous complaints and a variety of problems related to the brain." Marc is a professor in the departments of behavioral medicine and psychiatry, neurology, and radiology at the West Virginia University School of Medicine.

The symptoms of the affected railroad workers were irritability and depression, and a lack of concentration and memory. The study was begun after hundreds of railroad workers were diagnosed with brain damage, some of whom had worked at CSX Corporation. No workers studied had died from exposure to the solvents, which include 1,1,1-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, and perchloroethylene. CSX has both won and lost in trials related to employee solvent exposure.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

October 30, 2006

Parents of Brain Injured Boy Settle for $4.6 Million

Brain Injury Association Calls for NFL Investigation

October 26, 2006

Study May Influence Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment

New Medical Device May Help Treat Traumatic Brain Injury

Researchers Tackle Traumatic Brain Injuries in Football Games

Many Bike Injuries Are Preventable

October 25, 2006

Concussions Dangerous for Athletes

Day Care Provider to Stand Trial for Child Abuse

Brain Implant Chip to Help Stroke Victims

Chronic Drinking Damages Brain

October 24, 2006

Youth Sports Creates Risk of TBI

Brain Injury Association "Walk for Thought"

October 23, 2006

Brain Site for Rapid Learning Determined

October 17, 2006

Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation to Treat Spinal Cord Injury Pain

October 16, 2006

Bike Helmet Debate Revived

October 15, 2006

Marines Work to Prevent Traumatic Brain Injury

High Schooler to Promote Insurance Increase for Lack of Helmets

October 14, 2006

Life Can Continue After Brain Injury

October 13, 2006

Human Brain Works Like Computer

October 12, 2006

Lawmakers Want Quicker Pace for Brain Injury Research

Skateboarding Accidents Cause Head Injuries

October 11, 2006

"Chemo Brain" Real Condition

Brain Injury Settlement

October 10, 2006

Congressman Calls for Increase Federal Funding for TBI Research

Should Brain-Injury Patients be Used for Research?

October 09, 2006

Amateur Boxing Linked to TBI

Progesterone May Reduce Risk of Death from TBI

October 08, 2006

Study Could Prevent Brain Injury During Birth

Side Impact Airbags Reduce Traumatic Brain Injury

October 07, 2006

Progesterone Shows Promise as TBI Treatment

October 06, 2006

Bill Passed to Treat Traumatic Brain Injury

October 05, 2006

Household Injuries Cause Severe Head Injuries in Babies

October 04, 2006

Certain Chemicals Indicate Brain Injury

October 03, 2006

Rivastigmine Improves Memory Loss in TBI Patients

October 02, 2006

NZ Woman Who Fakes Brain Injury Gets No Sympathy

Brain Trauma, Railroad Work Linked